Serving God on the Outside and Inside

I was looking up quotes online the other day, and I saw a quote that kind of caught me off guard. It said, "You don't have to look Christian on the outside, just on the inside." It sounds all good and dandy, right? Christians being able to dress and appear how they want, as long as they are faithful to God on the inside? 

After thinking about this quote for a moment, it kind of hurt me that people actually do believe that statement. If we are living for God on the inside, our outside is ultimately going to match. We aren't going to want our appearance to look ungodly, because that is going to represent just that to the world; ungodliness. If we aren't dressing for God, we are dressing for the devil. This might sound extreme, but I have found this to be true in my own life. 

I have spoken about my troubles with dress before, and its something that is dealt with everyday. I find that if I choose to wear something modest, my relationship with God grows because that is what God tells us to do in the Bible. If I choose to wear something immodest, I feel embarrassed, and it brings about the wrong attention and it disrespects God. If I wouldn't wear it in front of the people at my church, I shouldn't be wearing it at all. I don't want the wrong attention from people. Instead, I want to represent God in my appearance, and I want others to be able to see my faith to Him; not for my own glory, but to glorify what He has done in my heart and life. 

Deuteronomy 22:5 - "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so [are] abomination unto the LORD thy God."

God states that no gender should dress as the opposite. God made us each a certain gender for His glory. Women are meant to dress appropriately in clothing meant for the woman, and men are meant to dress appropriately in clothing meant for the man. If a person is dressing in the opposite gender's clothing, they are going against who God made them to be, and it is a sin. 

Leviticus 19:28 - "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD."

Marks. This is speaking about any marking that a person may make on themselves that they were not born with. This can include cuts a person has made on themselves, tattoos, etc. God states that these markings are of the devil, for the dead, which is the followers of the devil. God made each of us in His image. Would we go to a museum and draw on something painted by Van Gogh? Of course not, so why would we want to ruin God's art when He made us?

1 Corinthians 3:17 - "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are."

1 Corinthians 6: 19- "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

1 Corinthians 6: 20- "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

In each of these verses, God states that we are the making of Him, and we are to treat our bodies how He intended. When God made us, He intended to make us out of the image of Himself; perfect. Though, our sin takes over, and takes away from that image. When God saved the world from sin, giving us the opportunity to accept Jesus as our savior, He gave us guidelines on how to treat our body, and they should be followed. If we want to represent God and encourage others to see His greatness, we have to show others what He is all about. We can't dress like the devil, and expect to encourage others in Christ. We have to represent God from the inside and outside if we want others to see Christ who lives in us. 

No Room at the Inn; Is There Room in Your Heart?

Luke 2:4-7: "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

These verses here speaks about the savior, Jesus, who was born to Mary, and didn't have a place to sleep. They had tried to get a room at the inn, but the inn keepers turned them down, so Mary had to place her baby in a manger, which is a trough for animals. Because there was no room at the inn, Jesus had to sleep in a place that was made for animals to eat out of. The savior of the world had to sleep in a place that we wouldn't think of putting our children in today. It sounds like a pretty awful way to treat our savior, doesn't it?

This situation got me thinking. Do we do the same thing to Jesus in our lives? Do we let him into our lives and hearts, or do we send him away? Many times in my life, I push God away, and put Him out in the cold. This is no way to treat the One who saved us from eternity in Hell, and gave us a spot in Heaven.

Not only for this Christmas season, but throughout your life, make sure there's room for Jesus in your life. Don't put Him out in the cold because that isn't what He did with us. He has given us the greatest gift in the world; salvation and a Heavenly home. Give God a place in your heart, and you will see the blessings from His presence.

It's Easy to Leave God, but Hard to Get Back to Him.

On our way to church a couple of Sundays ago, my dad said something that stuck with me. He said the words, "It's easy to leave God, but it's a lot harder to get back to Him." I thought about this, and I have found this to be true in my own life. There are many times that I fail God, and it seems to become harder every time that I sin against God to get back to the place I was before with Him. For a while, I'll do everything that I can for God, but then, I'll slowly make my way back to not praying and reading my Bible as much as I should. During the times that I serve God, I am at my happiest, but once I sway away from God, that happiness fades, and it becomes harder to worship God the way that I would like to.

