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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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."

Be Addicted to God

In the Bible, God gives several reasons why one should not drink alcohol, for it is a sin. Here is six of those reasons: 

1) Alters Thinking: Proverbs 20:1 - "Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."

Alcohol takes away a person's deception of right and wrong. They can't think clearly, which prevents them from thinking in a Godly mindset. When one cannot decipher what is Godly and what is not Godly, their flesh is going to take control, and lead them in the wrong direction. 

2) Addiction: Isaiah- "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, [that] they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, [till] wine inflame them!"

Alcohol is addicting. Many people will start out drinking a glass of wine here or a bottle of beer there, but once they become addicted, it takes over their life. Addictions are not easy to control or even predict. It can lead up to consequences you're not prepared for.

3) Gateway Sin: Galatians 5:19-21 - "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness."

Alcohol leads to many other sins. Because a person can't think correctly, they are going to do things that they usually wouldn't. A lot of the time, alcohol brings out emotions that a person wouldn't usually express. For example, if a person likes another as more than a friend, the distorted thought process could lead to premarital sex, which is fornication, and said in Galations.

4) Becomes Problem Solver: Proverbs 31:6 - "Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts."

Due to the fact that alcohol takes away a person's ability to think straight, people will take advantage of this to forget their problems. Though, alcohol just multiplies the problem. The true problem that a person is facing grows, even when the person is blocking it out of their minds with alcohol. Dealing with the problem in a straightforward manner is what will bring about a solution, not hiding from the problem. 

5) Cannot Enter Heaven: Galatians- "Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

God says that drunkards will not enter into Heaven. This is the worst thing that alcohol can do to a person. Drinking is a sin, just like murdering someone; God states this clearly in this verse. Sin will send a person to Hell. Of course, a person can be saved and still drink, but the relationship with God isn't going to be there, and for those that are not saved, alcohol is a huge obstacle in the way of ever reaching God. 

6) Changes the Heart: Hosea- "Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart."

Addiction to alcohol has the ability to change the nicest person in the world into the biggest jerk. I'm sure that we have all saw someone that has been affected by alcohol use. Half of the kids that I went to high school with, some of the best friends I had, aren't the same people inside that I used to know; all due to alcohol and sin that flourished from it in their life. 

Having the "cool" image that drinking alcohol can bring about isn't worth sacrificing your soul. Alcohol distorts everything good in your life, and turns it into something ugly. Relationships can be ruined, hearts broken, and lives completely turned upside down. Life is hard, and the only person that can help is God. God will face the problem head on, and right by your side. He never makes you face a problem alone, but if you turn to alcohol, you might be surprised to be alone someday, still having the same problems as before, but with more depth. Choose God over the world. If you're going to have an addiction, make it serving God, because that's an addiction that won't let you fall. 

5 Things That Makes Being a Christian the Best Thing In the World.

There are endless reasons that being a Christian is the best thing in the world, but here are 5 of my top reasons: 

1) Hope For A Better Day: No matter what might occur in my life, good or bad, I know that I can count on an even better day. The salvation that God gives us promises a place in Heaven. In Heaven, there will be no night. The day will continue through all eternity, and the joy of being with our Lord will never cease. 

2) We Have A Guide: If I didn't have God and His word guiding me through life, my life would be in complete wreckage. Looking back at some of the decisions that God stopped me from going through with, I don't know what I was thinking. I'm so glad that I don't have to make decisions on my own, because the plans that God has is more amazing than I could ever imagine. 

3) We Have The Ultimate Friend: God is the ultimate comforter and encourager. No matter where we are in the world or what we are doing, God is with us. He sees everything we do, and He's there when things go bad or we need support. His powerful hand knows exactly how to cease our pain or sadness, and we will never be on our own.

4) We Are Loved: I think we can all confess to feeling lonely or unloved at some point in our lives. Though, God always reminds us that He is always there with us, and he loves is beyond belief. He gave up his only son, for goodness sake. God gave the ultimate sacrifice, and that's enough to show God's love, yet, He shows His love more and more each day. 

5) We Are Blessed: I've been so blessed in my life that it puts me to shame sometimes. I haven't done for God like I should've throughout my life, and I surely don't deserve all that He has given me. Waking up everyday is a blessing in itself, and I would like to thank God for every breath He has given me. Thankfully, one day I'll be able to stand on front of Him and thank Him, for He has given me the most important blessing of all, salvation from my sins. 

