Why are we doing this?

I've asked myself this question many times, and God always finds a new way to answer it. For most of us, this new gathering on our own agendas is a new thing. We are trying to be more God-like/fearing/minded and this is just a step in that direction. I know it's not just me, because I've talked to people about this, but how many of us feel almost obligated to attend every convo and campus church service that is offered? I feel as though I would be disrespecting God by not going to an event that is expected of me by Him and by others (that's a completely different story itself: going to church to be seen of others). Even for these Tuesday nights, there has been 1 or 2 times that I thought I was too busy to attend...but I learn something new and valuable each week, so why not give up 2 hours of sleep to hear from my family "my church" and my God!?! Every single week I've left our gathering praising God and thanking Him for these people and their honesty. I find myself pondering over things that have been discussed, and I talk to people about it throughout the week. Here are several things that have impacted me simply from taking time out of my schedule to talk about my Savior with your people:

PRAY BIG!!! Why pray small to get small results?? Do I not trust God? Am I just afraid that my prayers won't come true? Do I pray small to see them happen and then say it was just a coincidence? I need to pray powerful things because I have that power through the Holy Spirit!

Read the Bible as if you were going to share what you've learned...and then SHARE IT! This has helped me from reading the Bible as a checklist and not comprehending one word I just read.

Don't get complacent with my situation. Always go for bigger and better! In other words, never put God in a box and think He can't use me for something I can't even imagine.

Never judge people! This group has opened my eyes to some people I would have never gotten to know..and I love those people and hearing their stories...their stories have touched me more than I could have hoped.

I have seen God work through big and small things so far (healing, speaking my thoughts through other people to enforce it, etc.)

GRIDIRON! That encourages much more than the football team.

I must be righteous in order for my prayers to be heard and accepted by God (James 5:16). I want my prayers to count when I pray for you people, so that has been an accountability I have used several times. Also just remembering that my sins hurt more people than myself!

Sharing your faith!!! Something I try to avoid thinking about because it's a scary thought, but we need to do it!

It only takes 1 bad decision to fall back into those past sins.

Americanized Christianity: We cannot complicate the Bible's message by thinking church is a building and singing hymns...The message is that Christ died for us!! We are the church, and we cannot EVER look past that simple yet mind-boggling fact, that Christ died for us!

Witnessing to our unsaved friends and continually praying for them (Gabe, Donald, Erica, McGinleys, Taylor, Downtown Lynchburg folk...) Luke 9:26

Paul broke out of the chains of prison by praising God, even when he didn't feel like it!! We cannot let our relationship with our Savior become an emotion-based event. When we don't feel like it, we need to serve God! That will change our hearts right away, guaranteed!

We should never feel like we've let God down, because we were never holding Him up!! He holds us up:)

We are arrogant people who think we know the Bible and we know God...WE KNOW GOD??? How disgusting is that to hear out loud?? We can never think we've figured God out!! The only way to keep learning and yearning for God is by reading His Word and letting Him speak to us through that Book!! I never want to think I'm "done" reading the Bible because I've read it before and know the stories! Verses still jump out to me from passages I've read 20 times, because it's the Holy Spirit talking to us and showing us what we need to understand...

Why do we submit to coaches and authority, but we tell God we know what we're doing without His help and guidance?? God knows us better than we do, so obey Him!!

I love this group...let's keep the good times rollin:) Keep praying for each other and be living a righteous life so your prayers mean something!!