Shine your light

So I took this picture during the winter sometime. It really depicts how we, as Christians, should be.

One, this candle has been turned on. We are supposed to be in this world, but not of it. If you look around the picture, how many candles do you see? Just one. We are to stand out, to be different. To let Christ's light radiate through us.

Two, we are to be "turned on" all the time...not just for a few seconds here and there...when we are at church or around our parents, etc. This candle, as you can see, has been on for a long time, because of the clear ring right around the heart of the candle. The fog has been "melted" and is turning to water. Just like when we are really following Christ and living our lives for him, he gives us opportunity to "melt" the hearts of those we come in contact with. This will dissipate the foginess that has come between their vision of the Lord. Our Christ-like attitudes and hearts will lead them to Jesus, clearing the path that had been in the way because of their hard hearts and stereotypical thinking.

"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven." Matt. 5:16

"Shine your light and let the whole world see, we're singin, for the glory of the risen King." -"Mighty to Save" lyrics

"Who's dancing? Who's singing? Who's livin a life worth living? We are, we are, we're shining the light of salvation. Who's running? Who's loving? Who's breaking the doors wide open? We are, we are, we're shining the light of salvation." -"Light of Salvation" lyrics

We are the future generation

"Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD : 'The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth,
to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.' So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD." -Psalm 102:18-22

I have really begun to love this verse, because WE ARE the future generation that was not yet created, but now is created, so we can praise the Lord because of these things: God saved us, He rescued us from the chains and bondages we were in because of sin. And we were supposed to die, but He relesed us from the prison that the devil had set up for us.

And now, we don't really think anything of it. Our generation has assumed that God saved us, so we are saved and that's it. But that's not it. We need to declared the name of the Lord and praise Him for everything He has done for us. We are to assemble together as one body and unite in one song with one heart to praise God for what he has done for us. And for those who have yet to figure out that they are in bondage and condemned to death, we need to be a light, and proclaim the goodness of the Lord to them. Because what if no one ever tells them about how they can be rescued like we were? we will see them one day, but it will be us looking down from heaven to the pit of hell, where they are screaming, "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

That's why we need to raise up this generation to be a generation of believers and basically be "freaks" for God! Whatever it takes, we need to be the hands and feet of Jesus. He did it for us, why can't we do a small thing for Him?

My dream and goal is to one day see churches, or more precisely, youth churches coming together to work as one. Praising and worshipping the King together. Now that's a beautiful picture.

Dance in the Rain

The rain is coming down.
I see the darkness all around.
I can’t lift my feet from the ground.
Then I hear you come my way.
You’re calling out my name.
You said “Dance in the rain.”
So, I will…

Praise Him in the hard times
Praise Him when nothing's alright
Praise Him in the darkness of the night
I will always praise you in hard times.

How come I feel so alone,
So sullen and so cold.
I just need someone to come close.
But suddenly I come alive,
I feel you by my side.
You tell me, “There’s no need to cry.”
And I said I will…

Praise Him in the hard times
Praise Him when nothing's alright
Praise Him in the darkness of the night
I will always praise you in hard times

When you’re left out in the pouring rain
When you’re not given the time or day,
When you’ve seemed to have lost your way…
When you are worried and so scared,
When there’s a weight you can’t even bear,
When it seems like no one else could care…

Praise Him in the hard times
Praise Him when nothing's alright
Praise Him in the darkness of the night
I will always praise you in hard times

Mountains and Waterfalls