Before Meeting Your Helpmeet

One definition of a help-meet can be, "a helpful companion or partner, especially one's husband or wife." In the sense of marriage, a help-meet is someone that loves another person, and wants to be with them for the rest of their lives, through thick and thin, to help and comfort them through every step of life. In a Godly relationship, marriage is much different than the normal, everyday marriage. A Godly marriage has God at the center of the marriage. Not only do the two people have to worry about taking care of one another, but they must also make sure that they are living for God, and encouraging each other in their walk with God. Of course, a Godly marriage may take more work because they are following more rules, but having God at the center of one's marriage will be what keeps the two people together, and will continue their love throughout their lives.

Preparing for this type of relationship is very important because a relationship begins before even meeting the other person. You can touch the other person's life without even knowing them, and you can get yourself ready to be a better spouse as well. Here are 5 ways to prepare yourself for this meeting:

1) Love Yourself: Ephesians 2:10- "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

God made us exactly how he wants us to be; even the quirks and imperfections, and they should be honored because they are from God. If we don't love those things about ourselves, how do we expect someone else to love them? By having different qualities that others might not possess, we are special to the world, and someone will adore the qualities that God gives us. 

2) Seek God: Psalms 119:10- "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments."

God blesses when we are following Him and His word. If we are to honor Him, He will honor us, and give us a Godly spouse. A strong relationship with God will lead to a great, loving relationship with the right person, because God will be the at the center of it.

3) Pray: Philippians 4:6,7- "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Finding the person that we will spend the rest of our lives with is one of the biggest decisions that we will ever make, therefore, we need to pray a lot about it. We need to pray that God will lead us and direct us to the person, and that we will be a Godly spouse to whoever it may be. Also, we need to pray dearly for the person we are supposed to be with. It is important to pray about the other person's life and walk with God because this is the person that we will raise a family with, and it's important to know God is the center of their life. 

4) Trust: Proverbs 3:5- "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

Waiting for something so important takes a lot of patience and trust. We must trust that God knows exactly what He's doing, which He does. It's important to have faith in God because He knows what's best for us, while we would mess everything up if we were in control. 

5) Be Pure: Hebrews 13:4- "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."

In any Godly relationship, it is super important that purity is a key element. Before marriage, two people that are in a relationship with one another should enter into marriage being pure because this is how God wants it to be. Refraining from immoral behavior will only make the relationship stronger because they are using their strength to wait until marriage, and they are telling one another that they consider each other worthy of waiting for, even before meeting the person they will marry. Waiting for the one, special person to marry, and then being able to act how married couples should, tells the other person that they honor them and God enough to wait. 

Talk the Talk, AND Walk the Walk

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

This is a very simple statement that we have all, no doubt, heard before. Though, do we really think about what this entails?

Matthew 5:16 - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

A person can say that they are living for God, but their actions do not always match their words. When a person can talk the talk, plus walk the walk, this is when they are going to be a blessing to fellow Christians, and influence others to join the walk with God. 

As time goes on, it seems that it becomes harder and harder to trust people's word. When a person is a sinner, it is even harder for them to decipher between who is a true Christian and who isn't, because they don't have that knowledge that God instills in is when He saves us to be able to know who is really of God, which is the main reason why sinners needs to see Christians enjoying being a Christian.

God doesn't save us, so that we can sit around and simply be saved. Instead, He wants us to go out into the world, and share His word. He wants us to be a representation of the love and mercy that God gives everyday. Sinners need to see that being a Christian is the greatest thing in the world, and this can only come from the physical sight of happiness. 

If we are to let our actions do all the talking, God will take care of the rest. He will work in so many peoples' lives, through the actions that God allows us to do. He will bless us in His time, and give the joy that comes from helping others. 

Beware of Sharks

A thought came into my head the other day when I saw a picture of a whale and shark that someone had posted on Facebook. The top pictured showed a Killer Whale, the bottom picture was a Great White Shark, and then there was a joke at the bottom. Though, what I thought about was the fact that they have both killed people, but they are looked at differently. Of course, it's not the animals' faults that people are in their feeding grounds, but these animals' actions can display those of the human race. 

The Killer Whale does not harm near the amount of people as the Great White, though, it's called a 'Killer' Whale. The Great White Shark does harm, but it is called 'Great.' How does this compare with the world today? 

The Killer Whale can be compared to Christians. No doubt, Christians mess up sometimes, and as soon as they do, it seems as if sinners, and sometimes even other Christians, are waiting to put them down. They are waiting to ridicule them and shame them for sinning against God, even if they are not living for God themselves. People will call out hypocrite unto them, or 'Killer,' in this sense. A lot of the time, no matter how the name-caller is living their own life, they will make sure that the person that is trying to spread God's word is taken down because they want to see them fail. Also, people don't want to be told that they are living their life wrong. When Christians try to tell the world of their sin, many will persecute the Christian for 'judging' them. They want to be able to live their life of sin, therefore, they make the Christian seem like the bad guy. 

