Pornography Is Destroying

Romans 12:2- Your body is a temple of the holy spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God. You are not your own, you were bought as a price, therefore honor God with your body.

Pornography, one of the biggest businesses in America. The place to sell your body online. To flaunt yourself in front of adults, teenages, and even children on occasion. This is a rampant sin in America, and all over the world. It is a sin to Non-Christians, and Christians alike. People struggle with this sin daily, at work, and at home, and when they think they are not being watched.

I have heard many Christians who talk about porn like it is not a great sin. Like, this is not dangerous in any way to their relationship with Christ, and they treat it like a joke. I knew a Christian who told me flat out that if she didn't live in a Christian family, she would be the best porn star ever. Sad? Yes. Very.

Why is pornography such a dangerous thing? What is wrong with it?

Referring back up to the scripture verse, it says that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. So when you watch porn, you are watching people ruin their temples and committing adultery. So how does this effect you? It's them that is ruining it, not you. Well, lets think about this. When you become a Christian, Jesus makes his home in your heart, and when you watch porn, what are you filling your heart with? Junk. Lust. Impure thoughts. Sin. This is not something to joke around about. Pornography is very real in everyone's life. Whether you watch it or not, you will be exposed to some type of Porn at one point or another in your life. On magazines, on posters, in movies, on the internet. It's all around. We will all be exposed to temptation in pornography.

If you are fighting the addiction of pornography right now, then there is hope! There is always hope in Christ Jesus. If you are a Christian watching pornography, and you still don't feel any conviction about watching it, then you should be very worried. The Holy Spirit's job is to convict you, so if you aren't feeling convicted, it means that you have done this so much that you have worn away any guilt.

Pornography can be like a drug. People go back for more all the time.The first step to stopping is to realize that it is killing you spiritually, and that you need to step away from it and leave it behind forever. Step two would be to ask God for forgiveness, and turn your life over to him. Repent of your ways, and turn away from your sin! Easier said than done? Yes it is. But that is what being a Christian is: living a life of sacrifice for the one who made you. The third thing to do, would be to start anew by throwing away any movies, magazines, pictures or anything that makes you stumble. If you struggle with your computer, put it out where everyone can see what your doing all the time. Find a accountability partner and tell them what is going on in your life. This person should help keep you accountable by checking on you and talking with you. The next thing to do, would be to bury yourself in the word and God. The reason I say this is because of this. Once you remove something big from your life, you will have to fill it in with something else. If you do not, then you will be tempted to fill it in with your old ways again. Have you ever heard someone say "An idle mind is the devil's workshop"? Well it is absolutely true. You HAVE to fill your mind and heart with Holy things if you don't want to return to your old ways.

You have to remember that only the Lord can heal you from this if you struggle. Reading this will not. It may help, and I hope it does, but only the one who is the inspirer of this post can heal you. You have to be totally dedicated to kicking this or you wont. Keep trying and NEVER give up!


~Philippians 4:8
Whatsoever things are true.

The Facebook god

Exodus 34:13, Do not worship any other god, for the Lord who's name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

About 6,000 years ago when the world was created by God, and he viewed the future of the whole earth and knew what was going to happen. But then came 2004, and Facebook was created! And Jesus had NO Idea that was going to happen. It took him off his guard, and he didn't know what to say to people about the site. NO! NO! NO! AND NO! Jesus was never caught off guard by anything that has happened and is happening right now. Jesus knew Facebook would come around eventually, and he knew that Facebook would take the place were he previously sat in many "Christians" hearts. He knew that his children would try to read their Bibles, but instead would would log onto Facebook to update their statuses or check on something first. He knew that His followers would sit staring at the Facebook screen for hours instead of spending time with him. Does it hurt any less because he knew from the beginning? I'm sure not.

So what does the bible verse at the beginning have to do with Facebook? Isn't it obvious? Facebook has become a god among our nation. Among the Christians. Among everyone. We have taken something that was meant to be used for entertainment and turned it into a way of life. A site to post foul language lyrics, to tell everyone what your doing 24/7, to show God that he's really second in their lives.

