"For I am convinced, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38+39)
Nowadays I am 26 years old and I study social education. I like to go out with my friends, phoning for hours, meditation, drawing and writing, walking through the incredible nature and enjoying God's creation with all its facets. I love it, if the sun is shining and the wind makes the leaves dance. I love it, when the wind touches my nose and when I can breathe the clear air around me. It's glorious to be outside, to look at the landscape and to be guided by God to beautiful places where I can enjoy freedom.
Four years ago everything had been different. I didn't know God and felt imprisoned in myself, overwhelmed by society, lonely and abandoned. I had just a little contact to my family. Because at the age of 14 I had separated my heart from them, because of many bad things that happened there.
I was hardly at home and had a lot of friends and contacts. But actually I was lonely, because no one saw who I really was. At that time, I had problems with drugs. I wanted to be "cool". We thought, we could forgive everything and be free. But I was destroying myself more and more and nothing could fill my longing for love, burning deep in me. A yearning to be accepted and loved as I am - also to be loved with my weaknesses.
I often tried to numb this feeling with alcohol, because I couldn't accept myself as I was. I felt ugly, lousy and sometimes couldn't look myself in the face. Everything was dark, grey and colorless. After years of such pressure, I broke down. I saw no sense in my life. No sense to eat and drink no sense in the day and in the night and no sense in my whole existence. Everything was without any sense.
Some years later, I found myself at a snowboarding lodge. Snowboarding is also a passion of mine.) There was a guy (not bad looking and the singer of a band ;), who told me of God's love.... That God loves us as we are. Since I heard that, everything changed. God's love has touched me deep in my heart, where I always felt this longing. My darkness turned more and more into light. This period was often very hard, because I was completely hurt and destroyed. But Jesus had saved me. Because of his love I found my reason for being and I could begin to love myself and my family.
Not only I, but also my family received the gift of a new beginning. Many things of my past were left at the cross of Jesus (drugs, smoking, alcohol, difficult relationships, feelings of inferiority, lies from the society...etc.). Nearly everything is different to what it was, because I have started a new life with Jesus.
"..and see, I make all new.."
It doesn't matter, how many mistakes you have made. Jesus loves you. HE loves you more, than anyone could ever love you in this world, more than your parents and friends. God is longing for you as you long for love. HE wants to love you and to be with you, for ever. There is nothing in this world, which is worthier to live for than for him.
Do you think, you have to smoke hash or drink alcohol, just to be 'cool' or you have to look like a model and always wear the latest fashion...?
Forget it. God loves you just as you are.
Maybe you're now sitting in front of your computer, with your pajama and tired because of the last party.
Hey, God sees you. He sees your beauty and wants to lavish his love on you.
One thing I have learned of my past. God is a master, when you want a new beginning in your life. The way with him isn't always easy, but it pays off and it's worthwhile and the most exciting, best and most beautiful thing, I have ever experienced.
If you want, you can write to me. I am looking forwards to hearing from you...
Okay, I don't have blue blood, but I claim to be a Princess anyway. My Daddy is the King!!! (Romans 1,7 & Revelation 19,6)
I grew up in a whole family and had a very happy childhood and even today I'm quite happy with my life... At 13, 14 years of age I struggled massively with inferiority complexes and you can say that I got problems with an eating disorder. I didn't need therapy, but I gained weight continuously. If you know me today, you can't imagine that in my teenage years I was much thinner. My parents, both Christians and pastoral workers, often ask themselves what they did wrong. I think the answer is: Nothing. There is nothing they could have done better in their education, and even though God has healed me from many complexes in my life, I'm still too small for my weight! ;o)
I am writing this statements for all the girls, who have problems accepting and loving themselves the way they are and they just don't know why...
I think, that we all had experiences in our lives, that shaped us .. Often they were bagatelles: stupid teasing, when you were in need of encouragement. Teenagers searching for their identity are shaken by these experiences. And then? They think, I'm ugly and that no one loves me etc. If you feel or felt like me: Hey, to have this feeling is okay!!!
