Here Comes the Son

Well, its May 1st everybody! We are finally reaching the end of a very long winter! The nice weather is coming out and the smiles are returning with it! I love seeing the change in people just because they have more sun in their lives. :D

Don't you feel better with more Son in your life? In case you missed the spelling change, more SON. More JESUS! I for one know the dramatic difference in my life when I have more Jesus in my life and when I apply scripture to my life. 


There are so many verses from scripture that remind us of the joy that comes from the Lord...

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."  Job 8:21

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy."  Psalm 30:11

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Spend time with the Son today! Fill yourself up with the word of God and let the joy of the Lord fill your cup and overflow out onto all you do! I know how long the winter can  be, but as soon as you see the Son, I guarantee you will smile! :D

 

Represent!

Modest. It's something that as Christian, we should all strive to be. Unfortunately, when you look at today's society, you don't see much modesty. Most of the lack of modesty comes from girls. You see a lot more than you want to see on the majority of girls today. Neck lines are cut so low that the shirt has now turned into a skirt. Skirts are so short they are now belts. I find myself asking why they even bother to wear clothes at all. Guys wear pants that hang so low and show their boxers; they have to hold onto their belt loops when they walk or else the pants will be completely off. This breaks my heart, especially when I see my Christian friends dressing this way. 

So whats the big deal? Why should we keep our attire modest? First off, 1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, 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." God has given you a beautiful spirit! Let that shine from the inside out! When you allow your inner beauty to come through, I guarantee you will get more attention. My boyfriend David always tells me how beautiful I am when I step out of my comfort zone and become the confident woman that God has made me. It's when he see's me taking initiative and setting good examples that he finds me most attractive. 

Another reason we should be modest in what we wear is because of who we represent. As Christ followers, everywhere we go we represent Christ. As Christians, we are to be known as humble, generous, and modest people. The way we dress can affect the way people view us. Do you think that those who do not know Jesus will take you (as a Christian) serious if you were dressed with a low cut shirt, showing off things that don't need to be seen? Absolutely not!! They would view you just the same as the rest of the world. Not set apart, not leading the world through a holy revolution. You're viewed as a copy of the rest of society. 

Girls: 

• no shirt should go past your collar bone. 
• No belly shirts. Come on, this isn't the 80s!
• And cool it with the short skirts and the short shorts, especially in the winter time (When it comes to the right length for your skirts and dresses, go with the 4inches from the knee rule) 
• keep the underwear hidden. yuck. 

Guys: 

•  Pull up those pants and slap on a belt! The boxers hanging out the back of the pants is SOOOOO 1990 I could barf (teehee). 
• Whenever I see someone with their pants hanging so low that they have to modify the way they walk to keep those pants up, the "pants on the ground" song comes into my head. (Pants on the ground, pants on the ground. Looking like a fool with your pants on the ground.)  Boys, you look a whole lot more mature when your pants are worn correctly, and I have a whole lot more respect for you when I can't see your underwear.
• Also, keep those graphic tee's appropriate. Steer clear of shirts that advertise alcohol, drugs, or tobacco.

God Bless,

Carlie

Practice What You Preach

It's so easy to say that you're a Christian. It's simple to accept Christ into your life in return for a home in heaven when your time on Earth is over. But being a Christian and actually living life as a Christian are two completely different things. 

Case One: A teenage boy is invited to attend a church service. He knows God and feels Gods presence in his life. But after the church service is over, he goes back to his life. Listening to music with negative meanings and lyrics in them. He dresses in inappropriate clothing and wears shirts with racial comments on them, or advertises alcohol or drugs. He and his friends make fun of other students and laugh at people who have disabilities. He says he reads his bible, but knows that it has sat on his desk for months without being opened. He wonders why he can't feel God outside of church and wonders why his life gets harder and harder and seems like there is no way out of his problems.


