Convictions, Distractions and things...

Okey Dokey...it's been a little bit since I posted but I have been a little busy. Anyways I ended my last blog talking about posting something the pastor was talking about last Sunday so that is what I am going to "blog" about. *sorry in advance for any typos or bad punctuation I am writing this really fast.*

The pastor challenged us to seek out and find that which distracts us from a closer relationship with God. He then urged us to write it down. I will be honest and tell you what mine were:
1. Money
2. Jealousy
3. Appearence

I wrote mine down and then though over them a little bit.
-I put money because I worry a lot about money. It is not that I am worried about having too little it is that I micromanage it so much. Nate and I def. have enough money for everything but I like to do budgets like nobody's business. Therefore I let money get in the way. Nate and I make sure we tithe and in doing so we have def. seen God's blessings and provisions come back but it is very hard to let managing of the money be given up to God even though he is the best accountant in the world :).
-Jealousy was my number two. For lack of a better word I chose this one. I picked it because often times I get upset to see people get heaps of blessings when they don't seem to really be doing anything to get them. It is not that I am necessarily jealous of what they have just how they can do nothing and get something when Nate and I work so hard for things. This has been my mindset since highschool. I often have to remind myself while there treasures builds up on earth mine are building in heaven. I would rather have a house is heaven filled with treasure then a house on earth filled with crap (that I can't even take with me).
-Appearence is the third thing that is a distraction. I workout everyday in hopes of losing weight and looking better. Guess what though God doesn't have a weight limit!!! I love knowing I don't serve a shallow God. I have realized to let go of what I look like...who cares. I have an amazing husband that tells me I am beautiful everyday and loves me unconditionally and family and freinds that except me big butt and all.
So with all that said I put my "distractions" in the offering basket and prayed over them. Now I am not saying that they are gone but being aware of them really helps me to control them. I urge you guys to find the distractions in your life and make a list for yourself, it has really helped me.

Another thing I was really convicted on was being materialistic. I, Morgan Balough, am a materialistic person. I own up to it!!! This is another one of my distractions...not as big as the others but def. enough of one to block the cross. I believe a lot of america is materialistic and either won't admit it or can't see it because all there stuff is in the way. Think of it this way...you might be materialistic if,... someone came into your house and destroyed everything you own and it upsets you....materialism. Now I am not saying you shouldn't be upset, heck I would be, but if you put ANY value on things it is, in my eyes, materialism. That new car you bought gets keyed and you flip...your putting value in something that you can't take with you. I am not judging anybody this is just my personal view on what being materialistic means and therefore I have discovered I am materialistic. Having things is not a crime, but putting self worth and value into things and let them define who you are well that is materialism. I put a lot of value in the things I have in my house. I wouldn't want somebody messing anything up or destroying anything Nate and I have worked hard to get. I have to tell myself daily guess what Morgan, God doesn't care what you have or what you wear!!! God isn't going to turn me down at the pearly gates bc I don't wear Prada or bc my t.v. was only 20in. I put a lot of value on stuff that is not eternal. I waste time trying to make my life comfortable in this world and don't work on my life for the next...eternity. So I am on a mission to become less materialistic!!!well enough about that...

Sorry for the REALLY long post but I guess I needed to rant a little bit and share a little bit. I normally am not a ranter but whatever. I will write again soon...but prob. not.