Of course, we can repent for our sins, but that's not all we have to do to get back to where God wants us. We have to pray, pray, and pray to get back in the Lord's will. We have to read our Bibles and live right to get back where we were before. It's well worth the efforts, but it's much easier to continue on our path and not waver.


Isaiah 59:2 - "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear."

When we let our sin get in-between us and God, God isn't going to hear us when we pray like He would if we are doing His will. For example, if you and your best friend are fighting. Say, your friend throws your phone down and stomps on it. Are you going to be okay with that, or is it going to take an apology and time to forgive? That friend is going to have to keep trying and trying to repair the relationship. The same is with God. When we sin, it hurts God, and although he is forgiving, it still takes repentance and efforts to repair that part of the relationship with God. It's not going to be instant, it's going to take time. We have to build back up to the relationship that we had with God, which can be harder than it sounds.

Psalms Chapter 1

"1. Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2. But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

When we walk for God, and put our sin in the past, we will be blessed for that. It is impossible to fully live for God if we still have sin in our lives. For example, I used to love to wear denim shorts that were much shorter than I should have been wearing. That was a problem for me in my spiritual walk with God. I still long to go back to the way that I lived before I began living for God sometimes because my flesh longs for that kind of life.

Having the strength to fight the sinful urges of the world is so important to God. When He sees our efforts to live for Him, we will be blessed for it. If we continuously make decisions in our lives that abide by God's law, that is when we are going to be at our happiness. Sure, sin can bring about happiness, but it's only temporary, and will only lead to a dark path. The effort to live for God is well worth it, for God is the greatest friend that we could ever know, and losing Him would be the worst thing that could ever happen to us.

Because Everyday is Thanksgiving

My dad preached a sermon similar to this on Sunday, and I wanted to share this with everyone in hopes that someone will receive a blessing from it. 

We hear all the time about how we should be thankful for the things that we have, and for what God has provided us with. But do we really consider the sacrifices that God and Jesus made for us so that we can have the things that are taken for granted everyday? Here are just a few of those great blessings that we could never be thankful enough for. 

God sent His Son: John 3:16- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

I couldn't imagine how hard it was for God to give His own son to die. Thinking about it, it hurts to know that God had to watch Jesus die. It's hard to imagine the selflessness that God had when He did this, and that He still has. God loves Jesus more than we can imagine, though, He was willing to give the one He loves so dear for us to be able to have salvation. We could never fully understand this great sacrifice. 

Jesus freely gave His life: 1 John 3:16 - "Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren."

Although God gave Jesus to die on the cross, Jesus had to be willing, which He was. I don't know many people that would be willing to give up their own life for others. I know that it would be very hard for me to do so. Our flesh is so protective of our life that we hate the thought of dying, while Jesus did the ultimate selfless action, which was giving up His life so that others could live. The love that Jesus felt for us led Him to have no hesitation to die for us, and it could never be compared to anything else in the universe. 

Jesus provides salvation: Mark 16:16 - "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Because Jesus died on the cross, we have the choice of salvation. Jesus allows us to choose whether to accept Him or not. Because of His sacrifice, the world has a new hope. If we only ask, Jesus will come into our hearts, make us new, and give us eternity in Heaven. 
While on Earth, God is with us: Joshua 1:9 - "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest."

It is impossible to get away from God. Even if we wanted to get away from Him, we can't. He follows us everywhere we go, and keeps us safe. He sees us everywhere we go, and provides us with safety and a friendship above all others. Whether we are in a room with a hundred people or we are in a room with no one else, we are never alone. No matter how many people we are surrounded by, God will be the most important. 

God guides us: Psalms 32:8 - "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."

We would all be so lost today without God's guidance. God knows all about our futures, therefore, He knows exactly what paths that we need to take. Alone, we would make awful mistakes concerning our presents and futures, but because God is all knowing, we have the opportunity to choose the right path. 

God provides: Philippians 4:19 - "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

While on this Earth, God said that He would provide for us. This means that He will provide us with our needs; food, water, shelter, and so on. God cares for us, and if we live by Him, we will never truly be poor. 

God gives hope: Psalms 39:7 - "And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope [is] in thee."

In the world, there is a lot of troubles and tragedies that occur. It's easy to get down about the things that are going on, but we have a hope for the future that is greater than anything that this world could give us. Because this world is full of sin, it will never be home for a truly saved person. Those that are saved has a home where God is number one, where there is no sickness, sin, death, or sadness. 

