We Call Ourselves Christian

Have you ever thought, Christians give Christianity a bad name? I am serious! We call ourselves Christians, but think about what we do. Do we really do what Christ told His followers to do? Do we follow the Bible's teachings? Do we even READ the Bible?!
We call ourselves Christian, but then we cuss, raise hell, get drunk, sleep around, speak ugly about others, steal, etcetera. Please. We call that being a Christian?
"Well, I go to church." Good for you. So did the Pharisees, and they killed Jesus. "I do fundraisers, support the police, the armed services, post scripture on Facebook and Instagram, listen to Christian music only, etcetera. Really? Good for you!👏🏻
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
"I love Jesus!" Oh yeah? So, how do you feel about someone of a different race? Someone who has different beliefs? Someone who is gay? Muslim? Jewish?
1 John 4:20-21 "If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."
It doesn't matter if they are not related by blood. We are still supposed to treat them as Christ would.
"But I've been saved!!" I'm sorry to bust your bubble, but there is no such thing as "once saved, always saved".
Ezekiel 18:21-24 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live? “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die."
"Oh, that's the Old Testament. I live by the New Testament." Really? What do you think Jesus and His disciples used when quoting scripture? The Old Testament. Did you know that the New Testament has several Old Testament references? Oh, and check out what Paul said to Timothy:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
The scripture he was referring to was the Old Testament. So the Old Testament is still relevant.
But if that doesn't convince you, and you insist that you live by the New Testament only, fine. Check out the following:

Galatians 5:16-25 "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

Ephesians 4:29-32 "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."

Ephesians 5:3-5, 17-18 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,"

 Philippians 2:3-4 "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

Colossians 3:5-17 "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

We call ourselves Christian. But! Does our lives, our words, our actions, reflect Christ? If we are alone, with nobody watching, are we still reflecting Christ?

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Jesus

I was thinking. Actually, I was praying, starting to do my morning devotional. Anyway, our world is in an awful mess. Today is Easter. The day celebrate our Risen Savior. Savior. What a wonderful word! The Lamb of God who was slain. He wasn't slain just for the people of His time. He was slain for the people of ALL time. He took on my sin, your sin, everyone's sin. He loved the people - regardless of their sins. He loved Judas. He loved the Pharisees, Sadducees, the Romans, Pilate, Herod, the criminials hung on either side of Him. He loved the tax collector, the woman caught in adultery, the leper, the man with the legion of devils inside of him. He gave us an example of how we are supposed to live. He gave us hope. The Bible is all about HIM and His life, His love, His death and His life again. From Genesis to Revelation.
I said this world is in an awful mess, and it is. But, we can have hope. If we accept Jesus' sacrifice on... the cross for us, if we turn to Him and away from our sins, if we decide we don't want our old life anymore, and we want a new life in Him, we can have hope. I'm thankful for my hope in Jesus. I'm thankful that Jesus took my place on that cross.
My heart breaks for those of you who refuse to accept Christ. Also, for those of you who don't believe in Christ. Where is your hope? In this world? I have news for you. Even if you don't care or believe what the Bible says, your hope in this world is foolish. Pay attention to what is going on around you. Watch the news. Watch the people around you. This world isn't getting better. It's getting worse.
Well, that's enough of my sermonizing for now. I love you and I'm praying for you.

I AM BLESSED!!

Keep Smiling!! :)

The Beach

If you know me at all, you know that I absolutely love the beach.  I can't get enough of it.  I get homesick for the beach.  It's not that I spent my early years at the beach.  Granted, I grew up in Southern California, not far from the beach.  But!  When the tide turned, I could smell the ocean.

I was thinking about the beach this morning.  The girls and I went to Myrtle Beach, SC on our way home from Donny & Katie's wedding.  I took picture after picture.  I waded into the water.  (By the way, the water was COLD.)  I guess you could say I was in heaven. 

As I was thinking about my love for the beach and the ocean, I thought about God.  When I walk along the beach, I feel closer to God.  That might not make sense to a lot of people, so, let me try to explain. 

