Devotions for Teens

[Soldier4Christ]

The Loveliness of Loneliness



    "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." (Mark 1:35)

Picture the scene: you've come home from school, it's late in the evening, and all your extra-curricular activities are over. You cannot wait to unwind. There's so many options- what to do? Perhaps you grab some grub, catch some cable, beautify in the bath, or start some studies.

The problem is that you feel totally wiped out. It isn't that you've done anything earth shaking today, but you just feel drained. Just when you sit down to rest your weary bones, the phone rings. It's Megan, a friend who has been having a few problems at school. She proceeds to talk, and talk some more. Then she goes on to chatter, mutter, natter, and basically unload on you. You try to give her some advice and 'be there' for her, but it's obvious she wants to just keep on the challenging chitchat. After a long listening session, you are finally able to hang up the phone. Yet by this time you are emotionally and physically worn out. You are desperate to go to bed. Your head hits the pillow, and just as you are slipping off into dreamland, the doorbell rings. You open the door, and standing on the lawn is your entire high school class! They decided to come over and have you help them with all their difficult homework assignments. After all, you happen to be the smartest person in your grade.

Sound impossible? Perhaps, yet something very similar happened to Jesus Christ.

    That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. (Mark 1:32)

After Christ had been teaching and ministering all day long, the entire town decides to stop by His house because they still had more problems to be solved. Except in this case these people wanted more than just advice on school or homework, they needed their sick to be healed and demons driven out of the possessed. So Jesus helps them, and at last the people leave. Christ is now totally exhausted and in extreme need of relaxation.

I don't know about you, but if I had a day like that, I would turn off the alarm clock and plan on sleeping in.

Jesus had other priorities.

    Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

Jesus had an exhausting day, so He makes a conscious decision to barely sleep and intentionally wake up early! Why?

Jesus knew He needed solitude—not just sleep time, or "chill-out" time, but alone time with God. He understood that He needed to find someplace where He could truly connect and converse with the source of his strength: His Father. All the tiresome toil in the world would not keep our Savior from experiencing the lovely loneliness of spiritual solace in the presence of the King.

What should that say to us? If the Son of God Himself needed a reflective respite with the Redeemer, how much more do we? It is during our quiet moments with God that He comforts, convicts, and conducts. Solitude is where God renews our hearts and gives us new purpose. It is the one place where we find can discover true peace as God reveals Himself to us.

Solitude is an indispensable part of our Christian lives. If we are to grow in our relationship with Christ and have the courage to share our faith, then we must consistently fall down and look up. Jesus must have known this; otherwise He would have slept in. What's your schedule look like tomorrow?

[Soldier4Christ]

Hot Line to Heaven



    "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." (Colossians 4:2)

Let's be honest, when someone mentions the subject of prayer, we don't always respond with excitement, becuase so many times people have made the topic boring. And let's be really honest ... sometimes it actually is boring. So we have a problem: prayer is the one of the keys to the Christian life, but we oftentimes avoid it like the plague.

Solution? What many people don't realize is that prayer was never meant to be some formal, religious exercise that we coldly recite. Our conversations with God were intended to be a living, moving, breathing dynamic hot line to heaven. I suggest that we start praying with an attitude- and based on the verse mentioned above, I have three suggestions:

   1. Pray expectantly, because we are talking to the Father.
          * Think about that. We are talking to the Eternal God of the universe when we pray. Can you imagine that? Meeting the world's most famous people fades in comparison to the privilege that you and I have every single day... the privilege of addressing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Imagine how you would react if the President of the United States called you on the phone. Would you put him on hold? I doubt it. He would have your full attention and complete awareness. That's how we are to pray to God. When you recognize His greatness, you will give Him your full attention. We should have an expectant attitude when we pray. He is listening, and He wants to speak with you more than you do to Him.
   2. Pray watchfully, because spiritual warfare is real.
          * As you roam the hallways of your school, remember you are in a spiritual battle with the devil for the souls of your friends. Always be ready to shoot out a quick prayer to God on their behalf. Whether you need wisdom to answer a skeptic's question, or an encouraging word to a Christian friend who is discouraged, be ready in your prayer life. Keep your spiritual eyes open.
   3. Pray thankfully, because we have been given so much!
          * Tell God how much you appreciate Him. Thank Him continuously for all that He has done for you. Whether it is His constant provision or eternal salvation, there is much for which to be thankful.

When you pray with an attitude, prayer becomes a thrill-ride. Pouring out your heart to the God of the Universe becomes the high point of your day and the treasure of your life. Speak to the High King of Heaven when you first wake up, and when you lie down to sleep.

He's waiting. He longs for you to call. He waits patiently for you to communicate with Him. His heart's desire is to have you talk to Him with an attitude of expectancy, watchfulness and thankfulness. So go for it- and learn to pray with an attitude!

