I came across this on the internet. Just going to leave it here…

Twelve Reasons Why a Pastor Has Decided to Quit Attending Sporting Events:

1. The coach never came to visit me
2. Every time I went, they asked for money
3. The people sitting in my row didn’t seem very friendly
4. The seats were very hard
5. The referees made a decision I didn’t agree with
6. I was sitting with hypocrites – they only came to see what others were wearing
7. Some games went into overtime and I was late getting home
8. The band played some songs I had never heard before
9. The games are scheduled on my only day to sleep in and run errands
10. My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up
11. Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches, anyway
12. I don’t want to take my children because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

Who you are five years from now depends on the decisions you make today. The three things that will have the greatest impact on who you are five years from now are: the people you hang out with, the books you read, and the places you invest your time.

Who do you want to be five years from now? Do you want to be a growing and thriving Christian? Do you want to be a better spouse, parent, friend?

The decisions you make today have a direct impact on who you will be five years from now.

Jesus gives us great advice on how we can be the person we desire to be in the future. Jesus tells us, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”

Seek first – make Jesus our first priority. Get yourself around people who help you to grow in the faith, read books that will help you draw closer to God’s kingdom, and invest your time and talents on those things that will honor Christ.

• Get to church – be around people who will inspire you to grow in your faith
• Get in a small group – be around people who will encourage you to draw closer to Jesus
• Get in God’s word – get to know God’s truth and let God’s truth shape how you look at the world

You never grow closer to God by accident. You only grow closer to God by deliberately pursuing Jesus and his righteousness. This is an intentional decision to seek Christ and his kingdom.

Who do you want to be five years from now? The decisions you make today will determine who and what your future you will look like.

“If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).

For the most part I have no problems obeying God. Love others. Forgive. Serve. Give. I think those are great things. I’m all for loving others, serving, giving, forgiving and all those other things that Jesus tells us to do. These are things I try to do most of the time anyway.

But, there’s a problem with obedience. And every time I have a problem with obedience it’s because God is commanding me to do something I don’t want to do. In fact, everything in me is screaming to do the very opposite of what God is commanding me to do.

I’m all about loving others and forgiving others. But, I have my limits. And that’s just the thing. I have limits. God does no. The times I have problems loving others is when they are certifiable jerks. The times I have problems with forgiving is when the person I need to forgive has really hurt me…intentionally.

Come on, God! You want me to love and forgive that person?

Yup.

Come to think of it, the only times when obedience comes into play in my walk with Jesus is the times when what I want to do is in direct conflict with what Jesus is asking me to do.

AND it is those times that make all the difference. Jesus didn’t ask if I felt like doing what he commands. It has nothing to do with how I am feeling. It has everything to do with what Jesus commands.

So, the next time you find yourself not wanting to do the thing that Jesus is asking you to do, will you commit now to obey simply because Jesus commanded us to do so? And, I will do the same thing.