I have read "The Chronicles of Narnia" by CS Lewis. Aslan, the lion, is supposed to represent God. One quote that has stayed with me is " “He is not a tame lion," said Tirian.". When I think of that, I think we could no more tame the ocean than we could tame God. 

When I look at the ocean, I see majesty, beauty, freedom and peace.  I see all that (and more) in God as well.  Our God is majestic.  He is our King.  He is our Creator.  He is our Redeemer.  He is our Prince of Peace.

God, as King, should reign over our lives.  We should honor Him first and foremost.  We should love Him. worship Him, obey Him.  We should put nothing before or above Him.

God, as Creator, has placed so much beauty around us!  Sunrises, sunsets.  Animals, birds, fish.  Trees, flowers, cactus.  Deserts, mountains, oceans.  Have you ever seen anything so beautiful that it brought tears to your eyes and a lump in your throat?  Think about the One who made it!  Our wonderful, amazing God!!  

God, as Redeemer, has given us freedom from sin.  When we choose to follow Him, we turn our backs on our old life.  Some people think that Christians can't have fun, or don't have fun.  I think that is ridiculous.  As a Christian, I am free to have good, clean fun and not have to worry about what other people would think.  I don't have to worry about doing something I know would bring embarassment to myself or my family, because doing something illegal or immoral isn't my idea of fun.  God loves us so much that He doesn't want to control us, so He gave us the freedom of CHOICE.  We are free to choose which path to take, who, or what, to worship.  Etc, etc.

God, as Prince of Peace, can fill us with peace.  Even when we are going through the storms of life, we can still have peace.  His peace. 

I am so very thankful.

I AM BLESSED.
KEEP SMILING!!  :)

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I Hope I Helped

A dear friend of mine has been asking for prayer for awhile.  There were some issues.  The other day she told me the issues.  Basically, she has felt there was was no love in her marriage, no desire, etc.  If she wants intimacy, she tries to initiate it, but is often turned down.  She cheated on her husband multiple times.  He knows about the affairs, but forgives her and wants their marriage.  She has prayed and begged God to fix her marriage.  This is one thing she said: "I've asked God to help me fall back in love with my husband over and over, but what all I hear is this small voice that says "love him how he is now, just as he is"...WHATEVER!! shouts loud in my head.  That's why I've done what I've done in the first place!!!  All the church hopping I did, all the praying I did and I'm at a spot in life stuck in a pit..BECAUSE every time I go to leave walk out that voice says don't give up on him, have faith in me that I can change this marriage... "

Following is my answer:

One thing I can say right now: don't leave or give up. One more thing: God is not going to change you overnight. You have to start changing and trusting God to help you change.
Remember, I understand. I love you and I am here for you. I consider you part of my family.

I am so glad you can hear that still, small voice telling you to stay, to not give up, to hang in there. God IS listening to you. HE is telling you to hang in there. He IS answering your prayer. He is. You said you do want your marriage to work. That is because God has put that desire in you. You keep praying for it to work. That is because the Holy Spirit is encouraging you to pray for it. God is answering your prayers!!!
I have been angry at God before. Believe me, I have. It has felt like He abaondoned me. WHY won't He answer my prayer(s)? WHY does my life have to be like this? Does HE even love me? WHY am I being punished? Do those questions sound familiar?
I know what it's like to be with one who refuses to have sex except once in a blue moon. One who refuses to kiss except for a little peck in the morning before going to work and in the evening when coming home. One who watches tv, plays video games, computer games, etc rather than spend time with me.   I know what it's like to want the husband to compliment you and tell you how beautiful you are, etc., but not receive any of it.
I sooo understand.
I am a control freak. I always had to try to "fix" the man. Mold him into what I wanted. But it never worked. I can't change anyone. Now I am finally learning that I DO have to love my husband as he is and trust God to make him the man that GOD wants him to be. I cannot change him. I have to pray for him daily. If and when he hurts me, I have to give it to God. I have to love him anyway. I have to submit to him. I have to trust him. I have to respect him. I have to smile. I have to remember to heed the words of the Bible in regards to what a wife is supposed to do and not do. When he really makes me angry, I have to remember to NOT be negative and DO remember what he does that makes me happy.
My husband is not outwardly affectionate. I know he loves me though. He works to provide. Every now and then he might surprise me with something. We've been married for 3-1/2 years and it's already been extremely rocky. Heck, we've been separated twice already!! But this last time I learned where I messed up. I prayed and prayed and prayed about the marriage. I knew it was wrong to separate and that was killing me inside. I knew I loved my husband and it was tearing me up that I had possibly ruined the chance for us to be together because of my lack of understanding. But thank God, we did reconciliate. So now I give it to God.
Your husband loves you. That is why he keeps forgiving you. He wants the marriage to work too. I really believe you love him and I believe you want your marriage to work.
Read Romans 7. The whole chapter. That chapter is my chapter. I mess up and get mad at myself because I keep doing that which I don't want to do.
I have not physically cheated on my husband and I am not going to. But, when I was very discontent with our marriage last summer, I was in that "what if" frame of mind. "What if I was single? What if I found someone who would be the kind of man I wanted? What if...." Those "what if's" can destroy a marriage even faster than physically cheating can. 

