If you decide to follow along, you'll need your Bible. There's scripture here and nothing here is made up. As I've learned at Youth Specialty events...'the Bible is the only resource one needs to teach from.' *Check out Marko's page on Youth Specialties.
This lesson is to be shared because I think it speaks to so many regardless of age or where they're at in their faith journey. That's why my blog spot is called 'spiritual junkfood'. This is all food for thought...
The Heart Full Of Hurts
Love keeps no records of wrongs…
What do you think about this quote?
Today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions.
Today’s jealousy is tomorrow’s temper tantrum.
Today’s bigotry is tomorrow’s hate crime.
Today’s anger is tomorrow’s abuse.
Today’s lust is tomorrow’s adultery.
Today’s greed is tomorrow’s embezzlement.
Today’s guilt is tomorrow’s fear.
The Pelicano is the most unwanted ship in all the world! Since 1986 she has been the ‘hobo’ of the high seas. No one wants her.
The problem isn’t the boat-it is a bit rusty, but what boat isn’t? She’s seaworthy!
The problem isn’t ownership-the owners have kept the license current and taxes paid. The problem isn’t the crew-they may feel unwanted, but they aren’t ineffective.
So what’s the problem you might ask? Simple…she’s full of trash! 15,000 tons of trash. Orange peels, bottles, newspapers, half-eaten hot dogs…it’s the trash from Philadelphia’s long summer of 1986 when all the municipal workers went on strike.
The Pelicano is proof that trash-filled have very few friends. I wonder…can we relate to The Pelicano? Do you feel unwanted at the docks of friends and family? Do you ever feel as though you’re drifting further and further away from friends and family?
Life has away of unloading her rubbish onto our docks-mom and dad work too much, don’t spend enough time with you, brothers or sisters complain too much. The result? TRASH! Load after load creates tension, anger, guilt, bitterness, pessimism, and impatience.
A days load affects us and it can contaminate our relationships. Look at Cain, he had hatred and anger in his heart before he had blood on his hands. And the Pharisees-the so called religious leaders from back in the day killed Christ in their hearts before they killed him on the cross. READ pg. 86
Today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions. Do you think it was an accident that Paul wrote that love keeps no records of wrongs? Sometimes we don’t know we have an option-at least sometimes it feels like we have no options.
READ 2nd Corinthians 10:5
You get the impression we’re soldiers (and we are-check out Ephesians 6) and that our thoughts are the enemy. We’re supposed to protect ourselves and refuse the trashy talk and thoughts that can infect our ‘moods’. Listen carefully-CAPTURE EVERY THOUGHT, MAKE IT GIVE UP AND OBEY CHRIST.
The minute trash starts to walk down our docks we need to be pro-active; we should jump into action…’this heart belongs to God’. Selfishness, take a hike, envy, get lost!
This is serious business you know…here’s what Jesus had to say: READ Matt. 22-23
Jesus could’ve given up and gave in, but instead he decided to say ‘get away from me’.
READ Proverbs 4:23
You see, what we focus on is a choice. We could keep a list of our bad days, what was said to us and let it control our tomorrows…we could stand at the gangplank of self-pity. Or we can do something else. READ Romans 12:14
Closing-scenario
Anger at your parents is keeping you awake. You want to sleep, but you can’t; this afternoons conversation won’t let you. As always, all they did was criticize. No compliments, no applause, just nag, nag. When are you coming home? Is your homework done? Why haven't you cleaned your room?
Why must you deal with this?
The truth is, we all deal with stuff like that from friends and family…but I urge you like Paul does to remember love, remember Christ, and most of all, remember you’re not alone.
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