Devotions for Teens

[Soldier4Christ]

  The Master Craftsman Part 1

By: Jeff Lappano


“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Genesis 1:1, John 1:1 (NKJV)

Today I want to begin to look at a fun and interesting topic. Hopefully, we all know Christ as savior, but scripture records that Christ did and still does so much more than that.  Genesis 1:27 begins by says, “Let us make man in our image.” “Our,” is God being three persons. The point here I want to draw out is that though God is one, He is three in one.  Each part of the Godhead has a different job that they are doing. In John 1 scripture tells us that the word was with God, but also that the Word was God. How can that be? I would like to share with you just a short study about this word in the Greek.

John denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation. Paul, in my opinion, being one of the greatest bible authors, also shares revelation concerning Christ in his role of creation. Colossians 1:15-17, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that on earth, visible and invisible, wither thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And he is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”

The Bible is clear that Christ was not only present at creation, but was the creator of all things. Today we live in a society where the “Big boom” theory of creation is being taught. This is not so. Creation occurred because Christ spoke and things were created. A Bumper sticker reads “Big Bang Theory: God Spoke, and Bang it happened.” Why would God lie to us about this? As scripture says that God is not a man that He should lie. As I prepared to write this deep thoughts Bible study it was made so clear to me the importance of this teaching by the Holy Spirit. As many of you in public schools are taught the big boom deal, I must plead with you to hold on to the confession of your faith. Don’t be tossed around by everything you hear, but stand for the truth.

[Soldier4Christ]

  On Fire Again

By: Matt Crawford


“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I wish you were one or the other. So then because you are lukewarm, that you are neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)

Does this verse challenge you? Bother you? Identify you? Scare you? Do you remember a time where you had finally rid yourself of whatever killed your fellowship with God? Where you had strength over temptation, joy to spread around, and love for prayer? You felt like you had finally discovered what being a Child of God was all about, and your peace was unmatched. Somehow, sin, disbelief or complacency nursed their way back in and interrupted your fellowship with the Lord. Now all your joy is forgotten, and when you look at scriptures that mention God’s peace and happiness, you wonder if you can ever get back to that place, or even remember what it was like. Then in today’s verse, you see what Jesus had to say about lukewarm life, and you feel even worse!

So what is the solution? Jesus said he would have us either hot or cold, and we certainly don’t want to become cold, so there is only one choice. We must get to a point where we are spiritually hotter than ever. But how? When Jesus mentioned spewing us out of his mouth because we are lukewarm, we get the image of a beverage that is either served hot or cold. What beverage do you know of heats itself? No drink - coffee, tea, hot chocolate, anything - becomes hot without flame or heat from an external source acting on
it to make its temperature rise.

It’s the same with spiritually. While many people seek to fit the term on fire, the truth is we cannot heat ourselves. Even if we devote hours to reading scripture, promise not to sin, and fight with all our heart to avoid tempting situations. We may get discipline from it, but we still won’t have that spiritual hotness that we and God both desire. We cannot heat ourselves! But we CAN make the decision to change, restore our fellowship by confessing and repenting of sins, and ASK God to put the flame to us. As soon as we acknowledge that it’s not about what we do, but about what God does for us, then we will experience grace. True zeal for God is caused when he affects our lives, when he stokes the fire, and when he gives us the grace to be all he desires.

Then with grateful and joyous hearts, we have no choice but to be zealous for Him. And it is done this way so He gets all the glory. So, cold or hot? How about on fire!? It can be you if you simply repent, believe, and ask. And keep asking. I've said it before - nag God. He rewards faith, and faith doesn’t give up. Your Fathers good pleasure is to give you the Kingdom. He wants to be pleased by you just as much as you want to be pleasing to him. So pray, and wait for His answer. The word promises that if we ask, and believe, we have what we asked for. And when God answers, when he stokes your faith up again - you will be able to identify yourself without hesitation as one of the few and happy who are on fire for God.

[Soldier4Christ]

  The Real Hope

By: Adam R. Rinehart


John 11: 25-26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”

The day started out as any other day, but as I was getting to go pray at a friend’s church, things took a turn for the worse.  Chris came running out, “One of my members is unconscious and they are taking her to the hospital.”  The other pastor and I chose to stay there and pray for the situation.

