Devotions for Teens

[Soldier4Christ]

  The Bottom Line Is Joy


I began to worry  when I felt the joy in my life slipping away.  I had lost my husband 3 years ago and since that time I've experienced a roller coaster of emotions.  Most of the time I am OK, then waves of grief and sadness will come over me.  Then other times I am really happy getting on with my life.  I am happy with the memories I hold dear to me of our times together.  I understand that my emotions can change from hour to hour, minute to minute.  Happiness refers to our overall sense of satisfaction with life at any certain time.  This is dependent on what is going on in your life.  I can live with the ups and downs of emotions as long as I have a foundation of joy from God.  But when I felt I was losing the joy in my life I felt I was really in trouble.  On my knees, crying I called out to God to please bring back the joy in my life.  His joy is the foundation to any Christian's life.  I needed to feel it again to go on. 

True Joy is the capacity to function from strength inside that is only given as a result of a personal relationship with Jesus.  The peace and joy Jesus brought into the world are constant.  Jesus says, "My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you." John 24:27 The world only gives temporary happiness.  Real joy is given in the everlasting.  True joy comes from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  God's Spirit is alive and active in the believers lives.  Anything the world can give it can also take away but real joy in our lives comes from God alone and won't be taken away.  I was feeling the foundation of my soul cracking when I called on God and he renewed my strength and gave me back the peace in His joy.  I had never really lost it, it was just so many worldly emotions going on in me that I lost sight of it.  The real foundation of peace and joy that He gives to us will see us through the roller coaster rides of emotions that life presents. Dig down deep to the foundation of your soul and see and feel the Joy God has placed there, hold on to it and it will give you peace through the ups and downs you must face on earth until our time comes when we go to the place of eternal heavenly joy.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Secret Sins


Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that lead them into sin… Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: I, the LORD, will punish the people of Israel who set up idols in their hearts so they fall into sin…I will do this to capture the minds and hearts of all my people who have turned from me to worship their detestable idols…In this way, the people of Israel will learn not to stray from me, polluting themselves with sin. They will be my people, and I will be their God, says the Sovereign LORD. (Ezekiel 14:3-5, 11) NLT

Sin is anything that separates us from God. Because God is holy, He cannot touch sinners. He can’t hear us or communicate with us because we permeated with sin. When we invite the holy Spirit into our lives, we also fill that gap. Jesus became the bridge between our sinfulness and God’s perfection. But what happens when we hand our lives to Jesus, but keep a little piece to ourselves?

These become secret sins. They are things that we do that greatly hurt our God because then he can’t get through to us like he wants to. When there is a secret sin in your life it fills that special place in your heart in which God speaks to you. These sins soon turn into idols because you are sacrificing “God-things” for “sin-things.”

God will do all he can to stop these sins even if it means punishing you. Sometimes the punishment just comes with the territory. For instance, watching pornography imbeds images in your mind that cause you to constantly have that sin ready to come back as soon as it is triggered. Another punishment is the physical scars left over from someone who self-injures themselves.

Don’t try to deny the existence of these sins either. 1You may be saying, "What terrible people you have been talking about!" But you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you do these very same things. 2And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them and not judge you when you do them, too? 4Don't you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Or don't you care? Can't you see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn from your sin? (Romans 2:1-4) NLT

Open up your whole heart to God. Share with Him the sins hidden from view. Surrender every part of you and ask for His forgiveness. He wants to heal you…but you have to take the first step.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Locked Out


Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11) NASV

When we least expect it, when nobody is looking, when nobody is ready, that's when Satan takes pride in attacking us. He looks for the week points in our armor. He's not going to tempt you with food if you have control over it, he's not going to tempt you with cussing if you can handle it. But, what if can't. What if there is a secrete with in you that nobody knows. A weakness that you hope nobody will find. Well friend, it's been found.

I went to visit my girlfriend after to school to spend an hour with her before I headed off to a concert and she headed off to dance practice. As she was getting ready to leave she started making the rounds to get all that she needed. First was the proper outfit, followed by the right shoes, and a bag to carry it all.