The Great White Shark is the sinners of the world. I can't think of many cases where a person that was living a Godly life was praised for what they do in the media, instead, the people that are living their life against God is greatly praised. For example, as soon as we turn on our TVs, we see celebrities, singers, movie stars, etc. being praised. These people have the ability to influence millions and millions of people, and they are doing just that. The only thing is, these people are teaching their fans to be drunkards, liars, fornicators, etc. Though, at the same time, they are looked at as being great role models. When these celebrities are praised, they are telling the world that they should be like them, which leads to a destructive path. Sinners, much like the Great White, has the ability to destroy someone's life, and lead them far from God.

In the world, there are many sharks. They can be anyone; teachers, family members, friends, and maybe even church members. There's always going to be sharks, and it is up to us to decide who we are going to consider to be role models. Are we going to follow our fellow Christians who are trying to live for God, or are we going to follow the world who hates the work of God, and denies Him? None is great except for God, and the world needs to get back to a time where this truth was followed. 

Sharks will destroy, but I know someone that can mend the worst wounds, God. 

The Benefits of a Good Name

Proverbs 22:1-"A goodname is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."

Having a good name in Christ simply means that you display to the world what a Christian should possess. This consists of characteristics such as kindness, mercy, and most importantly, love. With these characteristics, God will bless you with great benefit: 

1) Better Witness: To be able to witness and influence others to choose God, we must first show what it's like to live for God. If we act in sinful ways, all it is showing to the world is that our Christianity is fake, and hasn't changed us in anyway. Having a good testimony that people look to for guidance will reach more people. 

2) Sincere Love: When a person becomes a Christian, many times, they lose their old friends. Fortunately, they gain new friends in Christ. A good name will attract the right kinds of friends, and you will be able to see who loves you for you. 

3) Improved View on Life: When I wasn't serving God, I had a very clear image of what I wanted my life to be, but I was completely wrong. Once I started following God and His word, it seemed like everything fell into place. I found out who my real friends were, I found within myself what I truly was meant to do, and I was able to better my relationship with God. I've found that other people can see the difference in me, and it feels good to be able to influence them. Not bragging on myself, but I am so much happier with the way I see my own self than ever before, solely because I found a good name.

Being a Christian, and actually putting God's word to action in your life can bring a lot of troubles into your life. You can lose friends, maybe even family, you might have to give up things you love or love to do, but living for God has so much more benefit. It might seem great now that people look up to you for sinful behavior, such as being able to drink the most alcohol, but sooner or later, you'll be left with the wreckage of a sinful life. God has promised that if we live for Him, He will bless us, and give us eternity in Heaven, which is far much greater than anything that the world can do for us. 

Work towards having a good name in Christ. Go out there, and win people to the Lord. Show them how great it really is to be a Christian, and to walk in God's footsteps. 

When the Masterpiece Gets Ruined

Ephesians 2:10

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Yesterday, I was playing with play dough with my little cousin. I worked very hard on making a giraffe from the play dough, and I finally got it to where it was perfect in my eyes. Once I got done, I was very proud of the work that I had done. Though, knowing the play dough would dry out, I had to take it apart and put it back in the containers. This sparked a thought in my head; it doesn't matter how much time and effort you put into something, it can be easily destroyed within seconds.  In a sense, we are God's play dough. He sees us as his masterpieces. When He formed Adam and Eve in the beginning, He formed them to be perfect in His eyes. Though, they soon ruined that image when they ate of the tree of knowledge, and ruined the perfection that God had put so much effort into creating. In society, we put such an effort into preserving famous works of art from the past. We see paintings of Van Gogh and Michelangelo that are praised and adored, but what about God's work of art?  Being God's creation, we are all special in our own way, and the beauty that God gave us should be preserved and honored. The beauty that God gave us comes from having a pure heart, modest appearance, dedication to God, etc. When we sin, our beauty is damaged, and God is disappointed.  As Christians, we should try and protect God's masterpiece. We should present ourselves in a Godly and kind manner to the world. We should be something that others look at as an example for their own life. God's work should not be in vain.

Why Waiting is Apart of God's Plans

Patience is one of the most common characteristics that people lack. People find it very difficult to even wait five minutes for something. When we are in a restaurant, we want our food to automatically get to us, or when we start a new job, we want to reap the benefits of making money right away. We are in the generation of "I want it right now," but God's plans are not on our time. God uses waiting to test us, to see if we will do what He says. There are different tests that God puts us through concerning finding our will, and here is just a few:

1) To test our trust in God: Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

It's easy to say that we trust God, but what happens when we are forced to wait? The majority of the time, we lose faith in God. We want something so bad at the exact moment that we figure that God isn't going to stand by His word when there isn't an automatic answer. When we start doubting Him, God loses faith in us as well. If we aren't willing to trust God, why would God send us blessings? God wants to bless those that wait on Him. He wants to have faithful servants that He can trust to be a light to the world. 

