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

Stumbling is a part of life.

I know that stumbling can be very discouraging sometimes but all you have to do is reach out and balance yourself. Jesus is waiting to hold you up. So many things can make you stumble but Jesus is the only real thing that can balance you. Whenever you mess up if you reach out to the wrong thing then you are going to fall. We. Need. Jesus. No if, ands, or buts about it. We need Him. Things will make you stumble. That is inevitable. God is the answer to all of our problems. And I mean all. When you stumble you need to run to God. When you stumble run to God. Give it to Him. And then don't think of it anymore. Make it part of the dance. When you give your problems over to God he helps you. Just trust it to Him.

                               -JesusFreakTeen 

Somethings Gotta Change

This song by Josh Wilson is so true.:
I'm hungry, God I'm hungry consuming what controls me. Somehow it never fills me up.
This talks about how we are consuming things of the world. Such as bad words, alcohol, drugs, etc. It can't ever fill you up. God is the only one who can fill you up. These things can very well control you. Thats why you shouldn't take part in these.
Everybody says we're all so different. But everybody knows we're all the same. We're all tryin to find a pill to numb the pain. Somethings gotta change.
Its so true. We really are all the same. We are controlled by sin. And we are all trying to find something to numb our pain. Alcohol, boyfriends/girlfriends, mind numbing tv. But it can never ever be enough. Something has to change. All these teens everywhere need God. They need Jesus.
Do you remember when you had so much hope within you.
We need to find that hope again in Jesus.
The more of us we swallow the more we become hollow. Until we don't know how to feel.
If we keep focusing on me,me,me then we are just going to become hollow. Most of us don't know how to really feel anymore. We say something without thinking about the consequences.
I can't believe I'm hearing people say that all is well. I think its time we admit we have no good within ourselves. 
Nothing is well. Teenagers are dying without Christ because of the things that they are doing. Purging, binge drinking, committing suicide. This has to stop. We need to spread the Gospel far and wide. We. Cannot. Hold. Back. Anymore. There is a time to speak and the time is now. (Warren Barfield, The time is now). We have no good within ourselves. We are a sinful creature. We need Christ. With Christ we can try to become more like Him. But we must focus on Him and spreading the Gospel.

Romans

Paul wrote Romans. Romans is full of encouraging things and it tells you to stay in the world but not of it.
It says to give our bodies as sacrifices. But how do we do these things without getting sucked back into the world. Prayer. (Romans 12) To give our bodies as sacrifices we must be holy and perfect. We can't be holy or perfect. Only God sees us as Jesus when we ask Him into our heart. Only afterwards we must strive to be like Jesus. Which means loving other people even when they do not love you back. I know this is a tough one since human nature is me first you last. You know that you might get hurt. You must pray in order to love people who don't love you back. Sometimes we forget to pray or use it as  a last resort. Why not use as the first thing you go to when you have a problem? Things would go a lot smoother if we only did this. Thats all.

-JesusFreakTeen

Phil Robertson.

Phil Robertson:

Phil Robertson. The patriarch of the Duck Dynasty family. And he got suspended from the show? Because his words were misinterpreted? Phil Robertson was not saying to hate gays/lesbians. He was saying that although God loves them, sin is sin. We are supposed to love them too. The bible has said this for over 2000 years. The Robertson family is the best thing thats happened to this country in a while. We are supposed to love EVERYBODY only at the same time we have to recognize that sin is sin. We shouldn't let Phil Robertson go down without a fight. Hopefully they go to another network or A&E apologizes.

Being Gomer

For starters, GOMER is a girls name. Definitely a girl. This girl wasn't the best example. No this time we have Hosea. Now Hosea had to marry an adulterous wife (GOMER) because the Lord told him to. How would you feel if you had to do something that you knew would come back to haunt you? Anyway we are Gomer and Jesus is Hosea. Jesus is holy. We have sinned. We need Jesus. Or else we just keep doing bad things. Sinning. Jesus rescues us. But then we go back. We can't be like Gomer. In Hosea it is a prophecy of our relationship with Jesus. Everyone says we're all so different. But we are really very alike. All of us are sinners. And at one point or another we have gone astray from the straight and narrow path. I want you to know that although sinning is bad, God loves you and will forgive you. Just ask. Everyone has messed up once or twice. Although as Christians we try to do less of it, we do mess up. Just ask God to forgive you. (if you've already accepted him as Lord and Savior)
PS. Look up Hosea and read it this weekend.

