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kristy1
Scripture: EXODU 21. ,!page "EXODU021" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Kristy:
A balanced life
I loved ballet. I learned how to dance when I was 5 years old and had been doing it ever since. I practiced every day, took lessons at least once a week. I dreamed of someday joining the American Ballet Company. By the time I got to high school, ballet had become my life. Everything revolved around my dancing-even my social life. If I had a recital, I dropped out of every other activity in order to practice. And I was obsessed with my weight, unwilling to gain even a few extra ounces that might jeopardize my figure.
When I became a Christian, I never dreamed it would affect my ballet. But one day in church the sermon was on the first commandment. The pastor talked about how certain things can become gods to us if we let them become more important than God. I thought about the amount of time I spent practicing my ballet compared to the amount of time I spent reading the Bible and praying. Had ballet become my idol?
I begin to pray about it, and God showed me that I had let ballet become more important than him. I decided to spend no more time practicing than I did reading the Bible and praying. I cut down on my dancing lessons and got involved in our church's youth group. It's been difficult to let up on dancing, but now it's OK that dancing is my second love. Because my first love is Jesus.sus.
Kristy
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Scripture Index ,!page XBOOKS1 of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Bookshelf ,!page #BOOKMENU of book "mbi_mnu.tbk"
Scrapbook ,!page 1 of book "mbi_sbk.tbk"
How-To for Life ,!page #HOWTO of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Topical Index ,!page #TNOTEINDEX of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
--------------------
Scripture: EXODU 21. ,!page "EXODU021" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
iblical Lands & the World ,!page 7 of book "mbi_pix.tbk"
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Kristy: A balanced life ,!kristy1
Kara: Obedience ,!Kara1
Amy: Honoring parents ,!amy1
Carolyn: Horoscopes,Ouija, & Satan ,!Carolyn1
Steve: When you're afraid ,!steve1
Mike: God gives you strength ,!mike1
Amanda: How to be a leader ,!amanda1
Jenna: Feeling depressed & confused ,!jenna1
Eric: Angry at God ,!eric1
Anita: Dealing with worry ,!anita1
Jodi: Keeping faith in bad times ,!jodi1
David: Trusting that God is in control ,!david1
Melinda: God can protect from fear ,!melinda1
John: Procrastination and laziness ,!john1
Kristen: Witnessing ,!kristen1
Tammy: Time with God every day ,!tammy1
Amy: Healing broken friendships ,!amy2
Jason: Dealing with peer pressure ,!jason1
Amy: Feeling alone at a new school ,!amy3
Julio: Loneliness in a new country ,!julio1
Lori: Abortion ,!lori1
Kara: God forgives ,!kara2
Christine: Rejected for being Christian ,!christine1
Susan: When you'd like to get revenge ,!susan1
Laura: Having doubts about God ,!laura1
Marita: Acting phony to be popular ,!marita1
David: Facing a person you hate ,!david2
Tracy: Not getting along with Mom ,!tracy1
Barbara: When disaster strikes ,!barbara1
Kris: When life turns chaotic ,!kris1
Kenneth: Being bold in witnessing ,!kenneth1
Rick: Working against the occult ,!rick1
Lisa: Leading a double life ,!lisa1
Lavonne: You're hurt and want revenge ,!lavonne1
Brooke: A problem with gossiping ,!brooke1
Sam: Dating ,!sam1
Linda: Why do bad things happen? ,!linda1
Greg: Disagreeing with parents ,!greg1
Brad: Getting along with parents ,!brad1
Katie: Satisfaction with what you have ,!katie1
Jenny: Being a Christian in high school ,!jenny1
Joel: A difficult decision is needed ,!joel1
Tricia: Making excuses for sin ,!tricia1
Sue: Struggling with apathy ,!sue11111111
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Kara1
Scripture: LEVIT 26. ,!page "LEVIT026" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Kara:
Obedience
I know that most people, especially kids, don't usually read Leviticus for devotions, and I won't pretend that that's what I was doing. But I was involved in a read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year-program, and so I had to read every word of this book. What hit me most as I read all this stuff about laws and sacrifices was how seriously God takes the way his people obey or disobey him. And he stated it so clearly for the Israelites. For example, in chapter 26 God says that obedience will bring prosperity in the Promised Land, but disobedience will bring nothing but trouble. How could the people be so stupid, I thought as I read. Why would they ever disobey? But then I thought of how I have even more evidence of God's love than those people had and all of his Word; and yet, I take God for granted and even disobey him on purpose at times. Then I thought of what I knew God wanted me to do that day (for one thing, I needed to apologize to my mom for something I had said). So I asked God to forgive me and went to talk with Mom. God takes obedience seriously, and so should I.
Scripture: DEUTE 5. ,!page "DEUTE005" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Amy:
Honoring parents
My parents are Christians, and even though they are stricter than I'd like, I have to admit they're good parents. One day while reading the Bible, I came across the fifth commandment, the one about honoring your parents. The note in the margin pointed out that there is a promise attached to this commandment: If you follow it, you will lead a long and happy life. What struck me is that my parents are always saying things like, "We're only saying this for your own good. We want you to be happy." It seemed like God was saying, "Your parents love you, they are trying to help you lead a happy life, so if you listen to them, your life will go better." It all made sense. For a while I felt guilty that I didn't listen to them as much as I should, but I determined to consult them more. A few nights later I decided to talk to them about a relationship I was having trouble with. I was surprised to find that they really understood, and my mom even had some helpful advice about what she had done in a similar situation. I hadn't realized before how much wisdom my parents really have to give me.
Carolyn1
Scripture: DEUTE 18. ,!page "DEUTE018" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Scripture: EPHES 6 ,!page "EPHES006" of book "mbi_txt.tbk""
Letter from Carolyn:
Horoscopes,Ouija boards,and Satan
It was strange how this one passage of Scripture-Ephesians 6:10-18, about putting on the whole armor of God-kept coming up again and again in one week. First it came up in my quiet time. Then we studied the same passage in the youth Bible study. Finally, my pastor preached a sermon on spiritual warfare. Later that week my friend asked me if I would play the Ouija board with her. I felt uneasy about it, but it seemed like just a game, so I said yes. Some weird things happened; the piece that you put your fingers on really seemed to move of its own accord, and it spelled out some weird answers. I had a very creepy feeling that this was not of God. I told my friend I wanted to quit right now, that I didn't think God wanted us to do this. That night I called my youth pastor and told him about it. He pointed out that Deuteronomy 18:9-14 warns us against trying to seek the future from means other than God. He reminded me of Ephesians 6 and the armor God gives us to fight the devil. I realized that God had been trying to prepare me for the temptation to use the Ouija board, but I wasn't paying close enough attention at the time. I learned from my mistake. I will never touch or mess with a Ouija board or horoscopes or anything like that again.hat again.
