Stay Strong

I had a talk with my Mom last night and we were discussing how it's hard to live in the world and not be of it. The world puts so many temptations in our way. Recently I have been struggling a bit. I feel the pressure of "just go with the flow" But If I just go with the flow how will I bring Glory to my King?

God wants us to be different for Him. Right now I'm struggling with courting. I am still going to court, don't get me wrong, no one can get me to not-court, but I feel the pressure. Everyone I know has a girlfriend or a boyfriend and it gets to you. Satan whispers in my ear "Look how fun it is. Everybody does it."

That is what makes it hard. There are even some Christians who don't want to court and think it's stupid. And it's hard when even my close friends who I have talked to about this before date. But I believe this is a test. And if I pass it will bring Glory to God, and that is all that matters.

I'm not the only one in the world who courts. But Satan likes to remind me of the many people who date and push away that encouragement of those who court. I'm doing what I think is right. But who says standing up for what's right is easy?

It's not, but that is part of God's wonderful plan!
To God alone be the Glory!

Go Against The Flow

Dare to be different for your Savior. We are weird, we are Christians. The world doesn't really get us. They see us as party-poopers or weaklings because we need God to use as a crutch. They don't understand us. I think we try to hard to blend in. We need to stand out.

Sometimes we are strange or weird among Christians because of our deep commitment to God. Stand up for what you believe in. Never be afraid to stand up for what's right. You may get a bad response here, but God will reward you in heaven.

Just being yourself might be witness enough, for your friends. Just seeing the choices you make and the way you live out your life for God. I know, It's so hard to stand for what's right; to go against the flow. But it's not about us here. It's about God. And if we need to stand out to bring Him glory, so be it.

He can allow us to die whenever He pleases, He is in control of everything. So stand out for Christ before it's too late. God calls us to stand out for Him, don't blend in. Your a special child of God, the ultimate person in control. You shouldn't be the same as the people who aren't a special child of God. You should stand out so they can say, "I want to be that." or "I want be like her/him."
Don't be afraid to stand out; to stand up for what is right, and follow Jesus's example.

Here is the link to an awesome music video on this subject: encouraging Christians to stand out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO2prEoATH8
To God alone be the Glory.

God Deserves More

Sometimes I forget what life is all about. I always assume it's about me. (If you don't believe me ask my mom.) It's about God and sadly, we often forget that.

Everything that has ever happened or will happen is for His glory. And that is all that matters. We aren't on this earth to please ourselves, (as much as we wish) we're here to please God. There are plenty of things to please us, and we are so busy pleasing ourselves we don't stop to praise and please the one who created us with that ability.

God deserves more than we can give Him. Yet we give Him less than what we have. And whatever we have, He has given us. We deserve punishment for our sins. Jesus didn't, yet He died for us. I don't think It's right that He paid the ultimate sacrifice for us and if He's lucky we pray over dinner or go to church once a month.

God deserves way more than we give Him. The only reason we are here on this earth is because of Him and for Him. To bring Glory to God and do what He wants us to do. God doesn't want lukewarm Christians, He wants Christians that are on fire for Him!

Revelation 3:15-16

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

God deserves more honor, respect, praise, and glory then we give Him. I don't know about you, but I for one, do not want to be spit out of God's mouth because I did things for Him half-heartedly or out of obligation. The world is not about us- It's about Jesus Christ.
To God alone be the Glory.

God's Plan

God has a plan for you. Maybe it's not what you think it is.

I want to be used by God in bigger ways then I am. I want to bring as much glory and honor to His name as possible. Maybe God just wants me to talk to the people I know, or maybe He has bigger plans. But you have to do the "small" stuff before you can do the big stuff.

I have trouble with that. I want God to use me now in a big way. But I have to start with the small stuff. I know God is going to use me and is using me now. Nothing is impossible with God. God has perfect timing. For He is perfect and He laid down the plan of life and knows what it is. God knew millions of years ago before the earth was created, that I would be writing this right now.

It doesn't matter how small you think you're ministry is if you're doing it for God. God is with you at all times. Go for it!
To God alone be the Glory.

Twilight: Not A Fan

Sorry to all you Twilight lovers out there, but I'm not a fan. Whoa! Wait a second before you judge me.
Playing with evil is not good. Vampire's are evil. Demonic.

In other words do you think God would be pleased if He saw you reading or watching Twilight? I don't think so. Yet He knows you're doing it. God hates evil, vampires and warewolves are evil, God wants us to be like Him, pure; hating evil. So why are we doing something that God clearly does not like?

