Casting Crowns

A poll ago, the majority vote for your favorite Christian contemporary band was Casting Crowns. So here is one of my favorite songs that Casting Crowns does - Enjoy!



-Aylin

Pride

My dad said something the other day that I thought was worth quoting here:

"Well. . .I guess that all things that block us from God branch off of two things: pride and greed."

I pondered this for a while, and realized just how true it is.  So. . .what to do?

So, I thought. . .Well, what would happen if we cast those two things away?

Well, my friends. . .miraculous, unfathomable things. Because then, not only would you believe in Him, but you would also be much more willing to accept His will.

The only thing is. . .These things aren't easy to do. You can't just say, "Ok, I just won't be greedy/prideful." 

That's when Satan will attack you--when you're over confident. So that he can break you enough that you won't want to get back up. But. . .

I believe that there are two main ways to address these issues:

1) Spend time with God--dig into His word, pray and offer praise.

2) Put yourself in a position where there's no room to be prideful or greedy. Try sponsoring, or donating regularly to a Christian organization for greed--get used to giving some of your money to God. Then, try volunteering somewhere, like a food kitchen, for example. Somewhere too filled with humble, Godly work to be prideful. 

This is a difficult thing to do--and you can't just do one of them, they must be done together. ~Elizabeth

"Humble yourselves before the LORD, and He will lift you up." James 4:10 (NIV)

Hate Evil

Pro 8:13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. Pride, arrogance, an evil lifestyle, and perverted speech I despise."

To honor and show reverence to God is to hate evil. Note that it doesn't say "hate evil people." We are called to, by God, hate the sin, not the sinner. When we show that we hate evil, we genuinely try to track down the root of it in our lives and pull it out. Such things as pride, arrogance, an evil lifestyle, and perverted speech are signs of the evil that can be found in us.

God wants us to be like Himself. When the Holy Spirit points out something in our lives that is rooted in evil and a wrong motive, we must truly want for it to be eradicated from us. Have you ever noticed that we can't do it on our own? I have tried to get rid of my hot temper, but I can't do it. Only God can. We just must be willing partners in His holy plan. He will give us the tools, the strength, the patience to succeed, but we must use what we have been given.

-Aylin

Sweet Soul

I have a little year and a half year old brother, and he's the cutest baby boy in the world.  

I put him to bed about an hour ago, and he goes, "Pray?" , folds his hands, and smiles. Why is it that a little baby is more eager to pray than we teens/adults? Why do we stop praying before we go to bed, or at all for that matter? 

<sup>Matthew 18:1-14

1</sup> At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

 ² He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Causing to Stumble

    ⁶ “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. ⁷ Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! ⁸ If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

The Parable of the Wandering Sheep

    ¹⁰ “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. ^[11]

   ¹² “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? ¹³ And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. ¹⁴ In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. 

~Elizabeth

God's Glorious Creation

I went camping recently. The leaves had begun to turn color, the air was turning cooler - it was beautiful. My family and I went kayaking/canoeing and hiking. This picture is of the view from our campsite. I wasn't able to get one earlier in the morning when the fog was still on the water, but it is still one of the most beautiful pictures I've taken at the camp that I go to every year.

The whole time I was there I was constantly in awe of God's creation. One truth kept playing again and again through my mind -

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1)

Inspiring Words

Romans chapter eight is actually one of my favorite passages in scripture, it inspires me so much. It's really a post on it's own. If nothing else, at least read the More Than Conquerors part at the end:

Romans 8:

Life Through the Spirit

 ¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^[a] free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,^[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.^[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
 ⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
 ⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[d] because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of^[e] his Spirit who lives in you.
 ¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
 ¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[g] Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Present Suffering and Future Glory

 ¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that^[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
 ²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
 ²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
 ²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[i] have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

More Than Conquerors

 ³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:
   “For your sake we face death all day long;
   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”^[j]
 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What is Good?

"For we know that God works all things for the good of those who love Him, those who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Sometimes what I see as "good" does not match up to what God sees as "good". Things that are "good" in my mind are health, an easy life, good friendships, etc. God, though, sometimes sees fit to give me hardships that make me stronger and more clearly a reflection in His Son's image. It is good for me to go through trials, yet in the midst of them, I do not see it that way.

I have read about believers in other parts of the world who are being pursecuted because of their faith in Jesus. They do not ask for God to take the pursecution away - they actually ask for pursecution! They said that they felt blessed that God saw fit to use them as tools to witness to the world through their suffering. They found their pain "good". That blew me away when I first read that. It has changed my perspective on suffering and how God can use it for others' and my own good.

-Aylin

"I Shall Not" What?!?!

That's right. . .the Bible says we shouldn't be in want, because God gives us everything we need. Not necessarily everything we want--but hey, isn't it in our  human nature to want things that are un-healthy for us? Sometimes we may not realize that what we want is bad for us until long after the fact, maybe not even then. The good news, however, is that God knows what we actually need, and what is good for us. I based today's post on a psalm. A quite famous one, actually:

 Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
 ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
 ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
 ³ he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
   for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
   through the valley of death shadow,
I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.
 ⁵ You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
   forever.

