More Than a Christmas Carol: 5 Takeaways From “O, Holy Night”

Every Christmas and all throughout the world, people are acknowledging Christ. Christmas songs that proclaim Jesus’ birth are still played in shopping malls and sung on the lips of those who may not know Him. Jesus receives the kind of glory that He should in the month of December.

Of course, many of the carols we sing are simply traditions. They’re considered to be classics rather than hymnals that glorify our Savior. And unfortunately, even Christians—including myself—tend to forget the true meaning behind these songs that we habitually sing. 

But they’re more than just songs to celebrate Christmas. The intention behind these songs was to remember our Savior’s birth. 

Since it is easy for these carols to lose their meaning after hearing them dozens of times, I’ve decided to take one of my favorite ones and reflect on its lyrics, paraphrasing the truths behind each line. 

Below are 5 takeaways from the song “O Holy Night”:

   

1. Jesus is the light in our darkness.

“O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of Our dear Saviour’s birth.”

All throughout the Bible, God uses analogies and symbolism to illustrate Biblical truths. I believe that the birth of Jesus is one of the most beautiful examples of this. 

It is no coincidence that the wise men were led into the city of Bethlehem by a bright and shining star. Similarly, in the midst of the darkness of our life, God will be our light. He can guide us through this world and bring hope, guidance, and peace in each step. 

2. In the midst of despair, we have a reason to celebrate. 

“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn”

It’s a shame that the holidays can cause so much anxiety for us at times. It’s the exact opposite of how God wants us to respond to the birth of His son. 

Jesus came to rescue us. He came to bring salvation for humanity, to offer hope in the midst of our weariness. 

And this is the greatest gift of all. This is why we should be full of joy this season, celebrating our Savior’s birth. 

3. In Christ, we are all created equal. In Christ, there is only love. 

“Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother.

And in His name, all oppression shall cease.”

The one who belongs to Christ should never have a reason to feel rejected. God’s law is love—it is not rules. Those who follow Him should never have a reason to feel condemned. 

Christmas offers the perfect opportunity for Christians to spread this love by reaching out to the needy and to those who may feel unloved, just as Christ did. It is our job to become a representation of this love, to become a light in this dark world, and to share this freedom with others without judging or discriminating.

4. The first Christmas was a precious and sacred night, despite the circumstances. 

Even though Jesus was born to a nobody in small-town Bethlehem—in a stable, nonetheless—this was a moment to be glorified. 

“O hear the angle voices

O night divine!

O night when Christ was born

O night divine!

O night, O night divine!”

Jesus was worth the highest honor and royalty treatment, and yet God allowed Him to enter into this world as if he were an average human. 

Maybe God wanted us to realize that what the world deemed as significant really wasn’t significant at all. Despite the fact that Jesus’ birth was not triumphant in the material sense, it was still sacred. The earthly circumstances could not have taken away the peace and joy that were experienced in the stable on that night.    

And that alone should give us hope. 

5. We get to praise His name forevermore.  

“Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we

Let all within us praise His holy name

Christ is the Lord!

Their name forever praise we”

When we think of Jesus’ birth, we can experience the same joy that pierced through the darkness 2000 years ago, despite what our circumstances may look like. And from the joy in our hearts will rise a desire to glorify Christ’s name forever—from now and into eternity, from earth and into heaven.  

As you sing the classic Christmas carols this season, I challenge you to look behind the words. Let’s receive the true Christmas spirit that God wanted us to have while we celebrate Christ’s birth, remembering that precious, holy night.

“Noel, Noel

O night, O night divine

Noel, Noel

O night, O night divine

Noel, Noel

O night, O holy night”

Listen to O Holy Night by Pentatonix.

About the Author :

Tessa E. Hall is a 19-year-old author of Purple Moon, her YA Christian fiction novel, published September 2013 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She has a passion for youth ministry, especially in the area of the written word. She also loves acting, music, Starbucks, and her imperial Shih Tzu—who is named Brewer after a character in her book, as well as her love for coffee.

