THE YOUTH CULTURE AND TATTOO

One of the compromises witnessed today is parent allowing their children to mark or tattoo their bodies. Many of our youth today do not realize that they may be sorry in the future that they chose to put tattoos on their bodies. I know many people both young and old who have said to me that they wish they had not been ignorant when they were young, but now they must live with consequences of their action all through their lives. A small percentage of the people have the funds to remove it by laser. One of the dangers of tattoo is AIDS being transmitted through contaminated ink or dirty tattoo needles. If fresh ink is not used, then the last person who was tattooed who had any kind of transmittable diseases could leave behind that virus or bacteria e.g AIDS Hepatitis etc has been traced to tattoo ink and needle contamination. Colossians 3:20………………….. Some young people are having them done in defiance and rebellion to their parent’s wishes because they want to be like their friends. They bring curses upon themselves as God said children should honour and obey their parents. Enormous ignorance, lack of discernment and knowledge in the things of God is the reason why so many people are deceived on this issue. Hosea 4:6a says…………….Many Christians are ice cream believers who have not been taught nor grounded in the word of God. Church leadership owe an apology to the youth of our today because many of them have failed in their responsibilities to speak out on the issues of the day and have allowed influences of the world to shape our society. Many Christian parents have failed in their responsibility as they have been too busy chasing money instead of raising their children in the nurture and admonition of God as commanded in the Bible. Ephesians 6:4……… The church should be warned on this subject of tattoo is that we have a generation of youth that love the Lord yet do not understand all of His way. Most youth have not seen true Christianity, great revival, a real cause to live and die for. It important that when the youth come to church with their tattoo, dress, music and old habits, we must not despise them nor look down on them but rather welcome and love them and gently teach them the ways of the Lord. We are called to love and pray for them and help them avoid making mistakes we have made in our own walk with the Lord. To bridge the generation gap, we need God’s grace, and also need to be true mother and fathers speaking the truth in love always. It is very important to pray fervently against any manner of evil or witchcraft, if you through ignorance, have received a tattoo or allowed your children to have one. Some people received tattoos before they are “born again” and after they are touched by the Lord, they wish they had never had done it.

TATTOO

Most often than not, these people do not realize that in partaking of this to tattooing can open the door to wrong and polluted influences in their lives. Just as evil videos, immoral rock music albums, wicked internet games and violent movies are displaying evil trends in order to destroy our youth. Satanic tattoos, skin heads and other occult rites are opening many of our children to demonization. OUR BODIES ARE A TEMPLE In Gen 1:31…………. After the Lord created man and woman, He placed them in the garden of Eden along with other creations; He pronounced that the way He created them was good. He desires that our bodies be a reflection of His own beauty. When people tattoo their bodies they are tampering with what the Lord said was very good the way He made it. It is unnatural is against God’s will for man and woman to mark their bodies. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and are admonished not to defile them. A tattoo on one’s body is like graffiti on the wall, and does not glorify God. 1 Cor 6:19-20……………….. We need to come to ourselves and fathom what is it that makes a man dissatisfied with the way God made him. Many people feel inadequate with the way they look so they seek ways that will cause them to feel better about themselves or cause others to accept them. This is not wrong when it comes to having good grooming habits, but we need to understand true beauty comes from within, not from what we wear or how we look. Men are always ensnared with in vanity, rejection, fear, pride and even racial discrimination, when emphasis is put on the outward appearance. The beauty of coming to God is that He would deliver us from the outward things we need to feel good about ourselves, because when we are in sin, we do not feel worthy or acceptable, but through Christ we are. WHOSE IMAGE ARE YOU? If we the image of God, and operate in the will and purpose of God for our lives, to be who He made us to be without creating a different image. It is a known fact that many people are consumed with trying to be different or become acceptable not only by getting a tattoo but by other things as well. So many people argue and believe that since they have the name of Christ, the sign of the cross or some Biblical word or sign tattooed on their body they can witness by the tattoo to others. They argue further that since they are living right, they will end up in heaven. However, God is more concerned about we live our lives than by displaying a religious mark on our bodies.

TATTOO

Also, tattoo is a creation of the devil. The creation of human body is so wonderful, as the greatest work of the Almighty, the body must not be destroyed by tattoos. Bible warns us against Tattoos in Leviticus 19:28 which says ………. I know some will have time receiving this teaching because tattooing has now become an accepted practice in our society. However, just because society approves of something does not make it right in God’s eyes. Our society at large also approves of abortion and divorce as well. However, the Bible makes it clear that God doesn’t approve of these things. There might be many dedicated Christians’ that have tattoos, should they pursue getting tattoo? Tattoos might be popular; does it make it right for people who profess God to wear tattoo?

tired

'Tired all the time' is a popular phrase given by patients to their family doctors. Tiredness or fatigue is a common problem. Often, it is not a medical issue but one that can be reversed by a change of lifestyle.

DREAM

Brethren, what is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Has your dream died and buried? Can you dream yet another dream? Beloved, without dream, a man ceases to exist. Dream is the vehicle that drives men to their place of destiny. If the vehicle of your dream is involved in an accident or the tyre is deflated OR YOUR dream anthenna has been distroyed, stand up and fight, ensure that the vehicle is repaired and put back to order; and having done all to stand, therefore. You will also experience divine positioning in Jesus name. Situation can lie; circumstances might portray a different picture and make you think that God has forgotten you. God who has the absolute power to speak and it come to past will speak on your behalf; and impossible things will become possible in Jesus name. Joseph’s dream was almost killed and buried, but his trust in and faithfulness to God, together with his determination to be different from the multitude saw him through to Pharaoh’s palace as second in command. Develop trust in God and remain faithful to His commandments; together with determination, you will reign and be the preferred. Don't forget that Necessity is the mother of invention while Dream is the father of inventions..

