It's Time To {Wake Up}

It’s time to wake up from this spiritual coma America has fallen into. It’s steady decline in value, morals, and faith is putrid. But, you know what the truth is? You know what the bottom line, the big white elephant in the room, the irritating itch you just can’t scratch is??? It’s the American Christians. Did you read me?? It’s America’s [CHRISTIANS] fault. Yes, that is what I said. It’s {OUR} fault!! It’s the believer’s fault for not {standing} for what is right, just, moral, biblical, worthy, and constitutional in this country. We stand on the side lines and moan, groan, and debate about other people who aren’t taking a stand. HELLO!! While we stand, twiddling our thumbs about others, this country is falling to pieces. It’s time to stand for Christ. Phillipians 1:15-21  “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
If God is giving you a passion for something, then {STAND} for it! Pray and ask God to show you what it is He wants you to do. Ask Him for wisdom. Proverbs 2:6 “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding“.  It may not be a big part, it may be raising a God fearing, faith building, praying together kind of family. If so, stand for family and it’s rights.
God gives us each a mission. Where ever He leads you, He’ll hold you. Psams 139:10  “Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” Stop trying to live your life for you. Matthew 6:33  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” God’s way has much more fulfilling, more peace, more blessing. Ephesians 2:14a  “For he is our peace…”
 If you’re trying to do something, anything, weather it be buying a house, going on a mission trip, getting into a relationship, going to college, or just everyday things around the house, pray about it. Give your plans to God. If it’s His will He’ll give you peace. If you’re a teenager, like myself, pray about what ever it is you think God is wanting you to do. If it’s His will He’ll give you peace, and He’ll give your parents peace.
One thing I’ve learned, and still am learning, is that if my dad doesn’t have peace about something I don’t get peace about it. Until God gives my dad peace about something, I won’t have it either. I’m learning to pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians  5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
It’s time to wake up! We were made by Him and for Him. He made you! He has a journey for each of us to embark on. No two journeys are the same, each are unique, in their own unique way, with God’s unique time.

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~
~Zechariah 12:1~

You Lead, I'll Follow

There’s those times in my life, when I’m going along and start to take my hand from my Jesus’. I try to walk on my own. This is my life, I can lead right??? WRONG! 
He knows what tomorrow holds because He holds tomorrow. He’s there already. Give it up, give it to Him. We can’t handle this world on our own. We aren't strong enough. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9,  "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Don’t give up when you fall. Proverbs 24:16,  "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." 
I am constantly struggling with stumbling over my past mistakes. God tries to use me and I’m asking Him how he could ever use me after something I've done in my past. I ask in pain, how? How on earth could He use me or want to use me for anything? But, God looks at me and tells me, He knows nothing about what I’m talking about. It’s forgiven. I’m forgiven. As far as the east is from the west. I’m forgiven. 
It shouldn't be, “Will God lead?”, it’s really, “God will lead.” There’s no question to if He’ll lead or not, the real question is, “Will I follow?” Psalms 139:10-12, "Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." It doesn’t matter how dark your corner of the world is, how far away you’ve gotten from Him, or if you think He wouldn’t want you anymore. He can see you. He wants us. He loves us. He paid the ultimate price for us.  
When I’m down, feeling like I can’t take this world anymore, I’ve taken my eyes off of my Jesus and started looking at everything around me. I start worrying about those mole hills that I see “growing”. Those mole hills force me to my knees before Christ confessing my worrying. Worrying is not the greatest thing to do. God has told us not to worry. Not to fear because He is with us. Psalms 27:1,  "A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" He’ll lead us. We just have to follow. 

I like to sit in my comfort zone, as I’ve said before, but God has His ways of getting me out of that comfort zone. It’s one of His ways to give me a humble heart. I’ll be the first to say I have a lot of pride.  I forget how big my God is and how little I am. My pride is one of the ways my heart rebels from my Jesus. Rebellion gets you nothing worth having. 
Everyday is a second chance. A new day to walk closer to God that I did the day before. I fail, but I’ve been made new in Christ.
I’ll let God lead, I’ll follow, because His hands hold tomorrow. Just knowing that my Jesus holds tomorrow helps me through everyday.
Let God lead.

