God makes the call

~Saturday Stories~

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” I repeated. ...
 “Me neither.” He started up the stairs. “But God gets to make the call on that one. Not you. Not me.” -Heather and Bryce, Counted Worthy

"...it starts with trusting that you don't know everything. That God does. That His decisions are better than yours, even when they hurt. You do that for a while, and you realize that regardless of what He allows, God's our best hope. Our only hope." -Jake, Angel Eyes

"Just remember that, no matter how dark life becomes, there will always be a reason to hang on 'til tomorrow. ... Always." -Cassie's grandpa, Unwritten Melody

How about you? Have you experienced hurt lately? Have you had a time when it was hard to trust God's choices? Would you mind sharing? 

Majoring in faith

~Saturday Stories~

“I think I can trust God’ll take me where I need to go ... I guess I better major in faith first, huh?” -Kirsten, The Merciful Scar

"Dear God, please help me to know how to handle this. I think you're telling me to break up with Josh. But a big part of me is struggling with it. Please, show me somehow what I need to do. Thank You." - Caitlin, Becoming Me

"My life was a mess. It still is - I mean my family is all messed up. But I don't feel all that agony inside anymore. I feel like I'm part of God's family. He really, truly is like a father to me. For me, it was like my heart melted when I asked Christ to come inside and pick up the pieces. I don't think I'd want my life to continue if God wasn't in it." -Katie, A Whisper and a Wish

How about you? Have you ever asked God what His plans are? Have you received an answer? Can you trust God to lead you to right where He wants you? Has God relieved some of your agony? Do you feel like a part of God's family? 

"He gives me an opportunity, and then I decide whether to take it or not "

~Saturday Stories~

"When Jesus 'shows' me something, it isn't like boom - there it is! It's more like he gives me an opportunity, and then I decide whether to take it or not." - Sophie, Sophie's World

"It was like God was reassuring me that it was okay. That I could really change." -Beka, The Masquerade

"I even prayed last night, sort of. Right now it's mostly yelling and being mad. God probably wishes I'd just shut up again."
"No way. ... As long as we're being honest with Him I think He's happy, since He already knows everything anyway." -Damien and Jacie, Stuck in the Sky

How does God show you things? Do you believe you can change? Do you talk with God? 

"God will use you"

~Saturday Stories~ 

"God looks at our hearts, Jacie. At our intentions. God will use you if you want. Just not always in the way you expect." - Jacie's mother, Stuck in the Sky

"Just because you take the opportunity Jesus gives you doesn't mean everybody does. You can't decide for another person. You can only give them the chance." - Dr. Peter, Sophie's World

"God chooses to use us, Jake, but really, He can do it all on His own." -Angel Eyes

How about you? Has God used you in ways you never expected? Have you told others about Jesus? Have you marveled about God's amazing blessing to us to be part of His plan? 

Belief is a choice

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"Belief is always a choice. And it's a choice no one else can make for you." -Jake in Shannon Dittemore's Angel Eyes

"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”" Joshua 24:15 (ESV)

Have you chosen to follow God? 

Who has the influence?

~Friday for Friends~

"I still think you should try to have friends that aren't Christians, because how else can you witness to them?"
"True, true," ... "But the key question is, are they bringing you down? In other words, are you having an influence on them, or are they having the greater influence on you?" - A Whisper and a Wish

"Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”[a] " 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

Who are you friends with? Are they dragging you down or are you bringing God's truth to them?

"I might need some help" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

 "Oh, God, help me to figure this all out. And help me to be true to you. I love you, God. I want to choose you above all else. But I might need some help. Amen." - Caitlin, Becoming Me

"I don't think I really started to heal until I forced myself to talk about it, to share the details. I hate to think of what might have happened, of the stunted person I might have become, if I hadn't opened up." - Amy, So Over It

"I'm yours now, God. I guess I always have been, haven't I?"- Grey, Jupiter Winds

"God, help me ... Please, please, help me, dear God. I know that something is wrong with me, and it's probably all my fault for the way I've been treating my body. I've been stupid, God. I'm sorry. Please, help me, God. I want to change. I'll do my best. I don't want to die." - Emily, Faded Denim

How about you? Have you asked God for help in choosing Him over everything else? Have you shared with someone about a hard time in your life? Have you treated your body as you should? Are you ready to say that you are God's?

