Message for July 5 2015 - Writing my life story - I decided to STOP

INTRO: Regret, remorse, pages and pages of life wasted and gone. But your story isn't finished yet. There's still time for edits and cuts. But before you start doing the right things, sometimes you need to stop doing the wrong things. 

My story, I decided to stop.

Today, we're in the second week of a four-week series of messages called, "Writing my Life Story - My Story". If you missed last week, let me catch you up. We talked about what you need to START in your life. 

Last Sunday I asked the question: WHAT DOES GOD WANT YOU TO WANT?

5 or 10 years from now—what story does God want you to tell?

Financial Freedom—we were in debt.

Right Priorities—was obsessed with work.

Spiritual Family—Xian’s but not doing anything.

Better physical shape—used to weigh- How you feel – How others see you.

Based on what you believe God wants you to want…

The reality is we cannot change what's already been written about our story. But the good news is our future story is yet to be written. And in this series we're talking about the decisions that we make that will write our future story.

How do we live the story we want to tell?  

Live a story worth telling?
Let God help write your story!

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…                                                              Hebrews 12:2

The decisions that you make TODAY determine the stories that you TELL tomorrow.

Decide today the story you want to tell tomorrow.          

Direction not intention determines destination.                – Andy Stanley

Today I ask:  What is God telling you to STOP in your life?

Example: Moses (Exodus 18)

1. You don't know what you're MISSING if you DON’T.      

17 “It’s not right!” his father-in-law exclaimed. 18 “You’re going to wear yourself out—and if you do, what will happen to the people? Moses, this job is too heavy a burden for you to try to handle all by yourself. 19-20 Now listen, and let me give you a word of advice, and God will bless you: Be these people’s lawyer—their representative before God—bringing him their questions to decide; you will tell them his decisions, teaching them God’s laws, and showing them the principles of godly living. 21 “Find some capable, godly, honest men who hate bribes, and appoint them as judges, one judge for each 1000 people; he in turn will have ten judges under him, each in charge of a hundred; and under each of them will be two judges, each responsible for the affairs of fifty people; and each of these will have five judges beneath him, each counseling ten persons. 22 Let these men be responsible to serve the people with justice at all times. Anything that is too important or complicated can be brought to you. But the smaller matters they can take care of themselves. That way it will be easier for you because you will share the burden with them. 23 If you follow this advice, and if the Lord agrees, you will be able to endure the pressures, and there will be peace and harmony in the camp.”                              Exodus 18: 17-23

Play out the story in your mind – what if Moses did NOT stop his way and ignore the advice of his father in law?

Think about it – What is the basis of your faith?  Are you trusting in so many other things instead of God? Stop trusting in other things – Keep firmly grounded on the Lord!

2. You don't know what it will COST you if you DON’T.

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed this suggestion.                                                        Exodus 18:24

Let me give some hypothetical situations for you:

·       Keep being rude to people and demand your own way. Be judgmental about others and see your friends slowly move away from you. 

·       Keep struggling on the yo-yo diets and decide to give in to human nature and eat the entire pint of ice cream (half-gallon). Forget about eating right – and exercising every day….

·       Keep breaking the financial rules you know you should follow – don’t save for the unforeseen need (crisis) in the days ahead – don’t budget – don’t exercise faith and give to the church (Which Christ loved so much he gave his life for it.) Keep giving God a poor pitiful “tip” on Sundays and not take one Sunday and give extravagantly to the Lord! When is the last time you gave so much for others that it brought joy to your heart?

·       How about some of those habits that culture has used to squeeze you into its mold?  How about a break from Facebook and call three true friends this week and just begin by saying ‘I have been thinking about you today…. “  

3. What do you need to STOP to tell the story GOD wants you to tell?

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.                   Hebrews 12:1-2

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, forgive me of all of my sins. Jesus, be the Savior and the Lord of my life. God, my story is no longer my story; I want it to be your story. Fill me with your Spirit so I could live the story you want me to tell. Thank you for new life, today I give you mine. My life is yours. Someday I will stand with the cloud of witnesses and sing an Endless Hallelujah to you my King.  In Jesus' name I pray.