Why would we do that to our Lord and savior? If you had a friend that was on Facebook all the time, and always wanted to check their Facebook on their phones before you talked to them, and sometimes they would be on for hours before they cared enough to talk to you, and then they would only talk for a couple of minutes, and only ever asked you for things, and never gave you any time to say what you wanted to say, you wouldn't be friends with that person anymore. They wouldn't be a true friend. Because they would always be on Facebook with their other friends, and wouldn't care enough to spend time with you other than asking you for favors. What a horrible relationship that would be. How many Christians do that to Jesus ALL the time!? A couple? More than 10? Hundreds? Thousands? Most likely.

I know that Facebook is addicting and can gather all your time, but it's time to stop worrying about what is going on in other people's life, and start figuring out whats going on in Jesus'.

If you are reading this and you don't have a Facebook, then this message applies to all sorts of God's. Any online place really, or even grades. A boyfriend/girlfriend could be your god. Maybe watching sports gives you comfort over going and reading your Bible, and talking with the guy who wants to be your best friend.

Do not have any other god's before me, is the second commandment of the 10. To even make it into the ten commandments means it's important, to be the second commandment.... you better be paying attention.

If you are guilty of this, close your laptop, phone ect. and go and ask God for forgiveness. See what is going on in his life. Let your god go, and follow the real God of this world.


~Whatsoever things are true
Philippians 4:8

Imitators of Christ

Ephesians 5:1, Watch what God does, then do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. (The Message Bible).

When we see babies, what are they usually doing? Yes, sticking things in their mouths, yes sleeping and eating. Sometimes smiling and laughing, but what I'm talking about is as they grow older, what is the thing they do most? They learn. They imitate the people they see around them. After staring at their parent for a long time, they attempt to use a fork. Or, they are constantly making noises and trying to say words like the people around them. Sometimes kids, when they get a little older, they get a little annoying sometimes cause they follow you around and listen to every word you say, and watch everything you do. Why? Because they want to learn to be just like there dad. Or big sister. Or big brother. They want to imitate you because they look up to you! They want to be you.

We are told in this verse to be imitators of our father in heaven just like the children are. We can study and look to the children for how we should act in our life.

Matthew 18:3, And he said, I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Now this doesn't mean that we need to resort to sucking our thumbs and talking like a baby, but we should be studying some of the things that they do and doing them ourselves. What are some traits we should imitate?

Persistence
You see a child fail time and time again. They get up to walk and they fall countless times. But they keep trying. They never give up, and finally they begin to walk.
We sometimes will try to follow the Lord, but then soon give up because it is too hard! Or maybe because you are tired of falling. If you never fall, then you will never learn from your mistakes. We must be like children and continue to try to walk in his ways no matter how many times we fall. Some people will fall less than others. Don't let that get you down! You will learn eventually, keep trying. Push on. Give effort.

Trust.
When I tell a child that I am going to take him out for Ice Cream, do you think that that child will be excited? Yes! Absolutely! Do you think that the child will be thinking, "Well, I doubt that that will happen, so I'm not getting my hopes up." NO! A child has full trust that I will come through and buy them ice cream. That I will keep my word to them.
How many times do we lose hope in God? If your anything like me, it's been many times in the past. Sometimes I would lose hope that he would give me the things I need. But in his word, he promises us that he will come through for us with what we need if we seek him. Nevertheless, I have doubted and lost trust in him. Look to the child, and wait for him to come through for us.

This is only a couple of things that you could be likening yourself to. Make a study of children. Write down their traits, and apply them to your life. But always remember to look to your father, and be imitators of him.

~Whatsoever things are true
Philippians 4:8

Definition of Love

1 Corinthians 13:1, If i speak in the tongues of man and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 


          "Love"
The most heard of word, but the most underused word in existence. Heard all the time at the end of phone conversations, in advertisements, everywhere! The word is used very loosely and often times is not meant. On the other hand, most children have never even heard their parents say "I love you" to them. People just want to be loved, but there is so much fake love around, it is hard to find such. Also, it is hard to give real love when we are around a generation of "love" all the time. Love today means someone saying "I love you dear" and then proceeding to walk off with someone else and gossip about the person they just said I love you to. Love today means saying to someone's face, "I just love you!" And then later in the day not forgiving the person for something that they said later on in the day that hurt them. Then they text everyone and tell them of the injustice. I don't know about you, but this kind of love seems shallow and fleeting. Is this just me?