Case Two: A teenage boy is invited to attend a church service. He knows God and feels Gods presence in his life. But after the church service is over, he goes back to his life. He takes time to pray, and decides right then to make a change in his life. He begins listening to Christian music and positive music, music that lifts him up and makes him feel happy. He dresses in modest clothing that make him look mature. He talks about his faith and about his love for Jesus with his friends and invites them to his youth group. He reads his bible every night before bed and prays and reflects on his day. He feels God no matter where he is, and he's quick to ask God for help with his problems. 


These are two very realistic scenarios. You say one thing, and you practice another thing. You live two different lives. James 1:22-25 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do." 


Learn to practice what you preach. God honors those who honor him and his holy name. Matthew 10:32 tells us, "Deny me before men and I will deny you before my father in heaven." Don't subject yourself to that...


God Bless,
Carlie

 

Don't Go To Bed Angry

Have you ever had a really rough day? One that just seems to get worse and worse as the day moves into night? Maybe it's like a snowball effect for you; things start to pile up and by the end of the day you are steamed! I mean, you are completely ready to blow! You could take your anger out on the next person who asks you a simple question like, how are you? "HOW AM I? HOW AM I?!" And you go to bed feeling angry and annoyed.

Or maybe you're like me, and you let one thing just stick with you the entire day; you take things too personally. You can't seem to let go of that one stupid comment someone made. That morning you were cheery and bubbly, and then your friend says something that was meant to be a joke, but immediately you turn on your defensive side and your friend is left wondering what just happened. And now you are a complete treat to spend time with the rest of the day. (Heavy on the sarcasm) And you go to bed feeling angry and annoyed.

Which one are you? Whether you let things build and build until you just nearly explode or you are quick to anger and take things personally, each scenario ends in going to bed angry. Don't lie to yourself. You know at some point in your life this has happened to you. You've gone to bed angry. We all have. But the bible warns us about letting that happen.  “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4:26-27)

Going to bed angry opens a door to your heart for the devil to freely enter. Don't become a victim of anger. Don't let your anger turn into a sin. Learn to easily let go of things. 


However, you can turn your anger into righteous anger, and use it to fuel you to do Gods will. To speak out against the wrongs in this world. When you are made a mockery for your love of Jesus, use your anger to fuel you, tell the world of the wonderful news of Jesus Christ. Tell the world why you love Jesus! Here is an example of the righteous anger King David used:

God, I wish you would kill the wicked!
Get away from me, you murderers!
They say evil things about you.
Your enemies use your name thoughtlessly.
Lord, I hate those who hate you;
I hate those who rise up against you.
I feel only hate for them;
they are my enemies (Psalm 139:19–22, NCV)

God Bless,

Carlie 

A Reason To Celebrate

There are so many reasons to feel down today. The amount of chaos and heartache in this world can break my spirit. War, famine, hatred, abuse, global warming, and what the crap is going to happen on December 21st 2012? (teehee!)

If you're like me, some of these thoughts really weigh heavy on my heart, and in a vulnerable moment, can take a toll on me. And then you add in things like school, and work, and personal issues like a close friend dying, or personal mind games where the enemy makes us believe we are not skinny enough or pretty enough... Lets face it, there's a lot of stress in this world. Sometimes all I have to do is look out my window and see snow and think, what the? AGAIN!? sigh....

FRIENDS! HELLO! There is always a reason to celebrate! For instance, if you're reading this, you're most likely breathing, and if you're not, then someone needs to find you an ambulance asap. Let's stop right there; you're breathing! WOOHOO! God has blessed you with another day of a functioning body! God has given you so many reasons just in that one fact to rejoice. a) you have a beating heart. 2) your lungs are working correct. c) so are your lips, because they are now forming a smile because you noticed my a,2,c method. Look at that, you still can smile after all! :D

Take a dive into scripture today, and realize all the reasons you have to celebrate!

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Psalm 13:5
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Its time to celebrate people... no one likes a Debby Downer! And God loves to see you smile!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M

Celebrate good times!

God Bless,

Carlie