Am I Too Messed Up to Receive God’s Grace?

Have you ever wondered this? Maybe you’ve heard about Jesus, but you’ve never accepted him before, only because you’re afraid that He won’t accept you. Or perhaps you’re already a Christian, but you’ve made some pretty bad choices recently that you just don’t think God could forgive.

I think many Christians—and non-Christians who feel too “dirty” to receive Jesus—have experienced this guilt at least once. However, when we say that we’re too dirty for God’s grace, we’re basically saying that His grace isn’t enough to cover our sins.

Let’s say that you’ve spent the entire day hiking. When you come home, you wouldn’t avoid taking a shower just because you feel too dirty, would you? Of course not! That would go against the entire purpose of taking a shower.

The same should apply with God’s grace.

The purpose of soap is to wash away our filth; the purpose of grace is to wash away our sins. And His grace is enough to clean even the worst of our mistakes (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Have you ever avoided asking for God’s forgiveness, only because you were afraid that you would mess up again? I know I have. But I’ve realized that Satan will do everything he can to prevent me from accepting God’s grace. He doesn’t want us forgiven; he wants us sinning!

But if you don’t seek God’s forgiveness, you will probably start assuming that you can’t mess up any more than you already have. And because of this mindset, you will just become filthier and filthier.

However, not only can God wash away those sins, but He can give you strength to resist temptation for next time.

Satan condemns; Jesus convicts. God knows that we are only human. And guess what? He knew the sin you committed even before it happened!

 “He has taken our sins away from us
    as far as the east is from west.
The Lord has mercy on those who respect him,
    as a father has mercy on his children.”
He knows how we were made;
    he remembers that we are dust.”
~Psalm 103:12-14 (NCV)

Would your parents ever tell you that your room is too messy to be cleaned? Of course not! Instead, they would probably want you to begin cleaning as soon as possible. (And think about how much better you always feel when your room is clean!)

Jesus didn’t die for the spiritually clean; He died for the spiritually dead. For the sinners. For the mess-ups and imperfect people. Yet that’s why He’s grace is so amazing! Its entire purpose is to wash away our past, and to give us the opportunity to start brand new.

In my YA novel, PURPLE MOON, my protagonist is feeling “too dirty” for Christ’s forgiveness as well. While talking with her friend about this, she says, “You don’t know what all I’ve done, Austin. How can His grace, just with a snap of the fingers, cause all that stupid stuff I’ve done in the past to be gone? Vanished—just like that?”

Yes, it is hard to comprehend how this is possible. However, 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NCV) says:
“If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!”
Keep in mind that, after receiving God’s grace, you will probably mess up again. You can try your hardest to be sinless, but more than likely, you will just need to take another shower by the end of the day. And that’s okay. God sees your heart and will honor your efforts to obey Him. (However, there is a difference between using grace as an excuse to sin in the future and using it as a means to wash away your sins from the past.)

That condemnation you feel when you sin? Those are the chains that will try to keep you from seeking after God’s grace. Don’t let them keep you trapped in your filth any longer! Instead, remind yourself that you are only human. You’re a sinner. God knew that would happen even before you did it! Yet His grace is still enough to wash it all away.

Also, God can’t bring you into the plans that He has in store for you if you’re stuck in the past. Jesus has forgiven you, so you should forgive yourself as well.

“If grace is water, then the church should be an ocean,‘cause it’s not a museum for good people, it’s a hospital for the broken.”~Jeff Bethke 

Maybe you’ve felt too dirty to even go to church. Or perhaps you’re afraid of being judged by those who are aware of your past. Again, recognize this as Satan trying to prevent you from accepting God’s forgiveness. You are made new in His embrace. You don’t need to live with the baggage of sin anymore. Give it to Him. Lay it down at His feet. God isn’t going to judge you for being in church after the sins you've committed; in fact, He’s going to celebrate!

“Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.”

~Luke 15:4-7 (MSG)
God loves you, no matter how far you have gone. He has been seeking after your heart all along.

Isn’t it about time you’ve started seeking His as well?