I so often felt bad because of these complexes but was confronted with a scripture with the truth, that I'm wonderfully made etc. The problem was: My mind knew the truth, but my heart didn't want to believe it!
It took a very long time until this message reached my heart. You can't quicken this with teaching/sermons or with prayer. It's a long process and God starts, when he thinks, that the time is right. Today I know, that I'm a Princess and most of the time, I believe, that I'm wonderfully created, in every way. And there are still times, when I feel inferiority. But now I know what to do, when I'm confronted with these feelings.
What's special for a Princess in a fairytale? She is the most beautiful, the loveliest, and the sweetheart of the King and if she is lucky, she also gets a big strong Prince, protecting her... My big strong Prince is called Jesus. And if somebody attacks me, or even if it's only a feeling of inferiority, my Prince fights for me. He fights for me and I don't have to feel bad any longer, because the King (God) sent Jesus to do this.
That's cool, isn't it?
And the best: The King and the Prince both love me, just as I am!
In the past years I often heard, that I didn't have a boyfriend, because of my weight. That was really hard for me, because I'm longing for a relationship and I thought I have to loose weight to get a boyfriend. Under this pressure it didn't work and I became only unhappy. God showed me some time ago, that he loves me deeply, the way I am! He showed me, that he has a better plan for me. If I trust him, then my life will be happy, with and without a husband! That evening I also understood, that I had met many bitter single women over 30 and that I imagine this would be my future too. God set me free from this fear and showed me: That even if I didn't have a boyfriend it didn't t mean, that men were not interested in me. It just meant, that God's plan would make me happier than anything I ever dreamt of.
Now I feel more of a Princess than ever before.
And a funny anecdote in the end: I was on holiday in Tunisia and experienced that the boys there really liked me because of my figure, more than the slim girls. Sometimes my heavenly Daddy has funny ways to show me, that he likes me the way I am. ;o)
"God, when our earthly father can't watch such an injustice and would like to protect his children from it, how you can watch???!!"
That was the cry of my soul during the last 1,5 years ...
My life has been quite hard in my past. I experienced disappointments, pain and losses, that made my life really hard.
Seven years ago I wanted to end my life. I couldn't stand anymore and I thought dying would be better than the hurt in my soul. I stopped eating and wanted to die. I also stopped talking .... Stopped nearly everything which meant living. But there were people in my life, who carried me and prayed for me and God healed my wounds. That's the biggest miracle in my life!
One year ago, something terrible happened and I was confronted with the biggest wound in my life. How could I still believe that God is LOVE? Could this be a God of Love? I couldn't believe this anymore. During one painful situation when I was really desperate, I listened by chance to a song of Judy Bailey: "Don't you know, that God is love?".
This song stayed in my mind and my soul cried: "No, God is not love, if he lets all those things happen." I wanted to throw away my faith and turn away from God...
I can still see the scene before me; I was sitting on a bench during a missionary action but I could not take part any longer. I could not tell the people about Jesus, because I didn't believe in him. I sat there and waited for the others of my team.
Suddenly I felt God next to me. These situations are really rare, but this was a special moment. I felt him next to me and heard him say:
"Eva, I AM a God of Love! No matter what people, your experiences or your feelings tell you: I am a God of Love! That's a fact - you have to believe that. People or experiences can be wrong, feelings come and go - but facts are facts! Trust me!" These words of God were really mighty and hit me deeply.
I knew: Either I place all my trust on God and trust him to be love - or I will loose my faith.
At this moment I realized: I can't live without God! I can loose everything ... people, my own life ... but I can't loose God. This loss would be unbearable. It would be the most terrible situation I could every imagine.
Then I did the only thing I was able to do - I let myself fall into the arms of God and put all my trust in him. That really freed me...
