Faith Focus for January 30

February: Being Sincere

Joshua 24:14
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth...

You are never more "you" than when you are growing in God's grace and becoming who He created you to be.

Faith Focus for January 23

January: Being Diligent

Proverbs 12:24
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothfuld shall be under tribute.

Diligence overcomes difficulties, sloth makes them. - Benjamin Franklin

17 Signs of Emotional Dependency

A big choice older teens and single young adults need to make in order to keep their relationships healthy is this: choose to let God have complete and absolute control over your emotions. Signs of emotional dependency are easy to see—especially to God-fearing parents and God-given Biblical authorities. Parents and Biblical authorities should be pointing this out to youth earlier than the youth can see it. Be honest with yourself as you review these 17 signs of unhealthy emotional dependency. Don't be afraid to ask someone in Biblical authority at your church like your pastor or your youth director for assistance in understanding them.

1. Thinking about a person too much.
2. Getting jealous easily.
3. Subconsciously expecting someone to be obligated to you.
4. Needing to be in constant contact.
5. Not having other friends.
6. Having to be alone with another person.
7. Being easily offended at each other.
8. Saying I love you.
9. Starting to touch.
10. Distancing from family.
11. Being irritable when apart.
12. Working out problems often.
13. Fear of losing that person.
14. Loss of interest in spiritual things.
15. Having to always be together.
16. Giving your heart to that person.
17. Extreme despair during a breakup.

Faith Focus for January 16

January: Being Diligent

Proverbs 22:29
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

In a world where there is so much to be done, I am strongly impressed that there must be something for me to do.

Faith Focus for January 9

January: Being Diligent

Deuteronomy 6:17
Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

"I have only one ambition: to be God's errand boy." - F. B. Meyer

Understanding the Early Years of Adulthood - Part Five

Career Location—Where will you live? What company or organization will you work for? Will the job be solid? Will the ministry “stay afloat”? Where will your family grow up? Who will your kids be friends with? What church will you attend? What community will you live in? Who will babysit your kids and influence your family? What school will you send your kids to? These questions have enormous implications on many parts of your future and family. You must get it right. You must believe there is a God-ordained purpose and plan for all that must be discovered.

Living Quarters—What kind of place will you put your family in? How much will you have to pay? When will you purchase a home, if ever? How? What does it take to get into an apartment? How do you know what is best when you’ve never traveled this road before?

Church—Will you go to church since your parents won’t be making you? What kind? Will you serve faithfully? Will you be what God wants you to be in your church family? Will you help to bring others to Christ in that church? Will you find a solid Bible-believing church home or will you choose a compromising, middle-of-the-road, never-leave-your-comfort-zone type of place? Be careful not to follow culture's priorities and make the decision to leave the church of your upbringing too easily and without proper consideration. The Lord blesses faithfulness to His church and you will not be happy if you leave God's will in order to follow your dreams.

Personal Walk with Christ—Will you know Christ personally and stay faithful to Him in your heart? Will your children follow your faith or leave it? Will God be a small part of your big picture, or will He be your big picture? Will God be that part of your life that you run to only when you’re in trouble? These decisions will have much to do with your own personal sanity as well as the spiritual health of your family for generations to come.

Faith Focus for January 2

January: Being Diligent

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

You only believe that which compels you to action.