After we prayed, I came to the office, not thinking much about it, and then the phone rang,  “She passed away!”   You are kidding?  She did?  She was only in her 40’s.  She had 3 beautiful children, was the treasurer and the piano player of the church.   Life, in a moment was whisked away from her without any warning or any clue.  I went to help with the children until Chris and the Dad came home to tell the kids. 

In the flash of an eye, our lives can be taken away from us before we know it.   We never seem to think a lot about it until it really broadsides us and we see the reality of death.   We go about our business and routine, and never really take a moment to neither thank God for the things that He has done for us nor realize that the next minute it could be us.

That afternoon, I could not study and had a very hard time doing anything for that matter.  Those children were on my mind.  So, I said, “Lord, what can I do?”  Go home.   I did just that.  As I walked in the door, my daughter met to greet me, and immediately I took her in my arms and gave her a humongous hug. 

We truly have a lot to be thankful for, and especially for the fact that even in death, the glory of God the Father and the glory of God the Son will expound more that we will ever imagine, especially, if we know Him as our personal Savior.  May God’s Grace Abound In You.

[Soldier4Christ]

Blood of White Out

By: Tony B. Rhoda


The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) NKJV.

"How can I ever become a Christian after all that I have done? I have gone way to far this time. There is no way I can get into heaven now." Have you ever asked yourself this question, maybe heard it from a friend? Not one of us can avoid sin as it constantly hunts us down; but let us rest assured that we have one awesome Jesus who can forgive and cleanse our lives of everything we have done. So when we get to heaven we will stand in front of our Father with a clean slate.

Every day as we wake up to a new dawn, another piece of paper is added to our book of life. You carefully write down every little detail with each and every move you make. Nothing is left out, not the day you kindly gave a friend a dollar in need, nor the time you carefully stole the dessert off of your friends lunch tray. Each day your page comes to an end as you fall asleep, and the pages are turned as they wait for the first rays of the morning sun to add another. We all have different points in our lives that we know that God is looking down on us and smiling; but more than that we feel like we let Him down, as another sin is added to the text.

When the last second of our lives tick, we will enter judgment, the time when your term paper called “Life” will be turned in. As we walk up to the desk and hand our work over to our Great Teacher, there is no doubt in our minds that we have failed. For even one sin, is to many to get us into Heaven. As we hold our heads down in shame awaiting the call for Hell, Jesus walks up. He kindly whispers to His Father, "Dad, hold on a second. I'm sorry to interrupt you but, you see, I promised him that I would edit his paper before it was turned in." Then our loving Lord hands Jesus your rough draft, and with His precious blood, turns our mess of scribble full of sin into an errorless masterpiece.

Take a moment to rejoice for we have more than just an English major in our Savior, but a loving God who will make sure we pass the test of life if we will only ask Him into our hearts. There is no doubt that each one of us deserves Hell. But then Jesus walks up and hands the final draft to our Teacher. He pulls His red pen out and starts to grade. You sit there waiting the inevitable fate, and then He looks up and smiles, marks down an A, and answers, "Well done good and faithful one, welcome home." God Bless and Keep The Faith!

[Soldier4Christ]

Must Be 21 or Older To Sin

By: Tony B. Rhoda


"Don't you know that your body is the temple of God? "

Have you ever wondered why alcohol, gambling, cigarettes, movies, and other things have age limits? Ever wonder why it seems that the best things in life always have rules and regulations? What's the big deal?

I remember when I turned 18. I was finally of legal age and I wanted to try my hand at the lottery. I strutted myself up to the gas station and I was going to buy my first scratch off ticket. Of course, I was carded because I still look (and act) like I'm around 16. Then in slow motion it was handed to me. I exchanged the dollar and proceeded out to my truck to show my friends this newly found possession.

If only I could scratch off and be a winner of 1,000 dollars, if only I can pick the right box. Then my life would rock! I was really starting to get into to this. Then like an old pro I grabbed the "sacred lucky penny." (Don't look at me funny, you know we all have our lucky coin when we do a scratch off.) I proceeded to slowly scratch the card that would soon change my life forever.

Well, I can't say that I won the million dollars, actually I lost, but it just showed me why there was an age limit. Besides being very addicting, it is wrong to gamble in the eyes of the Lord. "But, I'm supporting education when I buy a ticket," I hear some people as they try to find a reason to make it ok. That's just a gimmick to make it seem like it's not a sin. That you're really helping out people by gambling. Satan is good at things like that.