Carolyn
steve1
Scripture: JOSHU 1. ,!page "JOSHU001" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Steve:
When you're afraid
When I was in first grade, I memorized Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Recently I took part in a school play. I developed a bad case of stage fright before the performance. I didn't think I was going to make it through. I prayed, asking God to help me feel more comfortable with my part, and the verse came to mind again. I was concentrating on this encouragement, straight from God's Word, and it dispelled my fear. I remembered my lines and even did pretty well in the play, according to several people. There have been many other times when I've recalled this verse and gained courage from it. Whenever I feel scared and alone, I remember this verse. It always comforts me. me.
Steve
mike1
Scripture: 2SAMU 22. ,!page "2SAMU022" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Mike:
God gives you strength
I was at a summer camp in Florida. Our group wanted to go swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, but we couldn't because there was a hurricane off the coast at the time and the riptides and undertow were too strong. After dinner I walked down to the beach to look for a hat I had lost. Another guy in my group noticed four boys about 100 feet out in the water. They started swimming in, but one couldn't make it. He kept drifting farther out. The other boy I was with ran into the water to save him. I stood on the shore for 10 seconds and then without thinking jumped in also. When I was halfway to the boy the guy from my group passed me; he couldn't make it so he turned back. When I finally reached the boy, he was semiconscious. I grabbed him and tried to walk back to shore, but the water was over my head. I told the boy that every time there was a wave we would kick and try to ride it. I began to pray; I didn't know whether to just try to save my own life or hang onto the guy and keep trying to swim. I remembered 2 Samuel 22:17 and 2 Samuel 22:40a. I kept on swimming. After five minutes I stopped swimming; I was able to stand up. Before long we were on the shore. I believe the only reason I made it was because God was giving me the strength. I never saw the boy again. again.
amanda1
Scripture: 2KING 10. ,!page "2KING010" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Amanda:
How to be a leader
I had always been a leader: class president, a member of the leadership team in our youth group, vice president of the Key Club-anything I was involved in, I ended up being a leader of some sort. And I always assumed that leadership meant enjoying certain privileges: respect, being treated well, people listening to me when I made suggestions or comments, even a certain amount of special consideration when decisions were made. Then I read 2 Kings, and saw how the different kinds of leaders affected their people. Good kings led their people in ways that pleased the Lord, and that resulted in them being blessed. Evil kings led their people into disaster and destruction. So much seemed to depend on the leaders!
One day not long after that, I read Matthew 20:25-28, and I finally realized that my idea of leadership was all wrong. I usually thought only of myself; here Jesus was saying that real leaders must be humble servants. After being in the habit of serving myself, it was difficult to serve, as Jesus said. Putting others first made leadership harder, not easier. I talked about it with my youth leader. She encouraged me to look at a few other verses-Romans 5:3-4 and 8:18. These verses talk about how difficulties have a purpose: to strengthen our faith. Serving others doesn't come naturally, and sometimes it hurts to give up my own rights. But I'm finding that following Jesus' way is helping my faith to grow-and some people even think I'm a better leader!
Amanda
jenna1
Scripture: PSALM 6. ,!page "PSALM006" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Jenna:
Feeling depressed and confused
There was a time a couple of years ago when I was really down on myself, depressed and very confused. I couldn't do anything to make myself feel better. I prayed about it and one night I opened my Bible looking for consolation. I leafed through the Psalms, remembering that a Christian friend had once told me that whenever he felt bad, it helped to read the Psalms. What caught my eye that night was the heading for Psalm 6: "A prayer for deliverance in time of distress. God is able to deliver us." That's what I felt-distressed; and what I needed was deliverance. I read and reread that psalm. It spoke straight to my heart, and it showed me that God was there for me, as always. Do I ever love him! Now whenever I'm in doubt about God's love and care, I turn to that psalm. It reminds me that God is always there and that he will lead me through any dark time I experience, just as he did that one night when I first read Psalm 6. 6.U
Jenna
eric1
Letter from Eric:
Angry at God
I couldn't get out of my mind what my friend had told me. She said that when she was eight years old, her oldest brother raped her-more than once. I felt angry, mainly at God. I just couldn't understand it. How could God let such a terrible thing happen to such a wonderful person? Why hadn't he done anything to stop it-like have the phone ring, or someone come to the door, or someone come home? Anything! This really bothered me for a long time. Then I was reading in the Psalms, and I came across Psalm 13. I saw that the psalmist was angry at God, too-he was actually complaining to God! That gave me freedom to spill out my heart to God. I told God all my bitter and confused thoughts concerning what happened to my friend. I cried. I even lashed out at God. And the result of telling God what was on my mind and my heart was an incredible peace. Psalm 13 showed me that God always wants to hear what's on my mind, even when I'm angry with him. In the end, I found that God is there for me-even if I don't always understand all his ways.
Scripture: PSALM 13. ,!page "PSALM013" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
anita1
Scripture: PSALM 34. ,!page "PSALM034" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Anita:
Dealing with worry
There are two Scriptures that sustain me daily. I have a disease called Epstein-Barr, I am always fatigued and often in pain. Psalm 34 reminds me that I can rely on God constantly for every ounce of strength I need, and it reminds me that God does hear the cry of those who are trusting him. I rely on these verses constantly for the "now" of every day. Jeremiah 29:11 is my source of hope for the future. It reminds me that my constant worry about college and about ever getting over my illness is totally unnecessary; everything that happens is part of God's plan for my life. His plan is for good, not evil, and he intends to give me a future and a hope. He truly will take care of everything as I trust him. I have memorized these passages, and I remind myself of the words whenever I need to-which is almost every day! They are a great source of comfort to me. me.