2) Appreciation: Hebrews 13:5 - "[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

If we don't appreciate what we have now, what makes us think that we will appreciate something else that God gives us in the future? God wants to be able to know that we will honor and appreciate what He does for us. He doesn't want His blessings to us to be in vain. 

3) Patience: Isaiah 40:31 - "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint."

God wants to know that we honor Him enough that we are willing to wait upon Him. When we rush God, it seems as if we are taking advantage of God for His blessings. We want a quick answer to our prayers, when in reality, God is waiting to answer us because He is creating something much greater than we could imagine. 

4) Motives: Proverbs 21:2 - "Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts."

God wants to see that we are praying for the right reasons. A lot of the time, we pray for things that we want, instead of things that we need or have a good reason for. We need to be selfless when we are praying for something or someone. Once God sees that our heart is true, then, He will choose how He wants to answer our prayers. 

Our hearts are not always set on the things of God when we are praying for something or someone, which is why it is so important to put it in God's hands. God knows exactly what the outcomes and consequences of something will be, and He will do what is best for us. All we have to do is give our burdens to God, and wait upon Him to show us His will. 

The Fake Christian

"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain." (James 1:26)

It is not enough to talk the talk, but the walk is needed as well. It can be easy to serve God when a person is around other Christians, but what that person does in their daily lives, when no one else is watching, is what truly matters. 

I think that we all can name someone that we see on Sunday morning, and they seem like the most Godly person, but the next day, they are drinking or cursing like a sailor. Many put up a front to have a good image of themselves in front of their church. They want to live two separate lives; their Christian life being separate from their sinful life. They want to be praised for their worship of God, and then they want to enjoy their sin throughout the week. What they don't understand is that the people in their church might not see the different life the person is living outside of church, but God does.

Being a Christian is so much more than going to church on Sunday. It's a full time job, and a person must continuously work on themselves. Like a job, they have duties that they must conduct; read Bible, pray, witness, and be a Godly example. Without these duties, what makes a person different from the world? Absolutely nothing. 

A person who claims to be a Christian on Sunday, but then lives a life of sin once they leave, is not a true Christian. They are putting on a fake for the sake of their image. Having a Godly image inside of church will not get a person saved. What will get them saved is the person giving up their sin for God, and asking for forgiveness. 

We have to be aware of these types of people. Fake Christians have the ability to drag others down with them. The devil uses sinful people that have a Godly image in church to tempt the true Christians into sin. A true Christian will live their life for God, even when there isn't anyone from their church around. I want to be that type of Christian, and God wants us to be that type of Christian too. Be a Christian every day of the week; Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Be a light for God every chance you get, and God will send His blessings. 

What You're Missing Out On By Being A Christian

When a person becomes a Christian and commits to God, they are forced to basically start their life from scratch. The things that have to be given up are endless, and here are just a few:

1) Friends: Before I committed to God, I couldn't count the number of friends that I had on my fingers. I wasn't the most popular person, but I did have a lot of friends. Nonetheless, these friends were people that cussed, drank, and partied. So, I had a decision to make; friends or God. I didn't really even have to make the choice because once I wasn't accepting of their sin, they stopped being my friend. Serving God might mean that we lose our friends, and it can feel really lonely, but giving up the friends that will only harm our relationship with God is worth it.

2) Dating: This is a biggie for me. Guys that are both worth dating and a Christian are few and far between. As a Christian, you might be forced to wait much longer than the average person to find the right individual. I personally hate this. I thought it would be much easier to find a spouse, but once you begin to look, even if they say they are Christian, not many people are actually following God.

3) Hip Clothing: Before I began serving God, I was wearing the short shorts and revealing tops. I was wearing what was in style, and I thought I was pretty cool. Though, once I started serving God, and I would wear something like that, I just wanted to hide. It felt like one of those 'giving a speech in your underwear' dreams. I was embarrassed by showing the world my body because modesty is of God. Being a Christian entails representing God, and that means ditching the revealing clothing.

4) Popular Media: Movies, music, celebrities; it seems that the majority of movies these days should be rated R. Even the PG-13 are beginning to have content that used to be considered an R rating. The constant cursing and large amount of sexual content is poison to our walk with God. Not to mention, all of the cursing in music today. It seems that especially rappers cannot go a sentence without cussing. It can be really hard to stay away from popular media. It will stop you from being able to talk to other people about these things, and you may get mocked for not knowing what's going on in the world, but that will end one day when we are with Jesus.

