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. 

Beware of Cavities

Our teeth are something that needs to be taken care of every single day. They need to be flossed and brushed, and mouth wash can be used to add even further care. If teeth are taken care of as they should, they can work against cavities, and they can be built up to be very strong. 

On the other hand, if our teeth are not taken care of every day, they can develop cavities, and other serious damage. After this damage has been done, toothpaste, floss, and mouth wash is not able to fix that damage. At that point, teeth may have to be pulled, or a dentist will need to drill the cavity out of the tooth. 

Our relationship with God is the exact same concept. If we daily care for our relationship with God; praying, reading our Bible, witnessing for Him, etc. the connection we have with God will grow to be very strong. 

Contrary to living for God, if we don't care for our relationship with God daily, and we keep sin in our lives, cavities will be created, or in this sense, damage to our spiritual life. After the damage of sin has been done, reading our Bibles, or witnessing will not be able to change what has been done in the past, and it surely won't take it away. At that point, the dentist, our Heavenly Father has to step in, and we have to repent of our sins. Repentance is the only thing that will take the sins away. 

Unfortunately, while on this Earth, sin will not be forgotten. God will forgive, but until we die, we have to live with what sins we commit while in the world, which is why it is so important to stay away from sin. Even though it may be forgiven, sin has the possibility to follow us the rest of our days. Sin has the power to permanently damage our lives, and it can be out of our control, much like our teeth that can't be fixed once they are gone. 

Having sin in our lives brings more problems than luxuries. It may not be instant damage, but be sure that sin will have its consequences at one point or another. Sin builds up until it turns into something much worse. Don't let sin damage your life, take care of your sin from the start, and let God cleanse you. 

The Destruction of Acceptance

Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

It seems that the world is becoming more and more accepting of sin everyday; abortion, homosexual relations, premarital sex, divorce, and so much more. The luxuries of sin urges us to want to accept more and more sin in the world. Society wants to live in their evil ways, therefore, they want to change what the Bible and God says, so that they can continue to live the way they want. The lack of acceptance that Christians have is being raised as a problem, when in reality, the issue is that society is accepting sin, and going against God. 

Revelation 22:18- "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.

Revelation 22:19 - "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book."

God clearly states in the Bible that we are not to take away from the Bible, nor are we to add to the Bible. This means that whatever the Bible states is what stays. It's not a matter of acceptance or no acceptance, it's a matter of whether or not one chooses to follow what the Bible says or not. Christians are not being "mean" by not being accepting of others' sins, they are following God. God is also not being "old fashioned" for not being accepting, people are simply becoming accustomed to living against God. 

It is becoming seen as a good thing for people to be "accepting." People don't take the time to see that they are sinning by doing this. If we want to follow God, we can't accept everyone's sins. Instead of accepting peoples' sins, we need to tell these people about God, and the salvation that they can receive if they are willing to give up sin. Not accepting others' sins does not mean that we are to treat them badly, but it means that we care for them enough to tell them that they are sinning against God, and giving them the opportunity to see God for who He truly is. 

We as Christians need to stand up for what God has given us to live by. It doesn't matter how many years passes, the Bible will still hold true. We can't make God who we want Him to be. If we are to change the image of God to hold the characteristics that we want Him to possess, that is taking away from who God is. Just like He loves us, we need to love Him enough to abide by His word. We have to use what God has given us, not change it. 

Praise God For Mending My Heart

Today, I thought that I would do something a little bit different than what I usually do, and just praise and thank God for a great blessing and miracle that He has performed in my life recently.

God mended my heart, literally. I know that I have told this story in my blog before, but this time, I have an ending. A couple of months ago, I went to the doctor with a minor illness, and the doctor found that I had a heart murmur. It completely freaked me out because I knew that heart murmurs could be minor, but yet again, they could be the sign of something much more dangerous. So the next day, I kept thinking about it and thinking about it, and it set some serious anxiety up in my mind, landing me in the hospital. I felt like I was having a heart attack, when in reality, it was my mind playing tricks on me. Still yet, the doctors wanted me to see a cardiologist since a heart murmur had been found, so they scheduled an echo cardiogram for a month later.

Throughout the time until my test, I was experiencing a lot more anxiety, and it set up some depression in my life. I was worrying constantly, and it was physically making me feel sick. Just the thought of something being wrong with my health, made me feel completely hopeless, and negativity took over my mind.

