Alcohol, Drugs, Band-aids and Trust.

Ok, so guess what?! I finished reading my Bible. I went all the way through and it took me about two years. I finished on December 13, a Saturday. I didnt really know what to do after that, but my mom suggested writing. I love to write so I thought of some things that I learned reading through my bible and what would be beneficial to you as a reader.

There are so many of you who are Christians, yet have forgotten your committment to the LORD. You see, becoming a Christian is more than putting on a sign that labels you a religious person. To be a Christian means to follow Christ. To follow Christ means to go where He goes, to do what He does and go behind Him and let Him lead you to your destination. Not only getting directions, but going with Him until you reach the end.

I dont know why you are straying from Christ exactly. Maybe the pressure in high school is too much, or home life is unbearable, or you and your friends or boyfriend/girlfriend are going through a rough patch. Whatever it is, going out to forget about them by shoving them down, and going out to drink, smoke or even cuss shows that you do not trust God to fix your problems. So, you put down the Bible and begin to pick up the worldly magazines ( you know the ones: scandals, affairs, gossip-round-the-clock, and the ones telling you how to be loved by someone by using looks, scents or actions). All those do is cover up whatever you're going through that is painful. They are just band-aids. They don't fix the pain. They only hide it.

I have got a secret...................
Life Hurts.................................God Heals.
God is not like alcohol. God is not like drugs. God is not like a band-aid.
Instead,
God cares. God nurtures. God heals.

• Alcohol makes you feel better temporarily until you wake up in the morning, sick as a dog, and your head explodes with every throb. Alcohol gets you by for a night.
• Drugs give you a good feeling about life as though you were carefree. Later, you gain stained teeth, nails and possibly lung cancer. You age and look older than you really are and sound raspy as though you have been screaming for two years straight.
• Band-aids keep out dirt and cover up you imperfections. Until you hop in the shower and it loses its stickiness. They have absolutely no healing power. It only covers.

I'm here to tell you that God is different. He is not alcohol, drugs or band-aids. He is not a cover up for your pain. God is the only one who loves and cares about you enough to heal you. Alcohol is a temporary escape, like drugs. Band-aids are temporary cover ups. They dont love you the way God does. In fact, they do not love you at all. They have no feelings. They are to do their job and nothing more. Neither of these can talk to you and comfort you after a hard day. They are false. But the LORD is the ONLY TRUE ONE. There is no one/thing like Him. Hallelujah!! God cares for you. He cares about your pain and wants to fix it, but you have to open up and give your problems to Jesus. (Plus, He wants them out of your hands and into His.) Why though, would God want our problems? He's got bigger things to handle, right? NO WAY. He loves us and knows we have pain and wants to take it from us. He desires for us to be free. So, give Him your troubles and He will throw them to the bottom of the sea.

Temptation: Its a common thing.

Hello Fellow Pursuers!

I would like to state my opinions on things that might step on toes. And I mean all this in the most loving, Christian way possible. But, I have to get it out.

MTV, VH1, BET. What do they all have in common? They all try to put into our heads nasty images and that the earth has to be dramatic at all times to keep spinning. Now, really?! Is that what we need to be putting our time into? I have watched it. I dont know who probably hasnt tried it before. Its temptation and it seems to get the best of us. God says to run from temptation in 2 Timothy 2:22: "Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love and peace." Go after the things of God. Want them. And ya know what? God knows that temptation will come. After all, satan tempted Jesus in the desert in Matthew 4, Mark 1:9-15, and Luke 4. But God gives us a way out. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that the temptations in my life are no different than yours. God is faithful and He will always provide a way out if you do not want to fall into that temptation. He will not let us be tempted more than we can bear. Isnt that awesome!?! Now, I can think of some times when I have actually wanted to be tempted. Cause it is fun sometimes do just give in and do what you want and I have totally experienced that more than once. But just so you know,....God gives you a way out when you want it. And I hope you will take advantage of it. All those tv programs are about temptation. The people behind them want to attract people like us. Teens. And it works. But why do we watch them? Because they are interesting. I hope that when you are tempted this week that you will remember how Jesus was tempted and praise Him because He has never given in. HE IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. I also hope that you remember the verses in this post and know that God is with you. All the time. He loves you so much. Have a good week!

Testimony

Basically, the very day I was born, I was put into a crib at my church. Haha! I have only missed church being sick, or on vacation with my family. I have had a very sheltered and great life with my parents, brother and dog. I sort of knew the great commission Matthew 28: 19-20 and knew John 3:16 by heart. Even my preschool and kindergarten classes were at my church. After that, I went there for daycare after school in my elementary years.
I was only a non christian for 5 years of my life, so i wasn't in horrible trouble. I was sinful, but only as sinful as a 5 year old could be, being exposed to so many Christian examples and me teachers. i did however, know i needed God because He spoke to me through my parents and teachers and my pastor. I wanted to know Jesus and I wanted to be with Him in His glorious heaven forever.
How do we get into heaven? Well, not by our deeds. God tells us that we only enter heaven if we are saved and by His Son, Jesus. If we turn and run from our sin trust God to provide for us, and take away all of our sins, God saves us. Surrender your whole self to God and He will save you. I don't remember most of my salvation experience, but I know God saved me. Trusting God is so vital. So essential. God loves it when we trust Him because it gives Him the opportunity to prove Himself faithful. Also, repentance is important because just apologizing for sinning doesn't count if you don't TURN from it. Its ugly. Its evil. Get away.
Like I said, I have sinned, I have done wrong, and I have acted wickedly. 2 Chronicles 6:37
But I am human and I will sin. It is inherited nature. Fortunately, God's mercy is great. God's mercy has played a huge role in my life. There was a period when I was not humble and then, I was convicted. After that, the devil got his hold on me and made me think I was a horrible person and I had taken conviction too far. I had started mentally beating myself up for being conceited. Well, at Falls Creek, we listened to a song about God's mercy and how we don't have to beat ourselves up, but instead get up because God has forgiven us. I have learned to let God forgive me and not let Satan take my convictions too far. He is still helping me today and I am continuously learning how to be humble and forgive myself.