tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22186624153578916612024-03-08T13:02:34.049-08:00Greater Canton Youthquake's Quest For Truth radio blogWe are an extension of the ministry of Greater Canton Youthquake, questing for Truth because Truth matters. Youthquake is a county-wide ministry to the youth of Greater Canton, Ohio. Our purpose is to lead kids into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, assist in their discipleship, and channel them into a local Bible-believing church.QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-52060892955520941472021-12-30T16:28:00.006-08:002022-01-21T13:33:26.455-08:00Calendar of Devotionals 4 of 4 (end)<p> This is the last of the devotionals. It has #49-64.</p><p>Just to let you all know, my new blog is at YouthOvercomingtheWorld.blogspot.com. Feel free to enjoy all the posts on this one, though<br /></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">49,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Alberto practically
leaped into the car after church. Moments before, he’d been praising God and
learning how to follow Him and be more like Jesus. Now, he had a game to get
to.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I’m glad Coach didn’t
mind me coming late,” he told his dad before biting into a hastily prepared
sandwich. ‘It was one thing when we had warmups at 1, but this game starts at
1.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">He looked at his watch
– he should have said “started,” since they would get there after 1. Oh, well,
he would only be a little late. And, he’d worn his uniform under his church
clothes. The last time he’d come like that, his coach had jokingly asked if he
needed a phone booth to change in.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I’m glad you’re
honoring God – the way you act on the field plus things like this show how much
you love Him,” his dad pointed out.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">He remembered how Sandy
Koufax had refused to pitch in the World Series on a Jewish feast day – and
then he came back to win the Series for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This game wasn’t that crucial. But, as Alberto stretched and prepared to
enter, he praised God for letting him come. No matter what happened, he knew
God would reward him somehow for choosing to honor Him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">50.\</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Aren’t you missing
something?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Like what?” Alex waved
his hand over the many things he had put out on the counter. “I’m making
chocolate chip cookies,” he told his younger sister, Tatiana, “and I’ve got a
lot to do.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“You heard Mom say she
needed help, but you’re not doing it right. What’s that verse?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers
only?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Alex rolled his eyes.
“Look, I am making chocolate chip cookies like you wanted for your birthday.
I’m following the recipe, I’ve got the batter ready to mix-“</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Tatiana blurted, “Don’t
you think these would help?” She held out the bag of chocolate chips.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Alex’s face felt warm.
“Yeah. I guess it would be kind of hard to make chocolate chip cookies without
those.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“What good does it do
to hear something if you don’t do it?” Tatiana shook her head as he took the
bag and started pouring the chips in.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I guess it doesn’t do
any good.” Alex realized he should thank her. “Thanks for helping. This is a
lot to keep track of. I’m sure I would have figured it out soon – well, once I
looked at the directions.” He thought he would have looked at them, anyway. “I
do know how to bake cookies. I just need to apply what I know to whatever each
recipe calls for.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">51.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Twelve days yet? My birthday will never get here!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Barry couldn’t help but laugh at his brother, who was almost
eight, as he gazed at the calendar while Barry checked his homework before
school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’ve stared at that calendar every
morning for the last two weeks. While I’ve got a couple tests next week and my
report on the bald eagle. Which is fitting. Isn’t there a verse about mounting
up on wings like eagles, Dad?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Right; Isaiah 40:31 is a mini-chorus we sing, too. You’re
looking forward to our vacation next weekend as a break as much Benny is as a
birthday present,” their dad said. “Life goes a lot slower for him at his age.
But, that verse shows no matter how life gets – if it’s really crazy and packed
with stuff or really slow and mundane, we can wait on God. And, He will renew
our strength to get through it when we do.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">52.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Some of these names
are really weird.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Little Sherry looked at
the list of Old Testament Books that her big brother was trying to memorize.
“Teacher said that wasn’t really a name,” she said as she pointed at
“Ecclesiastes.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know,” Shaun said, making a funny face at
her. “But, even prophets like Malachi – names have really changed since then.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their older sister, Lucy, pointed out, “It’s
ironic that one of the key verses there is ‘I am the Lord; I change not.’”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I’m glad God doesn’t
change; we’ve lived in three different places since I can remember,” Shaun
remarked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“That verse isn’t just
about stability – but that is important, I’m so glad with all that goes on
God’s always there for us,” their mom said. “It goes on to say because He
doesn’t change, His people don’t get destroyed when they keep turning away from
Him. Once He declares someone saved because they trusted Him to save us, He’s
not going to say they aren’t.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“That’s the best
stability we can have – knowing God is there for us no matter what,” Lucy
agreed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">53.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I’m not going,” Hayley
told the stunned youth leader.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The teen didn’t feel
like sharing her many conflicting thoughts. She wasn’t thinking of others, yet
she knew she should since she’d promised to help with face painting. She
suffered from anxiety, but she knew she should ask for help. She worried about
being bored, yet she knew she enjoyed it…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Why was their leader
knowing on the door of her neighbor and fellow youth group member?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Great, thanks, I’d
love to,” her ten-year-old neighbor practically shouted.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Heyley’s mouth flew
open; now, she felt jealous, too. Why was she getting to go, and even get paid
a few bucks, when Hayley was supposed to?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Oh, yeah,” Hayley
realized later. “I turned it down, didn’t I? And, Abby’s mom let her go. But,
I’m older and more experienced, and all she has is… well, she tries hard and
has a humble attitude,” Hayley reasoned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Next time, she would
help when she promised to – she’d seen firsthand how God resisted her when she
was too proud to seek help, and gave grace to the humble.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">54.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Destiny frowned as she
read her Bible. She could tell her parents were leaving for some worldly place
to party.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Once they hugged
goodbye, before finishing homework, Destiny turned to a few of her favorite
Scriptures. Verse about following Jesus.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“The disciples followed
you when a lot of people around them refused,” she prayed out loud. “Just like
the prophets before them.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t suffer persecution like them. Thankfully,
they supported her desire to follow and try to be like Jesus. She knew others
suffered, though, and prayed for the persecuted church.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“You’ve done so much
for me, Lord,” Destiny prayed. “I’m so thankful. It’s hard to follow you
sometimes when my own parents don’t. But, I know you’re with me. You live in me
now. And, the way I act might determine whether they come to know you or not.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Yes, Destiny considered,
it was hard. Anything could be an idol - placed ahead of God - if one wasn’t
careful. She would simply keep trusting Jesus and trying to be like Him, so she
could earn treasure in Heaven. And, hopefully, one day see her parents
following Jesus, too.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">-------------------- <br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">55.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“What’s that thing?” Bo
shouted without thinking.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">He didn’t know how he
knew – but he thought he’d just seen a demon.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">He pulled over quickly,
his heart racing. He wasn’t sure how to describe the experience, but as he
thought about it, he couldn’t wait to tell someone, anyway.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">He didn’t want to wait
for church – when he got home, he quickly called his youth leader.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">He remembered lessons
about spiritual warfare, and how real it was. He knew he had to change things
in his life and turn back to God. What he’d just seen was way too scary for
him. He’d never have imagined spiritual warfare would actually be visible to
him – but it had been!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">He wished he’d listened
when the Holy Spirit – which lived in each believer – was telling him to stop
turning away from God. As he finally went to sleep and awakened the next
morning ready for church, he was glad for the reminder he’d had in talking with
his youth leader. That God’s mercies are new every morning.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">56.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“That’s a cute dog,”
Brooke told her new school friend Jordan. They were up in Alex’s room.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jordan bounced the dog,
which was actually a stuffed toy, a little and answered, “Thanks. I call her
Katy after a dog we used to have.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Did it bark a lot?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“She was never quiet! I
still like to play with stuffed dogs sometimes,” Jordan added a bit sheepishly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Brooke sensed Jordan’s
unease. “That’s okay. I play with mine sometimes. The key is just to not
worship the creature more than the Creator. If we praise God and thank him for
gifts like our toys and let Him use them for His glory, then comfort objects
like that are great. Like my uncle’s a police officer and they have them to
help children who have been through trauma.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I know. Sometimes I
pretend to talk to aa stuffed dog to release stress and help me figure how to
say stuff, and I do its voice reminding me to talk to God about it, so I start
praying.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Brooke playfully patted
the stuffed dog on the head. “That’s a very wise dog. We should make sure
everything we have helps us walk closer to God.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">57.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Hey,” Phil complained
to his older sister Darlene, “you ate all the chocolate!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The youth leader
couldn’t help but grin. Phil had just eaten all the Twizzlers they’d brought
for snacks, much to Darlene’s chagrin.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“You know,” the leader
told Phil and Darlene, “there’s a reason the Bible lists temperance as a fruit
of the Spirit.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The preteens said “tell
him that” and “tell her that” at almost the same time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I know you don’t get
treats like that often at home. But, sharing snacks like that is part of
putting others first. We’re told to be filled with the Spirit. That means we
should let the Spirit control us; and one way we do that is by letting God help
us not to only think of what we want, but what others might want,” the leader
said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The siblings each told
the other they were sorry.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“There might be others
who wanted more, too. But, I’m glad you’re not staying mad. Part of of growing
in Christ is learning to control yourselves, but so is learning to forgive and
move on and not keep complaining about little slights,” the leader finished.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Yeah, ‘cause we’re
brothers and sisters in Christ now,” Darlene recalled. “That we we can have fun
and bug each other sometimes, and still love each other.”</span></p>
<p>-------------------</p><p>58. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Melanie looked in awe
at all the neat crafts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Okay, it wasn’t like
they were in a craft store. Instread, the youth were in a numble youth room on
the top floor of the church. Still, it was a lot more than she’d seen in a
while. And, everything was so new.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I know you’d like to
take it all home,” the youth worker told her. “But it’s for you kids to use up
here. When we go to the craft store, you can pick out something to work your
way toward by earning points for church attendance and such.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Since you asked
nicely, you can pick out some of those beads.. and maybe one little animal or
two,” another youth worker said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Thanks; it’s just all
so new and exciting to be up here,” she explained.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Sure; that’s normal.
That’s why the Bible says to be filled with the Spirit – that’s a continually
filling that comes from keeping your relationship with God strong,” the
director complimented her. “Like following Him by asking politely and accepting
what we say.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Melanie be3amed; not
because she got to take a few little things home, but because of that
relationship with God helping her in relationship with others.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">59.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Claire perked up when
her mom peeked in her bedroom door. She’d heard the phone ring and a lot of
commotion. She knew something was up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Once she saw Claire was
awake, her mom came into the room. “Your grandma’s okay, but she fell and might
have broken something. Dad and I are going to the ER to be with her. Aunt Wilma
ijust got here to watch you.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Thanks, Mom. Tell her
I love her and I’m praying for her.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Claire remembered the
Bible lessons on prayer. As she talked to God, she thought of a bunch of
things. She asked that her grandma get better, that there not be a long wait in
the ER, that the doctors and nurses have wisdom, and so on. She didn’t know if
an ambulance was taking her, but she even prayed like she did if she heard one,
that everyone pull over like they were supposed to to let them by.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">She couldn’t believe
how much there was to think about. And things kept coming to her throughout the
night and next day till she heard all was okay.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“No wonder the Bible
says ‘pray without ceasing,’” she pondered. There is always something to pray
about and so many situations to pray for.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">60.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Actually, it’s yours – our insurance paid for it,” the bank
teller told Ray at the counter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ray smiled. He’d told his children that he was returning the
extra $20 the ATM machine had mistakenly given him. They understood – they
expected it since he’d always told them to be hnoest.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I know you say that,
but it’s not mine,” Ray told the grateful teller. He handed her the $20 back.
“I expect people to be honest with me. Someone might need to see a good
example. Most of all, God wants us to be honest and not take anything that
isn’t ours.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Ray smiled as he left
the bank. God might not reward him till he got to Heaven, but the good feeling
he had at doing the right thing was worth it all.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Dad,” one of his kids
called out as he got in. “Guess what? Mom just opened a card from Grandma; she
gave us $20. Isn’t that great?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“It’s more than great,”
he said as they hugged. “It’s God at work. Even if He hadn’t rewarded us this
way, He would have in other ways. Who knows who our honesty may have helped.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">------------------------ <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">61</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Phil felt bad as the Sunday School teacher held
the paper close to his eyes. "It's so sad you can't see well," the
boy said sorrowfully.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Thanks. God has given me a lot of great
gifts, though," the man replied.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Isn't there anything they can do?</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No, and glasses don't help since my problem is
behind my eyes." After a pause, the teacher added, "I trusted Jesus
to save me from my sin, though. So one day I'll be able to see perfectly
in Heaven. I'm glad you think about others, though. It's important to put
others first. And, maybe you'll grow up to be a doctor and help people like
me."</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That idea excited Phil. He came from a poor
family and hadn't thought of being a doctor. But, he also knew God could do
anything. Even if he wasn't a doctor, though, he could still have
compassion. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(@did I do Uncle Tim with magazine article
inspiring him? – could be separate)</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 62.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The lush green grass stood out like a
jewel. The color on the home team's caps seemed to shine much brighter than the
faded one he had. The smell of hot dogs excited his taste buds like that of a
thousand cookouts.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sandy had never even seen a baseball game in
color - his family had an old black and white TV. Everything seemed to spring
to life here, even though he'd seen and smelled the things before.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He also recalled something from church. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The pastor had said the new life which came from
trusting Jesus as Saviour was like having God open your eyes to things you'd
never seen, and making His creation seem much greater.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sandy recalled trusting Jesus to save him. It
was true. God had opened Sandy's eyes to so much. Things were much clearer to
him as he sought God's wisdom. And, just like the splendor of that first game
live and in color, after years of black and white, there was something so much
greater about creation when seeing it through the eyes of faith in God's great
design. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 63.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Wait, that's from the Bible?"</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Yes," Lucas’ friend said. "Jesus
says we are the salt of the earth for a few reasons. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lucas was amazed. He had heard the saying that
someone was the salt of the earth all his life, but had never known that the
saying came from the Bible.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I wonder what other common sayings are
from the Bible."</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That's one added benefit when you start to read it.
You'll see how much of language comes from God's word itself.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">”</span></p><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 64.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Jenny, bring me my
Bible,” the older lady said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jenny smiled. Her
grandma couldn’t walk, but she still had so much love for God.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jenny sat on her
grandma’s lap and proudly opened to the place her grandma asked her to. “I’m
getting good at this,” she said. Then, she asked, “Grandma, why don’t my mom
and dad like Jesus?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“They just want their
own way, just like we all do. They can’t understand how I can have such faith
when I’ve been crippled for decades.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I know how. ‘Cause
Jesus gives you real joy.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“That’s right. That’s
why the Bible says ‘No man taketh your joy from you.’ That’s why I’ve always
taught you to pray,” her grandma said. “God will remind you of all the good
things you have. And one day, since I know Him as Saviour, I’ll be running around
like you.”</span></p>
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<![endif]--></p>QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-17154237438798464202021-12-30T16:20:00.003-08:002021-12-30T16:20:32.221-08:00Caendar of Devotionals - 3 of 4<p>Page 3 of 4 of these devotionals - #32-48.</p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">32.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Did you tell on me?” Ronnie asked in a huff.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His brother looked strangely at him. “I didn’t have to,” he
said matter-of-factly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What do you mean? Mom just yelled at me for taking cookies
from the cookie jar right before supper, and…” Ronnie was really mad at Lenny
now. “What are you giggling about?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You have green icing on your hands and face,” Lenny
replied.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Their mom chuckled a little from the kitchen, too. “The
Bible says your sin will find you out – but it’s usually not that obvious!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ronnie sighed as he went back into the kitchen and wiped his
hands and face with a paper towel. “Even if I tried to hide it better, would my
sin still have found me out?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh, yes. Maybe not right away, but God has ways of bringing
the truth out. God wants us to know we can’t avoid consequences – like when one
of you eats so much candy you get a stomachache.” She put an arm around him and
said, “The only way to avoid the consequences of sin is, don’t sin. Because God
always wins in the end.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">33.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Leon frowned as he walked up to his youth leader. “I looked
through the whole Bible. I didn’t see Ohio State or Michigan.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Steward knew what would normally have been a joke was
very serious to Leon. “Still thinking about college?” The boy nodded. “The
Bible says God will direct your paths every time you acknowledge Him. But, God
speaks in other way, too, right?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah. I just wish it
was as clear as stuff where the Bible talks about it,” Leon said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sure, like having a backup plan if sports don’t work out,”
Mr. Steward said as they sat. “You’ve got a good one, taking courses toward a
front office job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or making sure your
relationships bring you closer to God and not away from Him. Leon,” he said as
he leaned forward, “I know it’s a hard choice. But, keep praying, getting good
advice from people you trust, looking at each campus, the programs, and so on.
Trust God; He knows the right place for you.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Thanks. Just being reminded of that really helps,” Leon
said sincerely.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">34.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mandy was amazed. Why wasn’t anyone going forward?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“…It’s free. Come one up,” the speaker was saying. All you
have to do is be the first one.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mandy shyly crept forward. Then, she started to walk more
boldy, though still with caution. Surely someone would get there before she
did. She was coming from way in the back.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m waiting…here comes someone.” Mandy took the speaker’s
wallet and pulled out a $5 bill. “Take it, I said whoever got it first could
have it,” the speaker said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mandy said “thank you” and returned to her seat with the
money as another kid cried out, “That’s not fair!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The speaker insisted it was fair. “Everyone had an equal
chance. That girl came from way in the back. It’s just like God’s free gift of
salvation. ‘Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ You
don’t have to be anywhere special; you can call on Jesus right now to save yhou
from the penalty for your sins. The choice is yours. Thankfully, everyone hs
that chance, but people don’t take that chance when the have it.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mandy grinned. She’d trusted in Jesus and called on Him by
faith to forgive her and save her from her sins last year at church camp. She
hoped everyone there would make that important decision, too.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">35.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What’s a yearbook?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Katie smiled. The first grader she volunteered to help was
looking at the many pictures and papers on Katie’s table. “A yearbook is where
they put pictures of all the students and teams and clubs. It tells about all
the fun stuff at the school that year.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Oh.” The girl thought for a moment. Katie’s table was
really full. “That must take a lot of people to do that.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It should, but I’m doing it all,” Katie told her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The girl spun around. “Wait, what? Why?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The last few years, our Yearbook staff got smaller and
smaller. Nobody wanted to work. This year, no one showed up. If I hadn’t made
this my English project, our class wouldn’t have a yearbook. And, every class
treasures theirs.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They’d be real sad,
huh?” the girl guessed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Right. It’s just like Jesus says about sharing His love and
salvation. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. I’m so glad I
get to work with you. I wish more people took the time and built the patience
to help others.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The girl smiled proudly at Katie. “I’m glad you help people.
And if you need any help with this, let me know.” Katie said she would.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">36.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Courtney loved spending time with God. Some of her prayer
needs seemed to big, though! She kept praying for a job, for instance. It was
hard at her age, yet she knew God could provide.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometimes it seemed to take forever, though.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Suddenly, she got a text. Someone hadn’t been able to find a
sitter. All of a sudden, she had a job offer. Sure, it was just one time, but
at least it was something.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She tried hard to get a ride, and finally got one. She had
really wanted to – and while she’d have taken $10, she wound up getting $20.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She came back home refreshed. She still had that prayer
need, but she had seen how God could provide. Sometimes, His way wasn’t one big
thing, however. Sometimes it was a bunch of little ones, especially if the real
answer would take a while to come. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She knew God was faithful because His Word said so. It felt
great to get a little taste of proof in her life, though.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">37.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Troy remembered Paul’s quote. Reporters sometimes twisted
things to make news. But, his relationship with his teammate, Paul was strained
anyway.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, Troy walked up to Paul the moment he saw him at the next
practice. “Do you have a problem ith me?” he asked casually.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Paul replied, glad for the chance to talk with Troy. He
hadn’t been sure how to handle this. “I have a problem with how you act,” he
said, careful not to attack Troy personally. “You seem arrogant sometimes, like
you’re trying to boss people around.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m sorry if I come across that way,” Troy said. “It’s hard
for me to express myself, so my confidence can come out wrong. Plus, I’ve been
bullied so much I’m afraid sometimes I need to take charge of everything. Do
you have some ideas for how to improve?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Troy and Paul gladly discussed ideas so both of them could
get along. Troy didn’t care if the reporter had quoted Paul right. His concern
was to not divide the team but to be united. And, he knew the Matthew 18
principal was best for this, so they could develop a friendship and help each
other improve.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">--------------------------<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">38.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Meow,” Missy said with a small giggle as she crawled around
and rubbed against Kacy’s ankles.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kacy smiled at her little sister as she put lunch on the
table. “Come on, Missy, get up.” She reached down to put her in her booster
seat, but the little girl pretended to scratch at her. So, Kacy’s voice became
sterner, like their mom’s – who was paying her to babysit this afternoon.
“Missy, you can’t eat human food if you’re a cat. Do I have to feed you cat
food?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Missy didn’t like the tone. She rubbed against Kacy and
purred, but let Kacy pick her up and put her in her booster seat this time.
Finally, Missy said, “I was just playing.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I know. I love you; but you need to be a person now.” Kacy
blessed the food. “You know, for some weird reason I just thought of Romans
12:2. You’re a great kid. It’s okay to play sometimes, but just now you had to
be a person, and not conformed to being a cat.” Kacy asked how her sandwich was
– it was good. “Good. Anyway, we’re not supposed to be conformed to this world
– that means we shouldn’t be like those who ignore God. We’re children of God –
so we should act like He wants us to.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">39.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“How do you put up with it?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alexis smiled. She still felt a lot of pain from her surgery,
but she was here, at least. “God gets me through somehow.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m sure,” her friend said as she sat visiting her. Alexis
would be in the hospital for a few more days. “Don’t you ever just wish your
body worked like normal?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I do,” she admitted. “I should be able to have treatments
now that will keep me from having to have more surgery.” She agreed with her
friend that wasn’t quite the same. “Jesus said ‘In this world you will have
tribulation.” It’s a fallen world. Sure, God made it perfect, without pain.
But, man’s sin way back when caused everything to fall apart., so I won’t have
a perfect body till I get to Heaven.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m glad you made it
through. I don’t know if I could handle all you have to go through.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It’s not always easy for me, either. But, I have friends
like you. And, that verse goes on with Jeuss promised we can be of good cheer
because He overcame the world.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">40.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pat finished the laundry, then went into the living room.
“Thanks, Mom,” Pat said while taking the camp registration form.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pat had heard from a counselor that quite a few young people
lived with someone suffering from depression. “Whether Mom suffers from it or
not,” Pat prayed, “I found a way to get to that church camp. That’s the
important part.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pat went over the checklist while thinking. It was rough
having to do so much around the house. Pat even took care of a younger sibling
sometimes – who had gone to camp the week before. But, Pat knew God could help
with anything. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pat sang softly to himself while waiting for a ride. “What a
friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. And what a privilege
to carry everything to God in prayer…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pat grinned as the car pulled up, and jogged to it while
carrying his bag. “Thanks,” Pat said while getting in.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I wish Mom got off the couch more. But, I’ll keep praying
for her,” Pat prayed. “And, in the meantime, I know I have a relationship with
you, Lord. Because I know you provide all my needs and give me wisdom no matter
what when I trust you.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span>-------------------------</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">41.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joann felt alone sometimes. Even in a crowd of people.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She knew she shouldn’t let her best friend pull her down.
But, she found it hard to think of going to church without her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What’s wrong,” Riley asked. Joann’s best friend was Riley’s
older sister.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well… you know how they talked about Joshua 24:15? About
choosing who to serve? Lauren stopped coming to church a while back. And, it’s
hard without her.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Mr. Rotini says it’s ‘cause you lost your mom when you were
little.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joann put an arm around Riley. “You’ll blurt out anything
sometimes.” She sighed. “I don’t know. I just know she gets me. Sometimes I
don’t know if anyone else does.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“God does.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joann’s tired look said Riley may as well have said “the sky
is blue.” It was true, but did she feel like trusting?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You have to try.
I’ll be there no matter what.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Thanks. I know you’re trying to help.” She smiled. “I guess
I have to choose sometime. It does help me understand what the Bible means
better. I feel more peace since I started praying more.” Joann relented. “Okay.
The people are nice. I’ll go. It is nice to be around people who care,” Joann
said with relief. She didn’t know why she felt like she did sometimes. But, she
knew God had given her hope, and she wanted to learn how to keep getting more.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">42.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“We can’t have a four-year-old
referee!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“We don’t have even
sides otherwise,” Rob countered as he picked up a ball in the park and the
other kids discussed strategy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Mom said he had to
come with me,” Devon said evenly. “Besides, he helped stop a fight the other
day.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Daryl, who had spoken
first, and Rob looked oddly at the tot, who was staring with great interest at crawling
ants. “How’d that happen?” Rob asked, shocked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Well, not a big fight,
but our parents were having a little argument, like a tiff. And, he starts
saying what we teach him. He told them to talk nice. Then Dad said something
that hurt a little. So, he said, ‘That was mean. You made Mommy cry. Say you’re
sorry.’ I mean she wasn’t really crying, just a bit teary, but still, he said
stuff like that and got them to remember to talk nice and be kind to each
other. And, they settled their problem.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“He was just repeating
the rules,” Daryl said. “Of course, I guess that’s what a referee does,” he
muttered, still skeptical.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“It’s fenced in here,
We’ll watch and keep him watching us. Chris’s mom is close by watching anyway,”
Adam pointed out.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Daryl relented. “I
guess you’re never too young to be useful.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">43.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Andrea sighed gloomily
as she gazed out the window. She then walked over and plopped down on the
couch. “It’s no use. He promised he was going to come pick me up to do some
stuff with our friends.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Andrea’s mom put an arm
around her. It hadn’t been a real date, but a group activity felt like it to
Andrea. “I got stood up a few times, too.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I bet Dad never did it
to you,” Andrea remarked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“No, but boys aren’t
very mature yet at your age. Sometimes they change their minds, like a puppy
that finds a new toy and forgets the one he was playing with a minute ago
exists,” her mom said, trying to cheer her up with the comparison.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andrea read a text while her mom talked – the
boy said he’d gone with some other friends for pizza. “Or, maybe I’m just not
good enough.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Andrea, you know God made you special. I felt
bad sometimes, to; being lied to feels awful. But, don’t let one moment define
how you feel about yourself.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I try not to. It’s
just so hard being lied to,” Andrea admitted.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I know it hurts. We
want to be able to trust people – God’s has lots of reasons why He doesn’t like
lying. But, you can always think of good things; like the fun you have with
yoru friends, and especially the fact God never changes.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">44.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Wow, what a shot!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Dwight had won the game
at the buzzer. He smiled and glanced at the scout. “Thanks.” After the teams shook
hands, he came over to the sideline.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I’ve been talking with
your friends and Coach Washington. I know you have to go to college a year, but
we’re already looking, and you might be a pro prospect,” the scout said; he’d
met Dwight once before.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Thank you, Sir.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“That doesn’t mean the
NBA right away – we’ll see how you develop in college. You might start in the G
League even after college. But, you have a chance,” the scout said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Many things ran through
Dwight’s mind. The idea of playing four years and maybe getting to the NBA
faster then. The money he could get if he made the NBA, even as a bench player.
