{Greater Things Are Yet To Come}

Image source: http://longhollowwomen.com/the-god-of-new/

Do you ever have those days when it feels like you're driving down the highway in a convertible, the wind is blowing through your hair and face, and everything in life is going good? If so, I know you also have those days when it as if you are trying to crawl out of a deep well as bits of rocks and dirt are hitting you in the face. You might feel as if nothing more can go wrong or you might just wait for the good times to end because bad things are likely.

With God, life doesn't have to be a constant deviation between extreme highs and lows. Plain and simple, life is hard. Life never stops being hard. In school, your tested over concepts that just get harder and harder. If they stayed the same, we'd get bored naming shapes and colors for seven hours every day. We wouldn't increase in wisdom--something we should strive for (Luke 2:52). It's the same way with our spiritual walk. Each trial only increase our knowledge and grows us in our faith.

• James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

Image source: https://www.pinterest.com
/pin/37858453093798368/

Even when I think He has failed me, He's led me to something greater and I just haven't realized it yet. You could lose friend, a parent could die, you could lose everything important to you, your whole world could feel like it's falling apart. But He's always there, saying, "Just trust me."

You can dig your heels in like children often do and refuse to give yourself over to Him. You can try to reason with God or make excuses.  Or you can completely give yourself over to him and He can use you in mighty ways.

• Peter 5:6: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time."

When you do this, life is like a peaceful boat ride. You're in the middle of a pond (life) and it doesn't matter which direction you go; God's Will will prevail as long as you obey Him.. We must then trust that He will use us as He wants as He guides our decisions. However, we must be ready, like pliable clay in the hands of the Great Artist of the Heavens.

• Esther 4:14: "Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created."

Lastly, God can open doors no man close and He can close doors no man can open. He will bless you abundantly if you only trust Him.

{Conveniently Chrsitian?}

I think it would be safe to say that everyone has had a friend who at some point tends to only talk to them occasionally. They talk to you when they need something, when they don't have anyone else around to talk to, or when they're absolutely desperate. But when a brighter prospect comes along or life becomes easy, they leave you in the dust. It's really easy to be mad at them; they're using you, after all, right?

Then I got to thinking about how this is how I was treating God at a point in my life. It's really easy for even Christians to fall into a pattern of only praying before meals, big tests, or times of crisis. Prayers before meals morph into simply "going through the motions," prayers preceding tests become desperate (following halfhearted attempts to accurately prepare ourselves with what they've been equipped), and as a result, we often feel far from God during times of crisis.

God should not be our “back-up friend” who is the last one we go to. He doesn’t deserve to be our last resort. He deserves to be our Best-Friend, #1 Confidant, and so much more. When you get exciting news, do you tell your friend before God? If something really cool happens to you, do you thank God or do you forget? That’s the problem with this world. There are so many distractions that it’s a daily battle filled with preparing for the day, school, work, sports, instrument lessons, family-time, hanging out with friends, phones, and so many more things. But how much God-filled time do you partake in? These things aren’t bad until you become so wrapped up in them that they hinder you from drawing near to the Lord.

·        James 4:8: “Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

We should not be in the mindset of “I can live however I want, but I’ll still call myself a Christian. I’ll talk to God when I need Him.” No one likes a fair-weather friend. If you're a Christian, you should  strive to act like it all of the time. Not just when it's convenient.

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

Go to him with your problems, your triumphs, your struggles, and your fears. Go to Him.

When we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us. Everything in life will not be pristine, perfect, and calm, but I know who holds my tomorrow. Best of all, I don’t have to worry.

{Pause for Politics with a Partner}

Today, things are going to go a little differently. I have a friend with me, Katie, who has many strong opinions regarding today's politics.


