Pharisee or Disciple

Pharisee or Disciple? 

So it's been a long while hasn't it? Recently I have been reading a book called Jesus > Religion by Jefferson Bethke. It focuses on how we try so many things in order to be closer to God, much like the Pharisees. The Pharisees followed a set of laws and were outwardly perfect. The problem was their insides. They were so self righteous that they believed that they were perfect. The Pharisees were broken inside. They were so focused on following the laws that they forgot about anything else. The Pharisees didn't have a relationship with God, they had religion. That was the whole point of Jesus coming,to establish a relationship, but the Pharisees hearts were hard and they refused to believe. They were so focused on upholding the law and appearing perfect that they forgot to focus on their relationship with God. The same goes for the modern church and I wonder if the true Jesus would even be accepted in our church. We are so concerned with others sin and appearing perfect that we forget about the relationship and focus on the religion. Just like the Pharisees we are quick to judge and focus on sin, but when we focus on sin we forget about the inside. When we see someone sinning are we more concerned with their sin or their relationship with Jesus. The inside has to heal before the outside. We are all so broken, but I think we tend to forget that. Everyone on this earth has a Jesus shaped hole in our hearts. The point to all of this is we are all trying to fill that hole, but a large percent of our church is trying to fill that hole by being self righteous and following all the rules. The problem is that isn't how you get closer to Jesus. If anything it brings you further away because we will never be able to follow all the rules. We will mess up, it is inevitable considering that Jesus is the only one who is perfect. In Matthew it 23:25-28 it talks about how the Pharisees are perfect on the outside, but rotten on the inside.

  25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! tFor you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and 3self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! uFor you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

 We cannot be dead on the inside, otherwise how are we to follow after God and seek Him. We have to stop focusing on being self righteous and making sure the outside looks perfect. By doing so we are dividing the church and causing other broken people to stay away from the church. Instead of focusing on laws and rules let's focus on loving God and loving one another. In the end if we love the Lord with all our hearts and love our neighbors then everything else will follow. Let's choose to be disciples. To focus on following Jesus instead of focusing on all of the rules. Don't get me wrong the rules are there for a reason and we are supposed to follow them. The important thing is not to let them become your only relationship with God. Don't concern yourself with only the outside. So it's your move. Pharisee or Disciple?

Love your neighbor as YOUrself

This verse is right up there with John 3:16. The second greatest commandment. But sometimes or most times if we're honest it's the hardest. I wanna talk about two possible reasons why, and the second reason isn't nearly as obvious.
Mark 12:31
The second greatest commandment is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.

First I want to define your neighbor.

Your Neighbor

Anyone who isn't you. Including everyone from your grandmother to your bus driver to the man standing next to you on the street.  

When Jesus said "your neighbor" he didn't just mean someone living near you he meant absolutely everybody. That girl whispering about you in the hallway. The boy who won't talk to you anymore and you don't know why. That teacher that made fun of you in front of the entire class. That annoying relative that you can't stand. The sibling that makes you want to scream. The person that called you out in front of everybody.  

It's hard to wrap your head around. How are you supposed to love these people? The ones that hate you? But if you only love the people who love you back, what kind of a love is that? (Matthew 5:46)

Here is my advice:

1) Pick someone you're having trouble loving.

2)Pray that God will bless them, at first it will feel weird and you won't really even mean it maybe, but eventually you'll begin to truly care.

3) Make an effort to be kinder, smile, try and keep you're mouth shut when you want to say something bad about them.

4) Try to keep your thoughts positive towards them.
5) If you mess up, don't give up, try again.

6)Continue to ask God for guidance.

I want to talk about the second part of the verse now. Those last two words stick with me. "As yourself". Not everyone loves themselves the way that they should. Loving yourself can be harder than loving others and it can also make it harder to know what loving someone else the same way you love yourself.  You can see all of your faults, all of your shortcomings, all of your vices, and scars. You look in the mirror and think of all the things that are wrong with you. You feel like you are constantly striving to be someone else, to be better. 