Anita
jodi1
Scripture: PSALM 46. ,!page "PSALM046" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Jodi:
Keeping faith in bad times
Everything was going wrong in my life. My parents were getting a divorce. My boyfriend broke up with me. I couldn't concentrate in school, so my grades started going down. It began to affect my faith. I couldn't understand why God was letting all this happen to me. When I prayed, I felt like I was talking to myself. I guess I was mad at God, blaming him in my heart for the things that were happening. I tried to read the Bible anyway, even though I was struggling spiritually. One day I read Psalm 46. Verse 10 really made me stop and think. This verse seemed to say, "Stop looking at your problems and look at me. Look at who I am." I realized God was in charge-he knew exactly what he was doing and had a purpose in mind for what I was going through. I just needed to accept it and believe he is a loving God who would never do a thing to hurt me. That changed my perspective. Instead of blaming God, I asked him to help me through my struggles. And he has. Things are still rough sometimes, but now I know that God is for me, and he will work things out for good. As Romans 8:31 says, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" us?"
david1
Scripture: PSALM 57. ,!page "PSALM057" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from David:
Trusting that God is in control
I'll never forget the day my father collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. The doctor told my mother and me that he'd suffered a severe heart attack and was now teetering between life and death; it could go either way. Standing with my mother by his bed, I prayed harder than I'd ever prayed before. I thought about how my father always reached out to others for Jesus, and I couldn't believe that God would be done with him yet. It almost seemed that God was reassuring me of this, but I asked him for a promise from his Word. I didn't want to go just on feelings. The verse he brought to mind is Psalm 57:1: "Be merciful to me, O God . . . For my soul trust in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by." I felt God was saying through this verse that if I took refuge in him and trusted him completely to be in control of the doctors and everything involved in my father's care, he would answer my prayer and make my father well. I was not to worry and not to try to make anything happen; hands off. I was to leave everything absolutely in God's hands and trust him for the outcome. That's what I did. And I discovered that God is so faithful: my father did recover. God has continued to use Dad in marvelous ways to bring others to trust in Christ. And I learned something invaluable about trusting God and leaving everything in his hands when I'm facing life's storms.
David
melinda1
Scripture: PSALM 140. ,!page "PSALM140" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Melinda:
God can protect from fear
I had an unusual, frightening experience at the beginning of tenth grade: I ate an apple that some disturbed person had tampered with. It wasn't poisonous-not like it would have killed me-but it did make me pretty sick. Most of all, the experience scared me. For about a year and a half, I wouldn't eat anything unless I shared it with someone, or someone else tried a bite first and was OK. Finally the fear got to me. I talked to my youth worker about it. she encouraged me to read Psalm 140, and to realize that God was there to help and protect me-no matter what! Then she pointed out that God didn't want me to give in to a spirit of fear, and she showed me 2 Timothy 1:7. That verse became very meaningful to me. I memorized it and reminded myself of it over and over, until eventually I began to believe that most people could be trusted, that most people weren't out to hurt me. I have been learning that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." I'm very thankful for this verse; God is using it to deliver me from my fear.fear.
Melinda
john1
Scripture: PROVE 6. ,!page "PROVE006" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from John:
Procrastination and laziness
Sometimes reading Scripture is like getting a good swift kick in the pants! That's what happened to me anyway. I've had this problem with procrastination and laziness. Basically I just don't make an effort with things that bore me (like school or chores my parents want me to do). One day I was reading along in Proverbs 6:6-11, which describes what a lazy person is like-and I knew that it was talking about me! Those verses taught me that putting things off isn't just a bad habit, it's a sin that can lead to some pretty bad consequences. This passage helped motivate me to quit sitting around, to take some action even if I don't feel like it.ke it.
kristen1
Scripture: PROVE 29. ,!page "PROVE029" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Kristen:
Witnessing
I went to England with a missions group to do street evangelism right after I graduated from high school. Once I got out on the street, supposedly ready to talk to someone, I froze. I was struck with fear and couldn't say a word. It really bothered me. That evening I looked up "fear" in a concordance, and read through several Scriptures. The verse that helped me most was Proverbs 29:25: "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe." I realized that I had fallen into Satan's trap because I was afraid of people-what they would think of me, even what they might do to me, if I tried to share the gospel. I vowed that I would trust in God. The next day I was still nervous, but I asked God to keep me from falling into the trap of fear and to help me know what to say. Things went much better. As I trusted God to help and protect me during that missions trip, I grew more and more bold in sharing my faith. I actually came to enjoy it! But I might have stayed stuck in fear if I hadn't found that verse and really applied it to my situation.uation.
Kristen
tammy1
Scripture: ECCLE 5. ,!page "ECCLE005" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Tammy:
Spending time with God every day
I really wanted to grow in my walk with God, so I vowed that I would have a quiet time every night. For a while everything went very well. I felt I understood what I read, and as I tried to apply the Bible to my daily life, I began to see changes in myself. That excited me. But then I went through a period of time when I didn't seem to be getting anything out of the Bible. For some reason, one night I started reading Ecclesiastes. I felt stressed, in a rush to get to my homework so I could get to bed at a decent hour. When I came across the passage in chapter 5, verses 1-7, I suddenly woke up! I remembered that I had vowed to spend time with God every day and that it was God I was treating so rudely by rushing through my time with him. My attitude was all wrong. Having a quiet time wasn't like some chore I had to do; it was a privilege to meet with the awesome God of the universe! I asked God to forgive me for my attitude and thanked him for speaking to me through his Word.ugh his Word.