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~
~Psalms 139:14~

It's Planting Season

Planting season is here. Personally I enjoy planting. I didn't use to when I was little, but now it’s just amazing to see God’s work through seeds. We planted row after row and it won’t be long till it’s shooting out of the ground trying with all it’s might to reach it’s tiny tendrils to the sun above.
It’s amazing to think about our corn, usually growing to about 7 feet tall, starting out as little seeds. Seeds that are in somewhat of a coma until we till the ground, plant the vulnerable seed, water, and it starts to push it’s way through the dirt to find the sun. Then it’s harvest time.
It’s like our lives before we've accepted Christ. We’re vulnerable, small, and in a spiritual coma. We aren’t growing because Christ isn't in our hearts fertilizing us to maturity.
God puts those people in our lives to till the ground of our heart, those who will come along and plant the seeds of Christ, those who shine the light of the Son, and those who water.
God ultimately reaps the harvest. We may have the honor of leading someone to Christ, but God reaps the harvest every time. The angels in heaven rejoice whenever someone gives their life to Christ.
Being Christians, God has called us to be His light. We are to be those who till the ground of people’s hearts, water, show them the Son. It’s our job to share Christ’s love.
Our job to plant. It’s planting season. God puts people in our lives because He knows they need to know His love. He may have picked you to share it with them. Ask God to show you who it is He’s put in your life to share His love with. Plant the seeds of His love in their hearts. Luke 10:2  "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest." There are too many Christians who tell themselves, "Oh, someone else will tell people about Christ. They don't need me." The harvest is truly great.
It’s [planting season].

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~
~Ephesians 2:8-9~

Hitting A Brick Wall

A friend of mine sent out an e-mail, it's part of her e-mail blog, and it really helped remind me that God is in control of every situation. When it seems like you're praying your hardest, but nothing seems to be happening, that's when we're to trust God the most. He sees every aspect of life, we see a small portion.

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~

I don't suggest you try hitting a brick wall. It doesn't budge, bend, or sway.

I had this experience where I felt like I'd hit a spiritual wall. Recently my girls were working with a couple other girls from Hedges on a Bake Sale. The four of them with the Mom's help seemed to have thought of everything. They had set up at a local lumber yard to entice a good match between fathers, granddaddy's and the tummy. It seemed like a no fail plan.

I was sickish that day. I'd taken my oils and was trying to veg in the truck while keeping one eye open on the kids. An hour had ticked by and not but one customer. At this rate, I thought it will be a long day. I began to pray, every thought and concerned captive to the Lord. Yet, no change. The children need this, they've worked so hard- my plea continued. And then like a spotty cell phone I thought, Hello? Are there.. I was pouring out my heart for these kiddo's and nothing seemed to help. 

Just then the girls joined together in a circle. Holding hands, they bowed their heads and began to pray. I couldn't hear the prayer- yet, I could see the evidence of one in motion. Just then cars drove in one, two, three. Before they could hardly get the Amen out here they came. In droves, all four girls were busy selling. It continued that day at a constant rate. They raised over $500. for a children's home.

Are you on the inside or the outside? My point is this, I was on the outside God heard my prayer and was ready when their hearts were ready. He had to get all of his ducks in a row before the shower of blessing. Because you don't see results, doesn't mean that things are not happening. If you are on the inside, yield to God. Especially, if you don't feel worthy or like you don't have a claim. He is there – waiting – and willing to answer all of us ungrateful spoiled children.

~Celina

March 6,2013

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

The Only Way

Looking down and watching all the sad, lonely, and sinful people, there was a pain in His heart. A dull ache and growing sorrow that had been there since the beginning. He knew that day would come, though he wished there was another way, and didn't want to endure such pain, though He followed His Father's will. He followed His Father’s will through pain, torture, mocking, betrayal, and death. (John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”) He loved these people more than they would ever know. They would have to wait to get to heaven to truly understand how much love His Father and He had for the world. (John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”)

He looked back at what it had been like to become all man, but still be all God, never sinning.

Standing in the clouds, looking down, He felt the sorrow for the world and of how He wanted all of them to know His love. He remembers when He had to leave. Leave His throne above, His Father who loved Him so deeply, and His home in heaven. Left to be born of a virgin, in a lowly manger, in the city of David. (Luke 2) He could have been born in a palace, born to be on a throne like He deserved, but He humbled Himself for us. He grew up learning his step father’s trade, learning how to read, how to play, learning how to be a little boy. Never back talking, never fighting, because He was PERFECT.  He knew no sin, and He knew that someday He would be betrayed by one of the men who said they would always follow Him, He would be denied by one of the men who said He could never deny Him. 

He became a man, a perfect man, preformed miracles, followed His Father’s will no matter what. He stood in front of the angry people, and beside Him stood a criminal. He knew that this cup could not pass away from Him. He remembered how angry the crowd was, they were screaming, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!” The soldiers released the criminal, and took the perfect Son of God to where he would be crucified. But on His face was not anger or condemnation, but sorrow and unconditional love for the ones He came to save. Crying out in pain as He was beaten, mocked, tortured, spit on, and humiliated. This was too much for His disciples to bare. This humble, perfect, and holy man, who was all man and all God was taking the sin of the world on His shoulders so we wouldn’t have to be separated from God (John 1:29, “next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away sin world.”) This man wasn’t just a man dying on a cross. He is Jesus Christ who died on a cross and busted the grave wide open three days later. He is the Holy and perfect son of God. John 14:6  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” He is the only way to heaven, and He’s not just a man. 