So a month later, which was last week, I finally had an echo cardiogram done. I went into the test scared out of my mind. There was really nothing to the test, but the thoughts of what it could show about my health just send my mind into a frenzy. For the doctor to read the test results of my echo cardiogram, I went back to the doctor today. I sit anxiously awaiting the doctor to come into the room with the results, and my mind kept telling me to be prepared for the worst, because in that moment, that was what I was expecting.

The doctor finally came in, and was asking me all of these questions, which made me think that there was something wrong. Finally, he looked at me, and said, "We found nothing wrong at all." I was relieved beyond belief. The doctor didn't even find a heart murmur anymore. God had healed me.

I cannot thank God enough for the work that He has done, and I am so thankful for the people that I have praying for me in my life. I am so blessed to have such a Godly family, Godly group of friends, and a Godly church family. This is proof that God works, and prayer is not in vain. God mended my heart, spiritually, 5 years ago, and physically, today. I couldn't think of anyone else I would rather praise and worship than my almighty God.

A Hope Worth Waiting For

Romans 8:25 - "But if we hope for that we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for [it]."

It's one thing to believe in God, and another to trust Him enough to wait for His timing. To us, God is very mysterious, for He knows what's to come, and we know nothing of our future. For me, I like everything to be in my control. When things are in my control, I feel comfortable with my life. Giving the control to God is very hard for me at times. When a long amount of time passes, and God hasn't worked yet, I feel like I have to take back over, and fix the situation myself, when God is fully capable of handling things on his own. If we are to give the control to God, He will surprise us with blessings that we believe to be impossible, just like with Abram. 

When Abram was ninety nine, and his wife, Sarah, was ninety, God appeared before Abraham, reminding him of the promise God made to him that he would be a father of many. 

Genesis 17:5- "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee."

Genesis 17:6- "And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee."

Abraham fell to his face when God spoke these things to him, laughing that God had said that him and his wife would be fruitful, and have a child at the ages of a hundred and ninety. The task seemed impossible, and Abraham had a hard time having faith in God because the idea of having a child was so foreign to him, for him and Sarah had went their whole lives without being able to have children. They had gave up, and accepted that they were meant to have no children. 

Though, God had other plans, giving Abraham and Sarah children, and blessing them beyond belief, even at their old ages. Abraham didn't have the faith that he should have had in God, but God still stood by his promise to make Abraham a father, and it was so. 

God will come through with His promises, whether we believe it or not. God is a being of His word, and He will not back down from what He says. We need to find the faith and patience that God is worthy of receiving because God has such bright futures for each of us, and if we don't wait on God, we will ruin the plans that God has for us. Even though, hope seems lost, it is never lost when we have God on our side. 

Workout With God

Feeling weak in God? Try these simple workouts to get that relationship with God that you've always dreamed of! 

1) Run a Mile in God's shoes: 

1 Corinthians 11:1: "Be ye followers of me, even as I also [am] of Christ."

Put yourself in God's shoes. Try and intimidate His kindness and love. His greatness can never be reached, but we can try our best to show the world the work God has done in our own lives. 

2) Lift Bible Dumbbells: 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

The Bible was given to us for a guide for our lives. Work out your mind and absorb the knowledge that God has given us. The Bible will give you strength to spread His word, and have hope for a better future.

3) Crunch Away Sin: 

1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Confess your sins to God, and rid them from your life. Without all that weight, you can become stronger in God, and go a longer distance for God. 

4) Prayer Planks: 

Philippians 4:6 - "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Find a place where you can fully concentrate on God, and pray. Pray that God will help you be a light to the world. Pray that He will give you the strength to stand up for God, and show Him your gratitude for doing all He does. 

5) Partner Medicine Ball Throw: 

Galatians 6:2 - "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

Grab a partner, and help carry their burden. We all need help in life, which is why God puts other Christians in our lives. Lend a helping hand to fellow Christians, and let's cross the finish line together.

The Old Testament is Still Relevant

There is a lot of controversy over whether the Old Testament is still relevant or not. Many will say that we are in the modern times, and we need to move on from that, but how can we move on when it is still God's word? No matter how many years pass, the Old Testament is still going to be a part of what God wanted us to live by and learn from. 

