| "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." John 15:8
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Kids For Christ
T here are a lot of things I could say about my life. I could talk about hardship, addiction, or loss. But those things don't matter anymore. They don't matter because of an experience that happened a year ago.
I had chosen to live my life separate from God because in my mind I saw God as a demanding and unfair judge. I knew that Jesus died for my sins but I knew nothing of Jesus my friend. I had spent most of my life hiding within myself but hating the person I was hiding in. I would put on the face that everything was ok but the hurt that I felt inside placed thick walls around my heart. Walls that no one could break. In this closing of myself I felt that I needed to change my reality and looked to every way possible to accomplish that which only led to a road of addiction and placed me into a deeper depression.
But all of that changed. I was at home one evening when I began to feel an uncontrollable fear and at that moment realized that life was bigger than me and the things I was involved in were more than I could overcome. At that time I walked into my bedroom and knelt down by my bed. I don't even think I got any words out of my mouth before I felt God come into my bedroom and the walls that once towered over my head crumbledas I called on the name of Jesus.
From that moment on I knew that Jesus was the one. The past year has been an incredible journey of walking with God and I can credit this year to the experience that happened in my bedroom called God reaching man.
(c) Josh Hall, 2003, Copyright
If you know of someone who might want to read Josh's story, please feel free to forward this story. Please send the entire newsletter.
THINK ABOUT IT
Have you ever been really lost? One time I went to visit my brother-in-law and family. It's only 15 minutes from here, but I had heard about a shortcut. I turned down that road with confidence and thirty minutes later was frustrated. I was totally lost. It was a country road. There were no signs and I had lost my sense of direction. I wondered if I would ever get out. As I crossed over a bridge, I saw a beautiful sight. It was a highway in the distance. I didn't know how to get there, but at least now I had hope.
Josh Hall loved God with everything that he had, and then one day he failed. He got really, really lost over the next four years. He saw God as a harsh judge because people judged him. He fell into addiction, an out-of-control life, and a dark place called depression. It seemed as if there was no way out and he felt very, very lost.
He almost gave up because it seemed impossible to find his way or to reach God on his own. Then one dark night, he crossed a bridge and saw something that gave him hope.
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FYI
Suzie interviewed hundreds of teens, asking hard questions like, "what can your parents do to help you in your faith?" and "if you could tell your parents one thing, what would it be?". You opened up and shared your heart. This book will go to print soon and will hit bookstores sometime in early Summer, 2004. Our hope is that it will impact parents all over the nation.
If you know of a mom or dad that might be interested in reading an honest book, let us know and we'll add them to a growing mailing list of parents who want to connect with their teens.
THINK ABOUT IT
Just last night I watched as Travis, a really cool teen in our youth group, walked away from his normal group to sit next to a guy named "Jon". Jon has a lot of strikes against him. His dad is an alcoholic. His family is poor. His mom is nowhere in the picture. He compensates for it by getting attention in all the wrong ways. He showed up for youth with a cut across his forehead, the result of one of his "friends" pushing him off a curb.
When Travis walked over and pulled up a chair, Jon's expression changed from apprehensive to confident. After all, one of the most popular, respected guys in the youth group had chosen to hang out with him.
When you read Ben's story, think of the Ben and Jon's in your life. Listen to his story as he tells about how one very kind teen made a difference in his world. Ask yourself: What am I called to do? What difference can I make when I show real compassion to those who least expect it? Why is it that the guys (and girls) who already have to deal with the harsh things of life get it the worst? How can that be fair? What can I do about it?
I'd love to hear what you think about this story and how it applies to us today. I'm thankful for Ben's courage in sharing this story and how the kindness of one girl helped him meet. . .
Reprinted from http://www.daretobelieve.org T . Suzanne Eller is a freelance writer, author, and ministry speaker to teens. She can be reach by e-mail at tseller@daretobelieve.org
You Can Have Peace With God
Do You Feel ALIVE?
Are you as happy as you could be? Do you wake up each day with energy and enthusiasm? Are there any doubts about what is going to happen to you in the future? Do you want a life based on a rock-solid promise of Eternity? Real living, abundant now and into the future. This Life can be yours but you can not earn it. All you have to do is ask. God is the Life source, and if you make peace with Him you will have Real Life in abundance. This is a salvation prayer for you. If you will say this prayer and believe it in your heart, God will forgive your sins and give you a new life. And you can start experiencing a loving relationship with God today.
1) Acknowledge.
If someone gives you new clothing, you must throw away the old. Tell God that your old ways are not working and that you reject those ways. God is a loving Father, He knows what you need- you are His child. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13)
2) Repent.
This means to turn away from your old life. If the old way is not working, get rid of it. If you want to receive strength and energy you must abandon the old ways. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3)
3) Confess.
Simply talk to God like you would a father. Tell Him the bad things you have done and He will forgive. Make sure that you immediately pray whenever you fall back into old ways. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)
4) Forsake.
Now make every effort to clean up your life. Do not let the old ways steal your new life and happiness. Clean out everything. Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)
5) Believe.
God wants us to have Faith in Him. He does not want us to seek proof? The words of Jesus are like no other. These words alone are all you need to find Life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen, He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him. (Mark 16:6)
6) Receive.
Receive Jesus Christ now as your personal Lord and Savior all you have to do is say this prayer now with your mouth and believe it in your heart:
God, be merciful to me a sinner. Save my soul. I now confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and I believe in my heart that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, therefore I am saved. Jesus you are my Lord. Jesus, you are my Savior. I belong to you Lord Jesus Christ now and forevermore. I now renounce all the works of the devil. Father God, I thank you now for my salvation in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. He came to His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. (John 11:12)
7) Peace.
Now your life is based on the rock. Accept the peace that God now gives you. You are completely new. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17). Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)
CONGRATULATIONS!
The next thing for you to do now is to get a Bible and read it regularly, pray and go to a Bible believing church. Please check out the links on this page for additional helps.
Our Mission
The Mission of Young Disciples is to help Young people with How to face the Issues of Life with help from the lord jesus Christ. To be tool that God can use to reach both young and older People for the Lord Jesus Christ and to teach born-again Christian Singles on how they can be more effective in Soul Winning and disciples making For Our Lord and Savour Jesus Christ.
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