Devotions for Teens

[Soldier4Christ]

  Living Life Up

Every day we get older, and every day we edge a step closer to more freedom, more fun, and more responsibilities. Each day is a new quest to make friends, pass a class, or in even some cases just to stay alive, but through the great times ahead, and hard times we may be going through now, we still only get one shot at life.

Today is my 18th birthday, and to most people this would be a happy and just all rounded great day, but, inside I just want to crawl up into a little ball and cry. Today I stand at the door of adulthood. I feel like a small kid looking up at the huge door to life, not knowing whether to stand there and open it, or run away and wait till another day. During our teenage years, it seems like we can't wait to become an adult, but, to be honest, I am kind of scared of what lies ahead. Am I really ready for this? Can't I just wait a little longer?

Sometimes the hardest thing to accept is the fact that we only live this life once, and sooner or later all things come to an end. I slowly turn through the pages of my teen years in my imagination. There are so many days to look back and smile on. Yet, so many memories that will just have to stay just that, a memory. I'm never going to be able to play little league baseball again. I'm never going to be able to relive another day as a teen. There are so many things I just wish I had one more shot to do, some days I would love to live over and over, but, the final chapter of my teenage years has come to an end. I will cherish them close to my heart, and remember the great and the worst times. So for now I will close the book and place it next to the one labeled childhood, then open a new one and start with chapter one.

Friends, each day as a teen is a challenge. I, having been through it all and made it in some what one piece, know how it is, and how rough it is, but, one day it will be all over. Try not to grow up too fast, cause soon it will all be a memory. Live each day to its fullest. Jesus knew that He didn't have long to live on earth, so He made the best of each day, He lived His life to the fullest not letting any opportunities pass. I urge you guys to do the same. Live each day for the Lord, and if you haven't had the chance to, sit back and enjoy your teenage years. You only get them once in a life time, and then they're gone. May peace be with you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Be Still in God


"Be Still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

Sounds pretty simple to me. "Be still," sit still, keep quiet, don't move, don't think, can you do that? How many times have you heard your parents say, "Be Still?"?? Being still is something they may have wanted you to do because they wanted to tell you something or wanted you to see something or maybe they just wanted to see you. There are many reasons for you to "be still." Kids and teens alike have a very hard time being still. Most of you are so busy and active that it makes your parents' heads spin. I know with my boys, one is always having to go somewhere or do something, if not all of them at once. They rarely are "still." Most of the time when I really need to talk to them concerning a problem or just to say "Hi, how is life"? I have to get them to be still. I like the stillness of looking at them and thinking of them, studying their faces and smiles. I need to do this once in a while instead of always seeing the back of them as they leave the room. At night I look in on them while they sleep. They are still then!!!

Being Still for God is important for Christians, we are so busy in life, even if it is doing God's work, that we don't take the time to "be still." "Be Still and know that I am God." We praise, worship, read the Bible, pray, sing, go to church functions and witness but do we "keep still in God"? Take time in your life to be still in God. Take a special time out of your day, go off where it is quiet and "Be Still." Make it something special, go to a favorite place. I like to be still in God when I am taking a walk, or sitting out by my pool alone. Feel the presence of the Lord, feel His Care, His Gentleness, His Love. Just "Be Still" and Feel God. Dwell on Him, Concentrate on Him, Think of Him. Feel Him and know that He is God. "Be still" and look fully into His face. He asks us to do this, and when you do you will feel the power of the Holy Spirit inside of you. It is awesome, try it.


* So your homework tonight is to take time and 'Be Still In God'  *

[Soldier4Christ]

  Nineteen Gifts of the Spirit

Leslie B. Flynn wrote the following in Nineteen Gifts of the Spirit:

     Someone has imagined the Carpenters' tools holding a conference. Brother Hammer presided. Several suggested he leave the meeting because he was too noisy.

      Brother Hammer Replied, " If i have to leave this shop, Brother Screw must go also. He has to be turned around again and again to get anything accomplished."

      Brother Screw then spoke up, " If you wish, I will leave, but Brother Plane must leave too. All his work is on the surface. His efforts have no depth."

     To this, Brother Plane reponded, " Brother Rule will also have to withdraw, for he is always measuring folks as though he were the only one who is right."