This proceeded for the next ten minutes. After she wrapped up her final check through she grabbed her bag, grabbed me, then grabbed the door. I started walking to the truck when she locked the door. I was heading out of the driveway when the most surprised and dumbfounded look I have ever seen crossed her face. I paused as she stood by the door of the house. She locked her keys in!

Isn't it funny that the most important thing that we need in life we forgot? I can't laugh because I have locked my keys in my truck more times than I could possibly count. But, the one thing that we need most in our lives is Jesus. There is no way we can get from point A to point B without Him. Sure we can try. But let's put point A as earth. Point B we will place by heaven? When you except Jesus Christ into your life you are given the keys to a shinny new car of your choice. Now this may seem stupid but aren't you going to want to hop in and go? Then let's stop acting like we have to drive across state with our BMX and start ridding in style with Jesus. Trust me, it's a whole lot easier that way. May peace be with you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Friendships


"Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." Proverbs 27:6 (NIV)

     Sometimes there are times in all of our lives where we go through a period of stress with a good friend.  It's hard, because life just gets in the way of your friendship, decisions you have to make, plans for the future, so many life changing things.  It can be a major strain on any friendship.  However, that is if we let it.  When we care about someone, then we need to let them know how important they are to us, even when things get hectic.  Let the people that you cherish try to see where you're coming from, rather than get angry and annoyed, and ruin your friendship over it!

     There are times also, where things will be said that will hurt very badly.  That's where this verse fits in.  I believe that this verse is trying to encourage us that even though our friends might say things or do things that hurt us, if they are truly our friends, than we'll be able to make it through together.  If you're going through a hard time, and you need to restore a friendship with someone, or get past some kind of hurt, I recommend you spend some time on your knees asking God to help you, and He will!  Be encouraged that no matter how many hardships you may go through in friendship, Jesus is our friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24) you can always go to Him! 

     Keep in mind as you go to set your friendships as God would have you: "A friend loves at all times" Proverbs 17:17a (NIV)  Just love your friends, even through the hard spots and it'll be okay!

[Soldier4Christ]

  God's Collection


You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. (Psalm 56: 8) NLT

God has led me through many trials in my seventeen years of life. He has let me experience many things that most older adults have never even fathomed. A few years ago I said this in resentment and anger. Now, I say it with peace, and in some ways, appreciation. Yes, God allowed me to go through very hard things. But, he has also allowed me opportunities for me to be an understanding friend and witness to many going through the same things.

When God does bring his hurting children into my life, they often ask me the same questions: "If God is real, where is He?" or "If God is so good, why doesn't He answer my prayers for help?" Or even "Does God even see my tears?"

Precious children of God, I know that so many of you have the same questions. I had them at one point as well. They are not easy questions to answer or understand. But, Psalm 56:8 tells us that He keeps track of all of our sorrows. That means that every hurt you have...large or small...God remembers forever. And each of your painfully precious tears He collects and treasures safe in a bottle. He records your pain. Where is He? He's crying with you. Why doesn't he answer? He does...just not always with a "yes I'll take you out of this hard place" but instead with a "my precious child I know it hurts, and I hurt with you, but you have to go through this to fulfill my amazing plan for you...someday it will be worth it." Does he see your tears? Oh yes...in fact, He collects them. "Do not be afraid, The Lord your God will fight for you" (Deuteronomy 4:22) NLT Always remember that you never fight this battle of life alone.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Your Future: Fearful or Faithful?


My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, 'Oh that I had the wings of dove! I would fly away and be at rest-I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm." Psalm 55:4-8 (NIV)

Have you seen those ads on television for different medications; you know, the ones where the list of potential side effects seems to be longer than the commercial itself? One commercial in particular caught my eye. In it an obviously distraught woman covers her face with her hands, as the announcer says, "Do you obsess on the 'what-ifs' of life?"

Neither TV nor that particular prescription medication was available in David's day, but I still think he would be able to relate to the woman in the commercial. A powerful conspiracy against David's kingdom was going on in Jerusalem at the time he wrote this Psalm, and to make matters worse, it was being led by a former friend. The situation was not unlike another conspiracy that was led against David by his own son Absalom (you can read about this in II Samuel chapters 15-17). If anyone had reason to be worried about the future and dwell on the "what-ifs" of life, it was David. Let's take a look at Psalm 55 to see how he handled it.

