Who's yours?

I've had writer's block for a couple days.. just had absolutely no idea what God wanted me to write for y'all. Then as I'm sitting here listening to music, I go through my pictures and come across Maria. For those of you who don't know her, that's just a random name with no meaning.. yet. We all have Marias in our life. I'm so glad God sent me mine. 

Maria came to Faith Academy (my school) in the beginning of the year. She was a foreign exchange student from Denmark. You see, we have it really easy here in Alabama. We've all pretty much grown up knowing who Jesus is, what He did, what the Bible is, etc. That's not the case with Denmark and a lot of other places around the world. We all got a big reality check with the questions she asked. The things she asked were things we never questioned. So, of course, we had no idea how to answer some of them. The whole situation brought a lot of us closer to God and made us dig deeper in the Word for answers. She did get her answers and she was overwhelmed with the love of Christ. She wasn't at Faith Academy by accident. We were blessed with the chance to help her into salvation.

Maria isn't MY best friend by accident. She just recently left to head back to Denmark to change the culture. That girl has such a strong heart for Jesus, and compassion for making other people feel loved. Maria being saved only a couple weeks brought so many others to Christ!

When I say we all have Marias in our lives, I don't just mean foreign exchange students. I mean everyday people you come in contact with. People who make you question your salvation and make your walk with God stronger. People who, just by being around them, you can feel the love of God through them. These people aren't in your life by accident! We need accountability partners, we need people to remind us of God's unfailing love, to keep us in check. We can't always do it alone.

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:1

In Times of Trouble

Feeling depressed, anxious, worried?

 

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

 

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; and He delivers them from all their troubles." Psalm 34:17

 

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7

 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

 

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:12-13

 

 

The last verse says don't be surprised at the suffering you are enduring. For there will be glory revealed! Always know God doesn't put you through your sufferings alone, He never leaves your side and He brings just the right people at the right timing. Its not your timing, it's God's.

Most of the time, we pity ourselves when we go through difficult situations. When instead we should be PRAISING the God of all comfort for what is to come! :)

 

 

 

Those Who are Weak

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

We all have that one person who just IRKS our nerves. (not sure if that's a word, we all use it, but aren't sure what it means)
They either bother us because we are the weak ones or they are.
When people are weak, they tend to be mean or rude. They think coming off as a hard person who doesn't care about anything will cover all the pain they're experiencing. It actually does the opposite.
We all know when someone is rude to us, we're usually rude right back. Probably because it just plainly hurt our feelings and we did nothing to them. Hurting people want other people to experience what they're going through.
The reason these people never change is because their surroundings never changes.. how are they supposed to stop being negative if their atmosphere is consumed in negativity?

"When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken." (Psalm 34:17-20)

Why don't we try doing the complete opposite?! Next time someone is rude to you or says something that cuts deep, respond positively.
Something as simple as just smiling, patting someone on the back, asking them how their days going, how they're doing, etc., will start to change their outlook on things. 
Once their outlook changes, their behavior will change.
And you know why?! Because YOU decided to make a difference! You decided to be strong, let something slide and change someone's life and they will always remember you for that.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

 

I wrote these notecards a couple weeks ago.. looks like they're finally coming in handy.

 



Relationships

We take relationships so seriously now a days. Like honestly, would God really want us together 24/7, with no breathing room or friends? That's how highschool relationships are now! It's so sad. 

We focus and worry about things that aren't even worth worrying about. In fact, the problem wouldn't even be there if the relationship was God-centered. 

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.

 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior." (Ephesians 5:21-23 NIV)

We are supposed to love God first as He has loved us, then during that time God will bring you the right person at the right timing. 

There's a reason we're supposed to wait till marriage to have sex. It makes us dirty, that part of you is for your husband, and relationships that do have sexual relations end quicker. It's a fact. 

"Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body." (1 Corinthians 6:18 NLT)

Above all else, guard your heart. Your heart isn't meant to take so much heart break and going through relationship after relationship it will. Relationships, at times, feel so right. But that's how Satan wants them to feel. He wants us to fall into temptation. Don't get me wrong, God does allow you to go through some relationships for lessons, to get stronger. But when the right one comes you will know. If your main focus is God and so is your girlfriend/boyfriend's, yall are doing it right. If you guys love Jesus more than each other, everything else will fall into place! You will be treating each other right. 

