Devotions for Teens

[Soldier4Christ]

  Christ's Ambassadors


We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal
through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2
Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)


    Not long ago, the nightly news on CBS, NBC, and ABC aired the most
updated news of the day. However, the advent of 24-hour news networks and
the Internet have cost these daily news stations their monopoly on the
American news audience. Similarly, many Christians used to believe that
evangelism was the job of the clergy alone. Could you imagine a church
weekend service being the only place where one could hear the gospel? What a
tremendous burden that would be for pastors! Like the communication
revolution in broadcast news, Christians need to take up the cause of
evangelism themselves, witnessing to nonbelievers around them.

Jesus Christ bestowed His Great Commission upon ALL believers, a point that
the Apostle Paul reminds us of in 2 Corinthians 5:18-21. In reconciling us
to Himself through Jesus Christ, God gave each one of us this ministry: All
this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us
the ministry of reconciliation (v. 18). This message of reconciliation is
what we tell nonbelievers: That God was reconciling the world to himself in
Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the
message of reconciliation (v. 19). We're to speak God's message to the world
on His behalf: We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were
making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be
reconciled to God (v. 20). In speaking this message of reconciliation, we
must conduct our lives in accordance with the righteousness that Christ
bestowed upon us through the cross: God made him who had no sin to be sin
for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (v. 21).

Effective witnesses are visual Christians in action. Words alone can
witness, but if we're going to talk the talk, we must also walk the walk. To
those who let their actions talk, I say that people still need to understand
the reason behind your conduct. To those who talk about Jesus every chance
you get, I envy your fire and courage. Just make sure that you're living
what you're preaching. Obviously a sinful lifestyle will undercut your
message, but being rude in how you introduce the Gospel can hurt your
testimony as well. "Turn or burn" messages, falsely manipulating people to
go to church, or dropping your interest in them once they've accepted Christ
are bad forms of witnessing. Evangelism means building relationships with
nonbelievers to such a point that they trust you to share your faith. Should
they accept Christ, your evangelism continues by discipling and helping them
grow in their faith.

Getting to church helps us to learn the wisdom of God's plan for our lives.
Through a church congregation, the Holy Spirit will show us our life's
mission. We all share the common mission of communicating God's love with
the unconvinced. However, God has also created each one of us to carry out a
specific mission to share the Gospel to a specific group of people, in a
specific way, in a specific place. If you're not going to church, you may
not know how to get started. Even if you think you do know, a church can
help confirm and support it.

Please, if you're a Christian but not attending a church, get plugged in.
You may not be called to go halfway around the world. You can be an
ambassador for God right in your own backyard. Just rest assured, wherever
God calls you to go, He will provide and He will walk beside you every step
of the way. Get ready for a great adventure!

[Soldier4Christ]

"But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1st Samuel 16:7

Being the typical teenager that I am, I am constantly trying to be perfect. I concentrate on what others think of me on the outside: Are my clothes okay? Is my hair nice? Does my face look okay? A few months ago, that all changed. I realized that God loves me for who I really am not what I force on myself. God made me exactly the way he wants me to be and I shouldn't try to change that. He doesn't care if every single strand of hair is in the perfect spot, he just cares about what you're heart is thinking.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Jesus paid the ultimate price. He died so that we may live. That makes us pretty special. But sometimes we loose sight of that. Even though we may drift away form Him, we are still very much with Him. He loves us to the very fullest, and we should do the same for Him. I'm so undeserving, and yet he gave his one and only son for me. How amazing is that? He gave away a perfect man all for the sake of millions of no where near perfect people. Think about that for a second. Isn't that incredibly awesome? He loves you that much!

Next time you think that you aren't good enough, that you don't meet the world’s standards drop that thought and focus on God. Does he still love and accept you? Of course he does! God loves you and thinks you are special, and that's all that matters. Don't worry about what others think. God will always love you. You'll always be his special, priceless child, and that is the only thing in the world that matters.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Persistence


Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a
harvest if we do not give up Galatians 6:9 (NIV).

A farmer in China planted a seed from a bamboo tree. He watered the seed and
tended the ground. After one year of this daily ritual, not even a sprout
grew. During the second year, the farmer continued watering the seed and
tending the land. At the end of the second year, nothing grew. His ritual
continued through the third the fourth year, and... nothing grew. At the end
of the fifth year, finally, a giant bamboo tree burst forth from the ground.
Now was the farmer's work in the fifth year the only one that paid off, or
was the tree the result of all five years of work? Like the farmer, we may
not see the results of our labor for a long time. Nonetheless, progress is
taking place even when it seems like nothing is happening.

God encourages us through his Word to not give up. Persistence is a key
component to fulfilling God's mission. Though all visible evidence may tell
us that our work is fruitless, the Bible encourages us to keep going a
little while longer. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the
proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). Who
knows? The result we seek may just be around the corner. Scripture also
tells us about the patience of God in 2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slow in
keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you,
not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Imagine if
the Lord came back a day before you or someone close to you accepted Him.
Aren't you thankful He waited long enough for you? In the same way, we
should not give up on people.