Though there are many things that are given up to benefit our walk with God, the gains are much greater.

1) The Greatest Friend: A thousand friends couldn't add up to how great of a friend God is. God made the greatest sacrifice for us by sending us His Son to take away our sin. What friend on Earth can you think of that would do that? Unlike friends in the world, God is always with us in our hearts. We are always able to get in touch with Him, and He blesses us beyond belief. He is the reason for every breath that we take, and He is the way to pure joy.

2) Heaven: As a Christian, we have our ticket to Heaven. A glorious place where we will sing and praise God forevermore. A place without pain, suffering, tears, or hurt. Heaven will last forever, and once we get there, we will see things so incredible, we won't want it to end.

3) Holy Book: God gave us the Bible as a set of laws to live by, and it does just that. It shows us that we need to be saved, then it tells us how to live, and it provides entertainment. The Bible isn't commonly described as entertainment, but it is for Christians. Reading all the stories and miracles that are in the Bible are so interesting when considering how God planned it all. It's such an encouragement to see the work that God did in the peoples' lives in the Bible, and it provides hope by explaining our future in Heaven.

4) Sisters and Brothers: Having a family in Christ is one of the biggest blessings of being a Christian. Having people in life that believe the same things, and are looking toward the same goals can be a great encouragement, which is exactly what God planned. He created the bond between Christians, so that we would have someone to talk with, be encouraged by, and worship God together. He knew that times would get tough, and that's why we have sisters and brothers in Christ.

Whenever you are feeling discouraged by all of the things that you can't do as a Christian, consider the things that you have because of your belief. The pros of being a Christian definitely outweigh the pros of living in sin. Once saved, we become the minority, compared to the number of people living in sin, which makes us special. Being different from the world may come with some grief, but it is worth fighting for. The world might turn against you, but we have a God that never will.

The Christian Woman In The Provocative World Of Dating

In a world where women are expected to be sexy, skinny, and fierce, women are losing the holiness that God intended the woman to have. The world tells women that they have to have a thigh gap and small waist, an unreserved and in-your-face attitude, and a sexual attitude toward men. But what does God say about the ideal woman? 

Proverbs 31:30-31 - Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 

The world is teaching women that beauty is the most important thing, but what they don't teach is what happens after their beauty has faded. Women put such emphasis on looking the most attractive, so much that their personality fades while in the process. The obsession with looking the best on the outside causes the internal self to turn ugly. Some women become very self-centered when their beauty is praised all the time. Once we become older, and our beauty isn't at its best, we want to be left with an internal self that is loved and cherished by people that were never interested in our beauty, but our heart. We want to most importantly, be able to stand before God, knowing that we lived for Him, and not the world.

In the dating world, the right guy will love you for what you present to the world internally, rather than externally. If a guy is only looking at your looks, that's what the relationship will be about. Without an emotional connection, there is no point to the relationship at all. A sincere guy wants someone that they can confide in, honor, and respect. The physical relationship might fade over the years, but a friendship between spouses will never dim, which is what God always intended.

Proverbs 31:26 - She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness.

Instead of being wise, women are more and more becoming just a pretty face. So many times, women will play dumb to get a guy's attention because they think that guys wants someone that they can control. What does this show a guy besides the fact that they are willing to disrespect their own intelligence to get a guy that is more than likely temporary in their lives? A real man will love your intelligence, and he will honor it. 

On the other hand, some women will act overly aggressive to get a guy's attention. They will try to force a guy into liking them, and most of the time, this includes displaying themselves as sexual objects. A real man doesn't want this. He will want to be an equal with you; not one person controlling the other, but a sincere care for one another, looking past the physical attributes.

God gives us wisdom to show the world our terrific features that God blessed us with. God made some people science wizes, and some, builders, and others are great teachers. Whatever a person possesses, it is a blessing from God, and He wants someone in their life that will cherish it. Most importantly, a woman having the wisdom of God, knowledge of the Bible and of God, a man of God will love that he can grow his relationship alongside his spouse. A Godly couple is able to encourage each other in God's work, and it is a true blessing.

Proverbs 31:25 - Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

As time goes on, the clothing on women seems to become shorter and shorter. We are seeing more thigh, stomach, and back than ever before. This type of clothing was designed to be attractive to the eye, and it sure does its job. When a woman wears clothing that is ungodly, she is presenting herself to the world as wanting a physical relationship. Instead of showing off her wonderful personality and skills, she is showing off her physical attributes. 

