Faith Without Action, By Kaitlyn F.

Faith Without Action

By Kaitlyn F.

I know that we have heard over and over again that faith without action is dead. Last night I was reading over the passage in James 2 that talks about faith and deeds. I found the example that it talked about to be pretty powerful.

"Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.  You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone."(James 2:21-24)

Abraham was strong in faith, but when God tested his faith, he proved by his actions that he was faithful to God. It is really easy to say that you have faith in something, but it is ten times harder to actually do anything with your faith. People on the outside can see our heart to see our faith. The only way that they can see our faith, is by the actions that we show.

Everything in its Season and a Season for Everything By TreAnna B.

Everything in its Season and a Season for Everything

By TreAnna B.

In a few short months, I'll turn 20. While I feel extremely blessed to be where I'm at in life—sophomore in college, gaining headway with my writing career, meeting wonderful new people—I look around at others I've graduated high school with and feel like they've gotten so much farther than I have. I can't help but think to myself, “God what are you doing with my life?”

It seems that everyday my peers are engaging in something much more extravagant than what I'm currently doing. One of my friends has become a celebrity almost overnight, another has opened her own business. Many more have already gotten married and settled down with little families of their own.

Then there's me.

Single. Nothing close to celebrity status. Definitely not an entrepreneur. I'm just a normal college student, trying to stay afloat amid all the stresses of college life.

           

As I continued to dwell on this fact, I only became increasingly unhappy. I became easily frustrated too. Not only at myself but at God. I felt like I wasn't doing enough to keep up with everyone around me. Then one day I received an email that changed my entire perspective.

Hilary Beth sent out an email that contained a story about an eight year old girl who had used Write For Him, GGFG's first book to start a Christian club at recess.

After reading this I just sat back and stared at my computer screen. After a few moments, I realized I was grinning like a Cheshire cat. “You are using me.” I remember saying to God.  While it may not be anything huge right now, God was using some of what I had written in a way I never expected Him to.

Ecclesiastes3:1 states, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” While my friends are already settling down with a family, and I'm not, I have to realize its because it isn't my time yet.

           

I'm constantly asking God to use me and my talents to glorify Him. It shouldn't come as a surprise to me when He answers that plea, but it does. Just as with the eight year old girl.

No, I may not be famous. I may not have a lot of money. I may not have a family of my own, or even a business of my own, but none of that matters anymore. I have realized that God has a different plan for me right now. When He is ready for me to settle down, I will. If He chooses to expand my writing career, it'll happen. There is a season for everything...mine just hasn't come yet.

Change

Change

 By Sarah K.

Change.  All are familiar with this word. Change makes up our lives.  There are beginnings. And there are endings.  People come…and go. Relationships blossom, and then fade.  Pages turn into different chapters of our lives.  For many, including myself, change is a frightening thing at first glance. Sometimes it seems like there are too many good-byes to say, too many memories from the past that was so recently the present.

                                                             
But still, change happens.

For Christians, we don’t have to fear change. Without God, it would seem like our lives are out of control at times. But we don’t have to fear that. For one, God walk with us through all the changes in our lives, whether good or bad: “And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).  But even more than that, Scripture tells us that God Himself brings change into our lives… for our good.

                                                                    
What?

If you’re anything like me, most of the time, change doesn’t seem to be that great for us. It certainly doesn’t always leave us with warm, fuzzy feelings inside.  Take this year, for example. My school, a very small private Christian school, is changing.  Shrinking, actually. The relationships I had with the teachers? Ending, as most of them leave.  My precious friendships? Two of my friends are leaving for a new school.  These are all changes, but they leave you hurting, and asking –begging – God, why?  How is the ending of amazing friendships and relationships a good thing? Usually, only God knows exactly why such changes are best for us, but He promises that they are: “And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the GOOD of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, emphasis added). 

But still.

Who hasn’t struggled with change? Sometimes, it’s a long time coming, and then hits us hard and fast. Other times, change seems to happen every time you turn around.  Often, I find myself wondering whether God has decided to kick back, relax, and watch change put my life all in a whirl.  Maybe He decided I was being difficult to love, and wanted to give me a little wake-up call.  Once again, His promises assure me that that’s not the case. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, neither the PRESENT nor the FUTURE, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 8:37-39, emphasis added).

 What does that mean for my future?

It means that life will still be full of change. Down here on this sin-filled world, change is how life is going to go. Good-byes, moving on’s, see you later’s, this is how it’s going to be’s,  that’s in the past’s, suck it up and move forward’s….all will happen again and again….and again. But praise our Father in Heaven! We have hope! He promises us, that our future is certain, and will be wonderful; “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and He Himself will be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more DEATH or MOURNING or CRYING or PAIN, for the old order of things has passed away.”  (Revelation21: 3-4, emphasis added.  No more painful good-byes or mournful regrets…no more change that leaves us hurting inside, and wishing things were different. All things will be made new! Even the way life was before will itself be changed.