The first thing David does is pray. Too often we turn to prayer as a last resort. If our attitude is, "Well, we've tried everything else, let's try praying," our priorities are way out of line. Prayer needs to be the first thing we do. In verses one and two of Psalm 55 we see David's impassioned request; "Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my pleas; hear me and answer me." The first thing David did when confronted with his own fears about the future was to pray, and ask God for His divine help.

David also does something that we often find ourselves doing: thinking of ways to escape his fears. In verses 6-8he says "Oh that I had the wings of dove! I would fly away and be at rest-I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm." Now we don't often fantasize about sprouting wings and flying to a desert (unless its Palm springs) but often when we get concerned about the future and the "what-ifs" of life. We over-eat, or compulsively shop, or engage in relationships that are harmful for us, or medicate our pain with drugs or alcohol.

The problem is that the fear of the future doesn't ever completely disappear, even when we try to satiate, compensate or medicate it away. In his heart of hearts, David knew this, and so he does what he knows will ultimately help him He cries out to God. Verse 16 says, "But I call to God, and the Lord saves me." David knows that the only way to handle his fear of the future is by putting his hope, faith, and trust in God. God cared about David's future, and He cares about your future. In fact, He's already seen your future, and He's molding you, right now, into the person He wants you to be in the future.

The last verse of this chapter says, "But as for me, I trust in you." When we are able to completely trust God with our lives, the "what-ifs" of the future don't seem so scary. No matter what happens to us, we can have peace knowing that our future eternity is secure with Christ. Life won't always be easy, and there will be times you will be genuinely afraid; but when you turn to God in prayer and cry out to Him in your distress, as David did, He'll be there to walk with you through your time of trouble.

Confident faith and trust in God in the face of adversity is one of the most powerful witnesses we can give to a fearful, lost world. Pray that God will enable you to trust more, and fear less.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Opening The Floodgates


Malachi 3:8-10
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask,
'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You
are under a curse- the whole nation of you- because
you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the
storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test
me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I
will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour
out so much blessing that you will not have room
enough for it."

Give to God!!? WHOA you may say. How can we give to
God? By giving Tithes and offerings for one. Yea that's what I
said money! The money may not go directly into God's
hand but it directly affects His kingdom. The gospel
is revealed to people who may have otherwise never
heard it!

But are tithes and offerings the only way we can give
to God? Of course not! As humans, we have so many
abilities and talents. We should lay them all before
the throne of God and allow Him to use us through
them. "Not my will, but yours!" When we give to God,
cheerfully, we are rewarded. Personally, when I give
to the Lord; whether it be in tithes and offerings, of
my abilities, or just saying, "Lord I give you my
will, have YOUR way;" I feel refreshed, like a heavy
burden is lifted. I know that through this, someone
is coming to the Lord, someone is hearing about our
heavenly Father. The word says when we give to the
Lord; He'll open the floodgates of heaven, and pour
out so much blessing upon us that we won't have enough
room for it. I don't want to sound greedy; but I want
God's blessing upon my life, and when I give to Him, I
know I'll receive it.

So, today, as children of God, lay your all before
Him, your will, desires, passions, abilities and
talents. Give to Him with tithes and offerings to
further the kingdom of God. He'll use you, when you
give to Him. He'll open the floodgates of heaven and
you will be blessed, through giving! Take care and
God bless.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Sickness


We live in a world of imperfection. Sin runs rampant around us all of the time. Sickness is everywhere. In my parent's point of view I see the sickness of the Spirit as the worse of all illnesses. A mother sits by her child's bed as he lays in a fever, dosing off and on. He is sick with a cold. She won't get any sleep because she needs to be there to soothe him and make sure he doesn't get any worse. I have had several of these all-nighters with my boys over the years. You give them medication, wipe their head and face with a cool cloth, rub them with Vicks, make them chicken soup etc. You keep a bed side vigil until they are better.

The worse illness known to mankind is the sickness of the soul or spirit. It is especially hard on a parent who can plainly see that their daughter or son isn't following the will of God in their lives. This is when a parent can't just medicate and soothe the sickness away. We desperately need to pray for our child. We need to give unconditional love and support, but be firm about what is right or wrong in the eyes of God. All we can do is trust in God. We, as parents need to keep true to our commitment to God in our lives and be an example to our children. All sickness of the physical or mental needs to be given to God.