When in a relationship with a guy, the man should be able to respect the woman. A woman that is hardly dressed is not going to get the respect she deserves because she is making herself an item. Men of God won't be able to look past this type of clothing, and more than likely won't give the woman a chance, because they are looking for someone that loves God as well, and will present themselves of God. A person can be a Christian on the inside, but wear immodest clothing, and be judged on their outward appearance. If a woman is Godly, inside and out, they will find the right guy that God has for them. 

As a Christian woman, it can be very hard in the dating world. I have yet to find a guy that I can connect with, while him also being a Christian, but I know that waiting is worth it. God works on His time, not anyone elses'. There are reasons that God has us to wait on the right guy, and I believe that it is mostly because God wants us to work on ourselves before joining someone else. God wants us to gain wisdom and grow in our relationship with Him before having to juggle someone else in our lives as well. Being single allows more time for God, and once we reach that ideal relationship with Him, I believe that God will provide us with the right person. The right person will love us for our love for God and the traits that God blessed us with. Be a woman of God, and a man of God will find you. 

God Stretches Out His Forgiveness To Gomer

In the book of Hosea, God tells Hosea to go find a wife, who happened to be a woman of whoredoms. Hosea journeyed, and found Gomer, who in other words was a prostitute, living a life of sin, and took her as his wife. Gomer became pregnant, and had a son, Jezreel. Following Jezreel, Gomer gave birth to a daughter, Loruhamah, and a son, Loammi. Gomer soon began overwhelmed with the responsibilities of her new life, and began to feel like her family was holding her back. She missed her old life that consisted of doing what she wanted, a life where she didn't have to worry about what God wanted of her, or what Hosea expected of her. She soon returned to the ways of her past life, leaving Hosea to solely raise the children. Hosea deeply missed Gomer, because he had grown to love her. God soon came unto Hosea, telling him to go find Gomer, and bring her back home. Hosea did as he was told, and brought her back, and loved her just as before.

Much like the majority of the stories that we read in the Bible, the story of Hosea and Gomer has more than one lesson that can be learned.

1) God's Forgiveness/Mercy: Gomer lived a very sinful life against God, yet, God was very merciful toward her. God allowed Gomer to be the wife of a Godly man, and receive the blessing of children, something that some would love to have, but is not given from God. Even with all of the great things that God placed in Gomer's life, she did not appreciate it, and chose to return to a life of sin. Though, once again, God showed Gomer mercy. Gomer didn't necessarily deserve God's mercy, but He gave it to her, in hopes that she would better her life, and choose to live for God.

2) Following God's Love: Hosea was no doubt hurting when Gomer left him, though, instead of becoming overwhelmed with anger or dismay toward her, he mimicked God's love, and continued to care for her. Hosea did not hesitate when God told him to go bring Gomer back home. Hosea brought Gomer home, and showed her the love that he had always felt for her. Hosea was so forgiving because the love of God lived in his heart, and he followed God's mercy by giving Gomer another chance.

God's forgiveness is extraordinary. He continues to show mercy over and over again, even after we fail him daily. God wants us to mimick His love, and show mercy and forgiveness to one another. We have all sinned, and no one is above another. God has given us chance after chance to repent of our sins, and because He had done this for us, we should do this for others as well in our lives. Due to our sinful ways, God sometimes has to let us go our own ways, but he won't do this without a fight. Some people get so overwhelmed with sin that they never accept God's forgiveness. In the same way, sometimes, we can give chance after chance before it begins hurting our own relationship with God. We must figure out for ourselves when giving another chance to someone is not God's will. Living for God is all about following His footsteps, and forgiveness and mercy is a huge part of this, and we must use it to the best of our abilities.

To My Future Self, A Mother.

Genesis 1:28 - "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth."

Psalms 127:3 - "Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward."

For me, having children is something that I've dreamed about since I was little. From the time I could sit up, I always had a baby doll with me. As I got older, I began to realize more and more how much work children actually are, and I almost decided against having children altogether because of it. Though, God says that children are a blessing to us, and when I rededicated my life to God, I saw this. Children aren't something that should be expected, but they are a gift from God that should be cherished. 

Recently, I started watching a family on YouTube, and they have really been a true blessing in my life. Their name on YouTube is Sam and Nia, and they have two children. They're devote Christians, and they raise their children to love God. Each morning, they set aside time to read their Bibles together, and discuss what they have read. These types of things is what the children is going to remember when they are older; their parents doing everything in their power to teach them the things of God. It's what is going to keep them serving God, and continuing those traditions with their own children. When watching them, I can really see the love between them, and this comes from their efforts to lead their family in the right path. 

