Land of the Free

America is known as "the land of the free" and as Americans we take pride in that. But sometimes as a Christian I take this for granted. I forget that I can pray in public and share our Saviour with complete strangers.

 

 

In over 17 countries around the world, if you are found out to be a Christian you are shunned from your family or even put to death. If found to be a Christian in Vietnam, you will be arrested and thrown in prison.

 

So many Christians in other countries are being persecuted for living out their faith. Yet here in America (land of the free), we are afraid to pray with a friend in public or raise our hands in CHURCH. We are afraid to openly worship the Lord. We worry what others will think and we take for granted that we can praise God anytime, anywhere we want.

 

I am not saying that because I live in America I have not been persecuted. When I became a Christian I lost friends and even family members have mocked me because of my faith. If you sell out for Jesus, you will be persecuted in this world. But think on the things in Heaven.

 

Don't you think Jesus Christ is worthy of our praise, whether at home or at work? Use your rights, don't let them go to waste. Pray in McDonald's before you chow down on your Big Mac, share what God has been doing in your life with a co-worker. Shout God's glory, and mercy, and grace from mountain tops! HE IS WORTH IT!!!!

 

The first service in the church we built in Brazil during summer 2012. Many were saved!
 

I want to challenge you, first to pray for all the missionaries Christ has called over seas and the awesome work He is doing through them. Second, to live a radical life for Christ and to allow Him transform you and use you. Let everyone that come in to contact with you see God's love and goodness.

 

 

"Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious.... All the Earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; they shall sing praises to Your name."

Psalm 66:1-2; 4

 



Masterpiece

          What is a masterpiece? An artist's greatest piece of work. Van Gogh's was The Starry Night, Picasso's was Guernica, and God's masterpiece is people. 

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."                                 Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

          God is an artist, but not just artist but THE greatest artist.He made you and I in His image. YOU are a masterpiece of the Creator of the universe. This should put a huge, cheesy smile on your face. When that boy rejects you or those mean girls say your butt is too big, remember Ephesians 2:10. You can call me ugly, fat, or stupid all day long and I wont care. Because guess what? I am a masterpiece according to my God. 
          Some of you ladies know this already. You know you "is fine" or whatever. But just because you are beautiful don't go around with your breasts hanging out or your hiny falling out of your pants. Lets look at 1 Corinthians 6:20:

"For God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body."

          Your body is no longer yours when you give your life to Christ. Jesus bought you with a HIGH PRICE, that creep looking at you DID NOT die on a cross for you. Your body belongs to God, so cover it up and stop showing yourself to every man who is not your husband. When you honor and respect your body, you are honoring and respecting God.
          To every girl, boy, man and woman I am telling you that you are beautiful and you are worth more than that. God has more for you.

 

Do Not Open Until...

              On Christmas everyone has that one present they save for last. The really BIG one, the super shiny one, or the one with the prettiest ribbons. It is the one present that you think will be the best of them all. Maybe a new flat screen television or the latest Iphone. 
          God has one really BIG, super special gift He wants us to save for last... until marriage. God tells us as Christians to save our sexual purity for our husbands and wives. 

"Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man commits is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price: therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthans 6:18-20

           Not only does God tell us to save sex for marriage, He tells us to RUN from sexual immorality. Sure it is very tempting to cave into what it seems like everyone else is doing. But that pleasure only lasts for a moment and the pain from the mistake lasts a lifetime. (Check out Proverbs 9:17-18) Remember that while you're dating, your boyfriend is still your brother in Christ (vise versa), so treat them with respect and honor for your King.
         We flee from sexual immorality because this affects our bodies and our bodies no longer belong to us, but to Christ. His spirit dwells in us, I consider this an honor. Having my Redeemer's spirit living in me! Wow! So why would we want to disrespect God by having sex with someone who is not our spouse. Your body is a temple for the King, treat it with respect.
         If you ignore everything I have written, listen to these words: You were bought at a price. That price was the God of all creations son, Jesus Christ's blood. That price was the pain and suffering of a man who lived two thousand years ago. Jesus loves you! He desires a relationship with you. He has a plan for you. A plan to bring you out of the darkness you are in. Jesus wants to live you. Don't wait. He is the best decision you could ever make. Jesus is worthy of your sexual purity, your sobriety, or whatever you may be dealing with. 

You belong to Him.

         

Where do you live?

My name is Taylor, I am a simple, southern chick trying to do everything I do for the glory of God.  My goal with this blog is not to have a thousand readers. My goal is not to get a pat on the back and a “great job!” from fellow Christians. My goal with this blog is to encourage others and myself to desire an intimate, radical relationship with Christ through encouraging words, prayer, and scripture.

          With that being said, where do you live? Not geographically but spiritually. Do you live in hate or in love? Evil or in righteousness? Do you live in fear or fearlessness? Sin or freedom?

"He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection."

Psalms 91:4 (NLT)

          I live under the protection of God's wings and He wants YOU to live there too! By "His wings", I mean God's presence. God's presence is the most holy, satisfying place to be. It excites me to know that Jesus is alive, He is alive inside of me! That's awesome, right? If you are a believer, His presence is with you always. Even when you are struggling with the toughest of sins, remember that Christ will bring you through it. Jesus Christ bore ALL our sin and died on Calvary for us two thousand years ago. He said "it is finished." 

          So stop living in guilt because you keep messing up with your boyfriend. Stop hating yourself because you can't let go of your addiction. Stop feeling like you can not serve Christ because you have failed in this one area. I have news for you: You haven't let God down because you were never holding Him up. Give all your jacked up mess to Jesus, He is in control, He has already died a painful death for our sin. And come, live under the shelter of the Kings wings!

          When you start falling back in to the same old pattern and feel Satan tempting you, remember Psalms 91. Spend time with God in prayer and listen to Him speak. He wont let you fall when you are beneath His wings.