About the Author :

Tessa E. Hall is a 19-year-old author of Purple Moon, her YA Christian fiction novel, published September 2013 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She has a passion for youth ministry, especially in the area of the written word. She also loves acting, music, Starbucks, and her imperial Shih Tzu—who is named Brewer after a character in her book, as well as her love for coffee.

Saying “Yes” to God and “No” to the World

Every Christian goes through seasons of their life when they face temptation. And as a young adult in today's culture, living for God is not easy. Maybe you’ve decided to go into this new year completely focused on God.

But then the mean girl at school started spreading rumors about you. Or the popular one invited you to a party.

Although I have my own share of mistakes, I am now terrified of stepping out of God’s will for my life. I’m terrified of leaving him to do things my way, just to satisfy my own fleshly desires. I know that—if I leave God, I will not receive His best for my life.

“The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”

~2 Chron. 15:2 (emphasis mine)

On the other hand, when I make decisions that God would be pleased with, I am filled with peace because I know that my life is in his hands. I also know that He has incredible plans for me—and the only way that those plans will unfold is if I stay in His will for my life.

Besides, Jesus gave His life for me. It would only make sense to live my life for Him.

However, Satan will do His best to lead you astray by disguising temptation to make it appealing. That is exactly how he persuaded Eve into taking a bite of the apple. The Enemy made the fruit seem completely harmless and worth the bite. Genesis 3:6 says that Eve was convinced that “the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some fruit and ate it.”

I think we all know what happened after that. (See Gen. 3:14-24.)

Because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, they were no longer in God’s original plan. Don’t you think Eve regretted taking that bite?

When I disobey God, it breaks my heart. It breaks my heart because I just think of how God gave Himself for me on the cross. He didn't die for "the world"—he died for me. He died for you. He was literally thinking of you all of those years ago when he was beaten to death, and he sacrificed himself so that you could have True life. He sacrificed himself so you could find freedom in Him—freedom from your sin, freedom from the world, and freedom to begin a loving relationship with Him.

“—Dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in His presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded—constantly tuned to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one.”

~Col. 1:22-23 (emphasis mine)

Don't take this opportunity for granted. And be careful not to say, "Oh, I have the rest of my life to live for God. But I'm only young once. Besides, I still go to church every Sunday.”

It’s impossible to live both for God and the world. Because when we say “yes” to the world, we end up saying “no” to God. There is no in between.

"But because you are lukewarm—neither hot, nor cold—I am ready to spit you out of my mouth."

~Revelation 3:16 (emphasis mine)

"Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”

~Matthew 7:21 (emphasis mine)

“So if you want an eternal home, leave your evil, low-down ways and live good lives.”

~Psalms 37:27

“You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that ‘he’s a fiercely jealous lover.’ And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find.”

~James 4:4-6

Your youth is the prime time to cultivate a relationship with God, which can be the foundation for the rest of your life. Whether you realize this or not, the habits you form now will most likely continue throughout the rest of your life. 

Also, don't try to focus so much on being a "good person". In other words, don't try to avoid temptation for the sake of keeping up a good performance. When we do that, we are avoiding temptation through our own strength and not God's. When we do that, we are not avoiding temptation for the right reasons. And then we will eventually become exhausted and give up.

However, when we have a relationship with God, we will no longer have a desire to please our sinful selves. We can always say no to temptation through His strength.

"The only temptation that has come to you is that which everyone has. But you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it."

~1 Corinthians 10:13

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”

~Galatians 5:16

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”

~Romans 8:5-6 (Emphasis mine)

God has so much in store for you. He wants to have a lasting relationship with you, and He cannot wait to reveal His plans for you. But the only way those plans can unfold is if you seek Him with all your heart and strive to please Him with every decision that you make. 

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

~Matthew 6:33

“No one has ever seen this,

    and no one has ever heard about it.

No one has ever imagined

    what God has prepared for those who love him.” 

