Tattoos

 Tattoo or no tattoo?
A lot of people always look to verse (Leviticus 19:28) on this topic which says "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on your yourself" But you have to also look at the surrounding scripture to fully grasp what is being said. 


"Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.Do not practice divination or seek omens.
Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.
Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.
Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness.Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:26-31 NIV) 
Here, God is speaking to His covenant people of Israel. He is telling them to stay away from all the religious practices so they wouldn't follow false gods. And if you really followed (Leviticus 19), then you shouldn't shave or cut your hair or get piercings.....yeah ;) 
Now back to verse 19:28 "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves" In this practice people made gashes in their skin not to express sorrows but to give life blood to the spirit of the deceased.  Tattoos today are much different because it's personal decor to express ones self, which obviously is not what that verse is talking about. 

 Pastor Craig Groeschel on tattoos: "Can a Christian get a Tattoo?"

     

The old testament was meant to lead people towards Jesus instead of false gods.

"Now that Jesus has come and set us free, we are not under the law for our good standing with God. Our right standing before God comes from placing our trust in Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for our debts, not on following the Old Testament regulations."-Pastor Chuckk Gerwig 


"Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:24–25"
 
So yes, as new testament believers, you are free to tattoo...or not to tattoo :-) .. Either way It's ok!

My Mom is too awesome!

"The will to succeed is important, but what's more important is the will to prepare"

 My mother has been going to school for the past 2 years to go from an LPN, to a RN. It wasn't easy but she made it through, and I'm extremely proud of her! She did this while also taking care of 6 kids, which is really inspiring about her. There were a lot of things that happened during the past two years that tried to hold her back. For instance, My nana got into a terrible car accident which almost took her life. It put the whole family in panic mode but God blessed us through it all, and thankfully she is still here with us. My mom could have just given up with school since there was so much going on but she didn't. She kept moving forward and pushed through all the trials that she faced. I'm truly grateful to have a mom like her.♥ God will direct your steps, but you have to take the first one.

Stop JRC from torturing students with electic shock!

-Gregory Miller (Change.org)

Please help and stop this nonsense! 
Sign the petition---- http://www.change.org/petitions/judge-rotenberg-educational-center-please-stop-painful-electric-shocks-on-your-students?utm_campaign=GdShhVWWee&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert
(FYI, THE VIDEO ON THE PAGE IS VERY DISTURBING)
Judge Rotenberg Center website --- http://www.judgerc.org/

Heavy anxiety/worries

Sometimes we have those days where anxiety strikes and overloads us with worry. It strengthens it's grasp on us to make it feel like there is no way out. It feeds us lies and false fears to take over our thoughts and make us busy.... to isolate us from the truth, BUT DON'T LET IT.

 If you are being burdened with anxiety or worries, BE STILL! Don't let it busy your mind and life, that's what it's made to do, it's made to keep you away from God. Call out to God, let Him take all your worries away.

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" -(Matthew 6:34)

"Be still and know that I am God" - (Psalm 46:10)

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."-(1 Peter 5:7)

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him." -(Psalm 62:5)