Regrets and the Redeemer

Have you ever been in a situation where you have done something you regretted? Where life came to a crossroads and you chose the wrong direction?
We’ve all been there, and while many of us try to keep our skeletons locked safely in our closets; that’s not real freedom. True freedom is found through God.

Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.  Psalm 55:22

When we ask God to break the chains that bind us – whether it’s sin, addiction, or failures – it sets off a chain reaction in our hearts. This is why the Word is so keen on reminding us to give everything to God and let Him take control.

There are times when we wonder if we can handle what life throws our way. We wonder if we can endure the pain, face the guilt, or handle the judgment. We tend to become so engrossed in our own problems that we forget to look for a solution.

Sometimes we have to throw our hands up in surrender and say “God, take it all.” While it may be hard for our prideful flesh to admit we have done wrong and ask for forgiveness, this simple act is what will save us.

There are many things we need to be saved from – far more than can be voiced in a simple prayer, or even the best altar call. This is why it is so crucial to keep connected with God daily. We will always face problems, but with Him by our side, we can handle anything. We, however, have to take the first step. We have to fall in love with God, whether it’s for the first time, or we simply need to be reminded of His grace. When we call on God, we can truly be free,

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”  Mark 8:34-35

Will you take up your cross, as heavy as it may be, and follow Jesus? Because His burden is light. (Mt. 11:30)~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kristen Morningstar lives in Claremore, OK, with her mother, brother, and three dogs. She is a freshman at Claremore High School and is an up-and-coming leader at Destiny Life Church 7YM Youth. She loves spending time with friends and family. Kristen also enjoys reading horror stories and shopping. Art and psychology are her passions.

Christians and the Arts – Part II

Wake up!

In yesterday’s post Christians and the Arts – Part I, I stated: “The arts are an intimate connection to people and that connection can be good or bad. The arts will tell you what the world wants you to believe, or it will tell you about God’s unconditional love for his children.” (Read Part I here.)

If you think about it, when someone conquered a foreign land, they did not go first for the Kings or the rulers. No, they went in and removed the artists, authors, musicians, and poets. Those people had the greatest influence on the people of the land. You and I, as singers, writers, dancers, and musicians have the greatest influence over our culture today.

Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced. Exodus 15:20

  You may know this, but just so we are all on the same page, here are some statistics:

• Just last year American Academics of Child & Adolescence Psychiatry reported that the average age for youth to try marijuana (one of the most popular drugs used by teens) is 14 years old, and alcohol is tried on average by age 12.
• Suicide is the third leading death among people ages 15-24, and the fourth leading death among children ages 10-14.
• One in every four babies is aborted. That adds up to 1.2 million innocent lives taken by abortion every year.

Now where do people get the idea that it’s okay to take a child’s life, or its okay to smoke marijuana? “If it feels good,” and “If I think it’s all right, it must be okay,” are common thoughts going through the minds of people making these decisions. Where do these thoughts come from? These thoughts originate from the devil. But if you think about it, these thoughts aren’t always just whispered straight from the devil’s lips into our ears. These thoughts, standards of living, and behaviors have been injected into computer games, movies, TV shows, and songs. Ideas are very easily planted in people’s minds via the arts. The thought is ultimately from the devil, but these thoughts are being transported through the media.

Many people are naive of the ways the enemy gains entry into our lives. Anywhere he gains entry in us, he can also use that side of us to influence others. If Satan can convince you that it’s okay to sing that song (I mean the tempo is catchy, right?), then who’s to say that song isn’t okay for your friend who is trying to find Jesus?

But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause another with a weaker conscience to stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:9

We, as influencers in our generation, should be careful and wise in the choices we make. This includes being wise in our involvement in the arts. The arts have become the enemy’s territory, and if you’re going to enter those grounds, be ready for battle.

Every time I dance for the Lord, I receive resistance from Satan. Every time I speak out on the Lords behalf, Satan tries to attack me. Yet I continue to find strength in the Lord and I have learned that “he who is in me is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Now with the abilities God has given me I am choosing to influence my world for His glory. He is the one that has blessed me with life. He gave me a loving family and supportive friends. He gave me the ability to dance. Because of this I am choosing to use the love of dance God has given me to turn his children back to him.

What will you choose? What will you paint? What will you write? What will you sing? How will you influence our generation?

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 Braigen Hubbard is the oldest in a family of five girls. She lives in Claremore, OK, where she attends Destiny Life Church and is actively involved in 7Youth Ministries. Braigen is homeschooled and studies at the sophomore level. She has danced for 11 years and  established and now manages LIFE Dance Ministry.

                                                                                

Christians and the Arts – Part I

The Influence

Art. What is it? Is it painting a canvas? Is it building a building? Is it singing a song? Well yes, but that’s not all. Art is a form of expression. Whether it is through singing, dancing, drawing, painting, building, sculpting, writing or drama, art is the way we express ourselves.

The young women will dance for joy, and the men- old and young- will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing. Jeremiah 31:13

The arts are an intimate connection to people and that connection can be good or bad. The arts will tell you what the world wants you to believe, or it will tell you about God’s unconditional love for his children. These arts used to be used for the glory of the Lord. Singing and dancing were used to praise and worship God. Through speech and writing the word of God was spread. Paintings and buildings were displays of God’s magnificence.

Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. Psalm 149:3

Sadly, little by little, the world has polluted the purity of the arts. Songs tell us that we should do anything to be loved. When we look at paintings they show us the destruction of this world we live in. When we think of dance we typically think of parties or the media’s rendition of dance in the form of shows like “Dancing with the Stars” and “So you think you can dance.” We have gone from David dancing before the Lord in worship and praise, to exploiting our bodies for human pleasure.

And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. 2 Samuel 6:14

Now think. What are you showing through what you say, do, and sing? From the songs our generation sings, to the way we write and talk, we could be telling the rest of the world that we are immature, that we will do anything to be loved, or that we will fall for anything you put in front of us. Is this what we want to say, do, or think?

The next time you go out to a movie with friends, think about what you’re watching. Would you live by the standards set in the movie? Or the next time you’re jamming out to a song, think about the words your singing. Would you treat people the way this song is suggesting?

For more insight on Christians and the Arts, check back tomorrow for Part II!  (Click here to read Part II)

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 Braigen Hubbard is the oldest in a family of five girls. She lives in Claremore, OK, where she attends Destiny Life Church and is actively involved in 7Youth Ministries. Braigen is homeschooled and studies at the sophomore level. She has danced for 11 years and  established and now manages LIFE Dance Ministry.