From this moment on, I never experienced this mistrust in God again and I hope that I will never experience it in future! My life is safe in the hands of God and I can trust him with all my heart, no matter what happens!
Have you ever asked yourself; why so many Christians talk about their "path of faith"? What does this mean? And what does it mean for my own life? If I look at my life - the past and the present - I have to say that everything is about this topic...
When I was 14 years old, my whole life was shattered and I felt like I was loosing the ground under my feet. Something unbelievable happened: my whole way of life was shattered ... my parents got divorced. I found myself in a situation, I had despised in the past. Broken families just didn't exist in my world. Also school was not the way it should be ... I was a young person, reaching out for help, but gave the impression that I was shut-off from the outside world.
During these times, God offered me his hand. As I was looking for a person whom I could trust, who wouldn't hurt me, who would understand and help me my heart opened up. I have known God since I was 6 years old, but I didn't need to trust him and so he was sitting in a dusty corner in my heart and not on the executive chair. I had to decide to find out if God really existed and to trust him with all my heart ... or I would loose my faith. Sometimes I prayed in silence ... no words, but in my thoughts. I read the bible, tried to listen to his voice. I wrote letters to God, was honest before him and told him about my real feelings and thoughts, which I experienced in life. Every time I did this, I knew that he received my prayers, that he understood me, even if I didn't see him. I couldn't hear the voice of God all the time and often didn't understand what he wanted to tell me. Despite all the contradictions, incomprehension and (in my eyes) injustices I read the Bible and couldn't dismiss everything as crap. There was an inexplicable strength that didn't let me go and I could not just forget everything to feel at peace. At one time I realized: "There is a God, I can't deny him. But if I would die at this moment, I don't know if I would be with him." That shook me and from this moment on I realized that I had to make a decision. I did so and from that moment I took the hand of God and let him guide me lovingly on my way.
My trust in others was very weak, but my trust in God grew. I experienced that he never disappointed me, never left me alone, that he understood me, listened to me, felt with me, comforted me, never laughed at me, never rejected me, no matter what I did. He didn't see me as awkward or treated me according to my outward appearance. I was important to him, even if there were thousands of other people, who were better than me. When I hurt other people, he gave me a new chance and forgave me, if I asked him for forgiveness as soon as I realized my guilt. He forgave me and never once reminded me of it. He forgot my guilt as though all my past was buried deep in the sea.
While my trust grew by my experiences, I also learned to put my trust again in other people and developed into the open outgoing person that I really am. For a long time I was afraid of being rejected and hid behind passivity, apathy and daydreaming. Other people also saw the changes in my life but they didn't know that these were the results of the long preparatory work that God did in my heart.
There was a special experience in which I realized that God is trustworthy. I prayed for a best friend with all my heart and God knew this. When I started to study I got to know a girl, who didn't look like a person I could be friends with. She was too self-confident, too strong, too clever and too serious.. God knows me better than I know myself He showed me that his ways with me are good. The end of the story is that the girl and I became friends and started a flat-sharing community. We experienced two wonderful blessed years together and saw how we completed each other perfectly and how well God leads every one of us. We became best friends. There is no other person in my life who is more trustworthy for me, or who knows and understands me better. This chapter in my life can be called: "It's all about trusting". By the way, my friend also had a totally wrong impression of me to start with..
This Christmas my church told a story about three trees. All of them had wishes for their future. Even though their wishes didn't come true, they could see later, that their wishes still got fulfilled but in another way than they had imagined. The first tree didn't become a great ship, but a little boat, that carried Jesus, when he calmed the storm. The tree that wanted to become a treasure chest became a box of hay and the first little bed of baby Jesus. The third tree wanted to grow very high to point the way to God but was cut down and crafted to a cross...
