Young Approach

"The older you get, the wiser you become."

That is a saying that has been passed on through society throughout history...

It's true. Yes.

But when we are faced with daily challenges of testing our faith and what we know,

age doesn't really matter. 

God's word doesn't change and what He said stays true for everyone no matter their age...

There are times in our lives when we happen to know a little bit more than someone who is older

and more experienced...

For example, if we hear and know for certain that what we heard may not be necessarily true or is presenting its point of view into a totally different direction then we shouldn't be afraid to state what we know and 

what we know is right...

Don't keep your voice inside when your heart is roaring for words of truth...

"Don't let anyone look down on you

because you are young,

but set an example for the believers

in speech, in conduct, in love,

in faith, and in purity."

- 1 Timothy 4:12

No matter how young we are

let our words, our behavior, our emotions, our attitude, and our way of life

be an example to people of all ages...

L-O-V-E

Love. It seems like such a simple word. Four letters. One syllable. But it has such depth. One word, one emotion, changes all of eternity, all of history.

Love. That's all it took. That's what it took to keep God from destroying what He created. That's all it took for Jesus to offer Himself on the cross. That word, that feeling, is all it took for Jesus to pay the painful price for our sins...

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have 

eternal life." -John 3:16

Love. It is the greatest out of faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Love. It is a part of our very souls. It's all around us; it's within us. We love our families, our friends, even our pets.

We also love in Christ. Apostle Paul tells us that we need to be "...devoted to one another in brotherly love" (Romans 12:10).

Such a simple word. L-O-V-E. Four letters, one word. And it is the greatest of all.

L-O-V-E.

All of Creation

Glory to God in the highest! For He has set us free! Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Only Son of God our Lord Father, has given us the chance to lay our burdens down at His feet.

He has forgiven us! No matter what your sin is, whether it's adultery, lying, stealing, cussing, judging, not following Him - He WILL forgive. You need to repent of what you did-and not do it again. He gives us salvation.

Let All of Creation sing with me now! He has made us! And the reason we breathe is to sing of His glory..
"Praise the Father, Praise the Son, and the Spirit in One!" (MercyMe). Amen to God in the Highest, for without His grace and love and mercy, we would not be alive right now. God bless! ♥

"Every knee will bow,
Oh and every tongue,
Praise the Father,
Praise the Son,
and the Spirit in One."
      All of Creation by MercyMe

The Hurt & the Healer

Sometimes things happen in our lives that we can't explain. We weep and we cry out to God, asking Him why He allowed it to happen. Why He is giving us this pain, and why our prayers for it not to happen did not work.

Except the prayers did work. It's just that sometimes God's answer is not the answer you were seeking for. And you are left with a broken heart, torn out by the pain that's swallowing you. You weep, you hurt, you cry yourself to sleep. You feel like nothing can fill the pain.

But that pain can be healed, and there there is One who can give you peace like no other:
God.

He can take away your pain, your suffering. He holds your tears in His hands. He loves you, and everything that happens happens for a reason. He is the Creator, the I am, the Healer. He can take your porcelain heart and mend it. So bring your cries to Him. Let His love wash over you, and let Him breathe you back to life. ♥

Forgiving Friends

Do you ever think, "I'll never forgive her!"? Do you ever tell yourself that you will never talk to your friend again? You yell at someone and you walk away, angry and betrayed. You resent them for what they did, for what they said. And when you feel that nagging thought in your head telling you "That was harsh" or "Forgive them" you push it away.

But God does not want that. God wants you to forgive.

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." -Colossians 3:13 

When you realized you were a sinner and repented from a true heart, God forgave you. He forgave you for every little sin you've done. He set an example, and He wants us to follow it. You mat think, "I can't. What they did was unforgivable." Or, "It hurt so much. How can I possible forgive them?" God did not say that. Instead, Jesus not only took all of your sins from you, He also forgave you for hurting Him.

Being hurt badly is not an excuse to not forgive. No matter what you say or think, you CAN forgive your friend. With God, anything is possible. It may take some time, and you may need a while to heal, but when you ask God, He will help you forgive your friend. ♥

Like a Tree

The Bible says that, like a tree, you'll know about a person by the "fruit" or results that are produced by their actions and behavior (Matthew 7:17).
You also have to think about where that tree has been growing before you make judgements.

Poor soil (the people and values at home), minimal water and fertilizer (discipline, love, correct teaching, and forgiveness), and storms (problems and challenges) are things that can slow or prevent the growth of fruit in people's lives.

Get to know those people at church or at youth and find out why they're having trouble growing fruit. Instead of labeling them, you'll have more understanding and maybe your love and acceptance will help them start growing fruit! ♥

Waves and Love

God's love is like the ocean. It is impossibly deep and never-ending. The water in the ocean never dries out. Neither does God's love.

Have you ever watched the waves on the shore? How the water builds up and crashes onto the ground, washing away any of the shells that were stuck in the sand?

We are that sand. We have these shells, our sins, stuck in us. Without the waves, those shells would not get washed away. God's love, God's mercy, IS the ocean. Jesus' blood washes away all of our sins! Just like the waves wash away those shells.

Those shells, those sins, are lost in that great big ocean! Smoothed away, forgotten, like they were never there. That's how great He is. He can sweep away our sins. If we repent, if we ask from an honest heart. He forgives. He cleanses. He loves. ♥