      Brother Rule then complained against Brother Sandpaper, " You ought to leave too because you're so rough and always rubbing people the wrong way."

      In the midst of all this discussion, in walked the Carpenter of Nazareth. He had arrived to start His day's work. Putting on His apron, He went to the bench to make a pulpit from which to proclaim the gospel. He employed the hammer, screw, place, rule, sandpaper, and all the other tools. After the day's work, when the pulpit was finished, Brother Saw arose and remarked, " Brethren, I observe that all of us are workers together with the Lord."

[Soldier4Christ]

  Ode to Love

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness. (2 Corinithians 6:14) NIV.

What is the one thing in your life that can leave you on cloud nine one minute, then throw you down to the deepest darkest hole the next. Most people would reply the opposite sex. With this being a major point in every teenagers life, how can you know who's right for you? Also, would this be a person you would feel comfortable introducing to your father? What about your Heavenly Father?

Things were so simple in Elementary school. We would scribble down on a piece of paper and slip it to our crush...do you like me? Check yes or no. That usually did the trick until some got clever and made their own box with a maybe. Man, now that would ruin any kids day. Then when middle school hit we got braver and those notes just didn't work anymore. I was the poetic type in those grades, so I'd spend hours trying to get it right. "Your eyes sparkle with the sun, your smile bring joy to the darkest of days." Unfortunately most of them didn't seem to be into a 7th graders idea of a master piece.

Then high school hits, and things take a gigantic leap forward. During middle school if you happened to get a peck on the cheek at the end of the day you were the man. Now you see people making out in the hallways, friends talking about sex, and your sitting here stunned looking for the rewind button in your life. It's during these times when finding the right person becomes critical to your walk. So what does the Bible say about finding someone, what does unequally yoked really mean? How does that pertain to my relationship as a teen?

Friends, since the beginning of time, God wants us to be happy. He made Eve so that Adam wouldn't be alone. Even though He wants us to be happy, He also doesn't want us to get hurt. By dating non-Christians we take a chance in our faith to be hurt. I've been there too, and some people think I'm a fairly descent Christian, but you can be the "Mack daddy" Christian and still backslide from a non-Christian relationship. If your in this position now, look over your relationship. Is this person helping your Christian walk? Are you growing closer to Him through them? Our Father, like any good parent wants us to be happy, but still wants to protect us. If your struggling with this, don't be afraid to sit down and talk to Him. He's not going to lecture you, or send you to your room. He will listen with an open heart, and will help you fix the problem. Also talk to Him about who you should date. You never know, He just might set you up on a blind date. Our God is really awesome if we just take the time to ask for His help. May peace be with you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Running Away?

Running Away
From Where?���.To Where???

Genesis 16:8 And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?"

Harar was running away from her mistress and her problems. She was confronted by the angel of the Lord who told her to return to her mistress, Sarai, who was the cause of her problems. God sent a messenger to her to tell her that she should not run away from her problems. Sarai was the wife of Abraham who was unable to give birth and she was upset and angry, taking it out on both Abraham and Hagar. Because Hagar believed the angel, she returned and was able to solve her problem and help Sarai solve hers. Both bore children by Abraham.

Running away is seldom the solution to our problems, it simply prolongs and compounds them, making matters worse. Frequently it is simply a misunderstanding. As a young adult, it is very difficult allow your fears and emotions make your decisions. God wants you to come to him with your fears, emotions and problems and He guarantees the He will help you. His Grace and His Love for you will help you solve all of the problems and adversities that you are likely to encounter. He will show you what you need to do and be with you while you deal with them. As you grow in your walk with God, you will do this as a natural reaction to your problems.

When you are facing a problem, seek counsel. You can certainly talk to your parents, or a trusted friend. You may find that your friends, your youth pastor and, yes, even your parents are eager to help you. You are not weak because you don't know how to handle your problems, you are smart and wise when you seek help. Above all, take your problems to God in prayer. Don't be judgmental or make assumptions that may not be true. If you hold your problems in, you will be carrying baggage that you don't need, baggage that will not go away until you make it go away. Your life will never be problem free so learning how to solve them is very important. It can make the difference between being happy or being miserable. I pray for all of you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Peer Pressure (2)


Mat 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.