The Old Testament is literally the beginning! If you were reading a book, would you begin in the middle of it? Probably not. You would want to know the back story and how everyone gets to the point that they are at. The Old Testament introduces us to who God is, and tells us the reason why we need saved, being the sin that began with Adam and Eve. If we were to begin with the New Testament, when Jesus is born, there would be no way to understand why He died on the cross. We would not be able to comprehend why we would need Jesus' salvation because the laws of God and the explaination of sin would be left in the Old Testament. 

Without seeing all the promises that God kept in the Old Testament, it would also be much harder to trust God, only reading the New Testament. In the Old Testament, God set aside a lot of promises and He showed His mercy to many, leading us to see how faithful He is to those that are willing to follow Him. Like in the story of Noah, God promised that He would bring Noah and his family out of the flood because they followed Him, and God did exactly that. These are the stories that God set aside for us, so that we could believe in Him to bring us out of trouble too. 

The Old Testament gives us role models to live by, and prophesies to look forward to that are fulfilled by the New Testament teachings. Every part of the Bible should be honored and cherished, for it is from God, and He wants it to be used for His glory. 

When is the Right Time to Pray?

When does God say to pray?

God says to pray when we are TROUBLED: Psalms 34:17 - "[The righteous] cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles."

God says to pray when we are in NEED OF WISDOM: James 1:5 - "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

God says to pray when we are HAPPY: Psalms 37:4 - "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

God says to pray when we are BURDENED: Psalms 55:22 - "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

God says to pray when we are ANGRY: Ecclesiastes 7:9 - "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools."

God says to pray WHEN OTHERS NEED PRAYER: James 5:16 - "Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

God says to pray in time of LOSS: Matthew 5:4 - "Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."

God says to pray ALWAYS: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - "Pray without ceasing."

There are so many instances in the Bible that God tells us to pray. He tells us to pray through the good times and the bad times, and every time in-between. I think that a lot of Christians, including myself have become so accustomed to only praying when it is convenient or if we need something from God, that we don't consider that we need to be praying the rest of the times too. I've found that God answers prayers when I'm faithfully praying everyday for something. If you were to have a baby, would you only take care of it when it was hungry or needed a diaper change? Of course not. You would take care of it always. Prayer needs to be taken care of in the same way. Prayers are answered when they are honored and attended to. Show God you are faithful to your prayer, and God will give you an answer. 

Before You Go To Sleep, Make Sure You Are....

Before you go to sleep, make sure you are...

1) SAVED:

1 John- "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

Going to bed knowing that you are saved is the best feeling in the world. You don't have to worry about what will happen once you go to sleep. No matter what happens in your life, your final destination is Heaven.

2) THANKFUL:

2 Corinthians- "Thanks [be] unto God for his unspeakable gift."

God sacrificed everything for us, including His own son, the least we can do is thank Him for what He has done in our lives. He blesses us, and keeps us safe on a daily basis, and that is definitely something to be thankful for. God deserves praise.

3) FORGIVEN:

1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Asking God for forgiveness will prepare the heart to do the things of God. If we have sin in our heart, it is preventing us from being as Godly as we can be. With sin, we are weak, but with God, we are strong. 

4) BURDEN FREE:

Psalms 55:22 - "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

Galatians 6:2 - "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

Giving all of your burdens to God before falling to sleep will help you be worry free, and release what is bearing down on your heart. Praying for those things and the prayers of others will give you hope that God will take care of those things, and give you the Godly end that you are hopefully looking for.

 
5) READ UP:

Romans 15:4 - "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

Reading the Bible gives a peace that can't come from anything else. It contains promises and hope for what is to come, and you can rest easy knowing those hopes are in your heart. 

Are You Going As Far As You Can For God?

If you've ever saw the movie, Facing the Giants, you probably recall the death crawl scene.

Briefly, this movie is about a football team that is losing game after game. The coach gets right with God, and begins to put teaching the players about God before the actual game of football, which is ultimately successful. I highly recommend to watch this movie if you haven't already.

One day at practice, to show the players that they can do more than they think, the coach chooses a player that is a senior, who everyone looks to as a guide, to do a death crawl. A death crawl consists of a player holding another player on his back, and they must see how far they can crawl on their hands and feet across the field.

The coach wants the player to give the others a good role model to look toward, and show that he putting all of his strength into everything he does, so that the others will do the same. A blindfold is placed on the player's eyes, so that his view of the field will not influence how far he crawls; the furthest he had ever crawled was to the thirty yard line. As soon as the player begins to crawl, the coach is cheering him on, and when needed, pushing him to go farther.

