Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Halloween: The emotion, the cover up, and the environment

Many of us at one point enjoyed Halloween but in your walk with Christ its time to learn and to grow from those days.Check your motives and how this holiday can possibly affect you.

1. FEAR
This is what halloween especially nowadays plays off of. This is probably the biggest one. It completely cancels out the whole affair all together. The bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV):  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
  This means that fear is not of God, said in another way fear is in no way Godly, God is not in it. Now if your claiming to be saved why would you put yourself in a situation to be OUT of the presence of God? If God is not there then anything you do in that moment he is not obligated to make sure that your ok when you willingly step away from you. Fear comes in this moment because you do get that emptiness/helplessness feeling inside of you. Your jumpy because your spirit man detects that it is somewhere that God is not. In my opinion thats a terrible place to be. 

2. The Costume
Where to begin. I think this is more focused towards us ladies but guys a lot of it applies to you too. For some the costume aspect really isn't that big of a deal. But for others it REALLY is. Personally in my opinion I believe that some costumes or chosen because of a self esteem level that has been failed to be obtained. Why is it that on this ONE day that ladies feel the need to find the outfits that cover the LEAST amount of skin? Why is it that you have to be seductive on this ONE specific night? What is it doing for you? We know you have that "banging body" but do you really think that it is acceptable to have it all exposed? How exactly are you representing God with your chest and your backside all out. Halloween is NOT a big 1 night stand. Not saying that, that is the intent but are you really helping to avoid the situation especially when drinks are added in for the "grown folks" population. (we will talk about the parties later). I always here how people say they are classy this and classy that....how is that classy?

1Peter 3:3-5" Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves...."
 
Does that mean dress in boring things? No definitely not but be considerate of the guys who are trying to live their lives the right way. Think about this 

matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Ladies the reverse of that is true to. You may not be married but its still applies and its still wrong. Lust is a sin wether you want it to be or not. Those sexual thoughts are not good things to have about a woman or man that is not given to you by God. i.e. YOUR spouse.

3.PARTY! PARTY! PARTY!
Our generations BIGGEST hang up really. The environment for these can get way out of hand. Yes, you do have like parties for the little kids and the school parties. Then you have the "grown" parties that come with drinking and things that just probably shouldn't be done. I haven't been to these parties but I have heard enough stories about them to last me a life time. If you do go to these parties then you probably understand. For a night I know its all for fun but really it is not something that if your living saved that you should be entertained by. Your getting beyond drunk at these parties.1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.sleeping around with people Hebrews 13:4Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Things just get way to out of hand and rowdy 


Ephesians 5:7-12 
Don't participate in the things these people do. For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.(NLT)
Dont let the "spirit" of the Holiday take you out of what you know is right in christ. I Promise if you don't go your not missing anything its the same ole same ole every year and it doesn't change. Dont you get tired of doing the same things over and over again? This halloween why not go out and do something you have never done before.. This year halloween in on a Wednesday.. why not try going to church instead? 
~Chelsee

Thursday, October 18, 2012

God is on your side


Romans 8:28-39
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified;those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


I couldn't pick a good place to stop so I decided not to. I was listening to a song this morning and the artist stated "That all in all things God works for the good of those that love him. That just stuck with me I just felt so empowered to go out and just achieve! 


If your like me you might be going through a time where you have been sitting and wondering how are things going to go. How do I know that what Im doing is even going to work. Why is that there are certain things that I am going through that hurt me. well here is your answer. God has called you to a higher calling and a higher purpose. That day that you felt God move on your heart and you gave your life to him that was his calling for you. Dont worry if things will work out. Matthew 6:34 says 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

 Dont spend so much time worrying. The very first scripture says that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God and as long as God loves us then he will always handle our needs when we let him.


God has already written your story so dont be afraid to act it! I know that times can get kind of hard right now especially for those of us who are in school but you know what Don't worry. God has plan! Your struggle is ONLY temporary. All of the challenges you face will resolve themselves for your good. Everything always goes back to keeping your eye on God though Matthew 6:33 says

"But seek you first the Kingdom of God and all its righteousness and these things shall be added unto you"

The more you focus on God and do his work the more he will do and give you the things you want and need.  

So dont give up keep pressing always keep your faith in action!
God wont let you fail in the things that he has written for your life.stay encouraged 
~Chelsee <3