Posted in This week in the Silver lining

****EDITED 1/07/07*****Hi friends.  There was something in this blog entry that I feel God has shown me to be wrong.  Sometimes, we may type something quickly that we may not have completely thought through.  After revising this entry I have changed the lines that should not have been there.  Please know I believe that nobody is perfect and everyone needs God...By this article I aim only to make a point that relativism and indifference about God is not correct and that it is the tool used by the enemy to bring down God's army of people not ashamed to bring forth the ultimate truth of God's word  I apologize if anyone has been hurt by the comment I deleted with regards to the parents' faults.  I understand that though parents have the responsibility to teach children in God's ways, it is always up to the free will of the child to make the choice to listen to their parents.  Furthermore, I realize we all went through these stages as young people to different extents.*************

I was blessed this weekend by being able to attend a youth event with our church’s youth.  It was such an eye opening experience that I want and feel the need to share.  One thing I saw is how over the past 5 years things had gotten so much worse than I ever cared to notice.  I also saw an ARMY.  I saw a strong un-yielding voice that was rising to say don’t mess with our God!  I saw young people that were tired of the persecution against them from those that not only choose to not believe in Jesus, but have the audocity to fight anyone else that wants to have that right.  Young people that had awesome intentions to find truth and were there to get it.  Many were totally blessed, as so was I.

However, some left unchanged, because the whole time they were there, all they could do was be rude and sit there playing games, and text messaging with cell phones, or standing outside smoking and ignoring the fact that someone cared enough to put together this event for their own good.  Those are the youth that are careless and self-centered.  Most likely they believe that truth is relevant, so why listen if they can create their own reality from pieces of what makes sense to them or how they feel.

Slowly but surely, people are trying to change what is truth by twisting it and before we knew it things went from bad to worse.  Making everyone believe that truth is dependent on who you are talking to, and rising up to fight and bring down those that care about God and the REAL TRUTH.  This unfortunately is the reason why our Youth today have it so hard!  

You know, there are many things that people can believe as truth.  However, if those things don’t line up with God’s word, then it is not true.  Even my own opinions, I will gladly change if my Bible tells me otherwise is truth.  I don’t care whose opinion it is.  God’s truth is the ultimate truth.

That is why in this event we were intent on teaching God’s word and what it says about standing strong in this TRUTH.  Like an Army ready to defend our country; we are an Army ready to defend the Truth.  God’s word is the Truth, and it is because it is true, that I believe in Jesus.  What sense would it make to believe some things in the Bible but not others???? 

Now the real question is; Who or what is our enemy? 

The bible also says that our fight is “against principalities” and forces in this world.  The devil is real.  Whether people believe it or not.  There is a God and there is a devil.  Evil is out there and everyday it makes this world feel that being comfortable and caring about one’s self is more important than the love that we should feel for those around us.  The comfort to be safe and not say what you believe because it “offends” people, when in reality it is only a true friend that tells it like it is!  We have to face the fact that although we can try our best to do things in love, we will still "offend".  Why?  Because Jesus is light and when light hits darkness it exposes it.  When truth the truth comes out lies are found out.  It offends those that want to live in the darkness of their own thinking.  It is their choice to get offended.  Even when you didn’t say or mean it to offend.   Also: (HELLO PEOPLE OF THE WORLD)....NOBODY IS PERFECT!!!...Just know that if you tell me I hurt you I will do my best to make it right with you.  It is then up to you to forgive me if you choose to. 

I believe that we should be bold and stand outside of our comfort zone.  Not to offend, but to show the truth in love.  I’ve been far too comfortable far too long.  I don’t want someone to not know the greatness of Jesus because I was too afraid of how I’d seem or whether they like me or not.  Not out to purposely hurt someone.  But to give them the loving truth from the Bible.  If they choose it, great! If they don't then at least I did all I could do!  

If they are my true friends then they will like me, no matter what happens.  If they love me they will know I wouldn’t purposely want to hurt them!  And if they are my true friends they will let me know if I am stepping outside of the boundaries and not keep it bottled up to build resentment toward me.  If someone is not my friend, (by their own choice), then what are they?  Is there an in-between?  Would they then be my enemy (also by their own choice)?  If there is a devil, then the bible is true….which it is…and if so then as it says:  “he came to seek and destroy”…friendships…marriages…countries…lives.

Now tell me; If this is not our enemy, then who, or what is it?  Whatever you are facing in life; whether injustice, prejudice, or trial; fight for truth.  We can't fight by our physical strength, however, by our faith and by standing for God's truths.  This battle will not easily be won.  This battle will only be won by being in God's word, our code of conduct.  By learning how to avoid things that will tear down this army.  By teaching it to our children and letting them know its importance.  It is about time that we stand strong.  Together, with Christ!  If God with us, who can be against us? 

Even when the battle seems hopeless, or over, look up He will be there to lift you up and show you a victory that the world will never understand.  This is victory that is beyond life, beyond death, beyond trophies, beyond opinions, or even beyond countries!  Nobody in this world will ever understand God's will entirely, as many times as we may read about His truths, there are still things that in our human minds we can't seem to fathom.  That is the Victory that the Bible promises!  A friend of mine put this poem in her blog. 

I loved it and changed two of the words to better understand it's meaning in my life.  Enjoy: 

I am a soldier of God.

The Lord Jesus is my commanding officer.

The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.

 Faith, Prayer and the Word
are my weapons of Warfare.
I have been taught by the Holy Spirit,
trained by the {Bible},
tried by adversity,
and tested by fire.

 I am a volunteer in this Army,
and I am enlisted for eternity.
I will either retire in this Army at the rapture
or die in this Army;
but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out,
I am faithful, capable, and dependable.

 If My God needs me,
I am there.

If He needs me in Sunday school to teach children,
work with the youth, help adults, or just sit and learn.
He can use me,
because I am there!

I am a soldier.
I am not a baby.
I do not need to be pampered,
petted, primed up, pumped up,
picked up, or pepped up.

 I am a soldier. No one has to call me,
remind me,
write me, visit me,
entice me, or lure me.

 I am a soldier.
I am not a wimp.
I am in place, saluting my King,
obeying His orders, praising His name,
and building His kingdom!

I am a soldier.
No one has to send me flowers,
gifts, food,
cards, candy,
or give me handouts.

I do not need to be cuddled, cradled,
cared for, or catered to.

I am committed!

I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.
I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into this Army,
I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing,
I will still come out even.

I will win.
My God will supply all my needs.
I am more than a conqueror.
{God} will always triumph.
I can do all things through Christ.

 I am a soldier.
Devils cannot defeat me.
People cannot disillusion me.
Weather cannot weary me.
Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me.
Money cannot buy me.
Governments cannot silence me,
and Hell cannot handle me!

I am a soldier.
Even death cannot destroy me.
For when my commander calls me from this battlefield,
He will promote me to a captain
and then bring me back to rule this world with Him.

 I am a soldier in the Army,
and I'm marching, claiming victory.
I will not give up.
I will not turn around.

I am a soldier,
marching Heaven bound.
Here I stand!

Will you stand with me?

Thank you Mishelle for this wonderful poem you shared with me!

God Bless,