Chapters 6 and 7 - Don't waste Ya Life

            Well, first, if someone was to watch me that didn't know me or that I was a Christian, I would hope that they would be able to tell a huge difference in how I act, spend my time, money, and everything, and just how I do everything that I do.  I hope that I would be so joyful and hopeful that people would want what I have and ask me why I am like that.  But honestly, lately I have not lived in a way that is much different than the world.  I get caught up in things and let things bother me or bring me down, just like non-believers.  People could notice that I am more kind and patient than others, but really there is not a whole lot that they would see, and that is very sad.  The past couple weeks have been great for me.  I have really been challenged in my faith and I have felt quite a bit of growth and I am living more for Him in everything I do. 
           
           I need to be careful to make sure that I follow the theme of Mark 10:21, Luke 6:20,24, and Luke 18:25.  Having many possessions and becoming saved and living all out for God is a very hard thing to do.  It is so hard that is seems impossible.  But the only way to be able to live for Him is by Him.  He can make the impossible possible.  I need to give my time, effort, attention, money, just everything that I am, to serving God and His people.  By focusing on everyone else and on God, I won't have time to be selfish or to lust after the things of this world.  I pray that I can be so consumed with God that all that comes out of me is wanting to serve Him more and to draw closer to Him.  I try to serve and help make sure I follow the theme of those verses by helping the less fortunate in Enid, by giving my time to listen to people, by giving what I do have, and just loving people.  Those are some ways I can make a big difference.  I have never put so much thought into how important it is not get wrapped up in consuming things.  It is very hard not to do in this society but it has really hit me lately how important it is to God to not be a blind consumer. 

            I normally live in a peaceful way.  I always try to make sure everything is good and that everyone is getting along and that no one is upset or bothered by others.  But I need to realize that I need to follow all the Bible and to fight the good fight of faith and not always just have a peaceful mindset.  I kow that doesn't mean forcing things upon people and truly fighting people, but I need to fight the things of this world that are not giving glory to God or not God-filled.  All too often I call things as "needs" that really aren't.  I may say I need technology or I need this person or that thing.  But I do not.  All I really need is more of God and what He says I need. 

          The biggest thing wrong with TV is that it is such a waste of time, just as John Piper states.  We could be doing so much better things, such as have family time without the TV on and playing games or just talking to each other.  All too often I think TV takes up way too much of people's lives without them even realizing it.  TV and the Internet affect me in that alot of the ads are about getting the best new things and being selfish.  Even if you guard against seeing the bad things, you are still going to be exposed to it and no matter how hard you try, I think it will still affect you.  Also, it takes up so much time.  I could use that time to read the Bible or pray or love on someone.  These technologies also affect relationships, I think.  There is so much more talking through technology and we put off important things just to watch our favorite TV show or to check e-mail or whatever.  I am very thankful that my parents do not pay for TV.  I am glad that the negativeness is not being poured into our house as much.  I have been doing much better about spending more time on God than on the Internet or watching something and I think people would realize that.  Many people would be able to tell that my greatest satisfaction is Jesus and worshiping Him.