Spending too much time with God vs. Spending too much time doing anything else

When you spend too much time doing something, it really starts to show. One time I spent so much time watching Duck Dynasty that I grew a beard.

Just. Kidding.

Here's what happens when you spend too much time with God vs. when you spend too much time doing...anything else. 

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If you spend too much time texting or talking to someone you can end up saying TOO much.

If you spend too much time talking to God, you can end up with a TON of self-control.

A fool vents all his feeling, But a wise man holds them back. |Proverbs 29:11|

Spending too much time shopping can turn you into a real diva.

Too much time with God can make you very, very gentle.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another.

|Ephesians 4:2|

 If you spend all of your time creating (whether it be: blogging, doing hair, recording, taking pictures, writing, designing, or simply DIYing) you can become very preoccupied and get super drained.

When you spend time in God's presence, He will show you how to have diligence and faithfulness with the gifts He specifically gave YOU.

For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

|Psalm 33:4|

If you spend too much time on social media or surfing the web, you can lose faith in everything and everyone.

Spend too much time with God? You'll be able to see the good in pretty much anything.

You are good and do good; Teach me your statutes.

|Psalm 119:68|

If you spend too much time working out, you can accidentally become obsessed with body image and start being kind of rude.

A lot of time with God will make you treat people with kindness.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

|Ephesians 4:32|

Speaking of pizza.  If you eat too much you might get a little lazy and start constantly thinking about your next meal.

Alone time with God will teach you the importance of having patience.

So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

|Hebrews 6:12|

If you study too much your brain can become numb and your head will feel like it is about to explode.

Time with God (and some good studying of His Word) will bring you peace that surpasses all understanding.

You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.

|Isaiah 26:3|

An episode of your favorite show can be a great escape from studying, but if you binge on Netflix all the time, life can get pretty sad.

Too much time with God brings JOY.

For the joy of the Lord is your strength.

|Nehemiah 8:10|

Music is great when it's worship, but when you walk around with your headphones on 24/7, you can forget that people need your love.

God is love and well…who wouldn't want to spend time with Love?

10 reasons church should be your favorite place you go all week

1. Your pastor is funny.

Whether he is trying to be or even better, not trying to be, your pastor makes you crack up. There's nothing like laughter when it comes to good healing. Jokes create memories.

It is helpful to have a story or example to reference when you are understanding and applying the bible to your own life. And what's easier to relate to than a funny story?

A little laughter can get you through a long week.

2. The kids are actually kinda cute.

Whether they go off to the kids' church or choose to stay in the main sanctuary with the big people, you can't leave church without interacting with someone's kid. Even if it's only for one reason.

3. You get to see your family.

Whether it's the one you were born into or one you simply inherited along the way, you most likely have family at your church. You might not always see eye to eye but you can all agree on Jesus.

4. Sometimes there's food.

There's not always food at church, but when there is...

5. You feel very welcome.

Because in life we're not always accepted. The love of God doesn't care what happened earlier this week.

6. The worship team is crankin your FAVORITE new song that you didn't even know they knew.

And now you can't help but praise Him.

7. Apparently your pastor likes it too because he asks them to play it again.

And by now, you and your aisle have a choreographed routine.

8. You get to serve.

And what better way to allow God to reveal your gifts, and ultimately, His will for your life.

9. You can cry without judgement.

Because crying at work just isn't the same.

10. You are where you're supposed to be.

You may not be sure if you have the right job, the right gym membership or the right relationships. You may not be able to tell if you're taking the right classes, are in the right major or at the right school. Sometimes you are not positive your life is even going according to God's plan and you are questioning a decision you just made 5 minutes ago.

But there is one thing you can be sure about: when you are at church on Sunday morning, you are where you are supposed to be. 

 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

[Hebrews 10:25]

5 ways to build a healthy foundation for a Godly relationship

1. Talk, don't text.

Texting is so 2015.

Maybe I'm old school but I hate texting. Am I the only one who thinks texting is exclusively for when you're in class or need to give someone your address?