As in Matthew 8:16, "Many who were demon-possessed where brought to him (Jesus) and he drove out the (evil) spirits with a word and healed all the sick."

As a mother or father sits at the bed side of their sick child, so does God sit at our side watching over us and soothing us, ready to help us through all sicknesses in our lives. All we have to do is go to Jesus who takes the demons away and heals us.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Notice To Vacate


There are all sorts of times and events that we hold close to our hearts: dates that seem to stick in our heads and individuals who make a lasting impression. What ever the case may be there are many aspects in our lives that help shape and mold the person we are today. Some of them can be great, some of them can be sad.

Ever since I was twelve years old you could find me on a Friday night lacing up my roller skates, jumping onto the wood skate floor, and having the time of my life for the four hours of music and games. It only seemed fit that when the time came where I could work. I became a DJ at the very place I grew up in.

Over the years I made numerous friends and memories at the skating rink. I had the opportunity to hold Jesus Rally's and even see a friend saved and lives changed. Then one day it all came to an end.

I arrived on a Friday night like always to set up my equipment and prepare for the night to come. Then the news broke that the rink was sold and that new owners were taking over. Everything was supposed to be fine, nothing was changing just new people in charge. That lasted about a day. The following night all of the workers were let go regardless of the situation. They wanted us replaced.

Hearing the news was one of the toughest things I have had to face. Here was something that has been apart of me my whole life. Now gone. A part of who I was rested in the walls of the building and I had no where to turn. I had to ask God why. It was during this time that I was reminded that God is in control. When a door shuts a window opens.

Maybe you are going through a crisis in your life. Has something close to you disappear or vanish without warning or reason? Has a loved one passed away or a friend who was forced to move away leave you feeling empty? God is there for you to fill the void. He is there to comfort you and show you that there are reasons behind everything. We may not find out till years later, but He is in control and wants only the best for you. When we can realize that and understand it, we will look at problems like this, and rejoice knowing that God is about to do something amazing in our lives. God Bless and Keep the Faith.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Understanding Fully

I was driving home one evening and I passed by a huge carnival that was off the expressway I was on. It caught my attention because there was a huge ride directly in the center of it; a huge ship that rocked back and fort, with a big-lighted sign that said "TITANIC". The ship would rock and sway, and then make a plunging motion. I could see that the riders were having a blast and the line of riders in wait was long! As I watched the carnival fade into the distance through my rear view mirror, some thoughts came to me that I wanted to share with you.

I wonder what the passengers of the actual "Titanic" would think if they could catch a glimpse of that carnival ride? I'm almost sure that they wouldn't react with smiles and laughter. Their experience was horrific! Imagine the size of that ocean liner, plunging into the freezing Atlantic Ocean and taking over 1,000 people with her. The ship that "not even God could sink", sank to the very bottom and, for the most part, has remained there to this very day. The fear that the passengers must have felt when they learned that there was a shortage of lifeboats must have been intense! The makers of this carnival ride probably did not take into account the suffering that the dead and the survivors went through that cold evening in April. Then again, how could they; they weren't there. Neither were we. Yet, we see the ship immortalized through the Hollywood's eyes: the love stories, the passion, passengers perishing in slow motion with #1 hit songs playing in the background. It becomes glamorized and we become desensitized.

Have you ever seen the paintings of Jesus on the cross? You know the ones where He looks bored out of His mind? Just hanging there, no problem, no blood, with little cherubs kind of floating around Him? I can't help but think as to what a person who really doesn't know about Jesus would think about that "painless" sacrifice.

The Book of Isaiah says that, "He was WOUNDED for our transgressions, BRUISED for our iniquities. The CHASTISEMENT for our peace was upon Him, and by His STRIPES we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) Have you ever seen people in a fistfight? One punch can cause an eye to get really purple, swollen, and ugly. Well, Jesus was hit repeatedly, spat upon, and whipped. A crown of thorns was jammed into His head. Isaiah also says that, "His visage was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men." (Isaiah 52:14) In my mind's eye, Jesus must have looked like Rocky Balboa, after that match with Apollo Creed.

