Devotions for Teens

[Soldier4Christ]

  Restore The Compassion

By: Rev. Adam R. Rinehart


Rev. 2:4  “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your
first love.”
   
Do you remember the day that you accepted Jesus as your personal Savior? 
I will never forget that warm in Sunday morning in June of 1981, that the
Jr. Church teacher asked if anyone would like to give their hearts to Jesus
as their personal Savior.  She pulled the old steel chair around, and said,
“If any of you would like to give your heart to Jesus, would you come
forward so that I can pray with you?”   Once that first step was taken, the
rest were easy to follow after.   I prayed, repented, and asked Jesus into
my heart that morning, and you talk about the excitement!   I felt like I
had just finished taking 10,000 showers and the burden was lifted!  Remember
the feeling? Remember your excitement?
   
That same excitement and love is what John is talking about when Jesus
said, “You have lost your first love.”   Their passion and fervor for the
Lord Jesus had become cold and desolate.  They forgot about their love for
Him and what He did for them at the moment of salvation.     Friends, what
about us?  Have we lost our love for Christ?   How can we tell?
   
When lost souls are no longer a passion in your life, and those who are
lost and burdened with a load to carry are not seeing their hearts filled
with the love of Christ.  When your daily Bible reading and time with the
Lord has gone astray.  When you think only about yourself and do not have
eternity’s values in view, then you have lost your first love.   When the
day to day things just become day to day, and life just happens with no
thought of Jesus and what He did for you goes through your mind, then you
have lost your first love.
   
In conclusion, I implore you to take a look at your heart.  Have you lost
your first love?  Have you kept that broken heart of yours broken and have
forgotten about Jesus and what He can do for you?   Remember your first
love!  Restore that excitement!
Renew the passion!  May God’s Grace Abound In You

[Soldier4Christ]

  Losing Control

By: Tony B. Rhoda


Until your brother's anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there. Genesis 27:45

I was extremely hungry. When my stomach started to grumble it meant one thing and one thing only, “feed me!” I proceeded to jog out to my vehicle in between classes in hopes to find a few quarters. After about five minutes of an extensive search and rescue mission for the lost coins, I found sixty five cents. Enough for a pack of peanuts in the vending machine. Life just might be worth living again.

I jogged back to the cafeteria while checking my watch to make sure I had enough time. When I finally reached my destination I quickly put in the sixty five cents and proceeded to press the combination that would send my peanuts tumbling down. As I watched the vending machine dispense my prize, horror shook my entire body. NO! This could not be happening! My peanuts got stuck!

Oh the thoughts that went through my head. I never realized how much a packet of peanuts could mean to someone till that point. I was so upset and my face started to turning red. I was going to lay hands on this machine and it was not going to be in a good way.

Why do we get so upset during the stupidest of times? If we let anger take control of us then anger is going to make us look like an idiot. Plain and simple. This week try and control your temper and do not let it get control of you. Once you lose your control on your anger, you lose your witness. Don’t let that happen. God Bless and Keep the Faith!

[Soldier4Christ]

  Love with No Limit

By: Steve Briesacher
TDDMSteve@yahoo.com

><> §«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« † »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§ <><

"This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." 1 John 4:10 (NLT)

God is love. Love is God. They are one in the same. One cannot know true love until He knows God. God's very character is limitless. He is eternal. His wisdom, power, presence, and love have no limit. God was in perfect love as the Father, Word, and Holy Spirit, but He opened Himself up so that we could know His love. Our purpose is to receive His love for us, allowing it to break our hearts, and result in true worship to Him. Many times as believers we know God forgives us, but we do not forgive ourselves. We try in our own strength to obey His commands, but we always seem to fail and beat ourselves up. If we humble ourselves and receive His love for us, it will fill our hearts overflowing and compel us to do good works.

The reason that we see so much sin in the world is because people have rejected God's love. Think about it... If someone rejects God's love, they are going to try to find fulfillment in something else like drugs, sex, people, money, or religion. It is not so much that people are homosexuals and prostitutes, but that they have rejected the love of God. People are going to do something evil if they are not made complete by the love of God.

"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong." 1 John 1:9 (NLT). Notice this scripture has no limit, it does not matter how big or small the sin is that we commit, God will forgive us and cleanse us. He will not hold our sins against us if we humbly confess with an honest heart. We must love ourselves or we will never be able to fully receive His forgiveness.

