Youth That Ignite

You Are Alive, Not Dead!

2012-01-04T13:01:00.001-08:00

Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ([delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation). -Ephesians 2:5 AMP

If there is one thing I do not like seeing is young Christian people walking around like they are completely bored out of their minds. As if living for God is boring, or God Himself is boring.

If this sounds like you, then maybe you should ask yourself if you are living for God or if you are dead. Because if one is truly living for Him then there should be an outward evidence of this. You should walk around with your head held up high, with joy, helping others, smiling, telling everyone around you of how good your God truly is.

The scripture above tells us that we can only be alive when we are in fellowship and in unity with Jesus. That is the key. You have to have a relationship with Him every single day of your life. It isn't enough to just call yourself a Christian because you warm up a seat in church faithfully.

Being in unity with Jesus involves talking to him all the time, just like you would talk to your best friend. It involves making Him your best friend and the One you can count on. It involves reading the book that He wrote (the Bible) and learning from it. But most importantly, it involves doing the things that please Him and rejecting the things that grieves Him.

Allow God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to become so real to you by connecting yourself to them more and more everyday. I dare you to let Jesus raise you from the death of being influenced by the world and become alive to the One who made you and loves you more than you can ever think or imagine!

2011-06-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

What is coming out of you?

Matthew 12:35, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."

Ask yourself these questions and answer them truthfully. Are you living the life that you desire to live? Are you producing good things in your life? If you answered yes to both of these then that means you are filling yourselves with godly things therefore you are producing godly things. But if you answered no, then you have obviously allowed other (evil, worldly) things to take place of the Word of God in your heart.

Have you ever been in an argument and opened up your mouth hastily and said something that surprised you and later regretted? You might have asked yourself, "Where did that come from?" Well it came from inside of you. You may think you are okay, but the test is how you react during pressure. This is why it's so important to guard what you allow yourself to hear, see and think. Bad and ugly thoughts will come but don't let them stay in your mind. Kick them out with God's Word!

So if you have been acting, speaking or thinking in a way that opposes God's way, you have been filling your heart with those very things. In order to make a change you must first repent and then ask God to help you guard yourself. Then you must make sure that you get the Word in you every single day! This step is so important and necessary. Once you begin doing this you will notice that your mannerism, words, actions and thinking become the very mannerism, words, actions and thinking of God Himself! After all, you were made in His image and likeness, so you might as well step into it!

Missing Something?

2011-05-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God”
Are you continually craving for more? Do you feel like there is something missing in your life? Does it feel like no matter how many friends you have, how many hobbies you are a part of or how popular you are, it just isn’t enough? Well I have awesome news for you! You only need one thing to fill that empty space! And that is GOD! Your sufficiency and happiness can only come from the Source, God Himself. Anyone and everything else is just not enough. Sure, they may provide momentarily fulfillment but will never outlast the peace that God brings to your life.
Without God you are absolutely nothing, even though you may think very highly of yourself. But with God you become everything! That is because you step into your proper image. The image that HE created you to be. You will no longer find the need to fit into different images because you found your true one!
So what do you say? Why not connect with the one who created you? The one who loves you more than anyone else can love you. The one who knows you more than anyone else can possibly know you. The only One who is more than enough!

Shalom!!!

2011-01-01T18:23:00.000-08:00

2011.......a new year with new beginnings is here!
As we heard last night through our Pastor, this is the year of Shalom! Nothing will be missing, broken or lacking in our youth group. There will be complete peace! There will be no limitations! Thank you Jesus!!! How exciting!

But of course there has to be dedication behind that or nothing will happen. Make a quality decision that you will serve God in a greater level. Do not look to the past, look to the future. Believe God for what He is able to do. Mark 9:23 says 'Everything is possible for Him who believes'. See your life the way God sees it. See people the way God sees them. And live this year the way God has planned for you to live it, in Shalom!

GET READY, GET READY, GET READY!!!

Supernatural Rest

2010-08-20T11:43:00.000-07:00

Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest."

Do you need supernatural rest from all that is going on around you? Does it seem like your circumstances are getting the best of you? All you must do is rest in God. His rest is full of peace and joy. So no matter what situation you are facing, you can still have a calm spirit and be assured that all is well.

