It isn’t easy, is it?

So many things get in the way. Homework.  Job.  Family.  Boyfriend.  Girlfriend.  Friends.  School.  Wife.  Husband.  Children. Church (yes, church).  Busyness.  Life.

None of these are necessarily bad things; but if we put any of these before God, then it becomes an issue.

How can we be the daughter God wants us to be if He is not number one?  How can we be a godly son if we put God at the bottom of our list?

Shane has been talking a lot about prayer lately, and I hope he plans to share on this site.  But one of the MAJOR keys to pursuing God is prayer.  What does your prayer time with Him look like?

Another key is reading God’s Word.  What does your daily quiet time with Him look like?

Have you considered a service project, or serving somewhere within your church?  {Yes, teenagers can serve!!!}  Serving others in the name of Christ is a great way to pursue God, and to get closer to Him.

Do you strive to know Him more?  Do you want to learn everything about Him that you can?  The best way to pursue God is to desire a relationship with him.  Not just a relationship that will save you from an eternity in hell, but one that is constantly drawing you more near to Him.  A relationship with God should always be growing.

What can you do this week to grow your relationship with Christ?

Photo credit: Violets and Handshakes

Pursuing God: Is He Your Number One? is a post from: revolve student ministry

What about when someone offers you correction?  How do you respond to them?

I am sure it depends on how they give you the advice or correction, but for most of us, being corrected is not fun.

It makes us feel wrong, stupid, incompetent, or all of the above.

But what about those times when we truly need correction?  When there is a sin in our life that needs correcting?  What about when someone comes to us in godly love with constructive criticism?

The Bible says in Proverbs, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he (she) who hates correction is stupid.” {Proverbs 12:1, NIV}

Ouch!  Who likes to be called stupid?  I sure don’t!

Next time someone pulls you aside and kindly gives you constructive criticism, don’t brush their words off or dismiss them.  Let them speak to you in love, and listen to their words.

Just because someone corrects you or your actions does not mean they do not love you, or think you are stupid. Remember, this person cares about you, and only wants the best for you!

Photo credit: JimmyMac210

Do You Hate Correction? is a post from: revolve student ministry

Are we to “throw stones” at those who make mistakes?  No, absolutely not!  But, what about those times when people blatantly misuse and twist Scripture to fit their mold? Is it better to stand silent or speak out?

I think many Christians have been desensitized to sin.  Things that used to be considered immoral, no longer are, and are accepted as okay and “normal”.

First of all, what is sin?  Sin is anything that keeps us from God: pleasures, idols, someone or something being number one in your life other than God, vices; whatever holds you back from a solid and firm foundational relationship with God.

Can a Christian still sin?  Absolutely!  Yes!  But, let us bring in 1 John 3:7-9 (NIV)

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. ⁸He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. ⁹No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

Wow.  Those may sound like harsh words, but it is reality.  If you are a child of God, you strive to sin no longer.  Do we fall?  Yes.  But, we are caught by God’s Grace and Mercy.  But the point is, you strive to sin NO LONGER.

So, am I saying if you sin, you are of the devil?  Not necessarily.  If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, it means you are not aligned with Him, and that your eternal life is in jeopardy.

But, what about those of us {Christians} who simply decide to live our own lives?  When we choose to live as we want, in the sin(s) of our choosing: embezzling money, living with someone outside of marriage, living through addictions to gambling, pornography, drinking, etc?  When we are so busy pursuing our happiness?  I believe that verse 9 answers that question.

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin…”

So, what sins are seemingly more acceptable to Christians these days?

:: The sin of me-ism, and “I come first.”
:: Having children out of wedlock.
:: Divorce for anything other than adultery or abuse.
:: Living with your partner before marriage.
:: Relationships outside the man-woman marriage covenant.
:: Abuse and/or neglect of the widows and orphans in our society.
:: The sin of inappropriate language.
:: The sin of lust.
:: The sin of addiction.

Are you guilty of any of these?  I know I have been, and I am.  But, I am striving to sin no more.

Many of you may think I’m “hating” on you.  I hate no one… I hate SIN.  I hate sin with a fiery passion, and it saddens me to see Christians caught up in such a web, that it will be a miracle to untangle.

I will end with a verse that caught my attention today: “Let he (she) who is without sin throw the first stone.” I am not throwing stones at anyone.  If you feel that way, then maybe there is something in your life that needs to be checked.

Photo by LarimdaME

Sin, Forgiveness, and the Pursuit of Happiness is a post from: revolve student ministry

He was called into the ministry in the summer of 2003, but was unsure of exactly what ministry he was called too.  He was appointed as the Interim Youth Pastor for MFBC in May 2004, and was made the Part-time Youth Pastor that October.

Shane was ordained into the Ministry in March 2005. Shane was given the full-time youth pastoral job in October 2005.

He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, with a degree in Masters of Arts in Christian Education in December 2008.

Shane has been married to Amy since July 2002.  Together, they have 4 daughters ages 5, 3, 1, and 19.

Where you can find him
:: Twitter
:: Facebook

Contact him directly
:: Shanen74 AT gmail DOT com

Shane is a post from: revolve student ministry

Amy is the wife of Shane, and a work-at-home-mother to 3 of their 4 daughters.  She also homeschools her girls.

Amy does most of her blogging on her site, Amy Loves It!, but will also make contributions here.

For more about Amy, see her About page on her website.

Other than blogging, Amy’s ventures include ministering with her husband, being a Choffy distributor, and designing headers and buttons for her friends’ blogs.  She has a slight obsession with coffee, Twitter, Skype, couponing, smoothies, her iPhone, taking pictures, and red shoes.

Where you can find her
:: Blog
:: Twitter
:: Facebook

Contact her directly
:: sanorton02 AT gmail DOT com

Amy is a post from: revolve student ministry

High School Ministry – New Update is a post from: revolve student ministry

Middle School Ministry – New Update is a post from: revolve student ministry

Test Post is a post from: revolve student ministry

Hey everybody! Falls Creek is coming up and we’re getting pumped. The theme this year is ECHO with the key verse being Psalm 145:4, “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.” It’s talking about how we should echo the news of God’s works throughout the world. The dates are July 20 – 25. Be sure not to miss out!

ECHO – Falls Creek 2009 is a post from: revolve student ministry

REBEL :: Revolution Weekend 2009 – February 20-22, 2009 is a post from: revolve student ministry