Sam and Nia have done a very well job in teaching their children the love of God from what I can see. They are some of the most well-behaved children that I've seen, and they withhold the love that only God can give. Recently, Nia had a miscarriage, and their oldest child was so empathetic toward Nia, and she is only five. She was so genuinely caring toward her mother, and she wanted to comfort her. Care like that only comes from God, and I pray that if God blesses me with children one day, I can be a Godly example for them.

Up until the point I started watching Sam and Nia, I honestly wasn't crazy about the thought of marrying someone that was fully devoted to God. I thought that marrying someone that was a fully dedicated Christian would take some of the fun out of life. Living for God can be hard. It takes a lot of time and efforts to do right, and I was afraid of what I would have to endure by having a Godly husband. I was completely wrong with this thought. God is the one that will give us a happy life, plus happy ending. Living for God will bring many blessings, and will it will lead to a Godly family. Parents must have God inside of them, in order to be a Godly example for their children. I want to find a husband that loves God, even more than he loves me, and will help lead our family with righteousness. 

Proverbs 22:6 - "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

God said to raise a child in a Godly manner, so that they will never depart from God's word. I am so blessed to have had Godly parents that always kept me on the right path. They taught me the things of God, so that when I got older, I could make the right decisions on my own. Today, I am so happy with where I am with my relationship with God, and I have to thank my parents for that. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't even have heard about God, and I certainly wouldn't be living for Him. If God blesses me with the opportunity of starting a family, I pray that I can look down the line to see my children living for God as adults. 

If you're like me, unmarried without children, I pray that you will find a great, Christian spouse who will be all they can be for God, in hopes that you have a Godly family one day. Personally, I can't wait until I meet the man that God has for me, and I get to begin that journey of my life with him. Someone that I can always count on being beside of me, and standing up for the things of God. A man that will raise our children to be respectable and honorable in God's eyes. I also pray that I can be the mother that God set me out to be. I hope to be a Godly example for my sons and daughters to grow up seeing. 

"Let God Make A Man Out Of Him"

No doubt I'm missing several great men of the Bible, but these men of God outline the characteristics that all Christian men should possess. We, as women, should be looking for these characteristics in a possible husband.

1) Faithful Like Abraham: In Genesis 22, God told Abraham that he was to go up to Mount Moriah, and offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice unto God. Abraham didn't hesitate to follow God's orders because he had very strong faith that God would provide. As Abraham was about to kill his son and offer him unto God, an angel of the Lord called out to Abraham saying, "Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." God saw that Abraham had complete faith, even to the point of killing his own son. A ram was provided to Abraham from God for him to make a sacrifice. God provides to those who are faithful to Him. A man, being the head of the household, will provide for his family through his faith.

2) Meek Like Moses: (Exodus) Moses grew up having everything that he could ever dream of having by living in the house of Pharaoh. He had great wealth and possessions, but these things did not mean anything to Moses. When Moses saw the cruelness that the Egyptians had toward the Israelites, he chose them over riches. Moses stood up for the Israelites and led them to freedom, giving up riches and the future throne. Being humble is a great attribute to a man. If a man is to present themselves humbly, they will be a better witness of God by showing others that he is not above them, and those people will find it easier to relate and learn from the man of God. A man of God will put his family and friends above wealth and fortune. 

3) Courageous Like Daniel: (Daniel 6) When the men of Babylon became jealous of Daniel's influence and power in the position that was given to him in the kingdom, they tried to take Daniel's relationship with God away. The Babylon men convinced the king to outlaw the worship of anyone or anything besides the king, including God. Daniel didn't abandon God, and instead, continued to pray to Him. Daniel was accused of worshiping God, and he was thrown in the den of the lions. Daniel willingly accepted his punishment because he knew that God would take care of him. In the den, Daniel peacefully slept throughout the night even with the lions surrounding him. The next morning, God brought him out of the den, and instead, the evil men of Babylon was thrown in the den and devoured. Due to Daniel's bravery and unwavering faith, God brought him out of the den when everything looked hopeless. As a husband, a courageous man will lead his family in the way of God, even when being persecuted. 

4) Righteous Like Job: (Job 1) Job is a very devoted man of God. He always obeys God and His word, which is why the devil wanted him to fail so badly. God allowed the devil to send temptations unto Job, in order to show the devil the unwavering faith that Job possessed. The devil sent word to Job about various, unfortunate killings of  his people that God allowed, but Job still would not curse the name of the Lord. When the devil saw that he had to take drastic measures to get Job to fail, he had Job's sons and daughters killed, but even through this tragic event, Job did not waver from God. Instead, Job praised God, knowing that this was His will. A man that will put obedience to God above everything else, even when it comes to his children, is indeed a great man of God. As a husband, a wife can put her faith in a man that always does the right thing according to God.