We shouldn't allow difficulties to discourage us. Don't give up. We may feel
like our actions are pointless, but they eventually lead to good. God has
been patient throughout history so that all people might have the chance to
be saved and no one lost.

We need to adopt the Lord's patience. Think about the early church. When the
Roman emperor had many of the early leaders killed, most specifically Peter
and Paul, do you think the church wasn't discouraged? Sure, they felt like
giving up. But thankfully, they didn't! More than two hundred years later in
312, the Roman emperor, Constantine, converted to Christianity, and
Christianity went from being an underground faith to one acceptable
throughout the Roman Empire. There were times in history that the very idea
of that happening would have been met with ridicule and hostility, but
nevertheless, it happened!

When difficulties get us down, we must not get discouraged. Satan would love
to see us to give up, but that's precisely when we need to keep going the
most. Keep doing whatever it takes to reach people for Christ. Though it may
seem fruitless, don't get tired of doing what is right. God promises, after
a while, a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up.
Adopt God's patience. As much as we'd love for Christ to come back and put
an end to the madness of this world, I want to see my parents come to
Christ. Keep praying for people you want to see come to Christ.

Trust that God is using you even when it doesn't feel that way. Look beyond
today and see the hand of God stretching through eternity, bigger and
mightier than any obstacle you could encounter along the way. Remember the
story of the farmer and the bamboo tree. One day, in His time, God will
bring forth the fruits of your labor.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Pouring Our Hearts


Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the
Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer. (Lamentations 2:19) NLT

I've never been one to sleep well. I've heard stories of when, as a baby, I
would keep everyone awake for weeks at a time because I slept in short
bursts. Now, try as I might, I never sleep an entire night. I've even been
to a doctor and tried medication. Even in the hospital, they cannot keep me
asleep for long. It just isn't my thing I suppose.

God has used this for His glory though. Over the years, he has used this
time as my quiet time with Him. This is when I worship with my whole soul,
and where I find my comfort. I've always been prone to
nightmares--nightmares of past memories. When I awaken from these I am often
afraid and in tears. I cry out to my Father. I pour out the emotions...as
the verse says...just like water. I cry and let all of the built up fear and
pain pour out of me and give it to Him. When I have been freed of my burden,
I sing softly, or pray silently. I spend quiet time worshiping God...lifting
my hands, as I feel led.

I'm not asking you to get up and take your quiet time at two AM. But, if you
are burdened to pray for someone...or woken up in the middle of the
night...pour out your heart to our God. He wants to hear from you...and if
He woke you...obviously it's important. Heed His call and spend that time
with Him...whether it is in the morning, at noon, in the evening, or in the
middle of the night.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Be an Everyday Minister


Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give
yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor
in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

If you're a stranger in a foreign land, do you go and live among its native
citizens, or do you seek out people who share your heritage and customs? Do
you jump right into the social, religious and political scene or take a
little time to check things out?

It's perfectly understandable that a newcomer would most likely want to live
among people who come from the same country they do. Through associations
with people they feel comfortable with, they can learn much more easily and
quickly how to live and function in their new country. Gradually, the
newcomer may even feel confident enough to step out of their comfort zone
and begin associating with people of other nationalities. That can be the
first step toward finding their place in their new homeland.

Likewise, Christians can sometimes feel like they are aliens in a foreign
land. We've all been newcomers at one point or another. Only through the
help of more mature believers who have learned how to function as Christians
in a non-Christian world do we begin to find our place and discover the
unique role God has shaped us to play in His church. God has designed us to
be everyday ministers, serving and supporting our Christian brothers and
sisters so that they can do the same for others.

God calls us to support each other so that we can fulfill His purpose for
us. Paul confirms this in Romans 12:3-5. We're not God's greatest gift to
anybody, but neither are we insignificant: For by the grace given me, I say
to every one of you: Do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought,
but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the
measure of faith God has given you (v. 3). We're a special creation of our
Heavenly Father who created us with a special purpose. We're all members of
one body, the body of Christ, but we each have special talents with which
we're to serve the body: Just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function... (v. 4). Through
involvement in the church, we discover how the Lord has gifted us: So in
Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the
others (v. 5). Ministry is the use of special talents that God has given us,
which we discover in fellowship with other people. God helps us discover
these gifts so that we may use them for His purpose.

We must make it a point to affirm each other's gifts so that we know how we
can best serve the body. How will people know what they're good at if
somebody else does not tell them? We must pray for each other so that God
can fulfill our needs and shape us into the people he wants us to be. We
must take care of each other's needs and, in turn, learn to accept help from
others when we're in need. Finally, we must share our emotional experiences,
helping each other through our sorrows and celebrating our joys so that we
can praise God for fulfilling his promises.

