bearhugsforjesus:

Skit Guys - Baggage

After hours of painstaking HTML work, we now have spaces between our paragraphs on our blog! A small but mighty victory in JesusSisters land. 

What a commanding word. 

I love this topic because we just talked about my last week of college at my on campus religious group’s last meeting. Fortunately enough, I had something to keep me grounded while I was away at school and this sermon on doubt was something that I was definitely in need of.

First I am going to give you a little bit of a synopsis of what we talked about, then I’ll go into dealing with your personal doubt!

The guy that spoke did something that I really think impacted a lot of people. It impacted me, that’s for sure.

He stood in the front of the room and said I want you to raise your hand if any of these statements is true:

I have questioned that there is a God.

I have doubted Jesus’ presence in my life.

I have felt as though the church did not want me.

I felt hopeless and helpless.

He made a few more statements, but these are the ones that stood out to me. It was almost unreal how many hands went up.

My hand went up for most of them.

I have doubts.

And, as I now see, a lot of other people have doubts as well.

~

Now, let’s talk about dealing with doubts.

Doubt usually plagues us when we are facing change or when something is not going the way we want to. We doubt when something terrible happens. We question God when he tests us.

Doubt is Satan pulling us away. I believe doubt to be his strongest weapon. 

So, how do we deal?

How do we put that feeling to rest and trust God?

First, as a Christian you must seek God. When you are having those feelings as though he isn’t there, look for him. Read your Bible, pray, talk to your Christian friends, reach out to one of us. You are not alone in your doubts and your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ will be happy to reassure you of his presence.

Also, remember that even Jesus’ disciples doubted him at times. Need I remind you of Peter falling into the water when he became fearful and doubted Jesus who was right in front of him. Here’s the story!

We all doubt. It’s natural.

Just remember that Jesus is always with you. Your highest highs, your lowest lows and everything in between. Sometimes he needs to break you down so he can build you up.

Walk In Love,

Tarryn

Anonymous asked: This is my situation: I'm 17 and my boyfriend is 18, we've been on a relationship for about 4 months and everything has been great BUT, lately I've desired to kiss him more often, I've had a lot of thoughts of us french kissing (making out) (nothing more than that) and I'm really confused about what God says about relationships and what things are wrong on a relationship. I'm afraid of talking to him about this stuff. Please help. We're both christians and want to stay pure.

Hello lovely anon! I believe this is one of those issues that you need to seriously pray about. Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, He will lead you and teach you what His will for your relationship is.

An easy way to figure out where to draw the line is by asking the question, am I comfortable doing what I am doing with someone else’s future husband? If you’re doing something with him that you would be ashamed to do with someone else’s husband, hold back until you know for sure that he’s the one. Does that make any sense?

And please, talk to him about it. Have this conversation, as awkward as it may be. It’s so, so important for both of you to be on the same page and get rid of any anxieties you have about this. God bless you.

- K

How do you deal with feelings of doubt?

spiritualinspiration:

17 things God would want you to know.

1. You are FORGIVEN

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” -Psalm 103:12 NIV

2. You are A NEW CREATION

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” -1 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

3. You are PRECIOUS

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” -1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

4. You are PROTECTED

“He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.” -Psalm 121:3 NLT

5. You are LOVED

“Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have love you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” -Jeremiah 31:3 NLT

6. You are UNIQUE

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knot me together in my mother’s womb.” -Psalm 139:13 NLT

7. You are SPECIAL

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” -Ephesians 2:10 NLT

8. You are EMPOWERED

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” -Philippians 4:13 NLT

9. You are FAMILY

“So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” -Ephesians 2:19 NLT

10. You are GOD’S

“But now, oh Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.” -Isaiah 43:1 NLT

11. You are BEAUTIFUl

“The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.” -Psalm 45:11 NIV

12. You were CREATED FOR A PURPOSE

“For I know the plans I have fore you,”declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” -Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

13. You are CARED FOR

“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. and may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is to great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” -Ephesians 3:17-19 NLT

14. You are LOVELY

“Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.” -Daniel 12:3 NLT

15. You are STRONG

“God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!” -Psalm 68:35 NLT

16. You are IMPORTANT

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. -1 Peter 2:9 NLT

17. You are CHOSEN

“You didn’t chose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” -John 15:16 NLT

(via worshipgifs)

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bearyourcross:

Times - Tenth Avenue North

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Hey sisters! Long time no talk. I hope you are all doing well and being constantly challenged.

So, one major thing I’ve learned as I’ve gone through my first year of uni is this: God is in control.

This seems so basic but God has been so active and present in my life this year that my faith in this simple truth has grown tremendously. Although a lot of great things have happened this year, I’ve been faced with many challenges as well. I’ve dealt with difficult people, felt overwhelmed with work, lost important items. But through it all I’ve constantly had to rely on the simple truth that God is always in control, even when things seem completely chaotic. He’s helped me deal with situations that I know I couldn’t have dealt with on my own and, in many ways, carried me through this year filled with new found responsibilities.

One day early this year I went out with a few friends to shop in the evening. We walked all the way back to the school (about a half hour walk) when I realized I left all the bags of stuff I just bought in front of a dairy queen. It was a pretty sketchy area and late at night but I decided to walk back and pray all the way there that the bags would still be there. They were exactly where I left them. God is in control.

This term I lost my wallet while walking back from a lecture. It took me a few days before I tearfully accepted that it was probably gone for good and bought a new wallet and called my debit card company. Three weeks later I get an email from the campus police telling me that someone returned my wallet. All the cash, ID, and even gift cards were still in tact. There is good in humanity after all, and God is in control. 

Through my studies, extracurriculars, financial situation, etc. God has been so completely in control this year. He is in control every year, but this year I’ve really allowed myself to notice it, embrace it, and let the knowledge of it guide me. Even when it hasn’t been all butterflies and roses, I’ve had an overwhelming sense of peace and reassurance over these last few months that God cares deeply about me and that everything He allows to happen in my life He allows for a reason, even when I do not fully understand it. That is the best feeling in the world. 

On a slightly different note, I would like to put out a prayer request for you guys. Colby, a JK Kindergartner in my mom’s class tragically and unexpectedly passed away on Monday. He was an only child and I cannot even begin to fathom what his parents, friends, and extended family are going through right now. It’s been a hard week for my mom as she’s had to deal with a class full of his friends who are too young to really grasp what death is but old enough to be sad about him being gone. I believe ,even in times like these, God is still in control. It sometimes seems impossible to try to make sense of a child’s death but I trust that God has a plan through all of this. Pray that He reveals Himself in a real way to Colby’s parents during this time.

Be blessed sisters!

In Christ, Kristen.