If they’ve escaped from the slum of sin by
experiencing our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ, and then slid back into that
same old life again, they’re worse than if they had never left. Better not to
have started out on the straight road to God than to start out and then turn
back, repudiating the experience and the holy command. They prove the point of
the proverbs, “A dog goes back to its own vomit” and “A scrubbed-up pig heads
for the mud.”   
                                                                                   -2 Peter 2:19-22

Have you ever had a friend who you've let in so close to your heart, they feel like family?  Or have you had a family member you love like a best friend?  Has that person ever hurt you? 

In a case like this, sometimes it feels like it would have been better if you had never even known that person.  Likewise, our walk with God should be something we're committed to, not something we turn our backs on. 

If you sincerely have a desire to be a friend of God, you're on the right path-- even if you still feel like a sinner, or commit sins.

So long as you have the desire to please God, and so long as you're still alive, there is hope for a strong relationship with Jesus.  The important thing is that you seek light.  Even if you've noticed you haven't wanted to look for it as much as you used to, it's okay. 

Why do I feel this way? 
A "low tide" is what I call it when you aren't feeling as "good" about your faith "relationship status".  When you feel like you can't hear Him, but you aren't actually backslidden, think about what you already know.  If God's given you an answer to a question once, He won't give you a new answer.  He has no blan B's.  So, is He being quiet because He doesn't need to add to what He's said, or are you just not listening?  If you're still seeking His friendship, then don't worry.  Just keep hungry for Him.

Backsliding
Is when you notice you aren't as close to God as you were, but you're alright with that.  Backsliding is when you stop caring every time you catch yourself sinning or doing something against God's will.  Backsliding is NOT when you catch yourself and feel badly for doing wrong, then make a choice to make things right.  That's just called "life" and a simple "oops moment".  : )  


In Conclusion  
If you've truly asked yourself whether you're just in a low tide or are backslidden, think on this:  The verse I mentioned in the beginning states that it would be better not to even start a walk with God if you're going to backslide.  But that doesn't mean that because you've backslidden you should just give up hope and go all-out into the world.  If you've CAUGHT yourself backsliding, it's not too late!  The scripture reference means it's message like this-- if you backslide, and stay backslidden it's going to be harder and harder for you to live a Godly life.  Not because God makes it harder, but because you give up.  Don't ever give up  : ) 

It is worth it to "fight the good fight of Faith". Trust me ; )   


Much love and encouragement!!
-Kiana ; ) <3

How can they call on Him whom they have not believed? And how will they believe Him who they haven't heard of? And how will they hear without a preacher?
                                                     -Romans 10:14


The verse above carves a vivid truth. Many of us (me included in this count) often assume people we run into know who Jesus is. In America, it is far more common for people to know than Africa of course, but there are still many humans who believe "in" God and Jesus and Holy Spirit, but hold a very twisted view on them.


The most common "wrong" I come across is the view that God makes everything happen in the world, good and bad. If you read my last article on what the true "Perfect Will of God" is, we know that isn't true at all. We are blessed
to hold a true and right  view of our Lord, but we can't forget the people out there that don't know God loves them.

I asked a question to my readers on The Christian Teen's Facebook page. The question was "if you could say one sentence to an emo person, what would you say?" (For those who don't know what emos are, it is a new fad, often where teens cut their wrists. It isn't quite "goth", but something like it.)

A reader commented "you are more precious than you could ever imagine". This really touched my heart. I'm sure that if someone said that to you, this would touch your heart as well. Now think about how wonderful that would be if your life was in the wrong place?

A story I would love to share with you all happened last year in a court house. Some of you may know we take in children who come from lousy situations with their home life, (often envolving DCFS) for short-term. ("un-paid babysitters", really... but we love it because God gets all of the glory.) We had taken one of my sisters (I now have 16 "siblings" we've had come through our home in 2 years.) to the court about her DCFS case.