Tammy
Letter from Amy:
Healing broken friendships
My best friend and I weren't speaking. We had had an argument, and I still stewed over some of the things she had said to me. I wasn't going to let her get away with treating me like she did! Then I came across two verses: Ecclesiastes 10:12, "The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up," and 1 Peter 4:8, "Above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.'" As I read these verses over and over, whatever we had argued about became less and less important, and maintaining a friendship with someone who also knew God's love became very important. I also realized that there were some faults in me that needed her forgiveness. I didn't waste any time. I called my friend on the phone, read her the passages, and told her I was sorry for letting something petty come between us. She cried a little and said she was so glad I had called, and that she didn't feel right either about us fighting. These verses clearly showed me how precious Christian friendship is; it's something to be guarded and treasured. I thank God for not letting me throw away the gift he had given me in my friend and for helping me to work things out with my friend.
y friend.
ip, M
Scripture: ECCLE 10. ,!page "ECCLE010" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
jason1
Scripture: ISAIA 7. ,!page "ISAIA007" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Jason:
Dealing with peer pressure
I always had trouble with peer pressure. I became a Christian in seventh grade, but had trouble really living like one. I was good at wisecracks and putting people down, for one thing. And I swore a lot. But probably the biggest weakness I had was partying. When someone asked me to go to a party, it was like I couldn't say no. Then when I got there, if there was drinking, I couldn't resist. I tried a couple of times, but people would ask why I wasn't having a beer. Once I even tried to tell them it was because I was a Christian. I shouldn't have said that. They joked about my being too "holy" for them, and I felt so bad I gave in and even drank too much that night. After that, I was afraid to say anything about my faith because I thought it would be worse if I said something and then didn't act at all like a Christian. Still, I read my Bible. And I started going to youth group in our church. That helped me change some, but I continued to feel like a hypocrite. One day I was reading in Isaiah, and for some reason Isaiah 7:9 leaped out at me. It said, "If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established." I had been praying that God would make me a stronger Christian. This verse seemed to be saying to me that I hadn't really believed that God could change me, or that he could help me do what's right rather than give in to pressure. Reading that verse was a turning point for me. I decided that I had to learn more about my faith and God's promises, and more about how God's Holy Spirit worked in my life. I spent more time with my church friends and less with my school friends. At first that was difficult, but it turned out to be easier than I thought. The youth group often had things planned for the weekend, so when someone invited me to a party, I could honestly say I had other plans. I'm still struggling with peer pressure, but it's less of a struggle now. The more I learn about God, the more I see how he works in me through his Holy Spirit, and the more I believe God, the more he really does protect me.t me..
Jason
Scripture: ISAIA 41. ,!page "ISAIA041" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Amy:
Feeling alone at a new school
I recently switched schools. In my old school, I knew everyone. In this new much larger school, I knew no one. The situation forced me to depend on God. I knew that I really needed God's help and guidance to make it through those first few months. During this time, I memorized Isaiah 41:10 and Philippians 4:13. Whenever I felt unnoticed or afraid to talk to someone, I would repeat these verses to myself. I remembered that God was with me, he will strengthen me, and that he has already won the victory for me. These two verses became a lifeline to me. They helped me make the adjustments so that now I do have friends and I feel pretty comfortable at my new school.
julio1
Scripture: ISAIA 46. ,!page "ISAIA046" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Julio:
Loneliness in a new country
When my family moved from Mexico to the United States, everything familiar to me was gone. I had to learn a new language, adjust to totally different ways of doing things, and make friends with people who seemed to have grown up on a different planet rather than in a different country. I was very, very lonely for a long time. I turned often to the Bible. So many verses were meaningful to me. But Isaiah 46:4 especially helped because it spoke of God's tender care and how he would be with me always, even when I'm old. I would imagine God right there with me in this strange school, and I'd talk to him in my heart, telling him how I felt. It was a great comfort to know that he was right there with me and that he cared. I knew he heard my prayers and understood-and I could speak to him in Spanish! This experience has brought me closer to God as I depend on him every day for the understanding and help I need to make this adjustment.tment..
Julio
lori1
Scripture: JEREM 1. ,!page "JEREM001" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Lori:
Abortion
The topic of abortion comes up often in school, among friends and elsewhere. I had thought through my position in theory, but when my best friend told me she was pregnant and was going to get an abortion, it wasn't theoretical anymore. When Lee called me on the phone one night and asked me to come talk, I knew something was wrong. As soon as we were alone, she blurted out: "I'm pregnant. And I have an appointment at an abortion clinic tomorrow." I couldn't believe my ears. Lee was a Christian. We had discussed abortion often and had agreed on our stance: It was wrong. Now Lee was telling me she was going to have one tomorrow! Trying to keep calm, I told her I realized it was her decision. Then I said, "You know I don't believe in abortion. You always said you didn't, either. It doesn't make it any more right now that you're pregnant. It's still a baby we're talking about. "This is your decision. But as your friend, I want to make sure you've thought this through. Can we read a few passages of Scripture and pray together? Then I promise, I'll stick by you, whatever you decide." We read Jeremiah 1:4-5 and Psalm 139. I told her, "Whenever I read these passages, they say to me that God knows us from the very beginning, and that he has a plan for each person. That's why I think you should have this baby, Lee. God will take care of your baby because he already loves the baby. And he'll take care of you, too." We cried together, but I really believed what I said. I asked Lee if I could pray for the baby. She nodded, crying. So I prayed that God would give Lee the courage to make the right choice, and that he would take care of her baby. Lee didn't promise she wouldn't have the abortion. I prayed hard all the next day. That evening, she called and said she hadn't gone through with it. I told her I was very happy and thought she made the right choice. Lee will tell you that she believes she made the right choice, too. She had a beautiful girl that she placed for adoption with a loving Christian couple. It hurts her to think about the baby, but she knows she did the right thing.thing.
kara2
Letter from Kara:
God forgives
I had blown it again-my parents and I had another major disagreement. I ran to my room, slammed the door, and threw myself on the bed. Then I burst into tears. It wasn't fair! They weren't being fair! And there seemed to be nothing I could do about it. After I had cried for a while, I thought about our fight. I still thought my parents were wrong, but I also had to admit that I'd said some pretty ugly things. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I would have to apologize. It took me a couple of hours. Finally I came out and apologized for some of the hurtful things I had said. My mother's response was, "You think it's that easy? Just say you're sorry, and everything's OK? Well, it doesn't work that way." I just turned and went back to my room. I cried some more. I had said I was sorry, and I was. Couldn't they forgive me? It seemed like they didn't really know much about forgiveness. The next morning, still feeling bad, I picked up my Bible. I remembered reading a verse one time that I wanted to look up. Something about God's mercies being new. Something from a strange book in the Old Testament . . . Lamentations. Chapter 3, verses 21-23. "I have hope . . . His compassions fail not. They are new every morning." His love for me is being replenished every day. This was a new day; God has forgiven me, his love and mercy are fresh for this day. I don't have to carry my burdens by myself. Even if my parents didn't forgive me, God did. He knew I was sincere, and would help me do better today. And even if I didn't, he'd love me. His compassion would be there for me tomorrow, just like the sun coming up to warm me.o warm me.