Do not make the mistake of looking to the world for answers to your problems. Their answers will always contradict God's answers. They may seem easier and maybe even make more sense, but in the end they will fail you. The answer is already in you because the Holy Spirit dwells in you.

Everyone goes through things in life. But there is a difference between the person who relies on earthly things to get them through them and the person who rests and relies in God. The first person will always have chaos because they rely on quick fixes. They will be troubled in times of trouble, angry in times of anger, depressed in times of depression and so one. But the one who takes on God's rest will have peace, joy, assurance and a calm spirit. No one will even know what they are going through because their attitude is out of the norm for the situation they are facing. So remember that you don't have to go through it alone and in despair. You have a willing Partner who is offering you the best rest of your life.

Does He Have Your Life?

2010-07-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 55:8-9 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts'
Proverbs 3:5 'Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.'

If you have completely surrendered your life to God then these two scriptures are being fulfilled in your life. It's easy to say "God I love you, here is my heart." And then you only allow Him in certain areas and keep Him out of others. It's a better thing to say "God I love you. Here is my life, do as you please with it. I will not interfere." There is a difference between giving Him your heart and giving Him your life.

What God is trying to currently do with your life may not make any sense right now but remember His ways are higher than your ways. You just need to fully trust in the fact that He is God and can do a way better job at planning your life than you could ever do.

In the end it ultimately comes down to weather you really love Him or not. To love Him is to trust and rely in Him and to know that His love for you will never fail. And if His love could never fail neither can His plans for you.

No More Excuses!

2010-06-22T09:57:00.000-07:00

You need to make a decision today. And that decision is that you will not allow anything to keep you from fulfilling your part of God's plan on this earth. Decide to not allow friends, family, laziness, peer pressure, insecurity, wrong attitudes, or old habits to stop you from moving forward.

You are not living in a time where you can just sit back, relax and watch others do all the work. You are all called to do something and if your "something" isn't accomplished you will be held accountable for it. So get up and get moving! Pray, seek God, read and meditate on His Word, minister to your friends, volunteer your time to do things at the church...there are so many things to keep occupied and busy doing your Father's business.

Here are a few scriptures to encourage you to get moving:

Luke 2:49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"

Luke 19:13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.'

Colossians 1:10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God

2 Thessalonians 1:11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power

Proverbs 24:33-34 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

Giving It Your All

2010-06-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

Colossians 3:23-25 'And whatsoever ye do , do it heartily , as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done : and there is no respect of persons.'

It is vital that you never allow yourself to work in the Kingdom in a lazy manner. God needs people who will give 100% effort into what they are doing. If anyone deserves the best it's God. After all He gave us His all, His very best, Jesus.

You should do everything God calls you to do with your whole heart, knowing that God will reward you. This includes your attentiveness to the Word, your prayer time, your giving and when you sow your time in working at the church.

Don't get caught up in complaining and thinking that you have better things to do with your time. You can have all the time in the world to try and accomplish your goals, but if you are not giving God your best, they will all fail.

Remember, God rewards the faithful. The faithful are the ones that do things for God gladly with Joy and a right heart. They see the time they give to God as an investment not a loss. These are the ones that God will always be rewarding because they honor Him.

Under Construction

2010-05-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

Philippians 1:6 'Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.'

The day you got born again God began a good work in you. He started to mold you into the person that you were created to be. From that moment you were "under construction". His desire is for your life to line up with His Word and with His master plan.

This is a life process that involves removing the things in your heart that do not belong there and adding the things that do. But it doesn't matter how good God desires your life to be because He needs your permission. He needs you to surrender your all to Him so that He can alter it.

So I just want to remind you to never think that God is finished with you. Allow Him to complete His work in you. He wants to do something in your life EVERYDAY. When you choose to be pliable, you will see that the Master is perfecting you and equipping you with everything you need to live the life that He has called you to live. Remember, it's a good plan and a good life because He is a good God.

Are You Okay?

2010-05-13T09:54:00.000-07:00

There comes a time in our lives as believers that we must analyze our heart. Actualy this should occur more than once or twice. It's something that we must do just to make sure that everything in our heart still aligns with God's Word and plan for our life.