-JesusFreakTeen

John 3:16

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.


Now you know how little kids believe in Santa Claus but the older ones seem to let logic cloud their judgement and they decide he isn't real. This is true only sometime it seems to cloud our judgement when teenagers try to belief in Jesus & God. We start to reason that it's like Santa Claus. Its for little kids but not for us. Maybe later we can go back to it. Only for just now we have grown out of it. It's not cool anymore. And what will my friends think? We start telling ourselves that we don't need Him. When the reality is HE doesn't need us. We keep causing him hurt and disappointment. Only He loves us. Who else would die on the cross for us. If we don't need Him then why did he do that. God knows all. Jesus is for everyone. Don't say well I'm this or I'm that. Because in all reality we are all one thing. SINNERS. Only God loves us. Jesus loves us. Jesus is most definitely NOT Santa Claus. Jesus will always be there for us. He is NOT made up. He isn't only there for us one night a year. Quite the contrary. Jesus is real. And he is here for us always. Don't you dare say Jesus isn't what you need. Cause HE is! God is and always will be. 

Waiting. Possibly the hardest thing ever.

Are you waiting to do something amazing for God? I was. Look at me now. I started this blog because although I may have to wait for my bigger dream of becoming a missionary, this was something I could do now. I could make myself heard. I am and I will continue to. What about you? Are you waiting? Don't. God needs you to start now. You are not the church of tomorrow. You are the church of TODAY!  You can do it. I got discouraged thinking that I couldn't do anything until I graduated. I was wrong. OH so wrong. Don't wait. Ask God what you can do. Just do it.

Pastor Saeed

A lot of you, I'm guessing, have heard of Pastor Saeed. Some of you may think that forgetting him is the best option. I and luckily many others agree that we have to do something. Your something might be different than the bible's something.
Matthew 10:23
When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes back.
So, don't rise to cause hurt when you are persecuted. Pray for that person. As for Pastor Saeed, we can't really do anything but pray. Correction: Everything we can do is praying. Praying is one of the most amazing things. It can be the difference between life and death. We are petitioning Obama and the White House, but why them? Let's go above their heads. God knows whats best. We don't need to ask Obama or the Government. Ask GOD. He is the only one who can change this.  SO go over their heads. Take on the ultimate boss. Ask Him. Ask God.

Thanksgiving

Are you ready for Thanksgiving. Even though the name has the word thanks in it, it seems people forget to be thankful for stuff. Everyone has something to be thankful for.

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, NIV Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6, NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.

#2 Bible Verses about Being Thankful for Life

Bible verses regarding being thankful for life and the blessing of God’s presence.

Psalm 16:11, NIV You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

#3 Bible Verses about Being Thankful for Someone – Thankful for Joy

1 Thessalonians 3:9, NIV How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

#4 Bible Verses about Being Thankful for Jesus – God’s Indescribable Gift!

John 3:16, ESV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Favorite short bible verses about being thankful

2 Corinthians 9:15, NIV Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

#5 Bible Verses about Being Thankful for Family, Your Family – Love!

Romans 12:10, AMP Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another.
God gave all of us something to be thankful for. Personally I am thankful for my wonderful church and pastors and of course my huge family. Extended and immediate. Of course including those that I consider to be family. Plus of course God and the greatest gift of all; Jesus. What are you thankful for?

Alex Harris and DO HARD THINGS

“Unfortunately we often get praise for things that weren't particularly difficult to achieve. If we focus on the props and encouragement of those who have low expectations for us, we become mediocre. It can be challenging to set our sights on excellence, particularly when we're hearing that we're already there. One of life's greatest lessons, which we all must learn, could be expressed in the phrase "That was nothing. Watch this." Challenge yourself and others to call the normal things normal and save that word excellent for things that really are.”

― Alex Harris
SO true! As teenagers people often have low expectations of us. And sometime to high of expectations. I do not know which is worse cause too high means you can never make it. And too low of expectations means you don't do what you should be doing.
God calls us to be examples in : Speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.



So don't try and dodge being good. But don't try and follow to high of expectations. It only leads to heartache usually.

-JesusFreakTeen.

Miracles.

Here are a few examples of miracles in case you don't know exactly what they are.