Here's what I wanna say to you: 

You are loved. YOU are loved. You, the girl who cries herself to sleep. You,the boy pretending to be someone he isn't to fit in. All of you are loved.  God loves you more than you could ever understand. I know it sounds like a cliche or something you say to make someone feel better, but He does. You are His son or daughter, not just His neighbor. You're not just somebody God knows about, you're His family. He loves you unconditionally. The same way God wants us to love others. 

AND by loving others unconditionally we treat them how to love others and themselves. It starts a cycle of love instead of a cycle of hate. That is why loving other is the one of the greatest commandments. It teaches us to love others and ourselves. We teach others to love and they teach others. 

In God We Trust

I thought I might post my short sermon from Fine Arts this year, I made it to nationals and although I didn't get a callback, I am so glad I got to experience, if you have any critiques I'd love them, thanks :)

In God We Trust

‘In God we Trust’ As Americans we hear this phrase a lot. But, as Christians do we practice it??? This famous saying came into being with America. Many times we don’t trust God even though we see it plastered everywhere. Does it mean anything to us? Are we truly trusting God? 
This past year I stopped trusting in God for my identity. I tried to trust in my own ability but since Jesus was obviously the only perfect person, it didn’t really work out. I thought my identity was how good I was and how I did the right thing. But you can’t always be good and you can’t always do the right thing, so it turned into a mess of worry and insecurity. My identity became my prison I felt trapped by who I was supposed to be and who I really was. Now I’ve realized that I need to trust in God, to know that He will always love me just the way that I am. He wants me to become a better person of course but I don’t have to clean myself up before He loves me. I’m learning to trust in Him and not myself because He will never fail me. This trust sets me free. It can set you free too.
Do you remember a time when talking to God was like talking to a friend.  Someone you could trust to help you and to listen to you. As we grow up we try to rationalize our relationship with God. We try to be adults and handle things ourselves, but in doing this we often shut out God. As we grow up, God becomes less real, and we lose the natural dependency on Him. We go from asking Him for everything  and trusting Him with our heartache, giving Him our worries, to occasionally asking God for forgiveness when we feel convicted during a sermon.When you think about it, how many times do we trust God to save us? How many times have we been in a bad situation or maybe you we’re just upset and confused and instead of talking and praying about it you keep quiet and let it just burn within you. God wants us to run to Him. He wants us to trust Him with your problems. He wants us to pray when things get tough.
Philippians 4:6-7 says: Don’t worry about anything;instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
In Matthew it goes on to say: 
Matthew 7:7 (ASV)Ask, and it shall be given you;
If God is so willing to give why are we so afraid to ask? A great example of someone who trusted God completely is Joseph. He was dumped in a well, sold as a slave, falsely accused, and then he was tossed in jail. Instead of turning to something else……… instead of becoming bitter…….. he turned to God. And God blessed him for it. By trusting God he was able to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, prevent famine, save and regain his family, and rise to a position of authority. All because he trusted and listened to God. He didn’t turn away,  he turned TOWARDS God. 
If what happened to Joseph is the result of trusting God, why do we feel silly when we leave things up to God? 
In first Corinthians 13:11 it talks about how as you grow up you don’t reason like a child. That doesn’t mean that we should stop depending on God.
Jesus also said to have childlike faith. Although we have to be young adults and grow up we also need to trust God to take care of us. As little children we trust our parents for everything, we rely on them. We need to rely on God in this same way. As kids we don’t understand a lot of things we have to do but later on we find out that it is for our own good. Proverbs 3:5 says to trust in the Lord with all your heart and not to rely on your own understanding. 
Sometimes, what seems like a trial is for our own good. And through these trials we have to trust God. He will be our peace and our rock just like it says in Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on You. Trust in the Lord always for the Lord God is the eternal rock. 
He will never fail us nor abandon us, Deuteronomy 31:6. Just like in Matthew 14:22-31 When Jesus called out to His disciples that were in the boat. Peter decided to take that first step and go out onto the water and it went great, I mean he walked on water! But soon he began to doubt and worry, he started to sink. But Jesus reached out and kept him from sinking. He didn’t leave him to drown, He caught him. He’ll catch you too. Although Jesus was upset that Peter had doubted and worried He still loved and cared for Peter. The same goes for us, He will never stop loving us, no matter what happens. If only we would ask Him for help instead of turning to him after we have asked everyone else for help. After we have tried everything. 
IN Psalms 46:1 says that God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. God will never leave us trouble or otherwise.
 So Let’s be like Peter, lets step out onto the water and trust. 
Because if we fall Jesus is right there. 
When we stumble He is our refuge and strength. 
If we start to drown He is there for us. 
So lets test the waters! 
Let’s Let go and Let God.