[Soldier4Christ]

Don't Believe The Lies

Written by: Crystal Miller

    Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable 'if anything is excellent or praiseworthy' think about such things. (Philippians 4:

When I was in high school, I felt like there was nothing wrong with dating around. I partied a lot, and 'hooking up with guys' just happened as a result of being intoxicated. Even when I wasn't drinking, my goal was to see how many guys I could kiss or 'mess around with.' One of my big concerns in high school was being popular. I wanted people to like me, and everybody else was doing it, so in my mind there was no harm in it. Each time I would hook up with a new guy, I would go a little further. I had boundaries at one point, but when I was in the heat of the moment, there is no such thing. I wasn't thinking about the consequences or the regret later on in life. I would always say to myself, I would never have sex. Believe me, there were times I wanted to, but I was always taught to practice abstinence. According to the new standards that our generation set, sex only included intercourse, everything else was permissible. During any such encounter, I felt so important. I felt wanted, beautiful, and even found my worth. As long as I was desired by members of the opposite sex, I felt like I was somebody. I would always deceive myself into thinking I meant something to certain guys, only to find myself the next day ridden with guilt, and frustration, not to mention losing friends. For some reason I not only lost guy friends as a result of hooking up, but I lost girl friends as well, because my reputation was going downhill fast. I became the talk of the boy's locker room, and rumors began to spread. All my efforts to make more friends, were failing, because I was going about it the wrong way. I was trying to be somebody I really wasn't. I hated who I was. I felt filthy, and I knew I could never take back all the things I had done. I had given some of the most precious parts of me away. I felt deep remorse and regret. Although later I discovered God's restoration and forgiveness, I still bore the permanent scars.

I am now 21 years old and I recently got married. Prior to our marriage, there were a lot of things my husband and I had to work through from each of our pasts. Both of us had crossed the line in relationships, and had to deal with the pain of not giving those to each other for the first time. I would cry and grow angry with him because he didn't save certain things for me, his wife. I know he felt the same way. However, I had to come to the realization that we had changed, and God had made us a new creation.

    'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Recently I read a lengthy article about the sex culture among teens today and I was deeply grieved. Kids that were interviewed in this article were very open with their sexuality and promiscuity. All discussed how they had had sex and planned to continue experimenting. Most students spoke of their,'friends with benefits' and the inconvenience of actual relationships. I believe each year it gets worse and worse, especially as there is an increase in the urge to move in with members of the opposite sex prior to marriage.

Kids are beginning to experiment with sex starting in elementary school. One girl here in Colorado claimed she was confident that she would have sex before entering high school. Why are kids eager to share such an intimate part of themselves with others at such a young age? I believe it has everything to do with our entertainment. Sex sells, so we see it in advertising, on TV, in movies, and especially in our music. Most pop stars today barely clothe themselves and provocatively move on stage and call it dancing. As girls we aspire to be these people, and for guys, they aspire to date someone like that. This explains the rise in internet porn, teenage sex, and sexually transmitted diseases.

God is calling us to a higher standard than the world around us. He desires us to live lives set apart only for Him. In fact, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 says:

    "God wants you to be holy and to stay away from sexual sins. He wants each of you to learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable." (NCV)

The Bible talks in length about purity and holiness. The temptation is great, but His strength to resist it is greater. He is asking us to leave behind the things of this world and strive to live for Him.

    "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5)

People around us will know who we serve by our actions. If they see us living a pure life, they will see Christ. What is more, we know that those who are pure will experience God and see Him. I believe when our hearts are pure, God is more able to use us. If nothing else, God blesses us for purity.

    "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matthew 5:

I can promise you that you won't regret the decision to wait to experience sex until marriage. It is a gift designed solely for that purpose. Sex is for those who are committed to marriage for life. It is not for those who think they 'love' their girlfriend or boyfriend. It is not for those who have 'friends with benefits.' It is not for those who need to feel loved and accepted. God loves us and accepts us the way we are.

The lines of sex have been blurred, and you should not ask the question is this okay, because in the eyes of the world, it probably is. However, you must ask yourself; does this bring glory to God? Are you being a witness for the kingdom of God?

Your prayer needs to be that of Psalm 51:10:

    "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

Many of you have probably already made a mistake, and that is okay. God can restore you, but from this day forward make a commitment in your heart to Him that says you desire purity and holiness. Lean on His strength to fight the temptation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Life Is Like A Bowl Of Peanuts

At eighty years young, it was getting harder for Walter to take care of himself so his family decided that a nursing home for the aged would be the best place for him.

Of course the old man rejected the idea, but eventually he was convinced that it was the right thing to do. On his first day at the home, he spent most of his time laying in bed reflecting on life, feeling lonely. A while later, an orderly stopped by to see how Walter's first day was going.

    "How you doing today?" she asked the old man, "First day I see?" Walter nodded.

In no time the two began talking up a storm. As the conversation began to drag on, the orderly was eyeing the room filled with fresh flowers, cards and balloons from friends and relatives. She noticed a bowl full of peanuts sitting on top of the table next to the bed, and helped herself to a handful.