 Last year I was talking to another Christian woman about my pain, loneliness, etc.. She kept telling me to stop trying to have a man fill my loneliness - allow God to fill my loneliness. Allow God to have my heart. Allow God to compliment me, supply my needs, etc. I was like "You have NO idea what I am going through! You have never been through what I am going through! You do not have a clue and until you do, do NOT presume to tell me to allow GOD to fill my needs!"   She hasn't lived my life. She is married to her first, and only, husband. Her husband is a Christian and has been throughout their marriage. My husband is not interested in going to church with me. He watches garbage I don't want to watch. Etc, etc.
Lol, you know what? She was right.  If we put God first, if we allow Him to fill our heart AND our mind, if we claim 1 Corinthians 10:13 when tempted in any and every way, if we pray for our husbands, trust our husbands, always, always, always praise our husbands - to his face, behind his back, thinking only positive things about him - if we let him know that AFTER GOD, our husbands come first above everyone and everything else, our marriages will be blessed.   God first, spouse second, children/family third, friends and everything else after that. That is the order of things.
It's not easy, but God never promised it would be easy.
I have two prayer journals going. One is specifically for my husband. For whatever is going on that I think needs extra prayer. In it, I always thank God for my husband. Then I write out a prayer. At the end of the prayer, I ask God to put a hedge of protection around our marriage and allow nothing and nobody to harm it - including ourselves. Our heavenly Father knows I am serious about that prayer. The other prayer journal is for myself if I have a need or others I am praying for. Often I thank Him for an answered prayer in the prayer journal.
Read 1 John 1:9. I am thankful for that promise.
I have done so many stupid things. I have sinned so many times in many different ways.  I have sinned. I am so very thankful that our God loves us so much that He willingly forgives us when we repent. And He forgives us so often for the same sin over and over.
Grab ahold of our Father's hand. He will help you.
Again, I am here for you. I love you. I am praying for you.

I hope what I said helps her.

I AM BLESSED!!

Keep Smiling!! :)

My Crazy Life - So Far This Year

Proverbs 3:5-6   Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Jeremiah 29:11-13  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

This year has been a crazy year and it's only the middle of August!!  I keep moaning that my life is not ever on an even keel.  It's always full of drama.  Lol (laughing out loud).  I have to remember:  we reap what we sow.

January 21st - Brent and I got back together.  I am so very thankful.

February 3rd - Brent had his second heart attack.  We found out his heart was enlarged and mush.  The doctor told him he needed to stop drinking and smoking. 

February 9th - Donny proposed to Katie.  :D (Big smile).

 

March 14th - The first anniversary of my dad's death.  Sometimes it still feels fresh.  Does a daughter ever get over the death of her dad?  Even if he wasn't really in her life much?

 

April 13th - My very first brand new car!  Of course that means a large car payment too... Oops.

April 28th/29th - April's Regional Track Meet in Abiline.  We are all so proud of her accomplishments in track!! 

