The GPS Analogy

Anyone who was in FCA last Friday knows the talk was about SEX but I wasn't sure that would make the greatest blog title!

Housekeeping First:

Lovinggood on the Lawn is May 6, 2011. There will be a meeting on Monday, March 7, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. in the Lovinggood Attendance/Guidance Conference Room for all volunteers. We are collecting canned soda donations for the event. As many as are donated will be how many are available for the event itself, so please donate! 6th graders - Sprite; 7th graders - Coke; 8th graders - Diet Coke.

Applications for FCA Leadership for the 2011/2012 school year are due by 9:15 a.m. Friday, February 18, 2011.

Talk it Up - fliers will be distributed every week with talking points for discussion throughout the day/week. Let's get talking.

How did you all like Mrs. Norris' talk on Friday? I thought it was fantastic.

When you become a Christian, God uploads his GPS map into you. The Holy Spirit becomes your navigation system while the Bible is your road map. He has a PLAN for your life and will provide you everything you need to follow it. There is not a situation you will face that can't be resolved by reading His Word. Reading the Bible brings you wisdom teaches you discernment.

God also gave you a brain to use and free will. When you choose to exercise your free will in a manner that is contrary to God's path, the Holy Spirit will be shouting "recalculating!" at you to help redirect you back to the chosen path. Meanwhile the devil is out to kill you, steal from you, and destroy you. Sounds like a battle is going on and it truly is. Satan will work very hard to pull you from God's path/plans for your life. Sex is one way people are tricked.

What you share with another person when you have sex is something that is intended for marriage and to be shared with only one person. Once you have that connection with another person, it doesn't end even if the relationship ends. That connection is permanent and bringing connections with others into a marriage can have devastating effects on a marriage.

You put yourself in a position to succeed or fail. The Holy Spirit gives you plenty of cues along the way to keep you on the right path, but ultimately you are the one who makes the choice and either reaps the benefit or pays the cost. Even at this age, you need to take responsibility for your actions and how they affect you and others (the way you dress, talk, act). Help yourself and others succeed! It is so important.

The Faith to Wait Pledge was offered to each of you who would like to commit to keeping sex as something you do only in marriage. It is a commitment only you can make.

Daniel Reyes, February 4th's FCA - Stay True and He will too

I have to say right off that I wasn't in attendance on February 4th. And I am sad I missed it because not only is Daniel Reyes the parent of two Lovinggood students and an excellent speaker, he is ALSO an AGGIE FAN! Not often do I meet Aggies in Georgia. The Longhorns seem to be EVERYWHERE in this fantastic nation of ours and certainly in Georgia, but the Aggies.......well, a little harder to come by. Maybe the maroon fades into the scenery while the burnt orange of Texas sort of stands out so you can't really miss them. To Mr. Reyes, Gig 'em! To the rest of you, I hope you enjoyed his time with you and I am sorry I missed it.

So, with a little help from an 8th grader, I am going to recap the morning for the rest of you who missed it.

Do you ever get sidetracked? Not just from God - from anything? Things come at you all day everyday and they can be a distraction. Facebook....that's a good one. I am glad he brought it up! Facebook isn't a bad thing in and of itself, but as with anything else, if you allow it to distract you from that which you need to do or who you intend to be, it can be a bad thing.

We all need to put our faith in God and stay true to who He calls us to be without being distracted by others, by thoughts, by actions, or desires that are contrary to who God wants us to be. If you will keep Jesus as the object of your perfection and keep your eyes on Him, He will remain as the priority in your life. He will bring you joy. If you don't know God, can you really feel joy?

Being faithful doesn't always come easily. As with other things in your life (studying, working out, practicing an instrument, playing a sport), you need to put forth effort in order to do well at it. If you aren't putting effort into being faithful to God, gradually or rather suddenly things CAN fall apart. When this happens, remember, He will never let you go. He is always there for you and He loves you exactly as you are. Fix your eyes and focus on Him and things will be alright!

Have a great week. See you all on Friday.......