I think the problem with getting too close to someone through text, is that you aren't actually getting close. You can't always read someone's sense of humor or their laugh.

You can't even be sure if they legitimately LOL or are simply J/K. So when you finally get to hang out with them, you are shocked to see how they react to certain jokes.

Relationships built on texting are awkward. Sometimes we type things we normally wouldn't feel comfortable saying (which can be good in some situations, but certainly not all.)

The little things we are attracted to are usually based on things we hear and see.

Similarly, the things we can't stand the most may go unnoticed when we only text someone. For example: you will never know if they cut you off in the middle of your sentences.

Or if they think the best time to have a full blown conversation is right after they take a bite of their dinner.

2. Visit their church.

If you end up marrying this person, it won't be long before you start talking about what church you will be attending. Pray that God will clearly reveal to you where He wants you to serve.  And in the meantime, visit each other's church.

Church is more dynamic than a young adult ministry or a campus fellowship. A home church can reveal how someone relates to families, children, leadership and a group of people whose lives they know and love.

Plus, the people at their church know them better than you do so you can find out things like whether they actually pay attention on Sundays…or just spend the entire morning texting you.

3. Meet their family.

Because epically embarrassing stories that make you look at them in an entirely new light.

And possibly question everything. But it's worth it.

4. Pray for them more than you talk to them.

I am a firm believer that if you get close enough to anyone, you can start to "like" them. Maybe everything about them annoyed you at first, but because you got to know them you sort of kind of appreciate them and maybe even feel like you owe them something.

question mark.

Spending less time playing and more time praying will get you the answers you need sooner. God will reveal things because He freely gives wisdom (James 1:5.)

5. Don't do anything with them that your future spouse would not want you to do with anyone other than himself/herself.

This person is of the opposite gender (I blogged about not falling for your bro-in-Christ here) so you don't really need to pour out your heart to them. Take it slow and treat them like a friend. If you share EVERYTHING with everyone, things could get pretty awkward when your future spouse meets your friends.

5 ways to avoid falling for your brother-in-Christ. Pt.1?

Because there's a thin line between "Brother-in-Christ" and "Mr.Right."

1. Don't tell him your secrets.

Don't even tell him your business. Here's why:

1. He doesn't care.

Men communicate different than women. You can pour you heart out to your best-friend and she will be waiting with an empty bucket and a tissue to collect all your tears. A guy will most likely just shrug.

And even if he has good advice to offer, he only heard a third of what you said. Not to discredit men's listening skills, but let's be honest, you can talk for 20 minutes straight with no clear point.

When you tell someone what you are going through, you are making yourself vulnerable and giving that person a place within your heart. Being too "transparent" with guys can create a misunderstanding in the friendship.

2. Treat him like a...wait for it...a brother.

I remember my best friend and I were having a conversation about having guy friends and she dropped this bomb:

"If he is really your brother in Christ, treat him like you treat your brother."

I have brothers, three of em. Um. Ew. If you don't have any brothers, just think about the boundaries between siblings and let that sink in. You would never fall for your brother. Again, ew.

3. Don't use the, "Oh but we're saved" excuse.

Duh. That's why you need to be careful. Saved folk still have emotions. We still fall for people we shouldn't. We are still able to fall into same traps that we fell into in the world.

3. Absolutely no guy BFF's.

B.F.F? Best-friend forever. So let me get this right, you plan on having a guy bestie when you're married?

4. No male mentors either (or accountability partners.)

Exactly what is he supposed to be mentoring you on again? Courting? How to be a wife? Motherhood? That time of the month?

"Oh, what's that? You say you have cramps? Don't worry."

5. Never hang out with him alone.

And I wouldn't even do too much texting outside of a group message. You might not think you could be tempted by your Brother-in-Christ. But in this pursuit of purity, you'd be surprise what or who can tempt you. The flesh is very weak. Say it with me-

More ways coming soon! (Unless of course I forget.)