Dealing with Persecution

Life as a Christian is hard. It's not only giving up things in life that are wrong, turning away from our sins, and trying to live right that makes it difficult. One thing in particular makes it hard. That is the people that will try to bring you down or persecute you. What is persecution? Well, I looked the word up in the dictionary: 

per·se·cute

 [pur-si-kyoot] 

verb (used with object), per·se·cut·ed, per·se·cut·ing.

1.

to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, especially because of religion, race, or beliefs; harass persistently.

2.

to annoy or trouble persistently.

Persecution can be a physical thing, but in this post, I am talking about verbal persecution. An example is when someone judges you for trying to do only what is right, calling you names because you try to live a sinless life. If you have tried to live in a way pleasing to God, you have most likely been persecuted. It hurts. We should always remember though, that in the end, what God thinks of us is SO much more important than what the world thinks of us.

Friendship

Choosing our friends is a hard thing to do, but it is necessary. So why is who we choose to spend our time with so important? Because ultimately, our friends are who make us who we are.

If You're Happy and You Know It...

Ever noticed how when everything is going your way, you tend to forget about God? But when the world is crashing down and everything in your life is left in crumbles, that is when you turn to Him? Yeah, that is the case in a LOT of Christians today. We ask God for help, healing, and miracles but we don't even take time to thank Him for the things He has given us. God sent Jesus, His son, to die for OUR sins and yet we only turn to Him when we want something? Why are we so selfish and greedy? We are humans. But that's not an excuse. Thanking God for His love is not for His sake, but for ours. It is a reminder of how amazing He is and keeps us from forgetting what He has done for us.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. -James 1:17

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
-Psalm 34:1

Next time things are going your way, don't forget to thank the One that is responsible for every good thing!

Dealing with: Stress

One word that can sum up my whole college life: stress. Stress can be caused by all kinds of things: work, money, school, guys, family, or even friends. Stress can cause us to do things we will later regret, like spouting off to someone, giving in to a situation where we are pressured, or just giving up. I wish there was a simple solution to stress, but I don't know of one. The Bible does, however, give encouragement when it comes to stress.

"Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Rejection

Rejection is an extremely painful thing. It is a mixture of anxiety over “putting yourself out there” and the wound that is made when you are turned away. Believe me, I’ve been rejected more than once. It hurts, it makes you lose confidence, and most of all, it can cause you to hate yourself. This should not be the case! If you are rejected, just learn from it and move on. It simply means it was the wrong person, wrong time, or a combination of both.