Source: http://www.theharwoodinstitute.org/2015/07/why-im-not-worried-about-donald-trump/





MH: It's kind of ironic that the title of this website is, "Why I'm not Worried About Donald Trump." Katie, are you worried about Donald Trump?
KG: I am absolutely concerned about Donald Trump going for president. I like that he speaks his mind, but he has a tendency to completely degrade others.
MH: So you think his manners a little lacking and he needs more tact?
KG: Absolutely. Do we want someone to be our president who refers to women as "pigs?" He also routinely makes fun of anyone who calls him out for his personality.
MH: Very well said. What do you think about his immigration policies?
KG: It may sound easy to just "build a wall" across the Mexican border, but let's be honest. There is always going to be a way for people to get into this country. I do believe we should have stricter immigration policies, but I think that this country was founded by people of all backgrounds, so there needs to be a distinct path to outright citizenship.
MH: So seeing as Trump is probably not your first-choice presidential candidate, may I ask whom you do support?
KG: I really, really admire Carly Fiorina. I love her no-nonsense attitude, her fashion-sense, and her ability to "punch a shark in the head" so to speak. Watching her in the Republican debates, more specifically the second one, she really shined. She is somebody who I would want to lead this country. However, I do wonder about her time at HP, though.
MH: Anyone else you have in mind?
KG: Ben Carson is definitely on my radar. I watched him on Fox News just last night and his Christian ethical mindset is refreshing. He truly cares about this country and this isn't a popularity contest for him. He truly wants to change America for the better. Also, his wife is very intelligent and awesome. Also, I like Rubio, but I do not like that his wife has had something like 19 speeding tickets in her life. If you're running for president or you are the wife of a candidate, you should be obeying the law. No one is an exception.

So, now. It's time for you to decide for yourself. Who are you supporting for the 2016 presidential ticket? Regardless of your party, religion, or family, decide for yourself. Voting is not something to do just for fun or just to get a cool "I Voted!" sticker. Who resides in the White House can determine the extent of your freedoms in the future. Choose wisely.

{To Know, Live, and Understand God's Will}

Humor me for a minute if you will; imagine that you are driving a car. The passenger of the car has so graciously given you this opportunity to drive so that he can give you directions as you drive. He has the map out in front of him and knows exactly where to go, what you will encounter, and other ways you can get there. If he just told you the destination (where you would end up), would you know how to get there? No, he must give you step-by-step directions. Turn this way, merge here, turn that way. Little by little, it is revealed where you will end up as you get closer. You can choose to listen to him or not. However, if you do not follow his directions, you will go down a different and perhaps more treacherous path.

This is kind of the same way that we are “driving” our own lives. God has given us these lives to live along with free-will and the ability to make our own choices. He knows exactly what is best for us and He tells us what we should do through the Bible and prayer. He mercifully reveals to us not only our “life map,” but Himself as we grow closer to Him. He is constantly sitting next to us. If we are listening for His voice, we will hear Him urging us to do something, to not do something, to go this way, to go that way, His constant directions leading us through His will for our lives.

If you want to know God’s will, you must listen for His voice.

·        “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:47

·        “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28

·        “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” Psalm 25:4-5

If you want to live out God’s will, you must equip yourself.

Equipping yourself is the equivalent to putting on your seatbelt. You can’t have a harvest without first planting the seeds. Wait on the Lord to show and fulfill His plans to you. In the meantime, make sure you are prepared to take on each day to the best of your ability despite unexpected roadblocks, detours, twists, and turns that I promise will happen.

·        “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

·        “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

If you want to live in God’s will, you must trust Him.

·        “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Psalm 3:5

Solomon is not implying that we should trust God “just a little,” or trust Him only when it seems easy and convenient. We must trust Him with all of our heart and lean on Him. Think of the peeople you trust and admire most on this earth. If you can trust them, how much more should you trust God, who will never ever let you down? We shouldn’t tell Him we know better than He by questioning His plans for our lives.

If you want to understand God’s will, you must see the whole picture.

