Devotions for Teens

[Soldier4Christ]

  Releasing The Pain (Cutting)

By: Steven Self


Question: I can't seem to stop cutting myself. It is the only way I have to release the pain I am going through. Please help!

This is a devotional I have written specifically for cutters who are being tempted to cut.  This will give you a picture of what goes on in the spiritual world when a cutter is cutting themselves.

Right now, Satan the cause of all your pain, is laughing at you.  Marveling in the pain your going through.  While Jesus is standing right beside you, hurting more than you are because of the pain your in, it hurts Him to see a dear loved one of His in this pain.  Jesus is crying wanting to help you, He cares about you so much that He's ordained you to read this in a time when you most need it, a time when your life is spinning in circles.

The Bible says that God doesn't give us a spirit of being timid, but a spirit of power and self-control.  Although you may not feel like that right now, it is true.  Even if you feel like a hypocrite, even if you feel like you've let Him down, pray.  God says "pray and I'll come."  God is standing right beside you and He will take care of the demon who is pressing your buttons and making you remember the hurtful things, and making them echo in your mind.

Satan is there trying to make you fall.  He hates you, He loathes the fact that your even reading this. He loves taking control of you, he loves making you lose all control of yourself.  Your mind knows it's not right to cut, but you can't keep that blade out of your hand or your skin.  As it rips your body apart, Satan just yells with excitement.  Jumping up and down for joy.  As Jesus falls to the ground, in pain.  Your pain is His pain. Your suffering is His suffering. Another cut rips your skin apart and the blood flows.  While you do that, what you don't see is that your part of the body of Christ.  When your skin rips, so does His.  You cut your savior to pieces over an idea that Satan has given you.

Your world is spinning out of control because the more you let Satan in, the more he makes you dizzy.  Jesus struggles to hold you steady, but He won't force himself on you.  By letting Satan in this far, your telling Jesus that there is no room for Him.  Your forcing Him out of your life.  Even though this doesn't feel right, ask Him back in.

Stand up dear child.  Proclaim that Jesus is your Lord and it is He who will control you.  Pray for God's protection, pray for Him to chase these demons away from you. 

Through the tears, the pain and the blood, Jesus will walk through.  He will overcome, He IS LORD and HE IS ALIVE.  He is stronger.  Grab a hold of Him, breathe Him in.  Jesus is your life-blood, stop Him from flowing out of your life.  Stop the blood, remember Jesus has already bled for you.  The bleeding is done for your soul.  Don't keep subjecting Jesus to pain over and over again.  He loves you.  He is here for you. 

Take a deep breath, look at yourself in the mirror.  Face the reality that Jesus loves you, no matter how badly you've hurt Him or yourself.  Jesus saves and He has saved you.  Hold on to your Bible tightly, He loves you and His word is just inside.  Breathe it in, let the Spirit remind you who you are in Him.  Jesus says that you are loved by Him and He is with you.  No matter how hard that is to believe, accept it and let it come in.

Your only choices are Jesus or Satan in your life and in your body.  If you are in pain, ask Jesus to come in a take it away.  You've suffered to much on the whim of the spiritual bully.  Kick him to the curb, get rid of him. How?  Just ask Jesus to do it powerfully now.  He will. 

When your at peace, you will make the right decisions, until then follow God's instructions.  His instructions are what I've just written for you.  Follow them and help Jesus to stop crying His crimson tears.

[Soldier4Christ]

  The Miracle in Darkness

By: Beth Hays


Can the darkness speak of your miracles? (Psalm 88:12) NLT

I read this verse and the obvious answer is no. Darkness cannot speak of your miracles. Darkness is simply…dark. At the time I read it my mom was going in for life-threatening surgery. The one whom I have taken care of for years (she has been sick most of my life) was leaving me and I was 6 hours away, powerless to do anything. I think darkness was an understatement.

Then, I looked back on the course of my life. It has been a life of darkness. I have been in countless situations that have broken me. I have traveled a long, dark, lonely road. But, then I stopped in awe. Amidst the intense darkness, I saw light. I saw the light of Jesus. I saw the healing power of the One who saved me. I saw a miracle…in darkness.

There is no real reason why I should be a Christian today. If we took inventory of the supportive people in my life who were Christians, I could easily count them on one hand. So, why am I here? It is the very darkness of pain and agony in my life that caused me to see Jesus. I am a miracle of darkness. Can darkness speak miracles? Yes…the proof is within my soul.