We must never forget the torture that our savior went through in order to reconcile us to God. We must never take it lightly. We have cross necklaces, cross earrings, cross tattoos, T-shirts with crosses and fancy logos/slogans, and other cross paraphernalia. What does it all mean? I'm not sure, but I do know this...let your life be the witness. The cross and what happened there was horrific. However, the purpose for it was immensely beautiful. Let us not become desensitized to what happened at Calvary. Jesus went through a lot for you and me. Let us begin to show our gratitude by not only wearing our witness, but by living it as well!

[Soldier4Christ]

  Trust During Battle


I switched off the T.V and pushed the button on the hospital bed so that I could sit up. Man, I was miserable...and TV wasn't helping at all. I needed something with substance...or someone that was real. I turned on the light and looked at my watch...3:30am. No wonder it was so quiet! Had I slept all day? Who knows? Not that it mattered though...time doesn't matter in the hospital. I was really lonely...and to be quite honest...tired of being there. I didn't care that I could barely breathe and needed oxygen...I wanted to be with someone.

The battle to try to get better was made harder by all of the emotional difficulties I was facing. My mother was sick again. Should that really surprise me? And then there was Dad...he'd screwed things up at work and was afraid he would lose his job. My step mom Lisa was really cold...and I didn't know why. And my friends...oh my friends...they all needed me for something or other.

"God," I said aloud, "I just don't understand why you aren't stepping in here! I'm tired of fighting. Why won't you make things better? Maybe even you can't..."

I opened my Bible. I was reading in first Chronicles. "Boy, this is boring! How could this possible encourage me?" I thought. Then I read it: They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. (2 Chronicles 5:20) NLT

Boom. There it was. No wonder I wasn't getting an answer to my prayer! I didn't trust Him. How could I expect Him to work a miracle in my life if I wouldn't give it all to Him? How could I underestimate Him so much? I started to cry.

"Alright God...you win. I'm so sorry. I love you so much...will you please forgive me? You are so much bigger than all of this. I give it all to you...I trust you." What peace filled me then! I knew it was all going to be ok because no matter what...I had God.

Are you battling right now? Cry out to your Heavenly Father! He loves you and is ready and willing to answer your prayers...all you have to do is trust.

[Soldier4Christ]

  How to Avoid Evil Fellowship

Do not let your heart envy sinners but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. Proverbs 23:17 (NIV)

Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble. Proverbs 24:1-2 (NIV)

I am sure that you have noticed how easy it is to want the life of someone else. It's easy to look at the material wealth and fame of the people who are stars and wonder what it would be like to switch places with them. The same goes for many of the world's most wealthy business people. I know that I work as hard as they do, but I often think that I just haven't been as lucky as they have. I catch myself dreaming of how much easier life would be if only I had been given some of the chances they had.

Then reality hits. I see the destruction that fame and fortune has brought into some of their lives. I see the divorces, the devastation from drugs and alcohol, and the despair that many of the children from these families feel. I realize then that my dreaming and envying has been centered on all of the wrong people and things. Now, not every rich or famous person becomes a victim to the negative trappings of celebrity. We all know examples of incredibly rich or famous Christians, like President Bush, Kurt Warner and Coach John Wooden. These men, along with millions of other men and women, have channeled their careers and wealth into a tremendous witness for Christ. However, on close examination, it's easy to see that an overwhelming percentage of wealthy and famous people are badly in need of an introduction to a miraculous man named Jesus.

The author of Proverbs felt so strongly about the danger of envying and imitating the wrong kind of people that he wrote about it twice within about two pages. Why? Because he was sure that it was and would continue to be very difficult to walk by faith in the glare of the false glory that fame and fortune bring. He knew thousands of years ago that it was inevitable that our lives would be filled with anxieties, impatience and unbelief. In the face of those challenges he knew that our tendency would be to envy intensely. He knew that we would see the excessive prosperity of others and make comparisons to our own lives. He knew that if envy went unchecked it would bring sin into our lives as we strive to become like people the world honored and idolized. He already knew that greed and envy would wreck our lives if we gave into worldly desires and lost our focus.

