Who I Am, By Marvina Stedge

Who I Am
By Marvina Stedge

So I know I haven’t written a lot lately.  But I wanted to just write and tell you all what’s been on my heart.  So I’ve been struggling with being myself, finding out who I am, and dealing with life issues like marriage, and finding myself in God’s eyes.  I’ve always known about God and I’ve always been into music, especially worship and contemporary Christian music.  Worshipping the Lord is where I feel the most connected to Him.  I do read my Bible but I feel way more connected when I am worshipping Him and praising His name.  Dealing with finding out who you are, not only in yourself, but also in God’s eyes, can be a very big deal.  For about 3 days, I have been listening to this song called "You Steady My Heart." This song is by Kari Jobe, whom I look up to. She is just so humble, so real, and so into the Lord - and she knows who she is.  But what I really love about this song is the chorus: 

Even when it hurts,
Even when it's hard,
Even when it all just falls apart,
I will run to You,
Cause I know that You are,
Lover of my soul,
Healer of my scars,
You steady my heart. 

These words are so real and so true, and remind me of a verse that has been on my heart, Psalms 55:22, which says: “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” I’ve been reading this verse for a few days and have realized that I can give all my burdens to Him because He really does care what’s on my heart.  I have also realized that I need to start letting Him take complete control over my mind, my soul, my heart and life - so that I can fully be happy with myself, and I can know and learn who I am in Him. So when you are feeling down and you are just going through some struggles in your life, whether it’s within yourself or just your life, turn to the Lord because He cares and wants to be there for you.  I’m not only praying for myself, but also I am praying for anyone who is struggling.  Let the Lord steady your heart and completely fill you with His grace.

References:

*http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/k/kari_jobe/steady_my_heart.html, *http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2055:22&version=NIV

Who you are, By Chadia M.

Who you are

By Chadia M.

Does it really matter to suffer now when you know you’ll have a happy ending?
Does it really matter to struggle to get something that you know you already have?
Or would you worry about something if you already know the results?
No of course! All this has no sense!
And in the same way, you shouldn’t suffer, struggle or worry about anything
Because you already have complete victory over EVERYTHING!
You should always be conscious that when Christ died on the cross for you,
He exchanged His glorious life with your miserable life
He took your sufferings, your struggles and your worries on Him and crucified them
So that they will have no power on you.
So why are you desperate and broken; alone and frightened?
That’s not WHO you are! You are the co-heir of Christ, His Beloved Redeemed!
So get rid of all that and give praise to the one who saved you long ago!
Get up and tell the devil to go away because now, you know who you are
You know your rights!

Be Who You Are No Matter What, By Megan H.

Be Who You Are No Matter What

By Megan H.

Have you ever thought: "Oh wow! Those kids are so cool!" or "I would give anything to sit with the cool kids"? Have you ever been made fun of for acting differently, dressing differently, or for your beliefs? Do you consider yourself weird and awkward when you're around normal people? Do you try to change the way you act when around people to seem more cool? I'll tell you something; you can't change who you are. Instead of trying to change who you to please others, why not try to be a witness to others? Let your light shine....

"Ye are the salt of the earth: But if the salt have lost his flavor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 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. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

Don't try to hide who you are. Don't try to hide the fact that you are a Christian just so people won't treat you differently or make fun of you.

"For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26

Don't let people influence you or try to change who you are.

"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." Proverbs 1:10

Any friend who tries to change you or tells you things to try to get you to change, really isn't a friend at all. A true friend accepts you for who you are. And if they try to change you or get you to do things that you know deep down aren't right, just remember these verses...

"And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have there received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, an established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." Colossians 2:4-7

Also a sure way to avoid that from happening is to just not hang around those types of people. Not to change the subject, but, people will always treat you differently when you follow Christ.

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Matthew 5:10-12

Look at the prophets and disciples;many were beaten, imprisoned, and killed.I often think of Stephen and what all he endured.

"And they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul(who,if you remember, became Paul, the apostle). And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying Lord Jesus, Receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. and when he said this, he fell asleep." Acts 7:58-60

Even in all that pain he was going through, he still forgave them. Even no there are men, woman, and children who a beaten and imprisoned; and in some instances they are even killed. One day all Christians will be persecuted. many things will happen as the end of the world draws near; that being one of them.

"Then they will deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall be kill you:and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." Matthew 24:9

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" Mark 13:13

What ever the persecution, by friends, enemies, the government, etc. never deny who you really are or that you are a Christian. Don't know about you but I'd rather be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (Daniel 3) than Peter when he denied Christ (Mark 14:66-72)

"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16

Social Ladder, By Leah F.

Social Ladder

By Leah F.

I just came into middle school, and I have to admit it was a bit overwhelming. There were all these different social groups, and I didn't know where to start. There were the popular people, the middle people, and the people that the guys on the top don't seem to know that they exist. Then, during the year, people try to make it to the top of the "social ladder." People almost faint when a popular person even acknowledges them, but, God does not like these things. He created us equal.

Genesis 1:27 tells us that God made us in his own image. It does not say "But God made some men better than others, and they were greatly blessed." No. We are all created the same.

Mark 10:32 says that the first will be last, and the last first. So, in a way, you are on top of God's "social ladder." While the popular kids lift themselves up, if you humble yourself, then God will lift you up. Proverbs 18:12 also says that humility comes before honor. This means that before you can be lifted up by God, you have to repent and humble yourself. James 4:10 also says that if you humble yourself, God will lift you up. So, looking at all these verses, God will greatly bless you if you humble yourself.

What does humbling yourself mean? To humble yourself is to put others first, and have yourself be last. That might be talking a smaller scoop of ice-cream, or letting the little kid in front of you. Anything that puts other "ahead" is a way of humbling. In small terms, be the opposite of those you give themselves the best.

A lot of verses talk about about a haughty heart, but Psalm 101:5 specifically says that someone who is haughty and arrogant, God will not tolerate. So instead of trying to get to the top, I recommend staying at the bottom. But in order to have the best favor in God's eyes, you need to humble yourself, and repent for your sin. When you repent, you have to ask God for forgiveness for what you have done. After you repent, God will always forgive you, and will in a way "wipe your slate clean."