Psalm 26:9

Do not take my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men.

If anything I don't think Twilight is building up our Christian Faith. I think it is tearing it down. Vampires: bloodthirsty men are evil. God hates evil.

Proverbs 29:10

Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright.

He wants us to run from evil. Vampires and warewolves are evil. God tells us to flee from evil. HELLO?

1Timothy 6:11

But you, man fo God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endorance and gentleness.

If you (like me) do not like Twilight, I want you to tell me through a comment. I know I'm not the only one who doesn't like it.

If you like Twilight you can comment as well. As I like to say- "What is my Faith good for, If it isn't tested once in a while?"

But I challange everyone reading this, not to stop watching and reading Twilight, but to think and dwell upon what God thinks of it, and if it brings glory to Him. And if you decide to keep reading it and watching it that's fine. I'm just glad you thought about it first.
So I challange you to ask this question, "What does God think?"

Go ahead and tell me what you came up with.
To God alone be the glory.

Fear Not

No matter what's going on in your life, the God of the universe knows. He was human before, He understands your feelings. Sometimes it seems like God's so far away.

You see God walking next to you over hills covered in wildflowers, but when you start into the dark dangerous valley, He is not beside you. The reason He is not by your side is because He is carrying you through the valley. No matter what is going on in your life, no matter WHAT, God is there for you.

Faith is more than believing in God, Faith is living out day-to-day life with God.

James 2: 19

You believe there is a God. Good! Even the demons believe that- and shudder.

Faith is trusting God and His decisions. In all situations, whether your scared of a spider or your about to die, God is there we need to trust Him.

I am learning what it means to live by Faith. It's not just trusting God in the good times, when things are under control. It's trusting Him in the hard times when things are spinning out of control. I think God gives us hard times and such, so we have to rely on Him more. We need God even when things are good as well as when things are bad.

Hebrews 11:13

All these people were still living by Faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.

God is there for you, all you have to do is believe that and live it out in Faith. I'm working on a lot of things in my life. But I have to say Faith is the hardest. I'm going to work on trusting God more and put my Faith to work. Are you going to?
To God alone be the Glory.

Purity

Purity is more than a word. It is a commitment to stay pure. Purity of heart, mind, soul, thoughts, and relationships, that is what I pray for myself and others each morning.

Today I want to talk about Purity in/with relationships with guys/girls. This is the way I see it:

Are you ready to get married right now? If your answer is no, I advise you to wait to date.

I don't date. I court.

Hold on a sec I'm not done! I see you moving that cursor away!

Many people don't understand what courting is or they think they know what is. Courting has the same plan as dating: find you're future husband. Although in courting you don't float around from guy to guy (or girl to girl) breaking hearts, and playing the game of dating.

Whenever I say I don't date, I court, people say: I'd never do that! Then I ask them why and they say: 'Cause.

I court because I want to find the perfect man for me and save myself for him. When you date it's kind of like playing with feelings. At 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, maybe even 17 you probably aren't ready to get married.

The fact is: You're going to break up. Being teens we don't know who we are yet. We're in this awkward stage between kid and adult and we don't know which category to be in. Are feelings are all over the place. One minute I'm laughing the next I'm crying. I don't even know why! My Mom tells me two very important things:

1. Don't let your emotions rule you.
2. Don't listen to your emotions, they lie.
   

Courting, is preparing yourself for your husband (or wife), keeping yourself pure. If you fall in love with every guy/girl you see, what do you think is going to happen when you finally find the one and they know all about your other relationships?

I love God and God thinks this issue is important. Therefore so do I. Therefore, so should you.

To God alone be the Glory.

Give It Up ^

Sometimes it's hard to let go. No, I'm not talking about a person I'm talking about things we value. Like when your saving up for something and you know God wants you to give it up to Him.

It's hard 'cause here, on earth, it makes perfect sense to go through and buy the thing your saving up for, or maybe your not saving anything, your just trying to pay your bills, mortgage, and/or loan.

But when you think of an everlasting prize waiting for you in heaven, instead of a short-lasting thing on earth It's a no brainer.

"Hmmm...should I buy the fruit that goes bad tomorrow or the fruit that never goes bad? Hmmm..."-It's a no brainer. So is deciding to give it up to God. You're treasure there is soooooooooo much more important than your short-lasting treasure here.


Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

Give it up. The only reason we are here is for our savior Jesus Christ, to bring glory to Him. It's a no-brainer yet it's soooooo hard. That, my friend, is where faith comes in.

"He is no fool, who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose."-Jim Elliot
To God alone be the Glory.