Why You Must Choose God

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5


Before we look at our schedule, I want to remind you why choosing God everyday is so important. My pastor reminded me and our congregation this Sunday so I am going to relay a couple of Pastor Darius Johnston's points.

Read the verse above a few times. Did you get the point on why you must choose God everyday? If you are not connected to God, you can do nothing. If you are not plugged in daily to God, there will be no fruit. Let it sink in for a moment. Without being plugged in to God, even your actions will produce nothing.

Take a deep breath, breathe in and out and let us look at our schedules. Your crazy schedule is not working because you are not plugged in to the power source. You are tired, weary and sad because you are not completely plugged in. So, how are you going to plug into the power source?

If you do not hit snooze, can you get 10-15 minutes of prayer before you start your day. Post scripture in your bathroom, kitchen or where ever you start your day to claim and pray. And what about the end of the day or maybe small children's nap time, can you spend time reading God's Word? It is part of the power source.

Read the passage below. Write it and put it in your bathroom, car and kitchen. Memorize it this week. Have the whole family memorize John 15:5.


"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:5-8

Time with God and His Word should go on our schedule first and everything else around it. Whether it is choosing not to hit the snooze, read the bible instead of a book at night, watch one less TV show so you can read His word, you must and have to choose to plug into the power source. Otherwise you are producing nothing.

I would highly recommend listening to my pastor's sermon once it is online. Go to http://www.christchurchfw.com and click on podcast. It will be the sermon from 10-25-10.

So before you start your week with no power, choose to plug in.

Make adjustments and plan the week

Here are some suggestions as you look at your schedule from last week and better choices you can make in your schedule. We will go into more detail and ideas as we get into the week

Choose God
1.Choose to study John 15 this week.
2.Choose not to hit the snooze and spend 10 minutes in prayer.
3.Choose to give up 30 minutes of TV time, facebook or reading time to spend in God's Word.

Choose a Healthy Body
1.Choose to get a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep. Set a bed time so you can get up to pray.
2.Choose your cardio exercise for this week (minimum of 30 minutes a day) and 3 days of toning.
Maybe a workout during a TV show or a walk during lunch or during your child's practice.
3.Choose to plan healthy sit down dinner meals for the week (even if you have to pick up already cooked meat and fresh veggies)

Choose to make it God's home
1.Choose to have a weekly family prayer time and scripture. Schedule a once a week family prayer time before bed or maybe in the car if you have a commute.
2.Choose to schedule chores for everyone and have a Family 15 at the end of the day to pick up.
3.Choose to have at least 4 family meals this week. Schedule it and let everyone know.
4.Choose to remember that everything (family and home) is a gift from God. Treat it that way.

A letter from me

Dear Friend,

Life has not turned out the way you planned. As a little girl, you dreamed of what your life would be one day. Unfortunately, reality has crushed and changed those dreams. At times you have hope and other times hope seems to be gone. But my dear sweet friend, there is a dream, a plan for your life, your home, your children. It is so much bigger than you or I can imagine.

Will you join me and start to live the dream God has planned for you? If you close your eyes imagine what God would do for you. Are you ready to start taking steps and making choices that lead to what God has promised?

We will look at where we have been, where we are and where we can be if you and I start making choices to live for Christ including in our health and homes. Through this journey we will cry, laugh and shake our heads, but in the end we will experience something grand.

I want to change my life, my children's life and generations to come. The choice we make today could impact generations to come. Let's impact them for God!

Finish your homework for the week, and next week you and I will start a journey on our choices. Be ready to surrender your life, your health, your home to God so God can do His thing. And what an amazing thing it will be for you, myself and our families!

Please invite others to join us. Let us share this experience and God's plan with others.

Your sister in Christ,
GaLynn


Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.


Titus 2:3-5
3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.


Deut. 6:4-9
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.


Proverbs 31:10-31
10 [ A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Choices of the Home

As you are keeping track of your schedule this week, ask yourself these questions.

1. What does my schedule say about the home? Is it just a place to sleep and eat? Does it serve a purpose? for the family? for others?
2. Does my schedule include time to care for home or do I just squeeze it in?
3. Does my hectic schedule overwhelm me or does my home overwhelm me?
4. Does my schedule and time allow my home to be a place of refuge, teaching, serving and worship?

Keep tracking your time and answering questions. Remember to be honest so you can truly see your choices. And do not criticize or condemn yourself for any choices. God does not condemn just convicts. Be sensitive to the Spirit but do not let the enemy tear you down.

A Look At Your Health Choices

I hope you have started recording how you spend your time. As you are recording the time spent, I want you to record the time you go to bed and the time you fall asleep each night this week. And then write down the time your alarm goes off and the time you actually get up. Plus make a side note of time you need to get up to have a smooth morning.

Plus I would like you to figure the average time you spend on TV and the average time on the computer. Add to the average time, what time of day you watch TV? For example, do you watch it right before bed, morning, afternoon?

And there is one more thing to record. I need you to write down what you eat or at least what fruit and veggies you eat throughout the day.

Continue recording all this information. We will be using it next week. Remember, we cannot know what choices to change until we see the ones we need to change.

May you all have a blessed week.

Choosing To Make God a Priority

If I were to ask if God was the number one thing in your life, you would probably answer yes. And in our hearts, God may be the most important, but in our life, in our time, in our homes - not so much. You and I have chosen to make other things a priority. Some choices come after deep thought, others just tend to happen unintentionally.

Because I know you desire to have a more intimate relationship with Christ and truly want to sit in His presence everyday, I want to help you. You are going to closely look at where your time is going each day. Now, I know you think you know your schedule but I want you to look at it closely this week.

Get a notepad and write down the time you spend doing everything. I mean everything from time hitting snooze to picking out clothes to driving in the car. Write it all down (don't forget time on phone.) Do not judge your schedule or beat yourself up. Just write and then we will discuss.

But if you want to cheat and go ahead and spend time with God, I will let you.

Plan Your Week Now

Let's get ready for our week by making the choice to plan it out.
Choose God

1.Pick a Book or chapter of the Bible for this week. If you do not have one, may I suggest Psalm 27 or Deut. 6 for this week.
2.Choose to pray before you get out of bed. Don't forget your armor.
3.Choose a time for quality prayer time and personal worship for this week. Put it on your schedule.

Choose a Healthy Body

1.Choose to get a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep. Set a bed time.
2.Choose your cardio exercise for this week (minimum of 30 minutes a day) and 3 days of toning.
3.Choose to plan healthy sit down dinner meals for the week (even if you have to pick up already cooked meat and fresh veggies) .

Choose to make it God's home

1.Choose to have a weekly family prayer time and scripture. (check out website for printable family devo. www.bodysouandhome.com)
2.Choose to schedule chores for everyone and have a Family 15 at the end of the day to pick up.
3.Choose to have at least 4 family meals this week. Schedule it and let everyone know.
4.Choose to remember that everything, family and home, are a gift from God. Treat it that way.