When doing this, ask yourself one question...Am I okay with God? Meaning, is everything I do, say, plan and think, pleasing to my Daddy? Or are there things that I have allowed to corrupt my actions, words, plans and thoughts? It's a very simple question, but if you are serious about being in a relationship with God than it will require deep heart searching. Sometimes we can even deny that soemthing is wrong to ourselves, but God knows. He just wants you to open up your eyes and make the adjusments needed.

If the Holy Spirit reveals something that is wrong, be quick to repent and allow God to restore you. Be like David and run to God not from God. The following scripture should be your hearts cry: Psalm 51:10-12 'Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit'

Remember that nothing is worth losing your salvation and peace with your Creator. There is nothing the world can offer you that is better than God's promises. Sure, they may look better because the enemy is trying hard to deceive you, but in the end all of that will fall. But with God you will always stand on solid ground.

Seek Him First

2010-05-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

Matthew 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

You must learn to seek God, His goals, and His way of doing things in order for things to go well in your life. God loves you and wants to do great things in you and through you but His hands are tied if you refuse to live for Him.

Most people have this backwards. They think that God owes them something and are waiting for God to move miraculously. But what they don't realize is that God is a God of covenant. He honors those who honor Him. He promotes those who promote Him.

Practice seeking Him everyday in the little things and great things. Allow Him to direct you in the path that He has created for you to walk in. Then you will find that there is no greater peace than the peace that comes from serving Him.

Set Your Mind On The Word

2010-04-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

The following post is inspired by Pastor Jan Keys' Wednesday night message on renewing the mind. I will use scriptures she quoted and some of her statements.

Galatians 5:16 'This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.'

Colossians 3:1-2 'If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.'

Romans 8:7-8 'Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be . So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.'

Have you ever wondered why the Bible says that many are called but few are chosen? This means that many people are called by God to live the Good life but only a few will actually walk that life out. That is because only a few will count the cost, lay everything down and follow God's plan instead of their own. This is where you can seperate the person who truly is in a relationship with God, and the one who sees Christianity as a religion they claim to be a part of. Every year thousands of people give their life to God by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They all walk up to alters all accross the world, bow their heads, lift up their hands, and confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord. They all feel a sense of refreshment at that time, like all of their burdens were lifted off of them. But then something strange happens. Days, weeks, months, years go by and less than half of those people are still living for God. God touched all of their lives, so what happened? Well, the answer is very simple. Only those who chose to renew their minds daily so that their mindset could align with what the Word says, were able to endure and stay for the long run. The others just kept living the same way, refused to change, made excuses for why they couldn't change and eventually drifted off.

So being touched by God is not enough, being born again isn't enough. It's what you do after that moment that will enable you to run in God's race all the way without giving up at the first sign of opposition. So what is renewing your mind? It's taking what you are currently doing (such as having sex outside of marriage, cheating, robbing, cussing, using drugs or alcohol) and going to the Bible to see what it says about your lifestyle. Once you find out it says that God is not for it but against it, then you set your mind to change. And you must do this everyday. God's word will never change, your mindset has to change.

To be a part of the few is an honor, privelage, and joy. But it also takes a lot of work, determination, and a no quitting attitude. This person must be willing to compare their lifestyle to what the Bible says and make the adjustments for it to align with God's word. This is the person that will live a long and prosperous life. All will be well with them because they have determined in their heart to never do, say or act in any way that opposes their Father.

Pass The Salt Please

2010-04-22T16:28:00.000-07:00

Mark 9:50 'Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltiness, wherewith will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one withanother.'

Today I just want you to answer one questions within yourself. How salty are you? The salt that this scripture is referring to is your love, passion, enthusiasm, zeal, fire and commitment for God. It is the characteristics that make you "tasty" to others.

Salt preserves and adds flavor and that is what we are to be doing on earth. Preserving others lives by giving them the truth of the word of God that is flavorful. But if we have lost our saltiness, then we are just going around professing our beliefs without an outer manifestation of them.

Make sure that everything you do for God is done out of the right heart and intentions. That it is because you love Him and are thankful for what He has done in your life, therefore you want to see Him change others lives the way He has changed yours. Always strive to know Him more intimately and to grow in your walk with Him. Having this attitude will keep you from becoming tasteless and fruitless. It is what will cause others to ask you to "Pass the salt please."

Who Are You Imitating?

2010-04-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

Galatians 5:18-26 'But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before , as I have also told you in time past , that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.'