The fans and big cities. But, one thing stood out most.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I’m praying about what
to do. God’s given me the talent. But, Billy Sunday was the fastest baseball
player of his day, and God called him to preach.” He assured the man he’d let
him know either way. “The most important thing to me is doing what my Saviour
made me for. Sports skills are just part of what He gave me. Whether or not I’m
supposed to be a witness as a basketball player is up to Him.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The scout agreed. He
was glad for Dwight’s commitment to God. It would make him more committed to
sports if that was his calling, because he’d be following God first.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">45.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Anne leaped up
excitedly at the sound of the fireworks.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">It wasn’t because the
family was watching them. They planned to visit the big fireworks show downtown
tomorrow.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">It wasn’t even so she
could maybe catch a glimpse of the ones being shot off down the street.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Instead, she ran to her
dad.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I’m okay,” her dad said
slowly, reminding himself to remain calm. “I’m so glad you’ve been praying for
me.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I know the war was
really scary for you,” Anne said soothingly as she took his hands in hers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“It was,” her dad said.
He was so glad he took his chidren to church and worshipped with them at home,
too. Even if he didn’t, though, he knew prayer would work when he trusted the
Lord. “But, we serve a great God. I’ve been praying, too. It’s great to know we
can always trust Him to help us through everything.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">46.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Andrew kept thinking
about the gym’s basketballs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">They weren’t marked. And,
they sure were nicer than his at home. As he and his friends took a break from
playing, he noticed nobody was watching him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Hey, Andy,” Andy’s
friend called out as Andy stared at the basketballs. “Come tell Pat about that
crazy stuff that was going on when the the school bus passed by that one
house.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Andy smiled. “Sure, be
right there.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Silently, he thanked
Jesus as he considered that sight. Pat went to a different school. Andy knew
Pat would enjoy the story. More importantly, he knew it would take his mind off
the temptation to take one of the balls. He knew it would be stealing – and he
had in fact been coveting already.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">However, God had been
faithful, and with the temptation he had just faced, God had provided a way of
escape. Andy thanked God for His faithfulness as he jogged over to share the
story.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">47.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Amanda couldn’t believe
it! She had always been the fastest girl in her youth group. Yet Barb, who had
been there for only two weeks, had just beaten her. And it wasn’t even close.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Amanda didn’t like what
she was starting to feel. She knew she shouldn’t be mad at Barb, but she was.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">After sitting quietly for a minute on the ride
home, she told the driver, “I felt a little jealous today because Barb’s so
much faster than me.”</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The van helper smiled.
“I understand; one thing that helps is to remember there will always be someone
better than you at something, and there will always be someone worse.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Amanda thought a
moment. That made sense. She couldn’t be the best at everything in the world –
there were over 7 billion other people.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“It’s good to want to
be the best,” he continued. “But, what’s important is being the best at what
God made you for. The only person you need to compare yourself to is Jesus – how
are you doing living for Him, and how can you be more like Him?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Thanks.” The nice
thing was, focusing on that helped Amanda not be jealous or covetous, either.
“I’ll be thankful God made me like I am. Because I know He loves me no matter
what.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">48,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Does this include making
funny faces?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Daniel tried hard not
to laugh at his younger brother, Kenny, as the campers recited the camp’s key
verse: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the
glory of God.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Kenny continued to
think of silly things throughout the day. Finally, the brothers asked their camp
counselor, Aaron.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Aaron agreed – the
questions were silly. “You’ve got quite the imagination to keep coming up with things,”
Aaron added. “But, yeah, all that random stuff – trimming toenails, doing
backflips, flying kites – is included in ‘Whatsoever ye do.’”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Even laughing so hard
milk comes out your nose?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kenny asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Well, the Bible says
‘a merry heart worketh good like a medicine.’ The key is, are you honoring God?
Making fun of other people isn’t, but remember that movie when they got people with
the same name mixed up? You laughed so hard you fell off your seat.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Daniel nodded and
smiled at the memory.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“It’s all about
honoring God. That can be good, clean fun like that, or something you can thank
Him like food or physical ability or health. It means letting God get the glory
and not ourselves; and, being the kind of person Jesus wants us to be.”</span></p>
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<![endif]--></p>QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-2887916708042849032021-12-30T16:09:00.000-08:002021-12-30T16:09:18.341-08:00Calendar of Devotionals - 2 of 4<p> As promised, the 2nd batch of devotionals in this list. This section has #16-31.<br /></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hide this for me.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sander looked strangely at Bruce. “Why do you want me to
hide your cell phone?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bruce was a little embarrassed. “Well, our term paper in
history is due soon, and I can’t stop thinking about this game.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sander smiled. He remembered that the Bible said “confess
your faults one to another.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce was
having trouble with putting that game ahead of his schoolwork. And, sometimes,
ahead of God.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even if it was a sin, Sander couldn’t offer forgiveness like
Jesus could. This wasn’t the purpose of this verse, though. Confessing faults
meant admitting struggles so another person can help by praying or being an
accountability partner. Or, even doing something like this.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sure, man. I’ll be glad to; If you need me to proofread
what you wrote or anything, let me know, okay?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Thanks, man. You’re a great friend.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">17.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“This has to be a world record. And <i>not</i> a good one!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mitchell said this because he’d gotten a gift from his uncle
– who lived in another country. He’d put the toy he’d gotten together right
away. And, his two-year-old brother had broken it to pieces only seven hours
later. “Nothing gets broken seven hours after you get it,” he declared.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His parents even said this brother was the wildest of any of
the kids. Still, he realized that he still loved him the same, even as mad as
he had just made him. He forgave all his siblings when they did something he
didn’t like.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Where sin abounded, grace abounded more,” he recalled
reading in the Bible. He had to chuckle. Yes, sin seemed to abound in that kid.
But, he still loved him the same. He just kept giving more and more grace.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">18. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can’t be friends with someone like that.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Roy used to think Joe was a close friend – maybe even his
best friend. He didn’t always make friends easily.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yet, Joe had begun talking behind his back and being a
bully. Roy had tried to talk to Joe about his behavior, but he wouldn’t listen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was hard to stop being friends. But, Jesus said in
Matthew 5:29, “If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out.” As close a friend
as Joe had seemed, it did feel like he was, in a sense, plucking his eye out.
On the other hand, it was better for him to follow the Lord instead of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>being around someone who could drag him down.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">19.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Allie sighed. She still couldn’t find any way to get to
church.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She loved God, and enjoyed being with her friends at church.
They treated her with respect, they cared about her, they prayed with her. They
weren’t like some other kids.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She started to read her Bible. She saw John 4:24, where
Jesus said believers would soon worship Him in spirit and in truth. She
recalled that was the most important part – knowing Jesus meant that wherever
she was, she could worship Him. Indeed, that’s why she felt such a connection
to those in her youth group – they all had God living inside them through the Holy
Spirit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She could do plenty on her own worshipping God, praying,
reading the Bible, and seeking out other Christian friends at school. But, she
still couldn’t wait to get back to her church.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span>-------------------</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jenny smiled. She was old – over 90, in fact – but she liked
to say she had lots of time to pray.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Im glad you called. I’ve been praying about those requests
you gave me.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her grandmother had taught her about God when she was
little. Though her grandma couldn’t walk, Jenny saw the power of prayer as her
grandma did so much. Now an older woman herself, she told that story again, and
reminded her friend to have faith.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m always talking to Jesus. And when we pray together and
agree on something, wherever we are, He promises “When two or three are
gathered together, I am in the midst of them.” I might not be able to get to
church anymore. But we can gather in spirit and God will work as we pray.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The caller hung up feeling refreshed. He knew with praying
friends like her helping, God would work in all the things they prayed about</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">21.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No thanks are necessary; my thanks is knowing I helped
someone.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Larry turned to his grandfather. “This Is really cool. What
kind of computer did you watch this Lone Ranger on when you were little?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Larry’s grandfather laughed a little as he said, “Larry, I have
the DVDs now for myself to enjoy and for you when you come over. But, I watched
that on TV – and it was black and white. And when my daddy was little, it was
only on the radio.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Larry’s eyes grew wide with wonder.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You know, there’s a great lesson in that. Now, the show
never said if he knew Jesus as Saviour, though he easily could have. My point
is, it’s just like God wants us to be.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“How’s that, Grandpa?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“See, we’re supposed to build our treasures in Heaven.
Nothing can happen to them there. He got recognized more because he focused on
the right thing. He wanted to help people. He didn’t go around bragging.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That’s how we should be. Not worried about getting the
credit. Just focused on doing what the Bible says. Our hearts should be focused
on doing God’s work. He’ll reward us with treasure that lasts forever.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">22.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“How do you like the decorations?” Rick asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mike was stunned at Rick’s room. The carpet was green, and
the ceiling was painted green, too. The walls were gold, and there were Green
Bay Packers things everywhere.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pablo was amazed, too. Unlike Rick and Mike, his family
didn’t go to church. He had met Rick at school. Pablo was also a huge Packer
fan. “This is so cool,” Pablo said as he kept picking things up. “How long did
it take you and your dad to do this?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A long time. And, we’re not finished.” Rick said. He smiled
as Pablo saw his Bible – of course with a green cover.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart
be also.” Rick loved Jesus even more than the Packers. He knew if Pablo’s
family never came to church with them, he could share Jesus with Pablo.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rick had given God what he loved so God could use it to
bring people to Him. He shared Jesus with many people he met through his
favorite team. Not all would go to church. But, some did trust Jesus to save
them from their sin and get them to Heaven. By keeping Jesus first in his
heart, Rick built treasure in Heaven that could never grow old.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ----------------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">23.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Mommy,” Kathy asked out of the blue, “Did you always want
me?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chloe stopped what she was doing, knelt, and hugged Kathy. “Of
course.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They talked about why Kathy had asked. Kathy compared
herself to others sometimes. Other times, people said mean things, or only
thought of their own plans, or what they could be doing. That was sin because
it focused on one’s self and not God.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When people did that, it tore kids like Kathy down. Kathy
had to think about how God loved her and wanted her, no matter what.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Honey,” Chloe continued as she opened her Bible, “you are
God’s miracle. Let’s read</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Psalm 139:14.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They read, in part, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
They read the rest of the Psalm and talked about it, too.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“God loves you no matter what. You don’t have to be perfect
or worry about your looks. And, even if people could – or even should - have
done things differently, it doesn’t change the fact God wanted you to live.
That means once I knew you were coming, I wanted you and I always have since.
I’m being responsible and trying to be a Godly mother because I love you with
all my heart. And, I always will,” she said tenderly as they hugged again.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">24.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What happened to your date?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Nothing. I don’t want to talk about it,” Lottie fretted
toward her younger brother.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her brother, Tommy, knew something was wrong. Especially
because, “Lottie, your date picked you up in a car, but I saw you walking
home.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lottie couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, I guess that shows
something went wrong.” She glanced back and saw their parents. She smiled at
them and turned back to Tommy. “Let’s just say… you know where the Bible says
‘flee also youthful lusts?’ Well, my date tried to control everything, and then
he wanted to kiss me and I didn’t want that, so I walked home.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We’re proud of you,” her parents said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Thanks. I don’t want a boyfriend like that. And, I hope you
don’t want to act like that, Tommy.” Lottie explained further, “I want someone
who wants to follow Jesus with all their heart. My date talked nice, but he
clearly had himself on the throne room of his heart. To flee youthful lusts, it
means to avoid doing only what feels good and instead treating others – and
your own body -w with love and respect. Because God made us for something so
much better.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">25.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Diana finally felt like she could breathe again.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We said you were fastened in really well.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Diana smiled at her camp counselor. “Yeah. I can’t believe I
let go of the swing.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, we knew there’d probably be a kid or two who did
that,” her counselor, Mandy, said with a chuckle. “With a 37-foot high swing,
you better have a really good harness. You know, the Bible says God is like that,
too,” she continued as they walked back to get in line again. As scary as that
was, Diana wanted to try again.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What do you mean?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The Bible says God is able to keep us from falling.
Whenever you sin, no matter how bad it gets, if you know Jesus as your Saviour,
you can never lose your salvation.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I sure don’t want to let go of Him like that,” Diana
exclaimed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That’s good. You should want to always walk close beside
Him and obey Him. But if you ever slip up, remember that swing. If you meant it
when you called on Jesus to save you, your soul is as secure as you were in
that swing.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ------------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">26.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What is your dog doing?!” Mitch asked as he stared at the
dog.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Her dog food has two types. She’s separating them and
eating all of one type first, then all of the other,” Doug said, as if it was
the most normal thing in the world.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mitch thought it looked weird, but Howard pointed something
out. “God’s Word says we should rightly divide the word of truth.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“But, God’s Word is all true; we shouldn’t divide it,” Mitch
insisted.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I don’t mean divide like take stuff out; you’re right we
should never take anything out of God’s Word. What I mean is, we should know
how to separate concepts. Like, grace and works. Grace is a free gift, so
anything that involves works can’t’ be for salvation,” Howard explained.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I guess Muffy does eat kind of weird,” Doug admitted as he
watched his dog finish the one part and then start on the other. “But, that’s
true. It’s very important to study God’s Word and really understand what each
verse is about.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">27.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grace giggled after she reared back to throw the baseball
for her puppy. She giggled so hard because pepper came out of it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Wait,” her dad said while grabbing the ball and laughing.
“The dog brought you our pepper shaker that looks like a baseball.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“He must have gotten on his back legs,” she said once she
was done laughing. She had followed him into the kitchen, where he put the salt
shaker back.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once her dad
corrected the puppy and gave him a real tennis ball, he sat and she sat on his
lap. “He is tall. I put it up higher now. You know, that reminds me of First
Samuel 16:7. ‘Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on
the heart.’ We all have times when the outside of something looks pretty.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Or like a baseball.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, that’s something our dog loves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, the inside wasn’t what he wanted, was
it?” She shook her head. “It might be a toy that isn’t as fun as you thought.
Years from now it might be a boy who looks nice but isn’t. Whatever it is,
always remember to look at the inside. And trust God to show you what’s right.
He always knows best.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">28.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Come on, I said one of the speckles on your dress,” Barry complained.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His younger sister, Brenna, smiled mischievously. “You have
to guess which one.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Their mom looked back from the passenger’s seat of the car. She
hoped to distract them so their game of “I Spy” didn’t turn into an argument.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hey, who remembers what the definition of sin is?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Missing the mark,” Brenna spouted.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Right, it’s missing God’s mark of perfection. It’s like
trying to hit a bull’s eye the size of one of those speckles from a million
miles away. Now, Barry could guess the right speckle.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah, in a million years,” he exaggerated.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sure. Romans 3:23 says ‘all have sinned and come short of
the glory of God,’” their mom said. “Since we all fell short, Jesus paid a
price none of us could pay on our own when He died for our sins and rose again.
Knowing Him gives you the freedom to be silly like that and laugh and have fun
without worry about having to pay the penalty for sin.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ------------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">29.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brian honked his bicycle horn as he pulled up to Bob’s
house. “Hey, guys,” he said to his friends Bob, Doug, and Jeff.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They weren’t sure how or what to say about yesterday. It had
been the first Father’s Day since Brian’s dad died.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After they talked and got on their bikes to ride, Jeff
finally asked, “How are things going?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Okay. It’s been a few months. I still think about my dad.
But, no mand can take my joy from me,” Brain replied.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As they rode the boys talked about other things. Brain felt
like sharing more all of a sudden; after such thoughts came out of the blue
sometimes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It’s still sad. But, joy is different than happiness. I
really miss him. But, I still have joy because of the great memories, but most
importantly because I know he’s in Heaven. I’ll see him again. And, I’ll always
have my relationship with God. He gives me peace and comfort whenever I trust
Him.” He seemed to be reminding himself – which was normal at a time like this.
But, he knew God always kept His promises.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">30.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Betty made a face and removed her bubble gum. “Chocolate bubble
gum is yucky.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I thought it would be,” Betty’s friend Carol said. “Why did
you even try?” she asked as she made a face, too.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, I like both. I thought it might be nice to put
chocolate syrup on. The watermelon flavor made it even worse…” She giggled at
her strange plan.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah, you can’t even eat bubble gum,” Carol’s dad said
simply as he helped his wife with supper.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways,” Carol
quoted with a laugh. “I love to cook, so I put cheese on ice cream once.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Carol’s mother chimed in. “Some people are like Jesus in
youth group, yet act so worldly the rest of the time. It’s as yucky to people
as chocolate bubble gum.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Especially to Jesus. His harshest criticism was against
hypocrites,” Carols dad said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Betty agreed as she threw her bubble gum away. “That yucky
part takes all the fun out of the good part. Just like if we follow Jesus, bad
behavior means people can’t see the good in us.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">31.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tim stifled a laugh as his older sister, Ann, dipped butter
in butter. Finally, he couldn’t hold it in as she put it in her mouth and made
a grossed-out face.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“This fish tastes awful,” Ann declared.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That’s because you put your fork in the butter,” their mom
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The restaurant’s dark enough, I’m just glad you didn’t
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ann finally nabbed a piece of fish and dipped it. “That
tastes a lot better.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“As opposed to a lot butter,” Tim kidded her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They remembered that the Bible says Jesus is the light of the
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s as hard for
people to cope without Jesus as it was for you to see what was fish and what
wasn’t,” their dad said. He was glad they walked in Jesus, so they could see
right and wrong.</span></p>
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<![endif]--></p>QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-44736195885157393582021-12-27T06:31:00.005-08:002021-12-27T06:31:43.628-08:00Calendar of Devotionals - 1 of 4<p> Hi, readers. I'm back - kind of. For reasons which will become apparent, this is the first of 4 sets of 16 little stories with a Godly message.</p><p>In the last 4.5 years, Youthquake: 1. Had a good ministry with dozens of kids trusting Christ as Saviour in an old church building; 2. That church withered and broke up in 2020 so we lost the building and nobody came anyway due to Covid when we tried to resume; 3. We had a radio program for another 1.5 years and had to move <a href="https://archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%28greater%20canton%20youthquake%29" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">all our content</a> to archive.org; 4. Among other projects, our director and I started a devotional calendar that never got beyond 64 little stories from yours truly and about 30 connected Bible verses from our director, Sal Varsalone; 5. Sal died after a brief illness in November, 2021, and we're becoming a private foundation with all remaining funds going to send kids to <a href="https://campchof.org/" target="_blank">Camp CHOF</a>.</p><p>That day-ty-day flip calendar never got done, and I don't have access to the bits he did, but most of these have a Bible verse listed. For those that done, <a href="http://thekingsbible.com/" target="_blank">you can look it up</a>. (You can use the <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/" target="_blank">Blue Letter Bible </a>for even more advanced searching.)</p><p>__________________________________________________</p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How bad will the storm be?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lexi watched the storm clouds gather. She didn't like
storms. She was thankful for the time she lived. She could hear a forecast and
know if it would be a simple rainstorm or a noisy thunderstorm that could knock
out her family's power. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She couldn't imagine life in the old days. You wouldn't know
if a hurricane was coming that could last for days!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life is full of storms. Thankfully, Jesus promises to guide
us through them. We don't know if it will be a little one like a short argument
with a friend that is easily resolved or a big one like a divorce. However, we
know God will guide us and give us wisdom so we can get through it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">----------------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Harriet couldn't sleep. She'd always had trouble sleeping. Sometimes,
she felt like there was some strange presence in the house.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There it was again. Yet, just as her nerves started acting
up, she remembered God was with her too. He lived inside her because she knew
Jesus as her savior.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus Christ is Lord, Harriet practically shouted inside.
She proclaimed that the devil had no power over her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Suddenly, the feeling left. She felt peace. Because she knew
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be spiritual battles around her but she was safe.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">----------------------------</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is that all? Kiersten asked. She was stunned. Where were the
rest of her presents?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kiersten's mom wasn't really mad, but she spoke sternly yet
calmly to her. “Kiersten, you got over two dozen gifts for your birthday. You
need to learn to look at what you have and be thankful and not worry about what
you didn't get. She pointed out there were a lot of poor kids that might only
get one or two things.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kiersten trusted in Jesus to save her soon after this. She
realized her mom was right. She needed to be content with what she had. Because
she had learned that the most important thing was to have the Lord inside.
Because “He has said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Having God with
us is better than any worldly treasure.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">----------------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I feel like I can talk to you about anything.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marshall was excited. He had helped another friend with some
problems at school. He was only 16, but his friends knew him as someone who
they could turn to for wisdom.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marshall didn't always have the answer, but he could always
pray with them and help them talk things out and decide what might be the best
solution based on God's word.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He had burdens himself. He knew his parents weren't really
in love, he had never seen his dad truly affectionate with his mom. In fact,
his dad would eventually walk out on the family and, over a decade later, at
his wedding, his dad would say that Marshall was more mature than him!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the meantime, Marshall had been the father figure for his
four younger siblings because he knew the Bible said to bear one another's burdens.
He wasn't just the boss. He was someone who poured himself into others because
that was how God had poured himself into Marshall.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">------------------- <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Danny didn't have time to think. He saw the toddler jumping
into the pool without water wings and knew the child would have trouble staying
afloat.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was already in the pool, and swam over to hold the
toddler up. Of course, he was only a young schoolboy himself, so he had a bit
of trouble keeping from going under while holding her up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eventually her parents got her, but the seconds seemed a lot
longer at the time as he used all his muscles to keep the girl above water.
However, he knew he could trust God to use him no matter how hard it was.
Because Philippians 4:13 promises I can do all things through Christ which strengthens
me. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">----------------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That bird just grabbed my hot dog!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Doug couldn't believe it! A seagull had truly just swooped
down and grabbed his hot dog out of a bun while at the public beach.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The restaurant owner had seen what happened. He had probably
seen it happen before. And, he quickly gave the boy a new hot dog.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Doug received something else special that day. The memory of
a great example of how God provides for all of his creatures. Matthew 6:26 says
"<span style="color: #3c4043;">Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow
not, neither. do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly. Father
feedeth them."</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #3c4043; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometimes even with our own food.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #3c4043; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">----------------------</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #3c4043; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Johnny was amazed. He had just met friends on
the beach who were staying in a penthouse. Can I have a look at it? Please, he
asked excitedly.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #3c4043; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The family was lucky to stay in the penthouse
themselves. They only were because they had forgotten to make reservations at
their usual place. They told the boy that he could lucky on but he couldn't
come in. He was amazed just to see how fancy and expensive
everything looked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #3c4043; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is just like God's grace. Except his free
gift is forever. He doesn't give us just a look at Heaven, he gives us
eternal life that can never be taken away.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #3c4043; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And, Johnny could not have gotten to see that
fancy penthouse on his own. His own merits did not allow him to see it. But,
all he had to do was ask. Just like all we have to do is trust Jesus for
salvation. For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God. Not of Works lest any man should boast.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #3c4043; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">----------------------</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I really like Luke. He seems really nice."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Missy smiled politely. She hadn't thought about it before,
but Luke was the first boyfriend of hers that her sister Kiersten, 10 years
younger, had felt happy about.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Missy had been looking at the outside. Sometimes the boy
just looked great. Some boys had acted nice towards her and she thought they
were so sweet, but they hadn't paid any attention to her family. Some boys
attracted her with their nice cars or athletic ability or something. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kiersten knew to look at things like God does. 1 Samuel 16:7
says Man looketh at the outward appearance, but God looketh upon the heart. She
was swayed by the kindness of Luke's heart. And she was right. At Missy's
wedding, Missy shared that Luke was the first boy Kirrsten really liked.
They're happily married with 3 kids after 14 years. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whether it's who you like or something else, remember, God
sees the whole picture, and knows what really matters.</span></p><p>------------- <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"We have to save the little chicks!"</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It seemed hopeless. Farmer Smith's barn was burning down.
And, while some animals made it out, the kids knew there were some cute baby
chicks in there. Were they going to die?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the fire was put out, the family looked around. They
saw the chicks' mother hen was really charred. She was obviously gone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But wait, what was that sound? Miraculously, the chicks had
survived! Their mother had sheltered them under her wings, bearing the brunt of
the fire for them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In John 10:28, Jesus says no man can pluck us out of His
hand. Once you trust Him to save you, He shelters you soul from the fires of
hell just like that hen protected her chicks.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I need an answer now!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Doug had been handing out tracts, little slips of paper that
tell about Jesus and salvation. A man whose boy took one asked him if he had
ever seen Jesus. Doug had no clue what to say.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He knew God would have the answer though. He couldn't rely
on his own wisdom. There were a few good answers when he thought about it
later. But he had no time to think now.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God gave him the answer he needed. He told the man he had
seen God in the good things in life how he had overcome so much despite his
handicaps and so on. The man then took a tract and promised to read it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We must
respect God's perfection and how He knows what is best in every situation. This
doesn't mean being scared of God. It means revering God and how He can give us
the wisdom we need right away when we turn to him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don was puzzled. He was always rather shy. Yet a kid who he
didn't know had just asked him a Bible question.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He gave the answer. He knew it was right because he had read
the Bible and listened in class so well. The boy thanked him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don wondered: “How did you know I would know that since I
have never met you.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Somehow, I just knew you would know, was all the boy would
say.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lily, 7, smiled at her mom's cousin and answered his
question truthfully. "I ask Jesus to forgive me all the time."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Have you ever asked him to save you?" Was her
cousin’s next question</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"No."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her cousin explained that we ask Jesus to forgive us after
we are saved because we will still sin due to our sin nature. However, we must
have a relationship with Him and the only way to do that is to ask Him to save
you from your sin because sin has a penalty.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The wages of sin is death. That is the penalty: Separation
forever from God's perfect love and Heaven.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord. God gave us that gift and all we have to do is receive it by Faith by
calling on Him to save us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lily received Jesus as her Saviour that day when she was
seven. She is certain now that she has a relationship with God and will go to
Heaven someday. Because she has received that free gift.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">------------------ <br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brandon’s eyes grew wide with amazement. “Me?!” the second grader asked.<br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yes, you trusted Jesus to forgive you, you called on Him to
save you from your sins, right?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brandon nodded slowly. “Yeah.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Then this verse shows the Bible was written to you. That
you have this power.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brandon thought about what the teacher had said “To as many
as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to
them which believe on His name.” John 1:12. He was a child of God.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And, more importantly, it showed just how much God cared.
Because as a believer, he realized the Bible was God’s love letter to him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What an amazing thought, he told himself. God called him His
child. He would never forget the love that God had shown Him by doing that.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chris, 15, sighed heavily as he slowly hung up the phone. He
knew this moment would be coming, but it was still so sad.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He remembered so many fun times with his grandpa. Emotions
flooded his brain as he walked outside. He had to tell his parents and siblings
the bad news. His grandpa was dead.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Why did it have to happen when I was the only one inside?”
he muttered. Just ten minutes earlier, his little sister, 7, had been on the
phone so their grandpa could say goodbye to her after telling the others.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He smiled sadly as he found everyone to tell them Grandpa
was home in Heaven now. He’d always thought of physical feats when he heard
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”
However, he saw it was even more about emotionally draining tasks like this. It
was about being able to lead, to deal with any task, not on his own power, but
by trusting in God’s power in him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the Bible says “be strong,” it means a continued
strengthening which comes from outside – it’s a command to let God be your
strength. Chris realized what that meant to let God be the strength he needed
when he couldn’t do it on his own.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">15. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It’s never going to be the same,” Matthew cried.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His older cousin understood. Matthew, who was 12, never
cried; even when younger. Yet, with the death of their beloved grandpa, he
couldn’t stop. Comments about their grandfather serving him ice cream when they
got to Heaven brought a small smile, but that’s all.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I know it won’t be the same here,” his cousin consoled him.
