      
MEMORY VERSE: Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy
youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou
shalt say, l have no pleasure in them (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
A Sunday school teacher became deeply concerned for the conversion of a
teenage girl in her class. Lovingly and earnestly she spoke to the girl
about salvation. The girl listened respectfully but decided against Christ,
saying that in later years she would give consideration to her relationship
with the Lord. The teacher went away with a heavy heart.
On her way home, the teacher came up with a plan to impress upon the girl
the unfairness of her decision. Stopping at a florist's shop she bought a
dozen roses. She then kept the roses in the florist's box for several days,
after which she sent them to the girl.
Upon receiving the box, the girl was elated but when she opened the gift
she was disgusted. "Some joke," she said.
Shortly thereafter, the teacher called on the class member again and
explained that she had sent the wilted flowers. "When you chose not to give
Christ your youthful years, you decided to present to Him later a life faded
and withered like those roses," she said.
The girl understood and responded: "I see it. It will not be that way. I
will give myself to Christ right now and live for His glory."
Youth is a wonderful time. Often young people resent being told that they
are living through the time of their lives, but it is true. What older
person would not give all for the opportunity of living through his teens
again?
Those who surrender to Christ in youth discover life's secret early and
are equipped to build a life that endures...even into old age.
"Whitney, Michael, Jamie,
Lauren & Casey
during a 30 hour famine."
Tween a rock and a hard
place. Here you are, more than a child but not quite a teen. Between a rock
and a hard place.
This age was especially
difficult for me. There was an older youth in my life who constantly told me:
"You're ugly." "Good for nothing." "Useless." "You'll never amount to
anything." And as I heard that day after day, I began to believe it. I mean,
it must be true, otherwise he wouldn't keep saying it.
It hurt. Deeply. I
wanted the pain to go away but didn't see any hope for things to get better.
Because of this belief about myself, I stuttered, especially when talking to
adults. I was miserable.
So I began to consider
suicide. It became my main focus in life. But I would think about my mother
and knew that she would cry. I didn't think that anyone else would care or miss
me, but I didn't want to make my mom cry. She had enough pain in her life as it
was.
Then one night at church,
the youth pastor said something that stuck with me: "I am me and I am good
'cause God don't make no trash." Then he showed us in the Bible in Genesis 1
where God said, "It is good" after He created each part of creation. But after
God created man, He said "it is very good." (Genesis 1:31)
God considers me "very
good." I knew that God "so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son
so that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life." But I didn't believe that God liked me. I didn't have a problem with
God loving the world, but why should He love me or even like me.
I knew that God was
perfect and didn't make mistakes. He couldn't mess up or lie. So when I heard
that "I am me and I am good 'cause God don't make no trash," it finally got
through to me.
God created me and God
doesn't make mistakes. He wanted to be my Rock that lifted me up out of my
depression and despair. He wanted to lift me up from between "a rock and a hard
place" up onto the Rock of His love and into the Sonshine of His presence.
It's a wonderful place.
And when those old thought's came back to my mind, I would simply say out loud,
"I am me and I am good 'cause God don't make no trash," and step back into the
presence of His love.
Won't you join me here?
God and I would love to have you join us. He came that we might have life and
have it abundantly. He wants you to enjoy life to the max!!
If you need to talk to
someone, call the number on the right border or call me, Renee at 704-692-2452.
Don't let someone talk you out of the gift of life. Life is great when you know
the truth.
 ...over
thousands of years have found a God who cares. One that addresses their
uncertainty, disappointments and loneliness.
They took a spiritual journey that connected them to
God in a permanent and deeply personal way. And
you can too.
STACI'S STORY
Student Venture and CCCI's GMO/WorldLINC team have launched an outreach site
using the story of a young girl in Florida who suddenly died, leaving behind an
incredible testimony. Staci Stephens was not your typical teenager. She was
cute, personable and could have followed the crowd, but instead she wanted her
life to count for all eternity. Staci died suddenly at age 16, but her legacy
lives on and today is encouraging thousands:
http://www.StaciStory.com/
Hands!
A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Mark McGuire's hands is worth $19 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in.
A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Venus Williams' hands is a championship winning.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy
A sling shot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.
Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will
produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.
As you see now it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams,
your families and your relationships in God's hands because...
It depends whose hands it's in.
This message is now in your hands.
What will YOU do with it?
It Depends on WHO'S Hands it's in!!
the Guideposts website for tweens
Welcome to The Christian
Children's Page. Come in and enjoy our facts and fun centered around God's Word,
His creation, and Christian family values.
www.planetwisdom.com WisdomWorks Ministries
Helping Students live life from God's perspective.
www.bringyourbible.com The only people keeping Bibles out
of America’s public
schools are -- us Christians!
Let’s just bring them in. Millions of us. Tote ‘em and quote ‘em!
www.powertochange.com Power to Change is about one thing: knowing God.
Here are four principles to help you discover how you can begin a relationship
with God and experience power to change.
www.hollywoodjesus.com
Hollywood Jesus, a family-oriented
film review Web site, addresses the spiritual perspective behind many
blockbuster hits. Preview Family Movie and TV Review offers film reviews and
additional information, including entertainment and acceptability ratings. This
film review Web site is another valuable tool especially for families making
movie-viewing decisions.
www.peggiesplace.com/fathershouse4teens.htm With dozens of links to worship
resources such as online sermons, inspirational music, prayers, and Scripture
readings, you can experience a private worship service anytime you need to renew
your focus on God.
www.passageway.org The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association web site for
youth and teens.
Disclaimer: The above ministries and links have not endorsed
God Speed Ministry or support God Speed Ministry in any way. The links are
provided as a means of growth and education. The above logos are there to help
our visitors build recognition with that ministry. If we have used this logo
against your wishes, please email me @
support@godspeedministry.com
and we will remove the logo ASAP. Thank you and God Bless you!
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