Fortunately, thousands of years ago, the Bible was preparing us to deal with this issue. It told us then, as now, that the only people worthy of envy are the righteous--That the only people that should be copied are those that know the Lord. The writer was confident that envying those who have strayed far from God would lead to destruction and he wanted to warn us before it became a problem in our life.

Are you like me? Are you occasionally guilty of wondering what it would be like to be rich or famous? If so, Proverbs tells you that if you know the Lord, you are already richer than you could possibly be with all the money or possessions in the world. I recently met a couple in our church who has decided that each day they will set out to do something to make God smile. What a wonderful goal! These passages of Scripture in Proverbs let us know how much happier we will be trying to please God than trying to emulate the world.

As difficult as it can sometimes be the reward for having a lifestyle like that of Christ is knowing that we have made God smile. That's worth more than twice the fortune of the world's richest people. Give it a try. Be imitators of Christ and see the happiness it brings to you and to those around you…and to God.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Amazing Lengths


" For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 (KJV)

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(inspired by "Jesus’ Baptism and the Witness of John" from Max Lucado's The Greatest Moments)

In 1942, a B-17 Flying Fortress and it's nine member crew plummeted thousands of feet into an unforgiving, angry, shark-fin thrashed sea when their plane ran out of fuel over the Pacific. Managing to stay afloat in three rafts, their bodies and spirits were punished by the elements for months as they fought for survival. This heavy-laden crew, without any radio capabilities at their disposal, and the probability of a rescue slim at best, likely believed they were going to die.

The airmen had bible devotionals every morning, and there was one among them who was a non-believer named James Whittaker. He resented the bible readings, and despite an apparent dim fate drawing closer with the break of every wave against his raft, he refused to open up His heart and believe. Even though hungry sharks were buffeting the raft, and the storms threatened to capsize the crew, and later the heat made drowning in water seem like a satisfying experience, James Whittaker refused to cry out to His creator for mercy.

One morning, as the sun rose over the Pacific with the promise of another sweltering, sweating, starving, salty, nauseating, rocking-back-and-forth torturous day (just a few minutes of the like enough to drive this man insane for years!), crew-member Eddie Rickenbacker did what any man in his situation would do. Having already prayed for, hoped for, and tried everything, there was nothing left that his hands could do to save himself. He laid his head back and, with his hat over his eyes, did all he could to bare the beginning of another blinding day of sunlight.

Shortly after Rickenbacker rested his head, the flapping of wings and the disturbance of the shade his hat provided told him instinctively that a sea gull had perched gloriously on his crown! This had to be a sign! A ray of hope!! Without a second thought, he snapped out his hands and caught the bird. After killing and eating it, the crew went through the gruesome task (in their case a welcome one!) of unraveling the animal’s intestines to use as fishing bait.
Because of this one-in-a-million occurrence, not only did these men survive, but also James Whittaker made the glorious transformation from a dead person to a living one, in two senses. One, he survived the ordeal God had allowed him to go through! Two, he believed in the Lord from that moment on!!!

Max Lucado puts it best in his devotional about the ordeal. "I had to chuckle at God. Isn't that just like Him? Who would go to such extremes to save a soul? Amazing the lengths God will go to get our attention." This man, Whittaker, was not willing to believe in God in normal every day life, or even when his own life seemed to be fading fast. He finally believed, though, when he saw the miracle God had done for he and his crew! God knew how much it would take for this one man to reach out to Him, and was willing to set the stage to the utmost detail to make that happen.

Even in Jesus’ day there were many like Whittaker. Despite the lack of medical advancements in those times, and the prevalence of disease, the threat of war, draught, and beast, many people refused to believe. Even when Christ walked among them, many still remained hardened. But the day that Jesus was resurrected after being beaten, flogged, crucified, and spending three days in a closed up tomb, many believed!

Like the airmen in this story, Jesus went through the elements. He suffered unfathomable pain, was even put in the ground, and yet when hope was seemingly gone - with his disciples' spirits at their lowest point - he rose! The people around him never doubted again, and their lives were never the same! The joy they had and their desire to share it is the reason we know of Jesus today!

