What to do when trials come

~Tuesday Thoughts~

This is inspired by a sermon in a church we go to every once in a while.

"On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them." Acts 4:23-24 (NIV)

Peter and John had hurt healed a beggar in the name of Jesus and gotten into trouble for it. There are at least two great things in these 2 verses:

1. Peter and John went and told other followers of Christ their problem.
How cool is that? Do you have a community that encourages sharing about life's struggles and joys? If not, can you start encouraging others?

2. They prayed - right off. Like Oswald Chambers said, "God wants us to pray before we do anything at all." Prayer is an amazing and powerful thing. When and how often do you pray? What do you pray about? 

The whole story, from the healing to the prayer's answer is found in Acts 3:1-4:31.

Cry out to Jesus

~Monday Movies & Music~

"Cry Out to Jesus" is a song by Third Day. Here are the lyrics. 

  "He heals the brokenhearted

    and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

No matter the circumstance, we can find our hope in God. 

He is our Rock. Amen!

"Trust God always" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"Trust God always. He’s in control, and His plans are perfect. Stay close to Him in prayer, for that relationship will be your best protection in any circumstance" - Spencer's mom, The New Recruit

"Nobody really knows why bad, hard things happen to us. Sometimes it’s because we make bad choices. But God forgives us and helps us through. Sometimes it’s because other people make bad choices. God forgives them and helps us through. Sometimes it doesn’t make any sense at all. God comforts us and, again, helps us through." - Lydia, You Can't Sit With Us

“If... you know you have made decisions that make you less than pure, take comfort. Realizing that fact is one of the most important moments in your life. Because when you see sin for what it does and how it harms you and the people around you, you have the opportunity to ask God to step in and make you pure again." - Pastor Bill, Like Moonlight at Low Tide

"Remember that giving is something you get to do, not something you've got to do." - I Like Giving

How about you? Which quote do you like best? Which speaks to you?

Take the time to... FORGIVE

~Friday for Friends~

This is the fifth post in the Take the Time series. The rest are Take the Time to Listen, Take the Time to Encourage, Take the Time to Talk With Someone, and Take the Time to Stop Gossip. 


Sometimes hurt goes deep down. Scars are left. Nightmares keep us awake. And we're called to forgive? Yes.

"But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:15 (NIV)

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]""Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

We have the perfect example of forgiveness- God. And if God forgives us, we can - with His help - try to follow this example.

True mercy

~Tuesday Thoughts~

Jesus responded in a very interesting way to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11).

She was brought to Him by the complacent Pharisees (John 8:3). In answer to the question of whether or not they should stone her (vv. 4-5) Jesus told them that the one without sin should be the first to throw a stone (v.7). This way He reminded them that they were also sinful. One by one everyone left (v. 9).

When the temple courts were empty but for the two of them, Jesus did not condemn the woman (v.11). Though He was sinless and could throw the first stone He chose to forgive, which He indeed had the power to do (Luke 5:24).

Though God is just (Isaiah 5:16) and does not tolerate sin (Isaiah 59:2), He is also compassionate (Psalm 145:8-9) and merciful (Micah 7:18). Jesus did not come into the world to condemn it, but to save it (John 3:17) and "to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). He admonished the woman “Go now and leave your life of sin” (v.11). Not only did He forgive, but He also called her to a new life. The Bible does not say what she did afterwards, but most likely this was a watershed in her life after which she gave up her sin.

Jesus had mercy on the woman. 
 
How awesome our God is! He deserves our praise!!!

This good day

~Monday Movies & Music~

This Good Day is a song by Fernando Ortega. Here are the lyrics. 

Whatever happens today, we can know...

"This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)

Our God is higher, stronger, and more majestic than anyone or anything! Whatever happens, we can be in His arms!

The New Recruit by Jill Williamson

Typical Spencer: "I used to like church. When I was a kid, I looked forward to Sunday school, bringing my quarters for starving children in Africa, making cross crafts out of popsicle sticks, memorizing Bible verses, singing songs with hand motions, and showing Grandma the cartoon story in the take-home paper. Somewhere along the way I just lost interest. But I’m glad, you know? Because when I look at the people who are my age— those churcher teens— I don’t want to be one of those people. Those happy, peppy, “Yay, God!” types. I’ve got my friends. I don’t need all that… joy."

Spencer Garmond thought he was an ordinary kid who lived with an ordinary grandma and who went to an ordinary (though boring) Christian school. And then he gets an opportunity to join the Mission League. A bunch of Christian spies? What a joke. But threatened with military school and intrigued by his family history, he joins them. Now this better not be a waste of what might have been a great basketball conditioning summer. And they better not preach at him.

I seriously loved The New Recruit with its action-packed story that was also full of truths about God. Jill Williamson did a great job of making Christianity something very real and applicable to teens. At first, Spencer doesn't want anything to do with the "churchers", but later he comes to realize that maybe God really does care.

Spencer is a great character, who is fun to read about and very relatable. His voice, dripped with boyishness and quick wit and just plain freshness, was one of the best parts of the story.

The New Recruit is the first book in The Mission League series. The others are Chokepoint (novella), Project Gemini, Ambushed (novella), Broken Trust, Lockstep (novella), and The Profile Match.

For more on Jill Williamson visit her website and Facebook page. She also blogs regularly at Go Teen Writers.