We don’t understand a lot of things that happen here on this earth and that’s because we can’t see what God can see. We can only have faith in God that things work out alright amidst pain, struggle and strife.  It’s hard to comprehend why two rising high-school seniors were killed and three others injured by a selfish man who had already been convicted of more than a handful of DUIs. It’s crazy that one day someone can wake up with fatal symptoms of an incurable disease that they showed no hint of yesterday.

In the movie Do You Believe, the older couple’s daughter had been hit by a drunk driver years ago. The wife asks, “Where was God? Where was he the night that she was killed?” The husband with answers something similar to, “He was there. He was begging that man to not have another drink, to call a cab, to do anything but get behind the wheel of that car and drive.”  

Just because something tragic happens does not mean that God is not present. Just because we do not see or feel His presence does not mean His hand is not working. It is in times of crisis when God feels even closer perhaps. Peoples’ sinful wills cause bad things to happen. The easy access to alcohol has done big things for our country. However, I cannot think of one of them that is good or positive. The only thing that it has left our country with is addiction, brokenness, tragedy, and loss. God let Satan tempt Job by stripping Him of almost everything that he had. However, there is one thing that he did not and we cannot lose: our relationship with God. At some point in your life, it may feel like the only thing you have. And at that point, it is enough if we trust in Him.

“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. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” {2 Corinthians 12:9-10}

{Serve, Savor, Share}

Seeing a basketball game on TV doesn't make you a basketball player. Observing a football game from the sidelines doesn't make you a professional football player, much like solely having a plethora of knowledge about the sport doesn't make you one of the team. What does make you a player? The definition of a player is someone who takes part. Likewise, what makes you a Christian? Do you think you're a Christian because you are around Christians and rely on your knowledge of the religion, while abstaining from having an actual relationship with Jesus? 

We are called to serve. No, our "status" or Christianity isn't determined by certain "works" or sacraments. However, the strength and validity of our faith is defined by our actions--righteous or not.

• "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." // Ephesians 2:8-9

However, if you are a genuine believer, fruits (Galatians 5:22-23) should be evident in your life. It's like how you don't get your driver's license with no intention of ever driving. That's the whole point of getting it, right? Well how can you believe in Him, commit your life to Him, and receive salvation and not want to serve Him? 

• James breaks it down pretty well in the following: {James‬ ‭2‬:‭14, 18, 20, 22, 24‬} "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? .. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds...You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ... You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did...You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone."                            

• 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 

Born again, changed, and different forever! Faith and actions working together, hand-in-hand. 

We need to savor Jesus. Sounds weird, I know, kind of like I'm talking about food. But if you are truly hungry, is observing a passing plate of food satisfying? Is simply watching the preparation of food truly filling? No, of course not. This is the same with God. Watching others or staring at a closed Bible will not spiritually satisfy us. To savor is to "taste and enjoy completely." 

• Psalm 34:8 says to "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." Don't rush through time with Him, bask in His goodness and mercy.
  
  
• "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." // Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22-23

Lastly, we are called to share Jesus with others. I don't mean share Him like we teach little kids to do with their toys. I mean telling others about Him through what you say and do, both deliberately and inadvertently.

• "So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God." // ‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ 

As that children's song, "This Little Light of Mine," says, God isn't meant to be hidden under a bush. The first thing most people want to do when something good happens to them is tell someone. So why would we all want to walk around keeping our salvation our best kept secret, when it's the best thing that could ever happen to us?

• "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" // Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭14-15‬

{Oh Be Careful}

This is going to be kind of long, so bear with me if you'd like. I write (type) only what God lays on my heart and keep it to the point as much as I can. So thanks for reading or at least trying to :)

We all know that sin is bad. Most of us were probably raised in churches or schools that taught us that it is wrong to lie, cheat, or steal. So you'd think most Christians, or people who call themselves Christians, would know better. However, many Christians are lying to themselves maybe without even knowing it.

Despite some opinions, the Devil is smarter than you might think. The world is also growing more corrupt through both subtle and obvious mechanisms that are designed to trick you into the thinking that it is, "normal" or, "okay" to participate in such worldly activities. If you think that God does not care about the content or intent of what you watch, listen to, say, or do, then you might need to take one gigantic step...towards Him.