God decided to work yet another miracle through the darkness of that day. My mom made it through her surgery…amazed her doctors. I was left in awe. But, because of that darkness I turned to a close friend for comfort and we ended up spending the entire night encouraging each other and we had one of the most beautiful and amazing talks I have ever had with another human being.

Does the darkness speak of the miracles of God? You tell me. But, I say “YES!” My friend, are you in that darkness now? Are you living in intense pain and not sure if it will ever be worth it? Not only WILL it be worth it, but it IS worth it. Look around you, precious one, the darkness is whispering the miracles of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Maybe I'm A Psychopath

By: Amber Owen


Well, here I am, sitting in my car in the Bank of America parking lot in Apopka, Florida.  Now this may sound ordinary and dull, but you are mistaken.  If you think that sitting in a bank parking lot, typing on your laptop, in the middle of Podunk, USA, is boring you are misinformed.  See I’m not just sitting here, in my car; oh, no, I’m not.  What do you think I’m doing?  I’m just curious to see what kind of thoughts might run through your mind?  Get a feel for my audience I guess you could say.  So, according to you what am I doing here? 

There are many things that I could be doing here.  I guess you could say, “Well, duh, stupid, you’re typing this devotional that is what you are doing.” And in a sense yes you are correct in your logic, but what am I doing besides that?  Now, some of you could say that I’m doing the normal bank thing; cashing a check, stopping at the ATM, making a deposit, but you would be wrong.  I don’t have money; none to cash, withdraw, or deposit.  See what you have to look forward to as a college student?  So what are your thoughts? Well, let’s just say it has to do with a car that will not start. Why you ask?  Well, there are a numerous reasons that I can think of.  We can go realistic, denial, spiritual, psycho…you choose.

Psycho you say? Sure, psychotically, I can’t get home, because I’m doomed to live like this.  Nothing can be easy.  No matter what good goes on, I can’t see it because my freaking car can’t even stay running.  I spend money, money, money, and no fixy!  I don’t get it.  Why?  Why must this be this way? Why can’t you work?  Why can’t you have problems before I leave the driveway so I’m at least at home where help, phone, security, and sanity are?  Why?!

For those of you who are interested in denial. I’m supposed to get the hint that this car is not what I need.  Actually, this life is not what I need.  I don’t need this constant frustration, this constant headache, and this constant fear for my safety.  Why are you still in this car?  Just start walking home and give up on this choice in life whatsoever.  You can go be a hippy with your hip-hip-hippy clothes.  Go, be what you want.  Just run away from your problem. 

Okay, try the realistic. Realistically, the car has a little over 164, 000 miles on it.  It’s well driven and it’s been owned before.  Really, this is what you asked for when you bought a used car. Realistically, you don’t know a thing when it comes to cars, and then you don’t have any money on top of that.

Here’s the spiritual fun. God is giving you something to learn from.  You can get upset and act psychotic; deny everything and give up; think realistically and blame yourself; or you can learn something from it.  Maybe it’s a test.  A test in patience, humbleness, being creative, or being resourceful—what is He trying to say to me?  Amber, it’s all in the way you handle things.  Remember that you have gifts and you have the ability to choose.  Have faith that He is with you and that things will turn out fine.  Now, in a moment of dire need you may need comfort from those that you love.  Call them, but know that you, yourself are the only one that chooses the actions that you take.  The next time you are stuck in the parking lot of a Bank of America with nothing to do and nowhere to go, there just might be a lesson to make you sit back and smile. Sure you may not go anywhere, but when you do, you’ll be a better person.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Being Connected

By: Adam R. Rinehart


James 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever have the opportunity to get DSL for my web access.  It seems that every time here lately that I go to log on whether here at the church, or at home something always happens that causes me to get disconnected.  Either it is my daughter, someone calls, or I just plain get logged off. Maybe when they lower the price of DSL I can have it both here at the church and at home. 

You know, when we want to pursue intimacy with God and have a relationship with Him, we have to be careful that we are not finding ourselves like Internet access and being disconnected from Him because of sin that is goes un-confessed.    When we want to connect with God, God always draws near to us, but catch what also James says here at the end of the verse, “Cleanse your hand sinners, and purify your hearts.”    We are so busy wanting to come to God in prayer, but yet we forget to confess our sins and ask the Lord for forgiveness. 