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"What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus Freak? What will people do when they find out it's true? I don't really care if they label me a Jesus Freak, cause they're ain't no disguising the truth."- DC Talk
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If you are like most teens, you worry about what other people think of you. And why wouldn't you? There's so much peer pressure. In a way, we should worry, because we are rold models for little kids. We don't want to set a bad example for them.

But sometimes, we worry about what people would say if we started witnessing to the unsaved at school. We might be afraid people would talk about us..."that Jesus freak". Or would we lose some friends over it? Would we be considered "uncool"!? Now I know that when you're a teenager, not being popular is like social suicide. But having tons of friends won't get you into the kingdom. But by witnessing to those friends, you could save more lives than just yours. If life was on a timeline, our time on earth would be like a second, but our eternal life would be all of eternity. So it doesn't matter how many friends you have or how many parties you are invited to. None of that is important to God.

Think about it. If Jesus came to your school today, he most likely wouldn't sit with you at lunch. He's hang out with the bad crowd who drinks, smokes, etc. And he would witness to them. When Jesus was here on earth, he was friends with the scum of the earth. That's why all the "cool" people hated him. Basically, I'm just trying to say, if you love God show it. When you wear your WWJD bracelet, mean it. Ask yourself what Jesus would do, and go witness to those people you usually don't associate with. Hey, if you actually lose friends becuase of your faith in God, they weren't really your friends now were they? Don't hide your faith just because you don't want to get made fun of. Be a Jesus Freak, and be proud.

[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]

  Through Sickness and Health...

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. (Job 2:7) NKJV.

We all probably know of a parent, grand parent, or friend that is sick. It could be something as small as the common cold to something as devastating as cancer. But in all things, can we trust in God to see us through?

As I glance over the Bible, no other story inspires me more than the story of Job. In my opinion, he is one of the "Mack daddy" Christians of the Old Testament. He had it made too. He was the Bill Gates of the Biblical days when it came to wealth, a fairly happy guy with seven sons and three daughters, and most importantly a man who feared God.

Then one day all of that changed. With a blink of an eye his wealth, servants, and his precious family, were gone. In the worse five minutes of his life, did he curse God? Did he say, "Lord, forget you?" No, he went to his room, shaved his head, and tore off his robe. He dropped to his knees and said, "the good Lord gives and the good Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Now I personally wouldn't strip and shave my head but, if it works for him great, just don't miss the point. He was in full submission to God.

When things couldn't possibly get worse they did. At first Satan attacked everything of the world he loved and owned. Now he went right to the heat of the flame, Job himself. Painful boils covered his body from head to toe. Now for those who don't know what boils are, they are big, ugly and very very painful. Not knowing what to do, his wife approaches Job and says, "why don't you curse God and die." But Job being the man of God sat down in ashes with a potsherd (very sharp object) and started scraping his skin clean of the boils praising God. Now once again, I'm still not real sure why he was sitting in ashes, I would have been in a warm bath crying my eyes out, so now we know why Job was chosen for this and not Tony.

In everything that Job went through, he trusted in God. He knew that the Man Upstairs had everything under control. How many of you felt like you wanted to curse God when something went wrong? When maybe aids, or cancer, or another sickness fell over you or a loved one. The more I think of it, the more I can understand were Job's wife was coming from. But, I also know exactly were Job was coming from. He knew that God had the prescription for all his pain. All he had to do was go to his office in the sky and receive it, and that's exactly what he did. Friends, when something gets you down or a sickness falls and you don't think there could ever be a cure for the pain, remember our Heavenly Doctor. He made us and knows every cure imaginable, whether for an illness to even a broken heart. Always go to Him. His clinic is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week, everything is free, and he will always refill your bottle when you think all has run out. May peace be with you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Trials Of Fate

* Read Job Chapter 1 *

"Peace and quite," Job thinks to himself as he stretches his arms over his head and sits down with his wife for dinner. The kids are all at their brothers house and the servants still have about another hour or so of work before the sun sets.

The last rays of light shine through the stained glass windows onto the dinner table. The finest foods were scattered around the elegant china.

"Dear Father," Job begins as the two bow their heads to give thanks to God for all the wealth, friends, and family, He has blessed them with.

"Thanks you Lord for....."