Scripture: LAMEN 3. ,!page "LAMEN003" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
christine1
Christine
Letter from Christine:
Being rejected for being a Christian
It wasn't easy being a Christian in my junior high and high schools. One time, several of the more popular girls were putting down another girl, Nicole, for being a Christian. I didn't think it was right to remain silent, so I said, "So what if she's a Christian? I am, too. Why does that bother you?" "Because it's weird," one of them said. "I mean, you don't party, you don't fool around with guys, you don't drink-you must lead a pretty boring life." They all laughed. "Why don't you try it yourself and see how boring it is," I said. They just laughed and made fun of me. A few days later, I was walking down the hall and one of the girls from that group called out, "What are you going to do for fun today, Christine? Gonna pray on your knees for a couple of hours?" They all laughed. Other people heard and looked at me curiously. I was beginning to feel like a social outcast. One day, Nicole told me to read Micah 4:6-13. I did, and it helped me a lot. It reminded me that even though these kids who rejected me were considered "cool" by the school, they weren't cool in God's eyes. In the end, God will punish those who disobey him and reward those who seek to obey him. This passage helped take away the pain of being rejected because I stood up for someone else and for my beliefs.efs.
Scripture: MICAH 4. ,!page "MICAH004" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
susan1
Scripture: MATTH 5. ,!page "MATTH005" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Susan:
When you'd like to get revenge
It was during a soccer game that I got to apply Matthew 5:39, about "turning the other cheek," in a very real way. I was captain of our soccer team. The other team was out for blood-they took cheap shots every chance they got. The refs never saw any of it; I guess people don't realize how dirty girls can play. My team started taking matters into their own hands. One time I was passed the ball and managed to have a clear break-only one person standing in my way. But she took a cheap shot, and instead of scoring, I was injured and taken out of the game. I was angry, but I started praying about it. By half-time the other girls on my team were really down. But I told them not to seek revenge-not to take the attitude of "an eye for an eye," but to turn the other cheek, to play fair. I told them that's what I planned to do. I went back into the game and made sure I played clean. My team followed my example. I scored two goals late in the game and our team tied, 2-2. The most important thing to me wasn't the score of that game, though. It was the fact that playing clean really was better. Neither resisting nor returning violence was the better way-it really is best to play clean and fair so you can hold you head high. I think the whole team learned something that day. I know I did. did.
Susan
laura1
Scripture: MATTH 7. ,!page "MATTH007" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Laura:
Having doubts about God
I used to struggle a lot with doubt. Was God real? Did he really care about what happens to me? Is the Bible relevant? Then someone challenged me to actively try to apply a passage from the Bible every day for two weeks and see if that made any difference. I did. I read some of the psalms and found that they were wonderfully relevant. When I felt lonely and had no one to turn to, I found that David's words perfectly expressed my feelings. Another passage I came across reminded me that God has promised never to leave us. Then when I came across Jesus' words in Matthew 7:24-27, I realized that it's only through obeying and applying God's Word that we know he's real. His Word is the only solid thing we have to build our lives on. The Matthew passage, and my two-week experiment, motivated me to try to live out what I read more and more every day. day.
Laura
marita1
Letter from Marita:
Acting phony in order to be popular
In my school, people are popular only if they have the right looks, the right clothes, live in a certain neighborhood, play on the football team or are a cheerleader, or date a football player or cheerleader. The lines are pretty clearly drawn. And I'm on the other side of every one of those lines. For a while it really bothered me. But when I tried to break into one of the cliques I found myself acting phony, and I couldn't stand it. I couldn't seem to help it, though; I wanted people to like me. I wanted to be popular. Then, slowly, my viewpoint changed. The change started when my youth group studied the book of Mark. I really related to the disciples in chapters 9 and 10. They were trying to see who was more popular with Jesus, who would be considered the greatest. And Jesus said, "But many who are first will be last, and the last first." He also said that, in God's eyes, many who seem to be most important now are least important, and many who seem least important now are really most important (Mark 10:31). I realized it didn't really matter whether kids in my school thought I was great; what matters is what God thinks of me. If I want him to think I'm great, I have to forget about the phoniness and just try to be friends with all kinds of people. I've started doing that, and now I have lots of friends. I still wouldn't be considered one of the "popular" people, but that's OK now. I'm in touch with God, and because of that, I know I'm popular with one Person whose opinion really matters.rs.
Marita
Scripture: MARK 10. ,!page "MARK010" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
david2
Letter from David:
Facing a person you hate
Even before I became a Christian, the Bible amazed me. I remember being floored the first time I read Luke 6:27-38. That's the passage about loving and doing good to your enemies. How could anyone act like that? A year later, just before my freshman year in high school, I became a Christian. And that year I had the chance to find out firsthand how someone can follow Jesus' words. I did well in shop class, so I decided to make a small bookcase for my mother for Christmas. I designed it myself. I worked on it a lot in my spare time, finally getting to the point where I put final touches on it and left it in the finishing room, which was always locked. After school, when I went back to get the bookcase, it was gone. The shop teacher did some investigating and finally discovered that a student named Andy had stolen it. "We've had problems with Andy before," Mr. Petrako said. "Andy needs to learn a lesson. I've arranged to have him meet with you after school to return your bookshelf." That's all he said, but I knew what he meant. I didn't need any encouragement to "teach Andy a lesson." I was furious. And since I was a football player, big for my age, I wouldn't have any trouble beating someone up. I waited for Andy, psyching myself up to face my enemy. Finally he walked in. Something happened to me when I saw him. I had expected a hoodlum, but what I saw was just a boy, smaller and younger than me, who was obviously afraid to face the person he had hurt. When I saw Andy's scared face, all the hate just leaked out of me. Andy said, "Here's your bookshelf. I'm sorry." I had no words for him. I growled something, took the bookcase, and fled. That night I felt very confused. What happened? What took away my hate? As I thought about these things, I remembered the passage in Luke. I read it again: "Love your enemies . . . From him who takes away your goods do not ask them back." Father God, I thought, am I supposed to give the bookcase back to him? I can't! I made it for my mom! I felt like God was asking me to respond to what I was reading. But how? Suddenly I knew. The next morning I went to school early and started work on an identical bookcase. For four days straight I stayed as long as shop was open. When the bookcase was finished, I had Andy meet me after school in an empty shop class. I said, "Andy, I want to give you this. It's a gift from me to you, and from me to Jesus. I'd never be able to do this if it weren't for Jesus." That's all I could say then. I didn't know how to share my faith. All I knew was that Jesus had touched my life and I wanted to share it. Well, after that I got to know Andy. Seeing his family situation, I understood him better. I invited him to youth group on Thursday afternoons. When there was a retreat and Andy couldn't afford to go, my friends and I scraped up enough money for him. And at that retreat, Andy became a Christian. It's hard to know who was more excited about God right then, me or Andy.y.