Jesus is coming back: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first."

What joy we should have as we anticipate the coming back of our Savior. Sin continues on Earth, but it's soon going to end. No longer will God's children have to endure the hardships of the world. Soon, we will see Jesus appearing in the sky, and He will take us to where there are no hardships. 

God gives us eternal life: John 17:3 - "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

Not only does God allow us to be saved from Hell, but He gives us a life in Heaven forever and ever. It's very hard for me think about something never ending. Everything that we have ever known has an end; football season, church service, seasons, vacations to Disney World, etc. Heaven is one thing that will never change, and it is the greatest place that could ever exist. 

Today, with Thanksgiving Day in the past, remember the entire reason that we have the opportunity to be thankful. Without God, our lives would be doomed, and we wouldn't have the hope of a better day. There would be no happiness with our families, or a meal on our table. Remember the real reason that we are on this Earth and who has given us the blessings that we have been graciously given. Remember that everyday is a day to give thanks, for God is good every day of every year.

Is Feminism of the Bible?

I looked in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, and it defines feminism as "the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities." That sounds like a pretty fair world, right? The truth of the matter is that God didn't make women and men the same. Sure, both men and women should have the same rights, but God didn't give them the same duties on Earth. 

1. God states that men should have authority of power in church. 

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 - "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also saith the law."

1 Timothy 2:12 - "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence."

This verse lets us know that God ordains men to speak in the church. This means that the man is the only one with the power from God to preach His word. The man should lead the church with God in mind, and women are to stand by the men and support them. Now, I don't believe that women shouldn't have any part in church. There are other ways to be involved rather than preaching; Sunday school and treasury positions for instance, but they shouldn't have esteem authority because God laid that down for the men to have.

2. God states that a woman is under the submission of her husband.

Colossians 3:18 - "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord."

Ephesians 5:23 - "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."


God created man as the provider for his family. Since the man is the provider for the family, women are to respect the man and support her husband. Let me just point out that I don't mean that the man has the authority to rule the woman, but he is to lead his family in the right direction without being a dictator. Men has a lot of responsibility on them to give their families a good, successful life, and I think that they deserve credit for working so hard to do so. 

Although, God did give men authority, women are a value that can't be measured. 

1. God states that women are the weaker vessel. 

1 Peter 3:7 - "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."


In this verse, God is calling women the weaker vessel physically, which in most cases is true, but this doesn't mean that the woman is any less of value. I read a blog that was speaking about this specific verse, and I was blown away from the example that was used. The person was comparing a tank and a mini-van. The people driving those two vessels can be the two toughest people on Earth, but the mini-van is simply made weaker. Men and women are created differently. Women are like mini-vans in this example; physically weak, and commonly known for carrying children, while men are known for being much stronger physically like a tank, with the ability to use that strength to provide for their family. Men may have the stronger muscles physically, but women also have a great physical aspect, which is being able to carry children. Their bodies are used for different things, which is great! No matter the vessel, it doesn't mean the inside is weak, it's just simply different physical, biological makeup. 

2. The role of women is a great thing, and something to be proud of. 

Proverbs 18:22 - "[Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD."

Proverbs 31:10- "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies."

In Proverbs 31, God says a lot of things about the woman. There are quite a few things that women naturally possess that men do not; wonderful things. Here are some of those things:

• The woman provides her husband with love and care, and is loyal.
• The woman continuously works to keep her house in order; providing meals, clothing, etc. for her household. 
• The woman is generous, cares for the needy, speaks kindly, and is wise.
• The woman cares for her children, and leads them in the way of God. 
• She fears God, and puts His law first.

Let's face it; men would be lost without women, just like women would be lost without men. God put us both on this Earth because He knew that we would bring joy to each other, and would help each other in ways that the same gender can't do for one another. Men and women have different duties on this Earth, and that is okay! I'm fully aware that this is the twenty-first century, and women are doing so much more than they used to. I mean, I plan to finish my degree and work, and if I happen to marry someone along the way, I'll accept the position that God has placed me in. Sure, I'll continue to work and accomplish my dreams, but I'm still going to give my future husband the respect and authority of the household that God placed on the man. Women can be more influential and productive in the world without exceeding the position that God gave them. 