God wants a close relationship with us, if He didn’t He would have never sent His Son to pay the price for that total access with Him.   He wants us to come to Him with our sin, and ask for the forgiveness that only He can give.  Let us draw near to God, and watch what God does in our lives by drawing near tous!  May God’s Grace Abound In You!

[Soldier4Christ]

  Witnessing To Parents

By: Steven Self


"How do I witness to my parents"?

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 1 Peter 3:1-2 (NIV)

There are a lot of teens who are strong believers and followers of God who ask me how to handle their non-believing parents.  Although Peter is talking to wives here, this is the same principle that applies to teens and their parents.  The more you press into God and live your life for Him, the more appealing your life is going to be to them and eventually they may start trying to figure out how your life is different from theirs.

Prayer is a critical key here too.  The job of convicting people to live a Godly life is not our job as Christians; it’s the job of the Holy Spirit.  So make sure you ask Him to do it.  Give Him room to work.  Make sure you are lifting your parents up to God daily, ask that God will give you favor in the eyes of your parents and help you to live a life that will be appealing to them and make them question where your happiness and joy come from.  Learn as much about God as you can by reading the Bible daily.  The more you know, the more ammo you have in this fight.  After all, you are joining the fight to save their souls.

I had the pleasure of meeting a 16-year-old guy named Mike.  Mike had a hard childhood and started coming to church with a friend of his.  I watched God work on Mike for months until he made the decision that he wanted to accept Christ into his life.  Both of Mike’s parents were present when he got baptized, and after the baptism Mike’s mom told him “I don’t know why you did that, there isn’t any reason to.” But in the following months I watched God really begin to change Mike’s life and grow in him.  Neither one of Mike’s parents were believers, but he prayed for them constantly.  After a while, Mike’s mom started attending church weekly.  And after about 7 months, I got to witness Mike’s mom make the decision of her own to accept Jesus into her life.  Not only did she accept Jesus into her life, it was Mike that baptized her.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the church, including me.  God can do amazing things.  Live your life for God, submit to and pray for your parents, and let God do what only God can do.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Life is Tough

By: Beth Hays


And I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including all the soldiers in the palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ. (Philippians 1:12-14) NLT

Life is tough. Sometimes it is beyond tough. I know that some of you reading this e-mail have been hurt beyond belief—broken, neglected, betrayed, abused, violated. I know that some of you have done some things you majorly regret—drugs, alcohol, sex, abortions, cruelty. And I know some of you have hurt yourself because you ran out of options—cutting, burning, smoking, stopping eating, purging. If so, this is from my heart to yours.

I understand pain. If there is anything in this world I know fully, it is pain. Every time I turned around as a child and young adult someone else was hurting me deeply. Every time I acted in love, I was faced with cruelty and another blow to my fragile, tattered heart. So many times I came close to giving up. I had tried everything else, even hurting myself, and always ended up back where I started—desperate.

I’m not going to tell you that life at some point magically got better. Life doesn’t work that way. I’m not going to pretend for a moment that I didn’t HURT unbelievably…or that you don’t as well. But, I’m not going to leave you in that place of darkness either. I want to offer you a truth that consistently blows me away.

You see, as much as I know depth of pain, I also know depth of love. I have spent countless hours working through my past and searching for healing. God is working it in me. But, that isn’t the point. It’s just a bonus. What all of this has shown me is that GOD IS GOOD. I know…threw you for a curve didn’t I? But, just look. Really look. All those hours you spent in tears, God cried with you. And had I known about your hurt, I would have been honored to sit and hold you through it. Our God is good.

“He didn’t stop it,” we scream. You’re right. He didn’t. And I am forever grateful. Yes, it hurt unimaginably. But, look at the good it has produced. What? You don’t see it? Look harder. Look at your strength, your wisdom, your love. Look at those around you who can see in you a light that glows with the glory of God in your heart. YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL MASTERPIECE OF GOD. And it took those heartaches to get you here. So, as you sit tattered, torn, and tired, don’t lose sight of hope…for these very moments are making you even more beautiful. Truly, my friend, our God is good. I see His goodness within your precious soul.

[Soldier4Christ]

  You Don't Own It

By: Jeff Lappano


“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” 1 Corinthians 12:11 (NKJV)

I want to continue in our study on the gifts and the call of God. As I continue to minister on this subject, I pray that you are learning and growing from what the bible has to say on the subject.