I call myself a Jesus Crazy Teenager, BUT am I really living it?

When  I asked this question, I'm not questioning my passion for Jesus. I'm asking myself if I'm really living for Him. Normally I'd answer YES ABSOLUTELY! But am I? Or am I getting caught up in my own life? Am I sitting around wondering why I'm not as popular as my other friends instead of worrying about the girl sitting beside me who so desperately needs love? Am I trying to fit in instead of worrying about the souls that need saved? Am I sitting here judging him when I can tell that he so urgently needs God? Am I the one cracking a joke to get a few moments of laughter and security when I just cost the person I just laughed at their own security?! I AM!

 

Where has that fire gone? The love for the lost? I know that I am not the only one struggling with this. I love God, but I am not enough. I cannot do this alone. I say I am on a walk with God, but how can I walk with someone that I've already walked away from? It is a daily struggle for me to try and be like Christ. Sometimes I pretend I don't worry what others think, but ITS ALWAYS THERE IN THE BACK OF MY MIND. The devil pushes my insecurities in my face when I'm down. After I've done something wrong I can just hear a voice say, "Looks like you've messed up, AGAIN." But you know what? We have to shove that voice down! God knows we are not enough. I believe that when God called himself "I AM" He was saying, I AM enough. I AM ENOUGH. God isn't insecure and He's there to help us.

 

I am the light of the world......John 8:12

 

I am the resurrection and the life......John 11:25

 

I am the way, the truth, and the life.....John 14:6

 

God is there to use us. To fill us up full of light. Light that we need to share with the world. Life that we need to help give to the broken. Resurrection to those dead in Christ. And finally a way to Christ.

 

SO from now on I'm going to try to be "JESUS CRAZY" but with a whole new meaning of being Christ-like and filled up with Christ. 

 

 

 JesusCrazy(Hopefully Christlike)Teenager

Am I worth it?

Today I wanna talk about something I think every teenager thinks at least once in their lives.
"Am I worth it? Why am I here?" 
In the back of our minds, in the bottom of our hearts we know, that God loves us. That He wants us. But constantly we hear a voice that says I don't have a purpose, I'm not worth it. But God says the exact opposite. He died for us. Jesus loves us soooo much! We know this but these kinds of things need to be reinforced. It's hard for us to wrap our minds around a love that is unchanging and unconditional. When our actions and others actions are based on what other people do right or wrong, how can we think that Someone's love could be constant?
62% of 11 to 14 year olds have been in a relationship where they were called worthless, ugly, or stupid.
At a time when you're still trying to figure out who you are how does this help? Sometimes when we're older we can be more sure of ourselves. Sometimes not. But at eleven years old?!
40% of teens report knowing someone from 14 to 17 years old that have been physically abused by their boyfriend/girlfriend. When someone treats you as though you are less than human how can you see your worth?
People can try to tell us that we are not worth it. But we are. God cared enough to create us, to take the time to make us each different, unique, special.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, says The Lord, plans to prosper and to give you a future.
Psalm 139:14 For I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Exodus 19:5 You shall be unto to me a peculiar treasure.
God loves you. You are the child of the King of Kings. Never forget it.