Sure it had the chance to ease all my problems. But, then I would learn to rely on the Florida Lotto instead of God. Same concept applies to alcohol, cigarettes, porno magazines and movies. When problems occur in life we often go to these illegal things to help ease the pain. Instead of going to God we go to beer, instead of Jesus we find lust.

Nothing can replace the feeling, the high, and the victory of winning like Jesus. We don't need a silly little card, a cheap thrill, or a little buzz. Instead we get an alternative. We can have the eternity of heaven as our prize, we can have the thrill of having all of our problems solved with the Bible, and we can have the buzz of Jesus radiating through our eyes when we catch the flame he has to offer us. There isn't a thing in this world that can replace Him, and to top it all off, your never to young or to old to accept Him into your life. God Bless and Keep the Faith!

[Soldier4Christ]

Fighting Surrender

By: Tony B. Rhoda


Be delighted with the Lord. Then he will give you all your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it, and he will. (Psalm 37:4-5) TLB.

It's a battle in which we all want to come out as winners and a war that takes us from the boundaries of life to the void of the soul. While our minds conduct a symphony of worries and trials, our heart embraces every beat of timpani that seems to be off key. What does it all mean? How can we escape the depths of a world of unknown? Is the answer out there?

Search the outer regions of a sky filled with stars and what do you see? Scan the depths of an ocean and what will you find? We struggle daily to find the answers to all of life's problems and get trapped by the cares of this world that we can't seem to find the light at the end of the tunnel.

Inside each of us is a space that longs to be filled. Deep inside our bodies we embrace the idea of being whole. The emptiness of this disease has only one cure and that's the antidote of Christ. Through Jesus our worries and cares are violently flooded away by the crimson blood of the cross. The nails that were so brutally thrusted through His hands still thrust through our problems.

The cross has more power in one splinter than the government has over the whole nation. If there is something in your life that is hindering your walk and depressing your life, then I urge you to go into your room. And when the door is shut go to prayer with your Father. If you think the stars in the sky was a masterpiece. You haven't seen a thing until He gets done with you. God Bless and Keep The Faith!

[Soldier4Christ]

When Worlds Collide

By: Tony B. Rhoda


I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
(Luke 15:7)

A flash of lightning can light up the sky with its power and might. A rainbow can cast its amazing colors across the horizon with its beauty and wonder. And a single soul that accepts Christ can bring the angels into an uproar with dancing and shouting.

Sit with me and let your imagination wonder to a distance place, this realm we call Heaven. A normal day is taking place on earth. But, something is different this time. The wind is gently whistling through the tree's, the cars are driving through the suburbs and children can be seen playing in the streets. A school bus pulls through and the afternoon begins.

But this afternoon has all of heaven taking notice. It's this afternoon that a young teenager is accepting Christ for the first time. A few kids from school have taken the time to talk about Jesus. Taken a moment to share their love and faith.

The angels stop what they’re doing; Jesus leans in his thrown closer to the scene just waiting for the chance to enter in. Then it happens. "I believe in you Jesus, forgive me of my sins and enter my life." A smile crosses the Father's face and the celebration begins. Jesus meets the teenager for the first time face to face.

Anyone can impact someone with the love of Christ. Whether you’re a teenager, a kid, or a grown adult. All you need is someone who is willing to take a few minutes and let someone know they care. Let someone know the reason you wake up every morning, the reason you can smile when everyone around us is frowning. All of heaven rejoices at the thought of one soul being saved. I encourage you this week; throw a party, not here on earth, but in heaven. The angels are ready, the atmosphere set, the balloons and confetti are in their positions, now all it takes is you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Heaven's Telephone

By: Tony B. Rhoda


Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) NASV.

Imagine how life would be like today with out the telephone. Scary thought, huh? Try and figure out how you would get in touch with friends. Would you have to write a letter a week in advance to see if they wanted to go to a movie? I have a few friends that would go through complete denial if they had their phone taken from them for just a week. The phone can be someone's best friend, or in my case a while back, your worst enemy.

I had just finished mowing the lawn when I decided to take a break and see how my girlfriend was doing. As I picked up the phone and dialed her number, I tried to think of all the stuff I wanted to talk to her about. But then something horrible happened; yes you know the one thing we all dread. The busy signal! I started tripping when I heard the most annoying beeping sound known to a teen besides the fire alarm at school.