As the two continued to converse with each other, the orderly kept eating more helpings of the peanuts. She looked at her watch and noticed that nearly 2 hours had passed and said,

    "My goodness, the time has gone by quickly. I have to tend to other people here too."

    "That's okay." Walter replied, "I feel so much better being able to talk to someone." Looking into the bowl the orderly said, "I feel awful! I ate almost all of your peanuts!"

    "That's okay," responded Walter, "Ever since I got these false teeth, all I could do was suck the chocolate off of them anyhow."

Life is not always as it seems, wouldn't you agree? It was Forrest Gump who was fond of saying that "life is like a box of chocolates", but I would observe that life is probably a lot more like the bowl of peanuts mentioned in the story above.

How so?

Oftentimes we happily help ourselves to the pleasures of life without knowing where they came from. Take for example the orderly in our story. By all appearances the peanuts looked normal enough, so she unquestioningly decided to meet her need by taking and eating. It was just a bit too late for her when the truth came out about the lacquered legumes.

Sorta reminds me of a story from the Bible involving our original parents that went down like this:

    The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman:

    "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?"

    The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, "Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"

    The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."

    When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it--she'd know everything!--she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"--saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. (Genesis 3:1-7)

Eve gave into the temptation to act on an impulse without asking the right questions- and humanity has been paying the price ever since.

What about you? Have you ever considered the notion that Satan has a bowl of putrid peanuts out on the table of life for you? It can come in the form of friendships that seem harmless enough- but if you decide to pursue them, you will most certainly end up with regrets. Or perhaps your weakness is unforgiveness. You delight in continually making your offenders pay by treating them coldly. Just remember that each time you do that, you are chomping down on another tainted nut.

Then there are others who are charmed by the allure of popularity. Certain choices are made and morality is comprised for the elusive promise of being 'the stuff' on campus or at work.

Don't forget about the internet. Just a few clicks away from the supposed 'harmless' images that will be permanently stored away in your brain for future use by the devil...not to mentioned the warped view you will develop regarding human beings made in the image of God.

There are so many more wrong kinds of bowls out there, and I don't have room on the table to mention them all. But do you want the cure for peanut gulping?

Here you go:

    So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 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 12:1-2)

Think twice before taking that next bite out of life, you may just save yourself from a mouthful of misery.

[Soldier4Christ]

Home Sweet Home?



    Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. (Proverbs 1:17)

I love Chinese food. In fact, I think it loves me too. What other kind of meal gives you such a huge menu selection, variety of tastes and a hollow wisdom giving cookie at the end?

One of my favorite dishes to order is called "Happy Family". If you are not familiar with this item, it gets its name from its multiple mixture of mouthwatering munchies that add up to one mongo meal. I'm pretty sure that every plant and animal family is represented somewhere in the dish.

Too bad life isn't that way, because wouldn't it be great if there was another recipe for a "Happy Family" that would apply to people instead of platters?

No, I'm not talking about cannibalism! What I'm trying to get at is a formula for the group of people who live under the same roof. Deep down, don't we all desire to have joy within our homes? Yet there are many folks in this day and age who view family as the hurricane of their lives: a veritable storm of conflict and inner turmoil. Parents filling up their schedules with work and activities, and children delving into friendships and video games- many times simply to avoid being around each other.

I guess "Happy Family" just isn't a menu option for a lot of families- which isn't the way God intended it to be.

Did you know that He actually gives us the recipe in His Word? It's simple really- and it is mind-boggling to me how many parents and children ignore it, then wonder why they find home such a bitter place.

So let me pass on God's ingredients for "Happy Family", and then you decide if you want to change the list of options in your household.

First, start individually with an uncompromising relationship with Jesus:

    And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. (Mark 12:30)

All the other items build on this one, so if you don't add it- forget it!

Next, parents add enormous amounts of marital stability. This is made up of two key elements- both of which must be present; otherwise this ingredient goes very sour.

    You husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly. (Colossians 3:19)
    You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22)

Add to this mixture parent/child bonding. This one is a little tricky, because most people only consider one half of the combination- which (again) has two components.

    And now a word to you fathers. Don't make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

    Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. (Ephesians 6:1)

Finally, throw in the "golden rule" sauce, which adds a particularly sweet flavor to all the ingredients:

    Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

There you have it: the Father's formula for a favorable family. You may think that this looks too simple, but you would be amazed how the application of these elements would radically change the atmosphere of most households.

I'll close with your 'fortune cookie' message for the day:

Are your days less than delightful in your domicile? Try ordering up "Happy Family"!

[Soldier4Christ]

I Think So

    Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things" (Philippians 4:8, NIV).

A Native American boy was talking with his grandfather.

    "What do you think about the world situation?" he asked.

The grandfather replied,

    "I feel like two wolves are fighting in my heart. One is full of anger and hatred. The other is full of love, forgiveness and peace."

    "Which one will win?" asked the boy.