 JesusFreakTeen 

"Death with Dignity"....

They call it "Death with Dignity". I call it suicide made easy. Five states have already passed laws on death with dignity or assisted suicide. What happened to life being a gift? Something that wasn't to be wasted? Life is something given to us by God. Who are we to decide that we no longer need it. By passing this law these American states are playing God. We have no right to play God. 

Exodus 20:13 You shall not kill. 

Taking away a life is killing. No matter how you look at it someone ends up dead when you kill whether it is you or someone else. I'm not saying to judge these people. It is not our place to judge. But if it were in our power to prevent it shouldn't we do whatever we can? Those people who see no way out need to see the light at the end of the tunnel. That light is Jesus. 

Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world.........16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 

We have to let our light shine. No matter how horrible we feel. How many times do people who survived a suicide say, "If only someone had smiled at me....." or something to that effect? Now to recap Brittany Maynard's decision was completely different. She wanted to die even though she was happy. She determined that it wasn't worth it to wait a while longer until she got sicker. There is that common word that we hear about suicides. It wasn't worth it. Make it worth it. This world has become so self-centered. We have selfies for goodness sake. Some of us hardly even look up from our phones. But we are not of the world. Consider how many people's days that you could have changed just my smiling. If you've been alive for at least a decade that's 3,650 people you could have smiled at. One person a day. That doesn't sound so hard does it? Nearly 40,000 Americans die of suicide every year. Now suicide problems can't be healed by just a smile, but its a start. If 100 people smiled at one person a day for a whole year that would be almost 40,000 people. Let's start a movement. All you have to do it smile. Come on, we can do it, all we have to do is try. Start by smiling. Then ask how they're doing. Befriend them. Think how many people that we can smile at a year. It only takes a second to ask how they are. Let's do it! #smileateveryoneandchangetheworld

JesusFreakTeen

What can I do?

92 million people heard the Gospel because of Tim Tebow.... Now sitting here you may wonder what this has to do with you. What does it have to do with you? Nothing if you don't let it. It means everything if you do. How can we do this? Just for a second lets think about something:

1. There are 1.317 billion FaceBook users.
2. 200 million people use instagram
3. Around a billion people use Twitter. 

How many people can you reach by posting the verse John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. At the most it takes one or two minutes. Just one or two to share with people everlasting life, everlasting peace. And yet we don't. Here are some more stats. 

1. Over 18,000 people have used the #godisdead as a tag. Don't you want to reach them??
2. Over 340,000 people have the #atheist as a tag. What about them? 
3. And finally over 35,000 people have used the tag #satanist. Not only do they depose God but they worship the devil. How terrible is that? 

WE can help these people. All it takes is one step to start a revolution. Take that first step. It doesn't matter if its a baby step or a giant step, just take it.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.......

Nowadays we can reach people from Asia while we sit in our living room. The world is at our fingertips. 226,615 people have used the hashtag #Godsnotdead. Will you? Will you be responsible for someone discovering Christ? I hope so. Now is not the time to be timid and shy now is the time to be bold!

2 Timothy 7 For God gave us not a spirit of fear but a spirit of love and self control. 

What will you post next?

~JesusFreakTeen 

Persecuted

Lately all we hear about is persecution. Hearing of the horrific things that happen in the middle east can make a person tremble. We live in a day and age where everything around the world is going to ruins. But today  I wanna talk about the persecution that goes on right here in modern day America. The kind of persecution that makes people stop and wonder, "Is this worth it?" I know the people being persecuted by ISIS must be going through so much more,  and yet they are trying to get through it. I'm here to say I get it. I understand. I want to help. And I want you to understand. God isn't up there watching and not caring. He feels your hurt, your trial, your sadness. The trials you are going through right now are getting you ready. Ready for the next stage in your life. I'm not saying disregard your trials. I'm just saying that there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

I will bring that group of people through the fire, and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on My name and I will answer them. I will say 'These are My people' and they will say 'The LORD is our GOD'. Zechariah 13:9

The Lord will test us but we have to come out a better person. God is equipping us for our next stage in life. Now I want to talk about our schools and our churches. I want to say thank you to those out there who are in earnest and trying their hardest to live for Christ. I wanna say that God sees you. Your works are not going unseen. I also need to say don't let the kids who have decided that being a Christian isn't cool or important, do not let them get you down. We have to deal with these people in life. On top of that try to keep your eyes on the prize. I know what it is to cry over people who have decided to ignore you because you are living for God.

