Who is at the center of our lives???? Upstate NY Youth Day St. Mark Church, Rochester, NY August 23, 2014

Who is my God ? For some … For some … –Business is God –Money is God –Power is God –Pleasure is God For true Christians, God is their God and the center of their being !!! For true Christians, God is their God and the center of their being !!!

Three important questions Why should God be at the center ? Why should God be at the center ? How do we know who is at the center? How do we know who is at the center? How do we make God at the center? How do we make God at the center?

Why ? God is our creator, our father, our savior, our beloved God is our creator, our father, our savior, our beloved Without God, we live in fear, anxiety, worry, hatred, divisiveness, …etc. Without God, we live in fear, anxiety, worry, hatred, divisiveness, …etc. In God, we have peace, joy, love,…etc. In God, we have peace, joy, love,…etc. We were created for God, and we will find no rest until we rest in Him We were created for God, and we will find no rest until we rest in Him

Man’s Life Say you are now in high school or college, what is next ? Say you are now in high school or college, what is next ?

Indicators What consumes your thoughts, your day- dreaming? What consumes your thoughts, your day- dreaming? Look at the 24 hours you have in a given day, and think about how it is allocated Look at the 24 hours you have in a given day, and think about how it is allocated Look at how you spend your resources Look at how you spend your resources Look at your conversations and their focus Look at your conversations and their focus

Indicators Look at the motivation behind your actions? Look at the motivation behind your actions? Study your feelings when you are honored or cursed Study your feelings when you are honored or cursed Look at your goals and objectives Look at your goals and objectives

How ? Establish a personal relationship with Christ Establish a personal relationship with Christ Establish a relationship with His Word Establish a relationship with His Word Experience His Love Experience His Love

A relationship with Christ Talk to Him throughout the day in the spirit of sonship and love Talk to Him throughout the day in the spirit of sonship and love Meditate on His love and what He did for you Meditate on His love and what He did for you Practice the Jesus Prayer Practice the Jesus Prayer

A relationship with His Word The Bible as a personal message to you The Bible as a personal message to you The story of St. Anthony The story of St. Anthony Quiet Time Quiet Time

Experience His Love Meditate on the Cross Meditate on the Cross Taste how sweet it is to live with the Lord Taste how sweet it is to live with the Lord