"Master!" Shouts an interrupting cry from around the hall way. The fast paced feet pounding the floor in a sprint end up in front of Job's chair.

"Sir, the oxen were plowing and the donkey feeding besides them, when the Sabeans raided them and took them away," the servant pants as he tries to catch his breath, a tear breaks on the floor after trailing down his cheek. "Indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you," he finishes.

The servant falls to his knees, as Job puts his hand on the young man's shoulder to try and comfort him as another shout sounds around the corridor. Startled Job turns around and glances towards the door.

"Master, the fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them," He kneels beside Job, head down in shame. "I alone have escaped to tell you."

Before he could finish a third servant tumbles in. His clothes smudged with mud, and ripped in pieces. Blood streamed down his cheek from a cut above his eyebrow.

"Lord, the Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away. They killed your servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone barely escaped to bring word to you."

Still in shock, Job's eyes stare blankly at the ceiling, not knowing what to say nor do. He glances to the door way as another servant slowly walks forward. The young man was trembling with fear. Dreading the worst, Job motions him forward. Still shaky he begins, "Your sons and daughters..." Silence fills the room as even a pen drop would have been heard.

"They were eating and drinking wine at their oldest brother's house, then suddenly a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell and they are dead."

Job silently whispers the servants next words in his mind, "and I alone have escaped to tell you."

Already in tears his wife rises from the table. Complete silence is flooded out by the sobs of his loved one. Slowly Job turns from the group and heads down the hallway. He carefully climbs each step of the staircase. Every step becomes a struggle to hold back his insanity. He swings open the huge wooden doors and stumbles painfully inside. Emotions swarm his face as he stands in front of the mirror. Reaching down he finds his razor and slowly strokes a chunk of hair off his head. Blood vessels bulge out of his arms as the last piece is removed. He reaches down and unties his robe, tares it off his back and throws it to the floor.

Standing there he burst into tears not being able to hold them back any longer. Dropping to his knees he leans his face to the floor. The freezing stone sends chills up the back of his spine.

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there." He pauses briefly for a breath between his uncontrollable sobbing. He looks up to the sky, tears continue to blur his vision. "The Lord gave, and the Lord taken away."

Slowly he raises his hands towards the sky, painfully but, with a love of only one who fears, and loves God with all his heart, he chokes out his final statement to his Father. In full submission he cries.

"Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

How many of us, in the worst times of our lives, look down instead of up? How many would yell curses when things don't go as planned, before we would sing praises to God for what He has in plan?

Friends, it is evident that we will go through tough times. Since the day we were born, we were thrown into a big jigsaw puzzle called life. Just when we seem to get close to putting the puzzle together, we find that were a few pieces short. Instead of looking for the pieces we give up, throw it away.

Job was not one to give up though. When his life came up short he went to the one person that could find his lost wealth and family. He went to the one person who would die just to make sure that we were taken care of. When things don't go as planed, give it to the Lord. He has a way of putting the worst of situations together for the good. May peace be with you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  The Date of Christ's Nativity

Our current system of numbering years (e.g., A D 1998) was developed in the sixth century by a monk named Dionysius Exignus. He calculated that the birth of Christ occurred in the Roman calendar year 754. He computed that the new year, beginning January 1 of the year following Christ's birth as recorded by Luke, was the year AD 1 of his new calendar. The AD is Latin, anno Domini, meaning "year of our Lord." He based this calculation on the historical record available to him in Rome and on the clear chronological statements of the historian Luke (3:1-2). The Christian historian Eusebius, in AD 315, studied existing Roman government records like the census of Cyrenius and Caesar Augustus to prove that Christ was born in Bethlehem when Joseph and May went there to be enrolled in the census, as mentioned in Luke 2:16. Also records of the prophesied birth in Bethlehem were used for this date. Government records were kept accurately in those days.