But the Lord is with me as a dread warrior, therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me................    Jeremiah 20:11

The Lord has not forsaken you. He stands beside you as you fight the good fight. Don't give up. Know that you are not the only ones. Know that we know how you feel but none more than Jesus.

If the world hates you know that it hated me before you. For if you were of the world then they would love you; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word I said to you, "A servant is not greater than his master." If they persecuted Me they will persecute you also. John 15:18-19


Hold on to Jesus. Hope in him.
My Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. And the peace I give is not a gift the world can give. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Jeremiah 1:9 

~JESUSFREAKTEEN

#GodCANUSEYOU

God doesn't call the equipped he equips the called. We've heard that so many times. But we think, "Ok, sure!" We roll our eyes and move on. If God can use a murderer, then why can't he use us? Exodus 2:11-12 In the course of time Moses grew up. Then he went to see his own people, and saw them suffering under the labor. He saw a hebrew being beaten by an Egyptian. He looked all around and seeing no one he beat the Egyptian to death and hid the body in the sand." But then Moses goes to performing miracles! Exodus 14:21 Then Moses raised his hand over the sea and the LORD drove a strong east wind through it, making the seabed dry, and causing the water to part. How awesome is that?
Why can't we do that? We CAN! If only we would grow our faith.
And the Lord answered them, " If you had faith even as big as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it will obey you." Ok so first things first, how small can our faith be if its smaller than a mustard seed? A mustard seed is smaller than all other seeds.
Matthew 13: 31-32 Another parable he put before them saying, "The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds but when it is grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests upon it." When Jesus says this He isn't talking about the ground. He is talking about our heart and how if we water the seed (read our bible, spend time praying and listening to God) then it will grow. The more we take care of it the more it grows. The seed is our faith. Without it we can't do what Moses did. So take time growing your faith. :)

-JesusFreakTeen

Confidence.............

This week at church we split into our groups and took these quizzes, to find out what our top flaws were. All of our answers varied but for my top flaw I got insecurity. As our teacher looked around the room she realized that a lot of top flaws were insecurity. She suggested that we look up Christian ways to build confidence. So here's what I came up with:

Brandi mentioned that at a confidence boosting seminar her friend went to the instructor made her look in the mirror and say ten times "I like you!" Now for those outgoing, bubbly people out there this doesn't sound hard at all. On the other hand the shy, insecure people out there you're thinking uhhh.........nope! But even if it does make you feel silly and embarrassed especially in front of other people, it does make you face your fears. Insecurity and shyness go hand in hand.

Another way is to meet someone new. Now this might be, for the shy insecure people, a downright nightmare. I understand what this means. It scares me too. Sometimes we have too get out of our comfort zones.

Spend time in the bible. God's word will give us confidence. Constantly it will help us raise our self-esteem.

Find an accountability partner who can pray with you and lift you up when you are feeling low.

Now this wouldn't be quite whole if I didn't back it up with scripture :)
James 5:16 Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed, the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

So many times insecurity and shyness springs from fear. But in Jesus Christ there is no fear.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us not a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, and self control.

John 20: 21 Jesus said to them, "Peace be with you, for as the Father sent me, I am sending you."

God has given us peace, we do not need to fear if only we will take it. We don't need to hold onto our insecurity. In order to tell other people about our faith we must have confidence. In our faith and in ourselves. God doesn't want us to muddle through life shying away from everything. We have to leave behind our fear and hold onto our peace.