I heard this song often as a child, but never knew to what extent it could be relevant to my life later on. When I was that age, I was mostly reading books about cats and puppies and watching cartoons and Disney channel. I wasn't truly able to grasp how sin-filled and worldly that life on Earth can be; I didn't have the least idea.

Oh be careful little eyes what you see. What movies we  see, what videos we watch on YouTube, and what websites we visit matter to God. We should always be mindful of what we are seeing and feeding our brains visually.

• Psalm 101:3: "I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me."
• Matthew 6:22: "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light."

Oh be careful little ears what you hear. What you listen to matters to God. We, as humans, are creatures of habit and repetitiveness. What we hear will come out of our mouths whether we want it to or not. Children start at young ages to repeat phrases or imitate voices of shows they watch, friends they hear, or what parents say. I've heard it. If parents curse around their children, their children usually repeat it whether they know what it means or not. Cursing or vulgar language is not pleasing to God whether we just listen to it or repeat it, no matter how appealing the movie or song.

• Luke 8:18: "Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.

Oh be careful little mouth what you say. Not only does what we listen to matter to God, but so does what we say. In fact, what you listen to is probably a pretty accurate reflection of what comes out of your mouth. Behind actions, I think words are pretty high up there on the list of how your character can be judged or assessed; this is addressed quite often in the Bible.

• Ephesians 4:29: "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
• Matthew 15:10-11: "And he called the people to him and said to them, 'Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes OUT OF THE MOUTH; this defiles a person.'"
• {defile: to make unclean or unpure; to corrupt}
• Matthew 12:36-37: "I tell you, on the Day of Judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Oh be careful little hands what you do. What you do defines who you are, who you will become, and what you are known for. When you do anything, you're representing your family. When you attend school, you're representing your school. When you work at a job, you're representing the company. Well, as Christians, we are representatives or ambassadors of Christ! It is because some do not realize this that others develop misconceptions about Christianity. Maybe it's just me, but if someone's "talk" doesn't match their "walk," I'm often skeptical of their true intentions. The point is: whatever you do, make sure it would glorify God in the fullest! Jesus came to earth to serve, not be served. We, like Him, are on earth to serve others, not ourselves.

• Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
• 2 Corinthians 5:20: "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
• Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

....There's a Father up above and He's looking down with love so be careful little....

• 2 Timothy 3:1-9: "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

• Hebrews 10:26-27: "For if we go sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God."
• Romans 12:2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

I know that there are a lot of articles dissing the Fifty Shades of Grey movie, so I'm not going to make this another one that you won't read. I have also seen multiple posts surface about how we should be less concerned with this, "harmless" movie and more concerned about starvation and world hunger, because, after all, there are "more important" issues. I can't say I agree completely with the latter. I'm now going to bring up that completely cliché analogy with the oxygen mask. If you don't put on your oxygen mask first, then how can you adequately help others or point them towards Christ? If you aren't paying attention to what God is telling you, listening to the Holy Spirit, and growing on your own, then how can you tell others rightly about Him? In my opinion, you should not do anything that you wouldn't tell a newborn Christian to do after leading him or her to Christ. Your actions will be a reflection of your walk with God, or lack thereof, anyways. If your intentions are wrong, then your good-intended actions are desperately in vain!

There is no reason to make excuses about sinful indulgences just to be able to continue to submerse yourself in them. The Bible is not a mere, bendable suggestion for us; it is a blueprint for how a Christian should live. No, you might not be the, "perfect Christian" in a mere 24 hours, but the truth is, the perfect Christian doesn't exist and never will. Although we should always strive for perfection, we will never be completely perfect because we are a sinful people. That's part of what makes God a Holy (sacred and set apart) God, set apart from us! So in the meantime, we need to be content with being a, "work in progress" or a "project in the making," ready for God to shape and use us how He pleases because His plan is perfect for us regardless of what we think. Trust Him daily.