The room we were waiting in outside of the actual court room was divided into two halves. There were about fifty or so chairs in total, but all except ours were empty. The next group of people (appearing to be an aunt, a niece, and
the girl's two older sisters or cousins, and possibly the girl's mother) entered and sat in the other half. An officer eventually came out of the court room to quiet the aunt, who was yelling at the teenage girl. I tried not to listen in (though most of the building heard without trying) but the pieces I gathered were this; the girl of sixteen was pregnant, against her family's wishes. The aunt insisted that the girl was worthless and everything was "your fault".


I will inform you all right now (if you don't know) that I am filled with the Holy Ghost and yes, that means I speak in tongues and operate in the power of God's Holy Spirit and the authority of Jesus' precious blood rights. I also believe in prophesy and every other gift of the Holy Spirit. (read Acts 2:5, 1 Corinthians 12)

Saying that to say this. I felt a stir (or a prompt from God) telling me quietly (as He usually does) that I was going to be able to minister to the girl. So I prayed in the Spirit for a while, and when the officer had calmed them down to at
least the level of normal speech instead of yelling, I boldly (as I could muster up) approached the family, but only looked at the girl. "Are you alright?" I asked. She looked up with tear-filled eyes and a weak smiled, nodding her head.

Kneeling in front of where she was sitting, I placed my hand on her knee and looked into her eyes. The only thing that came to mind (or spirit) was four words. "You are so precious." (which her aunt snorted at) So I told her those four words repeatedly and asked if she was okay with me hugging her. So there we sat, in the middle of her family (ignoring them, actually) and hugged like old friends. (By the way, I am white as a ghost. We were in the heart of Chicago, and her family were not too warm and fuzzy to "white folk". It is amazing what doors the Holy Spirit opens! Doors that you would never think could be opened...suddenly flung wide.)

She did answer that Jesus was her Lord when I asked, but to make things clear I said "It doesn't matter what anyone thinks about you or your choices. It just matters what He thinks... and He thinks you are pure, precious, and beautiful."

I will tell you that the little we spoke (literally, the entire thing was only 5 minutes or so long before they went into the court room) she was bright, smiling, and encouraged. This is what we are placed for! If you ever ask yourself what life is all about, it is created to be enjoyed. Your purpose is to help others enjoy it, too; to live in wonderful peace and embraced by His love. Amen?

Be encouraged. I love you all!!
-Kiana ♥ : )

When you go, it shall lead you; when you sleep, it shall watch over you; and when you wake, it shall talk with you.
                                                        Proverbs 6:22

 

God desires more than just a “religious” relationship with us.  More than just a “come to church, go home the same”.

A personal relationship with anyone requires work from both sides.  The work He requires from our end is very little compared to what His end is.  God gave us sonship through the redeeming blood of Jesus, and by His Spirit.

He guides us, protects us, loves us, teaches us, feeds us, takes care of us, and the list goes on and on.  Everything a father should be, He is—and far more!  

He killed Jesus (whom He loved very, very much) for us.  Could you imagine the pain in His heart, seeing His own son ripped to shreds?  Bleeding, with His flesh being torn from His bones.  God felt that pain!  But He knew the outcome would be tremendous, and would return to Him His lost sons.

(Us.  We were taken out of His perfect will when Adam and Eve fell into the trap of sin.  I will be writing a follow-up post on what His “Perfect Will” is and why we aren’t automatically living in it.)

Our part to play is to respect Him. 1  To love him back. 2  To keep separate from the darkness. 3 And to listen to His Spirit.4       

1. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect for Your statutes continually.

Psalm 119:117

2.And he answering said, ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself’.

Luke 10:27

3. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1 Thessalonians 5:5

4. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Romans 8:14

A father can be a responsible parent, and your friend.  Though God does correct us sometimes, He also wants to show us the good times in life.  Every day is different, and every day is beautiful in its’ own way.  Trust me, I’ve had bad days before.  If I really really think about it, I can find at least one thing that God has made good for me that day.

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in your life.  My Lord desires a sincere, personal relationship with you.  Choose today to at the very least, accept the invitation to know Him better. =)

With love.

