I look up to You. I'm forever grateful

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

[my--darling--dear]

Dear LGBT people

True Christians do not hate you

We don’t want you dead

We don’t want you in concentration camps

We don’t want to shock you better

We don’t want you miserable

We don’t want you lonely and suicidal

We don’t want you outcasted and demonized

We don’t want you hurt or neglected

We do want you well. We want you loved. We want you held and comforted when you hurt. We want you received and embraced with loving arms. We want you know know true joy, which we have found in Christ jesus. We want you to be free of suffering, guilt, and grief. We want you to see the freedom that comes when you place your heart in the hands of Christ. He does not hate you. He does not want to kick you out of the house and pretend you don’t exist. He does not persecute you. He does not seek to have you harmed or imprisoned. He opens His arms to you, as we all should. He offers healing and forgiveness. He will take away all of your pain, all of your tears, all of the fear. He will make you new, and He will give you an identity so much greater than what the world has to offer.

We don’t want to see you lost.

We want to welcome you home.

[ambigiousgelpens-deactivated202]

I would add to this, if I could, that even if someone never comes home? We still don’t want them hurt, or outcast, or mocked, or suicidal. Even if they are the most anti-Christian person in the world, we want them to see the church, the Christians, as a welcoming place and people who would help them in their worst, asking nothing in return. Even if you hate us, let us love you. 

[forgive-to-be-forgiven]

Just a sweet and humble song that will make your heart flutter. Found it recently and think it is absolutely lovely. It's perfect for a few refreshing moments of worship. 🙏 There are two more songs on there, but they all have very few views, so I was surprised to learn they're so awesome 😍 They're written by a man that was saved about a year ago. Our God is sooo great!

[juliamstarr]

Instagram

[worshipjesus365]

[worshipjesus365]

[mioxenoblade]

There is no actual, tangible reason why we allow people to starve, to be homeless, to suffer and die needlessly. Food is plentiful. Empty homes are plentiful. Medicine is plentiful. It’s hidden away behind constructs and we pretend those constructs mean something. There is an empty home and a homeless family, give them it. There is a sick child and common medicine to treat it, give it to them. There is a starving person and so much food wasted by corporations or hidden behind a dollar sign, feed them.

[worshipgifs]

[michaelcarter2323]

[just-bellerose]

Hallstatt  ❤️

[saltedkate-deactivated20181120]

There’s this pervasive mindset among even Christians nowadays that seems to say that God is just out there to love and forgive you. That He’ll always take care of you and give you what you need. 

And while technically that’s not incorrect, because God does love us and take care of us, the way of wording it is a bit irksome, if only because it implies that that’s all that God is there for. 

Christians, God does not exist for you. You exist for God. He created all things for His pleasure. He did not create little gods so that He could serve them. He created companions in His image so that we could glorify Him. 

The fact is, God is in no way obligated to love us, except that He has promised to and He always keeps His word. Which means that this focus on self, on God always being there for you and caring for you, is really a bit skewed.

Shouldn’t we be focused on God instead? What can I do for Him? How can I serve Him and bring Him pleasure? The care and love we receive from Him is not the end. It is only one side of the relationship, and it probably shouldn’t be the side we focus the most on. 

Think of a husband and wife, for the sake of illustration. Wouldn’t we call a man or woman selfish if they based their entire relationship off of what their spouse could give them? Isn’t love in a marriage going to manifest itself by serving the other person? 

I’m in no way trying to diminish God’s great love for us. It is marvelous, and magnificent. But there should be so much more to our lives as Christians than sitting around and letting God love us and care for us.

[worshipmoment]

“The Holy Spirit is not an entertainer. He does not exist to put on a show. His aim is not to elevate men and women. He wants to point you to the person of Christ—not signs and wonders which pale in the light of His glory. He wants you to seek the Giver, not the gifts.”

— Defining Deception by Costi Hinn and Anthony Wood

[the-soul-doctor]

Often I have heard people say, ‘How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!’ Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. ‘No, Corrie,’ said Betsie, ‘He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him.” There is an ocean of God’s love available—there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love—whatever the circumstances.

Corrie Ten Boom (via the-soul-doctor)

[dailybibleverse365]

The greatest man in history, had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. His name is Jesus.

Unknown

[dreamingofgoingthere]

Oppstryn, Norway

[beautifulklicks]

In the evenings, they drank a cocktail of dew

Garik Sokolov

[fiery-blue-firefly]

God wants us to walk in obedience- not victory. Obedience is oriented toward God; victory is oriented toward self. … there is a subtle, self-centered attitude at the root of many of our difficulties with sin. Until we face this attitude and deal with it, we will not consistently walk in holiness. This is not to say God doesn’t want us to experience victory, but rather to emphasize that victory is a byproduct of obedience.

Jerry Bridges (via fiery-blue-firefly)