The Media & You

Stop sitting around and watching others go deeper when Jesus paid it for you!

What are we really compromising in our life’s that we just scan over? We say, “We want to be like You, God!” Yet, we do not discipline ourselves enough to demonstrate His characteristics through us.

The specific discipline I am going to talk about is us versus media. Now say if Jesus were to sit on the couch next to you during each movie you watch, would He enjoy the movie too? I do not believe Jesus would be able to watch a movie where ignorant people use HIS Father’s name in vain. I do not think He would sit there and ‘listen’ to the “F bombs, S words, B words, etc.” I do not think He would laugh at the sexual innuendo’s between two unmarried couples. It is the same as us disrespecting our Husband, Friend, Father. Jesus would not open His perfectness for “entertainment” that way. Once we go deeper in Him, the things that use to entertain us will bore us. When we start being formed into His image, we will walk in His personality.

Also, this is the same with music. Would Jesus jam out with you in the car to a song about “partying & drinking?” And He’s COMPLETELY against all that. It GRIEVES His heart to see His children ignorant and in rebellion. Why should we support the people singing about it if we “love what He loves and hate what He hates?” Jesus is not going to just “skip” over the bad words He does not want to hear. Just as Curvine has sang: "I just like the beat for pete's sake. Well, a little bit of this, a little bit of that, a little bit of yeast when it is mixed into the batch... So what's it Jay Z, Kanye, Gaga, Katy, blah blah. Don't like it? So what? You can pray for their salvation and still hate what their makin. But while they're in defiance, we can't afford to buy it." [You Can't Have Them]. He is not going to listen to the song because it is a good beat even though the meaning behind the song is horrid. We cannot “filter” these things or just disregard them. What we put in comes OUT, "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." [Matthew 12:34-36]. Jesus is not entertained by these things. He is entertained by YOU. He is entertained by HIS CHILDREN.

So next time you turn on a movie, TV show, song, etc, ask yourself: “Would Jesus watch this or listen to this with me?”

(Also same thing goes for the girls on Pinterest who lust after half guys naked bodies and "just cute" celebrities--- stop posting and looking up unrealistic love; wait on God's gift for you! Same for men, I won't say much about it but WATCH your eyes. Your future wife would be disappointed otherwise.)

To get deeper, get rid of the hidden compromise. You were made for greater things.

[Yes, this speaks to myself as well.] –Harsh thoughts but truth.

Summer Stretching (YFN Testimony)

This past summer was the most challenging thing I have ever walked through. I did an internship for a camp called, “Youth for the Nations.” There were different teams to help organize the camp. I was on (as well as Dan), Nations, Registration, and Merchandise. I will first talk about Nations. My nation was Poland and there were 15 other nations as well. I was a ‘Nation Assistant’ and had a ‘Nation Leader.’ It was Tues-Thurs and we would have 20-30+ kids a week and would chant a cheer together in a service time. Whoever had the best cheer would win points (whoever had the most points at the end of the week, won). Around 2pm us nation leaders would paint up and put on representative clothes. We would run out to the field with our group and begin ‘Tower Points.’ This is where we would make our group do crazy things like: pick up cars, pretend to play basketball, do relays etc. (one right after the other). We also played two main games and tried to win.

Well let me just say… I am an organized chilled person. I am not “fun” ALL the time. Thus, throwing paint on my face and yelling at the kids was not my cup of tea. At times I would come home crying because I would be so frustrated. Yelling, cheering, running around like a crazy person in the beating sun got to me. Most people doing Nations LOVED it. Also, my last week (out of four), I had to be the NATION LEADER! And had a new assistant- except for the last day my original nation leader came back. Talk about being stretched… but I got through it! It did go better than I expected. Overall, Nations stretched me, pushed me, and brought out another side of me- child like. It also helped me learn to control my emotions and thoughts better.

Next, Merchandise helped me learn to be under authority and to be a servant… to do things that needed to be done even though I did not want to. It gave me a new view of buying and selling.

Now, Registration is where it was at! Handling paperwork, stapling, answering questions, filing, etc. was fun! Although it was only Mondays. I found I was able to use my gifts and learn more.

Then there was altar calls. It was an amazing thing to be able to pray over this next generation. Even though some did not seem very receptive. I have to remember ‘at least a seed is planted.’ God did send me some kids who I could pour straight into because it was stuff I had gone through as well.

Even through the trainings, we had to do silly things like mirror each other, have pretend arguments, etc. For example, going into the ‘Youth for the Nations’ ministry the first day, they welcomed with yelling, flickering lights, music. AHH! Totally NOT me but God definitely stretched me! He showed me what I could do if I just relied on Him. It was crazy because sometimes I just did NOT want to do ministry but learned to press through. It is not about our ‘feelings,’ it is about the KINGDOM and what God wants. He is looking for [AVAILABILITY]. I learned a lot in how to be obedient and to not let my emotions run my walk. I thank God for taking me to another level.

So Father God, I ask that whoever is reading this would allow themselves to be STRETCHED. Lord, allow their hearts to be open to what YOU want to do. Please pour out Your grace upon any situation they are going through. I dismiss all attack of the enemy that is in their mind and controlling their feelings. Stir up their hearts to have more time to give to You. Allow them to become more available to go deeper with You and do the ministry for Your Kingdom. Thank You Daddy for Your everlasting love and abounding mercy. Thank You for hearing my prayer and speaking to Your children today. In Jesus Name, Amen.