The scriptures you just read above are describing two different characteristics of two completely different beings. The first ones that are under the works of the flesh are the characteristics of the devil, and the second called the fruits of the spirit are of God. It describes two different ways of living that will lead you towards different paths. The path you take is your choice.

If you are born again and proclaim to be a Christian than you should be striving to be like your Father. And you do this by renewing your mind with the Word so that it can align itself to how God thinks. Then you take it one step further and use your words to make right confessions over yourself and your surroundings. And then you put corresponding actions to your words and begin to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest himself through you in your everyday life. You begin to produce love, joy, peace, goodness, and so on.

I know that no one is perfect, but as a child of God you should avoid falling into any of the works of the flesh. When it comes to sinning, you have a choice. No one takes posession of your body and makes you do something or act in a certain way. All of this can be avoided by being led of the Spirit and not your flesh. It takes discipline, determination but most importantly, it takes having a relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit on a daily basis.

So today think before you act, react or speak. Give the Holy Spirit room to guide you in your day.

Laugh It Off!

2010-04-08T15:19:00.000-07:00

If you are finding yourself in what may seem a hopeless situation, maybe something just isn't going so well, or maybe you're just feeling a little down, God is telling you today to take JOY!!! In other words laugh it off.

Now, this laughter doesn't come from something being funny, but from the Joy of the Lord. I'm not trying to make light of your situation, but I am trying to awaken you to something that is never going to change and that is that no matter what is going on around you Jesus is still Lord! So never allow the enemy to bring you down so low that you can no longer see a way out. Instead, turn the tables on him by taking Joy.

Here are a few scriptures on Joy from the book of Psalm:

Psalm 5:11 'But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice : let them ever shout for joy , because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.'

Psalm 16:11 'Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. '

Psalm 51:12 'Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. '

Meditate on these scriptures daily so that you are always on guard. Don't allow depression, anger, sorrow, or feeling sorry for yourself to take the place of Joy. Begin to think of the goodness of God and what He has done for you and soon you will be smiling again. Joy belongs to you and it is available to you at all times.

Change Your Situation

2010-04-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

Today I just want to remind you that no matter what you are facing God can turn it around for the good! If you have God in your life then you can find favor in all situations.

Look at the example of Joseph in the Bible. He found himself in such an awful position, that most people would easily quit in and become depressed. But not Joseph. He changed his surroundings because He knew his God. Genesis 39:2 says "And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian." Even though he entered the house of Potiphar as a servant, he became the overseer of that home as it states in verses 3-4: " And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

So remind yourself of who you are serving and what He is capable to do on your behalf if you only believe. Don't take on a victim's mentality and desire pity. Instead pick yourself up, get in your Word and as you act out that Word you will see God do great things in you and through you.

The Best Daddy

2010-03-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt as if you have nothing or no one in this world? Maybe you have a void in your heart because you lack a Mother or a Father in your life. Well I have good news for you! God is your Daddy, Mother, sister, friend, or whatever you need him to be. And He has given you everything you could ever imagine.

In order to comprehend this to the fullest, look at Galatians 4:1-7
Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, thought he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

First of all, through this scripture we see that God has always wanted to give us everything (His inheritance), but was unable to because of our bondage to sin. Then we see that He made a way through His son Jesus. Jesus' life, death and resurrection redeemed us from sin, sickness, poverty, having to live by the world's standards and so much more. Through His sacrifice we became sons and daughters of the Most High God and became eligible for the blessing which is His inheritance for us His children. If you are a born again believer, you are also a part of God's family. You are not alone, forgotten or forsaken. You also have an inheritance called the blessing that causes every area of your life to be full till it overflows!

But you must choose to believe this as truth. You choose whether to accept your sonship or to remain a servant to bondage. Then you must choose to get all that belongs to you. You make these choices not only with your mouth but with your actions. By staying connected to God's master plan you remain in your right position to receive. And by disconnecting you forfeit everything. So choose to stay connected no matter what happens. Choose to accept God as your Daddy who loves you and cares for you.

Actions That Point Towards God

2009-07-09T22:57:00.000-07:00

Philippians 1:27 (Amplified) "Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves that your manner of life will be worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ..."

Actions speak louder than words. Everyone has heard this statement at one point or another, but not everyone takes it into consideration when they are out in the world demonstrating who they are by their actions.