Everyday ministry is what has strengthened and sustained the Church, under
our Lord's guidance, for two thousand years. It means helping our brothers
and sisters in their time of troubles so that they in turn can one day help
others. We help them grow in their relationship with God so that they can
better understand who they are. Relationships help us to understand our
roles within the body and how God wants us to serve each other. It is
through our everyday ministry to others that we discover meaning and purpose
in our lives.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Freedom Time

"He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the
captives and release from darkness for the prisoners". Isaiah 61:1

This verse from Isaiah has begun to take on entirely new meaning in the last
few days. Before, this verse meant freedom from sin. It meant freedom from
bondage in the form of drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, and all other
types of physical chains, and most of all, freedom from death. In the last
few days though, this verse for me is starting to represent freedom also
from mental, emotional, and spiritual bondage.

I have dealt with lots of issues since I became a Christian. I have dealt
with doubt, backsliding, and fear. One of the biggest problems I have had
since becoming saved was public witnessing. I know this is an issue that
probably makes lots of people uncomfortable. It does me. The verse where
Jesus mentions being "ashamed" of him (Mark 8:38) comes to mind for me any
time that I feel like giving a stranger the gospel but am too afraid, or
can't come up with the words to say. For a long time this issue caused me to
go into sin, to run from God. I refused to confront this problem and it did
a lot of damage to my Christian walk.

I finally realized I am definitely not ashamed of Jesus, because He has
saved me from my sins, given me eternal life, and put in me a fire to serve
Him. I got over that issue and enjoyed being saved. Recently, though, the
issue began to resurface. It was inspired by one instance where I thought
about saying something about Jesus to someone I work with, and didn't open
my mouth. After that, time after time I found myself seeing strangers or
people I work with and telling myself "you should say this", and yet not
saying it. I felt like somehow I would be giving these people a piece of
myself if I just came out with Christ out of nowhere, that by letting them
know I was concerned with their salvation I would somehow be giving them a
reason to make fun of me. I didn't want these people to know that at any
given time in a day my mind was on Jesus Christ, rather than worldly things,
things that "normal" people think about. I wasn't ashamed to be a Christian
or ashamed of God's words, just somehow felt like another person would see
something "wrong" with me for being who I am.

I began to feel very badly about being unable to speak in all these
instances. I kept thinking of Mark 8:38, and began to feel like I wasn't
saved, and became afraid to pray to God. I realize Satan will do that to a
person just for that reason, to sever them from their Savior and make them
ineffective, so I kept praying. I said, "Lord if this is simply an attack
from Satan, bind him, but if it is you, then don't stop until you convict me
and show me what it is you are trying to do".

A friend of mine pointed out that God would sometimes allow Satan to attack
us simply to bring out something in us that He already put there. To
stimulate the growth of a characteristic he already instilled in us. A child
of God is like gold, and the only way to increase our value and purify us is
to put us through flames. This friend was right. I kept dealing with this
issue, finding myself becoming less and less happy and more and more
ineffective because I knew that somehow the world had me chained up, and my
perception of other people's opinions was keeping me from being what God
wants me to be. Dealing with this was hard, because I was caught between
God's will and my own restraint.

That middle ground between surrender and restraint gives the devil a big
pedestal to stand on and yell all kinds of lies to a person, to tell them
they are not saved and that they are ashamed of their own savior, and that
they might as well just give up. But I didn't. I knew that if I didn't keep
in prayer and ask God to convict me and help me confront the issue, then I
would fall.

After a lot of praying and conviction from the Holy Spirit, I came to the
conclusion that this was God telling me the world has me in bondage. He
began to show me that at my creation in my mother's womb, He made me with
gifts, talents, emotions, love, compassion, etc. He made me beautiful in his
sight--perfect. God knew what He wanted from my life, and had a plan for me
from day one, if I would one day believe Him and give in to His will. Ever
since I was a kid, Satan also knew this plan God had for me, and began to
build siege-works against me to keep it from being fulfilled.

I began to realize that, while I am free in Christ, and my soul is saved,
somehow I'm still chained, because I can't stop worrying about what other
people think about me. Every time that I wanted to mention Jesus -- even if
it wasn't exactly what the Lord wanted me to do right at that time, or that
my words would've even made the difference right then -- I couldn't. God was
trying to let me see the underlying and inevitable problem, which is that I
still am not free from the chains and walls the devil has been building up
against me ever since childhood. The bondage is fear of people's opinions of
me. That is why I was unable to open my mouth at the time I felt I should.

You, being teens, know exactly what I am talking about when I mention social
bondage. You face it in the schools every day. You're not cool enough.
You're not popular. You're too different. If only your hair were more curly.
If only your ears were smaller, or your nose more straight, or your hips
smaller, or your thighs more thin, or your knees less bony. If you only wore
the right clothes, or even if you wore them, if they only fit you the way
they fit the "cool" people. If all these things were in place, then you'd be
okay, but you're not, so don't express yourself. Nobody cares what you have
to say, nor will they respect it. When I was in school, I got picked on so
badly that I began to even hate myself, and began to feel that anything I
said was not valid, by law, because I am myself. If only I was somebody
else, but no, I am me. Therefore anything I say must be wrong, and no matter
what I do I should hold myself back from being expressive to avoid further
ridicule. This is the tangle of chains the devil throws on you. He wants you
believe that something about you is just not correct, and that before you
can be important or right you have to be like the mainstream. While I
thought I had long ago overcome this bondage, I was wrong.