~1 Corin. 2:9 (emphasis mine)

When we say no to sin and yes to God, it’s not like we’re saying “no” to a fun life and “yes” to a boring one. In fact, it’s the complete opposite. Because when we live in sin, we’re actually living in bondage.

However, when we live for God, we’re saying “yes” to an abundant life.

And “yes” to living a life of freedom.

“If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.”

~John 8:32

Extra resources:

Click here to download a list of more scriptures on this topic.

About the Author :

Tessa E. Hall is a 19-year-old author of Purple Moon, her YA Christian fiction novel, published September 2013 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She has a passion for youth ministry, especially in the area of the written word. She also loves acting, music, Starbucks, and her imperial Shih Tzu—who is named Brewer after a character in her book, as well as her love for coffee.

Connect with her on :

Mary, Did You Know?

Can you imagine what it would have been like to be Mary? To be told that you were chosen to bear God’s only Son?

It’s not like Mary knew it was coming. She was just an average girl leading an ordinary teenage life. No, she didn't attend a public high school every day. She didn't have a Facebook account—or even WiFi, for that matter. Now that’s hard to imagine!

However, I’m sure she had many of the same emotions that every teen experiences: Feelings of rejection, failure, depression, perhaps even loneliness. She could have even been struggling to find a purpose for her life.

I can imagine God watching her and thinking, “Mary, you have no idea. You can’t even comprehend all that I have in store for you.”

I wonder if—when God sees us crying out to Him—he thinks the same thing: “If only you knew what I have in store for you. If only you knew, then you would face every day with a smile rather than a frown.”

"With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine." ~Ephesians 3:20 (NCV)

Jesus came into this world to bring hope. 

He came to bring light in midst of the darkness. So don’t lose hope that God has something incredible in store for you. You weren't created by accident—and as long as you follow God wholeheartedly, the events of your life will not occur just by random.

Because you have been made with a purpose.

“All the days planned for me were written in your book before I was one day old.” ~Psalm 139:16 (NCV)

“Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” ~Jeremiah 1:5 (NCV)

Sure, you probably won’t become conceived by the Holy Spirit—but the anointing that God has given you is just as important. Even if it seems small to the world’s eyes, it means everything to God.

“But you are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” ~1 Peter 2:9 (NCV)

Ultimately, the plans God has for you aren't about you. They’re about Him. They’re about bringing light into this dark world. God didn't choose Mary to bear His Son so she could receive glory and feel important, but so that she could be a vessel in which God uses to spread His Good News.

You may not feel qualified to do anything “significant” by the world’s terms. But God, the Creator of the Universe, has qualified you and placed a special anointing on your life—a purpose that only you can fulfill! And through that, you will have the opportunity to spread His Good News. What an amazing privilege!

"He used a virgin who was a nobody to give birth to a Somebody who could bring the Gospel to everybody." ~Unknown

So the next time you feel unimportant or hopeless about your future, just imagine God looking down on you and saying, “If only you knew…”

“No one has ever seen this, and no one has ever heard about it. No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” ~1 Corin. 2:9 (NCV)

About the Author :

Tessa E. Hall is a 19-year-old author of Purple Moon, her YA Christian fiction novel, published September 2013 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She has a passion for youth ministry, especially in the area of the written word. She also loves acting, music, Starbucks, and her imperial Shih Tzu—who is named Brewer after a character in her book, as well as her love for coffee.

Connect with her on :

School Survival for the Christian Teen

A Back-to-School Teen Spiritual Checklist

As much as I enjoyed the summertime as a kid, going back to school was very exciting for me. Not necessarily because I was looking forward to learning, but because I was looking forward to a brand new year—making new friends, being a grade older, having the opportunity to start over and try to make better grades, etc.

However, each school year also came with a whole new set of challenges. Especially in high school.

For the next nine months, you’ll be entering the same territory every day, surrounded by people who may or may not be Christian. There will come days when you’re tempted to give up, days when you just don’t feel like doing your homework or even going to school.

Why not go ahead and prepare yourself for times like these? Of course, there’s already a lot of preparation to do before entering your new school year. However—there’s one check-list that most people fail to go over, and that’s the most important one of all.