I once made this point very clear by asking the youth at the beginning of a lesson to touch their chin. As I said this I touched my head. What did they touch? Their head. They didn't do what I said but rather what I did. They followed my actions not my words. And the funny thing is that they didn't even realize what they were doing or not doing until I brought it to their attention. It was actually kind of funny.

In this scripture you'll notice it says to conduct yourself. The word conduct means to behave or manage oneself, to direct in action or course, to direct as leader, to lead or guide. In the latter part of the scripture you find what direction you are to direct, lead and guide towards: God. Your words, actions and motives should direct others to God. People should get a sense of who God is by spending time with you. And not just by you constantly talking about God, which is important, but by doing the things that you talk about. Because ultimately others will respect you for actually living the holy, consecrated christian life you talk about. They will be attracted to God when you allow Him to flow through your actions.

A great question to ask yourself that will keep you in line is: "Would I be saying this, doing this, watching this, reading this, or listening to this if Jesus or my pastor were here?" If the answer is no, then don't do it. But you should also realize that Jesus is watching you because His Holy Spirit is within you. And I would also advice that you get to the point that you do the right things and stay away from the wrong things because you love God therefore want to please Him. Not just because you don't want to go to hell or because someone tells you to do something or not. It's a great place to start, but don't stay there. Develop your love for God. With this statement I leave you with a scripture:

"And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight (that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment), So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value (recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences), and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless (so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach the day of Christ, not stumbling nor causing others to stumble.)" Philippians 1: 9-10

2009-06-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

Just a few pictures to show what we have been up to lately. We all went ice skating along with the World Overcomers (children's ministry) about 2 weeks ago. I think it's very important for the youth to interact with the kids since it's an opportunity for them to be examples and it gives the kids a glimpse of what they have to look forward to as part of the youth. That was a lot of fun, especially seeing the same people fall over and over again and being the cause of a complete stranger falling as well!!! I will not mention any names....okay it was my husband. After that we obviously worked up an appetite so we went into River Park and had lunch at Panda Express (Yum Yum) and then we all did a little shopping (Fun Fun). Overall a great day!!

Four of our youth graduated this year (one from middle school, three from high school)so this week we attended the ceremonies. They were very nice, but very windy...why is it that it always seems to be windy for graduations? There were also some very interesting moments... Anyway, we are very proud of all three of them and keep reminding them to stay in God's perfect master plan.

Enjoy!!

ARISE!!!!!!!

2009-03-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 60:1-3 "Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising."

This has been one scripture that I have been meditating and acting on in every situation that may come. Our Pastor has given us a great word from this scripture and teaching us what it means to "arise". So pretty much everything I state in this post is what I've learned from Pastor Mitch Keys of Firebaugh Faith Fellowship International.

Some of the meanings of the word arise is to get up from sitting, lying, or kneeling; to awaken; wake up; to move upward; mount; ascend; to come into being, action, or notice; originate; appear; spring up. So we can conclude that to arise is to stand out. For example, if you are in a room and everyone is sitting down but you decide to stand up, you just made yourself to stand out from the crowd in a very obvious way. You are no longer sitting with the rest of them but now standing on a higher level. Everyone in that room can see that you are in a different position than they are. Some may choose to stand up with you, and some will choose to stay seated. Some will wonder why the heck you are "standing" when everyone else is "seated". And some will tell you to sit back down so that you can be on their level. You cannot control other people's choices but you can control your own.

So with this example in mind, think about where the world is now and where it is heading. Not a very pretty picture, right? Like our scripture says, "...the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people..." And we are seeing that in operation right now. So what is our part as a Christian in all of this? Do we just go along with the world and it's darkness? Should we just pray for them and continue to live our good lives to ourselves? NO! We stand out and arise! That is our part. But our arising is for a purpose. Everything we do must have a purpose. And what is that purpose? Lets go back to the end of our scripture where it says, "But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising." The only way that hurting people can have a better life is if they see us living that life that they so desire. They don't think that life is possible, they wouldn't even know where to start on their own. But as we live our life out loud without reservation, we are giving them a chance to know Jesus who will ultimately give them everlasting life.