What I did not realize as a kid was that God made a huge investment when he
created me. He made me beautiful in his sight, and put a huge store of every
kind of emotion in me. He made me absolutely unique, an individual with
gifts and talents, every one of which has a big purpose in his plan for my
life. He lovingly stitched together every piece of me with the intention
that I shine brighter than a star in the sky! He had a plan for me to do all
kinds of good works, a plan that he mapped out long before the earth was
even built. He had an equally awesome but absolutely unique agenda for each
and every one of you reading this, as well.

Because of sin, though, this plan was put on hold, and could've been ended
forever. Ever since I was a kid, the devil saw the treasure chest God had
placed in my heart, and wanted to lock it up forever. He began at a young
age, subjecting me to all kinds of bullying, criticism, and belittling
through the sin of other classmates. These are actually things that were
said to me in elementary school and up. "Your ears are too big." "You're
clumsy." "You're weird!" "You breath too loud!" (I know this is strange for
most). Then amazingly,  "Why are you so quiet?" Other people had me so
bottled up I was afraid to even talk. Then through television Satan
subjected my eyes to all kinds of violence, sexual immorality, and incorrect
beliefs. That kind of stuff gave me a hiding place. And finally through my
own sins he further took me away from God. He used the fact that my parents
were not active believers to allow me to grow up in an environment mostly
devoid of the hope of Christ, so the sin in my heart could grow and be
cultivated by the day's culture. And worst of all he let me see how other
people who "aren't different" have peace and acceptance among each other. He
takes the "normal" people who have nothing to say and makes them say it the
loudest, and get the most acceptance, so that I when I finally had something
important to say was afraid to. This set the stage for my future fear of
sharing the gospel.

cont'd

[Soldier4Christ]

After years and years of this type of living, layer after layer of hardness
being put on my heart, I degenerated into drugs and alcohol. This finally
sent me to my lowest point, and I asked Christ into my life. I am glad I was
subjected to these things; I might have never thought I needed Christ
otherwise. I am now saved, and know for sure that there is hope, love, and
eternal life for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. But I am still
dealing with the bondage placed on me by the abuse I suffered at the world's
hands. I have many talents (as we all do) that God is wanting me to use to
share with other people, yet the chains I am wearing (the perception I have
of how the world will view me) keep me from sharing them with the world.

I'm writing this as a testimony to how God has not only freed me from my
sins, but is beginning to break off the chains that Satan has been fastening
on me all my life. I'm also writing it because, while we all like to believe
that we are doing well, the bible does say God is not finished with us yet.
I know there is thousands of you dealing with the same chains. While it may
not have been bullies or being picked on, or insecurity that caused it, each
of us has a shadow that we create ourselves. The shadow consists of how we
think people see us. That shadow always follows us, and is what keeps us
from being free, and from shining our light to its fullest capacity!

We know in our hearts that we believe in Christ and want everyone else to
have the same peace, yet before we tell someone about Him, we see that
shadow. We know who we are, and what we believe yet the world has us
fighting ourselves to be that person.  I am not writing to condemn you, but
to convict you and challenge you. I deal with the same thing. Even now as I
write this, I am thinking about what people will think of me for sending it
out! But the Lord has been doing so much in me now to smash these chains, to
kick over and stomp on the siege-works the devil has built up against me,
and to make me truly free! Sending this devotional out is something I KNOW
God wants me to do, as it will witness to at least one person who reads it.
In the last few days since God has revealed this message to me, I have
publicly witnessed to several people, have been sharing my musical talent,
letting someone read my songs, which I usually am very sensitive about.
Because I have been praying and am intent on confronting this issue rather
than running from it, God has been stirring up boldness in me, allowing me
to exercise the faith and obedience He desires us to have. If you are
dealing with this type of bondage, don't be afraid, you are still saved! God
isn't upset when we fall; he is upset if we don't get back up. I know God
has not only done this in my life to show me where I need His help, but so
that I can share my experience with other people (believers and
un-believers), and assure them that there is freedom in Him!

We have to remember that each one of us is a CHILD OF GOD. We are a treasure
chest, a loaded bank account, one might say God has put his most cherished
treasures into each one of us, and now as Believers he has set in our hearts
his very HIGHEST and PRIZED treasure, His son Jesus Christ. Because of our
belief in Him we are RICH BEYOND COMPREHENSION! God's plan for us now calls
for us to remain open and to freely pour out our treasures for ANYBODY who
we meet. This includes our talents, our love, our sense of humor, our
sympathy, our compassion, our support, our labor, our forgiveness, our joy,
and everything we have, the most important being the KNOWLEDGE of salvation
in Jesus.

For those of you with talents, don't be afraid to share them and use them
for God's glory. We can't hoard anything we have to ourselves. He gave us
our gifts not just for our pleasure, but also for the light of the world and
for the uplifting of His church! The world NEEDS what we have!