It’s vital to go over your spiritual check-list before going back to school, in order to be ready for all the challenges and temptations this new school year will have to offer.

I’ve decided to make it easy for you by creating a “school survival guide for the Christian teen”. This free PDF includes:

• A spiritual check-list, which is based on Ephesians 6:10-18 and Colossians 3:12-14.
• A “reverse” check-list—items you should take off your list, based on Colossians 3:8-9.
• School survival scriptures, which includes verses you can read during desperate times.
• Useful ways to spend your free time: what to do on the weekends when most people your age are probably out partying.
• Must-haves for the school year, such as books, music, etc.
• Scriptures for you to print and cut out to stick in places such as on your mirror, in your car, or inside your locker.

If you would like to download a free PDF copy of “Back to School Check-Lists for the Christian Teen”, click here. Feel free to print—that way you can have the lists handy throughout the school year. You could also print out a few more copies for your friends, family members, youth group, etc.

Nine months is a long time. And whether you realize it or not, there is a spiritual battle on your school grounds every day. That means you must stay in prayer. You must stay focused. Remember, these teen years are important, so make the most of every day. Stay mature in Christ and continue growing in Him. Trust me, it’ll be very worth it in the long run.

“Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up…keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever.”~1 Peter 5:8 (MSG)

Tessa E. Hall is a 19-year-old author of Purple Moon, her YA Christian fiction novel to be published September 2013 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She has a passion for youth ministry, especially in the area of the written word. She also loves acting, music, Starbucks, and her imperial Shih Tzu—who is named Brewer after a character in her book, as well as her love for coffee. Tessa owns an award-winning blog, www.ChristisWrite.blogspot.com, where she posts weekly with teen devotions, writing tips, book reviews, and more.

Summer Makeover: The Spiritual Diet

For many teens, summer is the perfect opportunity to become someone completely different. The three months between your previous grade at school and the following one seems to hold a promise for a brand new start. In fact, many books and movies are centered around the idea of a teenager’s transition during the summer. Unfortunately, almost always this "growth" has to do with appearance. For example—if someone feels like a social outcast at school because of the fact that she’s overweight, she may decide to spend the summer losing pounds in order to become the kind of girl who will turn heads next fall.

No, it’s not wrong to want to get in shape, or even dye your hair a new color (with your parent’s permission, of course). But what’s your motive behind these goals?

Our culture has put much emphasis on appearance, which has caused us teenagers to believe that the only way to become likeable is to look “perfect”. However, I’ve realized that this satisfaction is only for a moment—because after a while, you’re just going to want to change your appearance again. That’s how this kind of perfection is. You’ll find something else you don’t like about yourself—such as your skin color—so next summer, you’ll make it your goal to get a darker tan. It’s an endless cycle of never being satisfied with the way you look.

“Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.”
~Luke 12:25-27 (MSG)

There’s no point in striving so hard to change something that won’t even last. The color you dyed your hair? It’ll fade within a few months. The pounds you lost? It’s likely that you’ll gain them back eventually. You aren’t carrying your outer shell with you into eternity. So why are you trying to spend so much time dressing up something that is only here for a moment—something that won’t even bring the ultimate satisfaction that you’re searching for?

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
~1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

It’s okay to want to be a “new person” when you go back to school in the fall—but instead of pouring all of your effort into changing your outer appearance which is only temporary, work on your inner appearance instead.

 “It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from within you—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God.”
~1 Peter 3:3-4 (NCV)

Since there’s almost three months without school, there is no better time than the summer to grow in your relationship with God. Here are a few ways you can become more in shape spiritually this summer:

1. Spend more time with God than usual—at least 30 minutes, if not more, every day. Soak yourself in His Word. Replace your television-watching time with a Bible-reading time.
2. Add a devotion book to your summer reading list. Joyce Meyer and Max Lucado are my personal favorite Christian non-fiction authors.  
3. Listen to less secular music (which has the potential to make you lazy and fat spiritually) and more Christian music (which strengthens you spiritually).
4. Talk to God throughout the day. Make Him your focal point. God’s always with you, so there’s no need to wait until you’re in church or kneeling beside your bed before you talk to Him.
5. Listen to God’s voice in everything you do. Examine your behavior, and ask Him to show you if there’s anything else you should do to shape up spiritually.