-Kiana ♥ :)

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
                   -John 13:35

I had an excellent oppurtunity today to share the Gospel. My Mom, myself, and an adult friend had an outing this afternoon to a cafe for lunch. I took my seat between the two adults as they started up a conversation.


Straight accross from me sat an empty booth. Five minutes later, a man came and sat by himself.
Normally, anyone seeing him would probably have left him alone. He was rough looking, and was probably fit with an attitude to match the look. My gut wrenched. I suddenly felt like crying, compassion sweeping over me for this man. The conversation continued lightly between the two adults, Mom laughed. I bit my lip.

He rested his elbows on the table, fingers latched together in thought as he stared out the window. His lunch came, so did ours. It was tough getting through lunch as I watched him. The adults had finished theirs, we all got up. We made it all the way outside, when I told Mom a had a feeling I was suppose to tell the man God loves him. She said "Okay..." and we walked back inside. The adults stayed at the front of the cafe, striking up a conversation with a waitress.

I took a breath and walked to the back of the cafe...all the way back to that corner booth. The man looked up at me as I stood in front of him. I pulled out the empty chair from his table. What are you doing?! screamed through my mind. To be honest, I had no idea.

I sat. "I know this is very weird, and very random. But I believe God told me to--" I paused. "to tell you that He loves you." I finished on a confident note. I waited as he sat slowly back in his chair and stared with dark eyes, straight into mine. (Uh oh.)

"I know that." His voice was exactly how anyone would imagine it, coming from him. It fit his rough look.

"Do you?" I didn't blink. He didn't either. To be honest, his answer really surprised me, but I stood firm. There was a reason why God told me to do this, and even if I didn't understand why, I knew I had to finish it for Him to touch this man. He gave a half nod. "You're born-again?" he asked.
 Hey! I should be asking you that! I thought. "Yes'sir, I am." I answered with a voice that I didn't expect.
I was really bold and confident sounding.

"Yea, my ex-wife is too." Oh. This'll be interesting. He continued to talk about her and all the other 'christians' that had dumped on him about their religion and all the weird things they shoved down his throat. I listened patiently, but finally confronted him, making it known I wasn't a fruitcake like them. [How could I say that when I just sat at his table out of no where??] 

I said a few words, the message being "My God's alive". I asked if I could hug him. I felt crazy. "You're weird. This is out of no where." He said bluntly. I laughed.

"I know." I smiled. I continued to tell him my testimony, and how a man out of nowhere asked us to church. "Talk about weird and random." I finished. "But because of that weird and random man, I found Jesus. I found His healing touch, and I've avoided so many major surgeries on my spine, heart, legs..." I saw doubt in his eyes. Obviously the 'christians' he's encountered had left a bad taste in his mouth for God.

"Listen. God loves you anyway. He wants to connect with you, because He loves you." I was as blunt as he was. I caught a flash in his eyes, I think he blinked away a tear. Anyway, they certainly softened.

There was silence. We kept each other's gaze, I wouldn't let him go that easily.

"You're really nice." He said with a note of interest. He pushed the table away a little and stood up. I followed suit and stood too. He actually faced me, and lifted his arms uneasily. Perfect! I hugged him.

We broke the hug, he stepped away and nodded.  I said something along the lines of "Have a nice day."
He replied with a decently happy "you too" and we went seperate ways.

All of the tables surrounding us were filled. Looking back at that, I realize that was a huge witness to every one of those people. I wasn't speaking softly. : ) As Christians, we are always On Air.
Everyone is watching us: how will we represent our God? Everything we do is a reflection on Him. Just like children are to their parents. If the child is misbehaving, that usually reflects bad parenting. What we do shows people who He is. 

If we show love and compassion and patience, they will know God to be the same. If we shove things down their throats--who wants a god that's bossy?

I have other stories like this one. For encouragement and to read these stories, either connect with me on my personal Facebook, or Like our page! Links to both FBs can be found on the front page. If you don't have Facebook, or prefer e-mail, you can reach me through the "Contact" tab.

Be encouraged everyone! Go shine that Light!!
-Kiana ♥ : )