~Elizabeth

Music

I love worshiping God through music! Listening to, playing it on the piano, or singing music are some of my favorite things to do. I have played the piano for several years. I love how I can just let go and connect with the sounds, rhythm, and meaning of the music when I play. My favorite Christian song I play on the piano is "How He Loves", by David Crowder Band. I also like playing classical and either talking to God while I play or making up lyrics for the music. Sometimes I play with my church band, too. Being past of a group that is leading the church in worship is an awesome feeling.

Although I love music, I realize that I need to worship God through everything I do. "I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship." Romans 12:1 (ISV)

What about you? How do you worship God?

-Aylin

Search It

I was on my yahoo email yesterday, and I saw that the most searched thing was Psalm 46:

Psalm 46^[a]

    For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.^[b] A song.
 ¹ God is our refuge and strength,
   an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
   and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
   and the mountains quake with their surging.^[c]
 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
   the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
   God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
   he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
 ⁷ The LORD Almighty is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress.
 ⁸ Come and see what the LORD has done,
   the desolations he has brought on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease
   to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
   he burns the shields^[d] with fire.
¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.”
 ¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

You see, Christians are scared about their futures right now. You can tell by the things that are searched most. Listen to the lyrics to a lot of all of the popular Christian music right now--so many of them are about overcoming brokenness (with God). People may look strong, but they are really so vulnerable and in-secure. So today, I'm encouraging you to go out, to help people know that they aren't alone in their struggles. And, when you do that, you'll find that your own struggles began to fade as you engulf yourself in the needs of those around you. Because, if it's not about you, your issues don't seem half as important.~Elizabeth

I Timothy 4:12

"Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for other believers in your speech, behavior, love, faithfulness, and purity." I Timothy 4:12 (ISV)

Just because we are young doesn't mean we can't be influencial! We teens can change the world! People may overlook us at first, but if we show them that we are motivated by God to be pure in everything, they will see us and be encouraged by us. Not only that, but other teens will be strengthed and encouraged to live holy in Christ, too.

My sister found a blog written by a girl that is just sixteen years old. She is trying to make a difference in every country in the world. She started sponsoring a compassion child off of her birthday and Christmas money, and some babysitting money. Now she sponsors four kids - and she still doesn't have a real income! (her blog is hannahproject195.blogspot.com if you want to check it out) She is a great example of a Christian teen showing the world what it means to be motivated by God's love.

-Aylin

Let it Fade

Ok, so this post is going to be a little small due to the fact the my mouse for my computer isn't working. Thankfully there is also the touchscreen feature, but using it for anything is a bit of a pain. So, I wanted to share a few really good music videos with you today:

Have a great day!~Elizabeth

Shepherd's Love

Here's a poem I wrote that I think fits the verse of this week.

When I look upon my Shepherd Lord,
I feel peace surround me which I hoard
Deep within me, in a jeweled chest
Then breathe out my song of thankfulness.

When He wraps His strong arms 'round me
My soul feels light and free;
I pour out my burdens to Him who cares
And He guides my feet from Satan's lairs.

I thank You, Lord, for Your gift to me,
So I may spend my eternity
With You, Jesus, whom I love,
In heaven up high above.

-Aylin

Sheep

"Like a shepherd, he tends his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms, carries them close to his heart, and gently leads the mother sheep." Isa. 40:11

I love this verse. It is such a beautiful picture of how God takes care of us. I researched sheep, especially sheep in the Bible, and here's what I found -

Sheep cannot find the best food for themselves. They must be led to it.

They do not have the instincts to find their way home.

They run from danger.

They never mistake their shepherd's voice for anyone else. Even when two flocks are together, they will easily separate and follow their own shepherd just by the sound of his voice.

Sounds a lot like us!

God knows what is best for us. Often times we cannot see the full picture and want the wrong things.

We cannot get to heaven on our own. We can only get there by being led in Jesus.

We run from the devil. We cannot successfully defeat him in our lives without God's strength.

If we are in God's word and following after Him, we will recognize His voice speaking to us in our lives.

-Aylin

Freedom

Hi everyone! We have a guest blogger today! Her name is Lizzie, and she will be posting from time to time on Free and Holy.

-Aylin

“Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”

We, often, do not realize the abundant freedoms we have. Well, one very important freedom (I'm sure you've all heard of it) is the freedom of religion. As it says in the first Amendment of the United States, “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” In common words, it basically says that the government cannot make any law forbidding any religion or religious practices. Places like Pakistan, China, Russia, and Romania do not have the ability to practice their choice of religion. Actually, about 100 countries do not have this freedom.

In Pakistan, innocent, God-fearing people are being put in prison for their beliefs."Our Christ sacrificed His life on the cross for our sins. ... Our Christ is alive,” Asia Bibi told her co-workers. Asia is now in a Pakistan prison facing a death sentence. Asia has two young daughters. I ask that you will pray for her and them. Also, please go to www.callformercy.com to sign a petition. Sign the petition asking for her immediate release from prison and the dismissal of her death sentence. This can save her life...and yours.

-Lizzie

First Post

Hello! So, I figured that for a first post I should probably explain who I am, what I do, and why I participate in this blog.
I've posted my bio on the "About Elizabeth" page.
I also blog over at www.rwryastyle.blogspot.com , so although I'm used to blogging, bear with me, because my posts may not be as regular as they would be if I were only posting on one blog.
The goal that Aylin and I hope to achieve with this blog is to not only help teens in their faith, but also to encourage them to read the Bible.