Then thoughts started running though my head. "What if she's talking to another guy? She's probably asking her friends to help her find a way to break up with me. Maybe she's tired and trying to give me the hint to leave her alone. Or she might even be off with someone else and left her phone off the hook so I wouldn't know. Noooooo!"

After a few minutes, I calmed back down and decided I would think the situation over and try a new approach. By the time I started thinking of what to do next, I couldn't help but think of how God must feel at times. Are there times when God tries to call me and He gets a busy signal? Maybe there are times when I'm so busy talking to other people or hanging with my friends that I forget all about my heavenly Father.

You know it's a free call every time we want to talk to our best Friend upstairs. You never need to dial a 1 and you don't even need an 800 number. He's there at anytime of day whenever we need Him. We just have to take the time to pick up the receiver and dial Him up. So, take time during the day before you call a friend to remember there is another person who not only is dying to talk to you but already died so you can spend a few minutes a day to say hi. The next time you pick up the phone, spend a second thinking of Him, because believe it or not, He spends all of eternity thinking of you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Battling Faith

By: Tony B. Rhoda


Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. (1 Peter 5:7) TLB

It's Friday night, and once again, she sits home alone. "Does anyone care about me anymore," she asks herself. Across the street a young man sits in a dentist chair as a mask is placed over his face and the drill begins the spin in the back of his mouth. "Will the pain ever stop," he wonders as his eyes close shut? On a hill near the outskirts of town our Savior is nailed to a tree. "Do you think they will open their hearts up to me Father," He asks His Dad seated in Heaven. What do you think?

Every day we face trials and struggles. Some can be as devastating as a death in the family, or as tragic as a divorce between your Mom and Dad. Others may include the fact that you can't make friends, or you have nobody to turn to when you need a shoulder to cry on. Is it your just not satisfied with your life, and where you are at, and where you might be headed? Do you even know the plans God has for you? Do you even know the calling placed on your life?

No matter where you are at right now, or how hard it may seem, there is someone who has been there done that. There is a Savior by the name of Jesus, who hung on the cross to take these worries away from you. Do you know how you’re going to pay your next bill? Do you know if when you go out tomorrow if it may be your last? Has life started to deal you a bad hand?

In all we do, we just have to remember the reason Jesus died on the cross. He died for our salvation, so that we wouldn't have to worry any more. He died for our sins, so we wouldn't have to deal with defeat. He died for our lives, so we wouldn't have to be afraid or deal with heartaches. In Matthew 6:26 it reads, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" You better believe we are! God Bless and Keep The Faith!

[Soldier4Christ]

Can Music Effect Me?

By: Tony B. Rhoda


“That righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard." (2 Peter 2: The Christians at Corinth thought that immorality in the church wouldn't affect them, but they were wrong. (1Corinthians 5) NIV. (Updated for 2004)

Music, we live it, fall in love with it, and treasure it. We remember loved ones and ones we are currently in love with by these tunes. With songs begin such a high point in our lives, we sometimes over look what God wants. I haven’t been able to find a “thy shalt not listen to Ludacris, or Maroon 5” in the Bible, but what I did find was a couple of verses that not too many can argue with.

The first one deals with a person named Lot. Read the verse above, it is fairly easy and to the point. If you hang around bad company and listen to negative lyrics your soul will be tormented and some of it will rub off on you. “Cause it’s all in my head I think about it over and over again.” Now, I know Nelly wasn’t talking about this devotional when he wrote his latest number 1 hit, however it is something that is very true. The more we listen to music the more it replays in our heads….over and over again.

Ok maybe that didn't faze you or you're still thinking, "but it won't bother me." Let's look at the second verse. Now if fellow Brothers and Sisters are struck with immorality in their own church, and fail, now that's a problem. Even if we think we are stronger than that, we are not.

We sometimes get so caught up in our music; we don't even realize what we are singing. I'm not saying if you don't stop this second your going to hell, but sit back. Let's try praying about it. I believe in your heart you know what is right and what is not. Not only will changing the type of music help your relationship with friends and family, but will also help with your relationship with our Savior.

Try going to the local Christian Book Store and check out some CD’s, or visit our online TDDM Christian CD store. The Christian music industry has gone way up in the past few years, and even the secular music stores carry them. If you are having trouble with keeping your faith or staying close to God, look at a few aspects of your life, then pray. Not just on music, but on anything that could be put into question. Remember I do not own my life, when I was saved I gave it to Him. So, don't give half of your life but give it all, and one of those is music. You never know, it may keep you from having Usher like confessions. God bless and Keep The Faith!

