Romans 1:21-25, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.  Amen.”

In these passages Paul the apostle is talking to the believers, he is saying that they know who God is, but they became vain in their imaginations, meaning they began to pick apart the things of God that they liked apart from the things of God they didn’t agree with.  This reminds me a lot of some of us Christians today, so many of us pick and choose what parts of the Bible we like, and the parts that we don’t like we just skim over and don’t pay much attention to.  If  God wanted us to do that then He wouldn’t have given us the whole Bible to read, He could’ve just chose the “most encouraging and uplifting scriptures” to put into it so we would be satisfied and content with ourselves every time we read it.  In verse 25 Paul tells us that they began to change the truth of God into a lie and began worshipping the creature more than the Creator.  As I was reading this the first thought that came to my mind was, “How dare they!  How could they worship the things God created, but not God Himself!”  Then I came to realize, if you truly think about it, how much do we worship the blessings, and the things God so freely gives us because He loves us that much, yet we take those things for granted daily, even if we don’t realize it at the time. If we start loving those things and desiring after the satisfaction of them, then we truly are worshiping the amazing blessings God give us rather than worshipping Him!  Let us as Believers and Lovers of God, never seek after His hand and the blessings He so lovingly gives us, but let us keep seeking after His face, and His face alone!

Keshia Heath
Guest Minister Coordinator

2010! Not only are we going into a new year, but we are entering into a
whole new decade! Talk about a fresh slate! I can’t tell you how excited I
am for this new year, especially being a part of the YFN team. There is such
an attitude of expectation for our 20th year. I am so ready to see God do
incredible things through me and in my life! I believe God has things in
store for you as well! Jesus even said that, “I makes all things new.” But,
let me ask you a question: is there something about your life that you want
to see God change this year? Is there a habit or something holding you down
that you’ve been battling for so long that finally you want to claim the
victory over? Is there something you have been standing in faith for, but it
seems just too big to accomplish? Maybe you are like me and have gotten
frustrated with “new years resolutions” and have just stopped making them
all together because of the fact that you know in the end you are going to
fail. The disappointment seems so unnecessary right? Well, I’m going to tell
you something that changed my life: GOD BELIEVES IN YOU! His word says that
“through Christ, you can do ALL things!” and that “He has made you MORE than
conquerors!” Here’s the deal: if you are looking for something from God this
year, or a victory in your life, God believes that if you trust in His power
in your life, YOU CAN DO IT! No matter what circumstance, God promises that
you can be free and overcome! So this year, even if you have messed up
already, believe in what God says about your life and claim the victory! You
have the victory!

-Jared Ellis

God has been doing a lot in my life since YFN last summer and I’m hoping that what He’s been teaching me could potentially help you. Recently I’ve been going through the book of Romans and it has been changing my perspective on things. After partially reading through I’ve realized that the way that I viewed my sin and the things that I thought I had to do to get back on God’s “good side” were all mixed up. I see now that the Lord loves us no matter what we do or when we do it because his love will never increase or decrease. I used to think that after I would commit a sin I wouldn’t be back to being right with God until the next worship service where I can lay it at his feet and then he could forgive me. Paul tells us that we can do that whenever and wherever and that we don’t have to be in a spiritual environment to talk to God and to ask for forgiveness. Paul says in Romans 8:1 & 2 There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. We are dead to sin and for a while I would get tempted and then give into the temptation but now my outlook on temptation and the devil is just that it is dead to me so I act as if it is no longer there and I keep my eyes on Jesus and let him renew my mind and I die to myself daily.  In Romans 8:8 it says “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  That is all that I want to do in my lifetime is just stay in the will of God and bring him as much glory as possible. Man I pray that ya’ll will consecrate your lives to Christ because it is the most beautiful thing and as cliche as it sounds, you won’t regret it. Well, thats all I got. Hope to see you all at YFN ’2010 this summer!

2 Cor. 3:14-18–(14) But their minds were hardened for to this day when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted. (15) Yes to this day whenever Moses read a veil lies over their hearts. (16) But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. (17) Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. (18) And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same glory form one degree to another. For this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.Romans 6:6-10

How many times have you heard your friends say, “I just can’t do it! I just can’t let go of this stuff! I know it’s wrong, I just can NOT control myself!” Maybe those words have come out of your own mouth; maybe you feel like that stuff you know is gnawing at you on the inside has just too strong of a hold on you. Hold on my friends, because I have some insane news for you: Jesus has a completely different opinion of you and the strength that’s inside of you.

I can’t tell you how many years I spent in bondage to sin. I allowed it to rule my life, my relationships, my time.  Yes, I know, it seems absolutely absurd, but there are ACTUALLY Christians walking around who are still in bondage to sin and addictions! But then I read this passage, and my entire world came crashing down around me. “I don’t have to be a slave to this stuff? I’ve been made free? I live with Christ?” Once I read that and prayed to receive that freedom and actually BELIEVED it in faith, my life was never the same.

What do you need freedom from today? What are you allowing to rule you? Know that you God has a different idea of how your life should look like, and He has given you the tools to be free. Spend some time with the Lord today and receive the freedom from that stuff you think you can’t shake off… and I promise you… He WILL set you free!

-Jared Ellis
YFN 2010 Head Dorm Counselor