David
Scripture: LUKE 6. ,!page "LUKE006" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
tracy1
Scripture: LUKE 15. ,!page "LUKE015" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Tracy:
Not getting along with Mom
My mother and I had difficulty getting along. Often we would argue, sometimes over the stupidest things. After our fights, I'd feel real bad, but I didn't know what to do about it. I felt it was all her fault; she just didn't understand me; she was being totally unreasonable; etc. Then I read in Luke 15:11-32 the parable about the lost son. And I began to realize that the younger son felt he had every right to take his inheritance and go off on his own. But it didn't get him anywhere, and finally he decided to go back home. His father gave him a big welcome and didn't say "I told you so" or anything like that. I got to thinking about my own attitude with my mom. And I had to admit that I probably was at fault at least some of the time. Hard as it was, I had to apologize when I was wrong and ask forgiveness. (It was probably really hard for the lost son, too.) I sat down and went over the past several arguments that weren't really resolved and wrote down the specifics on where I was wrong. Then I prayed hard that I could swallow my pride and go and ask my mom to forgive me. I finally did. And my mom reacted very much like the father in the story; she was very forgiving. Since then, I've tried to concentrate more on my own attitude than on my mom's. And, amazingly, we're arguing less. But even when we do argue, and I fall into the old patterns, I know that God will forgive me when I ask for it. (So does Mom-usually.)lly.)
Tracy
barbara1
Letter from Barbara:
When disaster strikes
It was an incredible weekend. A twister hit my town, and suddenly our house was ruined, my wrist was broken, and I lost my best friend. I didn't know what to do, where to turn. It was too much to take in all at once. I felt depressed. Then I was angry; I felt ripped off. In all the confusion of adjusting to these disasters, I finally decided to open the Bible. I started reading the Gospel of John. And as I thought about Jesus and all he gave up to come down to earth and live among us, my attitude started to change. I thought about verses 10-12 in the first chapter, how Jesus wasn't respected by the very people he came to help. If anybody had the right to feel self-pity, he did! But Jesus did it all for love, all for us. The first 27 verses of chapter one opened my eyes to God's faithfulness and love. They made me realize that God would stand by me through everything, even this terrible time. I turned everything over to God and discovered a joy that was as incredible as everything that had happened to me in that one terrible weekend. I began to live the kind of Christian life I'd been missing so long when I was just going my own way. The following weeks were the happiest I'd ever felt, even though I still had to deal with the sorrow over losing my friend and our home. I found that the love of God was so much more real, and it gave me strength.gth.
Barbara
Scripture: JOHN 1. ,!page "JOHN001" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
kris1
Scripture: JOHN 14. ,!page "JOHN014" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Kris:
When life suddenly turns chaotic
One day I came home from school only to find a note saying that my mother had been rushed to the hospital! I called the hospital and discovered that she had a blood clot in her upper leg and would have to be hospitalized for a while. Suddenly our household was thrown into chaos. Nothing seemed normal without Mom. Plus I was worried that this could be something serious, or lead to something serious. Through this time, I read the Bible a lot. I memorized John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." These words of Jesus' helped me not to freak out. Instead I gave the situation to God and trusted him to see me through it. Every time I started to worry, I repeated this verse to myself and felt calmer. Jesus understood what I was going through-and he was in control! The more I concentrated on this, the more peace I felt. It was strange to feel so peaceful even when there was plenty I could worry about. But I just kept reminding myself of this verse, and it helped me get through that difficult time.
kenneth1
Letter from Kenneth:
Being bold in witnessing
I don't find it easy to witness. I haven't memorized a lot of verses, and I'm still working my way through the Bible. It's easy to tell myself that I can wait until I know more. But when I read Acts 4:13, I realized I was kidding myself. The verse talks about the boldness of Peter and John, and says that the Jewish council noticed that they were uneducated and nonprofessionals. But they knew Jesus. In other words, you don't have to know the whole Bible or go to seminary to be able to share your faith. The main thing is to know Jesus and share what you know with other people. I'm finding that he gives me the boldness to open my mouth, if I ask him.him.
Kenneth
Scripture: ACTS 4. ,!page "ACTS004" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
rick1
Letter from Rick:
Working against the occult
At my high school we have a Christian Bible study group called Saints' Battalion. A few months ago, Satanists on our campus formed a group they call Young Satanists of America. Before their own group meetings, held on the same day we have ours, they come into our meetings and bother us in every way they can. I know that in their meetings they put down Christianity and exalt Satan as a "philosophy." We cannot ban them from coming to our meetings because our group has to be open to all. They still remain a problem. Our group and my church continue to pray about this problem. A passage that has really encouraged us is Acts 19:13-20. It talks about the power in the name of Jesus to cast out demons, and about how lots of people who heard about Christ burned their witchcraft books and turned to God. We use this passage to claim the power of Jesus, and we pray that many of the Young Satanists who come to our meetings will hear God's Word and turn to Christ.st.