“Jesus knows how you feel. He wept when he lost loved ones, too. But, remember,
this world isn’t all there is. Grandpa had called on Jesus to save him from his
sins, and you have, too, right?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yeah,” Matthew sniffled. “But how does that help me here?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, we’re going to miss him here. That’s normal, and it’s
important to grieve and talk about our feelings and work through them when we
lose someone we love or if anything bad happens.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“But, we can ask God for help with coping when things like
this happen. We know we’ll see Grandpa again. That’s one of the ways the peace
of God passes understanding, like Philippians 4:7 says. The world can’t promise
that apart from Christ. And, we can move forward knowing when we do see him
again, we’ll have forever with him.”</span></p>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<![endif]--></p>QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-63343186104268836852017-04-21T10:38:00.001-07:002017-04-21T10:40:38.218-07:00Daily struggles of inner city ministry, plus Godly affirmation being better than false pride I'll start by saying that we had a small flare-up in our Thursday night activity because of a few different things, including one of our inner city pickups using the n-word, which among other things he had done to provoke and bully kids of all races has led the troublemaker to be removed from the program. Thanks to Bomani Jones of
ESPN radio for some of the race stuff as he's mentioned a few similar
things over the time I've heard him, as I didn't really understand this
either, at least not to a great extent.<br />
<br />
However, this isn't just about race; it's also about an Alpha male attitude that transcends race - while we are <a href="https://answersingenesis.org/racism/one-race/" target="_blank">all one blood</a> (see a longer video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbODW6XO8zY" target="_blank">here</a>, too), the fact there are different cultures has been used by some to try to put others down, and this is wrong. It is made worse by the injustice which exists in our culture - although aspects of this injustice only deal with worldly things; as I taught in our Youth Leaders Training Institute (YLTI) class just before this flareup, society makes you think, for instance, that you're not somebody unless you have the best shoes (yes, one kid mentioned shoes as an idol before this). However, this is where self-esteem is a major problem.<br />
<br />
Godly affirmation, on the other hand, says you are special to God no matter who you are, that it doesn't matter if you have the same shoes or whatever as someone else. Godly affirmation says that you are so special that if you were the only person ever, He still would have come to die for your sins and risen fromt he dead. he took the punishment we each deserve for our sins, and all you have to do is call on Him with a single, sincere prayer of repentance, admitting you fall short of His perfection, believing He died to take your punishment for your sins and rose again, and calling on Him to save you and make you new inside. You can do that right now, in fact.<br />
<br />
When there is extreme poverty, it makes
the idea of being an Alpha male, of trying to prove you're the boss,
more prominent, it seems. This Alpha male idea that they have to be
challenging others and winning to be accepted is not Godly, but rather,
if they let go and let God affirm them as special in His eyes and humble
themselves, then they will be truly successful.<br />
<br />
This
is more difficult, as I say, since the poverty that exists in the
Northeastpart of Canton - and, indeed, in any poverty-stricken situation - makes that task more daunting, and means that spiritual warfare can erupt which we need much prayer to combat. Because people don't have
material wealth they decide, "Oh, I know how I can feel better about
myself, by being the top dog over someone else." This is a part of their
culture that we need to help them see is not Biblical.<br />
<br />
That poverty has also caused problems among classes and cultures. We have had several very good black teens who have been leaders and able to help get kids out to the van and other things, and can help defuse thigns before they escalate.<br />
<br />
Part of this is cultural because of the neighborhood and other things. There are been excellent leaders, for instance, who have taught nonviolence and worked for racial justice without fighting back. Leaving aside the fact that <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2015/10/why-gods-justice-mercy-better-than-mans.html" target="_blank">God's justice is better than any man's justice</a> - it's easy
for middle class blacks, or those who are very heavily into following the Lord (which many of these families aren't) to look at those like Jackie Robinson or Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. and think, "Yeah, nonviolence works, standing tall and
ignoring the taunts allows you to succeed." (I haveheard some say Robinson was so agressive on the field becasue he took his frustration out on the baseball, but the point is, he showed excellent self-control.) It's harder for others, since people in poorer communities haven't tasted the increase that others have.
To them, looking only at their circumstances, it appears like not much has changed since 1917. They think, "What did turning the other
cheek really accomplish for us?"<br />
<br />
Because of this, there is a
tendency taught by their lives in the inner city to think that it's not
worth it to be leaders, to be those who say, "Hey, be orderly and
respectful and all that." Oh, they might *want*
to lead, but often there are certain youth who don't know how to command respect without demanding
it, and there is a clear difference. These young people see so many only looking at circumstances that they're used to just trying to force things.<br />
<br />
This is one reason I've tried in YLTI to teach on the fruit of the Spirit
and how to avoid the lusts of the flesh to show how there is a difference which
should come when we trust in God. Galatians 5:16-26 is a great passage which helps us to avoid the lusts of the flesh like revellings, seditions, etc. by being peaceful, using faith,
longsuffering, etc., and listening to authority. Some of the kids did seem
to be listening, but it still requires baby steps when the environment has surrounded them with other ideas. One might well say that the churched kid of whatever race is still our Judea, whereas the unchurched is our Samaria. Both are vitala nd Jesus wants us to reach them all, but the way we approach them is different. The Gospel was the same, after all, to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) as it was to Paul, but the Lord sure had to go about reaching them differently.<br />
<br />
It's important to reach the parents, too, in spots like this, and help them understand that we need them to work
with us, at least in part, to help their kids see that it's not about not fighting back, it's
about reaching out and showing them that as the skies are higher than
the seas, so are God's ways higher than man's ways and His thoughts
higher than our thoughts.(Isa. 55:8-9) Backing down when being
called names and provoked with looks and such (I presume that also
happens, I know it's possible but don't really get such nonverbal
things) isn't being weak. It is saying, "Your taunts don't
impact me." It is letting God's strength and power be what leads them.
And, this can even be done in worldly ways. You could say that, "By
ignoring your taunts I am actually diminishing you because I am saying
you don't matter." Each of us does matter to God, of course, but
sometimes when you can show that God's ways make sense even in the
world, it will help people to see that we have logic on our side and
that can cause them to look further into what else we have to say.<br />
<br />
We are, after all, wanting to help these young people to grow to
follow the Lord, to not be acting out their frustrations at life -
poverty and all that goes with it - but to accept that they don't have to
have all the things of this world in order to be satisfied. (Just as
the example I used last night about not needing the best Air Jordans to
be someone special to God, because those are things that will all pass
away.)<br />
<br />
They may come from a different background than
we do, but if we have conversations where we listen and see where they
are not just spiritually but also in their mentality, we can help them
(kids *and* parents) to realize it's not our word but God's Word that is
going to help them. To paraphrase Lincoln said of Gettysburg, we should
use this as a new birth and let it be somewhere where we can share with
the families the freedom that God provides and try to understand why
there are these problems so we can help guide everyone to realize the
love that God has for them and how they can overcome this.<br />
<br />
This is likely all stuff some inner city ministries have known for years, but because we have had so many different roles in filling in the gaps, one might say, some of this is stuff we are learning on the fly as we work in this particular neighborhood. So, please continue to pray for us, and by all means, <a href="mailto:thetruthmatters1@gmail.com" target="_blank">e-mail us</a> with your own ideas for helping, knowing that we only have the one night a week and some Saturdays. And, also, <a href="http://gcyouthquake.org/" target="_blank">go to our website</a> and give so we can send some of these kids to a <a href="http://campchof.org/" target="_blank">great church camp</a>. Thanks. QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-23282448109904889412017-04-16T17:50:00.002-07:002017-04-21T08:38:12.380-07:00God did it all - on Good Friday, rthe Resurrection, and how you can helpAs we celebrate the weekend of the Resurrection, it's wonderful to focus on the fact that what we needed done, God did it all.<br />
<br />
I'll be posting more about our need for camp sponsorships in the coming days and weeks with a followup post, but for now, a little note about what I taught in one of our YLTI classes thsi past Thursday and how it relates to the Resurrection. Because it'll help you, the reader, to see how our Thursday activities are growing and the amount of help still needed.<br />
<br />
We couldn't save ourselves, and because of that, we can fully trust in God and not have to rely on our own works. That, in itself, is an important thing. he hs different ways of using us sometimes - we no longer have a radio show but are trying very hard to help a dozen or so young people on our roster to grow spiritually. But, it's really God who is doing it, with our help and yours.<br />
<br />
I
did a teaching on the dry bones of Ezekiel 37 in ourYLTI (Youth Leaders Training Institute) class the other day. I wanted to talk about how this is a passage
that is about Israel but how passages that might not have been about us
at first can still have spiritual application. I think the kids
understood, especially one 15-year-old, Hunter, who had some very good replies
(such as that it was written so the Jewish people would know God would
revive their nation) and comments (like about how he was frustrated
because he kept sinning; he's been saved about 6 months now and is still
learning how to walk in the Lord. Please pray for him and all the poor
kids in our ministry to grow in the Lord and to get to the church camp
we send them to; also for a few unspoken requests.)<br />
<br />
I then
shared how this is like when we are born again of the Spirit, and how
God makes us alive and is the head of all of us, with us as different
members of the body (going to 1 Corinthians) and how we need to work
together for Him, etc.. (Something else important for these young people
to realize.)<br />
<br />
It reminds me of how the very fact of having life
breathed into us, and being quickened by the Lord(Eph.2: 1-10), is so
wonderful. We can trust Him to work in us to make us more like Him, and
to guide us in everything.<br />
<br />
And, it's all because 2000 years ago,
Jesus Christ was willing to give everything up, to take our punishment
for our sins, to take all the sins of humanity upon Himself. And then,
thankfully, he did not stay dead but rose triumphantly from the grave!<br />
<br />
God
asked the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 37, "Can these dry bones live?"
Just as He told the prophet they could when He, God, Himself put life
into them, so too today many struggle witht he problems of life, and ask
if tere is something that can make them alive. And, we can tell them
with certainty that yes, Jesus Christ can make them new, fill the holes
in their heart, and so on when they turn from their sin.<br />
<br />
It is
something we can't do ourselves, any more than those dry bones could be
alive by themselves. But, God has given us eternal life, and while we
struggle with the problems of this world - and I face my own spiritual
battles just like everyone - each believer can go to God whenever they
need and let Him give that grace we need to get through each day.QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-75841234897885925502016-11-22T15:33:00.001-08:002016-12-31T05:26:42.263-08:00Part of Repentance Revival - trust God to use us to heal the racial divide, show all are equalI've written much in my <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">personal blog</a> - and a similar post to this will go there, too - about how we must
trust God to heal the many divides in America, and that repentance must
occur for tthere to be true revival with this happening.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
We are all one race, descendants of the same man and woman.
However, I will speak here of a racial divide as it relates to the
current climate in America (and elsewhere, I don't know how much it exists elsewhere, though). This is one of
the numerous divisions which sinful man's ways have created, since
imperfect man <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-worlds-system-versus-gods-system.html" target="_blank">can't create a perfect world</a> - we must rely on God's
perfect plan.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Christian ministries should address such division,
especially a Ministry like ours where the key is fostering spiritual growth.
That growth should lead to Repentance Revival, as God's people band
together.<br />
<br /></div>
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We are clearly not together when people look down on others
because of race or economic situation or anything else. God tells us to
be of one mind in the Lord(Phil. 4:2-3) (put aside differences except
for doctrines which are <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/04/unite-in-sound-doctrine-as-spiritual.html" target="_blank">essential for salvation</a> and fellowship together
equally <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/04/you-might-wonder-why-begotten-is-called.html" target="_blank">in His Word</a>). God strongly criticizes those who look down on the poor.(James
4, etc.) We are all one in Christ Jesus.(Gal. 3:28-9) We must never puff ourselves up with pride and claim supremacy over others - pride cometh before a fall, and a haughty spirit before destruction.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Man's best is still inherently wicked compared to God's
Perfection. That is because people are selfish; it is a <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/02/because-its-heart-not-political-problem.html" target="_blank">heart problem</a> that can't be fixed completely by laws. As we grow in Christ we
should learn to become less selfish and recognize others as our Brothers and Sisters in Christ</div>
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<br /></div>
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Plenty of people try to do this in their own power and give
of themselves, but when they do so they are at best helping in ways
that are not nearly as good as God's ways, and at worst are doing so
only to show how good they are in front of their fellow man, just like
the Pharisees did.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
This is the problem with quite a few in the Millennial Generation, from what I have read recently, trying to be kind in their
own strength and without God's perfection as a guide. For such people, as
well as for everyone, it's important to realize none of us is perfect - all have sinned and come short of the glory of God(Rom. 3:23) - but there
is a way to be saved from the punishment for our sins.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Trying but failing to always be kind in their own strength is a
good definition of people at their best. At their worst? "The heart is
deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?"
(Jeremiah 17:9) God knows what is in us. Thoughts of superiority
are just man's sinful boasting about being better than someone else in
ways that God doesn’t look at or that are just inventions
of that wicked heart.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
The ways people try to solve such inequality can be
problematic, too, though. I seem to remember it was Tom Seaver, one of
the greatest pitchers ever, who said something along the lines that
every Major Leaguer should spend a week in the minor leagues every 2 or 3
years to appreciate what they have in the majors. Whoever's quote that
was, it means that people should look at others and be thankful for
their status, but not to the point of feeling superior. His idea was not
that everyone should be sent to the minors, but merely that it was
important to have an appreciation for everything that major league
baseball provides - airplane rides in huge stadiums versus bus rides and
attendance in the hundreds sometimes, for instance. Actually sending every big league player to the minors for a couple weeks every 2-3 years would be very cumbersome and impossible to apply fairly between teams.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The point is that trying to help others in
our own imperfect wisdom, won't work because it doesn't change the
heart. Say that idea somehow became a baseball rule. It might give some players
appreciation for what they have, but others would refuse, teams would be upset about losing a star at a crucial time, etc..</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
This doesn't mean that we should stop working, of course.
The work of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s was long overdue in
allowing blacks and whites to share the same drinking fountains,
restaurants, and so on because we are all humans. However, it didn't
change everyone's hearts, and getting the "right leaders" in power won't
either because in the end, this is a problem for God the Holy Spirit to
fix.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We should, as born-again Believers, have a part in it, of
course. We should be at the forefront of Godly change, relying on God's
principles which he lays out in his word, the Bible. We can also take stands when appropriate as individuals.One great symbol is how a Kent States team reached out
during the national anthem recently, going into the stands and <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/kent-state-players-deliver-message-of-unity-during-national-anthem-062758049.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=fb" target="_blank">each player standing</a> beside a person of a different race. That is just part
of the concept of befriending others, listening to them and their
concerns. It can be very sad to imagine that racism makes one fear
getting shot for no reason. Some news stories have sounded more like
they were from 1916 and not 2016. Indeed, as a handicapped person I have some of the same fears black people do about getting mistreated since it would be easy for someone to decide to bully me and not be able to respond. (Of course, visualizing everything as I hear about it doesn't help.)</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
We can easily reach out and listen and share and come to an understanding of how to work together to
still encourage everyone to follow the Lord and trust Him to ultimately
make things better. This world is a wicked place, and it won't be
perfect for any of us until we get to Heaven. However, we can certainly band together and be part of showing who Jesus really is, and the compassion he always has for the oppressed. We want to be Godly
example so they, too, want to know Jesus Christ as Saviour and follow
Him with all their hearts.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
The best and most important thing we can do, once we know Jesus personally, is
pray. And, we should be praying with those of other races so we can all
praise God for the good things He has provided along with trusting Him
to bring about change in this country that is true change because it is
on the inside.<br />
<br />
I mentioned talking with each other, but getting together as different races and holding a prayer meeting would really be great. God inhabits the prayers of His people, and He can work in hearts yet once we turn from our sins and trust Him.<br />
<br />
So comma let's do that, let's get together as 1 people, One race, and pray for an end to racism, for an end to white supremacy, and for people to turn to God to change them on the inside. Because that attitude of Supremacy is really a selfish one that comes out of a lack of contentment. And, because contentment is one mark of a Godly person, when people become more Godly in he will focus on him more then their racist attitudes will end.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Will some focus on worldly things? Sure, we all do that, it
doesn't matter who we are or what our background is. From time to time
we all sink into that habit of wanting what is in the world even though
it will disappear some day. We are to have property and it is helpful to have money and things like that, but we should not be coveting it or mistreating others to get it. The same Commandments which show personal property is supposed to exist - Thou shalt not steal and thou shalt not covet - also tell us not to want what someone else has in a greedy way.<br />
<br />
When we are covetous, we should simply repent of
our own covetousness and just agree that being of a certain race or background should not give someone priority, so we can pray against the false pride of some Then, encourage others to also accept others as equals. The problem
is that so many people have been taking from the poor and from the
minorities in this country in an attitude that is totally against God. There has been lots of
oppression and we need to pray that people will realize that there
should be no difference at all between us no matter what our backgrounds. All are one in Christ Jesus.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
When people see this, then they will realize there's
something different about us and want that same Godly spirit. That is getting our hearts right with God, which is necessary for a repentance revival.</div>
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</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
There are, of course, other problems which we must all repent of. Sure, some cculture have things in them which are unBiblical,
but we should focus on what God's word
says and realize we have done the same thing. People talk of the
violence and degradation of women in rap music, but there are heavy metal and even lighter music lyrics that also showcase mistreatment and objectifying of women
and other satanic things. The horrible vulgarity of some is equally bad among all races. People talk about the way certain people wear their
pants, but they refused to talk about their own immodest ways.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
The key, then, is that we should all be united to work
together to turn from our sins as a nation, to repent and follow the Lord, because it is God's ways that are important
and not our own. Where a culture does not violate God's ways we should
accept it and where it does we need to first look at our own culture.
Jesus says that if a person has a mote in there eye, we can't take it
out unless we remove the beam in our own; then we can see to remove the most in the other person's eye.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
If we fail to recognize our own need to repent and trust
Jesus to save us, of course, it will be all for nothing. What matters is
our eternal destiny, the things of this world do not matter in light of
Eternity. So, why use selfish, foolish pride to appear better than
another culture when in fact that stuff doesn't matter to
God. What matters is what we do for Him that is also according to His principles; if we try to do something unGodly and say it's for Him He will not receive it well, it will be burned up as 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 show..</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
So, we must certainly be accepting them
sitting next to us in our pews or our neighborhoods, just like we need to accept anyone new
who comes in to hear the Gospel and/or grow in Christ. That Gospel is the most important thing, after all. One day we will all together gather around the throne to celebrate, every tribe and tongue and people and nation.<br />
<br />
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ personally to save you from your sin, you are only a single, sincere prayer of repentance away. You simply must: Admit you're a sinner and come short of God's perfect glory with thoughts, words, and actions; Believe Jesus Christ, God in flesh, died to take your punishment for your sins and rose from the dead; and, Call on Him to save you from your sins, Choosing to repent - turn from your sins - and trust the Lord to make you new inside. For if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature; old things are passed away, all things are become new.(2 Cor.5:17) You can go <a href="http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html" target="_blank">here</a> for a more detailed plan of salvation - <a href="http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-spanish.html" target="_blank">here</a> in Spanish - and visit our <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/questfortruth" target="_blank">radio show page</a> for great shows on doctrine, spiritual growth, etc..</div>
</div>
QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-5935835215652118572016-11-11T10:58:00.000-08:002020-03-20T18:50:44.798-07:00Unite as God's people to unite the nationA lot of people, the day after the 2016 election, discussed <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/2016/11/09/pollsters-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-2016-presidential-election/93523012/" target="_blank">why the polls were so wrong</a> in not picking Trump over Clinton. <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-37916228" target="_blank">Some compare</a> President-elect Donald Trump's election to Brexit in Britain, the breaking away from the European Union. There have even been <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-protests-idUSKBN1343CO" target="_blank">protests</a>.<br />
<br />
What all these news sources and protesters have in common is that they look at the world's system and forget that <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-worlds-system-versus-gods-system.html" target="_blank">only God's system is perfect</a>. As <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/02/because-its-heart-not-political-problem.html" target="_blank">also discussed in this blog</a>, the problems of this country, including the divides between people, can't be fixed by the "right leader" or by laws because they all boil down to a heart problem. To solve it, we as Christians must take the lead, united in <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/04/unite-in-sound-doctrine-as-spiritual.html" target="_blank">sound doctrine</a> and the <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/04/you-might-wonder-why-begotten-is-called.html" target="_blank">Word of God</a>. Then, as John F. Kennedy once said, we must ask what we can do for our country.<br />
<br />
What we should do is be known by our love, as Jesus commands(John 13:35). That link that "Word of God" directs to gives a number of areas where uniting is great, and we as a nation need to unite in the right thing - peacefully working together for Godly change, recognizing we are all one in Christ Jesus.(Gal.3:28)<br />
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Greater Canton Youthquake's mission is to share the Gospel and get young people saved, discipled, and serving the Lord. Still, by presenting ideas that can help to unify people of all races, we can show that love and demonstrate that love and compassion. It is one reason our <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/questfortruth" target="_blank">"Quest for Truth" radio program</a> - and Youthquake itself - publish this blog, so we can use social media, from time to time, to cover topics in a more timely manner (since we usually tape weeks in advance) and encourage people in their spiritual walk. And, in this case, to encourage an entire nation, if it's possible.<br />
<br />
It's possible more ideas will be proposed later. In the secular realm, Bill Whalen blogged <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016/11/09/what-president-elect-trump-should-do-now-ten-suggestions.html" target="_blank">very good ideas</a>. Ours, though, have to do with the spiritual realm, and touch upon the more pressing problem, that of the heart, so the divide can be healed. However, they will also help morally and economically, too.<br />
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<b>1. Reach out to minorities - and to everyone.</b> It's been said that the reason we distrust each other is that we don't communicate. It's important for people to get to know each other instead of name-calling. it's also important to realize that those who do call people names might be hurting very badly inside and not know how else to react except to lash out. The Bible says "A soft answer turneth away wrath."(Prov. 15:1) Speaking kindly to those with whom you disagree should be a staple of politics and life in general, and showing them you are trying to understand them is vital.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Offer solutions instead of just complaining and discuss how they can be done.</b> God calls us to be thankful and not complaining; He is all-sufficient for us. "Be content with such things as ye have, forHe hath said I will never leave thee nor forsale thee."(Heb. 13:5)<br />
In fact, here is one such idea, to demontrate how easy it can be. Rebuilding inner city infrastructure - and infrastructure everywhere - is a pressing need. It would be great to get together and help those minorities who are complaining to start businesses that will allow them to do that, thereby creating jobs. This will take the work of someone who has the funds, of course, but it will go a long way toward showing that love, and once the ideas are put together they can be presented to the government.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Respect others as equals. </b>In the body; the arm
isn't more important than the leg, the eye isn't more important than the
ear, etc.. Just as Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 12, we need to see
that here.<br />
Yes, blacks/African-Americans have been
mistreated. Whites must accept them as equals just as - if body parts
could talk - the eye and ear would work together and not try to see each
other as superior. We must repent of the last 400 years of evil, not
just the last 40.<br />
However, since we are all part of the body,
we should do this by joining together in in prayer and fellowship and
stop backbiting and start communicating.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Focus on things above and let the Spirit work.</b> The things of this world won't last; it makes sense, then, to focus on ternal rewards.(Matt. 6:19-21, for instance.) As above, thankfulness is crucial; I(Doug) am living proof that God can use someone with very little and handicapped as well for things that He couldn't use anyone else for. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by God.(Ps.139:14) So, let Him work His master plan. As the chorus says, "Turn your eyes upon jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."<br />
<br />
<b>5. Don't worry about comparing yourself to others; we're all parts of the body.</b> It's common, as people, to want to compare ourselves to others - Peter did that at the end of the Gospel of John, comparing his future with John's. However, Jesus told him what all of us are told - follow Him. He has different plans for each of us, and they involve using the things He gave us for His glory. The richest person in the world really owns nothing; God has eitehr given it to them or allowed them to get it in order to cause them to understand Him more or get them in a position where they are most likely to turn to Him and away fromt he world's wickedness.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Pledge to make and keep peace and help others through their pain. </b>Don't let the haters be part of things; there are some radicals who want to destroy, but God wants us to build each other up and help each other. that can mean cindid talk and listening when someone discusses the pain they've felt, and acknowledging that. It can mean dealing with grief. Most importantly, it means forgiving - but <u>forgiving doesn't mean saying something was okay</u>, it just means that you're willing to look past the horrible past some people have faced.<br />
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<b>7. Know the Lord Jesus personally, since only He can provide that peace that passes understanding. </b>Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. He was buried and rose agin the third day, according to the Scriptures. It's by grace you are saved through faith - it's a free gift. It's not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.(1 Cor. 15:3-4,Eph.2:8-9)<br />
The Bible shows consistently that God Himself came to this world to be the sacrifice for our sins in the person of Jesus Christ, who was God in flesh. The Bible shows many instances where He is declared to be God.<br />
<br />
This great love God has for us is needed because we all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.(Rom.3:23) We are always turning from His perfection to serve our selfish sin in word, deed, even in thought. God created us to have a relationship with Him, but we can't unless we: Admit we're a sinner and can't get to heaven ourselves; Believe Jesus Christ, God in flesh, died to take the punishment for our sins and rose from the dead; and, Call on Him to save and forgive us from that sin and Choose to turn from it and let Him make us new inside.<br />
Each of us must make that choice individually. It is a choice to let Jesus save you and forgive you and make you new. Once He does that, he lives in a believe through the Holy Spirit and works to imporve that person and make them more Christlike. the Fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.) of Galatians 5:22-23 are some good ways to show how He does this.<br />
You can make that decision right now by calling in your heart for Jesus to save you. <a href="http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html" target="_blank">Here</a> is a more detailed explanation. You can even share it in different languages <a href="http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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While we can't make a perfect world because of the sin nature of it, one day we who have been saved by grace will gather around the throne together in His perfect Heaven. People out of every tribe, tongue, kindred, and nation will gather together and celebrate as one. It will be a place where nobody can imagine the wonders that await us, where there is no pain, no suffering, nothing bad can happen.<br />
<br />
I pray that you are trusting Him today. You can always <a href="mailto:thetruthmatters1@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">e-mail us</a> and let us know and we can try to find a good local church for you wherever you are.<br />
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This country, like the world, won't be perfect till Jesus returns to rule and reign, before which will be the 7 worst years of human history. However, we can certainly work together to show Godly love and follow Jesu and Him alone and edify one another while we are hear, showing that Christlike example that we are commanded to in God's Word, truly seeing all people as being created equal. We don't all play the same part or get the same stuff when it comes to worldly things. We do, however, all play a special part in God's perfect plan.<br />
<br />
That can include being part of a great repentance revival we we turn from our sins (including things the church has failed to speak out against, numerous of which are discussed on some of our <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/questfortruth" target="_blank">radio shows</a>) and call on God to heal our land.QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-42415658778055122472016-08-08T07:04:00.002-07:002016-08-24T11:09:09.012-07:00Want to be a Leader? Don't be a Pharisee - they're no fair you seeThis is similar to my personal blog post, but has a weird beginning, you might think, given the title. It will make sense eventually.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://gcyouthquake.org/" target="_blank">Our site</a> shows the Gospel right away, with a more detailed description elsewhere. Our <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/#!questfortruth/c1nkt" target="_blank">radio show page</a> hopefully draws quite a few people. However, one page which needs lots of development is our YLTI page. It is about starting student-led, student-initiated prayer and devotion clubs in public schools - which are allowed as long as other clubs are allowed. However, it is also, like this post, about being a leader in general.<br />
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By being a student who is a leader among peers, or leading us to one, you can help us build that page. That’s because what we need are young people who will step out in faith and change their communities for the better, being Christ-like and helping others to be, too. starts soon, and with that, the chance for young people to be
part of changing their culture by letting God use them<br />
<br />
Not being a Pharisee - the world's system is much like the Pharisees and not as good as <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-worlds-system-versus-gods-system.html" target="_blank">God's perfect system</a> - is just part of it. This has tips
for anyone who is trying to let God use them to bring revival - or even
who is just trying to figure this world out. :-)<br />
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School is very stressful, as I noted in <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/01/fix-your-stress-with-gods-unconditional.html" target="_blank">this post</a>
on my personal blog, where I share that young
people can certainly change the world by trusting the Lord to guide and
help them do it.Young people can certain start prayer and devotion clubs as long as a school has other types of extra-curricular activitie. They just have to be student-led and student-initiated.<br />
<br />
However, we have to avoid being Pharisees. Such a leader needs to be kind(Eph.4:32), let God build the Fruits of the Spirit(Gal.5:22-23) in them, etc..) That means letting God work in your heart to change you on the inside. Jesus taught that the Pharisees weren't perfect because of what was wrong
with their hearts. They were too quick to criticize when, for instance,
Jesus healed people on the Sabbath. Anyone was allowed to do what was
necessary on the Sabbath. They just wanted to
appear righteous by not working, and that meant they didn't even want
God to work. (I suspect, for instance, that someone like Josephus, a
great historian of his time, would have noticed and mentioned it if no
babies were ever born on the Sabbath. But, they were.) The Pharisees'
system went against God's absolute
right and wrong which has existed since the foundation of the world.<br />
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It's
great to know the Lord so He can help you through the rough times and
to help you celebrate in the good and bad times. We all need this
whatever our environment. Our love for God should
cause us to want to help others out of compassion and kindness and all
those good things, too. This is so we can not only help them trust the
Lord to save them and make the world better, but also so we can please
God. However, we shouldn't please God because we have to; He doesn't
force us. We should please Him because we want to, because of what He
has done for us.</div>
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Pharisees
wanted to please people and draw attention to themselves, instead of pleasing God and drawing attention to Him. It can be a daily struggle for
some, because it is tempting to be just like the world in how people
talk, treat others, etc.. The Bible, on the other hand, says "Be not
conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind..."(Rom. 12:2) In other words, let God help you (transforming from
the inside out) be kinder, more loving, more compassionate, and so on.<br />
<br />
.