Remember, the people who we try to impress in our day to day lives would
actually be overwhelmed and impressed with us themselves if they only saw us
as God wants us to be, free and unrestrained in our walk with Christ, and
not the "we" that we are with our chains on. Also, these people whose
opinions about us we are concerned with (those we may fear offending, or we
think may look down on us), who appear to have it all together, are actually
not free themselves. Inside they are hunched over by the weight from their
own chains. If we allow our chains to be removed by the power of Christ, we
will flower and grow to the full potential God has put in us, and they will
envy us, and we will be a witness to them of God's grace.

This message today is multi-purposed. One, it is meant to make Believers
aware of this problem in their lives if they haven't yet recognized it. Two,
it is to show those who do recognize it as a problem area, that Jesus did
indeed come to give "freedom to the captives". If you are obedient and
prayerful He will overcome it. Remember, "You, dear children, are from God
and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the
one who is in the world." Don't let the devil have the victory, and don't
run from this problem! CONFRONT IT! You can and will be free!

Thirdly, this message is for non-believers who experience the same bondage,
as well as the bondage of sin and death. Today you can have freedom. God
made us perfect in His sight. We were not designed for sin, which is why the
sin of this world causes depression, pain, sickness, and every other adverse
affect it has on our bodies and spirits. We were not meant to go through it.
But God gave us free will, and it's that free will that causes people to be
destroyed, to face death and eternal separation from God. We CHOOSE to
reject Him, and we CHOOSE to live according to our own rules instead of His.
God is merciful, and does not take pleasure in the death of any person,
which is why he sent His son Jesus Christ to be a sacrifice for us. Believe
in Him and you will be saved, for "God so love the world that He gave His
one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have
eternal life." (John 3:16)

The devil has built up all kinds of barriers around you to either keep the
light out, keep you living in darkness, or if you are saved, to keep the
light in, to keep you from illuminating the darkness. Each person has chains
and bars all around them, and I hope the Lord uses my experience and what I
wrote to begin a work in your heart to break the chains and knock down the
walls! Believe that He can and then surrender your will to His. Take the
advice of a song by Lauryn Hill: "Get free! Be who you're supposed to be!!
It's freedom time."

[Soldier4Christ]

  Gay Appearance


I'm about to tread on some very dangerous water here, so please hear my
heart on this.  Many times than not, studies show that guys/men have a much
more difficult time showing affection for others, especially other guys/men.
I don't mean romantic or sexual love, but just good old-fashioned hugs, pats
on the back, etc.  Society has made us believe that crying and other outward
signs of sensitivity are signs of weakness.  You know, grown men don't cry!
Many guys don't hug or share words of encouragement or love because they
might look "gay".  When we deprive and deny ourselves of these opportunities
to express our feelings, we rob ourselves of the presence of God.  Consider
David and Jonathan...

1st Samuel 20 details the saga of King Saul wanting to kill David and even
trying to kill his own son Jonathan.  The Bible says that Jonathan loved
David as his own soul.  He admired David and truly loved him as a brother.
So much in fact, that he was even disposed to go against the command of his
father - the King!  Verse 41 of Chapter 20 finds David and Jonathan in a
special moment as they were preparing to part ways.  If they had been big,
21st Century macho men, they would have just shaken hands, slapped each
other on the shoulders, and have been done with it.  Well, let me say that
there probably weren't two more macho guys on the planet that David and
Jonathan.  They were warriors, fierce in battle.  David also had a
reputation with women that any modern guy would envy.  Still, the verse
says, "David arose from a place in the south, fell on his face to the
ground, and bowed three times.  And they (David and Jonathan) kissed one
another; and they wept together, but David more so."  I don't believe that
they were concerned with looking "gay".  They truly loved each other.  It
wasn't about sexuality.

Now, let's look to the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  In John 13,
starting with verse 21, Jesus is sitting with His disciples, preparing to
tell them that He knows one will betray Him.  Verse 24 says, "Now, there was
leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved."  Then verse
25 says, "Then, leaning back on Jesus' breast, he said to Him, 'Lord, who is
it?'"  This was a grown man, leaning on Jesus chest, in front of other grown
men.  Was he "gay"?  Of course NOT!  He was just secure, knowing that this
was an expression of love and not perversion.  If he had cared about what
the others had thought, he would've never made it to that place where He
could actually recline on the chest of the Master.

Many of us, in our lives, care so much about what others may say and think,
that we keep ourselves from having that loving, nurturing relationship that
Jesus wants us to have with Him and each other.  The Bible says, "Where the
spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Cor 3:17)  If Jesus is in us,
then we must be free to show love for one another.  The Word also says that
God is love, so where love is expressed in it's purest form, God is not only
revealed but manifested as well.  While I agree with the adage that "love is
love, no matter who it's with", I do not equate this with romantic/sexual
love.  God does have strict laws concerning sexual love, but pure love was,
is, and should be expressed to and by all we come in contact with.  Take
time and read 1 Cor 13 and remember, "...the greatest of these is love." (1
Cor 13:13)   

[Soldier4Christ]

  Renewing Our Vows


I was reading the book of Esther again this past week. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s a pretty cool book. There is a great story line…and the good guy wins J. But, this time it has a lot more meaning than the last time I read it. You see, now I understand more about jewish custom. (I know…*yawn*…but give me a chance…it gets better.)