The player begins to plead to be able to stop, or at least rest a moment, but the coach just keeps pushing and pushing him to go further and further. By the end of his crawl, the player is about to give up, and the coach tells him, "Just 30 more steps," then "10 more," then "one more." When the player falls down in defeat, he cries out in pain. The coach bends down to look the player in his eyes, and tells him to look up and says, "You're in the in-zone."

Everyone that was there stood in amazement with their jaws dropped. None of the players believed that he could make it that far, but the coach did.

Much like a coach in football, God is our coach. He is pushing us to go farther for Him. Are we doing all that we can for Him? Or, are we just doing enough to get by?

In life, there are a lot of times that we will be put in situations that scare us. Situations that we have never faced before, and have never successfully been through. Does that mean that we don't try? God knows our strengths, and He is fully aware of what we can handle. Plus, God will be with us every step of every day of our lives. We don't have to go through one single thing alone, for God is always cheering us on, and pushing us to do more for Him.

So, it is time to ask ourselves; are we just doing enough to get by? God has a limit for everyone, and He doesn't want us to stop until we reach that limit. God will let us know when that limit is in front of us, but until then, we have got to keep pushing ourselves to be more for God. If we let God have control of our lives, we will look up one day, and be amazed at where He has taken us.

Receiving Jesus VS. Professing Jesus

There is a huge difference in actually accepting Jesus as your personal savior, and solely professing to know Jesus. By receiving Jesus into your heart, I mean, asking Him for forgiveness and dedicating your life to Him. By professing Jesus, I mean, a person is simply saying that they know God, when they truly don't. Or in other words, putting on a fake to the world. I have personal experience in both of these.

When I was around twelve, I got under conviction. God was drawing me to Him one night at Bible School, and the teacher prayed with me, and after the prayer, I thought that I was saved, simply because I went through the process of praying to God. I professed to everyone that I accepted Jesus into my heart, but in reality, I hadn't at all. At the time, I didn't really understand what it was to get saved. I knew that I needed salvation, but I didn't fully understand the severity of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. So, needless to say, nothing changed in my life. I continued living in my sin, and God was clearly not present in my life. For a long time, I told the world I was saved because I didn't want them to think badly of me, and I wanted to believe that I was saved. Though, this was only taking away chance after chance of me getting truly right with God. Thankfully, God kept giving me opportunities to get saved, and thank God, I accepted Jesus on March 31st, 2011. After I did get saved, and I committed my life to God, which wasn't instant, I saw everything in such a new light.

I think that a huge problem in Christianity is that people are fooled by the world and the devil into believing that they are saved when they really aren't. I was fooled for about 3 years, believing that I was saved, and it was completely my fault. I let my emotions and the devil convince me that I was okay with God, but me saying that I was saved didn't do anything. When I accepted Jesus, and gave my life to Him, that is when I got saved. 

There's so many beliefs on how a person gets saved, but there's only one way. A person must accept Jesus into their heart if they want God to be in their life. There's not going to be any change until this happens.

Romans 10:9-10 - "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

I personally was so amazed by the change that I experienced. After I professed to getting saved, I was so confused why nothing changed, and why God wasn't working in my life. When I committed myself to God, I saw drastic changes to obstacles that I never thought I would overcome. A major obstacle being, saying 'I love you.' I've never been the most loving, but because Jesus showed me love, I am now doing the same.  

Before becoming truly saved, I was lost in the world of sin. I had no joy for God, no desire to read my bible or pray, and I certainly wasn't thankful towards God. The desire didn't come until the salvation was real. With salvation comes a love for God and a want to live for Him. Until Jesus is accepted into a person's heart, the real effects of a Christian relationship with God will not happen. 

Elements of Christian Love

What elements does the Bible say that a Christian's love should possess? 

1) Ask for nothing in return: You love for the good of others, not because of what you may receive. God asks nothing of us when He saves us, so we shouldn't as well.

1 Corinthians 16:14 - "Let all your things be done with charity."

2) Willing to sacrifice: The willingness to sacrifice things and even yourself for others is a very courageous thing to do. Our flesh is naturally, very selfish and we love ourselves, so when we give up something for the good of others, this shows a truly, loving heart.  