This can be easy for some, too; some people are naturally more able to
reach out to those who need a friend, ignore cliques, and so on. Others may need more help. Even as a young person, you can help them <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/05/importance-of-gods-people-teaching.html" target="_blank">learn to be more resilient</a> through your friendship, etc., although it's also important to have adult youth leaders who can help at times like that, too.<br />
<br />
So, how does one become a real leader for the Lord in their schools, communities, etc.?<br />
<br />
<b>Youth Leader Training Institute - More Than Just Facts, Because God is Personal</b><br />
<br />
It is vital to know and follow <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/04/unite-in-sound-doctrine-as-spiritual.html" target="_blank">sound doctrine</a> and on the <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/04/you-might-wonder-why-begotten-is-called.html" target="_blank">Preserved Word of God</a>. However, knowing all the facts about these things isn't enough. A robot can do that, but God doesn't want us to be mindless robots. He wants us to love Him because we choose to, and then to show that love to others.<br />
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That love is unconditional. Jesus
loves you no matter who you are, and no matter what
you have done. He showed Godly compassion because He was God in flesh.
He died to take the punishment for our sins and rose from the dead.
Thankfully, each of us only needs to call on Him by faith to be saved
from our sin.</div>
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God did this because <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/03/a-personal-god-who-loves-you-will-guide.html" target="_blank">God is personal</a>. He wants a
relationship with each of us, to give us peace that passes
understanding, perfect wisdom, and so much more. He'll help you be more
loving and caring and compassionate. He wants to help you through all
the problems of life and help you to make this world better, so that
others can see Christ's love as well.</div>
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That's because there is a penalty for sin. That penalty is
separation from God forever in a horrible place that He does not want
you to go. He created it only for the devil and his angels(Matt. 25:41), but people
choose to go there when they fully reject His love and forgiveness.<br />
<br />
We
all need changed on the inside. Too many people try to work their way to Heaven,
but salvation is by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves, it
is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast."(Eph.2:8-9)
Once a person is saved they are then saved unto good works that we can
do God's will in making this world better, showing that Godly
compassion, etc..<br />
<br />
That change on the inside happens when you call on
Jesus by faith to be saved from your sin and made new inside. You need
to invite him into your heart to make you new. Then, He comes to
live in you through the Holy Spirit.<br />
<br />
How? You are only a single, sincere prayer of repentance away from eternal life, life that begins at the moment you call on Jesus by faith. <a href="http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html" target="_blank">Here's a more detailed explanation</a> like that on our site. <br />
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Once you have done that, you have a personal relationship with God and can go to Him anytime for wisdom, guidance, comfort, etc., at any time. He provides a peace that passes understanding, and wants to bear our burdens. He also wants ut to care about others and help them through things, too.</div>
<br />
This means YLTI understands that we need to train our hearts and minds to be willing to care about others and show that concern through being there for others, praying with them, etc.. it's also important, though, to remember that true compassion means not always doing
what the world says(like when the world says to lie or cheat). True
compassion sometimes means standing for what's right and understanding
consequences, and then explaining to others in love that those consequences are there.</div>
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<b>Learning to show compassion</b></div>
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Learning to show and have compassion - not just pretend to -
is one of the keys to being the kind of leader who will bring change. it is the key to encouraging repentance revival. We can't just talk about it or go through the motions.</div>
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There has always been a tendency to focus on the outside
because of human nature. For instance. constant testing, which ignores individual learning styles and
special needs is just one way modern Pharisees act. Hence, understandingthe problems of the Pharisees and how to avoid repeating them will help young people understand the modern world. This shows how relevant the Bible is to everyday living and how we need to embrace god's system instead of being caught up in the world's.<br />
<br />
Another sign of Pharisees is how people feel attraction based on looks and not on the
person inside. That, of course, goes against what the Bible says. There
are <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/02/what-is-love-what-is-true-love-four.html" target="_blank">four different types of love</a>
in Greek, and they become much deeper and more
important as they consider more of the inside and what one can give and
become more lasting.
Only looking at the outside is focusing on what one can get, like when
one says "I love pizza." We don't want to dedicate our lives to helping
pizza, we want to eat it and it tastes good to us. This is why
modern-day Pharisees aren't thinking of trying to help people as much as
they are glorifying themselves. (And, in many things, teachers are
caught in the middle, so please have compassion on them and don't be
upset at them for how the system is. They are often struggling with it
themselves, when "teacher evaluation" should be based on patience,
kindness, understanding, and things like that - things on the inside.)</div>
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In other areas, too, you can probably see how too much
focus on one's self causes so much trouble when we should be thinking of
others. Everyone is special to someone, as <a href="https://www.blogger.com/Permalink%20http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/01/always-special-to-someone-especially-god.html" target="_blank">this discusses</a>. Often, when we focus on others
we end up worrying less about our own problems.</div>
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The
Pharisees only thought of being in the
right clique and others doing everything the way they wanted. When
they cared about others, it was only so they could have everyone look at
them. This isn't just a school problem - although what clique you were
in in school won't matter one bit once you leave - it is a problem with
society, too. Man looketh
on the outward appearance, but like God looketh upon the heart.(1
Samuel 16:7.)</div>
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So, one key to revival is looking on the
heart, so one thing a leader among their peers needs to be is someone who focuses on others first. Jesus criticized the Pharisees even though they claimed to be
doing God's will - prayer for instance <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2015/12/why-prayers-dont-work-without-repentance.html" target="_blank">won't work</a> if there's something between that person and God. However, thankfully, <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-reconciliation-to-god-needed-for.html" target="_blank">reconciliation is just a single, sincere prayer away</a>. Anyway, Jesus reproved them that they should have been focused
on doing what God wanted and caring for others for those other peoples'
sake. Our society needs changed by people turning to
the Lord.<br />
<br />
For people to do that, they need to see a caring Christian community. That starts with each of us listening and caring about others and lovingly guiding them to Jesus, showing how He can help them make the change needed by workign that work himself and them trusting Him and taking those steps of faith needed for Him to do it - like getting rid of images or other thigns that may tempt them to sin, for instance.<br />
<br />
After all, when God's Word says "be strong in the Lord," that is a continual strengthening from outside that can only be done by God Himself. <br />
<br />
It's up to us to be examples of Jesus,
letting our lights sine, so people will believe when we tell them how
God changes us on the inside and works in us.</div>
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<b>Showing Godly compassion, not the false kind</b> </div>
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There also needs to be a brokenness for sin, a need to really want to avoid the problems of this world by following the Lord. We can't be perfect in this world, but we can try, as mentioned above, to not fly off the handle, to talk with others and not berate them, etc..<br />
<br />
The
false compassion that some show is false compassion for the same
reason that not warning someone of a hot stove is false compassion. We
can pretend that stove is not hot, and there is no problem. However,
that does not stop the stove from being hot. It does not prevent us from
getting burned if we touch it.</div>
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In the same way, there is a false compassion which is part of the world's system.</div>
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God's system, <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-worlds-system-versus-gods-system.html" target="_blank">as shown here</a>,
is far better than the world's system. The world's system doesn't see
each persont he way God does, because God sees each individual as
important. However, God's system is also different because it says that
it's important to say that sin is sin.</div>
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We
should love sinners but we have to accept that there are
things that God says our sin such as lying, cheating, bullying, and so
on. Indeed, some of these Pharisees of today are more like the first
part when it comes to bullying, too; they talk about it but they don't
really stop the bullies. (Of course, in many ways, they can't, becasue
it's a heart problem. And, at other times, being kind to them and
teaching them how to be nice is needed because the bully has never known
how. We should <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/05/helping-others-overcome-difficulties.html" target="_blank">help others overcome</a> such difficult lives, and that starts by helping them see they are <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/01/always-special-to-someone-especially-god.html" target="_blank">special to God and to others</a>.)</div>
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We love sinners by <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/01/snatch-them-in-pity-from-sin-and-grave.html" target="_blank">kindly warning them</a> that sin has
consequences. After
all, people need to be saved from their sin and that means they need to
realize they need a savior. And, that Saviour died to save them, and
rose again. Trusting Him to save us, calling on Him to forgive us, is
all that is needed. We can't get to Heaven by our own works, only by
what Jesus did for us.</div>
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Indeed, the fact that we can't work our way to Heaven is a
wonderful thing that unites us all. God does not want us to boast of
how we got there. From the person who did the most throughout their
lives to the person who thought he was good enough and then got saved
right at the end, to the child who was too young to understand and so
never was able to trust in Jesus but who got there because of the cross,
and many others, all are equal. All get to Heaven only because of what
Jesus did, and then trusting in what Jesus did by calling on him by
faith to save them.</div>
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We go around telling people that we are sinners too, not
just that they are, but we serve a greater Saviour. Our Testimony should
include how God has redeemed us and is working in us.</div>
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In so doing, we learn things like how Muslims believe
sonship is about physical relations when it is not, and that therefore
they have a misconception which we can politely help clear up, because
of course it is good to help people have more understanding. Sonship is
the Arabic IBN, which means a perfect likeness, as <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/04/uniting-in-gods-truth-and-all-important.html" target="_blank">this explains</a> in part, because Jesus was God in
flesh. He was not born of Joseph and Mary, He was born of the Holy
Spirit.</div>
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It is
things like this that help to show true compassion. We need to realize
that since other people
matter, we need to be willing to say that sin has consequences and then
turn away from that sin so that other people aren't hurt by those sins. A
person who thinks adultery has no consequences, or should have no
consequences, is having no concern for any person who they are hurting.
And, sometimes we must be the ones to say that sin is wrong and either
do things to prevent such sin (such as protecting people from those who
would lie about certain things to fulfill their own lusts) or enforce
consequences at times.</div>
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After all, in God's perfect Heaven there can be no sin,
because there is no pain, no suffering, no tears, no heartache, nothing
bad can happen. So, He must keep sin out of Heaven.</div>
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Thankfully, He has made a way for us to get to Heaven. We
warn people of the consequences so they can get there too, but also to
make this world a better place.<br />
<br />
<b>Actions Must Speak Louder </b><br />
<br />
However,
we must act, too, not just talk. Living the correct way doesn't help if
we aren't also helping others by being nice, thoughtful, etc.. If we
are to have Revival and change this country, we must
stop being like the Pharisees. We must realize that the inside is what
matters. We must also, however, stand for what is right. As I
have noted before, we must repent for <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2015/11/repenting-not-just-for-what-weve-done.html" target="_blank">not standing against certain evils sooner</a>,
and start to take positive stands agaisnt such thigns as domestic
violence, which is clearly against God's Word, praying that the Lord
will change hearts and stop it.<br />
<br />
We must also be known for <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2015/12/what-we-stand-for-not-just-against.html" target="_blank">what we are for, not just what we are against</a>, and that means the love and forgiveness and sound
doctrine that the Bible shows. After all, many places, <a href="http://www.gospeloutreach.net/bible.html" target="_blank">like this</a>,
show
that the Bibleis truly reliable and trustworthy; we can trust that it is
the Word of God. If there are problems it is becasue the wrong Greek is
used - stick witht he King James from the Antiochan Greek, as other
English ones are from the Alexandrian.<br />
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
It
starts with each of us. We should all endeavor, whether in school or
wherever we are, to care about others the way God does. We
should love others no matter what and help those who need help. We
should be friends to those who seem to lack friends or have trouble
making them. We
should make sure that things that people call Biblical really are, and
that they aren't just being Pharisees.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
However, we should also recognize the absolute truth which
God established and which should guide all of us. That truth of
being honest, kind, gentle, and so many more things. Use the fruits
of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 and seek God's help to build them up more in
you. Focus on those <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-good-thoughts-to-focus-on-for.html" target="_blank">good thoughts</a> of Philippians 4 8. Be ye kind one to
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_385016681" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">4:32</span></span>. And many other things.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Of course, we need God's help to do this. We need Him to
save us if we are not and then to change us on the inside. That means a
continual transformation, continual action from the outside by God who loves
us and wants the best for us, to help us get rid of those things that so easily beset
us.(Heb. 12:1) We struggle with our sin nature. Even those who behave very well all
the time can struggle with pride and such. But by trusting God to work
in us, and praying for Him to do so and to work in others, we can see
Him move in our lives and in our nation.</div>
</div>
</div>
QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-83801193242393160822016-07-19T05:56:00.001-07:002016-07-19T05:58:45.275-07:00An app, the Olympics, and the meaning of life<div dir="ltr">
This post, like the blog on <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2015/08/sharing-gospel-should-be-this-easy.html" target="_blank">the spread of memes - and how spreading the Gospel</a>, with the great love and salvation Jesus gives should be just as
easy - touches on a specific Internet fad, as well as a much more ancient tradition: the Olympics.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Even in the 1500 or so years the Olympics weren't around, people could identify with Paul's use of masteries to describe how we should live the Christian life. It might seem silly to compare Pokemon Go to them - after all, fads are often forgotten by many soon after they appear. How many remember <a href="https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pogs&qpvt=pogs&qpvt=pogs&qpvt=pogs&FORM=IGRE" target="_blank">pogs</a>, for instance?) Still, it makes an apt analogy for today, just as Paul used a few sports as illustrations. After all, here people are
not just picking up on a meme, they are actively looking for something.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<b>Where's Waldo</b></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Games have kept our attention for quite a while. Some of
those playing this new app may be familiar with <a href="http://whereswaldo.com/index.html" target="_blank">Where's Waldo</a> books,
where kids look for a character named Waldo in a huge
crowd. In fact, one could argue that this is a life-sized version of Where's Waldo, where one actually gets out and looks.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Apparently, though I know nothing about it, there are
other creatures to find in this game, but we won't get into that. We
don't know much about Waldo either, and he could easily have a large
family. Seriously, the idea of searching for something is
wonderful. It gets people active, and help them realize they can
accomplish something.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
If we had a where is Jesus app, we would want
to look in the Bible. We would also find Godly attributes in the people
of God and hang around them because they should edify us and we them -
we should bear each other's burdens, love one another, encourage one
another, exhort one another, and so on. All this is because we are the
light of the world and the salt of the earth, God lives in each of us
through the Holy Spirit .</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
But, you're saying, there has to be more to this blog post than just that, right?<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Yes. That above is plenty, of course. It is important, in
this difficult world, to seek what will bring us the peace, comfort,
help, and so much more that we lack. And, most of all, we must seek that
forgiveness and salvation that we all crave, that unconditional love
which God provides.<br />
<br />
However, there is even more that our ever-loving God
has for us.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
"Go" is also vital. Because we are told to go and make
disciples of every nation. So, this will also exhort each of us, myself
included, to go more often.<br />
<br />
Go into all the world<br />
<br />
So, people are going around in so many different places to find these creatures. While it's true they don't have to interact with them in reality - and with some of them it's possible they wouldn't want to - they are still going in search of things.<br />
<br />
There have been stories of people wandering into dangerous parts of zoos, where are real animals could attack them, and walking into poles and other things. In other words, people just being rather silly.<br />
<br />
There is nothing inherently wrong with the silliness, if it is done unto the Lord and something that is pleasing to him. I skip down the street sometimes a little bit when I walk. 1st Corinthians 10:31 does tell us whether you eat or drink or whatsoever you do all for the glory of God.<br />
<br />
However, we are the rewards in heaven because of what we do for Him. Even better than looking for Waldo in a book or some creature on an app is searching for people to tell the wonderful good news of the Gospel to. Because, the only things we can take with us are souls of those who are saved.<br />
<br />
However, Heaven will be filled with things more wonderful than we can even imagine. 1st Corinthians 2:9. This life is so awful for some people, while for others it may be good on the outside they may be hurting on the inside. Still others may be wondering, with all the problems in the world, is it coming to an end soon or will something else awful happen?<br />
<br />
These are people who need to be told of the fabulous stuff that is waiting for us in Heaven. Heaven will not be boring, it will be a fabulous place where, in the words of a 105 year old believer who died in Scotland recently, "Thank the Lord for good friends, I'm going to be here forever and ever!" Those friends that maybe we wish we had, they'll be there. The fun we wish we could have instead of the drudgery of life, it will be there in Heaven. It will be a place of no pain, no suffering.<br />
<br />
There is a horrible alternative, though, which God did not create for humans. He only created hell for the devil and those angels who rebelled. Matthew 25 41. However, people go there when they choose on their own to reject Jesus Christ. They need to be told that he is real and that He has saved them from their sins, and then all they need to do is call on Him by faith to save them and forgive them, believing that He died on the cross for them to take the punishment for their sins and rose from the dead.<br />
<br />
What an incredible Adventure, to go and tell people that their sins are forgiven, if they will only receive it. They don't have to come to church, they can be led to Christ right there on the street, wherever you are.<br />
<br />
This is what we should be doing. This is why there are Ministries like our YouthQuake Ministry, and why we need so many more helpers and so many more funds for our radio. We led 5 kids to Christ at a club meeting recently and could do so much more in inner-city Canton. It is why we have Youth Leader Training Institute, YLTI, so we can include the young people and train them to go into their schools and start prayer and devotion clubs and leave their friends to Christ and help them grow in the Lord.<br />
<br />
So, please, give if you feel led, you can see <a href="http://gcyouthquake.org/" target="_blank">on our website</a> how. We have missionaries and staff who need support so that they don't have to work secular jobs and can concentrate on the ministry. Support our golfathon and other things, so we can have a larger radio show as well. Work in your own Community also, wherever God has placed you.<br />
<br />
But most importantly comma remember that we are called to go ourselves. And that is people can go around with an app finding imaginary things, that life-sized version of Where's Waldo - nay, World sized version - then surely we can go out and share the gospel, even doing so via the Internet like this. Just as Paul exhausted believers 2 work like Olympians who try for a corruptible crown, strive for an uncorruptible one by searching hard for those who need Christ and sharing His love with them.</div>
QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-28573332172710654872016-07-04T05:43:00.000-07:002016-12-29T06:35:17.144-08:00True freedom comes when we trust Jesus to saveThis is written on Independence Day in one country. However, that independence can be
celebrated everywhere as freedom from all the problems the devil throws
our way.<br />
<br />
Without God, we are still in our sins. As mentioned numerous places, such as <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/01/snatch-them-in-pity-from-sin-and-grave.html" target="_blank">here</a>,
Sonship doesn't mean physical relations (the Arabic Walad"), it means
that Jesus is the very essence of God, having every attribute, etc. (the
rabic "ibn"). "In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead
bodily."(Colossians 2:9) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God....and the Word became flesh and
dwelt among us"(John 1:1-,14) "I and My father are one."(John 10:30)
Many other verses also point to the fact that Jesus Christ is God in
flesh, and <span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637">"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."(1 John 5:12)</span><br />
<span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637"><br /></span>
<span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637">That eternal life - life which begins at the moment you trust Jesus Christ to save you, so you can have <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/05/let-god-give-you-life-more-abundantly.html" target="_blank">life more abundantly as the previous post discusses</a> - is only a single, sincere prayer of repentance to Jesus Christ away. As shown right on the front of <a href="http://gcyouthquake.org/" target="_blank">our ministry site</a>,
simply Admit you're a sinner, Believe Jesus Christ died to take the
punishment for your sins and rose from the death, and Call on Him to
save you and forgive you and make you new inside. You can do that right now.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637">However, it is not
just frreedom from sin.</span><br />
<span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637"><br /></span>
<span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637">Some
cultures place a lot of emphasis on the collective. There is a sense of
shame in not being like everyone else. However, that shame vanishes
when we trust Christ.</span><br />
<span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637"><br /></span>
<span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637">Imagine
being the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. He was the first person in his
country, most likely, to receive Christ. Even if he wasn't, there have
been others who were in their countries. (After all, someone had to be
first.) Those firsts represent the potential for God to use that person
to liberate their whole society. Everyone they come in contact with is
someone else who can be saved from the punishment deserved for their
sins, that being eternal separation from God forever in a place called
Hell. Hell was only prepared for the devil and his angels that
rebelled(Mat. 25:41). People go there because they haven't trusted in
God's free gift of salvation. And yet, how shall they hear without
someone to tell them.</span><br />
<span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637"><br /></span>
<span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637">That
is the wonderful thing about being the first in one's family. If a
person is a Muslim, or a Hinfu, or a Buddhist, and nobody else has
believed, then they are together burdened by the shame of not knowing
Jesus. And yet, they only have to come to trust Him to save them, and
then who knows, their faith might lead others to trust in Jesus Christ
to save them fromt heir sins.</span><br />
<span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637"><br /></span>
<span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637">There
is also freedom from fear. Fear of evil spirits, ancestors, and other
things haunt many people. However, these spirits are nothing compared to
God and His wonderful love. We fight a spiritual battle every day, but
we don't have to do it alone. In fact, we have no chance to win alone.
