Unequal Yoke

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV) "Do not be yoked with unbelievers,"means that we shouldn't date (or marry) someone who doesn't share the same convictions. A lot of times we think we could win them to Christ, but it doesn't usually work out. This is called "missionary dating" and usually what happens in this case, is that the Christian is brought down by the unbeliever.... Be careful who you yoke yourself with!!! Also, be careful who you choose as your best friends - this same thing could happen!!

Always There

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." (Psalm 139:7, 8 NIV) There is NO place you can go where God won't be!! Even on days when nothing is going your way and things feel hopeless, He is right there with you! Be strong and courageous! You WILL overcome! God will be holding your hand the whole way through!!

Enormous Trap

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." (Proverbs 29:25 NIV) The fear of man is a trap. It's fearing what people think of you more than what God thinks of you! Don't get yourself caught in this enormous trap - don't let this fear cause you to make decisions to please someone other than God!! This fear can cause problems, weigh you down, and keep you from God's plan! Run!! Ask God to help you get rid of this fear!!

You Are What You Eat

"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 NIV)

Have you ever heard the expression, "You are what you eat?" Well this is not only true for your body, but also your heart. When your mind is feasting on dirty TV shows, music with bad lyrics or messages, and immodest and dirty magazines, it's like eating Big Macs non stop. Garbage in, garbage out. You can't live a life of purity if you are feeding your heart garbage - just like you can't live a healthy life on Big Macs and French fries. What do you let your mind eat?

Putting Your Sin To Death

"For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13 NIV) Put your sin to death, so that you can live!! What sin are you struggling with right now? Take some time NOW, praying for the Spirit to help you conquer this sin!!! Don't live in your sinful flesh... Live in the fullness of Christ by living in the Spirit, and put that sin to death!! We are more than conquerers!!

Bad Company

"Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." (1 Corinthians 15:33 NASB) Bad company corrupts good morals. If you have standards (morals) in your life, then be careful who you go places with, who you spend your days with, and who you get close with. For example, if you have decided to guard your purity, going to a party with your "friends" where there are tons of people making out is NOT a good choice. Loosing your high standards is a slow fade... White doesn't just change black - it turns many shades of gray first. It starts with one sip, one kiss, one bad word. Brothers and sisters in Christ - BE CAREFUL. Guard yourself!! And get in with the right friends!!! There IS someone out there with standards like yours!!!

Want to know why you feel so empty? A hole in your heart?

"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?" (Isaiah 55:2a NIV) All of us have this God shaped vacuum inside of us that never stops sucking things up until it is fully filled with the right thing - God. God gave us each a huge craving for Him. A craving that cannot be filled with anything but a relationship with Him!! Imagine you crave chocolate one day.... Eating French fries and cheeseburgers is not going to fulfill your craving for chocolate!

Same way with your heart - your heart longs to worship God, but if you don't know that, the emptiness in your heart feels like it needs to be filled with something. Anything. Everything. Your vacuum starts sucking and you start running after things like shopping, eating, sex, drugs, pornography, etc, and you just keep trying and trying to fill that huge craving in your heart.

Nothing can fill that craving besides Jesus Christ!! The emptiness you feel? That's your heart longing to worship God. Don't let yourself run after things that don't satisfy!! He is the BREAD OF LIFE. The only thing in this world that can fill the void in your heart!!

Modest Is Hottest!! - For the Girls

"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister." Romans 14:13

"Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self control.." 1 Timothy 2:9a

Guys are stimulated by what they see. So for us, our job is to be careful what we wear! God says to decide that you won't put a stumbling block in front of any of our brothers in Christ. Immodest dress is a huge stumbling block for them! Clothes that are tight, too thin, show too much skin, or don't cover your underclothing (bra straps), can cause the guys around you to think about, and want something that they shouldn't have until marriage.

A few years ago, I read The Modesty Survey (you can find it online - search google and it should be the first thing that pops up on therebelution.com)... It was a survey that guys had done, pretty much telling what causes them to stumble and what doesn't! It's crazy some of the stuff that was on there that you would never think of! I encourage you to read it! (let me know if you can't find it...) Yes, there are some things that would be almost impossible to change, but just always be aware of what you wear! Modest is Hottest!!

PURE

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22 NIV) It's God's plan for you to live a pure life. When you choose purity, you're "saying no to things that can poison and hurt, so you can say yes to something better than you can imagine." God made the universe and he knows exactly how life works best... And he tells us to "run from the evil desires of youth..." PURE means being made of only one substance... Like pure gold. God wants us to be totally devoted to Him in everything!!! He wants YOU to live in purity!!

One of Those Days

"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." (Jeremiah 31:25 NIV) When you are having one of those days where you feel tired, frustrated, discouraged, weak, rest in Jesus. He wants us to accept each day - the circumstances and our condition. He wants to refresh and satisfy you. Each day you have two options - giving up or relying on God... Which will you choose?

Free Indeed

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1, 2 NIV) If you are clothed in God and His righteousness, there is no condemnation for you!! Condemnation is disapproval, judgement, punishment, denunciation, etc. You are free from the law of sin and death!! And when Jesus sets you free, you are free indeed!!! Don't ever feel pressured to "work" more for God... It's not about a checklist - its about a relationship!! Enjoy the warmth of His presence!!

Connected To The Vine

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5 NIV) Without God, you can do nothing!! He is the vine, we are the branches. If the branch breaks off from the vine, it can't do anything! But when the branches are connected to the vine, they will grow lots of fruit!! In fact Jesus even said, "You will do even greater things then these." When you are connected to God and you learn to live in total dependence on Him, the fruit that grows on your branch and the things you do will reflect God!! That's how people come to Jesus! - through the life that YOU live!!

Best Friend

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. (John 15:13 NIV) He is the best friend any human being could EVER have. There's nobody like Jesus!! Learn to walk with Him everyday and work through life together! Any time spent with God, is time well spent!! When you spend time with your best friend, Jesus, you will begin to be a better friend to the people around you because Jesus is the real deal!! He will show you what unconditional love and loyalty is!! Thank you Jesus for being such an amazing friend to me!!

God in the World

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12 NIV) God lives in the world through us. He is the light of the world and lives inside us, and when we spend time with Him and grow closer to Him, the light inside us will shine for the world to see!! God wants to use us to bring people to Him!! Are you ready and willing?

Just As You Are

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41, 42 NIV) Martha was worried about the things that needed to get done in order for Jesus to stay, and Mary was focused on her relationship with Jesus. Although both are okay, Mary chose the better thing. In our lives today, we need to switch the focus from cleaning up our lives and THEN coming to Jesus, to coming to Jesus because he loves us anyway. It is important that we come to Jesus just as we are!! He will show us how to live our lives right... And the amazing thing is that HE LOVES US JUST AS WE ARE. He doesn't love the sin, but he loves the sinner. Thank you Jesus!!!

An Adventure

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6, 7 NIV) So many people in this world live their lives running around in business... These are the people who miss the meaning of life. God wants us to learn to live in full dependence on Him, collaborating with Him to live and work!! When you begin to do this, life becomes an intimate adventure with God!! Live in dependence on Him... Knowing that His power is made perfect in our weakness! Enjoy your adventure!!

Seeking God

"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deuteronomy 4:29 NIV) Seek God with all you have - you will find Him! Seek Him in good times and bad times... You will ALWAYS find Him watching over you!! He's never far away!!