There was only one year that fell between 1 BC and AD 1. Many other scholars have argued that the birth was more like BC 4 because of other facts held at that time. Recently additional astronomical evidence has revealed that the date of Herod's death could have been as late as 1 BC or AD 1. Herod's death followed Christ's birth. Prior astronomer's chart the partial lunar eclipse in Jerusalem that occurred on March 13, 4 BC, supports the date of Herod's death and Christ's birth at 4 BC

Most recent scholars place the date of Christ's birth in the fall of 1 BC, which agrees with Luke's gospel and the tradition of the early Church. The traditional date set for Christmas, December 25, is not the proper date. Around AD 320, the church adopted the date of December 25 to officially celebrate the nativity, under the direction of the first Christian Roman emperor, Constantine. The shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over the flock when Christ was born, would not have been out there in the cold of winter. It is suspected that the actual birth was the 15th of Tishri, which is our September-October. The anniversary of many different feast days would support this date. If this date is certain, then Mary would have conceived on December 25th, 280 days earlier than the Sept-Oct. date.

[Soldier4Christ]

  3rd and Long

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5) NKJV.

Has there ever been a game in your life when you got a bad call? Times when you wish that you could step out of your uniform on earth and be the referee in Heaven calling all the shots? If I could change roles for a play or two there would definitely be a time when I would throw the flag for unnecessary trials.: tweet:: There's the whistle. Let's back things up five yards and try this again. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way.

This past Sunday, I had the privilege of watching my favorite NFL football team, the Miami Dolphins, match up against the New England Patriots down in Miami. It was a great day for football. I grabbed my seat, propped my feet up and sipped on a coke as the kick off flew through the air. Things were going nowhere fast. During the 3rd Quater the score was 3 to 3 and the Patriots had the ball. A long bomb was thrown down the sideline. The fans jumped to their feet, and the two athletes scrambled down the white line as fast as they could. The ball came down and both ended up on the ground. INCOMPLETE! YES! The crowd roared their approval of great defensive coverage until this little yellow thing went into the air. Now nothing shuts up a crowd like a cute, sexy, sweet yellow hanky being tossed to the ground. The call was passing interference. 1st and Goal Patriots.

Now for me this wasn't a good thing. But not only for me but for the player who was charged with what seemed like a life sentence in jail. The crowd was booing and this guy was yelling at the ref like the world would end if that call wasn't taken back. I'm not sure what words were being said down there but I'm sure he wasn't trying to witness to the ref. The only problem was that the damage had been done. The whistle was blown and the teams were lining up to continue play. Miami ended up winning the game at the end, but not before God instilled this thought into my head.

We sometimes get charged with stuff we don't agree with. There are times when a yellow flag gets tossed when it was clear to you and everyone else that there was nothing wrong. But one thing is true. Once the flag hits the ground it's official. No matter what we say or do, we can't change what happens. Crying about our past or our problems will get us know where. We just have to leave it in God's hands and move on. He obviously new what He was doing because the Dolphins came back to win in over time.

Friends, we are in a game and we already know the outcome. We know that in this game of good verses evil, we will ultimately come out winners. Unfortunately we won't always get the right calls. Don't worry about what happens during the game. Leave that up to your Coach. Just play your hardest and you will have your rewards after your game ends in heaven. May peace be with you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Emptiness

Do you feel empty?

Many people in our society suffer from emptiness. Most people look for happiness, which is short term. Happiness is a counterfeit high that quickly goes away. They hope the next superficial satisfaction will be the one that lasts. But it doesn't. External happiness is like cotton candy: It's sweet for a moment and dissolves an instant later.
The peak of emotion is happiness, the valley is sadness and depression. Many feel dissatisfied with things in life. When we are down we look to things to bring us up.

We look to make more money, to have bigger and better things, we want to look better, to be more popular, have more power and find love for our happiness. Rushes of happiness are short lived. When we rely on outside things to make us content, we will be disappointed.

What we all really want is deep down soul-satisfying contentment that lasts a lifetime.

Philippians 4:12 says, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." The beginning is "I have learned." Contentment is something learned, it doesn't just happen.

To find true contentment:

1. Seek the source If contentment doesn't come from inside of you then it won't last. To have true inner harmony, you must get yourself right in a relationship with God. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength," Tap into the source, Jesus Christ. Ask Him in prayer to dwell in your heart.

Say this prayer: Lord I ask for the true source of contentment to come into my life, I ask for Jesus to live in my heart and for me to develop a true intimate relationship with you Lord. Amen

2. Accept God's unconditional love. Understand and know that you are loved deeply by God. This is not a temporary condition, it is forever. He truly loves you and has a place in Heaven for you for all eternity. Understand your worth to Him, you are his child. Go to Him in prayer and ask to feel His awesome love. Ask for His forgiveness for your sins and be free to feel His love.