We must rely on Jesus Christ to win that battle. But, the wonderful
thing is, we know that He will. The Bible tells us so.</span><br />
<span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637"><br /></span>
<span class="text 1John-5-12" id="en-KJV-30637">So, when we trust Him to free us from that fear - and 1 Timothy 1:7 promises He hath not </span><span class="verse v7 ng-scope selected" data-usfm="2TI.1.7"><span class="content">given
us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind -
we can be certain that we will only have a healthy respect for God the
way we have a healthy respect for a hot stove. We're not scared of it,
but we also know not to touch it becasue we'll get burned. However, we
will not be scared, because God has freed us from the burden of our sin.</span></span><br />
<span class="verse v7 ng-scope selected" data-usfm="2TI.1.7"><span class="content"><br /></span></span>
<span class="verse v7 ng-scope selected" data-usfm="2TI.1.7"><span class="content">Romans
8:1 promises that "There is now therefore no condemnation to them which
are in Christ Jesus." The stains of our sins have been washed away. He
has removed them as far as the est is from the west, and will remember
them no more.The devil may try to remind us of them, but we can be sure
that God has promised that Jesus Christ has taken all of them upon
Himself.</span></span><br />
<span class="verse v7 ng-scope selected" data-usfm="2TI.1.7"><span class="content"><br /></span></span>
<span class="verse v7 ng-scope selected" data-usfm="2TI.1.7"><span class="content">What
amazing freedom! It's so wonderful to be independent of the devil and
his wiles, and of the string of death. When we are, we cleave to Jesus
Christ not because we have to, but because we want to out of our love
for Him. After all, we can't serve two masters - Jesus says we'll love
one and hate the other or vice versa. There is no possibility of
ignoring both of them.</span></span><br />
<span class="verse v7 ng-scope selected" data-usfm="2TI.1.7"><span class="content"><br /></span></span>
<span class="verse v7 ng-scope selected" data-usfm="2TI.1.7"><span class="content">So,
the question is, are you giving God your most today. Are you
celebrating freedom by honoring Him not because you have to, but because
you want to? That is the only way to do it, because we can't be saved
by works, only by grace along through faith alone in Christ alone.</span></span>QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-62821046140368235102016-05-28T10:08:00.000-07:002016-05-28T14:46:58.132-07:00Let God give you life more abundantly, and make the most of what He givesIn John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2047488333" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">10:10</span></span>, Jesus says He came so those who trust in Him to save them from their sins could have life and life more abundantly.<br />
<br />
This post is meant to encourage people to see a certain aspect of our culture the way God sees it. If He says He'll give more abundant life, then it makes sense to get that, since it'll be more plentiful, fulfilling, etc. than what we could have without Him, right?<br />
<br />
Odd start, I know; it sounds like the middle of one of these posts. It's important, though, because like anything Godly, the devil wants to counterfeit it and try to trick people into following the counterfeit. But don't worry, if you see on my personal blog a similar post it's just me doing one geared toward thankfulness, etc..<br />
<br />
<b>"Make the most of life" - the right and wrong way</b><br />
<br />
That societal aspect is wanting to get the most out of life. We hear slogans about it all the time. Of course, we want quality out of life, not just quantity. John 10:10 and
other verses promise that Jesus will give us both. This is not just eternal life in Heaven. Eternal life begins right here, at the moment you call on Jesus Christ to save
you from your sins, <a href="http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html" target="_blank">as this explains</a>, and make you new inside. As I discussed in <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2015/07/constant-contact-with-no-need-for.html" target="_blank">this ministry blog post</a>, people have constant contact through the Internet but it doesn't provide the unconditional love and depth of relationship that a personal relationship with Jesus provides.<br />
<br />
The idea of living life to its fullest can be used to make sure one gives all for the glory of God and tries not to miss any chance to glorify Him whether eating, drinking, whatever they do.(1 Cor.10:31). In this way, "making the most out of life" means using that life that we have for Him.<br />
<br />
This is an especially understandable motto if you're like me and influenced by several relatives in medical/physical therapy professions who see much suffering and, less often, dying (orthopedists thankfully don't see it as often as nurses). It can certainly be used for good then. It is quite logical to merge "you only live once" - used often online with the hashtag YOLO - into that.<br />
<br />
However, this is one of those mottos the devil has counterfeited to a great extent, taking something innocent on its face and turning it into evil. <br />
<br />
This is where we must be careful of the devil's wiles, because "You only live once" has been usurped by the devil, as <a href="http://www.redeemedroyalty.org/uncategorized/yolo-the-doctrine-of-demons/" target="_blank">explained by Chris Townsend</a>, to get people to think that they, and not God, have ultimate say in every aspect of their lives. Instead of adding 1 Corinthians 10:31 as a reminder to do all you can to spread the Gospel and show His love through your actions, many take the idea of having but one life to mean one may do whatever they want, in blatant disregard for God and His eternal truths, because they are led to believe there are no consequences to sin.<br />
<br />
There are consequences, however, to all sin, including especially the fact that Jesus Christ had to die to take the punishment for our sin.<br />
<br />
So, how do we make sure we're on the right path, and looking at that life we have as we should?<br />
<br />
<b>To "those who will love life," 1 Peter 3:8-11</b><br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr">
Part of <a href="https://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20684442" target="_blank">this show we at "Quest for Truth" did</a> on connecting with the culture, discussed how 1 Peter <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_843286976" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">3:10</span></span>
speaks of those who will love life in a positive way - saying they
should keep their tongue and lips from speaking evil and guile, thus
avoiding lying, gossiping, etc. Indeed, while we didn't have time to exegete it all (one great thing about using this blog), this brings in the previous two verses - on being compassionate, not returning evil for evil, etc - and the next verse, which speaks of doing good and eschewing evil.<br />
<br />
So, for us to truly do this, we need to eschew evil.. We need to
be the opposite of the coarsening society around us, and "be not conformed to this
world" but rather "transformed, by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of
God."(Rom.12:2) <br />
<br />
So, clearly it is proper to love that eternal life believers are given,
if done according to Godly principles - being transformed by the Spirit into someone who values eternal life, not what the world gives. This is especially apparent when we realize 1 Peter aalso warns that one may have to suffer a lot for their faith. Even if someone's lot is not to be martyred - and there are many who are elsewhere in the world - we will
all face adversity. Jesus says "In this world you will have
tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world"(John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_843286977" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">16:33). Even if</span></span> not everyone will be martyred or even horribly persecuted, the devil will fight us, and our own fleshly nature will be a battle, too.<br />
<br />
This is where we see the battle form between looking at life the right way and the wrong way. In persecutions and the storms of life, a follower of Christ - even if not horribly persecuted - will lose opportunities from the world's perspective. However, God will give opportunities which are
better from an eternal perspective, which is the important one. His
opportunities will be ones that earn Eternal Rewards, or which will lead
to things that will earn Eternal Rewards.<br />
<br />
For example, a man I know, and his wife, didn't have peace about accepting a promotion he was offered to what he thought would be the job of his dreams, so he didn't take it. As it turned out weeks later, had he taken that promotion, he wouldn't have been home nearly as fast and his wife may have bled to death at the end of a difficult pregnancy, and the baby might not have survived; even if he had been home the transfer they'd have had would have mean they'd have been an hour away from a good hospital, not a few minutes like they were. God then gave him a better job a few years later. What a great testimony to God's Spirit working and helping us, as well as to what those aforementioned relatives would say about making every moment matter, family being most important (next to God of course, who as we see here provides for that), etc..<br />
<br />
I could go a variety of different directions on this, of course. You can too, I'm sure. That idea of eschewing evil itself is one that isn't practiced much nowadays, as the world becomes worse.And, it's not just because some people are putting jobs, money, and other things ahead of God - at times it's because some people are choosing to follow a life filled with lusts, selfishness, and other sins.<br />
<br />
The evils of the world won't last, though. Neitehr will anything in the world, even the best things; Jesus says Heaven and eath will pass away. Jesus promises us something much better with those Eternal Rewards, because they can't grow old, rust out, etc., and nobody can take from from us. And, where our treasure is, there will our heart be also.(Mat.6:19-21)<br />
<br />
So, a good part of the secret to loving life is building treasures in Heaven. That's because the life that matters isn't here on Earth.<br />
<br />
<b>The Life That Matters Is the Eternal Life God Can Give</b><br />
<br />
The man I mentioned, a follower of Christ, is certainly very grateful that God led him to decline the position and thus probably save his wife and child's lives. However, had he decided on his own to decline it - though such a decision wouldn't have made sense from the world's perspective - he could still say that at least he put his family first, right?<br />
<br />
Sure, that's why we have to remember that the life that truly matters is the eternal life God promises to those who trust Him to save them from their sins. Because, without that, we have to suffer for our own sins, and God doesn't want us to have to do that. We could love what we have till we die physically, and it could be somthing like family or relationships or helping others. However, it is by grace - a free gift - we are saved through faith, and "that not of ourselves, if is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast."(Eph.2:8-9) In other words, a person who always puts their family first, always cares about others, and all those otehr good thigns is still a sinner in need of a Saviour - if they sinned only 3 times a day that's still over 1,000 a year. Without calling on Jesus and receiving Jesus' free gift of salvation that person would also die spiritually. And, god doesn't want that for anyone; people choose it when they reject Him.<br />
<br />
The life Jesus gives that is much more abundant than what we have now. It isn't just the fact God can guide a man to turn down something worldly in order to save his wife and child because He knows the future and we don't. That's just the icing on the cake, the benefit of a personal relationship with God. The main part of that abundant life is that life Jesus Christ gives a person who puts their faith in Jesus Christ to save them from
their sins. Only when one does this does one have eternal life. He who hath the Son hath life,
and he who hath not the Son hath not life.(1 John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_843286978" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">5:12</span></span>) Just living a
Godly life is not enough, one must know Christ personally. Eternal is much more special, much more
abundant.<br />
<br />
Still, part of that life we can love is in how we are living here
on Earth, those things we are doing for the Lord, rather than pleasing ourselves. Instead of the evil motto of "do what thou wilt with no care for the things of God," following Godly principles is the way we love life and make the most of it. <br />
<br />
<b>Making the Most of Life by Glorifying God</b></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
We use our talents, abilities, and opportunities to glorify
Him and to share His love with others. This is something those who do
not have eternal life can't do. They can only glorify themselves, and if
they give glory to God it is not because He is their savior, it is
because they are simply paying lip service or believing in some vague
force and not in who God is, a personal God who must punish sin but has
done so by taking the punishment for our sin, dying on the cross for each of us and rising from the dead.<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr">
So, adding some of these talents and abilities to 1 Corinthians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1357446921" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">10:31</span></span>, one can see that whether you are a public speaker, writer, performer, or anything else, that should be used to glorify God.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
This is how we can have life more abundantly here, not just
in Heaven. It also brings those verses from 1 Peter and the exhortation
to build treasures in Heaven into things.(It's neat how the Bible comes
together like that - four different books written by different people
in different places. The Bible is internally consistent when you look at
the context of everything, because God the Holy Spirit inspired the
writers to write it, He just used each individual person's personality
and style. It's just like a child colors with a crayon, the child is
creating but that crayon is using its individual hue.)</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
So, if, for instance, a performer is singing, acting, or
whatever in some secular role, they can still glorify God by being light
in the darkness. They can choose never to use lyrics that are vulgar or
suggestive, but instead ones that uplift. They can encourage things
like those things we should think on in Philippians 4:8.(Focus on a song's words forward, not how some used to talk of stuff backwards or even the type, things which distract from the real issue. Frank Sinatra's "My Way" may be the most often quoted secular song by pastors - in sermons on false pride - and it doesn't even have a guitar.) They can make
sure the focus is on God and what He can do, not on themselves. They
can, in other words, eschew evil.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Why is that important? Those who try to have everything for
themselves are never satisfied. They can't find fulfillment and so they
keep trying to find it in pleasure, sometimes drugs, and usually in
things that glorify themselves. However, if they are never satisfied,
they are truly getting the most out of life, are they? They know
something is missing, but not what.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
This is the way the devil feeds them. It's a lie that says
that they can please themselves with no consequences and that will be sufficient. They might
trick themselves into thinking they will be happy if it's always all
about them and what they can get. However, they wind up not being happy and that sin has consequences, all the way to a devil's Hell if one doesn't trust Jesus Christ by faith by calling on Him to forgive them for their sins and make them new inside.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
So, to love life, focus on the right kind - make sure you have made that choice to accept Christ's free gift of salvation by calling on Him by faith to save you. Then, live for Him, so you can have Him work in you and give you that fulfillment.</div>
</div>
QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-20093429989426407492016-05-03T05:17:00.002-07:002017-04-16T18:02:52.447-07:00Importance of God's people teaching others resilience<div dir="ltr">
Odd title, I know. What is resilience, why is it needed, and why must the body of Christ work harder to build it in those outside the church?</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Don't worry, this won't be twenty pages, despite the
resemblance to the first paragraph of a term paper. Parts of this post will be
on another blog I do, though, which I mention in case parts seems
familiar.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<b>Why is resilience important?</b></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
An object's resilience is its elasticity. In people, it's
the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. However, it is
important to do this in a constructive way. People should realize God
loves them just as He loves everyone, for God is love, and if they know
Him personally He will always be there for them. They should also
recognize other people matter because God loves them, too.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Building it is what James 1:2-5, 1 Peter 1:6-9, and other passages teach. In functional homes where people follow the Lord, that's pretty
easy, though with some easier than others. Everyone has different levels because we're all built differently -
not everyone has the resilience to survive a foreign mission field (though we are all called to be missionaries where we are), for
instance, and some who can handle one field couldn't handle another.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
And
yet, people often don't realize how much they can do unless they step
out In faith. That's part of why it's vital to follow God's plan for our lives. He knows us better than we do ourselves. If David had never
stepped out and killed the lion and bear attacking the sheep, he never
would have developed the courage and faith to slay Goliath. And yet,
some people wouldn't have been able to even kill a lion or bear. It's not a bad
thing if a person can't, they are just different parts of the body of
Christ, just as the nose is important but you wouldn't use it to lift
things. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
(To type if need be, yes - that is not it's normal use, but
the notion is part of resilience. Little kids who try may just seem
silly, but God is using such fun to help build resilience, becasue they learn how to improvise, that just because they might lack something doesn't mean God can't use them.)</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
"Okay," you may say, "people need resilience,
and the Bible shows how to have it." But, I didn't write all that just to remind some people of a
word they may not have used since high school, did I?</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
No. There is a severe lack of resilience in some areas, and we must work extra hard to build it in people from there if
we are to fulfill God's calling to reach and minister to others.<br />
<br />
<b>We must be resource for those who lack it</b><br />
<br />
Not everyone has well-functioning families where everyone is Christlike, where all behave in a Godly way, or at least try to show Christlike traits. To some people you may be the only example of Jesus Christ they will ever see.<br />
<br />
Therefore, it's vital to start slowly and help them to realize that God loves them by showing that love, compassion, positive attention, etc. - after all, some people have no clue how to be gentle, for instance, unless someone shares it with them.<br />
<br />
Our ministry saw a kid who we hope had been saved - and part of our ministry - for several years who finally start going to church late last year. (Update - he's had more problems, please pray for him and that he has heart knowledge and not just head knowledge of salvation.) He had been saved, and he's had great enthusiasm, but his home life - with people who also lacked resilience - has meant that he needed to be around people who were going to model Christlike behavior, giving him positive attention, encouragement, etc. that he needed. Merely sitting in a church service wasn't going to help him. (The fact we didn't have a ministry van for 2.5 years also hurt.) And, while a Bible study with our founder and his wife is helping one adult in the family, even that is a very slow process because of years of turmoil.<br />
<br />
He wasn't as bad off as some people, of course. Some people think that they have no
hope. The lack of respect for human life is evident in places like New
Orleans, for example. It is not a political problem, because rules can't
solve the problem of peoples' attitudes. <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/02/because-its-heart-not-political-problem.html" target="_blank">It is a heart problem</a>. Albert Einstein, speaking in the late 1940s, considered the
massive destructive power of the atomic bomb, for instance, and said,
"I know not what weapons we will fight World War 3 with, but World War 4
will be fought with sticks and stones."<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
In other words, mankind would bounce back - resilience -
but even the most brutal weapons - designed to wipe out entire civilizations and take the tech level back to the Stone Age - would not
teach people to avoid warfare.<br />
<br />
So, clearly, there is a need for Godly resilience, the kind that lets people draw closer to God - like in that individual Bible study - instead of always reacting in the flesh.<br />
<br />
<b>God offers hope that the world doesn't</b><br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-worlds-system-versus-gods-system.html" target="_blank">I mentioned earlier that God's system</a> is the right way - it respects people more than peoples' systems, since mankind's is imperfect. Many will
point to the war quote and say that we have always had people that don't
care about life, that increase the destructiveness of things. While that
is true, the increasing number of people who feel there is no hope is
sad and alarming.<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
This feeling stems from a focus only on this life. When one
doesn't feel that one has any purpose, it becomes easier for them to
decide that nothing matters. That is when they will decide to simply react and use their instincts more and more instead of using faith - and, as those verses mentioned earlier show, faith, patience, and so on are things that need to be built over time. It is rare - though it does happen - when a person has an incredible amount of faith and courage right away.<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
This world tears us down and tries to make us think there is no hope. However, the opposite is true. Resilience doesn't have to mean just reacting. It should be relying more and more on God to help one overcome difficulties.<br />
<br />
<b>Build Godly resilience in others</b><br />
<br />
Each person matters; each
person is important. God cares about each of us more than we can
imagine. Each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made.(Ps.139:14)<br />
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Of course, simply being told that is not always good
enough. A person needs a reason to keep going. Hopefully, this will help
give some ideas as to how to encourage people to do that.<br />
<br />
First, get to know people, earn their trust (which in itself can be very hard at times), and be that kind, caring person they need. Be willing to conduct individual Bible studies with someone, or with a few people. <a href="http://worldmissionsevangelism.com/discovery-bible-studies/" target="_blank">Discovery Bible studies</a>, for instance, help to stimulate conversation and bring the person closer to the Lord, and while it isn't quite the one-on-one mentoring mentioned above, it is good for helping to foster community. Although, it should be noted that it can be harder in the cities because of a lack of community at times; this is one reason why that friendship needs to be built up over time sometimes. People there are often lonelier.<br />
<br />
One of our shows interviewing someone in such a situation is <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/#!questfortruth/c1nkt" target="_blank">#114 here</a>, too. (Edit: Part 2, as show #117, is now up, too.)<br />
<br />
of course, that sense of community is needed everywhere, as I discussed here in the <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2015/07/constant-contact-with-no-need-for.html" target="_blank">need for constant contact</a> people seem to have, a need that can be fulfilled with a relationship with Christ.<br />
<br />
That relationship with Jesus Christ is the key, of course. We can't solve all of a person's problems, but God can, even if all He can do is give the person peace and stability so they can be more resilient in the difficult place they are in life. <a href="http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps.html" target="_blank">Here is a great page</a> explaining further how we are all sinners who fall short of the glory of God. And, that He came in flesh, Jesus Christ is God in flesh and died to take the punishment we each deserved for our sins., and then He rose from the dead. And, all one must do is call on Jesus Christ by faith to save them and forgive them, turning from their sins and letting Him make them new inside. We won't be perfect here on Earth, but He will work in us bit by bit each day. See show #91 on sanctification and others at our website's <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/#!questfortruth/c1nkt" target="_blank">radio page</a>. Other shows will also help.<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr">
As a parachurch ministry, our original purpose was to
come alongside churches and help with things like Bible quizzing,
evangelistic rallies, and so on, while directing youth toward Gospel
preaching churches. Nowadays, that has changed a little, but that is
because we are starting over in some respects with the new minivan.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Greater Canton Youthquake can still be great in the body of
Christ by helping our inner-city youth to have that resilience that
they need. However, to do that we need help. No, don't worry, I'm not asking for donations with this post :-) (Though <a href="http://gcyouthquake.org/" target="_blank">our site</a> does <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/#!donate/c1dat" target="_blank">show how</a>.) We need people like you to
pray and - if you are in the area - perhaps even serve.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Even if you're not in our area, you can still do great
things in your area to promote that resilience. In fact, contact us and
we will help you learn how to set up a Youthquake club of your own, as
long as you abide by our <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/#!about-us/cjg9" target="_blank">statement of faith</a>.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Wherever you serve the Lord, though, remember that some people are really hurting. We need to come alongside others and help and guide them so they see the love of God and realize how much He cares. We need to be that caring parent that they never had. We need to have those Bible studies with them. We need to do all those little things with them sometimes so they can do as Ephesians 6:11-18 teaches about the full armor of God.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
The Bible tells us that, in the end, we should be able to put it on so that we - having done all - can stand. It's just that some can't stand on their own. Oh, sure, we all need to rely on God to stand, we can't do it ourselves. But, when a person doesn't know how, we need to come alongside them and help them to know how to stand with God.</div>
</div>
QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-20554673326909079982016-04-19T10:20:00.002-07:002016-06-29T05:34:59.244-07:00Uniting in God's Word - and the word "begotten"<div dir="ltr">
You might wonder why "begotten" is called all-important, but first, a question. Are people united to
commit crime united in a good work? Of course not.<br />
<br />
Speaking
of unity, this is also going up on my own personal blog site which I
link below, for those wondering why they see this twice. :-) <br />
<br />
<b>Examples of when uniting wonderful </b><br />
<br />
Jesus
often asks questions to help listeners think about the answers to their
own questions. While it is not the focus of this post, the parable of
the Good Samaritan is a
great example - we often ask, "Who is my neighbor?" Muslims are one
answer to that - we need to share with them how to have a personal
relationship with a loving, gracious God who gave Himself for them, so
He can save them from their sins and make them new inside. <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/01/snatch-them-in-pity-from-sin-and-grave.html" target="_blank">This post shares good tips</a> and resources that are vital to "snatch them in pity from sin and the grave" as the hymn - and much more sensible title - goes.<br />
<br />
Of
course, there is a wonderful way to show how to unite for positive
things. The Jews and Samaritans couldn't stand each other in those days.
I don't know if it inspired him, but Daryl Davis has <a href="http://daryldavis.com/" target="_blank">made a life</a>
out of befriending people who don't like him. However, we do need to
be careful to be united in a Godly work, such as peacemaking.<br />
<br />
I've said many times in this blog that God's Word proves we are <a href="https://answersingenesis.org/racism/one-race/" target="_blank">all one race</a>, the human race - something <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/there-no-such-thing-race-283123" target="_blank">acknowledged</a>
in secular media, too. However, there are times when we can't pretend
there are no differences. this is why that word - "begotten" - will come
up, because it doesn't just mean "only." it means of the same essence,
the same substance.<br />
<br />
<b>Clearing up misconceptions </b></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
This
is a misconception that Muslims have about Christians. Let me start by
pointing out a few things from the post I linked. Some people think
Muslims and Christians worship the same god, but we don't, and "Sonship
is one big reason. Muslims say Allah had no son because
they only think of physical relationships when they think of a son. They
don't realize that Sonship In the Biblical sense is the Arabic "ibn" -
this means a perfect likeness, having every attribute of the original.<br />
<br />
This Arabic word, "ibn," shows that Jesus is a perfect likeness, He is God in flesh(John 1:14,
etc.) because in Him(Jesus) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead
bodily.(Col. 2:9) There is also <a href="http://biblicalmissiology.org/2011/06/14/how-to-explain-the-trinity-to-muslims/" target="_blank">a way</a> or two to explain the Godhead which will help. <a href="http://myocn.net/explaining-trinity-to-muslims/" target="_blank">Here is a site</a>
that might help with a few misconceptions. Also, simply explaining "I
am a father, a son, and a brother - one man, three attributes is a
start. The point is that we can agree that God is one god, and go fromt
here to show how He manifests Himself.(As that first one does with
talking about how God manifested Himself to Moses, etc..) As <a href="http://www.answering-islam.org/Who/jesus_monogenes.html" target="_blank">this site</a> on answering Islam shows, unique is even a better
translation than "only," since monogenes has no direct translation into
English, but "only" is surely incorrect. Only begotten is even better,
though, than unique, because Begotten means having all the attributes in a way unique doesn't.<br />
<br />
So,
clearly there are times when we have a truth to stand on - what
"Sonship" means - that needs to be explained to eliminate
misunderstanding. It wouldn't do to pretend that difference doesn't
exist, because bringing it to light improves understanding of what the
Bible says.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Philippians
4:2-3 - where Paul tells two ladies, Euodice
and Synteche, to be of one mind "in the Lord." However, that phrase,
"in the Lord," means to put
aside petty differences and follow Christ. Their argument might have
been heated - Paul asks others to help them, those who were perhaps able
to help to mediate the dispute by helping them talk things out. But,
they were not
disagreeing about fundamentals of the faith.<br />
<br />
In other
words, just like explaining Sonship above increases understanding by
pointing out what truth is, Paul, under the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit, clearly insists elsewhere that we must be unified
in sound
Doctrine and not allow false Doctrine to enter our churches. Because,
sound doctrine increases understanding.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/04/unite-in-sound-doctrine-as-spiritual.html" target="_blank">This post</a>
from a ministry blog I do goes into more detail after a while about the
sound doctrine we need to hold fast to because the points are connected
with God being a personal, loving God who took the punishment for our
sins when He died on the cross and rose again. It also has more links to
our radio shows - which can be found <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/#%21questfortruth/c1nkt" target="_blank">here</a> - though <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2015/12/what-we-stand-for-not-just-against.html" target="_blank">this post</a>
in the blog you're reading has different things regarding supporting
what we believe and support, not just what we are against. So, both are
good to read.<br />
<br />
However, I'm going to come at one in
particular from an unusual angle, because it will help to end confusion
in a number of areas.<br />
<br />
<b>So, what's with the word "begotten"?</b><br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr">
So,
you might be thinking, "Okay, so the point about "begotten" is that it
points to Christ's Deity." That's a major part of it, yes. The meaning
is so much deeper than something simple like only.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Begotten shows that all attributes of God were passed on.
Jesus had "all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."Col.2:9 We are adopted
as children, as Romans 8, John 1;12, and others show. However, we don't
get every single attribute of God, we don't become all-powerful for
example. We will never have that kind of attribute. There are a few
which we don't have on earth because of our sin nature, but in Heaven we
shall become sinless, have perfect love, etc.. However the Lord will
never share all His attributes Jesus Christ only has all of them because he is God in flesh.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
And yet, in His love God does give us the power to become the sons of God if we believe on His name(John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_673666382" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">1:12</span></span>) - that is, trust Him and call on Him by faith to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Begotten, then, shows the difference between a believer and
the Lord, yet also shows the Deity of Christ and allows us to, "Behold
what manner of love the Father hath given ucto us," that we, too, can be
called the children of God.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
This incredible love is something people in other cultures
often don't understand or even have access to - people all over the
world seek freedom from sin, from guilt, from shame, and from fear.
These things leave them in bondage to the world's system, one that tries
to work one's way to Heaven.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
"Okay," you might say, "the Deity of Christ, God's love for
us, and the freedom we have in Him are wonderful to unite behind. They
are all present in that word Begotten the way they are not in the word
only. But, is that the only problem with versions that don't use
begotten?</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
No, and that's the big problem.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<b>Stick with the Antiochan Greek</b></div>
<div dir="ltr">
When you use "Begotten" you're using a word translated from Greek. Gotquestions has a good explanation <a href="http://www.gotquestions.org/only-begotten-son.html" target="_blank">here</a>.
The Bible was originally written in Hebrew(Old Testament), Greek(New
Testament) and a little bit of Aramaic that is not important for this
discussion.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
the
original Greek manuscripts, from Antioch, were written first, with
Greek from Alexandria used a century later. That Greek from Alexandria
made changes that confused thigns and caused problems with doctrine. the
King James Version is the only one straight from the Antiochan texts. <a href="http://christianbiblestudyblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/kjv-vs-other-versions-of-bible.html" target="_blank">Here is a great post from someone else about it</a>.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
To
sum up what the above link says, other versions - which take from
Alexandrian texts - have many problems like this. We as Christians
aren't perfect, as I noted in another post. We are all still growing
closer to Christ and needing Him to battle our flesh nature.
Salvation is an instant event,(Rom.10:9-10,13; Acts 16:31; etc.) but <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20536694" target="_blank">as this show reveals</a>. (This is why one must beware of modern Bible versions that use the Alexandrian text, modern texts do things like changing <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A2&version=KJV" target="_blank">1 Peter 2:2</a>
to make it sound like you grow in your salvation when the King James,
from the original Antiochan texts, shows clearly growth is through the
Word of God and is only in one's sanctification.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Another good link that shows what some other big differences are is <a href="http://av1611.com/kjbp/charts.html" target="_blank">here</a>.
Our Youthquake site even had a book noted which founder/director Sal
Varsalone wrote exposing a lot of problems - see "No Counterfeit
Bibles" <a href="http://gcyouthquake.org/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
One
of those esy to notice is in Luke 2:33 and Luke 2:44, where the King
James says "Joseph and Jesus' mother."Mary was, biologically, Jesus'
parent, but Joseph was not. to say "Jesus' father and mother" is also an
attack on Jesus' Deity. While it's true that Philip says "the son of
Joseph," he is merely making a human mistake because of his excitement
at finding the Messiah. He wasn't taking time to think that Messiah had
to be God in flesh. Those verses in luke, though, are part of something
the Holy Spirit is revealing to us as Scripture. Luke was inspired to
write - in his very meticulous style - "Joseph and Jesus' mother" becase
that's what God wanted people to understand, that Jesus was not related
biologically to Joseph, and that He was born of a virgin.<br />
<br />
You can hear shows about the Deity of Christ, the Virgin Birth, and other vital doctrines in our shows <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/#%21questfortruth/c1nkt" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
The Bible is totally reliable, though, when you look at the original texts, as <a href="http://www.gospeloutreach.net/bible.html" target="_blank">this site</a>
shows. And, one of the most important parts of that is that Jesus
Christ, God in flesh, died to take the punishment for each of our sins
and rise from the dead. He was the perfect sacrifice that was necessary
to pay the entire price for our sins. And, each one of us must simply
trust Him by faith, calling on Him to save and forgive them from their
sins. <a href="http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html" target="_blank">Here</a> is a more detailed explanation of God's simple plan of salvation.</div>
QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-65477190870760614682016-04-07T08:34:00.003-07:002016-06-20T07:20:29.980-07:00Unite in sound doctrine as spiritual warfare increasing - be united in sound doctrine, "Choose this day whom you will serve"Much of this will also be on my personal blog on prayer, too, soon, in case anyone sees repeats. Anyway...<br />
<br />
God provides a choice all through the Bible. Joshua's command to "choose this day whom ye will serve" - followed by his promise that, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"(Josh.24:15) - is the most famous of such verses. But, it exists throughout the Bible. Adam and Eve had to choose to trust the Lord in a sinless world or bring sin into the world, for instance. Elijah, in 1 Kings 18, had a famous debate with the servants of the false god Baal in which he challenged the people to choose whom they would serve.<br />
<br />
Such a time is coming now to America.<br />
<br />
<b>Spiritual Warfare Getting Worse </b><br />
<br />
I, Doug, posted in a personal blog about the need to <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2015/12/praying-devil-not-counterfeit-things_18.html" target="_blank">pray that the devil not counterfeit anything</a> in Los Angeles. There is a real danger of false doctrine there. Now, we not only need to trust the Lord to get us through that - and stay away from idols ourselves - but also we must pray for God's protection. it was announced that. As Pastor JD Farag noted in his <a href="https://youtu.be/IG1PO6MZv-o" target="_blank">weekly prophecy update</a>, a <a href="http://www.christiantoday.com/article/demonic.arches.rising.in.new.york.and.london.on.april.19.welcome.signs.for.the.antichrist/83429.htm" target="_blank">replica of a temple to Baal</a> is being placed in New York City and London - something that is a very huge deal.<br />
<br />
(EDIT: The <a href="https://youtu.be/CEmXc5sVG2g" target="_blank">following week's update</a> shared a change in plans which was announced with no explanation, but clearly it was true at one point. We don't know for sure but we do know prayer works!) <br />
<br />
Now, first, let me put on my reporter cap and say I'm trusting Pastor Farag with his vetting of these stories. He seems to be someone who isn't prone to sensationalism, though he gets a little excited at times over things in the Middle East because of his concern for his homeland and the Jewish people.(An Arab, he was born in and has family in the Middle East.) So, like a reporter who has heard something from a seemingly reliable source and checked a few sites himself, I'm letting you know what I've heard.<br />
<br />
However, whether or not it was true, America still has huge problems, and it is vital that we choose this day whom we will serve, just as the people did in Elijah's time. Even without the evil arch coming to New York, America is
still filled with idolatry. It is not just idols made with hands that
can't see or hear or anything, like the Bible talks about. Our idols -
some of which are discussed in <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20204699" target="_blank">this show</a> - are all those things we value
ahead of God.<br />
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<br />
<b>Beware of False Unity </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Sadly, given the way this country has gone, it would not
surprise me if the story was correct, however. Sometimes, unity has been pushed at the expense of the absolute truth of God's Word. Unity can be bad, obviously, just as when people unite to commit a crime.<br />
<br />
There is so much acceptance
of such problems that many churches are inundated with people who don't
mind the worship of idols. That is why our series on the danger of Masonry in the church was so important. It can be heard in <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20503821" target="_blank">this</a> and <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20503836" target="_blank">this</a>
show where a former Mason.discusses his background and why he left, and then in <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20556871" target="_blank">this</a> and <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20556931" target="_blank">this</a> show
on Masonry in the church. The crux of the series is that churches need
to avoid any leaders or any influence from Masonry because Masons do not
believe in salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ
alone as the only way to Heaven. Salvation must be by faith and not by
works, as numerous shows of ours <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20285991" target="_blank">like this</a> have said. (<a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/#!questfortruth/c1nkt" target="_blank">You can see our full list of shows here</a>. I'll list and link some specific ones below.)</div>
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So, America stands at a crossroads. We have been refusing
to take a stand against true evil, while being so caught up in little
things that we don't pay attention to what is important - that being
sound Doctrine. When Paul, in Philippians 4:2-3, tells the ladies to be
of one mind in the Lord, he is talking about those little things and not
about Doctrine.<br />
<br />
<b>Sound Doctrine Where We Must Unite</b></div>
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I will quote from one of the posts in that <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">personal call to prayer blog</a> I mentioned a few
other times, a blog which shares about how we are all one race, we must repent of 400 years of evil, not just 40, and so on. I will do so to share what things we must be unified in comma but that
post - found here - is important in its own right for emphasizing that
we should be known for what we are for, not just what we are against.<br />
<br />
The Deity of Christ as explained here (<a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/20057618" target="_blank">1</a>, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/20066844" target="_blank">2</a>) and Christ's Resurrection as discussed here (<a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/20051619" target="_blank">1</a>, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/20051637" target="_blank">2</a>) are just a couple of those things we must be united on.<br />
<br />
In being light to a dark world, we must shine our lights so
that God may be glorified, through how we care for others, help them
through things, bear their burdens, and so on as Jesus commands: "Let
your light so shine before men that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."(Matt. 5:16) Not so people
can see what we are against, but what we are for. God wants us to be
edifying - building others up - and the world needs positive things.<br />
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We're
not perfect - Christians are all still growing closer to Christ.