In the Twinkling of an Eye

1 Corinthians 15:52-"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

Last night, I texted my best friend at maybe a quarter after nine. She responded around nine thirty, and said that she would be able to talk in about thirty minutes. So, I waited, and waited, and waited. I never got a response back, and I figured that she was busy, so around eleven, I went to bed.

This morning, I woke up with a text from eleven thirty last night, saying that she had been in a bad wreck the night before. My mind absolutely panicked. She said that the car flipped several times, and it could have easily been the end of her life. Though, she walked out of the wreck only having minor scratches and cuts. 

I told this story to show how quickly life can be taken away from us. I texted my friend, and in just a short time period between when she texted me next, her life was almost ended. We have no guarantee of the next second to come. Before we take our next breath, we can be in eternity. Let's really think about that. Let's ask ourselves where we would be if we died in the next few seconds.

My dad preached a funeral for a very Godly man that went to our church today. He was very blessed to live a total of ninety six years, which is obviously super uncommon. The majority of the man's family does not attend church, and doesn't profess to have Jesus in their hearts. As I looked around at all the faces of family members, it scared me. It scared me because any of them could die at any moment, and open their eyes to Hell. They aren't necessarily bad people, but being good won't do anything for them when they enter eternity. All that matters is if they have received Jesus as their savior, and I hate to see lives spent on this Earth for sixty, seventy years, to never realize this, and end up in Hell.

Ecclesiastes 12:7- “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”

We are all going to die one day; God says this. We will all return to the earth one day, our grave. It may be ten years, and it may be ten minutes away, but we will die. The most important question that we can ask ourselves right now is simply, "Am I saved?" Three simple words, but so much meaning. No matter what we have done on this Earth, the only thing that matters when it comes to death is if we're saved. If we are saved, we have everything, but if we're not, our life has been in vain.

I didn't write this blog to scare anyone, but to give them the warning that they need to hear. I don't want to see anyone die and go to Hell, but that is where the people that reject God is going to go, and once there, they have no chance of ever escaping. I plea with you to just simply take time out of your day to make sure that you are happy with the place that you would spend eternity if you were to die this very second. Don't go another second, without knowing that you would be satisfied with your end. Remember that God loves you, send His only son to die for you, and He wants to see you in Heaven one day. The things that you will have to give up on this Earth for God is nothing compared to what you will gain in Heaven, if you will accept Jesus into your heart. 

God Does Not Send People to Hell

From the title, this post might seem a bit controversial at first, seeing that people do go to Hell, but what people don't commonly realize is that God isn't the one that sends people to Hell. Not once does God send a person to Hell, but the person is the one that chooses Hell over accepting Jesus as their savior. 

Revelation 21:8 - "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

All of these things that God has listed in this verse will send a person to Hell, being their own actions, and every person has committed at least one of these sins, and many more. God doesn't force us to sin, we choose to, and God doesn't interfere with that because we have our own free will to choose as we please. Though, when we choose to sin, we choose an eternity in Hell. 

John 5:29 - "And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

At the end of our lives, we will all be sent to an eternity, which we have chose for ourselves. If a person has chosen to live an evil life and not ask forgiveness from God, they will be sent to Hell, and God Himself can't change this, because this is the law that He set forth for the world. Before we die, we must choose to accept Jesus, so that we can live in Heaven. 

Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Romans 10:13 - "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

God says that whoever asks for forgiveness will be forgiven. Just like it is our choice to live evil, it is also our choice whether we choose to live for God. God isn't going to force us to live one way or the other. We have to come to Him willing to live for Him. All sins have to be left behind before He will save us. I learned this the hard way. I tried to get right with God, but I also wanted to keep my old sins with me. That's not how God works. He wants the ones that are willing to give up what they love to serve Him, and His word.

Everyone in the world needs to decide today what they want their eternity to look like. Sin may seem like the cool thing now, but when eternity comes, it's going to be the biggest regret in a person's mind. God is willing to save anyone who will come to Him today, and if the person is willing, He will not turn them away. Decide for yourself today if sin is worth an eternity in Hell, and if it isn't for you, look to God. He is the way to get to Heaven, the truth that will show you that way, and the life that will be given to you in Heaven.