Scripture: ACTS 19. ,!page "ACTS019" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
lisa1
Scripture: ROMAN 2. ,!page "ROMAN002" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Lisa:
Leading a double life
During my freshman and sophomore years in high school, I led something of a double life. At home and at church, I was a "good Christian kid." I read my Bible, helped with Sunday school, and went to youth group. I really wanted to live a committed Christian life, but at school I was embarrassed to make it known that I was a Christian. I guess I was afraid of what people would think of me if they knew. When people said, "Come on, let's party," I'd feel torn. I loved God and knew he didn't approve of their idea of "party," but too often I just couldn't stand up to these people. I'd give in, then feel bad about myself for compromising what I knew was right. The summer before my junior year, I knew things would have to change. That's when I read Romans 2:6-8. Verse 6 says God will give to each person as his deeds deserve. I got to thinking about what my deeds deserve, and it scared me. I realized how self-seeking I was. I really did want to please God, not hurt him or get him mad at me. I decided right then to make my goal eternal life that God promises "to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortality." So I memorized that verse and decided to let people at school know I'm a Christian. It's made a big difference. For one thing, I met other Christians who were there all the time, but whom I hadn't bothered to get to know before. The last two years have been much better than the first two. I found that taking a stand against certain things didn't really cost me friends. In fact, because I've found other friends who know what friendship is about, I actually have more and better friends than before. But most of all I have a clear conscience; I know I'm trying to do God's will every day, at school as well as at church.rch.
lavonne1
Scripture: ROMAN 12. ,!page "ROMAN012" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Lavonne:
When you're hurt and want revenge
My boyfriend and I didn't have a very good relationship; we couldn't communicate much. I decided that it was time to break up. I tried to be as tactful as I could; I didn't want to hurt his feelings. His reaction was to call me a couple of names that were hurtful, demeaning, and completely untrue. Not only did he say these things to me, he said them to other people. That enraged me. I thought of different ways to respond, to get even. But then I recalled a verse that tells us not to take revenge. I looked up Romans 12:19; it says, "Do not avenge yourselves, ...for it is written Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." This helped me to remove any thoughts of revenge from my mind and to concentrate instead on forgiving him and praying for him. As I do this, concern for his spiritual life overshadows my feelings of anger and hurt.hurt.
Lavonne
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brooke1
Letter from Brooke:
A problem with gossiping
For many years I had a problem with gossiping. I knew it was wrong, but I kept giving in to temptation. I prayed about it a lot. Then the Lord gave me two Scriptures that have helped me begin to conquer it. The first is 1 Corinthians 10:13. That verse says that God will always provide a way to escape temptation's power. So I reminded myself of this whenever the temptation to pass on some juicy bit of news came my way. It helped some, but I still gave in more often than I wanted to. Then God gave me something that's helped me even more. It's Psalm 141:3: "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips." That's exactly the prayer I started praying whenever I was tempted to gossip. This prayer - verse became my way to escape the temptation; whenever I take the time to pray it, I find I can keep my mouth shut. But I have to take a moment to refocus my thoughts on the prayer rather than on the temptation to say something, or I find myself giving in to temptation. This experience has shown me just how practical the Bible can be. With God's power I can conquer anything!er anything!!!
Brooke
Scripture: 1CORI 10. ,!page "1CORI010" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Sam:
Dating
After a bad dating experience, I decided to find out what God wanted a dating relationship to be. I talked to my youth pastor and studied Scripture. This time, when I felt ready to date again, I made sure I went out with a Christian. Jenny and I talked about God's will right from the beginning and adopted 1 Corinthians 13 as the basis for our relationship. Even though the romance didn't last forever, it was a very positive experience. We both tried to let verses 4-7 guide all our thoughts and actions toward each other, even when we broke up. I learned a lot from that. God's way really is so much better than any other way off running your life - or of having a relationship..lationship.
Scripture: 1CORI 13. ,!page "1CORI013" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
linda1
Linda
Letter from Linda:
Why do bad things happen to you?
Last year I went through a very difficult time for a whole month. It was one thing after another; I wasn't sure I could take it. God saw me through it, but I still had lots of unresolved questions about why those things had to happen to me. Not long afterward my friend's sister had a leukemia relapse. When I found out, I prayed and cried for a while. Then I decided to write her a not of encouragement. Later that night, I read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 and it felt like God was speaking tender words of comfort right to me. I realized that there was a reason for the pain I had gone through not long before; it was so that I could relate to the pain of other people and offer true encouragement. I was not only able to offer my friend's sister some sincere encouragement, but also my nagging questions over why God let me go through my pain were much easier to believe that there's a good reason for it.eason for it.
Scripture: 2CORI 1. ,!page "2CORI001" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
greg1
Scripture: EPHES 6. ,!page "EPHES006" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Greg:
Disagreeing with parents
"Greg, what have you decided about going to the college we talked about? The deadline is coming up, isn't it?" Though my dad was trying to be casual, I could tell he wanted an answer. "Yeah, I've decided. I don't want to go to that school, but you won't take that for an answer," I said
"Greg," Dad began, but I would tell by his tone what he was going to say. We'd been through this too many times before. I didn't want to go; he wanted me to - and his pressuring me just made me angry. I talked to my youth pastor about it the next day. "What do you think the Bible says about your situation?" Les asked me. "Well, I know I'm not supposed to be angry at my dad, but I can't stand him pressuring me." "Read Ephesians and let me know what you discover," Les suggested. So I read the book of Ephesians - and saw that I can't always do what I want. Loving God means wanting to do his will, not mine. When I read Ephesians 6:1-3, I realized that God often chooses to work through my earthly parents. I tried to think through all the reasons Dad wanted me to go to that particular college and why I didn't want to go. finally I decided it would be best to trust God and believe that he was leading me there. God did bless by decision to attend this college. I am really growing in my faith here.
here.
brad1
Letter from Brad:
Getting along with parents
For a couple of years in high school, I didn't get along very well with my dad. I'm not sure why, now. It just seemed like everything he said irritated me. Dad seemed old-fashioned, too restrictive. I began to rebel, not openly, but more in my heart and on the sly. For instance, I would tell him that I'd do something he had asked me to, but then I never would get around to doing it. Then when he'd get angry, I'd tune him out. Or I would tell Dad I was going somewhere that I knew he'd approve, when I really was with friends he didn't like very much. I knew things weren't great between us, but I didn't think much about it until our youth group was doing a study on relationships. When we talked about parents, we studied Colossians 3:20 and Ephesians 6:1-3. We talked about why we should obey our parents, and what it means to obey. I felt cut to the heart. I realized that Dad was a good dad, and suddenly I understood that his restrictions were because he loved me. If I was honest with myself, a lot of them (not all, but a lot) made sense. I was being disobedient and rebellious. I cried some, knowing that I had been hurting my dad for a long time. That evening I asked Dad to forgive me for all the ways I'd gone against him. It was hard to apologize, but it cleared the air. Dad took my apology well - he even admitted to some areas where he might have been too hard on me. That was the start of a much better father-son relationship, which has continued.ntinued.