Salvation is an instant event,(Rom.10:9-10,13; Acts 16:31; etc.) but <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20536694" target="_blank">sanctification is a process</a>. (This is why one must beware of modern Bible versions that use the Alexandrian text, modern texts do things like changing <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A2&version=KJV" target="_blank">1 Peter 2:2</a>
to make it sound like you grow in your salvation when the King James,
from the original Antiochan texts, show clearly growth is through he
Word of God and is only in one's sanctification. <a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Sanctification.php4" target="_blank">This page</a> gives a great description of sanctification and shows it's different from salvation.)<br />
<br />
We are human, and thus still sinners saved by grace. If a saved person doesn't show any <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20411155" target="_blank">fruits</a>
of the Spirit,
they might not be saved, but they also might simply struggle for a
variety of reasons; including only slowly grow because of things from
their background that stunt them, too. While we <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20390264" target="_blank">each must participate</a>
in resisting temptation, ultimately we must humbly accept God's
guidance in doing so, since we can't do it on our own. God is the one
who <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/20126477" target="_blank">keeps us saved</a>.(John 10:28-30,Romans 8:36-3,Jude 24,etc.) So, salvation security is one we must be unified in.<br />
<br />
Also,
anyone can lie and say they are Christian just like I could lie
and say I am the king of Belgium, and yet whatever I do has nothing to
with what the real king Belgium is like. Jesus says we'll be known by
our fruits, we should be known by our love, etc..So,one should look at
God's Word for the truth.</div>
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One thing we know from His Word is that God is gracious, loving, and personal. He desires a
relationship with each of us. He manifests Himself in three ways, but
this is just like me saying I am legally blind, male, and of medium
build. Three attributes, one person Jesus is God in flesh, as shown <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/20057618" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/20066844" target="_blank">here</a>,
among other places. The Holy Spirit is also God. That's why the Word is
so important, and why the term "begotten" in John 3:16 is so
meaningful. It means a perfect likeness, having all the attributes;
Jesus as the Son of God is like the Arabic Ibn, not Walad, because it
does not imply physical relations. Jesus is Son of God and also God in
flesh; He just manifested Himself as a person because he had to become
man to die to take the punishment for our sins. Yet because he was also
God, He was sinless and He could rise from the dead, His resurrection
shows we are free from the penalty of sin once we trust Him and call on
Him to save us.<br />
<br />
God's grace is <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20520092" target="_blank">full and free</a>.
We can't do anything to earn or deserve it.Just as we can't keep
ourselves saved, we can't do anything to earn our way to Heaven, because
it is "by grace through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast."(Eph.2:8-9) This
is why true, Biblical Christianity(as opposed to the traditions some
churches have) is all inclusive. God's gift is <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20520092" target="_blank">free and full for everyone, no matter what</a>
- good people by the world's standards and people who have messed up,
because if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are
passed away, behold, all things are become new."(2 Cor.5:17)<br />
<br />
That previous link on Paul's understanding of grace is one of our favorite shows. These (<a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20593525" target="_blank">1</a>, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20599150" target="_blank">2</a>) on Ephesians 2:1-10 are also great to see how to be unified in God's perfect salvation, who we were and who we've become in Christ. However, we can't overcome evil on our own strength, we need to trust Christ and pray for Him to do so. <br />
<br />
That
person, like the Apostle Paul, who trusts in Christ has the Spirit in
them and the Holy Spirit will constantly work in them to turn them
toward the things of God and away from sin. They must fight that
temptation, but the Lord will be there to continually
help,guide,comfort,etc. He will give wisdom whenever a person asks. And,
that person will eventually go to Heaven where there can be no sin -
it'll be impossible for them to sin in heaven because Jesus will change
them and they won't have the flesh nature anymore.<br />
<br />
The Holy Spirit, however, will not create confusion such as gibberish, barking, vomit, etc. - as mentioned in the link above about the devil not counterfeiting things, tongues are known human languages and any such miracles, even in Acts, were not for everyone and only were used to further the Gospel, as discussed <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20530990" target="_blank">in this show</a>.<br />
<br />
Christians are to be <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20427537" target="_blank">ambassadors</a>
for Christ. We see more and more signs that the world is spinning out
of control, and we must show who He is to a world searching for answers.
our home is Heaven, but we are here to save sinners from a lost and
dying world. We should participate in making things better, but
ultimately, we must realize this isn't our final home. I don't know
if you've ever thought about how our closest allies felt about Watergate
- <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yHsgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sWcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1093,2199417&hl=en" target="_blank">this article</a>
provides a glimpse into British thought. Ambassadors of friendly
nations tend to be reserved when it comes to internal problems, but a
nation powerful enough to help will certainly offer to help whenever
there is a natural disaster. Just like we must help others when the
disasters caused by man's sin hurt them.<br />
<br />
(Speaking of which, the<a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20312836" target="_blank"> first of this series</a> (why there is suffering) on Apologetics does a great job of discussing why bad things happen. Also, you will enjoy shows <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20318826" target="_blank">2</a>, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20330760" target="_blank">3</a>, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20336481" target="_blank">4</a>, and <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20342753" target="_blank">5</a>.<br />
<br />
God
will never leave or forsake a believer.(Heb.13:5) he will discipline -
just like He disciplined His people Israel when they kept wandering from
Him, including following false gods and doing horrible things like
sacrificing children to the false god Molech. God will again deal with
Israel as His chosen nation one day, and almost all Bible scholars
believe that 1948, when Israel became a nation again, was the starting
point to where God would eventually do this during the Tribulation.<br />
<br />
Here are five shows on the Millennium, and before that the End Times, showing God still loves Israel - <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20365951," target="_blank">1</a>, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20371665" target="_blank">2</a>, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20378397" target="_blank">3</a>, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20384093" target="_blank">4</a>, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20395397" target="_blank">5</a>. Things will get worse in the Age of Laodicea, but God can still revive us, but we must turn from our sins. The above on idolatry if one of the ones we've done on brokenness for sin, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/20128743" target="_blank">this on adultery</a> is another that shows thigns we must turn away from and forsake.<br />
<br />
There are others, of course, <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/#%21questfortruth/c1nkt" target="_blank">at this page</a>,
including a summary of each show. Speaking of man's ways versus God,
for instance, here are 4 shows on how Catholicism strays from Biblical
salvation and other Bible doctrines. <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20449627" target="_blank">1</a>, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20449642" target="_blank">2</a>, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20460395" target="_blank">3</a>, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20470832" target="_blank">4</a>.
The truth is told in love in every show, as with others where false
doctrines are exposed, with the intent to share Christ's love and
forgiveness as it is shown in the Bible. These have been linked here as
excellent shows where doctrines are discussed if you, the reader, wish
to listen.<br />
<br />
In fact, in addition to <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20342753" target="_blank">the end of the Apologetics series</a> where we discuss Eastern thought and how it goes against the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith and not works, we also share the doctrinal errors in love of <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20342759" target="_blank">Mormonism</a> and <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20354406" target="_blank">Jehovah's Witnesses</a>, and what the Bible says about what God has e4stablished as His infallible truth.<br />
<br />
So, why do some Christians focus so much on
attacking? Part of it is human nature, and the general attack culture we
have, whereas Jesus says to love one's enemies, and the Bible says a
soft answer turneth away wrath. Part of it is that social media
increases the temptation to just lash out rather than construct a
well-reasonsed discuss and explain one's points and listen to
counterpoints. Part of it is that we don't trust God to be the one to
change people who are engaging in certain sins. However, we can't change
others, we must rely on the Lord to work in their hearts.<br />
<br />
So,
I'm sorry if some have acted too judgmental. Just remember that God's
Word is the key, not what people say, and in it we are all called to be
saved and then to go out and tell others about that wonderful saving
grace. And, as clumsy as I am in doing it, hopefully I have reached
someone.<br />
<br />
<b>Choose Whom You Will Serve</b><br />
<br />
Therefore, consider what God provides - His system is one of love, compassion, goodness, and so many other great things. Remember that the fruits of the Spirit(<a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20411155" target="_blank">Gal.5:22-23</a>) are of the Holy Spirit - these are the things God gives to each believer. He does this because he loves us and making us more like Him through love, joy, peace, gentleness, and so on is something that will benefit us and allow us to benefit others, too.<br />
<br />
The alternative is selfishness and a constant searching for things that will never satisfy us because we always need more. Not only that, but the things of this world will one day pass away, grow old, and wear out. This entire world will pass away, and all that anyone will have when they die is their soul and any eternal rewards they earn; rewards which will only come to us when we know Jesus Christ as Saviour and serve Him. And, each of us is only a single, sincere prayer of repentance away.<br />
<br />
If you don't know Him, <a href="http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html" target="_blank">you can learn more here</a>. there's even a simpler explanation <a href="http://gcyouthquake.org/" target="_blank">on our front page</a> with a link to God's Simple Plan of Salvation on another of our site's pages.<br />
<br />
God has a way of satisfying us that is perfect. He will always be there for you. Even with my handicaps i know that he loves me and has been a constant guide, comforter, helper, friend, and much more in the 25+ years I've known Him. he will never leave me or forsake me.<br />
<br />
So, choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.</div>
QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-14531784663955127482016-03-25T06:54:00.000-07:002017-04-16T18:00:46.471-07:00The world's system versus God's system<div dir="ltr">
</div>
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As we near Resurrection <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1948288826" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Sunday</span></span>,
it's good to look at the world's system versus God's system - which
values the individual in a unique way. What is the difference and how
does this battle fit in with our part in repentance revival?</div>
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Parts of this might be in my personal blog sometime in the future, as well as this ministry one, in case you see similarities.</div>
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Don't worry, this won't get as complex as a college philosophy course. Simply put, the world's system ignores God and deems imperfect people able to create perfection on their own. God, however,
states that imperfect people require a perfect Saviour to save them from
their sin. However, once saved, they may choose to be part of His
perfect plan. And, He places high value on us, loving us before any of
us ever knew him.</div>
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<br /></div>
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These definitions help in understanding a few things.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>1. Our sin nature causes the world's problems.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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People like to think they are either perfect or can become perfect. However, "By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin, so that death passed unto all men, for that all have sinned.(Romans <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1948288827" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">5:12</span></span>)</div>
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<br /></div>
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The system people create will never be perfect because of our sin nature. We can try to legislate it out and there will always be people doing evil no matter how much we try to stop them. We can try to try to talk people out of it and some people will insist on doing evil no matter how much we reason with them. (And God did create a perfect reasoning and logic, butGod doesn't choose based on things people value like strength and looks and other things. As 1 Cor.1:27 says, "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and
God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things
which are mighty;"<span class="p"></span></div>
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<span class="p"><br /></span> </div>
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<span class="p">Our problem isn't just that we're imperfect, it's that this imperfection goes against a perfect, holy God who can't allow any sin into His perfect heaven.</span></div>
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<span class="p"><br /></span> </div>
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<span class="p">We all have an idea of what justice is, and we hope it comes to this world. Many political leaders try to ensure justice is done, and some do a very good job, while others don't. There is always so much arguing over which are doing which, but the point is, only God can produce perfect justice because only He knows every detail of every heart and how they match up against His standard of perfection.</span></div>
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<span class="p"><br /></span> </div>
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<span class="p">That standard - "Be ye perfect, even as My Father in Heaven is perfect"(Mat.5:48) - means nobody can escape punishment for their sins, unless they are forgiven.</span></div>
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<span class="p"><br /></span> </div>
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<span class="p">Forgiveness is something else we like to do, but often we like it only when it pleases us as people. I explain <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/03/forgiveness-for-selves-others-and.html" target="_blank">here</a> what forgiveness is, but put simply it's letting go and no longer punishing the person. Sometimes people are more apt to forgive if the person is useful to society, or of the same class, or something else, but perfect forgiveness means something different. It means cancelling all one's sin debt.</span></div>
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<span class="p"><br /></span> </div>
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<span class="p">That seems like it'd be impossible to combine the two - how can justice be meted out if everything is forgiven. However, God made a way. </span> </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>2. Absolute, perfect justice met absolute, perfect forgiveness at the cross.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Ravi Zacharias has said that there are four things all people have a concept of, even if it is not an accurate one - love, evil, justice, and forgiveness. In Romans 1 and 2, we see that even without the Mosaic Law, people consciences and attitudes cause them to be a law in and of themselves, and that people don't always follow their own standards. Even if they did, though, they wouldn't measure up to what God did.</div>
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<br /></div>
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God's love is perfect. It is unconditional, <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2016/02/what-is-love-what-is-true-love-four.html" target="_blank">as discussed here</a>. He defines perfect love because it is not based on any attribute that a person has. God simply loves because he loves. This was evident at the cross.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Perfect evil was also present. A hatred of all things good, the trial and execution of a Man, jesus Christ, everyone knew was innocent, one who had never done anything wrong. Even Pontius Pilate said he found no fault in Him. Yet, god allowed the evil to come upon His Son - called that because Jesus Christ is <a href="http://www.biblebelievers.com/jmelton/deity.html" target="_blank">God in flesh</a> - two of our earliest shows (<a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/20057618" target="_blank">1</a>, <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/20066844" target="_blank">2</a>) discuss Christ's deity, with others later as well, such as <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20354406" target="_blank">this</a> showing how doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses go against what the Bible says.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Perfect justice was meted out in that all of the world's sin was placed on Jesus Christ - He was made to be sin for us, even though He Himself knew no sin.(2 Cor.5:21) he bore our sins in His own body.(1 pet.2:24) Many other verses can be used to show this, but the important thing is, along with that perfect justice - every single sin every committed being punished - we see perfect forgiveness, becasue every one of our sins is forgiven if we simply trust Jesus Christ to save us.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Here is <a href="http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps.html" target="_blank">God's simple plan of salvation</a> - you can also see it on our website, where even the <a href="http://gcyouthquake.org/" target="_blank">front page</a> has a simple ABC's of salvation - Admit you're a sinner, Believe Jesus Christ, God in flesh, died to take the punishment for your sins and rose from the dead, and Choose to Call on Jesus by faith to forgive you. You are only a single, sincere prayer of repentance away from eternal life - life that begins the moment you trust in Jesus to save you. You can call on him to save you right now, in fact.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Our <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/#!questfortruth/c1nkt" target="_blank">radio show page</a> features many good shows on the simple fact that we must trust Jesus Christ by faith to forgive us, and everything else is world, God made it so that it is "by grace are ye saved </div>
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through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast."(Eph.2:8-9) it is only after we are saved we can truly do works for the Lord, when we are in Christ Jesus.(Eph.2:10)</div>
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<b>3. God gives us a Done system, not a Do system.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, with people always trying to come up with their own ways to make things better, we are trying to do things. That was the rich young ruler's mistake when coming to Jesus in Luke 18 - he asked what he could do rather than admitting to God that he couldn't do it on his own and needed His help. Countless other people accepted that, we even see a prayer in the Bible, "Help thou my unbelief"(Mark 9:24), a prayer answered "yes" to because God rewards those who humbly come to Him for help.<br />
<br />
The Bible says we must have faith like a little child because they trust completely. They know they have to rely on others for things. That, of course, is why I've emphasized so much elsewhere things like the need to be a <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/02/on-role-models-and-why-encouragers-are.html" target="_blank">good role model</a>.<br />
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Because we don't have to do anything to earn God's favor - only trust Him - we are free to do as
we should without fear of failure if we fall short. A person who follows
Christ should not purposely sin, but we have that sn nature that we
will fall into sometimes in small ways, and if we're not careful in big ways. We
recognize we are just sinners saved by grace. We can't do anything to
please God ourselves. God loves us simply because he is love. We love
him because He first loved us.(1 John 4:8,19)</div>
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Though we don't have to do anything to please God, we
should still work to please Him - not because we have to but because we
want to. It is our reasonable service, as Romans 12:1 says in part.
Think of what all Christ suffered to save us from our sin and the penalty for it, eternal punishment in a place only meant for the devil and his angels(Matt.25:41). We should want to
follow Him and do all He says out of our love for Him out of gratitude. He doesn't send anyone there - people go there when they reject His forgiveness and salvation..<br />
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<b>4. God's System respects people more</b></div>
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I mentioned that God's system respects the individual in a unique way. It really repsects others more than the world's competing, person-centered systems.<br />
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Of course, God's word gives us many great things such
as the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5 22-23 and some great
things to focus on in <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-good-thoughts-to-focus-on-for.html" target="_blank">Philippians 4:8</a>. The Bible also tells us to look
on the heart of a person, not the outward appearance, as 1 Samuel16:7
and Psalm 139 show; we are each fearfully and wonderfully made.</div>
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Those things - fruits like meekness(power under control), longsuffering(patience), temprance(self control), and so on aren't in abundance int he world's system, because people try to make all those things fit only their own desires instead of realizing that others matter. Those things of Philippians 4:8 - truth, loveliness, etc. - aren't even accepted at times, as some people scorn truth, virtue, purity, etc. - often so they can have their own selfish way. Yes, there are people that are like Pharisees and try too hard - but when you think of it, legalism is just another of the ways people try to control things with their own system instead of relying on God. After all, Jesus saved His toughest criticism for the Pharisees.<br />
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Why? because they didn't consider the individual the way God does. He understands what each person has gone through and wants to lovingly help them out of that pain, to heal them like the woman at the well in John 4 who tried to hide in physical relationships(she'd had 5 husbands and was with yet another man) till she found the unconditional love of Jesus that could heal whatever problem she'd had.<br />
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God considers each of us, though. he knows we each miss the mark of perfection. However, he provided a way for each of us to get to His perfect Heaven - where nobody has seen, heard, or even imagined the wonders He had prepared for us.(1 Cor. 2:9) He has a mansion for each of us(John 14:1), he has a perfect Heaven where there will be no suffering or pain or any bad stuff(Rev.21:3-4), and so on. We know all these things and yet it will be even more wonderful than anything we can imagine. Just the snippets are wonderful.<br />
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And, His system also provides for each of us a wonderful life here on Earth - He came that we might have life and life more abundantly.(John 10:10) He wants to heal each of us from the pain we've felt, the heartache we've been through, and use us on His team to help others sense His love and receive His forgiveness and salvation.</div>
QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-56714404854950937172016-02-25T15:57:00.000-08:002016-06-12T11:07:18.124-07:00Because it's a heart, not a political problem - getting involved for revival Something like this may eventually go in my personal prayer call blog,but it's similar to other things I've posted there, plus god's laying something else on my heart for it. So, this is here.<br />
<br />
The recent death of <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2016/02/21/Antonin-Scalia-s-funeral-will-reflect-a-life-of-faith/stories/201602210177" target="_blank">Justice Scalia</a> proved several things. First, the 24/7 news cycle has become so thirsty for news that some people don't take time to honor the life of a man <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-obama-announces-intent-nominate-replacement-justice-scalia/story?id=36922890" target="_blank">before discussing his replacement</a>. Second, this election is vital, meaning we should be active. And, third, and most important, only God can truly solve our problems - meaning we must be on our knees figuratively speaking consistently. Repentance revival is possible, but we need God's help now. Our activity won't help alone because at its heart this is not a political problem facing our country.<br />
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The problem America faces is a heart problem. This makes it
spiritual and not physical - of course, I don't mean that America has a
physical heart condition.</div>
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Even though it can't be fixed by actual physical medicine, there is a solution, though. You can be part of it, in fact.</div>
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It may seem much harder, if not impossible, to solve suvh a
heart problem in others. However, it isn't as bad as it sounds. After I
expand upon how we know it's a heart problem, I'll provide the
solution.</div>
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<b>How do we know it's a heart problem?</b></div>
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It is easy to identify a heart problem by what the Bible says about such times, andby the things that aren't working.</div>
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People of all political parties, of every political
persuasion, have ideas. To some extent, all have been tried, just not in
the most extreme way. At times it feels like we are just repeating the
same things over and over.</div>
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If there was a human solution, we would see improvement.