[Soldier4Christ]

Into The Movies

By: Tony B. Rhoda


For the wages of sin is death.....(Romans 6:23) NKJV.

"You have the right to remain silent," the officer stated as the four were escorted out of the theater. Josh, Bryan, John, and Aaron had just been busted for sneaking into the movies. This definitely was not what the friends had in mind for their night out. It all started just 30 minutes ago...

"This action thriller would definitely be worth the three dollars to rent, but eight dollars to see it at the theater? That was ridicules," Josh told his friends. It was time to take action. So, the blueprints were laid out, the strategy planned, and the group of friends started their assault.

Billy was the distraction. He walked up to the ticket puncher dude and asked him for the time. Josh quickly slipped in behind him, while Aaron proceeded to the restroom. Without a moment to lose, John quickly dove to the ground and crawled under the rope. Yes, all in except....ummm Bryan. Oh no, not Bryan. They never did figure out how he was to get it. OK, back to the drawing boards. Once inside, they set up the rescue squadron. The mission was almost a success except they could never leave a man missing in action. It was time for Operation Saving Private Bryan. Josh took the first try with his novelty of an idea.

"I'll hit him from behind, you grab the rope, lasso him up and hold him for ransom."

Obviously he had seen to many western movies, but it did give Aaron an idea. If he could only get behind him and start gagging on some popcorn, then Bryan could run inside the theater to get help. Out would pop Josh who would proceed administer the Hymlic maneuver and continue with CPR. It just might work...

Even though this would prove to be one of the funniest nights the group spent together it also turned out to be the costliest. They were caught and not only did they have to pay for the movies they also got a free escort to the police station down town. They received merit badges and an Emmy nomination for best actors, not to mention a ticket telling them of their new contract deal. Just sign your name at the bottom and pay the 134 dollars.

Even though we tend to do crazy things with our friends, remember that there is a time and place for everything. We set examples by living a Christian life and I'm sure we have all heard of other people who tired or ourselves who tried to sneak into movies. Remember that no matter how small a sin could be it's still a sin. And just one sin will keep us out of the Kingdom that God has prepared for us. So what if you have to wait until the 99th Star Wars movie to come out on tape. One day we will walk through those pearly gates into the biggest sci-fi film ever, except this will be one movie that not only comes true, but has the happiest ending of all. All you have to do is accept Christ as your personal savior you'll be apart of the all-star cast. God Bless and Keep the Faith!

[Soldier4Christ]

Clearing Vision

By: Tony B. Rhoda


"There hath no temptation take you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Cor. 10:13) KJV."

The dark skies grew nearer when I was traveling home the other day. At first there were just a few isolated raindrops hitting my windshield. Nothing major just mostly inconvenience. As I continued down the road the sprinkle turned into a drizzle then what seemed like a flood. At this point seeing out of the window was almost impossible. Then common since kicked in and the windshield wipers went to work.

In our Christian life, we sometimes get our vision blurred by the constant raining of sin. During the beginning it's not to bad. Then the rain starts to pour and your stuck in a storm of trials and hardships. Whether it is divorce, lost of friendship, or temptations, there is only one thing that can clear your vision. That is your faith in Jesus Christ.

In the verse above, a promise is made. You will not be tempted, tested, or put through more than you can bear. If you can't feel like you can make it through the day, be happy because God knows that you’re stronger than anything that is going on. Believe it or not, but you can over come any obstacle that comes your way. No matter how bad things become the Bible shows us that He will not let us be tempted more than we can handle it. It also shows us that "I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.”

No matter how bad you feel, what you’re going through, or what hand life has dealt, you can make it. There is hope when there seems to be none. Ask Jesus today to turn on the windshield wipers and clear your vision. If you are not a Christian or are not sure whether you would make it to heaven if you died today, ask Jesus into your heart. If you don't have a close relationship with Him or you have been backsliding, then I hope you understand that you can't make it on your own. Sooner or later the rain will be to hard, the sin will be too strong. Just trust in the Lord with all your heart. If I'm not mistaken He is the only one that can calm the storm. God Bless and Keep the Faith!