At the moment, I'm again challenged in my faith, but I still cannot see the end as is so often the case when one is in the middle of a crisis. This summer I ended my relationship with my boyfriend, my best friend moved to the USA for one year, and my studies are coming to a close without my knowing which way to go after that. There are many things I don't understand, many open questions I am insecure and don't know what will happen in the future. In this situation God promised me "What is impossible with men is possible with God." (Luke 18:27). That's the watchword for the year 2009 and also for the day of my birthday. God wants us to look at him, to concentrate on him and not on the things we don't understand. He asks for much and he also knows that I can't make it on my own. He already has a solution for my problems. He wants me to trust him and for me to do what is possible for me. He will take care of the impossible. So I trust him and his help.
And you? Do you believe that his ways with you are good? Do you believe that there are no hopeless situations in his eyes? Do you believe that he loves you ... that he can set you free from all burdens and that he is strong enough, to change your bad habits? Do you believe that he can heal broken hearts and that he can bring about reconciliation? Do you believe that he has something much better for you, than you could ever imagine? Do you believe in him?
Okay, I want to introduce myself: I was born in 1983 in the south of Germany...
I'm creative and I love to encourage others with my creativity. I love music, dancing and words. I like the internet and to communicate with people all over the world and I have many ideas, which often become projects...
God gave me some talents, but I'm more than just my talents. I found and I'm still finding my identity in God, as his daughter. I'm a Princess, because God is the King and I'm his beloved daughter.
For years I built my life upon the wrong foundations such as success, acceptance by others, my outer beauty and friendships...
Everything was taken away by some hard experiences like mobbing, rejection, bad marks in school, broken friendships...
I was sad, desperate and I lost my joy for living.
When all my wrong foundations and identities broke down, it felt like falling into a bottomless pit and at that time I asked myself, why God didn't change my life. I believed in him, but I didn't see him changing my situation. I decided to put all my hope on Jesus, to trust him that everything will work out for the best. My faith gave me hope and made me strong inside.
This was a difficult and dark time in my life. It felt like wandering through a dark tunnel. I had nothing but the hope that there would be an end to the tunnel and that I could see the light again. God worked in me and acted through my brokenness. He gave me the talent to write and I published a few encouraging books for girls. All this is a gift of God and all glory belongs to HIM alone.
I look after God's project "Girls4God" and I'm amazed when I see that he uses this website to change my life and the lives of many other girls and young women so that we learn to see ourselves through his eyes, as his precious beautiful daughters.
It's my passion to encourage other girls and women to find their identity in God. I love to tell them, that God gave them a purpose in their lives and that each and every one of them is important to God and to this world. He has a place for us, we can fulfill with our talents, weaknesses and also limitations - all this is life.
God gave me a new life. He took everything dark and broken and he is still changing everything into gold.
Important in this process was the issue of forgiveness and to express my feelings with dancing.
The darkness of my life is changing into light again!
I also failed and made some mistakes, hurt other people (... and these things still happen, because I'm not perfect ...), but God is greater than my failures. My Name (Annika) means GRACE and this grace is shining through my life. God gave me grace.
I want to encourage you, to hold on to God and never loose your hope. HE has a plan for your life and his plan is great and big. Seek him, ask him and be open for all the things, he wants to do in your life...
If your life is ruined and everything went wrong than trust in GOD with all your heart. That's the best thing you can do. God won't disappoint you. I experienced God's faithfulness in my life. He took the broken pieces and made everything new and whole again.... Step by step. I'm amazed at what God has done for me until now.
"It's amazing how God can use the broken pieces of our life if we surrender everything to him!" (Blaise Pascal)
Be patient with yourself. God is patient with you.
You are wanted and your life has a purpose. God placed a treasure inside of your heart. You can discover it if you travel to him and to your heart. You are a precious woman and you are so much loved from your creator. God has a plan for your life. Trust and believe.
If you have questions, you can send me an email or you can visit my website.
I am Acima and I was born in 1984 in Australia, but I grew up in the south of Germany. After graduating school (summer 2003), I did a year of discipleship with Youth for Christ (Tee-Mobil).