    To which the grandfather replied, "The one I feed."

Franklin Delano Roosevelt said,

    "Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds," and James Allen rightly stated that, "You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you."

Another has said,

    "What the mind dwells on the body acts on."

If you don't believe this, think how temptation works--first a thought that seems to come from nowhere . . .we feed it and the thought begins to expand . . . then one's feelings get involved . . . and the more we think about it .. . the more we hunger for it . . . then we begin to rationalize and justify what we want to do . . . and the battle is lost. It's all in the mind.

As they say about computers: GIGO = garbage in garbage out. So it is with the mind. If we keep looking at and thinking about garbage, we will act out accordingly. But, if as the Bible says, we concentrate on thoughts that are noble,right, pure, lovely, and admirable, we too, will act accordingly. It's all in the mind, for what the mind dwells on the body acts on.

[Soldier4Christ]

Bad Company



    "Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character." (I Corinthians 15:33)

They influence your speech, dress, and mannerisms. They are your constant mirrors. They are in your address book and in your phone 's speed dial. They have a firm grip on your heartstrings, and oftentimes they are the difference between success and failure in the Christian life. Good ones can nudge you to victory. Bad ones can drag you to defeat. What are they? You guessed it...friends!

The bottom line is that the type of friends who form your inner circle will most likely determine how faithfully you serve Christ, and whether or not you make a spiritual difference on your campus. When Paul wrote today's verse: "Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character " - he was addressing a friendship situation.

The Christians at Corinth had friends who basically denied the resurrection. In other words, their main goal in life was to try and find happiness through partying, because there would be no judgment day. So these believers had friends who were pulling them in the wrong direction. My guess is that those Christians thought that they were strong enough in their faith to resist the bad influences of their friends.

Paul says- I don't think so...

So what about it? Are you being misled? Do you have as your best friends those who have Jesus as their best friend? If not, it's just a matter of time before your character is corrupted with the virus of spiritual compromise.

I can't help but think of Ronnie. We went to school together all through Jr. High and High School. In fact, Ronnie helped lead me to faith in Christ as my Savior. We held each other accountable and witnessed to our unsaved friends. But as high school continued, Ronnie began to make other alliances. More and more of his friends were less and less concerned about Christ. Pretty soon his closest friends were absolutely unconcerned about the Lord, and positively concerned about their own happiness before anything. Bit by bit Ronnie got his eyes off the bull's eye of serving Christ.

There came a time when I had to choose between my friendship with Ronnie, and my allegiance to Christ- and guess what? Rock breaks scissors: Jesus wins. Sound judgmental? Perhaps, but the judgment was more on myself than on Ronnie, because I knew that eventually I would shipwreck my faith if I stayed on course with that friendship. Sound difficult? Absolutely, breaking off a close friendship is like having surgery. Yet if you don't go through with that spiritual operation, you could lose your spiritual life.

By the grace of God, when I graduated my eyes were set on entering the ministry, and today I serve the King of Kings. By the time Ronnie graduated he was just like his closest friends...spiritually weak and disinterested. To this day, 18 years later, Ronnie is totally unconcerned about following Jesus, and completely miserable.

In the words of one pastor: "If you drop a white glove in the mud...the mud doesn't become 'glovey'...the glove becomes muddy." This is especially true in relationships. Christian teens that continue with godless friendships will themselves become godless.

Maybe you need to make some decisions right now about your inner circle of friends. Don't put it off! The whole direction of your spiritual life hangs in the balance...

[Soldier4Christ]

Meant to Live

Do you ever wonder why you exist? It is so easy to get caught up in the normal routine of your everyday life. It is easy wander aimlessly, without much direction, hopes or dreams. We have settled into an ordinary life, and we live the way society tells us to live. But I am here to tell you . . . there is so much more . . .

Take for example, a baby. When they are in the womb, they are perfectly content. They receive all the nourishment, warmth, and life they could ever need. They cannot comprehend life beyond the womb. Their every move and breath is dictated by the umbilical cord. In fact, an unborn fetus is fully equipped with a good set of lungs; however, they have no use for them. It is an empty void or longing within them waiting to be fulfilled. They are to be used for another life beyond their current one.

Similarly, we too, are intended to live in another world beyond this one. This earth is only temporary and heaven is eternal. We are mere aliens in a strange land that is not our home. We already know that we exist on this planet to serve Christ alone, wholeheartedly, no matter what the cost may be. However, we forget that our real dwelling place is unseen. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says:

    "So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever." (NTL)

This world is so full of pain and suffering, but we yearn for the day when it will all be wiped away. Our hope is in a kingdom prepared for us before the creation of time (Matthew 225:34).

Just as that fetus has longings to one-day use the empty void in his/her chest for something more, we too, long for the abundant life originally intended for us. We've lost the true meaning of life somewhere along the way, but deep down in our hearts and souls we know we want more than this world claims to offer. We know we were meant to live for so much more. Each and every moment on this earth must be spent living for heaven.