 

May 19th - First Kristi and I went to an early service at church.  Then we met Rachel, Donny and Katie in Arlington(?) so Katie could look at the bridesmaid dresses on Rachel and Kristianna.  From there, we went to Kinkaid's for lunch.  Then it was back to Johnson County so Kristi could go get her hair done and I could go home.  From there, Cleburne.  It was time for Kristi's Senior Prom.  She looked absolutely beautiful.  She looked like a princess.  She and her best friend, Taylor, double dated with their respective boyfriends.  Several of us had fun taking pictures of the couples. 

 

 

May 31st - I had to stop Wimpy, my German Shepherd, from attacking our goat, Bob.  Then Jr, Brent and I had to go to Joshua High School for April's graduation.  Donny was there, plus several of Brent's family.  (Brent's family is very close - which is wonderful.)

 

June 1st - Kristianna's graduation from Cleburne High School.  Kristi's dad, aunt and uncle were there.  Of course Donny, April, Brent and I were there, as well as several of Brent's family.

 

 

July 3rd - Donny had an issue with choking, so he had to have minor surgery.  I stayed the night with him.  While I was with him in Dallas, my dog, Wimpy, was given away.  Wimpy had an issue with escaping from our fenced in area and then killing chickens, goats and finally a duck.  Wimpy had to go.  I'm still not over losing him.

 

July ? - Kristianna moved out.  My Princess Sweetpea is independent.  She and some friends are renting a house in Cleburne. 

 

July 18th - April finally told us she was pregnant.  I said "finally".  Yes, I had my suspicions.  You know, it's not what a parent wants for her unwed daughter/step-daughter.  But, what is done is done.  A baby is a precious gift from God.  Brent and I are looking forward to being grandparents, as are Shirley and Joe.  By the way, I'm hoping to be called Grammy Jo or Jojo.  I will accept "Dodo", pronounced "Doe-doe" if the baby can't say "Jojo".  If Brent has his way, I'll be called (ugh, hack, choke) "Granny".  Donny told me to just let the baby decide what to call me.

 

August 15th - Brent became job-less.  He applied for a truck driving job.  He needs his cardiologist to sign a release form.  Once that form is signed, he has the job.  The cardiologist refuses to sign it until Brent has the echocardiogram done.  It will show if there has been any improvement with the heart.  Brent's boss at the time called Brent and asked him if he had the job.  Brent told him that they were waiting for the doctor to sign the release.  So, Brent's boss told him to come in the next day and sign a form releasing him from the job.  Since the echocardiogram will not be done for 2 weeks, Brent is job-less.  He is filling out applications, though.

In the near future my beloved son, Donny, is moving to North Carolina.  September 7th, to be exact.  Then on November 10th, he is marrying his love, Katie, and they will begin their next adventure in life - marriage. 

 

My life continues to be an adventure.  No calmness.  But I know, that in the midst of the storm of my life, I can turn to God and have peace in the storm.  I know that God will get me through anything that is thrown in my path.  I know that God will provide for us. 

I AM BLESSED!

Keep Smiling!!  :)

 

 

I've Been Thinking...

Anytime I start a conversation with "I've been thinking...." my husband utters an expletitive.  Apparently he thinks it's a "bad thing" when I've been thinking.

So, back to what I've been thinking about.  On July 5th, on Facebook, I read a post that WFAA put on their page:  "Couple arrested after gay marriage protest in records building".  The basic storyline is that two guys wanted to get a marriage license and they weren't allowed to, so they staged a little protest.  Then they were arrested.  Then I read the comments left on that post.  Wow.  I was astounded.  People ought to read it.  I thought about commenting, but then I decided against it. 

Homosexuality is a hot topic.  It really is.  I think it's right up there with gas prices, religion, the President and politics in general.

So, what do I think about homosexuality?  I think it is wrong. I think it is a sin.  Make that I BELIEVE it is wrong, I BELIEVE it is a sin.  I also believe it's unnatural.  But, I'm one of those who believe in God and the Bible.  In the Bible it states that homosexuality is an abomination.  It also states that homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God. Read:  Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Romans 1:24-32; 1 Corinthians 6:8-11; Galations 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-5.

Okay, so does that mean that God hates homosexuals? No, it does not.  He hates the SIN.  Just as He hates all of the other sins that were mentioned in those verses, plus these: backstabbing, gossiping, gluttony, adultery, murder, stealing, telling lies, etc.  They are all sins.  If we do one, we might as well have done them all.  "James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  11  For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.”  If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker."

