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Hello. I'm Jeff. My wife and I host message of Hope. Message of Hope wants to be your weekly inspirational, motivational and non judgmental friends to help you through your week as we share bottle truth and life experiences to let you know you're not alone. Let's join Sandra to see what message of hope she has today there.

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Hello, I'm Sandra. And today I want to talk about how important it ISS to choose the right friends. You know, the people we choose to hang out with in times past. I've spent way too much time caring what other people thought of me, and I've been guilty of choosing friends by the way they made me feel or because I thought they were cool or they were popular and had a lot of friends. I sought attention and self worth from what others thought of me so much that at times I did or said things I wouldn't only do or say, because that's how the people I was trying to impress, talked or acted. You ever heard the old saying We become like those we hang around well, that has proved true in my life. Many times over and I've seen it proved true in lives of countless others as well. There are a variety of reasons why we may be seeking the attention I mentioned, but we also could actually begin a relationship with that person in order to be a witness to them, to help them with good intentions. But gradually, instead of us influencing them in the right direction, we find that we have become more and more like them, and over time we find we now have some of their negative habits rather than them being influenced by our positive ones. We had to pay close attention because one of the biggest hindrances to achieving our goals in life is simply the people we choose to surround ourselves with. As adults. We teach our kids this, but somehow we don't think it applies to us. But it certainly does. The Bible instructs that one of the best things we can do is to cut any ties to people who may be affecting us in a negative way. For instance, if they are a negative person, they make fun of or put other people down or they gossip. Or maybe they make light of your hopes and your dreams or the goals that you've set. If that's true, then maybe you should consider parting ways. That doesn't mean you should be rude to them. You can still say hello, but don't choose toe Hang out like you previously did. Let's read Proverbs 13 14 through 21. It says the teaching of the wise is a source of life. Their words will save you from deadly traps. People like a person with good sense. But life is hard for someone who cannot be trusted. Wise people always think before they do anything but fools show how stupid they are by what they do. Disaster will catch up to the wicked messenger, but a runner who could be trusted will bring peace. If you refuse to learn from your mistakes, you will be poor and no one will respect you. If you listen. When you're criticized, you will be honored. People are happy when they get what they want, But stupid people want nothing but evil and they refuse to change. Be friends with those who are wise, and you will become wise to schools to be your friend and you will have trouble. Trouble chases centres wherever they go, but good things happen to good people. Amen. So young and old alike need to be careful to not give these people a place of significance or influence in our lives. As the Bible just warned us, we will have trouble if we do. Now, if you're like I am. I previously have been guilty of thinking I couldn't do anything about the kind of people who were around me. But we can. For instance, if you're in school, maybe you could look for a new club. Maybe you could change some of your classes, join the choir or learn an instrument. If it's the people at your job, consider finding new employment are going to another department. And yes, even if you haven't met positive friends at the church that you currently attend, why not look for a new church with some different people? These are all things that could possibly help us to meet some different friends. Sometimes we all get stuck in a rut of doing the same things or going to the same places over and over, and we remain stagnant when surrounded by negative people. Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. So why not invest in yourself and your future about trying something new? It's very important, according to God's word, that we take time to consider those we hang out with. So let's look at what God's word tells us in Proverbs 44 through 27 it reads. Children, listen to your father's teaching. Pay attention and you will learn how to learn. The advice I give is good, so don't ever forget what I teach you. When I was my father's little boy and my mother's dear son, my father taught me this. Pay attention to what I say. Obey my commands and you will have a good life. Try to get wisdom and understanding. Don't forget my teaching or ignore what I say. Don't turn away from wisdom and she will protect you. Love her, and she will keep you safe. The first step to becoming wise is to look for wisdom, so use everything. You have to get understanding, love, wisdom, and she will make you great. Hold on to wisdom, and she will bring you honor. Wisdom will reward you with the crown of honor and glory. Son, listen to me. Do what I say and you will live a long time. I'm teaching you about wisdom and guiding you on the right path As you walk on it. You will not step into a trap. Even if you run, you will not trip and fall. Always remember this teaching. Don't forget it. It is the key to life so hard it well don't take the path of the wicket. Don't follow those who do evil. Stay away from that half. Don't even go near it. Turn around and go another way. The wicket cannot sleep until they have done something evil. They will not rest until they bring someone down. Evil and violence are their food and drink. The path of those who live right is like the early morning light. It gets brighter and brighter until the full light of day. But the path of the wicket is like a dark night. They trip and fall over what they cannot see. My son. Pay attention to what I say. Listen closely to my words. Don't let them out of your sight. Never stopped thinking about them. These words are the secret of life and health to all who discover them. Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life. Don't bend the truth or say things that you know or not. Right, Keep your eyes on the path and look straight ahead. Make sure you are going the right way and nothing will make you fall. Don't go to the right or to the left, and you will stay away from evil. Amen. And in Galatians, 5 16 through 26 we're told the kinds of things that we can look out for in others to help us choose wisely and to know if we may ourselves be the person that others should not hang around. And it reads. So I tell you, live the way the spirit lead you. Then you will not do the evil things your sinful self wants. The sinful self wants what is against the spirit, and the spirit wants what is against the sinful self. They're always fighting against each other so that you don't do what you really want to do. But if you let the spirit lead you, you're not under the law, the wrong things. The sinful self does are clear. Committing sexual sin, being morally bad, doing all kinds of shameful things. Worshipping false gods, taking part in witchcraft, hating people, causing people, trouble being jealous, angry or selfish, causing people to argue and divide into separate groups being filled with envy. Getting drunk, having wild parties and doing other things like this. I warn you now, as I warned you before, the people who do these things will not have a part in God's kingdom. But the fruit that the spirit produces in a person's life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. There is no law against these kinds of things. Those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified their simple self. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things that they wanted to do. We get our new life from the spirit, so we should follow the spirit. We must not feel proud and boast about ourselves, and we must not cause trouble for each other or be jealous of each other. Amen. Yes, we all fall short in this and many other areas, so understand that as I record this, I too and being reminded to be careful when it comes to choosing who I hang out with and where my influences come from, and also traits I might still exhibit that I might need to be changing. But thank God we have a father who loves us so much, and he understands, and he forgives us when we fall short. John, 3 16 through 21 says Yes. God loved the world so much that he gave his only son so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. God sent his son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world guilty but to save the world through him. People who believe in God son are not judged guilty. But people who do not believe are already judged because they have not believed in God's only son. They're judged by this fact. The light has come into the world, but they did not want the light. They wanted darkness because they were doing evil things. And everyone who does evil hates the light. They will not come to the light because the light will show all the bad things they have done, But anyone who follows the true way comes to the light. Then the light will show whatever they have done was done through God. One more scripture I want to read in its from psalms 11 through six. Great blessings belong to those who don't listen to evil advice, who don't live like centers and who don't join those who make fun of God. Instead, they love the Lord's teachings, and they think about them day and night. They grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream, a tree that produces fruit when it should and has leaves that never fall. Everything they do is successful, but the wicked they're not like that. They're like Jeff, that the wind blows away. When the time for judgment comes, the wicket will be found. Guilty centers have no place among those who do what is right. The Lord chose his people how to live, but the wicket have lost their way. Amen. So let's do an inventory of the people we spend our time with, and consider whether they're helping us to grow in the Lord, encouraging us lifting our spirits or if they're negative, tend to make poor choices and tear others down with negativity. Personally, I plan to write down my friends names and as myself things like How do I feel when I'm with them? Cannot be myself? Or do I pretend when I'm with them? Do I feel like they add value to who I am? Will It cost me something to remain their friend and other type questions to help me in choosing my friends wisely. As I wrap up today, I encourage you to go to our website at MSG o f h o p e dot com. And on the podcast tab, you will find Episode 38 where you can re listen to this podcast and find the references for the scriptures we read together today so that you can study them for yourself and make any adjustments according to what God alone lays on your specific cart. And as always, we thank you for listening to our podcast and for helping us to spread the good news of Jesus Christ by liking and sharing it with your friends. And if our podcast has helped you in any way or you need prayer, we would love to hear about that. You can contact us at MSG o f h o p e e one at gmail dot com or on our website directly through messaging. Now, as I log off, I want to bless you with a prayer given to the sons of Aaron. Ready? Let's pray the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace until next time Shalom.