His love has no conditions. We do not have to do anything to earn it. It is free. The love of God does not hinge on what we do, the degree to which we do it, or how we perform. He just gives it freely. Every sin deserves death, but Jesus took the punishment for these sins on the Cross for us. "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT). God can now forgive us, separate us from our sin, and forget the sin has happened. "The LORD is merciful and gracious;he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us,nor remain angry forever. He has not punished us for all our sins,nor does he deal with us as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear himis as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our rebellious actsas far away from us as the east is from the west." Psalms 103:8-12 (NLT).

He loved us so much He gave His very self to express His love. God's love has no end. It is so deep. He wants to be close to us and see us live free in His love.

[Soldier4Christ]

  When You Feel Rebellious

By: Joyce K. Rhoda


"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." Hebrews 13:17(KJV)

We've all felt a little rebellious now and then. The urge to push the envelope, do something you know you shouldn't...just because. A child going through the 'terrible twos' is a good example of a rebellious spirit. Is it any wonder that most kids learn the word 'no' shortly after 'mama' and 'dada'?

Just as parents have to watch over and discipline their children to keep them safe and teach them right from wrong; God provided us with his word to guide us and He watches over us too.

Not everyone has Christian parents who raise them according to Gods' teachings. If your parents aren't Christians, you can turn to the youth director or pastor of your church for spirtitual guidance. God has given them the wisdom to show you how to follow God's word and help you when you are tempted to rebel.

Temptation to sin is real and is constantly attacking us. Whenever you feel the urge to give in and rebel, remember that you won't get any satisfaction from sinning, just guilt. To reap the benefits of love, peace, joy and happiness turn your life over to God and obey Him at all costs. The rewards are well worth it.

[Soldier4Christ]

  You Might Die Today

By: Janet Adams


No one wakes up in the morning thinking, "Maybe I will die today." But someone will die today.

Someone got out of bed this morning never to return to it tonight.  Some said good-bye to their wives, husbands, children, parents, brothers or sisters this morning over breakfast telling them they will see them later.  But some will never come home tonight.  Some have great plans for the weekend that will never happen, instead their family will be at their funeral.  It happens.  On June 12, 1999 at 7pm my husband kissed me good-bye and left to go to the store to get steaks to barbecue.  As I was making the salad and setting the table on our porch for dinner, the call came in.  My husband was dead. 

He had not been sick or hurt or anything.  He died of a brain aneurysm.  He was dead before he hit the floor in the grocery store.  He didn't wake up that morning saying, "I might die today."  He had plans, a good job, a family, a life.  When it is our time to leave this world there may be no warning at all.  Some are ill and know that the time is drawing near, but for most, we do not know.  I know that when my husband left and never came back that he did go to a place that was prepared for him.  Heaven, my husband went immediately to Heaven, how do I know that?  The Bible says:
"I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."  John 11:25 KJV

I witnessed during our lives together my husband prepare his soul to insure he was going to Heaven.  I saw my husband pray to Jesus Christ to forgive him of his sins and to change his life.  I saw my husband dedicate his life to God.  I saw him grow in a personal relationship with Jesus over the years.  I saw the spirit of the Lord within him each and every day.

IF YOU WERE TO SUDDENLY DIE TODAY -
DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE WHERE YOU WILL GO?
DO NOT WAIT !!!!

Do not wait another minute because no one knows where our time is come.  Go on your knees NOW and pray to God for salvation.  Ask Jesus to come into your heart and live there, changing your life and forgiving you of your sins.  You need no fancy prayer, just talk to him from your heart as you would your best friend.  This guarantees a place in Heaven for all eternity.  Especially when we are young we may think we have plenty of time to do this in our lives - but we just never know.  An actual prayer to God must be said, just thinking and feeling it won't make it so.  Go down on your knees NOW and ask Jesus to come in your life.  Believe me I never expected to never see my husband again when he left that evening. Go to God now and make your reservation for a wonderful eternal life with Jesus in Heaven.  I know one day I will see my husband again when it is my time to go to Heaven. Do it before its too late, you don't get a second chance after you die.  The alternative is ever lasting life in torment separated from God in Hell.

"For me to live in Christ and to die is gain."  Philippians 1:21 KJV

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  Jon 14:1-3 KJV

[Soldier4Christ]

  Ode to Air Fresheners

By: Tony B. Rhoda


How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Psalm 4:2

Sure, this might sound a little silly, but I truly believe that air fresheners are one of the greatest inventions to grace this earth in years. They are so convenient now too. You can plug them in anywhere. When they are all out of that smelly good stuff, just pop in a refill and you are good to go.