"Lord, please give me the words" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"Lord, please give me the words." -Gracie, Grace Notes

"Not making a decision is the same as making one. It's like saying you like how things are going, that you want to keep heading in the same direction. But I think that's a bad choice. I mean, why would you want to live a life that makes you miserable? It makes no sense." - Andrea, Harsh Pink

"If it wasn't valuable, why would God waste time giving you the talent?" -Abbie, So Over It

"Oh, believe me, I have no illusions, I'm certain there'll be more hard times ahead - I mean, you just never know what a day might bring. But what I do know is that God can see me through. I can't wait to see what he does next!" -Caitlin, Becoming Me

How about you? Have you made a decision for Christ? Have you ever asked God to give you the words? What talents has He given you? Are you waiting to see what Christ does in your life? 

Who to be friends with

~Friday for Friends~

"Walk with the wise and become wise,
  for a companion of fools suffers harm." Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)

Think a moment about who you are friends with. Who do you "walk with?" How do they effect who you are? 

There is the fact that Jesus associated with "tax collectors and sinners" (Mark 2:15-17). So it's not horrible to be friends with non-Christians and influence others for Christ. However, you need to think about each specific friendship,

Who is influencing whom? Are you being a light? Or are they dragging you into darkness?  

Till the day we die

~Monday Movies & Music~

Sorry I didn't post last week. Hopefully, that won't become a habit.

"Til The Day I Die" is a pretty great song by TobyMac and featuring NF. Here are the lyrics.

""But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”" Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

Who do we choose to serve? Are we ready to serve Him till we die?

"They know they've been forgiven" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"...the only difference between them and you is that they know they've been forgiven." - Josh, Like Moonlight at Low Tide

"Our pain can help others." - Beth, The New Recruit

"Not making a decision is the same as making one. It's like saying you like how things are going, that you want to keep heading in the same direction. But I think that's a bad choice. I mean, why would you want to live a life that makes you miserable? It makes no sense." - Andrea, Harsh Pink

"Remember that God made you in His image, and therefore, you are beautiful." - The dedication in Skinny

How about you? Which quote touched you? Can you share some quotes you like?

"You ask his forgiveness" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

“You ask his forgiveness for your sins, and you trust him to take charge of your life because He loves you and He knows everything. And then you’re friends, too.” ~ Erin, Heart to Heart

“It’s funny how people say they don’t believe in God but blame Him when something bad happens. He never gets credit for all the good days, just blamed for the few bad ones." ~Beth, The New Recruit

"Well, it's up to us to make the choice. We can reject a free ride on the boat to Hawaii, or we can sit here and say, 'Yes, I believe in that boat, and I believe in Hawaii.' But unless we actually get on the boat, we're never going to make it to Hawaii." ~Todd, Summer Promise

“Ah, but of course if we really knew how much work it’d be to change ourselves, we’d be too overwhelmed to get started.” ~ Amy, Out with the In Crowd

How about you? Which quotes can you share?

Making choices - today

~Tuesday Thoughts~

Life is full of choices big and small. And sometimes we get sucked up trying to make the right big choices that we ignore the small ones. We wonder and ponder about colleges or future relationships so much that we forget to look around and invest into today.

It doesn't have to be big.Take a minute and say "hey, what's up?" to your sibling. Listen -really listen -when your mom says she's tired. Laugh with a friend. Chat with someone you don't know at school.

Let's shine with our lives. Let's love others and let them think "wow, something's different with him/her." And then let's point them to the reason for it - Christ.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

"'By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.'" John 13:35 (NIV)

How about you? How can you shine for Christ today?