Religion & Praise

 I was reading my bible tonight, trying to figure out what to write about.. do I write about love, do I write about friend fights, what does God want me to speak on? 

2 things came to mind. well one, and other God had me flip to in my bible.

1st one, 'religion'. people always ask me, "Victoria, why are you so religious?" and I honestly get mad. cause I'm polar opposite of religious. religion to me is like a book of scary rules that is set out to make you seem like you're perfect, but you're not. religion to me is slavery and acting fake. that's not what my relationship with God is like. 

religion is like, "if you do this, then I'll love you." 

God says, "no I love you right now, and you don't have to be perfect". We may do things for him, but they're in honor and in praise, not in pain or disgrace.

2nd thing, God took me to the book of Psalms, (my favourite book, as we all know) Psalm 96:3-5 

"declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the people's! for great is The Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.." & it goes on declaring his awesomeness. 

to me that's just saying, why hide the fact that he's awesome & loves you and forgives you no matter what you've done to him or to anyone!?

we're forgiven, and loved and we need to shout his praise (psalm 100:1) and be glad he's who he is. God deserves to be praised and Jesus is his son.. he deserves all of the acclaim. 

when it says "marvelous works" I just think of everything- galaxies, the earth and just existence. We may get pretty annoyed of every day things, but this is crazy and One made it all. 

(God, AMEN! ;)) 

It's like dissing someone's painting, they worked hard on it to make millions of people happy & all of them hate it & don't want it. 

think about it in Gods perspective. He made this beautiful earth and the galaxies and stars & for some- his beautiful art isn't enough. "He is worthy to be praised"(psalm 96:4) This isn't enough? 

We need to give credit where credit is due, if we give artists credit- God deserves it too.

that includes your beauty, because God made you too. 

since Genesis 1:27 God has said we were made in his image. we were made from his beauty, he lives in us & for us. 

Which brings me back to the religion topic. 

Christianity is about God searching for man, not man searching for God.

which brings me to a quote from one of my favourite poems- Jeff Bethke of course. and that's 

"religion says do, Jesus says done. religion says slave, Jesus says son. religion puts you in bondage, while Jesus sets you free- religion makes you blind, but Jesus makes you see" 

Religion isn't what I am, Jesus is who I have & God is my father. There is no rules, there's love, there is no outfit we're supposed to wear, there's love. God loves us for who we are, right now. 

Religion is full of rules and things that make the world think your holy, and of God- while I'm over here knowing Gods real love, your following your list on how to make yourself look better. 

I don't need to impress anyone. 

there's no religion that could win me over what God has for me, religion made me blind- but Jesus helps me see.