This year was a great time for me and I learned so much about God, other people and about myself.
Then I studied at a bible school to hear more about God and about the bible. I have the desire for living my whole life with God, for him and to tell many people about him, to help them living with God in their daily life.
What happened, that I have this desire in my heart?
I often experienced the living God in my life and I think, it's the best thing, to follow him. Because of this gratefulness and joy, I want to serve him with all my life. There is nothing more beautiful or better for me than to do HIS will. And God and his ways with us are good and he knows the best what is good for us!
I could experience his great guidance in finding my partner. Although it wasn't easy to wait until the age of 19, to wait and to wait again, it was worth waiting for!
I married and I'm happy to enjoy the life with my first boyfriend each day. I'm really thankful!
So I want to encourage you to give your life in the hand of God, that he is your boss and that you can trust him in the small and big things in life. God knows your needs and also your desire for relationship and friendship. He wants YOUR best. True love waits. So don't hurry and let God show you his ways with you.
May God bless and help you.
Some years ago I was unhappy with everything I did. My marks in school were bad and the situation at home was also not the way I wished it to be.
"What are my skills? I often asked myself at that time. I asked God what he wants my life to look like in the future, but I had to wait a long time for an answer.
Any time something changed inside of me: God placed music in my heart! After a while I developed a great passion for music and within 3 years I wrote some songs about my experiences. That was my way to express myself!
In the meantime I learned about the things I can do and about my skills. I know how to use them - with the help of God! Sometimes things are not the way I want them to be, but I know, that God has a great plan for me! I can trust in him!
I'm a princess
- that is more than a sentence: it's about true friendship. God is a wonderful friend for me. He knows and accepts me as I am! He knows, what makes me happy and he listens, when I speak to him!
God wants to be near you. He wants to suffer with you, when you feel the pain inside. Allow God to do this. If everything is fine, it's easier to share joy with God.
It's hard to show him your pain. If you do this, maybe you have to let go of your pain and give everything to him.
But you don't HAVE TO do this. There will come a day when you can and want to do it.
Show God your pain and the deepest wounds and hurts. He wants to heal you. God only needs a "yes" to heal you.
The process of healing is not easy and the pain will not disappear tomorrow.
But if you agree, God will heal you and one day you will look back and you will recognize that you are actually healed and you will know that God was always by your side.
You will be able to forgive the people, who hurt you and then you will have a new heart. Then you will be healed.
I want to tell you, that God is proud of you, because you are his child. Once you said YES to him and decided to follow him. Do you remember this moment?
Live this YES, don't turn away from God, but be near to him!
And I want to tell you that God is faithful. He is there for you and is always by your side!
my name is Andrea and my passion is to tell all the Girls, that they are loved, that they are princesses, daughters of the king and wonderfully made.
In summer 2005, I founded a cell group for Girls, which is called Color Your World. We want to encourage girls to become strong women, who know their identity in Christ, who love themselves in order to love others and who know their potential, and how to develop and use it.
Bobbie Housten (Hillsong) wrote in her book:
"I want to encourage you. I want to exhort you. I want to place my hand on your beautiful face and say: RISE UP WOMAN OF GOD. Rise up, fall in love with your Creator, get over what contains you, discover your purpose and start coloring your world with the love of God."
My friend Lisa, who started the cell group with me, and I have this vision in our hearts. We both experienced the power and encouragement of visiting a cell group just for women and we want to share this with other young women. I think that Girls especially have doubts regarding their self-confidence. They often compare themselves to others and, think their value depends on the opinion of other people or else they think they have to fit in this world as others tell them to do.
In our cell group we can experience all the things, which are typical for women and we can experience God in a creative way. We want a special atmosphere for Color Your World. We want to go deeper and by talking look in the hearts of the girls. Our program consists of for example drawing, writing lyrics, talking, thinking and a personal time with God. Lisa studies in another city, so I found another friend, who helps me in leading the cell groups. I love to meet women, who are dreaming this dream with me, with God and with all the daughters of the king...