• Jesus turned water into wine
• God turned Jesus into a baby
• Jesus made a paralyzed man walk
• Raised many people from the dead
• Healed the women with the issue of blood 
• Jesus and Peter walked on water
• Fed 5,000 people with one basket
• And soooo much more

There is only one problem. Most people seem to think that miracles are not possible anymore. Why not Jesus is still here if not physically. To me He is here, so closely that He is a physical being, thats how strong His presence is. SO why can miracles not happen? They can happen my sister is living proof of that. Without miracles she would not be here. But miracles can't happen right? They can and will. But not without GOD and not unless you believe.

-JesusFreakTeen

Chad Stover

By the way here is a link to his FB page. Pray for Chad Stover Prayer Chain: https://www.facebook.com/groups/581804351872660/
Over 5,000 people have joined. Thats pretty amazing. People in far away from where he lives are praying for him. All the way in Pensacola. And I thought we should pray too. Jesus himself said : When 2 or more are gathered in My name I am there in the midst of them. SO pray. People all around Missouri are making cards, wearing red, making bracelets and ribbons, and more importantly praying. If we pray God listens. Don't trick yourself into thinking he does not care and it's over. Cause I KNOW he does. Always. Pray. Pray. AND AGAIN Pray.

Max Lucado

This is so true. So many people are trying to be something they are not. God says we are "Fearfully and wonderfully made'. That we are "peculiar treasures". I think Max Lucado was spot on when he said God broke the mold when he made you. None of us are exactly the same. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. Don't lose these things to try and be something you aren't. Its like trying to be a doctor when you are a nurse. You may be able to keep up the ruse for a little while but eventually you won't be able to fool anyone because you are not a doctor. You are a nurse. The same thing with trying to be something you are not. Its kind of like throwing it in God's face that you don't care how he made you. God loves you. And He loves the way he made you. Don't change it. 

What's Jesus to you?

Ladies and Gentleman, children of all ages
Anyone listening, I've got an announcement to make
There's been some confusion about a certain someone
A lot of discussion and a lot of debate 
So if I may take just a moment to say who Jesus is to me

Jesus is life, yeah, oh, oh, oh, oh
Jesus is life, yeah, oh, oh, oh,oh
The air I'm breathing
Why my heart is beating
Everything I'm needing 
Jesus is life
Jesus is life

Imagine the deepest sea without a drop of water 
An infinite galaxy without even one single star
That's how I would be...so absolutely empty
Without Jesus' life in me there'd be no life at all
More than just a part, He's the very heart of everything I am

Jesus is life, yeah, oh, oh, oh, oh
Jesus is life, yeah, oh, oh, oh, oh
The air I'm breathing
Why my heart is beating
Everything I'm needing 
Jesus is life
Jesus is life

This is my position concerning my condition
This is my position concerning my condition
This is my position my life by definition

Jesus is life
Jesus is life
Jesus is life
Jesus is life

Jesus is life, yeah, oh, oh, oh, oh
Jesus is life, yeah, oh, oh, oh, oh
The air I'm breathing
Why my heart is beating
Everything I'm needing 
Jesus is life yeah, oh, oh, oh, oh
Jesus is life, yeah, oh, oh, oh, oh
The air I'm breathing
Why my heart is beating
Everything I'm needing
Jesus is life
Jesus is life 
Jesus is life
Yes he is.



Jesus truly is life. I love Steven Curtis Chapman. :)

THE PRODIGAL SON

Ever think of the prodigal son? We were talking about him in my history class. Ironic isn't it considering the bible is called, and I quote, "a book of fairytales". I know what you're thinking. How rude! This story was a fable told by Jesus. Lucky for me I have a christian history teacher. He's pretty awesome. Any way here is the story if you have not heard it:

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

To sum it up in case that was just too long for you here it is. The son asks for his inheritance from his father and leaves. He promptly spends it on silly things and frivolous things. He then had to go and work for a farmer. He had to live with the hogs and eat what he was feeding them. Now that is the lowest of the low. Am I right? He decided to go and work for his father as a servant. Not as a son, but his father received him and welcomed him. He did not have to work as a servant. He came back as a son.

Youth Convention @ James River AG

Had an awesome, awesome weekend! Had youth convention and the worship was awesome as was the speaker, Pastor Allen. Our entire youth group had an amazing time! God truly spoke through our speaker. It was awesome. If you have never heard of AG aka Assembly of God , check it out on google. If you don't have a church home look for one in your area. My church truly feels like family. My best friend goes there and we laugh and joke, the church leaders truly care about the youth. Instead of calling us the church of tomorrow as lots of people do, she ,our youth pastor, calls us the church of today.

#WeLuvBrad

#YouthConvention

#JESUSFREAKTEENOUT