Do you know how they used to propose back then? (Trust me..I am getting somewhere with this) The guy would pour some wine in his glass. That was supposed to stand for all he was…all his wealth, power, heart, soul, and devoion. He would take this cup and (probably a little sheepishly) hand it over to the woman he wanted to marry. If she accepted, she would take the cup and drink it…signifying accepting who he was.

When Jesus was at the last supper, he knew all about these customs (He is God after all). Yet “He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you” (Matthew 26:27) NIV In essence, He asked them to marry Him. Now, I don’t mean in the physical sense…but think about it—we as the church are the bride of Christ. He offered the cup to us. He offered us everything that He has and everything that He is.

We have a choice every time we go up for communion, and every time we come to him spiritually. We can accept the cup and accept all that he is, or we can reject it and live forever without the most precious relationship in this world. It’s an individual choice. But, I encourage you to think before you make it. Will you renew your wedding vows with the God of this universe?

[Soldier4Christ]

  How to be a Living Sacrifice


Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies
as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act
of worship." Romans 12:1 (NIV)

I'm not a parent, but I have sensed that there is an awesome dynamic that
exists between parents and their children. While children might rebel
against their parents, especially during adolescence, they also desire to
please them...and that must be a heart-melting moment for mom and dad. At
the same time, the sense of what the parents are entrusted with must seem
like an overwhelming responsibility. And I can imagine the pride parents
must feel when their children experience success either academically or in
extracurricular activities like sports or school plays. In the same way,
there is an awesome dynamic that exists between God and members of His
creation who recognize Him for who he truly is - Creator, Redeemer, and
Lord.

Paul implores us in Romans 12:1 to live our lives in worship to God. In
Romans 11, Paul had just finished praising God: Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all
things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen (v. 35-36). Because of God's
mercy, we should live our lives in worship to Him. God has given us so much
more than we could ever hope to repay that living our lives in worship to
Him is the very least we can do. Our bodies, minds, hearts, and spirits
belong to Him and should be used for His glory. Our bodies are temples of
the Holy Spirit's God's will that we live our lives in a holy and pleasing
way to Him. Holiness means living in freedom from sin, and pleasing Him
means living in accordance with God's ultimate purpose - the redemption of
man. Thus, our spiritual act of worship is to live a holy life fulfilling
the purpose that God planned for us before we were born: Your eyes saw my
unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before
one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16 (NIV) God takes pleasure in us when we
do the following things:

First, we must love Him above all else. We show this love in getting to know
Him, following His will, and being apart of His family.

Second, we must trust Him completely. Remember the scene from "Indiana Jones
and the Last Crusade" (1989) when Indiana had to step out into an open
canyon not knowing that an invisible bridge extended in front of him? It's a
fictitious story, but a perfect image of trusting God that He'll catch us.

Third, we must obey Him wholeheartedly. Our faith means nothing without
action (James 2:17). Are we willing to do what He wants exactly as He wants
us to do it?

Fourth, we must work toward fulfilling God's purpose, doing things that are
in accordance with His eternal plan. In doing these four things, we allow
God to magnify Himself in our lives.

Living our lives in worship to God is our most important responsibility to
Him. All other responsibilities - fellowship, growth, service, and outreach
- are borne out of this first responsibility: Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength Deuteronomy
6:5 (NIV).

[Soldier4Christ]

  Fear


I want to share a bit with you about fear in honor of those who died on September 11, 2001, and those who are still hurting by it.  Most of us felt horror and fear last year when the attack took place on the USA at the World Trade Centers, Pentagon and the attempt on the White House that resulted in the plane crash in Pennsylvania.  Many people are still in fear because of what happened and what could still happen.  We are living right now with the threat of war with Iraq and when war comes we lose lives, there is no getting around that.  Innocent lives are lost for the cause on both sides. 

In Lamentations 3 verse 46-48 Jeremiah says to God, "All our enemies have opened their mouths wide against us.  We have suffered terror and pitfalls, ruin and destruction.  Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed."  Sound like us doesn't it.  Then in verse 57 Jeremiah says "You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear."

In the midst of fear God says plainly, "Do not fear," in verses 28-29 God clearly says, "Let him sit alone in silence for the Lord has laid it on him.  Let him bury his face in the dust, there may yet be hope."  God says go ahead sit alone and cry BUT focus on Him and He will bring you HOPE.  You need to pray to God and ask him to remove your fears.  We are always afraid of the unknown and for America to be attacked the way it was is very unknown to us.  Many emotions come into us when we feel fear, fear can cause severe panic, illness, hasty decisions and freeze us in our tracks not knowing which were to turn.  We have to except that we cannot change things that have happened.  The past is passed and its over and we must move on and we do not have to dwell on what was lost but what is left.  We cannot do this in our own strengths but in God's strength.  Remember that God is always the same, He never changes, throughout the ages He has seen many things happen on our planet called Earth.  He is always the same and all you need is Him to get through the fear that life brings.  I urge you to pray for our country's leaders and for our future and for God to Bless America.  It needs to start here first, in each of our hearts.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Saying The Pledge



"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." (Matt 6:7-8) NKJV.