Both stories are great examples of how God will go - literally - to the end of the earth for us. He loved the world enough to send His only son into our presence so that we could have a chance at repentance, and through belief in Him, forgiveness and eternal life! That means that if we believe, after this life is over will be a new one, which will never end!! God knows what extreme measures it will take for each person to accept Him, and He is and has been setting the stage for that sequence of events since the beginning of time.   In the bible, John the Baptist said that He knew Jesus because the spirit of God ascended on him like a dove, much like the life saving dove of this story; in both instances men were led to believe. If you read this today and your heart is hardened to the Lord, I pray that the story will help you to be like James Whittaker. Some of you are in the raft that he was in, and the last thing you want to do is cry out to God. You are losing hope fast, yet God already sent the miracle that will save your life, in Christ. Believe, and make that transition from death to life! Though we are a world who separates itself from God by our sins, He already made the first move towards reconciliation by sending His son as a once-and-for-all sacrifice on our behalf. All we have to do is open our heart, repent, and make the next move.

[Soldier4Christ]

  To Busy To Read This


"Seek first the kingdom of Heaven and all its righteousness, and all else shall fall into place. (Matthew 6:33)

"Man, look at the length of this devotional, I don't have time to read it. I'll just go read my Bible later. But wait, I've got homework. I've got to turn that in, I guess I can just do double the amount of reading my Bible tomorrow." Tomorrow comes, and you still didn't spend the time with God you know you needed to spend. It seems as though we have become to lazy and to busy to do what God tells us to do. When Christ says to seek, we just take a glance. You show me a heart filled with devotion to bring someone to Christ, and I'll show you a person who will win many to Christ.

It's become comical to me to see how much we don't even care to tell others about God. We don't have our priorities straight and that's the reason we don't see God working within this land as much as He would like to. Many of you know that we recently reached over 11,000 members Sunday, but if each one of those members just got ONE person to sign up, then we would have over 11,000 new members. Are you to busy to tell one of your friends about Christ's holy and precious name? Are you to preoccupied to get just one person you know to sign up to receive the devotional so they can have God truly work in their lives as well? Saints, we've lost our passion to Christ and forfeited our lives because we are to busy. When you know you've got a lot of work to do, will you just seek out God and know that everything will fall into place? How come we can't really trust the One who sees our tomorrow's, as His yesterdays? I challenge you to know the Word of God, but even more, to know the God in the Word. It's your choice how you will spend this day, do yourself a favor, chose Christ and stop playing games. Stay encouraged in your faith.

[Soldier4Christ]

  My Shelter


But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the sovereign Lord
my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
(Psalm 73:28) NLT

I have had a tough week. School has been unusually busy. It's the end of the
year, and in most teacher's opinions, crunch time. I have been overwhelmed
with huge amounts of homework. I spend between two to three hours on
homework alone each night. After school I go right to the hospital so that I
can be with my grandmother who is very sick and very lonely. I stay until I
need to leave for work. Work has been horribly stressful because business is
down from where we need to be. The pep talks have ended and now we simply
get lectured to do better. We all know that if we don't...we're gone. By the
time Sunday came around I was hurting so badly. I felt lost and alone in
this world of busyness. I needed rest...but when did I possibly have time?
My weekend was ever more hectic than my weekdays.

I decided I needed "me" time. I told my family and friends that for three
hours I was going to be alone...and didn't want bothered unless the house
was burning underneath me or someone was dying. I went into my room and I
cried out to God. I told Him of all of the pain and frustration. I cried in
his arms. Then, this verse became real to me. He WAS my shelter. He held me
there while I cried in my bed...holding my tear soaked teddy bear. The Most
High God who made the universe sheltered me. He took the time to simply love
me. Wow.

Most of my close friends know of my grandmother's illness and of my
struggles, and they ask often how I am. I have been blessed abundantly in
the area of godly friends. Each time I have never been devoid of an example
to share about the wonderful things God does for me. Through it all he has
shown me miracle after miracle. I am utterly grateful for all he does...and
I can't help but tell others.

Are you hurting inside? Longing for a shelter? Wanting some place where you
can feel at home and loved? Turn to God...make the Sovereign Lord your
shelter. Take this promise as one just for you. He loves you and he longs
for your presence even more than you long for His. I wish you peace.