What are two things you should not see at the same time?
Jeans and ties
Alligators and swimming pools.
We finished our series on love last week. Now we will get into some practical thoughts and ideas on real life.
How to move forward.
Real-life examples.
A little about me.
No one talked about God or Jesus in college.
Have any of your professors talked to you in class about God? Or Jesus?
It's our job individually to share our lives with others. That's my challenge to you.
My second challenge to you is to live a life that someone else might want.
Not your car, your job, or your house.
I am talking about the joy that comes out of you.
James 1:2-3 (ESV)
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
So what's next in life?
A little more about me.
The preacher didn’t need to tell me to repent. I know what that means. And so do you.
You get to make a choice each and every day. A choice to admit when you fail or turn your head and continue.
You know the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) represents nine visible attributes of a Christian’s life shaped by the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
At 18, I recognized my need for a savior
At 36, I committed my life to sharing God's love with everyone. Not perfect, but committed.
The last 4 have been better than the first 36 years.
If you had six months to live, what would you do? Anything you wanted? What would it be?
Write it on this card.
Why are you here at SIU?
If you are an athlete, why are you here?
You get to choose how you spend each day.
Some of you need to quit being athletes and get your lives in Christ started.
Some of you need to quit playing games with this world and commit your life to Christ.
Some of you need to choose God’s love and share it with the world.
Whatever it is that you would be doing if you only had 6 months to live,
You should be doing that now.
Do not wait for your life to be right. Do it now.
I wish I had chosen my life right now 20 years ago.
I was 18 years old in college, playing basketball. October 17, 2004, when I realized I needed God more than ever. Now I realize I need God every day more than ever. I also now know that I need to be sharing that relationship with anyone and everyone.
God does not call the equipped. He equips the called.
If you get bumped and have coffee in your hand, what would you spill?
Why did you spill your coffee?
Because you had coffee in your cup
Whatever is inside of you is what will spill out.
Remember the cup being half empty or half full? That's a myth. Your cup needs to be overflowing, so that you can give what you have away.
Stop asking people for directions from people who have never been where you're going.
Ask someone who has been there.
If you want a career in accounting, who should you ask? A doctor?
If you want to be a nurse, who should you ask? A lawyer?
If you need help with your car? Who should you ask?
Get the point? Get more from someone who has been there.
The bible is clear when it comes to getting wisdom.
James 1:5, if you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.
Proverbs 4:5 commands: "Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them."
Do you want chocolate or vanilla?
How quickly you answer is key.
Confidence in who you are. Every day. The best version of yourself.
You have no obligation to the person you were next to 5 minutes ago.
You are not a tree
You can change.
Be whatever and whoever you want to be
None of us knows who we are. We decide who we are. I created this Chris Duckworth. Tried many different versions and failed often.
Getting closer to God and listening to God is the best way to find the best version of yourself.
I pray for those that no one ever apologized to you for.
I am praying for you. I am praying for the best version of you.
God loves you. God wants to be a part of your life.
Only you can choose whether to have a relationship with God. God isn’t going anywhere.
This summer, focus on your relationship with God.