Do you sometimes get into the habit of doing things over and over again to a point where it loses it's meaning? Maybe it is not the meaning, but it becomes boring or just meaningless? Sometimes, something can be so obvious that you wouldn't even be able to recognize it. Try saying one word again and again. If you keep saying it, does it even sound like a word after a while?

The other day I remembered my senior year in high school and it was revealed to me exactly how much routine can set in if you're not careful. I remember the morning announcements coming on and I was just about to fall asleep on my desk. However, it was time to stand up and say the pledge. After staying up late the night before, saying the pledge was the last thing I wanted to do, especially after I had found the one comfortable spot on my desk. The teacher then tapped me on the shoulder and gave me that look that students just dread, especially at 7:15 a.m. So I got up and said the pledge like I did every morning.

How do you say the pledge after 12 or so years? Well, with me it was a half asleep, groggy voice, that was longing to spend the next 45 minutes finding that comfortable spot on my desk again. I didn't care, and I sure didn't even think about why I was saying it while I was doing it. At 7:15 in the morning there isn't a lot on your mind except sleep and that was what my mind was determined to do.

Now let's switch the pledge to prayer. Is it something that you feel you have to do? Or maybe you just say it before you got o bed at night, with that same groggy voice that you wake up saying the pledge with. Maybe you say that same boring prayer every night. If we talked to our boyfriends or girlfriends like we say the pledge..well I'll let you fill in the blank. Think about your prayer life, do you really pray with all your heart to the Lord. Do you go into great detail and go out of your way to give thanks? Or has praying become this hassle that you feel you just have to do to get it off of your chest. I challenge you to take the time to talk to the Lord. Remember the guy that died on the cross so that you can go to heaven? Don't take that lightly. May peace be with you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Homesick

It's always the same thing every time I cross into the Mexican frontier.
The traffic lines on the bridge, the hot sun beating down as children
approach asking for quarters, the smell of diesel gasoline entwined with the
aroma of delicious tacos and other tasty dishes being prepared by street
vendors, courteous, hard working people selling their pottery and colorful
artwork, and the sounds of mariachi music that are unequaled anywhere in the
world!  Although the closest I really come to Mexico is through my maternal
grandfather, I feel strangely at home.  I've never lived there, but when I'm
there, I feel like I've missed it.  I get homesick.

In a song called "Sweet Beulah Land", the opening lyric says, "I'm kind of
homesick for a country to which I've never been before."

Whenever we long or yearn for something, the natural indication is that we
have experienced that thing before.  We know what it feels or tastes like
and it was something so pleasurable or enjoyable, that we want to experience
it again.  Psalms 42: 1 & 2 says, "As the deer pants for the water brooks,
so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living
God."  Our souls have experienced God in a place that our human minds can't
remember, the place where we began - Paradise! (Genesis 2:7-8, 18-22)  It is
the place where we are meant to return.  As the thief on the cross told
Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom!" Jesus replied,
"Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:
42-43)  Interesting to note that the Scriptures use a capital letter P in
the word "paradise".  That changes it from a state of being to an actual
place.  A verb to a noun.

We are instructed to store our treasures in Heaven. (Luke 32-34)  Why?
Heaven (Paradise) is our ultimate destination not the grave.  The grave
isn't nothing' but a whole in the ground!  What rich person would invest in
something that would not pay any kind of dividend?  Not many.  We are a rich
people (2 Cor 8: 9) in a foreign land.  We live, work, and play here but it
is not "home".  So, we don't invest here for it is not where we will be
staying.

Why do many people prefer to head to the mountains, beaches, and other
"nature" type retreats when the stress of everyday worldly life becomes
unbearable?  I believe it's because the Lord allows us "glimpses" of earthly
paradises to refresh us and REMIND us of where we came from and where we
will return to one day.  The only difference is that any earthly paradise
could never compare with the heavenly one we will return to. (Rev. 21: 9-27,
& 22: 1-5)

HOWEVER!!!  John 3: 5, Jesus says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one
is born of water and the Spirit ("born again", vs. 3), he cannot enter the
kingdom of God."

Let us always strive to remember two important things that while life is
hard, God is good and we are not home yet!  Jesus, by His death on the
cross, went on to prepare a place for us in Heaven.  We must receive Him
into our hearts, acknowledge His death on the cross for the remission of
sins, and strive to live lives that are holy and pure - starting today.
Don't wait!  Have a great day...I'll see you at home.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Hearing the Voice of God


One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak
that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual
place.  The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and
Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where
the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and
said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did
not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay
down.  Again the Lord called, "Samuel," and Samuel got
up and went to Eli and said, "her I am; you called
me."  "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and
lie down."  Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The
word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up
and went to Eli and Said, "Here I am; you called me."
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy.
So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls
you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is
listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the
other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"  Then Samuel said,
"Speak, for your servant is listening." 1st Samuel 3:2-10

It was only a couple of days ago that I was sitting
down on the couch watching television. My mother came
in the room and told me if I didn't clean my room, I
wasn't going to be allowed out that night.  I was
watching my favorite television show at the time.
Mind you, my room didn't get cleaned away and I wasn't
allowed out that night.  My only excuse... "I
didn't hear you!"