Say this prayer: Lord, I ask you to show me your unconditional love, I ask you to please forgive me for my sins, I ask you to help me turn from my ways and be worthy of your love. Amen

3. Be grateful. Gratitude is the heart of contentment. Appreciate what you have rather than wanting what you don't have. When gratitude dominates your thoughts and feelings, you will be deeply satisfied. Thank God for all he does for you.
Say this prayer: Lord I thank you for who you are and for giving your life to save me from my sins, give me a grateful heart. Fill me with your love and give me a loving content heart, knowing that all I need to do is come to you for true contentment, never having to feel empty again. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN

Contentment has everything to do what is inside of you. True peace and happiness comes from within you. The source is Jesus Christ, accept His love and forgiveness and be grateful. Go to Him now in prayer and ask for this contentment.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Angels

“When Gideon realized that it was an angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Sovern Lord I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.” Judges 6:22 NIV"

Emily sat in the hospital waiting room with worry in her heart, as her mother lay in bed in a near by room. Emily was eight years old, and had not a clue what was going on. All that Emily knew was that her mommy was sleeping and no one could wake her up.

Two weeks earlier Emily and her mom were riding horses on their property when they came upon the river in the woods. Emily crossed first with ease, her mother began to follow when her horse spooked from a fish in the river. The horse bucked, not expecting anything Emily's mother went flying off the horse and was thrown into the rocks on the river bank.

Panicked Emily rose back home, which was no more than half a mile away. From their her father got emergency help and everything else in the past two weeks was a blur to her.

Emily's mother has been in a coma for two weeks, and the doctors had seen no signs of improvements or recovery. They finally decided to tell Emily's father to have the family come to say good bye, to see her one last time, because they saw no reason to prolong her life, and were prepared to declare her brain dead due to the impact of her skull on the rocks.

Everyone was sad, and Emily didn't know why, for some reason she was okay with everything that was going on. Her father had not yet told her what was going to happen, nor had he been spending much time with her since the accident. She had met a friend though at the hospital, a nurse, named Eva.

Two days before the doctors were going to pull the life support from Emily's mother, Eva was chatting with Emily. Eva was new at the hospital, with no records of where she had been or where she had come from, she was amazed at the attitude of this little girl toward life. She asked Emily why she was okay with everything that was going on; Emily looked at Eva and said” Well, Eva, God loves my mommy and he will let everything be okay. “ Eva smiled, astonished at the faith of this young girl. She hugged Emily and said, “ Your right Emily, everything will be okay.” “ Why don't we go see your mommy?” Emily replied, “ She is sleeping still.” “ Well I think she could use a hug” said Eva. She took Emily's hand and led her to her mothers room. Emily climbed softly up onto the bed and looked at her mom with love in her eyes, she softly hugs her mother. Very slowly her mom moved her arm around Emily, as her eyes slowly opened she said” I love you Em.”

Emily and her mother had an angel that day. There are times when God gives you angles too. Don't ever give up hope, and more importantly don't ever give up faith. He is with you always and loves you so much.

[Soldier4Christ]

  No Limits, No Fears

"The Lord upholds all who fall, and raise up all who are bowed down. (Psalm 145:14) NKJV. "

How many of us our limitless to everything we do. Another words, we could run forever with out getting tired, and could swim the Atlantic without treading water. Let's just say good luck. Often during our Christian walk as a teen, we try to test our abilities and see how far we can actually go before we have no choice then to look for help.

Since I received my job at the skating rink, I have always been a huge fan of inline speed skating. I would do what ever I could just to borrow a pair for the session's race. But now, I have my own. Now, for the first time, I can lace up my boots and hit the open road, and that's exactly what I did.

It was around 6 p.m. when I decided I would go over to one of my friends house to see how she was doing. No sweat right, just 3 or so miles. At first it was so easy, the sidewalks were clean and smooth and I glided with ease across the paved path. Then the sidewalk ran out and I was forced to trudge down a road that was more than just rough. Blisters started forming across my skin as my teeth rattled with each push of my skate. Finally I gave in to the fact that I couldn't make another step with the pain in my feet. I skated into the grass where I took my skates off. Not wanting to stop, I had to give in to the fact that I knew I couldn't go on. I looked down to a once white sock, now covered in red.