If you make it your goal to improve your walk with God this summer, it is very likely that people will notice a difference in you this fall. And not only will they notice a difference—but the more that people see God in you, the more likeable and attractive you will come across as God’s reflection radiates through you.

So don’t make it your goal this summer to change your physical appearance, but your heart. Your inner beauty. Trust me, a spiritual diet will profit far more than any earthly diet ever could, and the results will be far more satisfying.

“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline...And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” 
~Colossians 3:12,14 (MSG)

Tessa Hall is a 19-year-old coffeeholic and author of Purple Moon. She is also the editor over the faith department for Temperance Magazine, as well as a contributing writer for Imagine Mag, More To Be, & Real Teen Faith. She loves acting, music, Starbucks, and her imperial Shih Tzu—who is named Brewer after a character in her book, as well as her love for coffee.

What Are You Feeding Yourself?

I like having junk food every now and then. It’s a nice snack when I’m bored or simply craving something to eat. But those are the only two things that junk food is good for. It may look good, may even taste good and satisfy my craving for the moment—but if you look at the food’s nutritional value, you’ll see what you’re eating really consists of. And if you eat too much junk, you’ll be left with a sick and nasty feeling in the pit of your stomach. Why? Because junk food isn’t nutritious, which is why our bodies shouldn't consume a big portion at a time. If you do, you just may throw up.

I feel that eating too much junk food is the same as “eating” too much secular television, movies, books, and music. These things may satisfy me for the moment, and it may be a really good movie, TV show, book or song—it may even satisfy the “craving” I have for entertainment at the time. But it is nothing compared to healthy food that provides nutrients, energy, long lasting benefits, and even more fulfillment. Sure, I’ll have junk food every now and then... but if I eat too much I’ll feel completely disgusting afterward and am sure to regret it.

Believe it or not, what we “feed” ourselves does have affect our spiritual health. If you want to get rid of excess depression and fear, stop “eating” media that will make you feel that way, such as the news. If you’re tired of throwing up (thinking, acting, and speaking in ungodly ways, regurgitating what you've "taken in") then turn off your iPod. Or better yet, replace the secular music on your iPod with Christian music. Our bodies - physical and spiritual - cannot eat all that junk and it not have some sort of negative affect on us.

I admit, healthy food such as vegetables does look boring and probably isn’t considered as “tasteful” as junk food. However, the more you eat it, the more lasting benefits you gain and less of a chance there is for your body to be unhealthy. Eventually you won’t even crave the junk food anymore because you’ll find that the health food is way more rewarding and you feel much better afterward. Of course, a bite of junk food every now and then may not hurt. But it’s not to take the place of health food.

The way we think and act is a direct response from what we’re feeding ourselves. The lifestyles displayed on television are not the kind that we should model our lives after because eventually what we watch will rub off on us. This is why I believe that movies, television, music, and books are so powerful. Which is also why I only read/write Christian fiction, listen to mostly Christian music, and only watch a few television shows. It’s because I don’t like eating trash. I’d rather use my time eating things that will do me good in the long run, not harm.

When people are trying to lose weight, they eat smaller portions than what they’re used to and include more health food into their diet. We should all take the same careful consideration into what we allow into our bodies. Too much of anything that is not of God is never good for our spiritual systems.

Why do you think it’s so important to not spend much of our time investing in secular media? Have you noticed a change in the way you think, speak, act, and respond to certain situations because of the things you’ve watched/listened to/read?  What things would you cut out of your “diet” if you wanted to clean out your spiritual system?

Are You Blended?

Did you know that if you move to a different English-speaking country, chances are you will eventually start to sound like them? Your accent, your way of life, and even your mannerisms will fade into the country’s culture rather than your own. Your surroundings will begin to rub off on you little by little, whether you realize it or not. 