Now with arising comes seperation, which is what most people have a difficulty doing. You may need to seperate yourself from wrong relationships or wrong things in order to fully arise and for God's glory, which is His goodness, to be seeing upon you. But remember this: Your seperation from people isn't for their rejection but for their acceptance. Meaning that when you choose to let go of wrong influences, they will see that God really is the center of your life and they will see how God is giving you the good life to live. This can be what gets that person to accept Jesus into their life. So your seperation brought their acceptance. Never underestimate why God asks you to do things. He has everything planned out and your obedience to Him gets you and others closer and closer to that plan.

So what will you do if you hear that someone is spreading rumors about you? You will arise! What about when someone is angry and yelling at you? Arise. What will you do from the moment you plant your seed to when you receive your harvest? You will choose to arise and not complain or worry. In every situation, choose to arise. Do not react how the world would. Your light has come and His glory (goodness)is risen upon you.

2009-02-26T22:04:00.000-08:00

Youth That Ignite 2009 Goals

2009-02-11T10:32:00.000-08:00

1. Encounters

These will deepen your relationship with God, getting rooted stronger in faith, developing your spirit to a mature level.
Get the vision in your hearts.
We will be having these encounters a few times a year. The first one is on the 13th of February from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

2. Getting yourself ready to have your own praise and worship

In order for us to have our own praise and worship in our youth services, you need to have a heart that is yearning to praise God.
We will challenge your praise level.
You will begin to worship God without shame or reservation. You will be known as a radical praiser.

3. Leadership Training

We will incorporate leadership skills that our Pastor has given to us.
These leadership classes will be once a month and will take place during our Wednesday services.

4. 28:19 Ministry

A Ministry that involves going out and witnessing to the youth in our city.
We will be doing this collectively once a month. Dates and times will be announced.

5. Sowing of our time into Destiny Ranch

6. Prayer night once a month.

The first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. unless otherwise notified.
Fast one meal (preferably dinner) that day.

7. Field trips to be announced

What Are You Hungry For?

2009-01-29T10:55:00.000-08:00

There is a huge difference between an appetite and a hunger for something. When we go around saying "I'm hungry", we're using that word vaguely because what we're actually feeling is a physical appetite. Stop eating for a whole week and then you will be using that sentence in it's right context. The word appetite means: a natural desire for something; some want or need. The word hunger means: a craving or urgent need for food; a strong desire. Notice that both definitions have the word "need" in it. But the level of that "need" is dramatically different. In appetite, the need is natural and in hunger it is urgent.

Every Christian has a natural desire for God, but only a few have an urgent longing and need for Him. What is the difference between these two people? The one that is hungering after God is being obedient to God in EVERYTHING, they go to church, pray, read their Word, give, tell others about Jesus, and they have joy as they are doing all of this. The one who has an appetite lives for God on their own terms. They will only do the things that they feel like doing or whatever is convenient for them. Most of the time they are too "busy" for God.

The reason why some aren't hungry for God is because they are too full to be hungry. They are already being fed by other things. Other "foods" are replacing His food. These "foods" can be a job, school, friends, material things, money, hobbies, etc... You cannot hunger when you are full and you will only fill yourself with the things you hunger after. Matthew 5:6 says "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled." Having a strong desire for God is the only thing that will complete us. Now lets look at the flip side of this. Luke 6:25 says "Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep." Eventually all of the things that people fill themselves with, things that they pursue with a passion will not be enough. Even though they are so full they are still starving because their spirit hasn't been fed. This is why so many people only run and cry out to God when their "foods" stop sustaining them.

Now, God does want us to have things and pursue the dreams that He has given us. But He has to be the center of all that is going on in our lives or everything will fall. He sustains us, provides us with nourishment, keeps us going and holds us up. We cannot forget this. Our hunger for God will continually fill us with what we need and desire. He is the best provider ever and He wants to provide for us. But we have to seek Him first. Remember that His blessing upon our life is in only in His perfect will. He cannot follow us if we decide to step out of that will. Being hungry for God is a choice. And once we make that choice we have to do the things that will continually connect us to our choice. So what choice will you make today?