In the end, God uses change to change us.

Scripture says we are being refined like gold…by fire. That doesn’t mean no pain in life. So, though I will be the first to admit that change often hurts, God’s using it to change us to be more like Him. That way, when we get to heaven, we’ll be more than ready to let Him change things for the last time, to make a new heaven and new earth, where the “old order of things has passed away”. The words of the prophet Jeremiah (who saw a whole lot of difficult changes for Israel) still ring true: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.” (Jeremiah 29:11-12b)

Father's Day - By Kaitlyn F.

Father's Day

By Kaitlyn F.

Sunday is father’s day, a time to spend with the father figures in our lives. I know that I will be spending quality time with my dad while we tile the basement. But we should also take time to celebrate with our heavenly father.

No matter what kind of circumstances that you have been through with your earthly father, your heavenly loves you, and we should take time this father’s day to thank him for his love.

Ephesians 4:6 says, “One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” I know that my earthly father can’t be everywhere I go, but our heavenly father can. He knows everything about, and he loves you, and he wants to guide you. Take time to stop and thank him, for he will never leave or forsake you.

Father's Day - By Alexie M.

Father's Day

By Alexie M.

I praise God every day. I thank him for my house, my family, my friends, but one thing that I look forward to is the day of the year specially designed to give thanks for our fathers.They love us very much and do all they can to give us that house, or a car to give us those rides to see friends and family. Father’s day is a day for us to thank God for all they do.

Thank God for our fathers here’s some verses to remember on this special day...

Proverbs 23:22

Listen to your father, who gave your life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

So your dad is an amazing gift from God! This week focus on being thankful for your dad, and all the other important men in your life! Give your dad a big thanks for all he does.

Church: Part 3

Church Part 3

By Leah F.
Flashback to First Devotion:
I was looking at my emails/subscriptions and this website showed up in my inbox:
http://stevesimms.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/c-h-u-r-c-h-a-poetic-acrostic/
In it, there was an acrostic poem that looked like this:
C-Christ followers
H-hanging out together
U-under the influence of the Spirit
R-responding directly to His promptings
C-celebrating the glory of
H-his only presence!
For a couple months, I'm going to grow through 1-2 letters at a time, going into each of these
descriptions into detail.
Today we go on with:
R-responding directly to his promptings
------
I actually had to ask my youth pastor on this one. I had to understand exact ally what promptings are.
Before I start, here's the dictionary definition: 1. Something used to suggest or remind. 2. To move or or
speak in response to a cue.
Now, this might be a bit confusing, but basically prompting is a command or statement for us to do. For
example, in Matthew 28:19 says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Now here, the prompting is to go out and help
bring people to Christ.
Now I know I'm thinking "How am I supposed to do that? I'm only a teenager!" But, if you remember,
last time I talked about how we are under the influence of the Spirit, and with God all things are
possible. But God's promptings don't always come from the Bible, they come from our conscience, or
the Spirit gives you a yearning. This is what I'll be talking about today.
Have you ever been in your school cafeteria and seen the new girl/boy siting by their self? Did you (with
or w/o your friends) go sit next to him or her, or did you just leave them be. As Christians, we should
have the urge to help the new kid, be their friend, but then our human nature gets in the way, where we
worry of what other people will think. Now, God is giving you the prompt to go sit with them, but
sometimes we don't listen to his prompt. This acrostic says "responding directly to His promptings." Not
tomorrow, not next week, not next month, right now.
I hope we all realize that this isn't all fixed in a Christian school. I go to a private Christian school, and we
don't listen always to the promptings of God. We might spend the year memorizing Bible verses, but
after we recite them, we forget them, since memorizing scripture is normal to us. There is a boy who
just came into my class this year, and he has a bit of a social disorder. He is a great kid, but he doesn't
have many friends because of his disorder. But, I tried to hang out with him a bit, and he is actually
really smart, and really nice. Then i watched as in my friend group, in a way he is made fun of. I knew
there was something I could do to help him. Then one day during Friday devotions, we were giving a
post card, and we were told to write about someone and tell them of their good qualities. At first, I
thought I would just write it to my best friends, but something was telling me I should write it to the
boy. So I did, and when I gave it to him, I still remember how happy he was when he read it.
Responding to God not only is doing what he says, but in return it gives you a reward. It gives you a
higher sense of self-worth, and it helps you realize that you are here to make a difference. Maybe that
difference is to one day make world peace, or maybe that difference is making a kid's day. Maybe that
difference is starting a big anti-abortion charity, or maybe it's sponsoring a child by Compassion. Since
we are made in God's likeness, we do have the urge to do good, but our sinful nature gets in the way.
And that's why we need God and we need the Holy Spirit, we can't do anything on our own, it all
requires help from God.
Listen to God's promptings, and with each person you help, the more of the love of God you reveal.
Just in case you are interested: http://www.compassion.com/m/default.htm?