The bible is very clear about how we are to love each other. Let's look into it. 1 Corinthians 13-4-7 says that Love is:

*Patient
*Kind
*Does not envy
*Does not boast
*Is not proud
*Is not rude
*Is not self seeking
*Is not easily angered
*It keeps no record of wrongs
*Loved does not delight in Evil
*Rejoices with the truth
*Protects
*Trusts
*Hopes
*Perseveres
*NEVER Fails

Wow, that is a tall order to live up to. I don't know of anyone who can live up to all of those all of the time on their own. But you know when we call on the name of the Lord, he will come to our rescue. He delights in the child that asks for his goodness. He rejoices when we hunger to have his love. He longs to give us his love. It doesn't matter if you have a hard time loving people! It doesn't matter if you can't forgive someone. You can still have love. You will learn to forgive that person. It may take some time, but the Lord will help you if you are truly serious about following him in love.

But you can't just pray that the Lord will give you love and not practice. You have to practice this. It's tough, difficult and sometimes torturous to let things slide off your back, but you will be SO happy that you did it in the long run. When you practice, try not to gossip. Decide in your heart in the mornings that you will not gossip today. Purpose to keep your talk praising to God and not negative about people. Practice, practice, practice! You may fail, because you are a human, but don't just say, "I'm human, and we gossip sometimes." Do not do that. Say, "Forgive me Lord for displeasing you. I repent of what I have done." And go and apologize to the person that you gossiped to whether they started it or not. This will show them, that you are trying not to gossip and maybe it will stop them from doing so as well.

Forgive faults quickly! Let things slide. Pray! Prayer to the Lord will get rid of offense quickly. Spend time in the word when you are hurt, or write down bible verses about offense and read them when you are hurt with someone. Say in your heart, "I forgive you" to the person. They most likely don't know that they hurt you and you are not doing any good keeping it in your heart. It will only fester and turn you into a not so very nice person. Just realize that you don't know the circumstances in their life at that moment in time, and they could be saying rude things to cover the hurt inside of them. Be there for them, and pray for them.

"Love always perseveres.... Love never ends." These two are like closers. All of those things in the list we should do with perseverance that never ends. Follow that person that pushes you away and love them. Pray for them all the time. Pray for unending love for that person. Fast for them. Do things in a right heart. Not just because I said so. Do it because you know that this is what the Lord delights in, and you want to be just like him. Keep on loving.


~Whatsoever things are true
Philippians 4:8

Have Yourself a Selfless Christmas

Luke 1:35, The angel answered, "the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 

Luke 1:38, I am the Lord's servant,"Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Obviously we all know that this season is not our own but it is for Jesus, our Savior who came to earth in the form of a man to save us from our sins. We have all been taught that in Sunday School and in our homes for years. But sometimes the story can become just a little bit like a routine to us. Putting up the manger scene. Reading the story of Jesus at church. But do we really take the time actually listen to the story and find the meaning of it?

An angel visits Mary one day and tells her that she is going to have a baby, even though she is a virgin. Mary at this time is engaged to a man named Joseph. Back in Mary's day, to be found pregnant, engaged or not, meant to be stoned to death for bringing dishonor to your family. But look at Mary's reply in Luke 1:38 again, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."

Wait...... Did you hear that? Or maybe it's what you don't hear. Listen again. "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." Did you hear it this time? It's the sound of no complaining to God. It's the sound of selflessness and humility. It's the sound of Mary totally giving her life to God's plan.

Honestly think about the things you complain about, just for a second. A hard test, a breakup, having to get up to get a remote? We have become an age of complainers! Complainers tell God how unjust he is to them. People who complain tell God that they could do life better. It's insulting, and it is totally selfish. Just the opposite of what Mary's reply was.

Let's continue on. Luke 2:7, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
This is the second part of our story that we will look at.

Jesus, gave up his thrown in heaven, his perfect life, his angles who worshiped him, to come to be born in the most humble of humblest ways: in a barnyard. Again, complete Selflessness, and humility. This story is about selflessness. About thinking of others above yourself. About becoming lowly and serving others. It's about Jesus' selflessness to you and me! It's to show us the best example that we could possibly live by. So think about what you can do! It's only a couple more days until Christmas. Think of some ways that you can help make the people around you have the best Christmas they can possibly can. It doesn't sound fun, but when it's all said and done with, you will realize that you get the most out of this story by copying our Savior and loving others around us by serving them.

Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope and pray that you all try at least one selfless thing this week. And remember to give thanks to Jesus this week all the time for his selfless attitude toward you and me.

~Whatsoever Things are True
Philippians 4:8

Persecution

Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

~On July 25, according to Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom, officials rounded up 17 of the 20 Christian families in the village – a total of 80 men, women and children – and detained them in a local school compound, denying them food for three days in an attempt to force the adults to sign documents renouncing their faith.

~Unconfirmed reports indicated that a incident took place in Lower Juba province of Somalia in July, when Christians found with Bibles were publicly executed.

~On June 8 Compass learned that eight Christians held at the Adi-Quala prison were taken to the medical emergency facilities as a result of torture by military personnel at the camp.

~Imprisoned and tortured for her faith since December 2007, a 37-year-old Christian woman died of malaria in Eritrea’s Wi’a Military Training Center in July after authorities refused to provide treatment for her. Weakened by ongoing torture, Azib Simon contracted malaria only a week before she died. She had attended one of the independent evangelical churches that have been targeted by the country’s Marxist-leaning authoritarian regime. Simon’s death made a total of five Christians confirmed to have died in Eritrean prisons after being tortured for refusing to recant their faith, with at least one other Christian dying of illness in prison later in the year...

Do you get it? All of this persecution in different countries going on right under our noses. Things like this are happening all the time. Christianity is a dangerous religion for people in other countries. They are being tortured and held in prisons and shot and executed daily. These people who have this happen to them stand strong in their faiths. They don't lose faith with God, and they are willing to die and be persecuted for their maker.

Some of the Christians in America go through kids making fun of them at school for their faith, and they ditch that Christianity stuff. It's just not for them. I'm sorry, but there is something wrong there. Look at those examples of people dying from torture! And we have a problem when someone tells us we are a loser cause we are wearing a shirt that says John 3:16? What is wrong with this county!? Why can we not stand against words, when there are Christians standing in the midst of a burning room refusing to leave their faith. We are cowards. We should be standing up strong for our Lord. We are called to be warriors of Christ! No one can be a warrior who is afraid to be embarressed in front of people in their works or schools.

People, we have GOT to step it up. Get up off of your couch and go witness to your next door neighbor already! Go and start a youtube profile telling about the Lord. Do something for Christ! You will be persecuted. If you are not, it means your not doing anything for Christ. Lets be the generation that's on fire for Christ. And remember, "Blessed are those who are persecuted!" You will be blessed. Being persecuted and keeping on, shows that we are serious about Christ.

Dear Lord, help us to withstand the darts of the Devil, and keep us bold for you. We are going to be a generation for you Lord. We want to live for you every day of our lives, help us to reach out to people, and let us remember that we are blessed for you. We love you Lord. Amen. 

 ~Philippians 4:8
Whatsoever Things are Trues

Submission is Key

Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. 

In the work place, in the church, in the homestead, almost anywhere you go you will find people in authority. Bosses, pastors, teachers, parents, the president. All of these people have been put into a position of authority and they must be held in the highest of respects. Treating these people with less than such is an insult to God's face, because he is the one who put them there in the first place. Obey God by obeying authority. Do not gossip behind these people's backs, and always say yes sir, yes ma'am with a smile. These are just little things that you should do to show respect to these people.

I know, I know, I've heard it before, "But you don't understand, my boss is horrible! He's rude and treats me like dirt." Uh, Hello! Jesus knows exactly how that feels!

Matthew 26:59-60 The chief priests and whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

1 Peter 2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate.

it's not always easy to show respect and submission to bad leaders, but we can learn from Jesus that God will be out defense. Our actions as a Christian will defend us if we are living right. We may be persecuted and hated for it, but if we live right, the Lord will be our defense, but only if you show respect to your authority. The Lord cannot bless you if you gossip behind your bosses or teacher or coach's back. If we submit to our authorities we will be better disciplined in the end and better respected. Remember the Lord God himself put this person in that position, so please the Lord and show respect to your authorities.

Dear Lord God, help us to be strong in not retaliating when we are wronged by someone above us. Help us to act in a way pleasing to you and our authority. We love you so much Lord and we are hungry for your soon coming return. Amen

~Whatsoever things are true
Philippians 4:8