    "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Allow Him to use you while you are here, but remember, that He is preparing a place for you in heaven. So I urge you to, "... press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [you] heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14)." The burning desire that you experience deep down comes from the One who created you, as He is constantly drawing you to Himself. Do not deny that longing, do not look back, rather each and every day live for Heaven, knowing that craving will soon be fulfilled.

    Meant to Live- Switchfoot

    Fumbling his confidence
    And wond'ring why the world has passed him by
    Hoping that he's meant for more than arguments
    And failed attempts to fly, fly

    (Chorus)

    We were meant to live for so much more
    Have we lost ourselves?
    Somewhere we live inside
    Somewhere we live inside
    We were meant to live for so much more
    Have we lost ourselves?
    Somewhere we live inside

    Dreaming about Providence
    And whether mice or men have second tries
    Maybe we've been livin with our eyes half open
    Maybe we're bent and broken, broken

    (Chorus)

    We want more than this world's got to offer
    We want more than this world's got to offer
    We want more than the wars of our fathers
    And everything inside screams for second life

    (Chorus)

[Soldier4Christ]

The Truth About Ken and Barbie

In 1950 the hot items for girls to play with was limited to two basic choices: paper dolls and small baby dolls. One day a woman named Ruth Handler watched as her daughter played with these seemingly boring paper figures, pretending they were adults, and had an epiphany; a doll that could inspire young girls to dream. A doll that could allow girls to contemplate what they want to be when they grow up. This doll would have the features of an older girl. She would be fashionable, fun, and have the ability to play a variety of different roles. This doll would be called - Barbie.

This month marks the 45th year anniversary of Barbie. Barbie has evolved over the years, and you can find her in any profession imaginable. Over the years she has become linked with Ken, and they are known for their storybook love. Barbie is one of the most popular brands in history. She has indeed inspired young girls to be anything they want to be. She has been noted for her extremely good fashion sense and trendy accessories.

I think it is safe to assume that most people are familiar with Barbie and Ken, or played with them at some point or another in their lives. I know when I was a little girl, Barbie was my best friend. I took her everywhere. I also had everything associated with her from houses, to cars, to clothes and animals. And yes, I even had a Ken doll to keep her company.

Barbie is beautiful; she has the perfect figure, long beautiful hair, clear skin, the best clothes and jewelry, and lots of friends. Really, she has the perfect life!! Barbie is what most girls aspire to be. I know I looked at Barbie hoping that one day I would look as good as her. Ken has it going on too- chiseled looks, buff body, and Barbie the babe to boot.

At a young age I was tragically wishing that I could be somebody different, somebody more beautiful. Unfortunately I think many of us girls look at figures like Barbie and wish we could have it all, like her. There are lots of guys out there who are extremely unhappy with how they look, how they are built, wishing they could have it all, too.

Maybe it isn't Barbie/Ken you compare yourself to, but a movie star, or rock star. Maybe it is the models you see in magazines or athletes on ESPN. Over the years, society has made people believe that they aren't good enough. They must have the perfect figure/build, the most friends, the best car, and the perfect boyfriend/girlfriend, or else they are nothing. Guys/Girls constantly compare themselves to the images on television, on billboards, or on the internet. Society has even convinced every young man out there that you are nothing unless you are a famous athlete, or a multi-million dollar business man, or a rock star. Society has also used Ken's image to make you believe you must be buff to get all the chicks. Well, I am here to tell you, "IT'S A LIE!"

God's Word tells you that you are all beautiful in His sight. You were created in His image. What is more beautiful than being created in the image of God, who created the heavens and earth and all of the beauty within them, who paints the sunsets, and considers you more precious then even these?

    "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

    "The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord." Psalm 45:11 "You are precious and honored in my sight." Isaiah 43:4

    "...They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." Isaiah 61:3

WOW!! God wants us to display His splendor, and radiate His beauty. A well known Bible teacher of women named Beth Moore puts it like this, "You see, the more we gaze on the beauty of the Lord as we seek Him in His temple, the more our lives absorb and radiate His splendor." In other words, when we are thankful for the people God made us to be and seek to serve Him and be more like Him; we are not seen for the beauty we possess, but for His beauty reflected through our lives. He made us the way we are for a purpose. As Christians our beauty must emanate from the inside out, not the other way around.

    "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 (NCV)

God is more interested in your heart and the motives behind what we do. He is not concerned with how tan you are, or what clothes you wear to school, or even your hair. He made you to reflect His splendor, JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.

    "Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, and then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God--you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration--what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; you know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something." Psalm 139:13-16 (mug)

    "And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:30

You are beautiful and wonderful the way you are. Never forget your worth in His sight. It does not matter what others think of you, because you are living for an audience of ONE. The ONE who created you and made you to glorify Him using the talents and skills He gave you. That is a far better destiny than being somebody you are not, like Barbie or Ken!