I have a problem with Christians who state that homosexuality is okay.  Really?  Read your Bible!!!  But I also have a problem with Christians who are so bigoted and hateful about homosexuality.  I want to tell them the same thing:  Really?  Read your Bible!!!  Do you honestly think that Jesus would be so hateful and ugly to homosexuals?  I don't think so.  Look at the way He treated the other outcasts.  The tax collectors, the woman caught in adultery, the publicans, the "sinners".  He treated them with love and understanding.  Does that mean He condoned their sin?  NO.  He told them "Go and sin no more." 

That's the answer right there.  "Go and sin no more".  EVERYONE sins.  EVERYONE.  Don't kid yourself if you think you don't.  Do you take pillows, sheets, towels, etc from hotels?  STEALING.  Do you take office supplies from work?  STEALING.  Do you take something from your sibling and not give it back?  STEALING.  Do you talk about someone behind their back?  GOSSIPING.  Are you married but sleeping with someone who is not your spouse?  ADULTERY.  Are you not married, but having sex with someone?  FORNICATION.  Do you eat too much?  GLUTTON.  Do you drink too much?  DRUNKARD. Do you throw tantrums?  Are you mean to people?  Do you yell and scream at people?  Are you selfish?  Are you lazy?  Are you unforgiving?  Are you conceited?  Are you ungrateful?  Are you disobedient to your parents?  Are you slanderers?  These are all sins.  Yep.  They might not seem like much, but they are.  Think about this:  when you gossip about someone, when you slander someone, you are murdering their reputation and/or their character. 

So, before you get on your high horse, your "Holier than Thou" pedestal, look at the sins in your own life - take that beam out of your own eye before you try to dig the speck out of someone else's eye.  God loves YOU, but hates YOUR sin.   

And another thing, the only way to get to heaven is through Christ.  It's a gift.  But we have to accept that gift.  We need to repent of our sins, confess our sins, forsake our sins and follow Christ completely.  If we love Him, we will keep His commandments.  "John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commands."  We need HIS help to do that. We need HIS robe of righteousness.  All of our righteousness is as filthy rags.  "Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."

Oh, and this goes for me to, by the way.

I don't  hate homosexuals by any means.  Their lifestyle breaks my heart, though.  But then I think: "Well, my lifestyle and my sins breaks God's heart". 

Before I forget, I was shocked and dismayed by how many people don't believe in God and/or the Bible.  Also those who believe in God, but don't believe we need to live by the Bible. 

I am very thankful for God.  I am thankful for the Bible.  God has helped me get through some rough spots in my life.  He still does.  If I didn't believe in God, I would not have hope.  God is good. 

I AM BLESSED
KEEP SMILING!!  :)

REVERENCE FOR THE SANCTUARY

REVERENCE FOR THE SANCTUARY

Leviticus 19:30 “‘Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.

Leviticus 26:2 “‘Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.

Last Sabbath I didn't go to church.  Instead I went to a meeting.  It was a meeting with other Seventh-day Adventists.  We went to listen to someone who loves God and wants everyone to hear that "Jesus is coming soon".  He wants everyone to turn their hearts completely back to God.

Well, one thing I got out of the meeting was that people in church do not have reverence for God.  Not even in the sanctuary of the church. 

What is church?  God's house.  How are we supposed to act in the presence of God?  How should we act in HIS house?  Should we be talking out loud?  Should we be texting?  Should we be playing on our phones?  Should we be clapping?  I admit I've texted, played on my phone, talked to my kids/family/friends. 

I need to wake up.  WE need to wake up.  When we go to church, we are in GOD's house.  We should give God the honor and reverence that is due to Him. 

Part two of that same thought. 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

So, if our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, shouldn't we treat it better than we do?  Who is the Holy Spirit?  He is part of the Godhead.  He is God.  Therefore, if we have Him dwelling in our body(ies), then we should take care of our bodies.  Exercise, drink lots of water, get plenty of rest, eat right and leave drugs, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and junk food (and greasy food) alone. 

I AM BLESSED.

KEEP SMILING!!  :)