Christian Genocide is Real

Yesterday morning I was reminded that we need to be praying for the horrible situations going on in Iraq today. So often we get tied up in our own lives and forget to think about the people outside of our busy, American lifestyles.

Christian persecution is happening right now in Iraq. Children and families are getting beheaded for believing in Jesus. Believers in Christ are faced with the "option" to convert to another religion or accept death.

When I hear about these horrible things happening, my defenses quickly go up and it is easy to become angry with those who are brutally murdering my brothers and sisters in Christ.

But I realize that these murderers are just ordinary people who have given their lives to a false doctrine and are blinded to the Truth. And I recognize that both parties need our prayers and God's help. The persecuted need protection, relief and to find their strength in the Lord. And the persecutors need their eyes opened to the Truth of who Jesus really is so that they can come to repentance before it's too late.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” –Matthew 5:43-45

If this is the first you have heard of this, please watch this video, Christian Leader: ISIS beheading children.

Praying for God's people,

Your Words Can Have Eternal Consequences

Have you ever gotten stuck behind a driver who had a bumper sticker on their car that was bashing a political figure? Or maybe you've seen someone negatively rant or post degrading pictures of/about a celebrity, political figure, or someone you know personally on Facebook, Twitter, a blog, etc.? I've noticed that a lot of people get generally annoyed by these comments on a day-to-day basis. 

But let's get a little more personal. Maybe there is someone in your class, neighborhood, church, school that you particularly do not like, and choose to complain and talk negatively about them with your closest friends, family...or just everyone?

I know that girls, especially, have a tendency to talk about others. We're interested in people's lives, relationships, and we just seem to talk to and about people all the time. We don't always talk about others badly, maybe most of the time it's good. But I've noticed throughout life that this is just something ladies seem to gravitate toward in conversation.

If you are or someone else is a Christian, and you/they are talking negatively about others (regardless of whether or not the people you are talking about are Christians) I must tell you that it is not okay. Even if you're talking about others with those you are close to, or with those in your family, it is not okay.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:29

Paul, the author of Ephesians, advises us to only speak that of which is good for building others up so that those who hear it will be encouraged by what you're saying and your integrity. Because Christians represent Christ, on a broader scale we should embody the the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) so that we may win more people to Christ just by our conduct.

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
1 Peter 2:12

This can be a struggle for all of us at times, especially if we have been wronged or hurt by someone or if they hurt someone we love. Pray to Jesus about this if you're struggling with this. Ask Him that He would help you to have this kind of mindset and heart-attitude:

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Colossians 3:12-13

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Make it a daily routine to PRAY specific scripture for your life, for the lives of loved ones, strangers, and your country this year! This will strengthen your prayer life, bless those around you and yourself as well. Make 2014 a year that is focused on Christ and do all for the glory of God!

This is a 8.5 x 11 inches poster. Print this out and hang it on your fridge, tape it to your bathroom mirror, fold it up and stick it in your Bible, give to your friends, etc! (When printing, please select "scale to fit" in your printing settings.)

All scripture is word for word from the ESV Bible. This is not to replace your daily Bible reading. Enjoy! :)

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