Christ's love isn't conditioned on how we preform or how many good things we do. He tells us to come as we are. The broken, the rich, the poor, the hurting, the lost. Sinners. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He's the ONLY way to heaven, the only way to not be separated from God.

Invite Christ into your heart and life today. Pray and ask Forgiveness of your sins and become a child of God.  1 John 1:9,  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~

~Philippians 1:6~

A War We Fight

The war we fight we fight not with guns, swords, and fists. But rather the war we fight is the war of our minds. One of the biggest wars we’ll fight.
We signed up for this war when we accepted Christ in to our hearts. We are soldiers in God’s infantry, ambassadors for the King of Kings.
In this war we may never hear cannons boom, rifle fire, or attack people. But, this war is real. This war between God and His children and Satan and His children.
Our minds are the battle field above a lot of things. Fleeting thoughts fly in and out. We can’t stop thoughts popping into our minds, but it’s what we do with them that determines weather it’s a sin or not. It’s not just doing something wrong that can be sin, it can be our thoughts also. Sin is anything we think, say, or do that breaks God’s law or displeases Him.
Let’s say your mom has given you a chore you [really] don’t want to do, and the thought pops into your mind to cuss at her or just in your mind, or to ignore her? This is part of the war. It’s a cross road between sin and not sin. It’s something I’ve struggled with. It’s something we all struggle with. It’s our will or God’s will. Resisting the temptation to do the wrong thing, even when no one is watching. No one knows what I’m thinking but God and I.
God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He’s always been there and always will be. There are times when I feel like I’ve walked away from God. Gotten farther and farther away till it feels like I can’t even see Him anymore. That was all me though. God didn’t leave He was there even though I wasn’t in fellowship with Him, wasn’t seeking his best for my life. The farther away I got from God the harder it is to hear His voice.
God was chasing me down and I was running away. He loves me to much to let me go. He has a plan for our lives.
A lot of times He shows me how big He is, I can clearly see God’s hands working in my life and I turn the corner and it’s like I can only see the what seems like a bigger problem. I doubt God on how He’s going to get me through this and when He’s going to get me through it. Is He going to be faithful? Why is He taking so long? It’s dumb really. I see God being faithful [No Matter What] and I still doubt, I still fall, and I still fear. I still {Sin}.
But the thing is, after all this, God still shows His sovereignty. I’m brought to my knees in repentance time after time because of doubt, fear, and sin.  That still small voice saying not to let the failures of my past slow me down. I’ve been given a mission from my Jesus. A mission to serve in His army. To fight for Him, and to share His love. This war will be won. We need to stay close to God, with prayer and studying His word.
Many people try to get to God every other way but through His Son, but He’s the [only] way. John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am way, truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  He’s the only way we can win the war in our minds also. Call on Him. He’ll help you. Psalms 144:1, “A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:”

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~
~Psalms 130:7~

I'll Be Happy If...

Do you ever find yourself saying, “I’d be happy if…” I’ve found myself saying that before.
It’s easy to fall into feeling bad about myself and coveting or envying because I don’t have the newest clothes, the biggest loudest truck, or or the nicest house. It’s so easy to fall under temptation to be unthankful.
I look at is this way though when I’m tempted to be unthankful for all that God has provided me. What if I had all that I needed, not all that I [wanted], but all that I needed. Food on the table, a roof over my head, a warm bed, a family that loves me and supports me. I have this. A lot of times we take it for granted and don’t realize how much we actually have been blessed with. So, I have everything I need, right?
Ok, I go to bed taking for granted everything I have, and thinking about all that I don’t have. I wake up the next morning with only things I thanked God for the day before. Scary right? I start thinking, “Did I thank God for anything today???”
“I’d be happy if…” It’s so easy to be unthankful , to be unhappy with where God has us, with what He’s blessed us with. Psalms 146:5  “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:”
Have you thanked God for all that you have today???

[Side Note]
God is [amazing]. Sometimes I just seriously feel like screaming it from my roof top! I can see Him working in my life so much. Other may say that I have nothing, am nothing, worth nothing. But, I can see God’s hand in my life so abundantly in so many ways. If I could tell you all the ways you may not think it mattered that much, but for me, in my life all those little things are ways God plays out His will. The little touches He adds to each chapter of my life are the little ways that He shows me that He’s still faithful, even though I fail so much. I fall away from Christ and I stumble, I come back broken, but knowing that God’s the only one who knows how to put the pieces back together again. The only one who can make me whole again.
I look back and wonder how I was living away from God. But I know that I wasn’t really living. Yes, I was still breathing, going through the motions of life, but I wasn’t truly living. The only real living you can do is through Christ. But, I digress. ;)

Go thank God today!

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~
~Psalms 146:2~