Since I am a computer programmer, I constantly use the internet and am on the computer. Also I use social media to post my husband’s pictures since he is a professional photographer. Correspondingly, I do enjoy seeing updates from friends … Continue reading
A few years ago, we went to watch Cal Poly play basketball against the Gators from San Francisco State College. Above running with the ball is my husband’s cousin’s son. So, he’s trained and worked hard to win a place … Continue reading
We can either stand tall and distinctive in our character, or we can blend in with the philosophy of the World.
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5
From Donna
How many people attend church but still leave God out of their life? We can get ourselves in a trap believing we are ok because we go to church on some sort of regular basis. But in reality, do we focus more on living for ourselves instead of living for God.
In the beginning of 2 Timothy, Paul describes the characteristics of wickedness.
Do we have a problem with boasting or bragging? Do we hold grudges against other people and not truly forgive. Do I tend to gossip about someone when I should really not say anything.
We hear a lot about substance abuse and addiction. But what about the sin addiction we each may have in our life.
Donna gave out 4 bags of rice mixed with M&M’s candies. She got 4 volunteers to use chopsticks to remove the candy from the plastic bags. Here are the types of M&M’s in each bag –
Of course, the more broken or crushed the M&M, the more difficult it was to remove the candy from the rice.
What was the point of this game?
Here’s the symbolism
We can be in the World but not a part of the World. The whole M&M’s can be easily pulled out of the World. The broken M&M’s are Christians are open to the World but can still be pulled out. The more broken M&M’s are borderline and can be blended with the world. The crushed M&M’s cannot be separated from the world and follow it’s philosophy.
God’s teachings are not the same as what our World teaches us. Many people do not feel there is an absolute right and wrong anymore. Do the characteristics described in the above verses describe you? Can you be separated from the World’s philosophy or do you blend in?
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. I Timothy 4:12
Paul admonishes Timothy how some will leave the faith and believe false doctrines i.e. forbidding marriage and to order refraining from certain foods. He goes on to encourage us that all food is good when received with thanksgiving by those who know the truth. This is refreshing to hear that we have the freedom to eat what God has created for us. This may not a free for all card considering how Man may have altered God’s creation of animals and plants for food.
Paul also makes the analogy not only do we need to be nourished by physical food but also by the truths of the faith. We need to train to be godly. Physical training has some value, but godliness has value for eternity.
I have no personal ambitions to run a marathon. I do have an excuse I cannot do this to a bad knee. But I do work out with indoor cycling to maintain endurance and do weight training.
Physical Exercise Results in the following. But these results change as we age. We cannot be consistent in our abilities since our bodies will deteriorate over time.
Spiritual Results from Godly Training —
The girls in the class created signs to be a reminder from I Timothy 4:12. Even though they are young, they can still be an example for others in their speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.
How can we apply these principles in this verse to be an example no matter what age we are?
So let’s go and train for God!
blessings4ever 