John 15:13 - "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

3) Love your enemies: As time passes, and the world becomes more overtaken by sin, it seems that the number of enemies of Christians grow. Not only is the number of people that are not getting right with God growing, but the sins are becoming worse as well. It's hard for me as a Christian not to be angered by the world living as if God doesn't even exist. Just a couple of days ago, I heard that someone called Jesus a failure. It's despicable to think people would treat God like this, but we must pray for those people and be a witness for them, for God has mercy, and with our witness, they might see that they need God as well. 

Luke 6:27 - "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you."

4) Sincerity: God's love is nothing but sincere. Everything that God does, He does with a pure heart, with nothing but pure intentions. In life, we cannot do for God, while having ill intentions. God's love and light deserves to be represented with exactly that; love. People can see when someone is being fake, and that is only going to represent God wrongly. 

Romans 12:9- "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."

5) Above all, love God: What more can I say that this verse doesn't? "We love him, because he first loved us." What a simple, but beyond amazing statement. God loves us, and He gave us the most incredible gift when He granted us salvation. For this reason, and the many others, God is to be first in our hearts and lives. 

1 John 4:19 - "We love him, because he first loved us."

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

A common question that is asked concerning God is why He allows people to suffer. God has his reasonings behind allowing sin, and here are a few: 

1) To remind us of sin: 

When Adam and Eve first sinned when they ate of the tree of knowledge, after God clearly told them not to, they were exiled out of the garden by God, and God punished each of them, which lead to suffering. He stunted Adam's ability to grow vegetation, and He made child birth painful for Eve's sin. Suffering is man's fault. God didn't want His creation to suffer, but man sinned against God, and because of this, we have to face the consequences for the failures of the human race. Thankfully, sin reminds us that we have a savior that can save us from all of those sins. 

2) Awaken the lost: 

John 8:24 - "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins."

If everything was perfect, no one would see a need to change their lives. They would be more than happy with the life that they had, and there would be no reason to do anything different. Though, because there are bad times in life, we seek something that can help us, and that something should be God. God can't promise that we won't suffer, but He can give us hope through the salvation of our sins. 

3) Depend on God: 

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

Suffering reminds us that we need to rely on God. God is the only person that can help end our pain, and He wants to be the guide of our lives. When we cast all of our cares and burdens to God, we can trust that whatever happens, it will be the will of God. If we are to rely on God, we will not suffer alone. 

4) Suffering will not be forever: 

Romans 8:18 - "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Suffering reminds us that we will not be in pain forever, and that we have a Heavenly eternity to look forward to. The outcome of sin was suffering, and the outcome of suffering will be Heaven if we accept God, for suffering will show us we need God. 

Suffering is obviously not a desired feeling, but it is what shows us that there is God above, and that we need to be saved from the sins that we commit everyday. It also reminds us that we have God who will help us through any suffering that we might endure, and who we will see in Heaven someday, where suffering will be no more. 

Revelation 21:4- "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Sinners Are Not to Be Envied

Anyone that serves God has probably at least once become angry at the world. Not necessarily because of their sins, but because it seems that they are able to get by with those sins with no consequences.

In the book of Habakkuk, Habakkuk also felt this way about the people around him. During this time, there was much violence in Judah. The people of Judah had turned away from God, but Habakkuk stayed faithful to God. Habakkuk hated what what had happened to the people of Judah, and didn't understand why God let them by with their sins. 

This frustration leads to Habakkuk questioning God of His intentions, and in turn, God answers Habakkuk. Habakkuk questioned God why He had let violence go such a long period of time, and God answered saying that he was rising up an army of Babylonians, a very violent people, to come and take down the people of Judah. Further along, Habakkuk questioned God's intentions of why He would use such a sinful people to come destroy the city of Judah when God was supposed to love the people of Judah. God replies with saying that He would use the Babylonians because they are a fearless people, and they wouldn't back down. God also says that the Babylonians will not go unpunished though, for they have sinned as well.

No matter how it seems, no one is going to get by with their sin, for it will eventually catch up to them. It is better to live for God than to live in sin. Living for Gid will bring about a much better outcome, which will eventually be Heaven. While those that have decided to live in sin will unfortunately spend an eternity in Hell. Sinners may have a luxurious life on Earth, but their eternity will not be worth the short life lived on Earth.