Latest / HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN® / Finding God in a World That Never Stops Episode 5: Put your phone down

Transcript

Finding God in a World That Never Stops Episode 5: Put your phone down · HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN®

• 0:00
  Welcome to Have Faith, Let It Begin. This is Ariel Santana.
• 0:04
  Can you believe I'm seven years old already? I'm old enough now to introduce my dad.
• 0:10
  Ladies and gentlemen, your host, my dad, Angel Santana.
• 0:47
  Hello, everyone, and welcome to Have Faith, Let It Begin. I cannot believe we're
• 0:51
  up to episode five of the Slow Down, Finding God in a World That Never Stops.
• 0:58
  Episode number five of 10, we're concluding the first week of this 10-part series,
• 1:04
  Put Your Phone Down. That's today's title opener.
• 1:07
  It's crazy to think we're up to this point. Well, my name is Angel Santana.
• 1:11
  This is Have Faith, Let It Begin. And again, so happy and thankful you've joined with me today.
• 1:16
  Welcome back to our series. As I stated, slow down, finding God in a world that never stops.
• 1:22
  Today, I want to ask you a very simple question.
• 1:25
  When was the last time you had a conversation without looking at your phone?
• 1:30
  You like how I paused there, huh?
• 1:32
  When was the last time you had a conversation without looking at your phone?
• 1:36
  When was the last time you sat in silence without checking a notification?
• 1:42
  Technology. Technology is a wonderful gift. It keeps us connected.
• 1:47
  It helps us learn. It allows us to share God's message around the world.
• 1:52
  But if we're not careful, the very thing designed to connect us can slowly disconnect
• 1:59
  us from the people sitting right beside us.
• 2:02
  So today, let's slow down and open God's word together.
• 2:07
  Our primary scripture today, from the biblical perspective, comes from Psalms 46, verse 10.
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  Be still and know that I am God.
• 2:19
  Those words were spoken in quiet, perfect world.
• 2:24
  Hmm, those words were spoken in a quiet, perfect world. Doesn't that sound weird?
• 2:31
  You see, they were spoken as an invitation to trust God in the middle of chaos.
• 2:36
  Stillness creates space for God's voice. So let's take a look at our supporting scripture.
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  It comes from Luke 10, verses 41-42.
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  Jesus lovingly said to Martha, Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about
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  many things, but few things are needed or indeed only one.
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  Mary has chosen what is better.
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  Mary wasn't distracted. She was fully present with Jesus.
• 3:07
  Martha wasn't doing anything wrong. She was simply doing something.
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  Well, let me put it this way. She was simply so busy that she almost missed
• 3:18
  the blessings sitting in her own home.
• 3:21
  How often do we do the same thing?
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  Jesus is speaking.
• 3:28
  Our family is talking. A friend is sharing their heart. And we're looking down at a screen.
• 3:34
  How many times have you gone to a restaurant? You look at the tables. Nobody talks anymore.
• 3:38
  They're both there, supposed to be having a night out. And yet they're just
• 3:41
  looking at each other's phones, not even looking up. not even having a discussion.
• 3:46
  Have you ever picked up your phone just to check one message and 20 minutes
• 3:51
  later, you don't even remember why you picked it up?
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  We've become conditioned to reach for our phones every time there's a quiet moment.
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  Waiting in line, sitting at a stoplight, watching television, eating dinner.
• 4:05
  We've become uncomfortable with silence. But silence isn't empty.
• 4:10
  Sometimes silence is where God speaks the loudest. Think about the people you
• 4:15
  love most, your spouse, your children, your parents, your closest friends.
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  What if the greatest gift that you could give them isn't another text,
• 4:30
  but your full attention?
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  Looking someone in the eyes says you matter.
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  Putting your phone away says I am listening. Being fully present says right now.
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  You're more important than anything happening on that screen.
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  That's what you have to think about. Jesus always gave people his full attention.
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  The woman at the well, blind Bartimus, Zacharias, the children who ran to him.
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  No one ever walked away from Jesus feeling ignored.
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  May that be true of us as well. Heart check. Let's pause together.
• 5:10
  Has your phone become a distraction from your relationship with God?
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  Has it become a distraction from your relationship with the people you love?
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  Well, here's a thought. When someone is talking to you, are they competing with
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  you and the screen for your attention?
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  Because that's what it feels like today. Ask God to help you become more present.
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  Here's your faith challenge today.
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  Choose one hour today and put your phone away. No scrolling,
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  no notifications, no social media.
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  Use that hour to pray, read scripture, talk with your family,
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  visit a friend, or simply sit outside and thank God for his creation.
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  Then ask yourself, what did I notice once I stopped looking at my screen?
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  Here's today's takeaway. way.
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  The greatest connection you'll make today may happen after you disconnected from your phone.
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  Technology is a wonderful servant, but it should never become our master.
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  God created us for his relationship with us. God created us for relationships
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  with him, with one another.
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  Slow down. Look up. Listen carefully because the people sitting beside you deserve
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  more than a distraction or distracted version of you.
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  They deserve your presence. Amen. Heavenly Father, thank you for your good gift.
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  The good gift that you've given us, including the technology that allows us to stay connected.
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  Help us to use these tools wisely
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  without allowing them to become distractions from what matters most.
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  Teach us to be more present, to be fully present with you and with the people
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  that you've placed in our lives.
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  Quiet our hearts, calm our minds, and remind us that your voice is often heard
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  in moments of stillness.
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  May our attention reflect our love. May our lives reflect Jesus.
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  In his precious name that we pray, amen.
• 7:10
  Before we close out, I'd like to personally welcome you to this Sunday, First Reformed Church.
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  I will be preaching, finding pace in a world that never stops.
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  In today's episode, we heard a lot about that.
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  And if today's episode spoke to your heart, I believe Sunday's message will
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  encourage you even more as we continue discovering what it means to slow down,
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  choose pace, and walk closely with Christ.
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  If you're in our area, love to see you. I'd love to see you worship with us. We'll welcome you.
• 7:43
  Well, thank you for listening to Have Faith Let It Begin. We're a federally
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  registered trademark podcast.
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  We are dealing with real people, real stories, and real faith.
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  Until next time, keep the faith, slow your pace, and let God lead the way.
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  And never forget, have faith.