• "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Philippians 4:8
• Luke 11:28: "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

~M

{Malnurished Modestly}

"When you interrupt a girl's school day because her shorts are too short, or her clothing is immodest,  you are telling her that hiding her body is more important than her education. You are telling her that making sure the boys have a distraction-free learning environment is more important than her education. In a way, you're telling her that the boys are more entitled to an education than she is, and that isn't acceptable." ~Anonymous

Read: http://www.cambio.com/2014/12/11/stress-coded-why-high-school-dress-codes-are-hurting-girls/

I almost laughed while reading this article. Wow. The quote, in itself, uses the word "immodest." The definition of immodest (although you probably already know) is: lacking humility or decency. Well, if that's how you want to be thought of, then that is your choice. However, is it worth it? It is October in her post,  not July. She probably will not die of heatstroke while receiving a free education in an air-conditioned building because she wore shorts that you can actually see beneath her shirt.

"Women need to stand up against dated, sexist stereotypes of what's appropriate in schools." Girls' clothes have changed dramatically over the years. I may be stepping out on a limb here, but for the most part, women used to dress more modestly and classy than they do nowadays. Society has morphed and has now taught many that you must wear crop-tops and short-shorts to fit in. Society, along with media, has taught tons of girls of any age that the only desirable ones are the skinny, but large in other regions, girls. Girls as young as eight are looking at themselves and thinking that they are fat. "Hot" and "beautiful" are two different extremes just like healthy and skinny are. Furthermore, the reason the majority or all of dress-code violators are girls is because many girls feel insecure about themselves. Guys, well, they don't care so much about "fashion" or physical insecurities.

Also, they sent her home to change clothes. They didn't expel her, put her in prison, or send her to the guillotine. Is it so hard to dress decently and modestly? Are you being or looking like the kind of girl that you would want your son to date one day?

"My school demonstrated to me that my education is less valued than those of the boys in my class, and that is why I'm writing this article." Less valued? Or is it that most boys don't come to school wearing the "bare minimum" as girls do? This is not a feminist issue; it is one of decreasing morality and standards in today's girls, the women of the future. We, as believers, are called to not hinder others in their relationships with God. 1 Corinthians 8:9 says, "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak." This doesn't say you have to dress like an eskimo to be modest, but also doesn't mean that you can wear as little as you want without being reprimanded.

 

"The school pulling girls out of class and calling their clothes inappropriate makes girls feel uncomfortable in their own skin. Previously confident girls walking in the hallways wearing their (cheer) uniform feel shamed for the length of their skirts." Previously confident. If the shortness of your skirt or the lowness of your top is your vital source of confidence and security, then something is wrong.

 

She's backing her argument up with her friends' "determination to shine light on the injustice of the situation." However, I'm backing my opinion with Scripture. We are called to be Holy, because He is Holy. Holy means "separated" and not of the world. We are in the world but should not be of it :)

• "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." ~Proverbs 31:10

 

Being modest?

• "Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire." ~1 Timothy 2:9

Why be modest?

• "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." ~1 Corinthians 6:19-20
• "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." ~Proverbs 31:30

~~~~~

    M

~~~~~

{Juggling Jobs}

3 Things Everyone Should Know About Making Money:

I think that having a job is good. I like my job. Working to make money is a good skill for teenagers to learn nowadays so as to have a good work ethic and not grow lazy. However, is making money higher on your list of priorities than God? And is your bank account more treasured than your personal relationship with Him?

First, the verse "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31), comes to mind. Whether you work in a restaurant, store, or don't even have a job, you are representing Christ. Even if your boss is a lying and cheating thief, you're still working for the glory of God, not man. Also, "Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow" (Proverbs 13:11). Many people try to cheat in the workplace whether by stealing food or even hours. This is dishonest and even if your supervisor doesn't find out, God knows, and He will punish. So however you make money or live your life, do it all, honestly, for the glory of God.