[Soldier4Christ]

Holy Stalking

Someone is looking for you. No, don't bother turning around looking, because you won't be able to see who it is. But someone is there, that someone is not giving up either. You will be sought out until the day you leave this planet.

And do you know what's really scary? This person knows everything about you. I'm not just talking about credit card numbers, e-mail addresses, and social security numbers. We're talking the big stuff here. Like your darkest secrets, your deepest fears, and your highest goals. But that's not what this person wants or even needs.

He needs you.

I know I know...being stalked is a very creepy thing. Unless of course it isn't really stalking. What if instead you were being pursued by someone who is trying to give you something of great value? For example, if you lost a winning lottery ticket that was picked up by someone else, wouldn't you want to be pursued by that person? If someone has an expensive item that I've misplaced, I want to be stalked!

That's exactly what's happening here, folks. You lost something much more valuable than a lottery ticket. You lost your life by trying to do things your way, and someone is trying to give it back to you. That someone is Jesus Christ. If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, here is what the Bible has to say about you:

    They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD;
    and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted. (Isaiah 62:12)

Jesus sacrificed Himself on the Cross so that He could offer you not only life eternal, but life that is full. You wear the name "sought after", because Christ is looking to provide you with a plan and a purpose that is infinitely better than any plans and schemes you could devise on your own.

Here are Jesus' own words:

    "My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:10-11)

See the connection? He laid down His life so that you could have life in all its fullness. In other words, Jesus' death and resurrection provided a blueprint for your existence that is second to none.

But there is one catch.

You have to let Him find you. You have to get on your knees and let Him know that you are ready to accept His plan for your life. It may not be the easiest or most comfortable, you probably won't make a lot of money, but I guarantee it will be the greatest adventure you could possibly imagine.

Someone is looking for you. Now it's OK to turn around and see who it is, because you know who He is.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Man Behind The Lion

Forty years ago this week the world lost two men who changed the world around them. One man you have heard of, the other one you might have not. Interestingly enough, the more famous one left an amazing legacy, but I predict that his well known status will diminish within a few decades. The not so famous one left a small legacy that in forty years has grown to an unbelievable level, and it certainly shows no sign of slowing. Have you guessed who I'm talking about yet?

Forty years ago this week our nation lost President John F. Kennedy, and the world lost author/speaker C.S. Lewis. You probably didn't know that, because the media wouldn't see the anniversary of Lewis' death as the stuff of headlines...yet I would beg to differ.

His books sell more than 3 million copies a year and the most famous ones: Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and The Chronicles of Narnia, have been reprinted dozens and dozens of times. Even as you are reading this; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is being made into a major motion picture.

You know the funny thing about it is that C.S. Lewis never wanted to be famous. Even though he was a well-known writer and speaker, he continued an incredibly simple lifestyle. Michael Nelson has written in the International Herald Tribune: "Two-thirds of his book royalties were earmarked for charities. He never traveled abroad, even when fame brought invitations to lecture from around the world."

C.S. Lewis was converted as an adult, at which point he decided to use his gifts and talents in the service of Christ. Because of that decision and his life of obedience, God has used this humble Irishman to touch the lives of millions upon millions of people- including the person writing to you at this moment.

Not too many days go by when I am not thinking of Lewis' description of Christ using Aslan the Lion. My view of spiritual warfare was radically changed by The Screwtape Letters, and I still believe that the "Lord, Liar, Lunatic" argument for the deity of Christ is one of the strongest aones around.

Of course at one point in his life, C.S. Lewis was in the same place you are today, asking the same question: should I use my gifts and talents to serve God, or myself? I know for a fact that Lewis could have made a boat load of cash and worldwide fame, and lived life like a king. Instead he gave away his money, didn't worry about fame, and lived life for the King.

Maybe you're thinking you don't have any gifts or talents? God has a different view:

    God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well... (Romans 12:6)

Notice He doesn't say that God has given 'some' of us of- rather 'each of us'...which means that you have something to offer this world in the service of God. In fact, we are commanded to do so. In Romans 12, Paul is basically explaining that it is the very purpose of life to pour out our lives to God:

    And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others. God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. (Romans 12:1-8)

Does this mean that God won't love me if I don't? Absolutely not. Yet you will miss out on the best plan possible for your trips around the sun. That's what happened with C.S. Lewis...but don't take my word for it- let's hear it from the person who has been there and done that:

    "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

    - C.S. Lewis

[Soldier4Christ]

Where Are You Going?

I recently read about a US tourist whose trip through Bavaria ended with an unexpected visit to a supermarket. I guess many of us could accidentally walk into a grocery store in another country if we didn't know where we were going. Except this guy wasn't walking, he actually drove into the supermarket when his car's high tech navigation system led him straight through the store's doors.

The vehicle only came to a stop when he plowed into a giant display of peas.

The man told police that he had relied entirely on the automatic navigation system as he did not know the area, and he actually did not notice the doors of the supermarket looming before him until he had crashed through them.