[Soldier4Christ]

Making The Move

By: Tony B. Rhoda


"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)  NKJV

As scary as it may seem to some, I have taken up a new hobby. A new passion that has consumed my spare time and has kept me up way past my bed time on several occasions. A game that takes skill, talent, and a smart brain, unfortunately, those are three things I have not been blessed with as much as others. I am talking about the classic game of chess.

A good friend of mine recently got me hooked on this game. Showing me how to move the different pieces and how to sharpen my skills. He taught me if I move apiece here and they have apiece there, I could win. Or if I move this here and that there I lose. The more I played the game the more I got hooked.

As time passed I started to see how complex this game really was. It takes only a few minutes to learn and yet years upon years to master. Something about the challenge brought me to the point I am now. But, the more I started to play the game, the more God showed me that our Christian lives can be played out in the same fashion.

Just like you rarely, if ever, play the same game of chess twice. There is rarely a day that is the same. Each day we wake up and face a new set of challenges, a new struggle, or a new battle. We have an opponent that will do anything to take us out. All it takes is one slip, not thinking for one-second, and everything is turned upside down and we get behind. Once this happens it is so hard to catch back up.

I know I will never master chess and I certainly know I will never master this game we call life. But, I do know someone who has. Jesus Christ, came down to earth and showed everyone the way to live, the way to act, and the right moves to make. He is still with us even today if we ask. Read the Bible to learn about the different strategies and techniques. Ask Him for advice, or what to do next, and He will guide you every step of the way. Even though I may never become that great of a chess player, I know that with Jesus standing behind me, I can become a great person and a great Christian. God Bless, and Keep the Faith!

[Soldier4Christ]

Shifting Gears

By: Tony B. Rhoda


"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities." (Isaiah 54:2-3) NIV

Wouldn't it be nice if life were an automatic car? So when we ever needed more speed it would shift for us. To give us that extra rpm all we needed to do was press the gas a little harder. But, to drive a stick shift, it takes more than just pressing the gas, it takes time and effort and concentration. This funny little thing called the clutch now gets thrown into the picture.

As Christians, we often think about reading the bible more, talking to a friend about Christ, or stop listening to secular music. But, when it comes right down to taking action we are stuck in first gear. Yes, it would be nice if all we had to do was think about it to have it shift gears, but it takes more than just thinking about stuff to do it. You have to start pressing the clutch shift into gear to get doing it.

Learning to change gears is not very easy. It takes time and hard work to learn how to do it and a couple of messed up transmissions in my case. Once you get the hang of it though, it’s like riding a bike. To start you have to condition yourself for it. Start out and read the bible two chapters a day. Or with what ever you would like to accomplish. Then you get into that habit and you might even miss reading the bible one day if you didn't get to that night. You can apply this to everything else not just the bible.

Unfortunately, we can't just think of doing something and it happens. So instead of thinking about the problems that you feel that need to be worked on, go ahead and start praying and start trying to take that next step in your faith. If we don't start now, we could be stuck in first gear for a long time.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Abandoned

By: Beth Hays


Abandoned by God Beth Hays Beth@tddm.org

There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. (Philippians 1:6) MSG

I have an unending fear that God will give up on me. I find myself pleading these words often--"Finish what you started in me, GOD. Your love is eternal--don't quit on me now." (Psalm 138: MSG My heart reaches toward heaven pleading with my Daddy not to let me go. But lately, I have even stopped asking--settling to believe that He HAD abandoned His child.

Loneliness is unbearable. But, feeling as though even God has abandoned you is far worse. It's tough enough to be deserted by those who did or should love you most, but how do you feel when even the God of love seems to be absent? I have spent the past few weeks in that place...feeling completely abandoned by the God of love.

And, today, as I was reaching my arms to Him so He could pick me up, I came across a wonderful reassurance--God promises to finish His work in me. That means even when I don't feel Him He's there. Even when I can't see Him working, He is. Even when I feel completely abandoned, He hasn't left me. God is bigger than my feelings and He PROMISES to finish what He started in me. God never breaks a promise.

Maybe you're there too. Maybe you're not. If you are, join my hand and we can walk through this together. Let's try to stand in the TRUTH that God is love. And love doesn't abandon. If you were not, would you look around you for the lonely and take their hand? You have more power than you will ever know--each of you contains the power to break someone's loneliness. May God embrace your hurting heart today and carry you close to His heart.