Secondly, never let money become an idol. Are you missing church every week because your job is "more important?" Or are you working late Saturday night and sleeping in on Sundays? No earthly treasure could ever compare to the treasure we can store up in Heaven. Matthew 6:19-20: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Earthly treasure is temporary and fleeting--like our lives here on Earth! Sometimes the wealthiest people are the loneliest and unhappiest. "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). If our insecurities are inversely proportionate to our monetary wealth, then there is a problem with our priorities.

Additionally, God calls us to tithe. "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.'" (Malachi 3:10). All he asks is for us to give a portion of what we receive. I do not think that is too much to ask considering it is all by Him and through Him that we were blessed with it to begin with. Furthermore, after we give back to Him, he will flood us with blessings! What could be better?
Some argue that it is not within their financial means to tithe. God says, "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your Heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need" (Matthew 6:31-33). God, more than anyone, knows best what we need and what is best for us. Yes, it can be challenging to cast a situation out of your own hands and leave it up to someone else. However, God has everything in control and has perfect timing! So if you tithe and trust in Him, he will provide and multiply your blessings abundantly.

~~~~~
    M
~~~~~

{Identity Issues}

Society and social norms frighten me nowadays. The name of the following website sums it up pretty well though - Opposing Views.

Read before continuing: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/angelina-jolie-brad-pitts-8-year-old-daughter-wants-be-called-john-sparks-controversy

Now I'm no psychology expert, but I think there is truly something wrong with this. I respect others' opinions, but hold mine firmly in place too.

I don't understand how someone just wakes up one day and decides to switch genders just because they want to or because they recently found their true "identity." Genesis 1:27 states, "So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; make and female he created them." It doesn't say he created them "whatever-gender" or "to be determined by them personally." It says "male and female HE created THEM." So is this sudden epiphany justified or just crazy and far-fetched? You must make up your own mind; no one can make it for you unless you let them.

Another thing I see an issue with (regarding Shiloh) is her (yes, her) age. She is eight, not eighteen. There is a good reason that eight year-olds do not have voting rights, driving privileges, or the ability to live independently. I don't think I even picked out my own outfits when I was eight! I have heard of multiple instances when a child, well under the age of ten, decides that they are going to switch genders. The parents do not tell them, "no, honey, you're a girl and that's how it goes" or "son, you're a boy and you'll stay one." They simply condone the irrational behavior and change their wardrobe, hair, name, and identity. How is a child to know that this is wrong? They will grow up accepting it as a norm. Maybe if the parents explained life to their child instead of just following their orders, the child would realize how it really works. You're born a gender and you die the same gender. Parents are there to teach their children what is right and appropriate, not to be taught by their children. Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Another thing that must be understood is: Children go through phases. They're easily distracted, indecisive, and have large imaginations! Just because a little boy plays dress-up and grabs a purse or bag does not make him a girl or necessarily even mean he thinks he is a girl. For example, a little boy I know went through a phase a while back for five whole months after seeing the movie "Frozen"....five times. He has four older sisters and he didn't really have a choice, ha. He only responded to the name "Elsa," told everyone he was The Queen, and constantly ran around throwing his magical ice powers at people or castles...all while singing "Let it Go." His parents did not grow his hair long, put him in girly dresses, and change his name to Ashley. His dad constantly, but gently, reminded him of his real name and identity.  

I think that is similar to what God does for us! We are given the privilege to make our own choices, but He is always there - reminding us of who we really are and who we were meant to be.

Lastly, our identity is found in Jesus Christ! He tells us so many things through His Word:

• We are a new creation - 2 Corinthians 5:27
• We become God's children - Galatians 3:26
• We are one part of a larger body - Romans 12:5
• We can never be separated from God's love - Romans 8:39
• We are the light and are to live like it - Ephesians 5:8
• We labor not in vain - 1 Corinthians 15:58
• We have redemption - Ephesians 1:7

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   M
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