Scripture: COLOS 3. ,!page "COLOS003" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
katie1
Scripture: HEBRE 13. ,!page "HEBRE013" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Katie:
Being satisfied with what you have
Money and material things used to be very important to me. I cared a lot about the clothes I wore. I liked it that my parents had a nice home and nice cars - and I wasn't very interested in people who didn't have nice clothes or nice things. I just didn't think I had much in common with people who didn't have as much money as I did. Then I met Cathy. She attended my school, but I didn't know her because we hung around different groups. I got to know Cathy at a Christian camp. She and I were worlds apart in lots of ways. Her parents didn't have much money and she didn't care about fashion at all, but Cathy was the most caring person I had ever met. She knew how to listen, and that summer she turned out to be a good friend to me as I went through a rough time. Some other kids at the camp spread untrue rumors about me, and it hurt me a lot. But Cathy was always there, to listen and encourage. That fall when we returned to school, I began to see how shallow some of my other friendships were compared to what I'd experienced with Cathy. I began to do more things with her and her friends, and I found that I liked her friends, even though they weren't "cool". My old friends started making fun of me for hanging around Cathy, but that only showed me more that those people weren't true friends. I asked Cathy once why she didn't seem to care about money. She said, "Sometimes I do care that I don't have nice clothes like you. But I found a Bible verse that says we're not to love money, but to be satisfied with what we have. I try to do that." She showed me the verse: Hebrews 13:5. What struck me was that she seemed to be more satisfied with what she had that I was, even though she owned much less. I knew she had something that I was just beginning to appreciate: the sense that God really was with her. My attitude toward money and toward people started to change as I prayed that God would help me to be satisfied with what I had and not to care so much about externals. I saw that God - and true friends - look on the heart, not on whether you wear the latest fashions.hions.
Katie
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jenny1
Scripture: 1PETE 3. ,!page "1PETE003" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Jenny:
Being a Christian in your high school
I attended a Christian school during junior high and the first year of high school. But after three years at Christian schools, I felt led to go back to a public school. I talked it over in depth with my parents. They supported me, but reminded me of how difficult it could be because of all the pressures to live for yourself, not for God. They were right - the pressures and temptations were greater. I didn't know quite how to be a Christian in that atmosphere. I was afraid people would make fun of me once they found out I was a Christian, yet I was determined not to hide my faith. After all, I knew Jesus, the one person in this life who will never let me down. I wanted to share my faith with the new friends I was making. I decided to adopt 1 Peter 3:15 as my key verse to get me through public school. It shows me how to live my life in that setting, among people who really need to hear some Good News. This verse helps me keep in line in difficult situations. For instance, if I'm at a party and drinking only Coke, often someone will ask me why I'm not drinking any alcohol. I tell them that I don't need alcohol to help me have a good time, and that Jesus helps me to enjoy life and people just as they are. Most people respect me when I say that. (Even when they don't, as it says in 1 Peter 3:16-17, it's better that they mock me for doing something right than for making a fool of myself for getting drunk.) First Peter 3:15 helps me to overcome temptations like this and reminds me of my purpose for being in a public school: to be ready to tell people of the hope I have in Jesus.esus.
Jenny
joel1
Scripture: 2PETE 1. ,!page "2PETE001" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Joel:
When you need to make a difficult decision.
I didn't want to break up with my girlfriend, but the more I prayed about the relationship, the more I saw that it was interfering with my relationship with God. My girlfriend wasn't a Christian; her values were completely different from mine. I cared about her, but it came down to a choice: either her or God. The clincher came when I read 2 Peter 1:5-8. It says: "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are your and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." I didn't need anymore guidance; I knew I had to break up and concentrate on strengthening my relationship with the Lord. Though I felt bad after breaking up, I was confident that I had done the right thing and that the Lord still cared about me and my decisions. I also was encouraged. God was showing me that I was slowly but surely becoming stronger spiritually. Every verse of that passage fit a part of my life. As I put God first and determined to obey him, I could see times when I put aside my own desires and how I was becoming more patient, etc. Yes, breaking up was hard, but knowing that I did it to obey God made all the difference.ence.
tricia1
Scripture: 1JOHN 1. ,!page "1JOHN001" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Tricia:
Making excuses for sin
I was the master of rationalization - at least in some areas of my life. When I got into an argument with my parents, I always knew they were totally wrong. If I talked about someone behind her back, I told myself that it wasn't gossip, it was information the person really needed to know. When my boyfriend and I started having sex, I rationalized that it was OK because we loved each other, and didn't the Bible say that love was what it was all about? Then I heard my pastor preach on 1 John 1:8-10, and suddenly I knew I was just fooling myself. God called these things - rebelliousness toward my parents, gossip, premarital sex - sins. I was kidding myself, but not God. The preacher said we are calling God a liar when we don't acknowledge our sins! That shook me up pretty bad. I reread the passage after church, when I was alone in my room, and I cried. Not only because I'd been lying to myself and to God, but because this passage also talks about how willing God is to forgive us and cleanse us. Before God that day, I owned up to the sins I had been rationalizing away. It was hard to do because I knew I had to be willing to change, not just to say "I'm sorry." Change would be hard, particularly in my relationship with my boyfriend. But verse 9 encouraged me that God would not only forgive, but also give me the strength to make a clean new start. I did end up breaking up with my boyfriend; it proved impossible to start over in our physical relationship. The breakup hurt a lot. But underneath the pain, something felt very good, very right: I knew I was no longer lying to myself or to God. a new, clear conscience is helping me through the pain of change.nge.
Tricia
Scripture: REVEL 14. ,!page "REVEL014" of book "mbi_txt.tbk"
Letter from Sue:
Struggling with apathy
I struggle with apathy. I guess you can say I'm not very self-disciplined. This affects both my schoolwork and my Christian life: I have trouble applying myself to what I need to do if I don't feel like doing it at the moment. In my youth group we studied 2 Timothy and one verse has really challenged me directly: verse 15 of chapter 2. It says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." These words remind me that my actions and attitudes are significant, and someday I'll have to answer to God for them. Revelation tells about when that will happen (14:7). That helps me make an extra effort to do the right thing, whether it's reading my Bible regularly or turning off the TV and opening a textbook.textbook.