Too Quick to Think

       

For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:6

        Starting at the age of thirteen is when your life begins! That's when you start new experiences, you go on many adventures and the world will love you and embrace the beautiful person you are! You'll learn new things and most of all find your first love!!

Is that true? Are the teenage years our best years...or are we fooling ourselves?

      Get a hold of yourself will ya'?!

        A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

Proverbs 15:5

        The teen years are portrayed as the fun years, especially when it comes to dating. American parents encourage sons and daughters to date, make out and even to have sex! There's the motto, “the first love” and “The heart breaker.” How did all of this come to be? Are we sending this generation into a black hole?

        When you think about it, this way of life is so damaging! Girls naturally want to give their heart away. God created us to have that deep desire of being known and making ourselves known. We love sharing our thoughts, dreams and even our bodies. So thinking of having multiple sex partners is mortifying because it sets them up for pain and heartache! To encourage these young ladies and girls to explore and follow your feelings is cruel when the parents know all too well how it will end. To push and encourage that on naive, innocent girls is again...cruel and even beastly. We are literally breeding girls to be tough, cold and get-over-it women. Women are becoming as low as the men that the woman from the past have always wanted to get away from!

        And whats going on to the young men? Guys naturally throw themselves into something because they're ready to roll with the punches. God created men to pursue women. To stand up for a woman in need of help (a damsel in distress). When a man sees a woman that he is interested in he will try to win her attention. He will pursue her and try to win her heart. And one day her body. But, this world is encouraging these boys and young men that when they have a desire to be with a girl they need to follow that desire and quench it with what makes them feel good. Hello?! No wonder so many men have no respect for women that throw themselves at their feet. They can seem like easy prey. It's so sick that we encourage these guys to go and have sex all they want. It's okay to have multiple sex partners, just make sure you have “protection.” Really? Were breeding cruel, heartless get-the-job-done men.

              The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

Proverbs 14:27

              Is there hope in the teen years? Are all teenagers destined to be rebellious, disrespectful, random, emotional and crazy? No. There is no hope with these teenagers. Seriously? Just foolin' ya. Yes, of course there's hope! The difference between teenagers and adults is that teenagers are growing and going through the crazy process of changing from child to adult. During this metamorphosis is when teenagers need their parents the most! Movies show that teenagers are capable, right minded and smart. That is not the truth. Yes, there are amazing youth that are helping others, doing astounding in school and loving their parents with a passion, but there is still a need for guidance. 

The hope is Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can change the heart of a teen. Teenagers, just like adults and even children, have sin. We are all born with it. No one is immune. I think the reason why teens seem to have “more sin” is because they are encouraged strongly to follow their sin. And, so far, it's a horrible idea. No wonder there is so much drug usage, cutting, drinking, suicide, depression, and unwanted pregnancies because of having sex before marriage. Ladies, let's bring hope back to America and this world. I truly believe that God can change America if we turn back to him. 

There is hope for this generation. There is hope for our future.

Don't judge

      Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you- who are you to judge your neighbor?

                                                                           James 4:11-12

           "Don't be hating! Don't judge me!" Those are some things that people say now.  It's true we shouldn't judge each other. But are we getting something mixed up? Is something missing? Are we possibly mixing up judgment and discernment?

                     Don't be quick to point the finger 

           I have been thinking of this topic of judgment and discussing it with God, my family and friends.  God has been revealing some surprising things I didn't think about. 

         First of all I noticed that it says brothers, so James was talking to fellow Christians. Then he says do not slander one another. We are not to bad mouth each other. If at work you know some fellow co-worker who are Christians, don't bad mouth them. Talk to them personally on what's bothering you. Same with if it's a family member, friend and even at church. Then James goes into the whole judgment thing. What is he talking about exactly? What James is saying is we cannot judge a persons decisions if they line up with The Truth. Even if we're not sure, we should not tell people that their decision was stupid or that they aren't following what God is saying. Now that is a dangerous place to be. Just like in Romans 14: 2-3  Paul talks about not looking down on one another because of what your faith allows and doesn't allow you to eat. If your brother or sister in Christ tells you that God told them or their family to not watch a certain genre of movies anymore, don't start talking behind their back. Keep it to yourself! Or else you are trying to take the place of judge (God's place). Now the point of discernment and judgment had been blurred.

                       Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or else you may be tempted. 

                                                                                Galatians 6:1 

          Again Paul addressed "brothers" like James so this is aimed at Christians.  Paul is talking about if we actually catch a fellow believer in their sin (or if God reveals it to us) then we are to go to them personally and talk to them. Now we shouldn't do it by telling them that they're a horrible sinner going to Hell if they don't stop. Because of Christ we can't go to Hell but you can drive that person away in your condemnation of them. Like what Paul said, restore them gently. But we do have to be wary that we don't get caught up. Like if you found out your friend was into porn you shouldn't ask them to show you what they look at and watch. Speak the Truth to them and encourage them of the mighty power of God and his redeeming love and forgiveness.

        Now when it comes up with unbelievers its just a matter of discernment. Of course it's more touchy because they most likely don't know anything about God or have had bad encounters with Christians. Many people have said that we are to love them.  We may think loving non Christians is a matter of accepting someone in their sin and ignoring it. As a matter of fact the very definition of love is not to love evil. Just read 1 Corinthians 13. Love, God's love, is so amazing. Since we are "little Christs" we need to love others in line with God's Word. We should not love the sin but the person God has created. I can't remember where I heard this but this quote is fitting. 'I chose to look at who you are. Not what you've become.' That's how God sees us.  Let's take a step of faith to look at the lost like that. 

        Oh boy! That's a lot of information.  I don't know about you but I'm starting to understand more about Judgment and discernment. Dear sister, trust in God's power and love to guide you though life to be sensitive to his voice and have grace with your fellow brothers and sisters and the lost.