Could it be that this fellow placed a little too much trust in what he thought was a trustworthy navigation system? I can just imagine the conversation he had with himself:

    "Wow! What a beautiful country! It says here that I need to make a left at this next intersection. That's funny, it looks a lot more like a supermarket than a street, but oh well- the computer can't be wrong...AAAARRRGH!"

Have you ever taken much time to think about your navigation system? What I mean is the guide you use to direct your turns in life...whether to go left or right- whether to keep going or stop. We all use direction finders every day. Yet just like the split pea man mentioned above, we sometimes rely too much on potentially flawed instruments.

We blindly crash into bad situations because it "felt like the right thing to do".

We smash up our lives on the bad advice of friends.

We rely on circumstances that ultimately send up spinning out of control.

Let's face it, we really don't know what were doing or where were going half the time anyway, so what makes us think that our friends, our feelings, or our fortunes can be trusted to guide us through this amazingly complex thing called life?
They can't...He can.

The one and only foolproof navigation system known to people is none other than God Himself. He's the One who invented life and invented you- remember?

Now it's not like God has time to hold every person's hand and throw signs and wonders our way every time we need to make a decision, which is why He gave us 66 books inside one big book called the Bible. Page after page, story after story, and verse after verse is jam-packed with the direction you need to steer clear of those pesky camouflaged supermarkets that mess up your journey.

If you don't think the Bible is enough to guide you through life, you're definitely on the wrong path.

The Bible not only gives us wisdom for decisions about relationships, jobs, education, future plans, and day to day activities- it even has hundreds of examples of people who did and did not follow that wisdom.

Let's start with the basics. Do you want to know God's will? Would you be interested in having Him map out His path for you? Then start with the basics:

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. (Romans 12:2)

Taking cues from the world on how to live life is like staring down at a faulty direction screen while your life heads towards a possible crash site. Pour yourself into regular study of Scripture and you'll be able to see the dangers ahead.

Perhaps you feel like a tourist who's a stranger in a strange land. Turns out you're right...you are. You belong to Christ and you are a citizen of heaven. Here's the way Paul puts it:

    "You are not your own; you were bought at a price..." (I Corinthians 6:19-20)

This week, try heading down a new road. Read the Bible as often as possible and figure out ways to specifically apply it to your life- there may be a stack of peas somewhere that thanks you!

[Soldier4Christ]

The Test You Can't Skip

Your attention please...this is a test. This is only a test. Had this been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed where to tune for further information.

Please answer (on paper or in your mind) the following question.

    Why did God put you here on earth?

If you don't know the right answers to this question, then my friend you are as lost as a blind mouse in a maze with no cheese. Perhaps that's why you have multiple times in your week where you feel like a square peg trying to fit into the round hole of this present age.

So let's take a look at the way-wrong answers that the wily world might be whispering - and what God has to say about them:

    World: "I'm put on this earth to get as much pleasure and profit as possible."

    God: "But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction." (I Timothy 6:9)

    World: "I'm put on this earth so I could be happy. I now have my 'get out of hell free' card, so I'm going to take life easy"

    God: And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:16-21)

    World: "Life is about live and let live. I have no right to offend people and/or judge their lifestyle. I'm just going to chill out, find a comfortable job and group of friends (just like the T.V. show!). There is no way I'm going to 'rock the boat'."

    God: Great crowds were following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, "If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me." (Luke 14:25-27)

If you don't think the Bible is clear on the answer to the test, you have another verse coming. Besides that, one day you will be responsible for responding to those questions again, except this time it will not be a test- it will be an assessment by the Almighty God! I would call that an 'emergency', so let me tune you into the answer sheet, written by the Author of the examination.

    "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. "And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! "So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." (Matthew 6:25-33)

Why did God put me here on earth? Maybe I'll never fully figure that out in this life, so I think I'll go on the information I do understand. God desires for me to fully commit my life to His control, and seek the advancement of His rule and reign in each and every thing I do and say.

Do I do that everyday? Nope. In fact I fail and fall more than you could possibly imagine. But that's the whole point- His grace covers me, and I get up again and again and again to accomplish His will according to His plan through His power.

Is this making sense to you? Here's an idea that you could apply immediately. Each morning say a prayer something like this:

    "Father, my life is yours - bought with the blood of Your Son Jesus. Fill me with your Spirit and use me, lead me, and guide me to accomplish Your will and advance Your Kingdom"

Be careful though! I'm pretty sure when people start doing this, life takes on a whole new perspective. Yet perhaps that is what you might be looking for?

[Soldier4Christ]

You Can Be Famous

Wouldn't it be great to be great? You know what I mean- a famous person, an extraordinary individual, a legend in your own time. And it wouldn't just be about the press coverage, the media interviews, and the box seats at sporting events. Being great would be great because you would know deep in your heart that your life mattered. You would be able to justify your existence, confident that you had left your mark in time and space. But I guess being that kind of person is reserved for just a few folks. You know, the ones who are highly talented, extremely educated, and in the right place at the right time. The rest of the population has about as much chance of achieving greatness as winning the lottery- right?