Even though “gift” is not mentioned, I will imply, through the context of the scripture, that “gift” is the subject matter. The word gift can be transliterated many different ways when it comes to being derived from its original language. We find “gift” in this passage meaning “spiritual endowment”. The gift (s) that you have are just given to you while you’re on earth. Your gift is not your gift. The Holy Spirit administrates the gifts.

Because He is the administrator of the gifts, he certainly has the right to tell you to use them when He wants to.  Lets look at Jonah 1:1-3. “Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me."

But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. The people of Nineveh were ruthless warriors in the manner of which they conquered territories in a very heartless way, and the Lord wanted to use the prophet to prophesy against them to bring them to repentance. However Jonah, maybe in the midst of a “brain freeze”, forgot that as a prophet he was go to go whomever the Lord sent him to go to. Jonah, by fleeing to Tarshish, disobeyed the Lord, and got in some major “hot water”.

I am no way implying that should you misuse the gift of God that you’ll end up in the belly of the great fish. The point of this lesson is to realize that the gifts inside of you aren’t your own, therefore treat them with the understanding that the Holy Spirit has the right to tell you when and how to use them.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Praise the Lord All the Time

By: Adam R. Rinehart


“Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.  Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.   From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.” Psalm 113:1-4 (KJV)

My wife and I were watching the newest rendition of “Freaky Friday” a few weeks ago, and needless to say, I laughed my head off.   It also amused me to see the teenaged girl not wanting to get out of bed. (Incase you did not see the movie, the mother and daughter magically switched bodies)  It was also amusing to see the mother come into the bedroom and forcibly grab her feet and drag her out of the bed to get ready for school.

I would guess that I am no better.  I am not a morning person.  I would rather be nocturnal than I would get out of bed in the morning.  Some of you are saying, but “Adam, sometimes I do not feel that there is a reason to get out of bed?”   I know how you feel, but the more and more that I study Scripture, the more and more that I find that there is more reason to get out of bed then just to begin the day, and go about our business.   

When we really look at what God has made us for, and what God commands us to do in the day, I find that we are called to praise the Lord all day long.   We have got to understand that all of creation is giving glory to God.  All of the earth rejoices!  The cat meow, the dog bark, the cow moo, the lion roar, the tree shaking in the wind, the sea roaring, and we getting out of bed in the morning all praise the Lord!

“Well, I have nothing to praise Him for.”  Excuse me? You have breathe.  You woke up that morning. You have a school to go to. You got there safely.  You got home, and are able to do your homework. You are able to see your family, and talk to your friends.  Those are just little things to praise God for.  We are to praise Him from the time that we get up to eat our breakfast to the time that we laid our head to rest for the evening. So, let’s get busy praising!  Praise The Lord!  May God’s Grace Abound In You.

[Soldier4Christ]

  A Clean Cut

By: Tony B. Rhoda


"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17 NKJV

All it took was a flick of the wrist. One clean swipe and it was done. The interesting part was that it didn't even hurt. Nope, not one bit. Didn't even notice it at first to be honest. However, when the blood started pouring down my chin, I knew there was a problem. I cut myself shaving.

Now, this may come to you as a shock but, I have never been taught the art of shaving. How sad, I know. 23 years old and still no clue how to use a razor. From the time I started shaving I always used an electrical shaver. But, today I didn't have it and I was forced to shave the old fashion way. Needless to say, I failed miserably.

So what does slicing my face up with a sharp blade have to do with God? Simple, God gives us the tools we need live a clean and smooth life. We were given gifts and talents to be used for His glory. When we use those for God, we are rewarded. But, just like our gifts can be used to bring people to Christ, they can also be used against Christ. The razor is not meant to draw blood but to smooth and cut the hairs off you face. Your gifts are not meant to be used for your self gain but for the gain of souls. Whatever God has blessed you with, use that gift for His glory not to glorify yourself. When you use your gift for the wrong reasons you not only can hurt yourself, but leave a cut that will scar your walk with Christ, and that is a razor burn you don't want to mess with. God Bless and Keep the Faith.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Watching Satan Suffer

By: Beth Hays


The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Romans 16:20) NLT

I experienced one of the grossest experiences of my life this past Sunday. I was walking out from church and evidently it had rained because there were worms EVERYWHERE. Now, I’m not talking of a few earthworms scattered around the sidewalk. I could not take a single step without crushing one.

Crushing is a euphemism. Have you ever stepped on a worm? It literally squishes underneath your feet. If you have felt that odd, incredibly disgusting feeling, then you understand my pain. If you have not, consider yourself very lucky.