You see people have a tendency to only hear what
they want to hear. We need to listen to God's voice
and be able to recognize it in the midst of 1000s of
other voices.
 
   The problem is some people want to hear the voice
of God but can't. There are three things though that
the word of God says in 1st Samuel 3:2-10 to help you
tune in to the voice of God.

#1.  We need to be near to God!  Samuel was where
the ark of the covenant was.  The ark was the
Israelites' sacred chest containing the 10
commandments, a jar of miraculous manna, and Aaron's
sprouted staff. The ark was the holiest sign of God's
presence.  I firmly believe that the Lord doesn't
waste one word in the bible! If we didn't have to be
close to God, I don't think that it would say, that
Samuel was lying next to the ark of the Covenant, it
could've just said that Samuel was laying down. The
word of God says, "When we draw near to God, He will
draw near to us."  We need to get closer to God to
hear His voice... In order to hear you have to be
near!

#2.  We need to work on our priorities!  There are
times in life when listening to God will be
inconvenient for us.  God sometimes calls us when
things don't make sense. There are two times when you
don't mess with a person; when they're resting or
eating. God spoke to Samuel while he was resting. It
was a very inconvenient time for Samuel. We have to be
ready to hear God's voice no matter where we are in
life or what we are doing. It's when God speaks to us
and we step out in faith that God will work.  Set your
priorities straight.

#3.  We need to let God know out intention of
listening!  "Here I am Lord, Speak for your servant
is listening."  It when God sees that we're available
for use that He'll use us.  Samuel was the willing
servant.  When God sees that we want to hear from him,
when we show Him that we are waiting vessels ready to
be spoken to and used through, that's when He'll speak
to us.

To hear God's voice we need to be near to God, work
on our priorities, and let God know we're listening.
 
Do you want to hear God's voice?  Draw near to Him,
set your priorities on Christ and His kingdom, and let
God know you want to hear His voice!  "SPEAK FOR YOUR
SERVANT IS LISTENING!"

[Soldier4Christ]

  Trust


"The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love." Psalm 147:11 (NIV)

I've had my dog, Buddy, for almost two years now. We took him in when previous owners could not take him in; in fact, they were selling him at a grocery store. Buddy followed us in and back. We knew that the dog loves us. Through Buddy, I learned a lot about trust, especially in the way that he trusts me. He trusts me to feed him, which is why he comes to me when he's hungry. He rarely, if ever, fights me when I pick him up, trusting me not to drop him. He trusts me to open the front door when he wants to go outside or come back inside. He trusts me not to walk away when he's about to give me one of his famous rubdown hugs (this is only when I'm laying down). More than often when he jumps into my lap, he turns over on his back and just stares at me and reaches out with his front paws, full of love and trust. This is a picture of the type of trust that we should have for the Lord.

Scripture tells us the Lord delights in those who fear Him, (and) who put their hope in His unfailing love. Doesn't it feel good when someone trusts you with something important in his or her life? Imagine how God feels when we entrust Him with our whole lives, which is of course the best place for us to be. When we fear Him, we take seriously His plan for our lives and trust that His ways of righteousness are right for us. When we put our hope in His unfailing love, we trust that He wants the best for our lives. Trusting in the Lord with our lives is how we make our lives a living sacrifice for Him.

Trusting God completely means believing that He'll always come through for us. Worship pleases God, and one way that we worship Him is to trust Him. When we call to Him for help, He doesn't respond with now what? He delights that we're calling upon Him for help to run our lives. He's been longing for that since man chose to be his own master in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).


The result of trusting God, which is our obedience to Him, is a deeper, more intimate relationship with God, just as Noah did when he built the ark at God's command. Noah grew closer to God while building the ark. Even though He couldn't understand what God was asking him to do, since a flood had never occurred before, he demonstrated his trust in the Lord by obeying Him God wants us to trust Him when we're in trouble so we can give Him glory when He comes through. When we give Him glory, others might long to know Him too. Trusting in a God that we can't see is a powerful witness to others, especially in the most dire of times.

How are you doing at trusting the Lord with your life? What challenges do you face today? Often what the Lord asks might be inconvenient or incomprehensible at the time, but is the right thing to do. It shows that you are serious about His terms of righteousness. You're showing fear of God not the fear that makes us afraid, but fear that are reverential in nature. You're showing a deep respect for what He wants for you, and He delights in that. Are you scared of anything that lies ahead of you? Your trust in God also shows that your hope is in Him. You're trusting that He will protect you through the dangers or challenges that might lie ahead of you. By respecting God's plan and putting your hope in Him, you demonstrate trust in Him to be the Lord of your life.