5) A Changed Man Like Paul: (Acts 13) Before becoming a great man of God, Paul's name was Saul. Saul was a persecutor of those Christians that believed and followed God. When God came unto Saul one day while he was journeying to find Christians, God sent a bright light out of Heaven that blinded Saul, and showed him that he was wrong in persecuting those people of God. God sent another man of God unto Saul to bring back his sight. Saul's name was changed to Paul when he accepted God as his personal savior, and left behind his sinful acts of persecution. From that point on, Paul began journeying around the land preaching, teaching, and establishing churches all in the glory of God. Paul changed many peoples' lives by doing the work of God. A man that is willing to give up his past for God, then fully dedicate his life to the work of God is a holy man of God. No matter what past a man has, they can become a Godly man. When looking for a husband, his past doesn't define the man he is presently. 

6) A Friend Like Barnabas: (Acts 13-14) Barnabas was a great help and friend to Paul after he became a Christian. Everyone still feared Paul because of his past, but Barnabas was willing to have a friendship with him, and help him in his walk with God. Together, Paul and Barnabas traveled around establishing churches and being preaching God's word. With the friendship that Barnabas provided to Paul, Paul was able to learn from a man of God. Having someone to look up to, Paul was able to model his life after someone that was more experienced with the Christian faith. Being a friend and Godly influence to others may mean more than what one thinks, and God honors a man that will be that for someone. A man that is a Godly friend to others will be a loyal and honorable husband.

My Godless High School Journey

High school is what you make it to be. It can be about getting a good education, or sports, or band, or whatever you want. You can choose to show the person that you truly are, or you can choose to pretend to be someone else in order to fit in. You can decide to make good grades, or you can decide to just slide by. There are many good and bad paths to choose from, and unfortunately, I chose the bad ones.

Coming into high school, I had the best, Christian friends that I could have ever asked for, but I pushed them away. High school can definitely be cruel, though, it is only cruel if you let it be, like I did. I pushed God out of my life completely in high school, and it sent me down a spiraling funnel of disappointment. I did anything I could to be popular, instead of doing anything I could to please God. I let God down, and I will never get rid of that regret. As I found out, anything without God is bound to fail.

When I first started high school as a freshman, I was in the popular crowd. I was best friends with the girls that everyone wanted to be friends with, I was talking to one of the "lady's men" of the school, and I was in marching band, which was cool at the time. The friends that I had was the best thing that had ever happened to me. I was finally fitting in, and they liked me for me. The guy that I was talking to was a true gentleman. We talked all the time. He carried my books, held the door for me, walked me to my sister's car, called me every night, called me "beautiful" and "angel." Truly, he was the perfect guy. I was on cloud nine, and nothing was going to stop my happiness.

Sometime within the time spent on my personal, dream cloud, reality shoved me off that cloud. Those best friends that I loved so much had led me into stuff that I am so embarrassed of. I cheated my way through freshman year. I was just making it by with my grades, and that was only because of cheating. I had started to say words that I would never say today, I had turned into a mean girl, and I looked down on everyone. Oh, and that perfect guy, well, let's just say he had a good front on.
I don't know if it was him messing around with other girls, or the fact that he got inches from my face and was yelling at me in front of the whole band class that showed me who he really was. Reality had finally hit me, and it hit me hard.

Needless to say, I lost all of those people in my life after freshman year. They were fake friends that were only going to lead me down a worse path. I got rid of that jerky guy in my life as well. All of the sin that I had committed showed me that I wasn't truly saved. When I did get saved during my junior year, I still went against God completely. I let the kids at that school ruin my relationship with God. I didn't get a good relationship with God back until after I graduated, and I can't understand how God could have been so merciful to me when I was so horrible to Him. Though, He did, and I am so grateful to Him for that.

For anyone in high school or about to be in high school, please take my advice, and follow God. I thought that pleasing everyone at school and being liked was what high school was about, but it's not. Those popular kids that made me feel so inferior in high school aren't even around anymore. I let them make such an impact in my life, and now, they aren't in my life at all. If I could go back, I would choose the unpopular crowd. I so wish I would have. They are such better influences than the popular crowd. The popular kids that I graduated with are still partying, drinking, and doing drugs, while the unpopular crowd are making something of themselves. They are the ones that are becoming successful. Trust me when I say that it isn't worth being popular, but it will be worth following God. Don't be like me. Don't let people ruin your relationship with God just because they seem to have it all. No person, or status is worth the regret that I now feel because of what I did to God. Take the chance while you can, and choose God.