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."
 (Proverbs 4:23 NLT)

Take off your Mask

Christians get called the word “FAKE” all the time. If we do something off the wall or are even “too nice” we’re hypocrites. Now a days, we aren’t allowed to change. You can’t decide to become a better person without first being called a hypocrite! I mean, come on! If you’ve ever tried to change, you’ve been called something along those lines.
Why should someone who’s trying to get rid of their bad habits be called fake? Wouldn’t calling someone a hypocrite for wanting to become a better person only make YOU look bad?
My mom says when she reads my posts or hears me talking I sound very profound and intelligent. She tells me it’s so weird because I’m not like that when it comes to History, Science, etc. she told me she’s realized it’s because it’s something I’m passionate out. So why BASH someone for being passionate about something that you’re not? If you’re not passionate then you just plainly don’t understand.
Of course there ARE people that do seem like they’re wearing masks. The people who praise Jesus in church then walk out cussing, but whose business is that? Surely not ours. None but THEIRS and GOD’s. As long as they have accepted Jesus as their Savior and know He died on the cross then they have a spot in Heaven.
It’s not your job to hold them accountable if you haven’t told them you were going to hold them accountable.
Of course, with faith comes good works.

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?” (James 2:14 NIV)
“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭26‬ NIV)

When you become saved, when you ACCEPT Jesus into your life, you want to do good for others. You have a servants heart. It is normal to give a little extra here and there, and offer your help to the needy.
Don’t let your friends who are making foolish decisions hold you back. If friends making foolish decisions hold you back from YOUR walk with God then you’re allowing them to hold you back from accomplishing all that His Plan has for you. Take off the mask, be the YOU God has called you to be, and the joy you will receive will be so overwhelming :)

Keep it up!

So, I’m sitting here studying my Bible, my sister walks in and asks what I’m doing and asks if I’m doing homework. I explain to her, it’s not homework if you enjoy it. I told her when you study the Bible, you grow in your relationship with God. It’s awesome how little kids work.. They’re curious about everything! She always wonders why I’m doing things like this and why I enjoy it and now she’s learning to enjoy it too. She’s only 8 and she loves Jesus more than any other 8 year old I know. I realize how blessed I am with her. I have the chance to show her how loved she is by her Heavenly Father. She KNOWS that I love her correctly because I love Him correctly. I help her learn her weekly Bible verses and she enjoys doing it with ME. I have to learn not to take that for granted because how often do people get to do that? If you have a little sibling please start talking to them about your love for God early because they will soak it right in. It doesn’t have to just be children. It can be parents, cousins, nephews/neices, friends. It’s so necessary in your walk with God and theirs. Everyone needs someone feeding positivity in their lives. I’m so glad I can be that for her! Jesus says to go out and make disciples and that’s what we should be doing :)


"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬ NIV)

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, " (‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭19‬ NIV)

 

Shoes That Don't Fit

We’ve ALL had someone say something awful about us. And we all know how true or untrue it is, we still get offended. The best way to face a situation like that when it’s true, is to plainly admit it. Know what you did and move on. The sooner you do that, the sooner people will stop talking about it.
But the untrue rumors are the ones that really cut us deep, aren’t they? Like how could someone say that about ME? Why would someone even believe it? We’ve all had those thoughts. We worry about what others think is true instead of focusing on what we KNOW is true. What God tells us is true. We should know we are daughters/sons of a King, we are valuable, precious and made in His image.
Even if we DO mess up, those things are still true! We don’t get stripped of the title! Don’t get discouraged, ask God for forgiveness and forgive yourself.
Why DO we get so upset about what others are saying about us? We know getting mad and lashing out only makes it seem true. Why wear shoes that don’t fit? Most of the time the rumors aren’t even close to true.
We’re worried because we think someone will actually believe it and think differently of us.
Don’t be insecure, be secure and CONFIDENT that you are the daughter of the ONE TRUE KING. Being confident about your value and worth isn’t a bad thing. It’s one of the best things you can do. There’s a difference between confidence and cockiness.

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” (‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭35‬ NIV)

I’m not telling you to be cocky. I’m saying, walk with confidence, know what’s true and not true, and just laugh about the things that aren’t! You know your worth, GOD knows your worth, your true friends know your worth and the people that don’t are missing out :)
 
“What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man” (NLT Luke 6:22)

WE ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE! :)

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭14‬ NIV)