Don't Stress About It...

 Let’s face it… your not having a good day. Your car broke down.  Things are  just not going your way.  At those times you are just so mad or disapointed right? You think to yourself how can a loving God allow this to happen?

 

Okay, back to your day.  You finally realize that you probably should call someone that has gas for your car or a tow truck.  Right when you reach for your phone, you see that it is at 5% battery… Oh great, just what I need, you think to yourself.  You hurry up and call a family member that you know will help you.  “Hi, I need your help, my-" 

 

YOUR PHONE DIES.

 

 Out of nowhere a truck comes and pulls over.  He introduces himself and offers to help you. Your strength, which was at 10%, jumped up to 100%.  You tell him all of that happened - from the car to your phone.  The man obviously can tell you are stressed.  The man tells you this, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

 

At that moment you just want to get home and you ignore his comment by nodding your head. He drives you back to your house and fills your car with gas.  Now your strength is at 99%.  You are tired so there goes the other 1%.  When you open up your wallet to pay him, he refuses.  You insist that you should at least give him a 20.  He refuses. You are tired.  You don’t feel like arguing.  You open your door, and on your counter you see a note.  The text on the note seems familiar.  You realize it is the scripture that he told you.

 

You run out to your driveway hoping he is still there.  You see that his truck is…but he isn’t.  You see a man in the truck…  you run over there.  The man notices you and says, "What do you need?"  You are confused because this is not the same man you saw.  You remember the man’s name… Michael..  You ask him if he has seen Michael and if he works at the company.  He says no.  You are tired and you say sorry and goodnight.  As you go to bed you wonder: Was that an angel?  Was it God?

You see my point is God knows if you are having a bad day. He is there to comfort you. You never know…maybe one day in your life,  you encountered an angel, but didn’t know it….

Joy!

"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  Matthew 5:12

            Joy, excitement, gladness…..when you hear these words do you think of sad, grumpy

people? NO, you probably think of people smiling and having a good time. I love being joyful

 and happy (who doesn’t) My school/church has a MIDDLE SCHOOL LOCK- IN…At first I was

 unsure of if I wanted to go or not…I decided I was going, after hearing about it and what we

 will be doing…It seemed like a JOYFUL, FUN, AND HAPPY experience (plus all my friends will

 be there). Tonight is the lock- in :) I am really excited! But unfortunately when I get REALLY

EXCITED my stomach starts to hurt…but I am not going to let that get me down J So do you feel

 like you could be more happy? Or more excited when things come up? Now you can: ) Jesus

wants us to be joyful and enjoy are life here on earth, even through all of the craziness…

BE HAPPY, BE JOYFUL, BE YOU!

We will be SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy in Heaven…I can’t even explain! (thankfully no stomach aches in heaven too)

Happy Birthday Matthew!

To the person who lights up my day

To the person who’s smile makes me smile

To the person who I love to play with

To the person that makes me laugh

To my…  BROTHER!

THAT’S YOU MATTHEW!!

HAPPY 7^TH BIRTHDAY!

I LOVE YOU!

Thank you God for Matthew!

He is such a joy in my life

I am thankful to have Matthew as a brother J

Please continue showing him what your will is for his life!

Amen

Service

               

Service…what does the word service mean to you? If you are not sure I will give you an example where I have been doing service.

            My class went on a field trip…we went boxcar loading! In the middle of doing it I did want to give up, it was tiring. (Who knew soap and a bunch of quilts would be so heavy?) Anyway…I was wondering why we needed to do this and where all of this stuff is going…our teacher told us. He said that this stuff is going to North Carolina to be shipped of to Africa! The point of boxcar loading is to provide lasting solutions to poverty…If you want to learn more go to www.lwr.org. I am so glad that my class was able to go! We had a lot of fun! It also made it a whole lot better knowing why we were doing this J It made GREAT memories too J

            So what is service? Service is doing something where you are helping others whether physically, secretly,(like when you help someone but they don't know it yet) or spiritually. God loves when you help others out…because by doing it, it also helps you understand why it is so important. So how can you serve others today? Or even better:

HOW CAN YOU SERVE GOD EVERDAY?