So, after I walked all the way to my car, feeling the grossly squishy bodies crumble under my feet, I realized the biblical lesson involved. Those slimy little creatures are nothing compared to the grossness that lies in our enemy. Think of all satan is, my friends. He is the personification of hatred and cruelty—so much worse than worms. (Though, worms are a parent species of snakes, and Satan played a snake in the Garden of Eden.)

Just as I crushed the slimy worms, God promises us that he will crush Satan. Think of Satan, the schemer of so many of our problems, writhing under the foot of God, crying out for relief from the torture. Imagine God squishing him to death.

Are you feeling like satan has way too much power of your life? Are you struggling in temptation? Are you surrounded by pain and agony? I have a great mental picture for you: Satan being crushed by our God. And the next time you feel overwhelmed by his power, let the truth of his demise remind you that you serve a God who is so much bigger than anything or anyone who could ever come against you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Where Is Your Affection

By: Jeff Lappano


”Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 (NASB)

In any way that you look at it, this place is not your home. If you’re saved, your citizenship card in Heaven. If you’re not saved, hell is where your spend eternity. That’s the simple truth that the gospel brings us, amen?

Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” When one gets saved, they read the Word so they can better understand the decision they made, and the benefits thereof. 1 Peter 2:9 reveals that we’re royal a priesthood. Lets look at what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:20. “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ.” The apostles, Peter and Paul, though using different titles, tell us the same thing. we work on behalf of the Kingdom of God.

“The number one priority of the Kingdom of God is the salvation of souls.” As long as I live, this statement by my pastor will never depart my mind. How truthful this is, and we need to get the revelation of this statement. Our opening text is Colossians 3:2, which says, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” I want to take a moment and study the first phrase. In the Greek it says, “to be mentally disposed-more or less earnestly in a certain direction.” As believers our mind has to be one tracked. Lets fill Heaven with souls. Every believer, from the youngest to the oldest has a part to play in this. As a believer you have to realize that you must stay transformed by the renewing of your mind. I beseech you in Jesus name never forget that we’re called to be witness to all the world because we’re the ambassadors of the Kingdom.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Never in Vain

By: Matt Crawford


"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be you steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, because you know that your work is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58

Just when I thought my life was having no effect for the Kingdom of God, I received a call at 3am last Saturday, from a friend I hadn’t talked to in over a year. He was having a rough time with a relationship, with stress, anxiety, and was just at a point in his life where something had to give. "What should I do?" he asked.

A little background on this friend. He is somebody who I shared Jesus with over a year ago, took to church, and who went to the altar to receive Christ. But he quickly fell away, blaming God for all his problems, and became bitter. At that point I thought I had wasted my breath with all the testimony I had shared with him. Not wanting his negative attitudes to rub off on my faith, he stopped talking to me completely. At some point I wrote him off as someone who I shouldn’t hold out hope for.

But to my surprise, God had his eye on this person, and early Saturday morning I lead him in prayer over the phone to give his life back to Christ. Since then we have gone to church twice, taken communion, prayed together, and he seems very serious about his new commitment. But, had I not been faithful to witness to him and share what God has done for me back a year ago, he would’ve never known to call me Saturday for help to get back in touch with God. But since I have been walking in the Lord, being faithful to witness, and since I put in the effort of sowing the seed with this friend, when his life came to the breaking point, and he knew God was the only way, I was the first person he called to help him get back to that point.
Don’t get discouraged! Keep witnessing to family and friends, keep walking with God, keep integrity, and keep praying. Our work for Jesus is not in vain, and when you least expect it you may see the fruit of the seed you sow.   

[Soldier4Christ]

  Breakdown Express

By: Amber Owen


"Since you are precious in My sight, {Since} you are honored and I love you, I will give {other} men in your place and {other} peoples in exchange for your life." Isaiah 43:4 (New American Standard)

Guess what? Here I am once again in my car.  Am I at a bank in the middle of nowhere?  No, of course not, I’m on an expressway in the middle of nowhere, half way between school and home.  Once again my car is being unruly and not getting me where I need to be.  Looks like the clutch just gave out.

You would think, “Geeze, Amber, invest in a new car; something that actually works.”