(Peace out!) JesusFreakTeen

Changing The World, One Kindness At A Time

I was listening to this song while I did the dishes and it made me think. Why does changing the world have to start out by doing the big things? Jesus came to us as a baby. He wasn't crucified first. You have to start somewhere. So instead of changing the world try changing someone's world. The song was by Matthew West. It's called "Do Something,". In this song Matthew West says:
"We're never gonna change the world by standing still."
We can't sit here wishing we could do something. Wishing you could do something won't get you anything without action. If you stand still you'll never run a marathon. So start with small kindnesses. Open the door for somebody. Smile at someone who looks sad. Do a chore before you're asked. Anything. I've heard of so many times when kids or adults say if someone had showed them a simple kindness then they wouldn't have done this or that. They wouldn't have gone down that road. Mother Teresa said:
Let no one ever come to you without leaving better or happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile. 
We are to follow Christ to strive to be like Him. What better way than to show everyone one kindness. Christ showed kindness and love to the lowest of the low, the lepers. I know that even if that man had not been healed and Christ had only reached out to him that the man would still be touched. But He went further He showed this man even more love and compassion. From the lepers to the Pharisees we have to show them all kindness. In doing so we are showing our world our Christ, our Savior. In showing kindness ourselves we are doing what we would wish for others to do for us.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 
It's the small kindnesses that people remember. Show people who Christ is. You may be the only Christ someone ever sees. I'm going to paraphrase but the gist of Matthew 25: 40 is Jesus will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

~JesusCrazyTeenager

Faith vs Good Works

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved--- through faith, this is not of yourselves but a gift from God. This verse clearly states we cannot save ourselves, through good works, but what about James 2:14?

For what use is it, for a man to say he has faith, if he does nothing? Will such a faith give him salvation?

 I think he is saying that through our strong we ought to have the want to do things for the Lord. That good works are the product of strong faith. If a christian is truly saved then they should have this desire to tell the world about God. A desire to do the right thing. A desire to go out of their way to do good things for people. James is saying that if a person is truly saved then they should have fruit that comes from our faith. We are not saved through good works. We are saved through grace, through faith. Through Jesus Christ, the mediator between God and us. In James 2:16 he talks about words with no action. (upon seeing a person in need of clothing and food) If one of you says, "Go in peace, be warm and well fed." But does nothing about their physical needs what good is it. In the next verse James goes on to say faith without action is dead. And here you realize that James is saying saying you believe and showing you have faith are two different things. Everyone thought Job had faith but they didn't truly see it until they saw him trust God to the utmost even after losing everything. Now it might seem funny that James said "Will faith save him?" Especially since the book Ephesians just said you are saved by faith. But what James really meant was will that kind of faith save him? If you say you have faith but do not show it then will that save you? James does not mean to discredit what the book Ephesians said. He means only to clarify. We are not saved through good works but what is our faith without fruit? Nothing.

~JESUSFREAKTEEN

I dare you to move..........

You've probably heard of Switchfoot right? Ok if not they're a christian band (an amazing one by the way) and they sing the song, and many others, I dare you to move. But I wanna go deeper. They are my inspiration for this blog post. Lets start with the line:
I dare you to move 
Like today never happened.
Now when those lines play through my head it reminds me of this verse:
John 15:20
Remember........if they have persecuted Me they will persecute you also.
John 15:20  and those verses seem to go together. It seems like maybe the "person" Switchfoot is talking about has been persecuted for their faith. Maybe they don't feel like getting up and walking out the door only to have it happen again. Or maybe this song is talking about someone who messed up. Somebody who doesn't want to face what they did. But they can't seem to forget it. But earlier in the song it says:
Everybody's watching you now
Everybody waits for you
What happens next?
What happens next?
It feels like once you're a christian then everyone has their eyes on you just waiting for you to step out of line. And lets be honest some people are. People can be brutal. Sometimes its more of when people are disappointed that makes you upset than when God is disappointed. Should we be that way? No. Are we? Yes. It's human nature unfortunately. But if we don't get right back up and try again then people will see us as being weak. We must have faith in the Lord. Even if we get knocked down, we have to get back up. If we make a mistake then we ask God's forgiveness. We have to remember that God doesn't hold onto our sins. He's thrown our sins into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19). He has forgotten our wickedness and our sins. (Hebrews 8:12) If He, meaning God, has forgotten your sins why should you remember them. Neither Persecution nor Mistakes shall keep you from getting back up and doing what God wants. Every one of us is useful to God. Do not think otherwise. Mistakes will not keep you from him either.
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation distress, sin, persecution, or famine or peril, or sword?
Romans 8:37-39
No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (38) For I am sure that neither Death nor Life, nor Rulers or Angels, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, (39) nor height nor depth, nor anything else in creation shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 2:9