However, the example of political correctness is a perfect way to show
this is a heart problem. The proper words for things continue to change,
as people try to eliminate insulting comments and behavior. And yet,
such things continue.</div>
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However, if hearts changed, people would not mistreat
others no matter what word was used. There would be no hurtful comments,
so there would not be a need to create such societal rules.</div>
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I could cite many other examples. For instance, poverty
still exists long after the pledge to end it. And, if all guns
disappeared, people would make them and use knives and swords in the
meantime. Or, if everyone had equal things, some would still take
others' stuff out of a sense of entitlement.</div>
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Imperfect man cannot create a perfect system. It would be
like someone who does not know the first thing about piloting an
airplane trying to teach someone how to fly a major commercial jumbo jet
without the computers, and with just the instruments. Even if this
person knew something about flight, or even knew something about letting
the computer run things, they couldn't teach about all of the
instruments and everything that was needed unless they actually knew how
to do it.</div>
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This means that when laws have been written enforcing
really strict things like Prohibition, they haven't worked either
because it was still imperfect people trying to change the outside and
not change in the heart.</div>
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So, there is clearly a heart problem which no candidate will solve, no matter what party they are in.</div>
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However, there is a solution.</div>
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<b>How do we solve it?</b></div>
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2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new."<br />
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We must repent, turning from our evil ways. However, we can't bring revival on our own because the heart of man is exceedingly wicked. We can only impact the outward appearance. And, that's not good enough for God.<br />
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In other words, just having all moral laws won't bring this nation back to God if we don' also trust Him to change our hearts. it would be just like Prohibition days.<br />
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In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God promises "If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and I will answer their prayer, and I will heal their land."<br />
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Notice what order these are in. first is humbling oneself in prayer. Second is seeking His face. Only then comes turning from wicked ways.<br />
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What are we praying for? For God's forgiveness and also His healing for our country, His changing of hearts. Our turning from our wicked ways is a sign to Him of our commitment to live by the principles of His Word - honesty, faithfulness, unconditional love, and so on. Accepting all as equal before the Cross and abandoning our racial animosity. Things like that.<br />
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Some will say this promise is only to Israel, but remember we have been grafted in, adopted by God into His family whereby we cry "Abba, Father." that "Abba" is a term of total trust and endearment, like a small child saying "Daddy."<br />
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But, even if that verse was only for Israel, it doesn't matter. God has another set of verses where He promises to heal even the heathen nations.<br />
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They are in Jeremiah 18:5-10. God promises to bless the heathen nation that turns from its evil ways.<br />
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Now, by making that commitment to follow Him, this is where we get involved. This is where we say, "Lord, we will follow the candidate You lay on our hearts.<br />
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But, before that, we must seek God to change not only our hearts, but those of others. Repentance begins in with the Church, but we also need God to move int he unsaved, too, so many people will come to know Him.<br />
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Since not many churches preach the Gospel anymore, that could mean lots of people going to the Internet with sites like Godlife, or a variety of places like Child Evangelism Fellowship. it could even mean that if you trust Him to, the Lord will lead you to people who are ready to be saved if you will just share with them the <a href="http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html" target="_blank">clear, simple, plan of salvation</a>. They just need to see you are genuine and really are seeking to live for the Lord yourself. You don't have to be perfect, but we do need to be striving - as Paul said, pressing toward the mark of that high calling.(Phil.3:14)<br />
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So, in other words, turn our hearts toward the Lord and seek His forgiveness, seek Him to heal our nation and change hearts to turn back toward him, and then commit ourselves to Godly principles as a way of showing that we truly do want this nation to have His blessings.<br />
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Then He will hear from Heaven, answer our prayers, and heal our land.QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-14511087445512339882016-02-11T08:45:00.001-08:002016-03-24T07:41:39.311-07:00What is love? What is true love? Four types of love and the most special<div dir="ltr">
There are four kinds of love - well, at least in the Greek. And they say French is romantic! :-)</div>
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The first type of love in the Greek language is the word <b>
eros</b>. This word is more appropriately called lust because it only deals
with the outside.</div>
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We say this not just about people but about things. We say I
love pizza but we don't have anything more than and attraction based on
our favorite foods. Some pizza, if enough yucky stuff is put on it,
might not be very appealing. It could still taste good though. Others
might look really good, but tastes really bad if someone doesn't make it
right. This just shows what the Bible says. Man looketh upon the
outward appearance, but God looketh upon the heart.</div>
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When we say we love pizza, it doesn't cause too many
problems. But when we use that eros love to describe how we feel about
another person, it can often leads to disaster. Even if it doesn't,
broken hearts still take time to mend. And, God doesn't want that for
us.</div>
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God wants us to have a wonderful, close relationships that
lasts forever, because He loves us. So while there are people who joke
that they would marry chocolate, it's not really something when was
marry. And yeah, when they say that, I found it's a good way to lead
into explaining about not following youthful lusts. I often joke that
blend you look at your crush, ask your self if you would still love that
person when you were both in your nineties, wrinkles up like prunes,
with no hair or teeth, and probably other physical problems. If not, you
should not be with that person.</div>
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Another way to put it is, be so lost in your love for God that your mate needs to seek God with all their heart to find you.</div>
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The next type of love is <b>phileo</b>. This is the root of
Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. BFF, which stands for best
friends forever, is a good way to describe this kind of love. The Bible
refers to it as a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, the way
that Jonathan was with David.</div>
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This type of love is very deep, but it is not as deep as
family love, let alone God's love. Yours truly recalls growing up with
grandparents who were best friends as well as a married couple. That is
the way a couple should be. That is why the comments above about making
sure you are best friends with the person who will be your future mate
are so important. The love a couple must be more than just about outward
things.</div>
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The next kind of love is <b>storge</b>. That is what families
should be. Obviously, a husband and wife are not related until they are
married. Unless you were a Hapsburg Royal in the early modern era, but
we won't get into that. The point is that this is another reason a
couple should be such close friends before considering marriage, so they
can easily build that storge relationship.</div>
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Families should love each other unconditionally. God created us to be loving, caring people who help each other and help young people grow and learn in a safe environment of unconditional love.However, by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so that deth passed unto all men, for that all have sinned.(Rom.5:12) People choose to turn against God sometimes, and that hurts people. Thankfully, God provides help through others. Quite a few people have been known to be an "emotional family" for others, or siblings known to be the emotional parent for a younger sibling, or something similar.</div>
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Storge love means family members should always be there for each other and be willing to give anything for each other. One example would be how an uncle, when one of his kids was in the hospital, took time to stay with him rather than take advantage of a special golf outing with Arnold Palmer he'd had the chance to go on.</div>
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Those with phileo love give for each other do give for each other, but even that love is not as deep as the giving a family should do. That married couple's love should grow each year, so the phileo and eros work together to create a deeper storge love each day - but only storge allows one to truly love unconditionally, to truly stay together "for richer or poorer, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, till death do you part." Only that storge love allows a couple to care for a severely handicapped child his or her whole life. And so on.</div>
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There is, however, a love even deeper than that.</div>
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It is called <b>agape </b>love.(Pronounced "a-gah'-pay)</div>
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Agape is the kind of love God has for us. While that family love grows over time, God's love is there for us even when we don't know Him. First Corinthians 13, called "the great love chapter of the Bible," is filled with wonderful things about love. It truly does bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things. And, while that's what family love should be, God's love is special because he loved us like that before we even knew Him. In fact, while we were His biggest enemies.</div>
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God gave us freedom to choose so we wouldn't be mindless robots who just did thigns automatically. He wanted us to choose whether to follow good or evil. So, man chose evil and sin came into the world because people chose to disobey God? They chose to turn against Him and do mean, hurtful thigns to each other, to themselves, and to Him.</div>
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We do that, too. Yet the Bible says, "We love Him because He first loved us."(1 John 4:19) It was "while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."(Romans 5:8) God Himself loved us so much that though we rejected Him, He still came to this world in flesh, Jesus Christ. he was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, yet suffered and died to take the punishment for our sins, His blood was shed to atone for what we ourselves had done. And, he rose from the dead the third day! He is alive and always making intercession for us.</div>
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it is by faith in Him and Him alone - calling on Him to save you from your sins - that any of us enter His perfect heaven, where there is no pain, no suffering, no tears, no sin can be there. Nobody has seen, heard, or even imagined the wonders that await us. And, you can simply call on Him right now to forgive you and saved you from your sins, trusting that he took the punishment for your sins. <a href="http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html" target="_blank">Here is a good summary</a>. </div>
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But, God not only will save you and get you to Heaven, Jesus came that we might have life and life more abundantly.(John 10:10) Eternal life with Him begins the moment you believe in Him and call on Him, trusting Him to save you. He will be a constant guide, comforter, helper, friend, and so much more.</div>
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That is true love. He will never leave you or forsake you. You can e-mail our show with questions - I know this might be read anywhere in the world so if you want we can even try to help you find a good church. But, most importantly, a relationship with Jesus is forever. He lives in each believer through the Holy Spirit. And, any holes in your heart that have come from past problems, you can be sure He will fill with His unconditional love.</div>
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Because God's agape love is true love, the best love there is. It is the definition of real love.</div>
QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-91112756193895678362016-02-06T11:52:00.001-08:002016-02-06T11:54:14.646-08:00Answered prayer, God's plans, rebuilding programs, and more prayers, pleaseain))<div dir="ltr">
Thank you for your prayers. God provided us a minivan for a
great price with which we can transport at least a handful of kids to
different activities.</div>
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It's great to see God at work. We will continue the radio
show, because this is a great way to encourage others to serve the Lord. And, who knows, perhaps some people are being saved who listen to it.</div>
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Now, I'd like to share some comments with a little bit of what we
plan to do now that we have a minivan. Because, we need leaders. Young
people are going to listen to the Lord more willingly if wthey have the opportunity to see other youth who are already actively involved. Peer pressure is often seen as negative - and, in the Bible is certainly is, such as the crowd turning against the twit spies with faith - Joshua and Caleb - and believing the twn without faith, and of course the crowd which was egged on by the Pharisees to demand Jesus' crucifixion. However, it also has a good side, that being whe4n a strong leader emerges to bring people back to God.<br />
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We are clearly in a rebuilding phase after 2.5 years without a van. These youth need to see quality youth who are on fire for the Lord. One in particular especially thrived in Youthquake even though several different things prevented him from regularly attending a good Gospel-presaching church till recently. however, while he might have been able to lead a prayer and devotion club with a few more years of Youthquake and getting into that church's youth grou sooner, without those intervening 2.5 years of club he really has struggled.<br />
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Hope is not lost for him or the others we find, though. that one young teenage boy still has the eagerness and enthusiasm that made him a great prospect, to use a baseball analogy. He just has trouble hitting the curveball.(Those being the fiery darts of the wicked that the devil throws our way.) or, perhaps he's the pitching prospect who lights up the radar gun but couldn't control that breaking pitch, either way then missing a year with injury and rehab. Whichever analogy you wish to use, he's still got the enthusiasm to let the Lord overcome through him.<br />
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But, he really needs prayers! So, please, pray for him.<br />
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We are rebuilding, but we still have great prospects. of course, the main reason is because God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we may ask or think.(Eph. 3:20) However, also, others will be coming to our first club meeting on Feb. 13, in addition to him and whatever friends he brings. one who plans to come has a great testimony and was featured on <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20405858" target="_blank">this show</a>. She is graduating but has someone in mind from her youth group who may be able to start a prayer and devotion club in her school.<br />
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Others could eventually come, but the key is, with only 5 kids able to ride in the back, we can't do the big rallies we used to for a while, although eventually as we get Yyouthquake prayer and devotion clubs in the schools we can again. Instead, the minivan can be like a mini-YLTI - <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20211329" target="_blank">Youth Leader Training Institute</a> - helper, and our club meetings can become like YLTI training. If a kid brings 1-2 unsaved friends, or invites them and they come some other way, then it would just become more evangelistic that day.<br />
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We want young people to be ready to lead their friends and classmates to Christ. We want them to be ready to take the ball and run with it, to be able to identify when the Lord is leading.<br />
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Of course, that means listening to the Holy Spirit, which means a right relationship with god. And, that's where it comes back to the youth who are good examples, who are able to triumph over all the problems in life, wherever those battles may come from. In an open letter on our site to our young people when the van finally bit the dust 2.5 years ago, I noted that our young people had to step up and be the club, because they were the life of the club, they were the reason for the club,and it was always they who would be needed to grow the club and reach other youth with the Gospel. Now that we are starting to rebuild, it may feel to some like we're almost starting from scratch, but god knows the future, and He has given us a vision to reached the many unreached youth of our area. And, God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we may ask or think.<br />
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What is said of our missionaries overseas is equally true here. Of course, God is the real provider, but of the things we can provide to help, while it is ministry funds that get us there, it is your prayers that keep us there. Speaking of funds, we'd welcome any donations, <a href="http://gcyouthquake.org/" target="_blank">as our site shows</a>, we're raising funds to get underprivileged kids to a <a href="http://campchof.org/" target="_blank">great church camp</a> this summer, among other thigns. However, most importantly, we need your prayers. That boy I mentioned needs them, our club meeting and basketball on Feb. 15 need prayers(especially with weather concerns), and so much else does, too.<br />
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this has been more of an open prayer letter, but I hope it's been an encouragement to see that no matter how small, the Lord can bless any endeavor to serve Him.</div>
QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-4888260941865047812016-01-23T12:56:00.001-08:002016-01-23T12:56:23.760-08:00Youth and others, let God bear your burdens<br />
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">This post is for everyone but especially
for young people. I will mention a few specific stresses youth face. It'll help
as we pray for repentance and revival in America or wherever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">Much of this was originally in a personal blog encoruaging repentance and revival in the U<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">.S.<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">; </span></span>so, if you see this again or saw it before <span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">that's</span> why. A specific Youthquake blog will<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> be put up after this, but I thought <span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">this would be a<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">n encourgement to young people no matter where they are.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">First, let me say you are "Fearfully
and wonderfully made," according to God's Word.(Ps.119:14) Before you were
even in the womb, God knew you and had a special plan for your life. I have a
number of physical handicaps and maybe a bit of a developmental one, but that
hasn't stopped me from being part of God's great plan. You can be, too, if you
have a relationship with Him - you'll see how at the end of this post - the
"To Know God" section talks about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">T<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">he</span></span> devil wants to destroy, so </span><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">there is a lot of attacking in our culture today.<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">. However, </span></span>Jesus came that we might
have life and life more abundantly.(John 10:10) Th<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">ose fi<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">ery darts of the wicked must be quenched with fiaht and trust in God to protect us. And, it is through <span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">God's pr<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">ovision that we can overcome those burdens.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">"You mean there is one cause for all
these problems," you ask? "From schoolwork to bullies to broken
families and everything?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">Yes. And, you can be part of the
solution, too. Which means 'walking the walk and not just talking the
talk.</span><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">When you live
for the Lord, some might still complain about hypocrites. Who knows, maybe you
have problems with them, too. But, think of this. If I say I'm the King of
Belgium, I'm lying. But, if I say that and go around doing... whatever, that
has no relation to what the real King of Belgium is like.<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> </span>Or, what's your
favorite pet? Either one you have or wish you had.? Now, say you hang around a
bunch of people who claim to have that type of pet. Yet they show you pictures
and it's just them, they walk imaginary animals, you know they're just playing
"I got a pet." Is taht going to make you love your pet any less? Of
course not, what they're doing should have no impact on you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">Still, while you shouldn't compare yourself to others and just let your own light shine<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">, it is essential that you act like a Christian<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">, too, and not just talk about Him.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">See, people are not perfect. Imperfect
people can't make something perfect, because we don't know how. That's why
there is so much hurt in the world. That's why a person can't solve all the
problems. It would be like asking a person from 1,000 years ago to work on a
computer. and, I know people in their seventies who see modern technology as totally
alien to them. that's why people try their own solutions like Common Core; they
don't trust God to see everyone as unique and don't seek His perfect wisdom.</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">God is personal and loving. He wants to help, guide, comfort, and so much else
for you. He made you special, as I said, with unique gifts, talents, etc.. You
might have been told differently, but remember that we are not perfect, so we
don't know everything. The key is to understand who God is. He created the
beautiful, awesome, wonderful creation that is all around you. In fact, He made
you. He made you special, more wonderful than you can imagine. Because, He
loves you. He loves all of us more than we can imagine. </span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">He loves us unconditionally. Even though
we hurt Him so much because of our sin.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"><b>So, how will God help me?</b></span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">The Lord wants to help you grow in love
for others, patience, gentleness, self-control, etc - in other words, the
fruits of the Spirit - as well as things like kindness, whatever talents you
have, etc.. This means learning to rely on Him. It can be easier at a younger
age because you know that you need help. Just like I do with my handicaps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">There are many promises you can claim as
you read God's Word. <a href="http://bibleresources.org/bible-promises/" target="_blank"><b>Here are some</b></a>. God promises to
be our comfort, guide, friend, etc. Another thing He promises is to be our
strength. 2nd Timothy 2: 1 is an example of where God tells us to be strong in
the Lord and that verb in the original Greek means to continually be
strengthened. In other words, let God give you that supernatural strength
through the Holy Spirit, like when i just restarted this without worry.(Yes,
thinking, too, of how it could inspire others.) Also, use verses like Romans
12: to wear it says to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. In other
words, allow God to continually make you <span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">new </span>as you grow in Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">As you can see, communication is
essential in this relationship just as in any relationship. We speak with God
through our prayers. He can speak with us in a number of ways. But anything we
take in must be tested against the absolute truth of the Bible.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">(Why do we pray if God knows our needs?
Picture a 2YO trying to dress himself. The parents know he needs help but he
keeps refusing - and gets it so messed up you'd think his socks would end up on
his years. That's how we are when we go against God.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"><br />
<b>Here are some keys - each almost its own little blog post.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"><br />
<b>1. Pray God's promises. </b>This is pretty simple, trust God for the right
answer, His perfect timing, etc.. Seek His wisdom. Don't be afraid to ask
"why" with the purpose of understanding what God is trying to show
you. Remember that He knows everything and so His best answer is sometimes
"yes," sometimes "no," and sometimes "wait." Although, even "no" is more accurately, "I have something better for you."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> As part of this,
<b>hide God's Word in your heart.</b> so you know those promises. This is
pretty simple. Psalm 119:11 says thy word have I hid in my heart that I might
not sin against thee. When you have God's Word in your heart, it will come to
you when you needed. Of course, some people have things like hymn lyrics come
to their minds, or something else. However God made you is how He will work
with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"><br />
<b>2. Be positive</b> - "I can do all things through Christ which
strengthen<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">eth</span> me."(Phil.4:13) God can get you through it. Whether it's a
test - and I know Common Core drives lots of kids crazy - or pimples or
whatever, remember nothing in this world is forever. Think of the good things
in your life. Even if all you can think of is your salvation or your
relationship with God, it is something major.(And if you don't have that, you
can just by calling on Him, as noted below.) Trust God, He inhabits the praise
of His people. As you praise Him for His mighty works and the things He has
done for you, your attitude will improve and .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> And, he will not only
bring to your mind Bible verses or humn lyrics or something like I mentioned,
He will bring other things to mind. Pimples, for instance, might bring to mind
the joke on "Full Hosue" once about playing connect the dots with
your face and those of others. The Bible says "A merry heart doeth good
like a medicine." Of course, there are times something becomes chemically
wrong, though without that sadness can be kept from going into depression by
focusing on those positive things. Which leads into the next point.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">3. Be willing to learn and seek help from
those who bring you closer to God.</span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">
Sometimes, even our families have struggles because the parents aren't living
for God. But, God will direct you to friends who will be that spiritual help
you need. They will give the hugs you need and everything else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> Some
people turn to gangs because they don't have the positive role model they need.
gangs have become a way for some in the inner city to interact, but they need
to turn to God instead, because God promises to be that strength, courage, etc.
they need without the terrible violence that can come from gangs. God teaches
us to respect all human life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> In other words,
you will feel more self-respect being with those who bring you closer to God.
So, even professionals that you seek should be those who believe in God or at
least won't put down your faith.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">4. Love others.</span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> Even Jesus Himself was always serving
others. If a friend has decided they would rather not be friends, show love to
that person and simply stop being friends and pray for them. If you have done a
good job being a friend, they will remember how good you were and may return.
Find out how you can help others. With that quote about the man with no feet,
just making someone like that feel good and appreciated is important even if
you can't do anything for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> <span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">The point is that o</span>ther people matter. if you want to matter to others, that means others have to matter to you. Say some Common Core standard is bugging you. When you
focus on others, instead of worrying about how well you do versus someone else,
consider the good things(be positive) and focus on how to build others up.
then, you can feel better about yourself, too. A friend wished his family was
closer knit and so I suggested he spend Christmas working at a soup kitchen. I
don't know if he did but it's a great idea; when you can't be with the ones you
want, help the less fortunate.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">5. Don't compare yourself to others.</span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> There is an old saying, "I was sad
because I had no shoes until I saw a man with no feet." We should never
think we are better than others - we are just different parts of the body, like
the eye and the ear don't think they are better than who left big toe. So, if
you help someone else to improve the world, don't compare your life to theirs.
Instead, consider how you are just making the world better for Christ's sake,
not for your own glory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> This works the other
way, too, though. Many in poverty wish they had more money, but even those in
nice homes wish they had more. Instead of focusing on worldly things, focus on
the talents and abilities you have and how special you are to God; and that
they are, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> Each of us will always
be better at some things than other people and worse at some things, and will
always be better off in some ways and worse off in some ways. If that test is
driving you crazy, and you did your best to study, just do your best and
remember that even if you don't do well on this subject, God still loves you
and has a special purpose for your life. And, He will be your strength to
overcome something negative when you trust Him to be. Including helping you to
understand a subject.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> For instance,
God put my grandmother into my moms friend's life to help her learn chemistry so
she would pass, and she said she learned more from my grandmother then she ever
did from her teacher. And, my grandmother was not even a college graduate.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">6. Remember, God can work miracles.</span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> Don't put God in a box, as they say, but
believe He can do anything. If something is of God, though, it must line
up with Scripture and not violate physics. he won't let you suddenly take
flight. :-) He might provide a miraculous healing, but that usually only
happens in furtherance of the Gospel. Remember, we must pray according to His
will.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> A lot of times,
people who discuss signs and wonders are only doing so to glorify themselves.
There are also false signs; <a href="http://prayercallamerica.blogspot.com/2015/12/praying-devil-not-counterfeit-things_18.html" target="_blank"><b>this blog post</b></a> about not
letting the devil counterfeit things talks about this</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">7. Admit weaknesses and let God help you
overcome them.</span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> As noted,
none of us is perfect. We all have things we need help with. We must be honest
with ourselves and with others when we struggle with things. However, we should
also be willing to learn so we can improve on things. Of course, there will
always be things we can't do. I will never be a top flight athlete, or even an
athlete period. But, that's okay. God made me a certain way to do certain
things. And, the nice thing is, if I really wanted to I could write about an
athlete and through my story I could live such a life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> One thing along these
lines, though. We're each different, so there might be some things other
Christians can handle that you can't, and vice versa. I'm not talking about
sins - there is never a reason to get drunk or curse a blue streak or cheat or
other sins. However, some people are more influenced by violent entertainment
than others, as one example. Those people need to avoid that. And, if
they have friends who are going to be drawn away from God by it, they need to
help their friends and not tempt them, just as 1 <span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">C</span>orinthians 8 says. (In other
words, keeping in mind others matter.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> We all have
different strengths and weaknesses, just like every part of the body has
different thigns they ae good at. Some can perform numerous roles - I've seen
people with no arms do amazing things with their legs and feet.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">8. Share Christ in actions, not just
words.</span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> Sometimes,
bullies need to see we're real and then - if not now - later they will come to
realize the truth of Jesus and let Him make them new inside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> That's teh beauty of
Jesus - He makes us new inside when we turn from our sins and trust Him to work
in us. But, we still have that old flesh nature, so it's a struggle. However,
it's one we must fight by loving others, being positive, etc. - or, rather, let
God fight for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> But, how
is God going to fight for us if we're fighting Him? He's got to work in us
first to make us more Christlike. People need to see there's a real difference.
that means no vulgar stuff, treating others with respect, not turning the
opposite sex into objects but treating them as people. Not being selfish but
instead being selfless. In other words, not being hypocrites, as mentienod above.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">9. Put your relationship with God before
any other, especially dating. </span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">This
may sound the same as <span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">one of the above<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">(or more)</span></span>, but it focuses on love interests. And, younger kids
may giggle, but if you are younger please read, because you'll be here someday
if the Lord tarries His coming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> In short, you
should be so lost in your love for God that a person needs to seek God with all
their heart to find you. Why? Because, God's is so deep - deeper even than the
best family or friends - that nothing can destroy it. And, relationships will
end, even if it's in death after 70 years of marriage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> Marriage is the goal<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has for couples – one that lasts forever.
That’s why <span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">H</span>e says don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers; or with people
who act like it by drinking, cursing, violence, etc.. God desires, a very deep
relationship and wants that for you, too. It matches His love for you, after
all. God's love is perfect - agape is the Greek word. It means unconditional.
Too many times, we think lust is love, but it isn't. it's only physical, and
the Bible never translates the Greek word eros to mean love. It does translate
phileo, a deep friendship, as "love." There is also storge(unconditional
family love). But, those two have something in common with agape love that
isn't there with physical lust - it is very deep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> So, look at your
crush and ask, "Will I love this person when they are old, wrinkled up
like prunes, with no hair and teeth falling out, and possibly unable to walk or
other handicaps? Will this person love me then? If the answer is "no to
either, they're not for you and you shouldn't date them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> Because, part of
God's special plan for you is for you to have a partner who loves you and who
you can love no matter what. Not settling for less.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> He showed that love
for you before you ever knew Him.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"> This, then, is where
you can learn how to know that God of unconditional love. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; font-size: 18.0pt;">To Know God </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">As noted, God wants to have a personal
relationship with you. But, remember that sin I mentioned? It separates us from
God.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">When God made the world it had no sin in
it. Sin is anything we say, think, or do that displeases God and therefore
causes suffering. It might only cause suffering for the person who is doing it,
or it can cause suffering for others, too. Like lying, cheating, being selfish,
false pride(thinking you are better than others/not crediting God with things),
etc.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">So, if there was no sin, why is there
now? Because people chose to sin. By one man sin entered into the world, and
death by sin, so that death passed unto all men, for that all have sinned.(Rom.
5:12) Including me. including you. All have sinned and come short of the glory
of God.(Rom.3:23)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">So, God made a way for us to get to His
perfect Heaven, because we can't get to His perfect heaven by our own works.
And, that same way is what we need to have that relationship with Him right
here on Earth. Jesus said "I am come that they might have life and life
more abundantly."(John 10:10)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"><br />
God wants us to be in His perfect Heaven. There will be no pain, no suffering,
no tears, no body can do mean stuff there because all there will have been made
new (2 Cor.5:17) - including those too young to understand the need to be saved
from their sin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"><br />
If we can't get to Heaven on our own, how do we get there? It's a free gift -
"The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord."(Rom.6:23)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"><br />
It just has to be accepted by faith - just like you don't earn a birthday
gift but get it because someone loves you - but you don't really have it to use
till you open it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">Jesus was God in flesh. He is the “light
of the world.” He came to this world to live a perfect life. He never sinned
because He couldn't; He was God, so He always did what was right. Then, because
he was also man - in the flesh - he died for our sins. Because he is God, He
rose from the dead. There can’t be any bad people, or even bad stuff, in
Heaven. There can be no sin there.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">And, Jesus wants you to be there someday,
where there is no suffering, no pain, etc., by receiving what he did for you by
simple faith. He’ll come live in you then, through the Holy Spirit, which is
one of the 3 ways God makes Himself known – God the Father, God the Son, and
God the Spirit – it’s like H2O is water vapor, water, and ice – it’s all the
same chemical compound. Or, you can look at a person - a man can be a father,
brother, and husband at the same time.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">That’s how you can have that relationship
with Him. He wants you to know Him, so you can have peace that passes all
understanding,, great comfort, Godly wisdom whenever you ask, and so on. We
just need to be humble enough to admit we need Him. There’s spiritual warfare
out there. That means a lot of prayer is needed at times.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">It's as easy as ABC - <b>Admit </b>you're
a sinner and can't reach His perfect Heaven on your own, <b>Believe </b>Jesus
Christ was god in flesh and He died to take the punishment for your sins and
rose from the dead; and, <b>Call </b>on Jesus to save you from your sins and <b>Choose
</b>to trust Him completely to save you and get you to Heaven, and to come into
your heart and make you new inside.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-pagination: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">The precise words aren't what save you,
Jesus saves you when you trust in Him, so pray that above in your own words.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";"><br />
You can pray something like this: "Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner. I
can't reach your perfect Heaven myself. But, I know you died to take the
punishment for my sins and rose from the dead. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart
and save me from my sins and forgive me. I trust you with all my heart to save
me, and I believe you have forgiven me not by anything I have done, but only by
simple faith in what you have done for me. Make me new inside, Lord. In Jesus'
name, Amen."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-pagination: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">Once He saves you, he writes you in His
book of ife and nobody can remove you from His hands.(John 10:28-30) Nothing
can separate you from His love(Rom. 8:36-39), and He is able to keep you from
falling.(June 24) He seals you with His Holy Spirit of promise.(Eph. 1:13,14;
John 14-16)</span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">So, live for the Lord and please, <span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">pray for us and our</span> nation - or whatever nation you're in - to
repent and let God heal it.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-4379383360845045002015-10-13T13:37:00.000-07:002016-03-23T07:08:16.643-07:00Why God's justice, mercy better than man'sI don't watch TV news anymore; too much violence, too many mean people, etc.. Radio & Internet are enough. Still, news of a recent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_Man_March" target="_blank">Million Man March</a> caught my attention when i read about it the day of it, especially one of the slogans on Twitter and probably elsewhere, "Justice or
Else." It inspired this blog post, which - as I
disclosed with another - in the event someone should read both - is on a personal blog with similar wording in places.<br />
<br />
It's easy to see, given the injustices in this world, why some would use such a slogan. However, we
must seek to make sure the justice system runs fairly, but there are
reasons why we must pray and let God deal with the details instead of we
ourselves. <br />
<br />
The phrase "Justice or Else" reminds me of
numerous Psalms, Psalm 2 - "Why dot he heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" - being just one of many. Indeed, it is very satisfying to know God will have them - those who oppress and do wickedly, - in derision. He'll hve the last laugh as He triumphs over them. A number of others promise the same thing, so much so that reading/studying through Psalms is something I automatically do around election time and at other specified times lately s our nation and the world turns away from God. There is so much evil in the world,
and racism is one of the biggest human rights issues. It's so sad,
because we're <a href="https://answersingenesis.org/racism/one-race/" target="_blank">all one race - the human race</a>.
Racism is just an excuse invited by people to selfishly try to get
their way, ignoring the fact we are all equal in the eyes of God - man
looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart.(1 Sam.
16:7)<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr">
This problem, however, shows why justice from man,
woman, or any person, is not as good as God's justice. We all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.(Rom .3:23)</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I
have one example I use in a context showing why we must
repent ourselves - perhaps to regular readers I use it too often, but
here it will at least seem a
little different. It is that of being cut off in traffic. We often
criticize the person who did so without bothering to think that they may
have a loved one in the hospital who has just been hurt seriously and
who they are worried may be dying. Of course, it would be wrong to try
to seek justice or revenge on a person who is rushing frantically to see
a possibly dying loved one. Yet, in our selfishness as people, we end
up doing so if only our justice is used.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
We
are all guilty, myself included, of jumping to
conclusions and being too upset at someone, not knowing the pain they
were feeling. (It's harder for me because with my handicaps I can't see
their gestures as
well to know if something might be a problem, so I try a lot harder to
be nice, but I'm still human.) This is why we should not be thinking we
must have justice on others in a rash manner, but must look at our own
selves first and, then, seek the Lord. He states several times that
vengeance is His, and that He will repay. He'll do a much better job
than we ever could.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Why? God knows our hearts. He knows what each of us is thinking
at any time. "You know my thoughts afar off," as part of Psalm 139 says.