I think that too from time to time, but every time, I think to myself how life would be without this vehicle.  See, my first car was a 1986 Honda CRX, affectionately named Pantera.  I loved that car!  But it didn’t have air conditioning (which is a must for Florida weather) and every time I hit 65 miles per hour it felt like it was going to vibrate itself apart and leave me sitting on the road with just a steering wheel in my hand.  Hence, I bought the 1992 Honda Prelude, affectionately named Carmella: an air conditioned, stereo blaring, solid bodied, 5 speed, sports car.  It was awesome, and I got it for a really good deal non-the-less.  However, that good deal seems to be costing me more and more and more. I won’t get another car, because there is too much value in this one no matter if the clutch slips, the alternator gives out, or the brakes have a leak in the line. It just needs a little fixing and we’ll be on our way.

Sitting here gets me thinking, “I wonder if God thinks the same thing about us”?  We are just like my Carmella, a soul that breaks down from time to time.  We aren’t perfect and sometimes we are unruly too, we slip here and run out of gas there.  But, do you think God is going to give up on us?  Trade us in for a newer and better model? No, we are too valuable to Him. He’s going to put us in situations to fix us and get us going on our way again. The next time you feel like giving up and pulling over on the freeway of life, remember that God is the one behind the wheel. Give him complete control and he will steer you straight.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Relinquishing Control

By: Beth Hays


You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail. (Proverbs 19:21) NLT

I’m a big fan of schedules. I like to have my life neatly planned out so that I know exactly when I will be awake, asleep, moving, still, eating, working, etc. It gives me a sense of control and security when everything flows just as I had planned. And for a long time this is how my life worked. I would plan it out and then follow through with my plans. To some it may be boring, but to me it was safe.

At some point in the past few months, though, God has decided that my plans needed thrown out the window. So, he took care of them. I would sculpt every moment of my day, and all of a sudden there would be countless things out of my control that threw my schedule off. I, who am always early or on time, starting being at least five minutes late to everything. It was a countless stream of unexpected obstacles.

So, I rebelled. I worked harder to get up earlier and do things quicker. I was determined to make my life go exactly the way I wanted it to go. This went well for a while. But, eventually, I just wore myself out and didn’t complete any task to the best of my ability. I was rushing around and losing the heart of the very reason I made the plans in the first place.

So, I gave up. I relented. After telling God that I was willing to let Him mold my plans, my life started to have meaning again. I did things out of love and from my heart instead of out of obligation. And, amazingly, I found that it was much better this way. I have ministry like I never have before because I stop and take the time to love people the way God loves me. I am happier and less worried because I know what needs to be done will fit somehow. In retrospect, half the stuff I planned was unnecessary anyway.

I realized the lesson. I learned to relinquish control. I let God control my life, my plans, my actions instead of me. I learned that it is far more important to sit and hold a friend while she cries than to take a nap. And that if I had hurried back from class to take that nap like I usually do I wouldn’t have seen the tear forming in her eye to start the conversation. And I learned that watching a sunset instead of organizing my bedroom will fill me with a peace and AWE that no amount of control ever can. I let God take control….and the freedom I have found is amazing. So, that’s my challenge to you today. Let God throw your plans out the window so that he can use you in greater ways for His purpose. May you be blessed beyond your wildest dreams!

[Soldier4Christ]

  The Father's Love

By: Adam R. Rinehart


In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. (Ephesians 1:7-8 NRSV)

Two year-olds are great!   Especially my daughter, yeah, I am biased. She has an imagination that is as big as the sky, and a heart to match it.  She is like a sponge and is learning more and more every day.  She knows how to identify animals and colors as quick as a whip, and can sing "I am in the Lord's Army" and never miss a beat. We are now beginning and hopefully mastering the art of potty training.

The more and more that I watch her grow up, the more and more that I see God in her, and in myself as a father.    The other day, I was cleaning house, and she looks at me and says,  "Daddy, I potty on the floor, and I am wet."   Knowing full well that she expected me to be furious and to pour out my wrath because I had to clean-up her potty on the floor, with tears in her eyes, she looked up at me and said, "Daddy, I'm sorry."   With the big ol' heart that I have, I looked at her and said, "Honey, you are learning, and you will foul up once in a while.  It is ok! Come here and give me a hug.  I love you!"  I could just feel the relief in her body and in her demeanor as I hugged her and told her that.

Isn't God the same way toward us.  He totally understands and lavishes upon us the riches of His grace and mercy towards us.  He loves us so much that He sent His Son to pay the penalty for us, so that we can look up at Him and say "Daddy,  I fouled up, I am sorry."  Then He hugs us and tells us that He loves us!  What a God!  What a redemption! May God's Grace Abound In You.