Why  am I making such a big deal about these cool devices? Well, let me explain. If you have an animal, it takes away the smell. If you left your leftover lasagna on the desk, it can sit there and rot for a week before you start to realize it. After a long day you can come home and open the door to the smell of a frosty winter mist instead of musty gym clothes.

That my friend, is why I am in love with air fresheners. But, we can also take this further and relate it to our every day life as a Christian. God can be the breath of fresh air in our walk with Christ. By reading the Bible, you allow yourself to wash away the sin by realizing how you are to live. By praying, one can erase the foul odor of backsliding by asking for help.

When we have the right tools and equipment, it is easy to make even my place smell fresh and clean. When we have the right stuff in our Christian life, it makes it simple to resist the sin that will stink up the place. If you are living in the dumpster it is time to get washed off. Put a clean pair of underwear on and get out there and make a difference in the world. God Bless and Keep the Faith!

[Soldier4Christ]

  He Came As a Man

By: Steve Briesacher


H"In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with
God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He
created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't
make." John 1:1-3 NLT

He created everything there is . Nothing exists that he
didn't make. So the Word became human and lived here on
earth among us. Thousands upon thousands of pages have been
written on this single passage of scripture. It has been an
issue of debate and confusion, but the truth is simple if
one has faith to believe it. In the beginning, God was in
perfect partnership as the Father, the Word, and the Holy
Spirit. They were all chillin' together and everything was
fine and dandy. You see, God is only one being, but He
shows Himself in three different ways. Here is a little
chemistry for you. (Oh, No! Not school work!) Water always
has the same chemical makeup, H2O, but it has three
different states. The three different states of water are
liquid, solid, and gas. God is one, just as water has one
chemical make up, but He reveals Himself in three different
forms.

The Almighty God who created the universe, who formed man
out of dirt and breathed life into him decided to send
Himself in human form. The Word, mentioned in John 1,
became a human being. He was given the name Jesus when Mary
became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Stop! Think about this,
picture it in your head. The Word was sitting on the throne
in heaven one minute and the next minute he was inside
Mary's womb. Girls, can you imagine being told that Jesus
was going to be your baby's name and He would be the Savior
of the World. Why in the world would God send Himself? No
one really knows why He did it, but we know that He did it
for us.

Sometimes we view God, how we view our dads. If our dad is
never there, we tend to view God as never being there for
us or if our dad was hard on us, we view God as condemning
and with no mercy. "Christ is the visible image of the
invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all
and is supreme over all creation." Colossians 1:15 NLT If
you want to know what God is like, we can look to Jesus'
life. The scripture is plain to say that Jesus Christ is
God in the flesh. He is the same being that spoke
everything into existents during Creation. One of the
reasons the Word became flesh is so that we could see what
God is like and have an example to follow.

"Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his
rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble
position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in
human form he obediently humbled himself even further by
dying a criminal's death on a cross." Philippians 2:6-8 NLT
Christ's main goal was to do the will of the Father, and
the will of the Father is to love people. Christ humbled
Himself because God loves us. He did not come into this
world as a king who had power, authority, and many
possessions, but He came as a baby in a manger. He is a
humble king. He lived through His teenage years, just like
us, but without sin. Then, He died on the cross for our
sins and rose from the dead. Stop! Think about this! People
were accusing Him of things He did not do, He was spat on,
brutally beaten, and mocked on the cross. The people triple
dogged dared Him to do something if He was really God. At
any moment, He could have called fire down from heaven or
angels to smack them upside the head, but He didn't. His
love was so great; He looked past their faults. Wow! If I
was in His position, I would have probably lost control of
my temper towards them.

Jesus was just like any normal human being. He wasn't a
stiff. He experienced childhood, the teenage years, and
manhood. I can imagine Jesus as a young child, crying
because He scraped His knee, running to His mommy to make
it all better. Jesus as a teenager dealing with hormones
and pimples or laughing with His friends. I wonder what His
favorite food was. Did He like ice cream or peanut butter
as much as I do? Jesus had a job, He was a carpenter. This
is how He made a living. Do you remember how He blessed the
children and said, "let the children come to me"? So, how
are children blessed? The best way I know is to wrestle
with them in the dirt, grab their hands and spin them
around, get on my hands and knees and be a bucking bronco,
and the ultimate, tickling them and blowing on their
bellies. He probably splashed water with His disciples and
found God in all these things.

"Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every
respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could
be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He
then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins
of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering
and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being
tempted." Hebrews 2:17-18 NLT Because He Himself suffered
when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being
tempted. Jesus knows exactly what we are going through and
to show us His mercy and understanding of our lives, He
came to earth to walk in our shoes. He knows what it is
like when a good-looking guy or gal walks by and we are
given a choice to lust, but He always chose the right
thing. He knows what it is like to pray when our bodies are
tired. Jesus is our friend; He wants us to share our
burdens and our hearts with Him. He is not a God who is way
out there and does not care about the little things in our
lives, but He came as a man and meets us on our level.

[Soldier4Christ]

  God Will Provide

By: Rev. Adam R. Rinehart


Phil. 1:7.……..“you all are partakers with me of the gospel.”

When Paul was writing the book of Philippians sitting in a jail cell and thinking in his mind about them, the thought came to him of the help financially and the help in manpower that the church at Philippi gave to him for the cause of the Gospel.

Today, I was planning for the literature part of our July 4th outreach that we have hear at our church. You see our church is located just across from the fairgrounds here in our county which makes us a prime location for the people to watch fireworks. While I was planning, I was looking at some Gospel tracts, and reminiscing about my days at Moody Bible Institute where I was an open-air preacher and a tract expert for a ministry that went into the subways during rush hour on Friday nights.

There were nights that I would sit in my room looking over tracts, and wondering where we would get the money in order to get more to give out. Would you believe that we passed out over 20,000 tracts that year, and had left over tracts at the end of the year that we gave back to the Practical Ministry Office! What a joy to know that when we have a heart for evangelism and wanting to share the Gospel that God will always provide!

We can know that will always be true. Friends, when we have a heart for evangelism, God will always provide for us whether it be financially, safety, of whatever the need may be. What a joy to know that! Now that we do know that, then why not spark that heart of evangelism in your hearts and share it with the people that need to hear it! There are people dying and going to Hell, and we need to get out there and share the news before it is too late. God will provide! Let’s get to work! May God’s Grace Abound In You.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Were you tempted today?

By: Janet Adams


"Where you tempted to cheat today at school?"  Where you tempted to stick something into your pocket at the store today?"  Where you tempted to lie to your parents?"  Daily or even hourly we are tempted to sin.  Satan is everywhere with temptations to sin.  We are human and this is something that will be constant throughout our lives until we leave this world and go to heaven.  Paul describes the Christian as having two natures, the old and the new, which constantly compete for power.  Remember the old cartoon with the guy standing there with a little devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other, both are whispering things into his ears.  He has to decide who to listen to.  We Christians have to understand and learn to confront this "magnetic pull" of our own sinful nature and Satan's wiles.

God never promises to remove temptation from us, for even Christ was subject to it.  But there is a sense of achievement and assurance that results for the victory over temptation.  We need to keep strong in Christ in our daily lives so that the temptation doesn't turn us to sin.  Temptation alone is not sin but can lead us to sin. 

"But remember this - the wrong desires that come into your life aren't anything new and different.  Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you" (1 Cor. 10:13).  Temptation is of the devil (Matt 4:1-11 temptation of Jesus.)

The sin is when we give in to temptation.  None of us should deliberately place ourselves in a position to be tempted.  Satan will attack us where we are the most vulnerable. 

[Soldier4Christ]

  Keeping Your Cool

By: Tony B. Rhoda


And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. Acts 26:11

Oh I was mad. Furious even. I was about to lose it all. I am still amazed to this date how I kept it all inside. But, I have to give credit where credit was due. My step-dad fooled me pretty good.

It was April 1st, also known as April fools day. I woke up to the sound of my door being beat on. I slowly got up and tried to figure out what was going on. I was about eight years old and still in my night clothes when I was told that our cat got outside. So with just a t-shirt and underwear on I was told to hurry up and run around the house after him.

I took off not wanting to lose my cat. When I made a lap around the house I was informed that the feline took off around the house again to keep going. I must have made about seven trips around the house when my mom came out of the house holding him. "OH I am so glad you caught him!" But, then she laughed and said april fools. I then realized that I spent that last ten minutes running around my neighborhood with practically nothing on. What was I thinking!