That’s exactly how it is when Christians hang out with the world. Think about it: If you’ve ever been to a party that served alcohol, have you ever seen anyone praising and worshipping God? No one would do that. Parties are for dancing, drinking, and sinning. Everyone there is doing what their friends are doing; no one wants to stand out at a party by worshipping God.

Likewise, you wouldn’t see someone dancing, drinking, and sinning at church would you? No one would do that, even those who do go to parties every weekend.

Let’s say there’s a girl named Hannah who has been raised in a faith-filled family. Her Facebook says that she’s a Christian. She prays when she needs God’s help. She goes to church every Sunday. However, her friends wouldn’t know that she was a Christian based on her lifestyle. Why? Because Hannah acted just like the rest of them. The only difference between her and the world’s lifestyle was that she went to church every Sunday morning. 

The illustration I gave of moving to a different country can apply to this as well. The more you hang out with a crowd, the more you will begin to sound, act, dress, and talk just like them.

God doesn’t call us to blend in with whatever surrounding we’re in. Revelation 3:16 says that those who are living a lukewarm lifestyle—partly living for God, partly living for the world—will be spit out of God’s mouth. 

Satan controls the world (2 Corin. 4:4). So when half of us is living for the world, we’re actually living for Satan. 

Maybe you have a few friends who aren’t Christians, but you’re hoping that by hanging out with them, you’ll be able to somehow lead them to God. However, despite how good your intentions may be, the longer you hang out with the world, the more you will begin to make compromises. You’ll start blending in with the world’s “culture” without even realizing it.

Adam and Eve, for example, had the greatest intentions to obey God. Yet after having one little talk with the serpent, they compromised their beliefs and disobeyed. 

“But I am afraid that your minds will be led away from your true and pure following of Christ just as Eve was tricked by the snake with his evil ways.”
~2 Corinthians 11:3

God calls us to be in the world but not of it (John 15:19). In other words, it’s okay to technically live in the world. But once you start seeing your lifestyle as well as your behavior matching the world’s ways, there’s a problem. 

2 Corinthians 6 says to “leave the corruption and compromise… don’t link up with those who will pollute you.” It also says not to join yourselves to those who do not believe, because “light and darkness cannot share together”. If you blend in with the darkness, how can you represent the light? You can’t live for both lifestyles. Instead, we are called to stand out. 

“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”
~Romans 12:2 (MSG)

We simply can’t experience God’s best for us if we’re not living for Him completely. No, living for God doesn’t mean occasionally posting a scripture on Facebook. It doesn’t mean saying the blessing before you eat a meal.

Living for God means being completely sold out for Him in everything that you do. Hebrews 11:6 says that he rewards those who seek him wholeheartedly, not those who seek him half-heartedly. 

“We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him.”
~Romans 8:28

Jesus came into the world to be a light for others. No, He didn’t stay clear of sinners. But he also didn’t blend in with them and act as if what they were doing was okay. Jesus’ whole purpose of coming into the world was to stand out. Let’s follow His example. Examine your behavior, examine the way you talk, examine your lifestyle. Are you giving God the glory by the way you’re living? Or are you blended?





Tessa Hall is a 19-year-old coffeeholic and author of Purple Moon. She is also the editor over the faith department for Temperance Magazine, as well as a contributing writer for Imagine Mag, More To Be, & Real Teen Faith. She loves acting, music, Starbucks, and her imperial Shih Tzu—who is named Brewer after a character in her book, as well as her love for coffee.

What Will You Decide?

Did you know that each of us make about 35,000 choices a day? That’s 12775000 per year. The thought alone overwhelms me; I’ve always been indecisive. Last year especially was a bit difficult for me, with all of the “big” decisions I had to make as a senior—such as which college should I attend… should I even go to college… and if so, what should I study… what do I even want to do for the rest of my life…

There’s a lot of pressure when you know that the course of your future lies on the decisions you make at that age. Especially when you have no idea if you’ll make the right one.  