He knows exactly when we should have compassion on someone and when we
should seek justice. He knows who is hurting terribly and who may
realize they have done something wrong but just needs us to kindly speak
to them and show forgiveness. And, he knows what needs a tough response.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
America
has had a lot of horrible things go on in its
history. I've always said, we need to repent not just for the last 40
years, but the last four hundred years of our history. It could be
argued that God's justice is deserved, but we also need to remember
God's mercy.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
The
Bible shows God is love many times. Even when His people turned from
Him so much, even as they crucified Him, He cried out, "Father, forgive
them, they know not what they do."(Luke 23:34) So,
one of the big names of God is love. He is a very personal God who
desires a personal relationship with each of us. He is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.(2 Peter 3:9) Sometimes His
divine justice contains so much wrath against sin many innocents would
die unless He waited and gave people time to repent. Thankfully, he provided a way to mete out that judgment and still save us, if a person will simply call on Him by faith to forgive them.<br />
<br />
Jesus
made full atonement for us on the cross when He died, then rose from
the dead. This way, punishment was handed out for our sins, and yet He
also showed His mercy. Since Jesus was God in flesh, He went to the
cross willingly for each of us. It is our job to share that mercy and
grace and love with others.<br />
<br />
We all need His mercy because of our
sins. Not only that, but when we do repent and trust Him by faith, he
will reward us and hear those prayers. for our nation, for justice to finally prevail. And, as we grow closer to Him, He will help us to be more loving and forgiving, and to trust Him more, knowing He will one day reign, in the Millennial Kingdom, with everything running perfectly and justice truly being done for everyone.(By the way, on our "Quest for Truth" page <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/#!questfortruth/c1nkt" target="_blank">here</a> you can listen to a whole series we did on the Millennium and what comes before.)<br />
<br />
I don't know what exactly God's
plan is for our country, but He wants you as a great prayer warrior. We do need them a lot in the United States. Just remember, God will prevail. yet, when considering that justice, it's important to remember God's
divine mercy, too, so we ourselves can share that
mercy with others in our actions as well as with our words, so they can believe us when we speak of His love for others. </div>
QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-89142448037045333632015-08-04T14:49:00.003-07:002016-04-09T07:28:36.578-07:00Sharing the Gospel should be this easy"What are those" is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_meme" target="_blank">meme</a>
where, from what yours truly learned of it recently on ESPN radio, someone
points at your shoes and says (or maybe shouts?) to
indicate they're not "cool." (If you're reading a blog you likely know
what a meme is :-), but in case you didn't it's a saying or pictures
that
becomes part of Internet culture like a catch phrase, and can spread to
the outside world. People say it many times for the same reason a catch
phrase is repeated at random, including in <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CC8QqQIwAmoVChMIu6yYxoqQxwIVBtSACh24pw-u&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbnation.com%2F2015%2F8%2F4%2F9094965%2Fask-michael-jordan-what-are-those-at-your-own-risk&ei=xAfBVbu6HoaogwS4z77wCg&usg=AFQjCNHJRBWugVsPFZN4CrQsAiTryZyoUg&sig2=GHUcVHQe37logtkJVl6xBg&bvm=bv.99261572,d.eXY" target="_blank">one famous recent one</a> when it was said to Michael Jordan.)<br />
<br />
Things
like this spread like wildfires and disappear just as fast sometimes, a
sign of the rapid chagnes of society which I mentioned in the <a href="http://questfortruthradio.blogspot.com/2015/07/constant-contact-with-no-need-for.html" target="_blank">last post</a>. However, this will only touch on the speediness of 'Net culture. (There is actually a culture of sneaker collecting, "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneaker_collecting" target="_blank">sneakerheads</a>" as some call them in some areas, which this is supposedly tied to, in fact.)<br />
<br />
It
also isn't to dwell on the need for compassion for those who may be too
poor to afford good shoes. However, it should be said that the original
is *very* rude and inappropriate, given who was being interrupted at
work. (Granted, it could have been set up, but still sends a poor
message) On the lighter side, though, the idea that anyone would say it
to Jordan, who can presumably afford the very best shoes and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Jordan" target="_blank">made them a major industry with his</a>, is quite funny.)<br />
<br />
Instead,
this is meant to discuss how rapidly we should be spreading positive
things, and can be - not to draw attention to oneself but to God.<br />
<br />
<b>Not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ</b><br />
<br />
People
love to be noticed. This 'Net culture has allowed those who had no
voice to suddenly be heard by anyone. They are sometimes very funny, but
other times they are simply bizarre or downright disgusting. Too many
lists of most popular videos on <a href="http://youtube.com/" target="_blank">Youtube</a> exist to mention just one, but the mere title implies that it is a channel for everyone.<br />
<br />
Of
course, there are those who can't figure out how to upload - yours
truly included. The Gospel can surely be proclaimed in many ways - even
a vine could have 6 seconds of writing/symbols, such as the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Gospel+bridge&tbm=isch&imgil=tKgpxzvvWzv8uM%253A%253BpjmY0t5tCqLrJM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.cbcnorfolk.com%25252Fthe_gospel&source=iu&pf=m&fir=tKgpxzvvWzv8uM%253A%252CpjmY0t5tCqLrJM%252C_&biw=815&bih=421&usg=__GWCljrpd-NtabDRLgG2jtQqfzPA%3D&ved=0CCoQyjdqFQoTCIjzncmlkMcCFdKvgAodx_APyA&ei=GiTBVYj-JtLfggTH4b_ADA#imgrc=tKgpxzvvWzv8uM%3A&usg=__GWCljrpd-NtabDRLgG2jtQqfzPA%3D" target="_blank">Gospel bridge</a>, though 140 characters seems impossible - <a href="http://aprilfiet.com/theology-culture/gospel-140-characters-or-less" target="_blank">or is it</a>?<br />
<br />
Of course, even if an explanation is hard, John 3:16 itself would be doable putting "4" for "for," etc..<br />
<br />
The
point is that it's very simple and easy to explain the death, burial,
and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God in flesh, as having taken the
entire punishment each of us owes for our sins. Of course, the hearer
should see evidence of that in the life of the one presenting it, so
they can see a reason to believe. But, you don't need to worry that you
don't have an amazing testimony. Actually, since it's the Holy Spirit
that really works in a person to get them to come to Christ, it really
only requires that you hand out a tract or give someone a Bible - or post
something online.<br />
<br />
Of course, there you still have to
avoid being a negative example, but these are ways you can easily reach
people without knowing them. For instance, if you leave a tract at a
restaurant you should also leave a good tip.<br />
<br />
The point
is that we should never be ashamed of God's love for us. It's so sad
that, with all God has done for us, that we don't share the Gospel more.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/" target="_blank">Greater Canton Youthquake</a>,
which is the ultimate sponsor of "Quest for Truth" since we are a
ministry of Youthquake's, is dedicated to not only sharing the Gospel
but also to helping disciple young people so they can better share the
Gospel through their actions as well as their words. We often tell our
young people that they may be the only Bible someone will ever read.
That is a huge responsibility, of course, but we are not fighting that
fight along - believers have the Fruit of the Spirit, indeed the Holy
Spirit is there to be a constant Comforter, guide, helper, friend, and
so much more for the believer, just as Jesus was for Hid disciples when
he walked on the earth. And, many of our young people need that because
the ones we minister to are not being reached by churches, sadly many
are not hearing the Good News of the Gospel around this country.<br />
<br />
But,
if we have people who are willing to just randomly shout out memes such
as "What are those," then we should also be just as willing to go up to
someone and being a conversation. Even if it has to start with
something silly like, "Did you know there's this guy who began a blog
about God by talking about that "What are those" meme? (And if you get
sidetracked, just work your way back to the Gospel as fast as you can.)
hey, we're human just like the rest of humanity we do goofy stuff.<br />
<br />
in fact, we should have the most fun of all - good clean family fun - because we are redeemed from our sin.<br />
<br />
That
Gospel is so simple. One must simply Admit they're a sinner - they come
short of God's perfect glory - Believe that Jesus Christ, God in flesh,
died to take the punishment for that person's sins, the just dying for
the unjust, and Call on Jesus Christ by faith to forgive them, repenting
of their sins and choosing to invite Jesus into their hearts to make
them new inside. "For if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old
things are passed away, all things are become new."(2 Cor. 5:17)<br />
<br />
So,
one's testimony doesn't have to be amazing - just that God has saved
them from their sins and that they have a relationship with Him now, and
He helps them each day through the problems of this world, giving them
much more peace, love, hope, etc., than they could have imagined.
Because He promises, "In this world you will have tribulation, but be of
good cheer - I have overcome the world.(John 16:33)QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-58081610024304631632015-07-17T13:55:00.001-07:002016-03-23T07:11:14.385-07:00Constant contact with no need for constant texting/tweeting/FacebookingThe last post was topical. While it won't air till September, you can hear our show on the Iran nuclear deal and Ezekiel 38-39 <a href="http://questfortruth.sermon.net/main/main/20444329" target="_blank">here</a> as well as all our shows on the radio page at gcyouthquake.org.<br />
<br />
I was pondering the incredible size of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/" target="_blank">Facebook </a>and <a href="https://twitter.com/" target="_blank">Twitter</a> recently, along with how people seem glued to their phones while <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Text_messaging" target="_blank">texting</a>. And, I got to thinking. It may not be a mere fact caused by our global society, but a symptom of something else.<br />
<br />
While I'm sure we're not the first to suggest this, please let us take a moment to explain, and to share how to have a wonderful bond that will never break. With it, whether this desire for constant contact - yet at a distance - is a symptom or not, our young people today can feel peace and assurance that will never end.<br />
<br />
<b>Society at breakneck speed</b><br />
<br />
The first person to say, "Stop the world, I want off" wasn't born in the 21st century or probably even the 20th. It might have been when railroads began to connect faraway places, or when news that took days to arrive could suddenly reach one instantly by telegraph. It may have been before then, in fact.<br />
<br />
Whenever it was,the pace of life has only sped up since. This leads to a couple of things which may be causing the intense increase in focus on computer screens(personal computer and cell phone ones) as opposed to normal bonding.<br />
<br />
One is the vast amount of information available. It can be overwhelming at times, to the point Daniel prophesied 2,500 years ago something which is no doubt true today - "Many shall go to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."(Dan.12:4) That "going to and fro" implies a constant flitting about like a hummingbird with a caffeine rush, going from place to place at a ridiculous pace. The increase in knowledge implies a continual increase, exponential growth in fact. This is certainly true today, with what we know doubling every 22 months a few years ago and less now.(Not that we're saying we're real close to the end - Dr. H.A. Ironside was <a href="http://www.prophecyforum.com/run.html" target="_blank">saying the same thing</a> about the last days decades ago.)<br />
<br />
(It should be noted a secondary meaning concerns understanding the Book of Daniel itself and Jesus as Messiah. It's important to always interpret Scripture with Scripture to understand it, and also when in doubt to go to the original languages of the Greek and Hebrew; the quote is from the King James Version, from the Antiochan Texts. Here is a good example of how not doing so hides the richness of God's Word in the different lessons which may be drawn from it.)<br />
<br />
This vast amount of information available means people are constantly trying to use it - Googling anything from directions when lost to the lyrics of that song that's on the tip of your tongue to what that thing on the New Orleans Saints helmets is.(Fleur de lis, a French royal symbol, so you don't get interrupted looking for it.)<br />
<br />
It also allows others to provide "information" themselves by posting it, so anyone can share their favorite recipe with the world, announce a special event, or just let people see that cute picture of their puppy carrying a baseball-shaped salt shaker and trying to get you to throw it for him.<br />
<br />
<b>Society losing richness, depth of relationships</b><br />
<br />
The second problem is that this constant movement and increase in information can lead to overload, but also to the problem of relationships not being as deep as possible. This is just as significant, in a different sense, as the point about how much trouble one can get in posting the wrong things online.<br />
<br />
It's a problem because centuries, even decades, ago we humans valued close, personal relationships. We were meant for such things, in fact.<br />
<br />
I(Doug) have trouble reading nonverbal expressions due to a few handicaps - a nod to me is just "yes" for instance, and I can't discern between what I've heard are numerous types. While that and a few other little things may be due to my brain processing things a bit differently, for quite a few young people it seems they enjoy internet communication more than talking.<br />
<br />
There may be other reasons, but mostly, they don't feel a closeness to others because they are, in some sense, too wary because things seem to come and go so often, but also, trying to interpret the depth of things is so difficult at times because they are hit with so many other things. They feel an intense amount of pressure to do so much that they are, in a sense, backing away by having only computer contact. This problem of depth perception, one might call it, also leads to problems with understanding things such as privacy and what should be posted online, in fact.<br />
<br />
<b>Jesus provides a calming, loving answer</b><br />
<br />
The wonderful thing is that God provides an answer for every situation - and, His Word will give you security even in the most troublesome times.<br />
<br />
Jesus bears our burden for more than just sin, though with only a 30 minute show it's understandable that was the majority of our focus in that one. He wants to help everyone, and in fact, he'll provide constant contact just like an online situation, except His love is so much deeper. That's the reason He promised that the Holy Spirit would come and live in each believer, in fact.<br />
<br />
If you know Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you can pray anywhere, anytime, about anything. It doesn't have to be really fancy wording. It's just sharing your heart with God. That might feel hard for some people - which could be another reason some prefer online communication so they don't have to share what may be very painful memories and intense feelings. But, the key is, God knows what we need - he just wants us to be humble and willing to admit we need His help. That's why we pray when He knows our needs. If we don't pray for something we are saying, "I can do this myself."<br />
<br />
The problem is, we are powerless against the spiritual warfare that is out there combating us, and we need His help. tThose intense feelings that you might have, those can be shared with God and He will give you strength to cope, He'll give you a strategy for making things better, and so on. Maybe you can't save the world but you can save one person, for instance. Maybe you can be the spiritual leader for someone else and it will take your mind off your own circumstances, and let you focus on the positive - that relationship with God who will see you through everything.<br />
<br />
There is so much turmoil out there because of modern life, we need Jesus more than ever.<br />
<br />
He
will be the answer when you ask how to get through something; He may
not heal all your physical ailments (I've had numerous handicaps since
birth) but He will heal you spiritually. He is also
the answer when you want a friend who will be there forever.<br />
<br />
<b>Jesus called His disciples friends</b><br />
<br />
Yes, He called them friends, and will call you friend, too.<br />
<br />
This does *not* mean you can just ignore who He is - He is the sinless, holy, all-powerful, etc. Creator of the Universe. he must be approached with respect and reverence, but at the same time, He is willing to hear that prayer for a puppy or kitten that is hurt, all the way up to a scary battle with cancer you or a loved one face, or anything in between.<br />
<br />
And, He will be beside you all the time. He will live in you through the Holy Spirit. Each of us is only a single, sincere prayer of repentance to Jesus Christ away from eternal life, but that eternal life begins at the moment you trust Him to save you by calling on Him by simple faith to do so, believing He took all the punishment for your sins when he died and rose from the dead.<br />
<br />
That constant contact with the Creator of the Universe is possible only because of His amazing grace, not anything we have done or could do. Once it's received, then of course like any relationship communication is key, but that will be so easy. You can share your deepest thoughts with Him and know He will never leave you or forsake you. You can <a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/" target="_blank">read His Word</a> and He'll speak to you, you can hear His still, small voice through the Spirit, and many other things I don't have time to get into. Just remember, anything you take in must agree with His Word, or it can't be from Him.<br />
<br />
So, I pray you will use this chance while we are in the Age of Grace to develop that relationship with Jesus Christ. He wants to have a relationship with you. Indeed, His love for you is far beyond anything mankind could imagine, even the people of a century ago who constantly had those much deeper relationships. QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-36407523994515202232015-06-26T16:00:00.000-07:002015-07-17T13:16:28.915-07:00How to respond to marriage decision? Don't forget to focus on the Gospel, prayer<div dir="ltr">
In the wake of the Supreme Court <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/politics/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling/" target="_blank">decision on marriage</a>, many will take sides on what is right and wrong. God's Word states very explicitly how He created the world and created them "male and female" (Gen.1:26-28), with the male and female perfectly complementing each other in the God-ordained covenant of marriage.<br />
<br />
However, I wish to instead
emphasize what is most important to God. That is salvation of souls, because this world is not our final stop. He is longsuffering to usward, willing that none perish but that all come to repentance.(2 Peter 3:9) He continues to patiently love us despite our turning away from Him, and we must be active in sharing the Gospel with others of God's love and forgiveness.<br />
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
There will doubtlessly the people who claim America is
headed for judgment. Well, that is up to God, but in the meantime, let us remember that when we pray for repentance revival for this nation, we must recall that we, too, are sinners. We had problems with people who refused to
accept that we were <a href="https://answersingenesis.org/racism/are-there-really-different-races/" target="_blank">all one race - the human race</a> - in Ferguson,
Baltimore, Charleston, etc., as well as for decades and decades before that. So many painful things have gripped us
because of the sins of the last four hundred years that it would be an
insult to God if we pretend we were righteous until the last 40 hours,
or even until the last 40 years. The Bible says in Romans <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_867077170" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">3:10</span></span> there is none righteous, no not one.<br />
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
So, let us unite at the cross of Jesus Christ. Because, it is the cross of Jesus which will draw believers
to the cross of Christ through God's perfect love.<br />
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
See, each of us needs the cross. Yes, it extends to
those who are too young to understand the need to be saved. However, for
all of us, that cross is what we deserve for our sins. We should never
pretend one group of sinners is worse than another. For all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. And, the wages of sin
is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Romans 6:23.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
It was while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.Romans 5:8. He
expects us to come with a penitent heart, and to accept that we are
sinners in need of His salvation, and cannot get saved and cannot go to
Heaven without him.</div>
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So, I ask a
simple question. It is a question you can ask people who want to spark arguments about marriage, so we don't diverge so much and keep focused on the Gospel. That question is this: Suppose you were the only
person alive? Now, sin can be against other people too, but I want to
use that as a starting point. Have you ever unjustly accused someone?
Where once you knew the facts you understood they had a reason, like
cutting you off in traffic because they were rushing to the hospital to
see a sick relative? I have, maybe not the driving one but something
similar? Have you ever told a lie? We all have. Ever been angry with
someone without a cause?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sin is everything we say, think, or do that displeases
God. We are all guilty, and a price had to be paid. Thankfully, Jesus
Christ bared our sins in his body.1st Peter <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_867077171" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">2:24</span></span>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This is what we must be telling those on all sides of the
marriage debate. Let us pray that people will come to Jesus. Because, if
anyone is in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed away
behold all things are become new. 2nd Corinthians 5:17. Once that
person that's Jesus change them on the inside, doesn't it make sense
that if they are being truly humble, and the Bible says that it is wrong
to have sex with the same gender, the Lord will convict them of sin and
lead then to forsake it? Of course.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Should we stand on the truth of God's word? Most certainly. But
we must also remember that our job is to be ambassadors who have the
message of reconciliation.(2 Cor.5:17-21)</div>
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<br /></div>
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In
other words, we must urge people to be reconciled to
God as we have been reconciled, even though we were enemies of God
because of our sin. We must guide them to become reconciled by
receiving Jesus Christ as
Savior, and how He died on the cross to take the punishment for their
sin and then rising from the dead so they could be reconciled to Him.
But, it is God who does the work on the inside of the person. It is God who
convicts of sin. The Holy Spirit is even on the earth to, among other
things, convict the world(unbelievers) of sin,(John 16:7-12) so we don't
even need to do that. Our job is to preach the whole counsel of God(so
the Spirit can move in His Word and have that impact), but they are far
more likely to trust Jesus Christ as Savior because
they see the love we have for them, and in turn the unconditional love
God has for them.<br />
<br />
Because, for this nation to be a Godly nation, we must be dedicated to living for the Lord, and to being examples of Jesus Christ. Repentance revival doesn't begin with laws, any more than salvation can come because of the law. Repentance revival begins with the Church falling on its knees before God and repenting and turning back to Him.</div>
QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218662415357891661.post-67244571337477242842015-06-20T08:11:00.001-07:002015-07-21T10:47:49.813-07:00Fill your hearts with God's love - thoughts on CharlestonI don't know about you, but I thought of the great spiritual battle we are in when I heard of the tragic shooting in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/20/us/charleston-shooting-dylann-storm-roof.html?_r=0" target="_blank">Charleston</a>, and the great hymn "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/i/mightyfo.htm" target="_blank">A Mighty Fortress is Our God</a>" came to mind. In the interest of full disclosure, if some of this looks familiar, I, Doug, have a personal blog a fair amount of this is taken from two posts from that one; it was begun soon before the National Day of Prayer as the Spirit led in the wake of Baltimore, etc.. I don't know if any will see this who saw the other but it's possible so I'm mentioning it.<br />
<br />
So often, we try to imagine a world where in our own strength we can just be positive and good will come. But, there is a war going on, and the second stanza says more clearly than I can just how futile our own efforts are at ending such evil. "Did we in our own strength confide, the battle would be losing./were not the right
man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing./Dost ask who that may be?/Christ Jesus,
it is He..." That stanza goes on to state He is the Lord of Hosts (yes,
that's what "Lord Sabaoth" means, literally calling Him head of the
whole army of angels in Heaven) and He is the one who must be relied on
if we are to win the battle. (Hence the imagery of the army of hosts of
angels.)<br />
<br />
It's been said that there is a God-sized hole in each of our hearts that only Jesus Christ can fill. Sadly, Charleston shows what happens when one fills one's heart with the bad.<br />
<br />
The evil
attack in Charleston demonstrates how the devil hates God's love and
goodness, and will rile people up any way he can. Even the fact that
race is emphasized when in fact we are all one race demonstrates that he
has ways to seep into our hearts and minds with us not paying attention
to the real problem. Sure, there have been many evil deeds done over the
years to different people groups, but we are all of the human race, so
race should be used as a term to bring us together, not tear people
apart.<br />
<br />
The problem is a culture which claims to abhor
violence yet which does so little to turn their own hearts around so God
can cleanse this nation. Hence, a call for repentance revival must go
out and begin with us.<br />
<br />
The attack was what Charleston's
mayor calls "pure evil." And, that is what it boils down to, no matter
whether we are talking about that or other acts of wanton violence.
However, there is a reason people are into such evil in these days while
the Restrainer, the Holy Spirit, is still on the earth. It is because
the concepts of evil and violence that exist are allowed to fester in
some minds and combine at times with actual following of the occult.
These things cause people to do such horrible things as this and the
beheadings which have occurred <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/28/us/oklahoma-beheading/" target="_blank">even in the U.S.</a>, showing it's not just guns, but a desire to do evil that cause this insanity.<br />
<br />
<b>So, how do we respond?</b><br />
<br />
As
noted, "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against powers,
against principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."(Eph.6:12) This is,
as noted, a spiritual attack. We must use the full armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6:13-18,
and focus on how we can co-operate, as one race, to win the true battle
for the Lord instead of fighting each other. We are, after all, on the
same side if we choose to be on God's side.<br />
<br />
This is not
just thinking nice thoughts, though. We are powerless against the
devil's wiles, just as we would be powerless against a lion; the devil
"walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."(1 Peter
5:8) Just as the attacker let his mind be controlled by evil.
Supposedly, one of his quotes seems to show he focused on the evil,
satanic concept that races are separate. This is a lie an must be
pointed out with the certainty of God's Word. We are all one blood and all <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fanswersingenesis.org%2Fracism%2Fone-race%2F&ei=oCiDVcD3HMjYggSq2bLgBA&usg=AFQjCNHXq-vZtLEIPoxfmN1Xzoqlsh0iJA&sig2=_9AYGgEvotjzjrMffPetHA&bvm=bv.96041959,d.eXY" target="_blank">from the same place</a>. We are made in God's image, and He makes it quite clear in His Word that we are <a href="http://creation.com/made-in-the-image-of-god" target="_blank">made in His image</a>
and are commanded to love everyone because of that.While we must take
stands against sin, we must still love the sinner, and realize that
every single person is made in God's image and therefore must be loved -
Jesus commands it, and His Word says "He that loveth not knoweth not
God, for God is love."(1 John 4:8)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/1John/Let-Us-Love-One-Another" target="_blank">Love comes from God</a>,
though; at least, the unconditional type that is spoken of here. So,
one of the big things for us to do as we repent and seek God's face and
turn from our wickedness is to call on the Lord to help us love one
another better. This is crucial, because for us to seek God's help in
doing that, guess what we have to do: Be willing.<br />
<br />
That's
why there is so much falsehood in some churches, because they don't
have that love of others in them. How are they going to bring repentance
revival to their communities when they are not loving on each other,
let along loving those outside the church?<br />
<br />
So, in
short, the way we should respond is simple. Love one another. Love with
that unconditional love God provides for us. 1 John 4, 1 Corinthians
13(where the King James translators wisely translate it as charity
because it is the type of love that is always giving; the original Antiochan texts are only used by the KJV and this is but one example of how the word is much more descriptive) John 3, and
others all show the importance of that kind of love.<br />
<br />
<b>How do we stand against sin while showing that love?</b><br />
<br />
That is the big question, because I've said that we must also take a stand against sin.<br />
<br />
The
key is to look at things like John 4, John 8(woman caught in adultery),
etc.; instead of stoning the person, have compassion on them, be
willing to understand where they are coming from.<br />
<br />
For instance, that guy who cuts you off in traffic may be
rushing to the hospital to see a dying relative. That kid who plays
raunchy music that degrades women, glorifies violence, or both, and
drives you up the wall with it may have grown up in a home with such
terrible violence it would make your skin crawl. In the first instance,
you forgive and pray for them. In the second, you can forgive and share
with them how God has a better way and he can fill those holes in his
heart with much more pleasant things. It might take him a while to come
out of that dark place where his mind is, but that's where that
heart-mind change comes from the Bible tells us about in 2 Cor.5:17(new
creatures) and Romans 12:2(transforming/renewing the mind continually).<br />
<br />
It
is something only God can do,but the reason <a href="http://www.gcyouthquake.org/" target="_blank">Greater Canton Youthquake</a> exists is for our young people - and everyone - to grow in Christ so they will see His goodness and want Him to do that work in their hearts. People will only want to let Him it
when they see there is a difference and that we have something
wonderful that they will want to have for themselves. They will want to
become conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ in their
kindness, love, compassion for others, and so on.<br />
<br />
That
means being kind, friendly, considerate, etc., and listening to others
so they can see, "Hey, you know what? That's a mighty nice life they
live following Jesus Christ, I want to be part of that. I want what they
have."<br />
<br />
Some people are just plain rebels, of course,
and won't listen to that love because they want their own way all the
time. But, we need to be willing to communicate and
understand why people are doing what they are so we can help them see how, deep inside, they have holes in their
hearts that only Jesus can fill. The problem is they fill those holes with
other things - even the rebels. But, when we do show that love toward
them, some will realize they've been living wrong and start letting God transform them. And others, well, Romans 12:19-21 reminds us that
vengeance is the Lord's to do, not ours, and that by loving our enemies
and blessing those who persecute us, we heap burning coals on their
foreheads. It's like if they don't repent, when they die they will forever regret not
following the way of unconditional love they were shown here on earth.<br />
<br />
Let's stop filling our hearts with hatred like we saw in Charleston, but filling them with God's unconditional love.QuestforTruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952210780288748266noreply@blogger.com0