I realized that getting upset didn’t do me a bit of good. My kitty was safe and that was all that mattered. When we lose our cool we lose control of a situation. That is when things can get ugly. Even when things do not go the way you want, stay focused and stay level headed. Because if you don’t, then April fools day will do more than just pull one over on you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  You Are Loved

By: Beth Hays


Soon Gomer became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to Hosea, "Name your daughter Lo-ruhamah-'Not loved'-for I will no longer show love to the people of Israel or forgive them.  (Hosea 1:6 ) NLT

Man, I'm so glad my name doesn't mean "Not Loved!" Can you imagine if it did? Especially back in Old Testament times, it would have been horrid to be referred to as unlovable. Yet, even though my name doesn't mean such a thing, my heart has felt that way. I have felt like I have "Not Loved" plastered on my forehead for the world to see. I'll bet you can relate.

Have you ever had everyone leave at once? Have you ever felt like your family despised you? Ever been abandoned, abused, or neglected? If so, you've felt like that too. You've felt like you're not loveable. Well, my friend, I have amazing news for you! Look what God did for Lo-ruhamah:
   
"At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites and raise them for myself! I will show love to those I called 'Not loved.' And to those I called 'Not my people,' I will say, 'Now you are my people.' Then they will reply, 'You are our God!' " (Hosea 2:23) NLT

He took her and told her that HE loved her. The God of the universe took the unlovable and loved her. My friends, he does that with us too. He takes the ones who are hurt and broken and despised and cherishes us. He "shelters us with His wings and shields us with His feathers" (Paraphrased from Psalm ps. 91) I want to assure you that no matter how unlovable you feel, God adores you! The Creator of everything calls you His masterpiece (Eph. 2:10) NLT. Let that stir yoru heart and comfort your spirit today!

[Soldier4Christ]

  He Came As A Man

By: Steve Briesacher


"In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make." John 1:1-3 NLT

He created everything there is . Nothing exists that he didn't make. So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us.

Thousands upon thousands of pages have been written on this single passage of scripture. It has been an issue of debate and confusion, but the truth is simple if one has faith to believe it. In the beginning, God was in perfect partnership as the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. They were all chillin' together and everything was fine and dandy. You see, God is only one being, but He shows Himself in three different ways. Here is a little chemistry for you. (Oh, No! Not school work!) Water always has the same chemical makeup, H2O, but it has three different states. The three different states of water are liquid, solid, and gas. God is one, just as water has one chemical make up, but He reveals Himself in three different forms.

The Almighty God who created the universe, who formed man out of dirt and breathed life into him decided to send Himself in human form. The Word, mentioned in John 1, became a human being. He was given the name Jesus when Mary became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Stop! Think about this, picture it in your head. The Word was sitting on the throne in heaven one minute and the next minute he was inside Mary's womb. Girls, can you imagine being told that Jesus was going to be your baby's name and He would be the Savior of the World. Why in the world would God send Himself? No one really knows why He did it, but we know that He did it for us.

Sometimes we view God, how we view our dads. If our dad is never there, we tend to view God as never being there for us or if our dad was hard on us, we view God as condemning and with no mercy. "Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation." Colossians 1:15 NLT If you want to know what God is like, we can look to Jesus' life. The scripture is plain to say that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. He is the same being that spoke everything into existents during Creation. One of the reasons the Word became flesh is so that we could see what God is like and have an example to follow.

"Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross." Philippians 2:6-8 NLT Christ's main goal was to do the will of the Father, and the will of the Father is to love people. Christ humbled Himself because God loves us. He did not come into this world as a king who had power, authority, and many possessions, but He came as a baby in a manger. He is a humble king. He lived through His teenage years, just like us, but without sin. Then, He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. Stop! Think about this! People were accusing Him of things He did not do, He was spat on, brutally beaten, and mocked on the cross. The people triple dogged dared Him to do something if He was really God. At any moment, He could have called fire down from heaven or angels to smack them upside the head, but He didn't. His love was so great; He looked past their faults. Wow! If I was in His position, I would have probably lost control of my temper towards them.

Jesus was just like any normal human being. He wasn't a stiff. He experienced childhood, the teenage years, and manhood. I can imagine Jesus as a young child, crying because He scraped His knee, running to His mommy to make it all better. Jesus as a teenager dealing with hormones and pimples or laughing with His friends. I wonder what His favorite food was. Did He like ice cream or peanut butter as much as I do? Jesus had a job, He was a carpenter. This is how He made a living. Do you remember how He blessed the children and said, "let the children come to me"? So, how are children blessed? The best way I know is to wrestle with them in the dirt, grab their hands and spin them around, get on my hands and knees and be a bucking bronco, and the ultimate, tickling them and blowing on their bellies. He probably splashed water with His disciples and found God in all these things.

"Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted." Hebrews 2:17-18 NLT Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. Jesus knows exactly what we are going through and to show us His mercy and understanding of our lives, He came to earth to walk in our shoes. He knows what it is like when a good-looking guy or gal walks by and we are given a choice to lust, but He always chose the right thing. He knows what it is like to pray when our bodies are tired. Jesus is our friend; He wants us to share our burdens and our hearts with Him. He is not a God who is way out there and does not care about the little things in our lives, but He came as a man and meets us on our level.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Stop The Train

By: Rev. Adam R. Rinehart


Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and
you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to
the ends of the earth."

Romans 6:23  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal
life in[1] Christ Jesus our Lord.”


Erwin Lutzer the Pastor of Moody Church in Chicago wrote in his book, 
“Hitler’s Cross,” he tells the story of a German Pastor who stood up in a
meeting and said that he was in Germany during the Nazi Holocaust and was
the pastor of a church.  “We knew that they were taking the Jews to their
destruction and we would just ignore it.  Our church was by a railroad track
and every Sunday we would hear the whistle of the train loaded with cattle
cars going down the railroad tracks and the cries of people going to their
demise!  It got to the point where graded on us when we worshipped and when
we would hear them going down the track, we would have the organist turn up
the organ and sing the Gospel hymn louder and louder until the cries were
faded out!  Week after week. The organ would be raised and we would sing all
of the great hymns, and when we would still hear the cries we would only
sing louder!

Here in the 21st Century, the lost and dying world are on the train to Hell
and the sounds of their voices are right outside of our homes, our schools,
our churches, and they are crying, but we are doing nothing about it.  We
choose to block them out, put the earplugs in, and maybe raise the volume on
our music.   Why do we not try to stop the train?  Why not get on our horse
and chase the train down and knock out the conductor and the engineer? We
have the power! God has given us the grace that is unstoppable and we can
stand in front of that train to give the people a chance!  What are we
waiting for? May God’s Grace Abound In You

[Soldier4Christ]

  Graduation Gift

By: Janet Adams


My graduation gift to you is a simple 2003 shiny penny..

     The date on this penny is 2003 -
Your graduation year, may you always remember this special date with fondness.

Abe Lincoln is on the front, he was known for his HONESTY -
So always be HONEST with yourself and others.

     The word LIBERTY is on this penny -
LIBERTY means that you are free to do and be what you want.
So cherish that freedom, don't waste it or take it lightly.

     IN GOD WE TRUST is on this penny -
TRUST IN GOD, really put your faith and trust in God. 
Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance throughout your entire life.

  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is on the back of this penny -
That is your home address, no matter where life takes you,
May you always remember where HOME is and who you are.

E PLURIBUS UNIM is also written on the back-
This means OUT OF MANY COME ONE,
You may be just One person, but you are very special and unique. 
You are very important to those who love you. No one is quit like you.

     One Cent is the worth of this penny.
Doesn’t seem like much but every child’s piggy bank starts with one penny. 
When you put enough pennies together it will eventually amount to something grand.
Save your money and spend it wisely.

     Go out into the world and amount to something grand.
Set your standards high and reach for the stars.
Always remember the "good ole days" and those who encouraged you and loved you. 
Give of yourself to others, putting others first. 
And most of all, Be Happy!!!

     And, just in case you need it one day...
     This penny's for good luck!!!!

Congratulations

[Soldier4Christ]

  While You're Young

By: Beth Hays


Young man, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living. (Eccles. 11:9, 12:1) NLT
   
The one thing I regret most in my life is that I never got to be a kid. I didn't really have a childhood. I had adult responsibilities at the age of two. I can remember trying to figure out to cook a meal without the use of a knife or the stove. It was quite a challenge. I am grateful for my past, but I have one regret: I never was a child.

I've learned in recent years to take that back. I have learned the joy of swinging and the joy in laughter. I have learned what it is to play and be free. I understand when Solomon talks of the wonderfulness of childhood. It truly is amazing to be young.

We are encouraged to enjoy our years of youth, but given a warning as well. Don't be foolish in your happiness. Yes, be happy. But, don't hurt God in the process. Do you know how much your sin hurts our precious savior? More than we can imagine, I'm sure! Enjoy your years of youth...but remember that you will have to fess up to everything you do when you're looking God in the eye on judgment day.