Salvation

2008-11-17T22:43:00.000-08:00

God wants you right where you are. You may be in sin and feel so far from perfection but that's okay with Him. He doesn't expect you to change before He can accept you. He accepts you just as you are and His Love is what will draw you to change little by little. But you must make the first step by asking Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. This means that He comes into your heart by way of the Holy Spirit and dwells in you, teaches you, leads you, comforts you and helps you. Revelation 3:20 says; "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Making Him Lord of your life will be the best decision you could ever make!
So how does this take place? Romans 10:9-10 says: "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." So basically all you must do is pray the following prayer and believe it with your heart and you will be saved. Saved from what? First of all, you will be saved from hell. If you pray this prayer and commit your life to him you are given the assurance of making heaven. And you will also have access to all of his promises such as healing, prosperity, peace and so many more (to know more about His promises stay tuned for an article that I am still working on).

Prayer of Salvation

"Father, I come to you asking for your forgiveness of my sins. Cleanse me and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ, died for me on the cross and was resurrected from the dead. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

Now that you have prayed this, you need to find a church that will help you grow spiritually. You need a Pastor in your life to help you. There is no way you can do this all alone. Feel free to contact us and we can direct you to a church in your area. If you are in the Firebaugh area we welcome you to our church!

Be an Original

2008-11-10T21:45:00.000-08:00

If you go into a school campus and walk around, it will not take long for you to notice one thing. Everyone looks the same! They act the same, dress the same, talk the same, smell the same, think the same, etc....BORING!!! And the funniest thing is that they think they are making a fashion statement, setting a trend, or being different. But in reality all they are doing is going with the flow and allowing the media, Hollywood or friends dictate to them what it means to be "cool".

My Mom once made a statement in church and it really impacted the way I see myself. She said, "God did not make you to be a copycat, He made you to be an original, a one of a kind." And this is so true! God made you to be different. He gave you your personality and talents. As many people as He has created, he has never made two that are the same. He knows who you are, you just need to find out who that person is. In Jeremiah 1:5 it says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." He knew you and what you are planned to accomplish before you were even conceived. So If you've been told that you were an "accident", now you know that God planned you even if your parents did not. He is the one that formed you with His own hands and created you in His image and likeness. Genesis 1:26 says, "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Even though you may shop where everyone else shops, or someone else has your haircut, you will still stand out because of the God that dwells in you by way of the Holy Spirit. It is Him that makes you unique. His light shinning through you lets others know that there is something different about you.

So don't lose or forfeit your identity! Don't just go with the flow, change the flow! Don't let others pull you down, instead draw them to where you are by how you conduct yourself. Don't blend with the crowd, stand out!! Remember that Jesus can only be seen when you allow Him to be seeing by how you act, talk, dress and believe. And what it really comes down to is throwing away your reputation, which is caring about what others think or say about you. Who cares? My only concern is what my God thinks and is saying about me. Don't be embaressed about being a Christian! There is nothing to be ashamed about. Living for God is not boring but exciting and fun. Knowing that He is there for you and you are there for Him, that He loves you and you love Him gives you peace and joy that no parent, friend, boyfriend, girlfriend or whoever you think is your so called "hero" can give you. Remember He knows you, He made you, you are an original.

Matthew 5:13-16

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Youth On Fire Vision

2008-11-06T16:48:00.000-08:00

For every current youth to love God with all their heart, all their soul, and all their strength, and to love their neighbor as themselves.

To be on fire for God

To live for him boldly and without shame.

To give God glory through what we say and do.

2. To reach the youth in and around this city for God.

Letting them know about the love of Jesus.

Showing them that being a Christian is not boring, but fun and exciting.

Compelling them to come to church and youth gatherings.

3. For the youth to know God, not just about God.

Having a personal relationship with Jesus and knowing Him as your Lord, friend, and lover.

Having a revelation of His love for you.

Knowing God’s plan for your life and following it.

Allowing God to reveal and grow your talents and creativity.

4. Having Youth that are Kingdom minded.

Allowing God to use you to further the Word of God.

Being a blessing to Firebaugh Faith Fellowship and other ministries.

Give to Missions that help people around the world.

Volunteer of time to hospitals, rescue homes, nursing homes, etc…

5. To have youth that are powerful and anointed.

Knowing who they are in Christ Jesus.

Being youth of prayer.

Knowing the Word.

Youth that know how to praise and worship God.

Youth that are laying hands on one another.

Flowing in the anointing everywhere you go.

Being the light of the world and salt of the earth (in your schools, homes, in the street, malls, etc…).

Being above average young Christians that influence instead of being influenced. Changing the flow not going with the flow.