Still having a ways yet to walk, God and I had a nice long talk that evening. For that I am thankful, but also for the valuable lesson I learned. Through out our lives we are going to do some stupid things, we are going to think that no matter what happens or what could possibly stand in our way, we can beat it. I was not ready to give up, but the pain in my foot had a different idea. That's when I had to rely on something other than my skates to get me home. That's when I had to rely on God to light the way, and with an almost full moon, He did just that.

There are going to be lots of times when you think you can do more than your actually capable of doing. Even though we are limited to what we can do here on earth, there is one who has no limits. If we can only rely on Him instead of ourselves, we will go through this life with a lot less pain. Is there something in your life right now that you need to give to God. A relationship, a problem? We're not perfect, and we can't do it all, so let's give our imperfections as well as our lives to Jesus. With Him, we have no limits. May peace be with you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  The Battle Is Won!!

Today I think the best thing I can do is simply tell you what I believe is the greatest love story ever written. Sometimes it seems that we today live in such a blessed world that we cannot get a reality of many things, and probably the greatest thing is salvation itself. So today and in the next couple of week's, with my Saviors help, I want to truly present to you a reality of what Christ did for us. The fact is that most people reading this are probably already born-again Christians, but we as Christians sometimes lose a grasp of the reality of Christ's death, payment, and resurrection. So today's special devotion will probably be completely different from what you have or ever will read from me. So let's look at the reality of Christ.

One crisp Thursday morning Jerusalem was bustling as the people all got up early. You see, today was the day that all the Jewish people got together with their families to pick out the Passover lamb. It was Jewish and God ordained custom for the Jews to once a year pick out the purest of lambs, and sacrifice it to God to atone for their sins until the Messiah came to save them. This had been a symbolism of their faith in God that he would send his one and only son to atone for their sins one day, but their very dream was being rejected as a sinister plot was taking place.

You see, Satan was also "going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." (Job 1:7) He had a plan, and he himself was going to handle this case. This one was important because it was seemingly a fool proof way to destroy the son of God, and the very pride that caused his removal from the kingdom of God was going to achieve it's final victory.

Jesus Christ had another idea, Jesus knew what was going to happen as the thoughts and picture's of what was to come ran through His young Godly brain, but He also knew the end so "He sent Peter and John saying 'Go and prepare us the Passover so that we may eat." (Luke 22: Jesus Christ knew that when He left the earth that his apostle's would be challenged and attacked by the very strongest of Hell's forces so He was going to prepare them by once again using symbolism, but this time the symbol was much more real because this time it was His life that was the object of the symbolism.



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(For the next couple week's I'll give you a story format and then an application) APPLICATION: God reveals to us through this, some wonderful principle's. Although Satan was pestering Jesus constantly and stirring up trouble we see that Jesus remained confident and sure to his purpose. Ladies and Gentleman our Savior knew exactly the pain, torture, and injustice that He was going to go through (we'll see this clearly in the garden of gethsemane in 2 week's), but He had a Godly purpose! Sometimes trials in our life come from God to try to mold us and shape us more into his image, but sometimes those trials we face come from our eternal enemy who has been pestering us with his demonic forces to try to destroy the threat we are making to his purpose. You see Satan has a purpose for us just as God does, but we have the advantage!! The Bible tell's clearly in Revelation 12:10 the end fate of devil, "I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." (Emphasis added) Satan's single purpose is to destroy you, and your service for Christ! He will send all the persecutor's and painful things that God allows to try to beat us down, but there's good news!! You see Satan's pride made him believe his own lie that he could destory Jesus Christ, but as Satan "accuses us before our God day and night," ---- "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26 emphasis added) You see the accuser is accusing us constantly in front of God, but he just hasn't figure it out yet that when God looks at us He doesn't see our sinful flesh! All God sees is the blood of His one and only son who willingly gave His perfect life so that we all can have everlasting life just because He loved us!

Today Decide To Follow Your Savior's Lead Simply Because He Loves You! Don't Give Up! Fight For The Christian Right, AND Share Christ With All You Meet!
"Ye are the light of the world! A city that is set upon a hill cannot be hid!" (Matt. 5:13)