"But you are a chosen race,a royal priesthood, a holy nation,a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light."
- 1 Peter 2:9

Peter starts out with "You are a chosen race,". This doesn't mean that you were picked randomly or that you were picked for no reason. This means that God has chosen you from millions of people. God has a purpose for your life. He picked you before you were born. ("For I know the plans I have for you, declares The Lord, plans to prosper and not to harm you." Jeremiah 29:11) God has a plan for your life. You could never be the labels that the world give teenagers. You will never be worthless to God. Peter goes on to say "a royal priesthood". When Peter mentions this I believe he is repeating that we need to minister and spread the word of God as a priesthood would do. I think a priesthood is meant to unite us so that we might work together to share The Gospel. Now when a Peter says "a holy nation", he isn't talking about just Israel. Together, all of the Christians, form a holy nation. A nation solely for God. Created for God. When he mentions, "a people for His own possession," I think Peter is trying to convey that we are for God. We are for His possession. We need to make our faith public to make people realize that they can and should be His too. "That you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light." This too seems to say tell people not only of The Gospel but of God's great glory and all that He's done. To summarize I think God wants us to know we are chosen specifically by Him and that since we are His, we need to tell others about it.

- Jesus Freak Teen

1 Samuel 16:7

1 Samuel 16:7 The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.

I know that outward appearances can often give you your first impression. But how many of us actually take the time to look deeper? To care about them? To remember that they are Gods creation also? That He loves them too? Because he does. Maybe that person that drives you crazy is actually the one that needs you the most. 

To care or not to care? If we decide not to care it could affect that person life. Not only their day. What if we all chose to care. To just smile at people we see on the street? To say hi to someone at school that normally doesn't get talked to? What if we tried to do something different? To change something? With God we can change the world.

Romans 8:31 What, then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us who can be against us?

We have to get past the voice in our head that says "What can you do? You're just a stupid kid." We have to turn our ears toward Heaven. We have to try and portray God. We are His disciples. People are looking at us to see how we react and we need to try to react like Christ would. We must give God our attention. Ask Him what He would have you do and together we can change the world.

~JesusFreakTeen

BOLD FAITH

1st Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Precisley. We don't know when Jesus is coming back. It is not time to step back and try not to offend people. I'm not saying not to respect them because God says that we are to love the sinner. Only we can't step down anymore. We don't know when the Lord is coming. He may come tonight, he may not come for centuries. The fact is we simply don't know.

Matthew 24:36 But about the day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but only the father.

If we knew the He was coming this week what would you change? Who would you tell about God? How would you act. Personally speaking I would tell strangers on the street. I would try to act in a way tha God would be proud of me. I would be bold in my faith. There would be no time for shyness. No room for offense. As many people as would listen, I would tell. He could come back tomorrow. We just don't know. We have to act like every day is our last. Like if we don't tell these people about God then they'd never here it. And you know what? You could be the only person to tell them. What if you don't? Everyone needs to know. Don't hide the light under a bushel. Let it shine in the darkness.