"We cast broken things aside and call them junk, but God cast unbroken things aside as useless."

What does it take for God to answer our prayer?

Have you ever known someone who really trusts God? When I was an unbeliever, I had a good friend who prayed often. He would tell me every week about something he was trusting God to take care of. And every week I would see God do something unusual to answer his prayer. Do you know how difficult it is for an unbeliever to observe week after week? After a while, "coincidence" begins to sound like a very weak argument. So why would God answer my friend's prayers? The biggest reason is that he had a relationship with God. He wanted to follow God. And he actually listened to what He said. In his mind, God had the right to direct him in life, and he welcomed Him doing just that! When he prayed for things, it was a natural part of his relationship with God. He felt very comfortable coming to God with his needs, his concerns, and whatever issues were current in his life. Furthermore, he was convinced, from what he read in the Bible, that God wanted him to rely on Him like that. He pretty much exhibited what this statement from the Bible says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."1 "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer..."

The Truth About Failure

Failure doesn't mean you are a failure . . . it does mean you haven't succeeded yet. Failure doesn't mean you have accomplished nothing . . . it does mean you have learned something. Failure doesn't mean you have been a fool . . . it does mean you had a lot of faith. Failure doesn't mean you have been disgraced . . . it does mean you were willing to try. Failure doesn't mean you don't have it . . . it does mean you have to do something in a different way. Failure doesn't mean you are inferior . . . it does mean you are not perfect. Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your life . . . it does mean you've a reason to start afresh. Failure doesn't mean you should give up . . . it does mean you should try harder. Failure doesn't mean you'll never make it . . . it does mean it will take a little longer. Failure doesn't mean God has abandoned you . . . it does mean God has a better idea!

CONVERSATION BETWEEN PENCIL AND ERASER

Pencil and Eraser Pencil: I'm sorry Eraser: For what? You didn't do anything wrong. Pencil: I'm sorry because you get hurt because of me. Whenever I made a mistake, you're always there to erase it. But as you make my mistakes vanish, you lose a part of yourself. You get smaller and smaller each time. Eraser: That's true. But I don't really mind. You see, I was made to do this. I was made to help you whenever you do something wrong. Even though one day, I know I'll be gone and you'll replace me with a new one, I'm actually happy with my job. So please, stop worrying. I hate seeing you sad. I found this conversation between the pencil and the eraser very inspirational. Parents are like the eraser whereas their children are the pencil. They're always there for their children, cleaning up their mistakes. Sometimes along the way, they get hurt, and become smaller / older, and eventually pass on. Though their children will eventually find someone new (spouse), but parents are still happy with what they do for their children, and will always hate seeing their precious ones worrying, or sad. All my life, I've been the pencil. And it pains me to see the eraser that is my parents getting smaller and smaller each day. For I know that one day, all that I'm left with would be eraser shavings and memories of what I used to have.

What's our Purpose in Life?

There's much more meaning in life once you know your purpose. Consider a hammer. It's designed to hit nails. That's what it was created to do. Now imagine that the hammer never gets used. It just sits in the toolbox. The hammer doesn't care. But now imagine that same hammer with a soul, a self-consciousness. Days and days go by with him remaining in the toolbox. He feels funny inside, but he's not sure exactly why. Something is missing, but he doesn't know what it is. Then one day someone pulls him out of the toolbox and uses him to break some branches for the fireplace. The hammer is exhilarated. Being held, being wielded, hitting the branches -- the hammer loves it. At the end of the day, though, he is still unfulfilled. Hitting the branches was fun, but it wasn't enough. Something is still missing. In the days that follow, he's used often. He reshapes a hubcap, blasts through some sheet rock, knocks a table leg back into place. Still, he's left unfulfilled. So he longs for more action. He wants to be used as much as possible to knock things around, to break things, to blast things, to dent things. He figures that he just hasn't had enough of these events to satisfy him. More of the same, he believes, is the solution to his lack of fulfillment. Then one day someone uses him on a nail. Suddenly, the lights come on in his hammer soul. He now understands what he was truly designed for. He was meant to hit nails. All the other things he hit pale in comparison. Now he knows what his hammer soul was searching for all along. We are created in God's image for relationship with him. Being in that relationship is the only thing that will ultimately satisfy our souls. Until we come to know God, we've had many wonderful experiences, but we haven't hit a nail. We've been used for some noble purposes, but not the one we were ultimately designed for, not the one through which we will find the most fulfillment. Augustine summarized it this way: "You [God] have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee." A relationship with God is the only thing that will quench our soul's longing. Jesus Christ said, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." Until we come to know God, we are hungry and thirsty in life. We try to "eat" and "drink" all kinds of things to satisfy our hunger and thirst, but yet they remain. We are like the hammer. We don't realize what will end the emptiness, the lack of fulfillment, in our lives. Usually when we keep God out, we try to find fulfillment in something other than God, but we can never get enough of that thing. We keep "eating" or "drinking" more and more, erroneously thinking that 'more' is the answer to the problem, yet we are never ultimately satisfied. Our greatest desire is to know God, to have a relationship with God. Why? Because that's how we've been designed. Have you hit a nail yet?