But why is it that we are always so determined to make the right choice with those kind of decisions, yet often fail to consider the choices in smaller areas of our lives?Sure, big decisions may look as if they affect our future more. However, they may only come about three times per year. So what about those other 12774997 choices?

Obviously as a teenager, there are plenty “big decisions” we have to make about our future.  However, those are not the only ones that will affect our future for the rest of our lives. The “small decisions” that we make every day actually affect us more than we realize—and whether you believe it or not, the person that you are today is based on the decisions that you made yesterday. 

So why do we not give as much attention to those small areas as well? Someone may go back and forth for months about which college to attend, yet may not give even a second thought to the kind of people they’re hanging out with. The “small decisions” we make—such as skipping homework, cheating on a test, or lying to our parents—impact our future just as much as those “big decisions”. 

"Are you making your choices for God, or are you deciding by whatever seems desirable in the moment?"

No, these decisions are not to be viewed as little; they direct the course of our lives. Ask yourself: are you making your choices for God, or are you deciding by whatever seems desirable in the moment? As a Christian, it is important that we keep God first in every area of our lives. And if you ever need help with choosing the right thing, ask God to guide you. If you ask, He will show you which way to go in every big and small decision that you make.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.” ~James 1:5

This year, be aware of all of the little decisions that you may make—they’ll cost you more than you think. Remember that our decisions are not just temporary.

“A wise person will understand what to do, but a foolish person is dishonest. Fools don’t care if they sin, but honest people work at being right.” ~Proverbs 14:8-9

One lie that the enemy loves to feed us is that “just a little” isn’t a big deal. Have you ever been in a situation such as that? Maybe you’re at a party and you think that just a sip of alcohol won’t hurt; going just a little far with your boyfriend is okay; copying your friend’s homework just this one time is no big deal. However, if you think back to the Garden of Eden, this is exactly what Adam and Eve believed as well. Satan deceived Eve into thinking that just one little bite isn’t a big deal. It’s just an apple; surely it can’t be that bad. Think about the regret Eve must have had afterwards! If only she hadn’t allowed Satan to trick her into believing that the one little decision was harmless. 

“There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell. Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.” ~Proverbs 14:12-13

"Be determined to live this year entirely for Him in every area of your life—the “big”, as well as the “small”."

Strive to make better decisions this year. As you can see with the story of Adam and Eve, just one little rash decision can take you off the path that God had you on. Don’t do anything you’d regret and mess up the future God had planned for you, all because you decided to make a selfish decision that was against God’s will. Be determined to live this year entirely for Him in every area of your life—the “big”, as well as the “small”.

 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”

~Psalm 37:5

However, don’t just be determined not to make wrong decisions; be determined to make good decisions as well. This includes not skipping out on your daily quiet time with God, or deciding to invite your friend to church, or maybe sitting with the loner in the cafeteria rather than your friends. All of your choices have consequences—for every action there will be a reaction. What will the reactions to your choices be? 

“Wise people are careful to stay out of trouble,

but fools are careless and quick to act.”

~Proverbs 14:16

If you have made decisions in the past that you regret, remember that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). Let this year be a new start, a clean slate. It’s never too late to turn your life around and start making better choices. You have never gone too far to call on God and ask him to redirect your life so that your decisions are more pleasing to Him. Refuse to allow yesterday’s choices to keep you from experiencing all that God has in store for you today. Be determined to be a new person this year, and allow God to guide every step you may take.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” ~Proverbs 16:9

You don’t just make your decisions—your decisions are making you. So choose wisely. Each year brings a whole new set of 12775000 choices that will determine the rest of your life.

What will you decide?

Tessa Hall is a 19-year-old coffeeholic and author of Purple Moon. She is also the editor over the faith department for Temperance Magazine, as well as a contributing writer for Imagine Mag, More To Be, & Real Teen Faith. She loves acting, music, Starbucks, and her imperial Shih Tzu—who is named Brewer after a character in her book, as well as her love for coffee.