I've got a radical thought for you- so pay attention because your chance at greatness is just around the corner. In fact it can start just as soon as you finish reading this devotion.

You see, it all depends on how you define being 'great'. If that means popularity, money, or something named after you, then you're right- you are probably never going to have that happen. But let me ask you- do you know the names of the rich and famous from just 100 years ago? They thought they were pretty hot stuff at the time, but now they're six feet under and took nothing with them. Maybe some things were named after them, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't recognize most of the names if I heard them.

But there is another kind of greatness - one that the greatest of all talked about:

    Here's what He said: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:26-28)

Here is a person who knows what He was talking about. Just for the record, here are the official results:

    * He was born in an obscure village
    * The child of a peasant woman
    * He grew up in another obscure village where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty
    * He never wrote a book
    * He never held an office
    * He never went to college
    * He never visited a big city
    * He never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place where he was born
    * He did none of the things usually associated with greatness
    * He had no credentials but himself
    * He was only thirty three
    * His friends ran away
    * One of them denied him
    * He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial
    * He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
    * While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing; the only property he had on earth when he was dead
    * He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend

    "Twenty centuries have come and gone and today Jesus is the central figure of the human race, and the leader of mankind's progress. All the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that have ever sailed, all the parliaments that have ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned put together, have not affected the life of mankind on earth as powerfully as that one solitary life."

    (Author Unknown)

Jesus showed us that we can all achieve greatness by considering others more important than ourselves. If we do that, we'll leave an impact that will last for eternity. What a contrast to the typical attitude of the "great" person!

Here's a quote for us to consider:

    Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

    - Martin Luther King Jr.

[Soldier4Christ]

Welcome Home

Shhhhhh! I have some information that Satan would dearly love to keep away from you. In fact, I think that understanding and applying what I'm about to tell you is one of the most important principles in the Christian life. It affects your view of God, the image you have of yourself, and the way you treat others.

Enough of an introduction? Good- let's get on with the particulars.

You are a child of God. I know, you probably already heard that. But I have a sneaking suspicion that you are not fully aware of all that means. Why? Because Scripture was written thousands of years ago, and to really 'get' what's going on with the Bible, we need to 'get' what was going on at the time it was written.

    Paul says that "Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!)" (Ephesians 1:5)

We read this verse and think of adoption in modern terms. Before we trusted Christ, we didn't have a spiritual family. Then God came by the shelter and signed the papers, and now we have a sweet deal with Jesus and the rest of our heavenly homies...or something like that. Yet if you really study what Paul meant by the term 'adoption', you will discover that we have only scratched the surface. The key to understanding all this is found in Galatians 4:7:

Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.

In Roman times, slaves lived (mostly) in shame and fear. They were driven by their master, and their lives were miserable. They basically had no hope, unless something truly amazing happened.

And what would that be?

Adoption. In that culture, this was the best thing that could happen to a person. Imagine yourself, a slave with no future and no freedom- and one day a knock comes on your door. Expecting it to be another loudmouth drunken friend of your master, you slowly shuffle to the entrance and timidly greet the visitor.

Except the person looking at you is no one you have ever seen before. He is dressed in the finest of clothes, and bears a message for you!

The parchment shakes and tears fall from your eyes as you read the offer of adoption. You realize that your freedom from slavery has been bought and paid- and you now have a new father who will cherish your company as his own child as long as you live.

Not only that, you have an inheritance to all that the father owns. All your debts have been paid in full- you're now an adrogatus (adopted one), and your life now belongs to a family that will love and care for you.

If you are a believer, that is your story as well. It's not as if God signed some simple adoption papers, but He'll never be you 'real' Dad, because Jesus is His 'real' Son. Quite the opposite actually. As an adrogatus, you are guaranteed your freedom from the slavery from shame, fear, and a destiny in hell. Not only that, but you now have full rights as a child of the King- which means that God really is your true Father, and Jesus really is your older brother. You have brothers and sisters all over the world who you will be with for eternity.

Want to hear the best part? In that culture, if you were adopted you could never be disowned by your father. A natural born son/daughter could, but not one who was brought into the family through adoption. That person was guaranteed a place at the family dinner table no matter what happened.

Why would Satan not want you to hear that? Because he's your old master! He's calling you right now back into a life of fear, shame, and slavery to bad choices. He wants you to think that your adoption is no big deal, and that your Father really doesn't have time for you.

That's a lie. The King of Glory has asked you to address Him as 'Abba' (in our words this would be something like 'Daddy', or 'Papa')...this was a term formerly used only by Jesus- but now it is our privilege as well.

You're in the family my friend. Nothing you could ever do will make God love you more...or less for that matter!

I don't know where you are in your relationship with God, but I would recommend that you meditate on this truth- and live out your status as an adrogatus!