Jude 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

We have to love them. We have to care. We can't go through life not caring about the people and souls around us. Look around you at the people and think about what I've said.

Christ loved us while we were still sinners. Can't we do the same for others? He said to love thy neighbor as thyself. Faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is love. We have to have all of these. We need faith to talk to these people. We have to love these people as ourselves. We have to hope that they'll listen. We also need persistence. Even if they don't listen the first time you have to try again. You may be the only thing standing between them and Hell. Or maybe you just need to care. What if they have nobody that seems to care. You never know whats going on in their lives. We just need to love them.

~JesusFreakTeen

Music

The things that we put into our minds is very important. The bible suggests that Lucifer was the minister of music. Music is very easy to find these days. On your cell phone, your computer, mp3, ipod, and in your car. We have to be careful what we listen to and watch on TV. Recently my youth pastor told me that when she was a teenager and listened to questionable music she would say that she just liked the beat. She said that this is one of Satan's common lies. When she looked one of these songs up on youtube however it had satanic signs on the video. Its very easy to be deceived. Remember that nursery rhyme:
Oh be careful little ears what you hear.
Oh be careful little ears what you hear.
Theres a Father up above.
And He's looking down in love.
So be careful little ears what you hear.

Even this nursery rhyme from years ago has stuck in my head. Old "favorite songs" are still mostly stuck in my head. These songs, any of them, can get stuck in your head. They can start to influence you.  This is why we need to listen to encouraging music. Not all secular music is bad but some of it is.



"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you -- and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."
— Mark 4:24-25 (NIV)

~JESUSFREAKTEEN

Tim Tebow

So many people inspire me. But they sometimes seem not to be human. As in it seems that they don't mess up. The person that inspires me the most is the one that messes up but admits it. All of those stars in Hollywood mess up and don't care. They don't admit it and certainly don't try to fix it. I am so glad that Tim Tebow admits this. He doesn't create an impossible image to follow.

I have so many things to work on and so many ways that I fail.

But that's what grace is all about.

And I wake up every morning,

trying to get better,

trying to improve,

and trying to get closer to God.

~TIM TEBOW

We need to follow his example. He admits he messes up but he tries to fix it. So many times we mess up and we don't try to fix it. God loves us and He wants us to be closer to Him. To walk on water to Him. To step out in faith. The time to change is now. Step out in faith. Grasp God's hands. Hold on to him. 

Faith is taking the first step

even when you can't see the whole staircase.

~ MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

Everyone is afraid of the dark at one point in their life. Its because the darkness is unknown. But we must take that step and trust God. He loves you so much and wants to be closer to you.

~JESUSFREAKTEEN

Homefront Missionaries

"The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us." 
— Billy Graham
"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." 
— C.S. Lewis
 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
~James 1:27 ESV

In everyones mind, generally thinking, a missionary goes somewhere else. But nobody thinks about the missionaries all around us. Everyone walking next to you at school. Working beside you, liking your status on Facebook. Well how are these people missionaries? Being a missionary does not mean going to a foreign country to preach. That age old saying "Our actions speak louder than words"  is so true. If you want to really preach then you need to try to live. I'm not saying you have to be perfect. No. That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying, "Forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." Try and love as many people as possible. Be a missionary. Be a missionary to anyone and everyone. God calls us to it. If you see someone hurting, reach out to them. Sometimes the people that need our love the most are the hardest to love. Try and love them anyway. "People pass and even if they don't know my name, is there evidence that I've been changed? When they see me do they see you?" (Sidewalk Prophets). This is what we need to strive for. Not always if you don't speak to someone will they know that you are changed but make it known. Even to people that you don't know. If you are already striving to be a missionary please don't get discouraged. I know how easy it is to fall back down when someone decides that they don't wanna listen anymore. But as Billy Graham said "The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us." Cling to God when you are discouraged. Ask for the words. And know that I am praying for all of the missionaries here at home. And above all remember you can change things and God loves you. All the time.

~JesusFreakTeen