A True Friend

 

          A friend… What is a friend? Let’s see what the definition of a friend is:

 

friend

noun

1. A person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.

2. A person who gives assistance; patron; supporter:

3. A person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile

 

Now that we know the definition of what a friend is, we now can see if we are a friend… Ask yourself… AM I A FRIEND?

Now here is the definition of a spiritual friend: I like how this person describes what each word means after saying what a spiritual friend means: (http://aliroohi.wordpress.com/)

Define: a trust worthy peer, with whom we mutually choose, to lovingly live with intentionally by seeking unique access for service for God’s glory and our joy.

A trust worthy = meaning they don’t let you down
peer = they are in the same stage of life as you are
mutually choose = family doesn’t choose you, friends choose you.
Lovingly == sometimes love encourages and sometime love wounds for you benefit.
Unique access = they available, they let you in.
for service for God’s glory = sorry guys, your drinking buddies are not your friends.

Now we have a clear idea of what a SPIRITUAL friend. Now this is the part where you decide if you are a SPIRITUAL FRIEND.   

• A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17- Do you love your friends, or enemies at all times?
• A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  Proverbs 18:24- Are you a friend that sticks closer than a BROTHER??

HERE ARE SOME VERSES THAT PROVE TO BE A TRUE SPIRITUAL FRIEND!

Even if you don’t have a TRUE SPIRITUAL FRIEND…remember Jesus is your friend and He sticks closer than a brother! Remember also to be a friend to others… if you are in a situation where your so- called friend is treating you badly or demanding things and hating you at that moment but “closer than a brother” the next… Sometimes you just have to walk away… even if it seems like you will have NO ONE…but you do… YOU HAVE JESUS! JESUS DIED FOR YOU!

NOW THAT IS AN ULTIMATE FRIEND!

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

 

     In my class we are writing devotions, when I first started this one I was like: How am I going to do this?? Once you see the topic you will see why! But after talking it over with my parents and friends, I finally figured it out...

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25: 11-13 Afterword the other virgins came also saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us’. But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you’. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

    

        Do you think that just because you go to church  or a Christian school, that that makes you a Christian and that your ready for when Jesus comes back?   Another way to look at it is if you have a test  and you don’t study, you will not be ready for the test. You have to be filled with the information.  Here is a parable called  The  Ten Virgins:

    There were ten virgins.  Five of them were wise, five of them were foolish. They were all going to meet the bridegroom.  The five foolish virgins didn’t take any extra  oil for their lamps, but the other five virgins who were wise, took flasks of oil for their lamps. The bridegroom was delayed, and all the virgins got tired and fell asleep. At midnight there was a cry. Then they all removed their lamps and rose to meet him.  The foolish virgins asked the wise virgins for some oil, since their lamps were going out.  The wise virgins answered saying “Since their will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves” While the foolish virgins were on their way to go get oil, the bridegroom arrived.  The wise virgins who were ready, went into the marriage feast, and the door was shut.  The foolish virgins came back and the door was shut.  They pleaded to the Lord to open up the door, but the Lord said “ Truly I say to you, I never knew you”

    In this parable, the lamp stands for God’s word.  The oil stands for the Holy Spirit. Don’t be like the foolish virgins who didn’t take oil with them.  The foolish virgins didn’t care if they were born again , they just wanted to go to the  party and didn’t care about seeing the bridegroom( who is Jesus Christ) While the wise virgins brought oil for their lamps and wanted to see the bridegroom.  The day will come where if you are not born again and believe in Christ, He will say “I never knew you.” So we have to spread the word of God to everyone we know so that they will be in heaven with God.

   

   

    Dear God, Please help us to follow your word and your truth, please help us carry your word wherever we go. Amen