This is a lyric, I wrote
to all the daughters of the king:
I'm sitting in a seminar to learn useful things, but I'm dreaming...
I try to pay attention. Nobody can demand, that a student pays attention for 1,5 hours. I pretend to listen to the words of the lecturer, but I'm thinking about other things. I love to watch other people. We are all so different!
As a young girl, I already used to watch people and remember the things I saw. When somebody at home was looking for something, I often could help. When I was 5 years old, my parents started to believe in God and were baptized. So I grew up with the word of God, prayer and worship and feel sheltered. There have been hard times in my life, but these situations made me mature and grow inside. It all makes sense.
So I was looking at the faces of my fellow students. This young woman next to me has a beautiful face. She has a high forehead, blue eyes, a tiny nose and blonde hair. Her face is similar to my mother's. I don't understand why I didn't inherit her face. My face is flat and without many contours. And I never had a snub nose. My own sigh wakes me up. Discontentedly, I turn away and look at the young woman next to me. She looks perfect. Her skin, her shining eyes, beautiful and shiny hair and her body is staggering. If only I had her legs, I would look much better than I do. I Immediately start thinking about my own drawback, and start to hold-up my stomach, loosen my all too thin and pale brown hair and press the tip of my nose a little but upwards with my fingers.
Actually I like myself as I am. I'm looking around me to see if any young men are looking at me. But no! No such thing. What more can I do? .... I shall have to think about it. What am I doing here!? If I had a mirror, I would see a face, which looks young and lively. That belongs to me, but it doesn't look happy. There are some pretty girls who always seem to get all the attention. This makes me sad because I had been trapped again.
Once again I compared myself to the others.
Once again the superficiality possessed me.
Once again I wanted the attention, which actually isn't important to me.
Once again I threw away all the good things that were given to me.
One again the feeling of being unhappy and discontented tried to possess me.
I think every person is incomparable and everyone wants to be loved and respected as a whole. I need only one man, not countless looks.
Our father in heaven created us lovingly and with great thought. Doesn't the quality of life drop with these negative feelings?
No. I feel ashamed for my thoughts. I'm a daughter of God, a princess, his beloved. And he blessed me: I have a loving family, a boyfriend, who loves me as I am and most of all
I have a Father in heaven, who created me wonderfully and I will walk with him through my life. What else do I want?
And once again I throw these thoughts away.
I turn away and start to praise God.
I don't know, if you know the feeling ..
- when you want to pray, but there are always other things to do...
- when you don't find words and thoughts..
- when you feel too weak to surrender everything to God, which separates you from him...
I recently had this feeling and it was awful!
In the stillness God gave me this picture:
I saw a herd of sheep walking before their shepherd, knowing that HE guides them and shows them the right way. They all were happy and they sang and laughed. Then there was one sheep, which limped behind the others - this sheep was me. I couldn't look forward, because I so often looked back to my shepherd and asked him: "Is this the right way?"...
The amazing thing was that he smiled faithfully and was never stressed or bugged. He said to me: "Trust in me, that's the right way, just follow the others..."
Again and again one of the others waited for me and instead of being thankful I sent them away, because I didn't want to disturb their community :-)
And then I realized that we as Christians don't always have a smile on our faces, if we don't feel like smiling... Let others come to you, to help you and pray for you, listen to your shepherd, who will never let you down and always encourage you to walk past foxes and wolves. The herd is stronger together..
No one should limp behind or go the way with a sunken head.
"Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehmiah 8,10)
Our good shepherd is with us and he never leaves us alone. We can trust in him and that is more than enough! (Psalms 23,1)
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this.
Psalms 37,5
I'm really thankful, that I don't have to limp any longer behind the others... ;-)
Hello, my name is Jessi. I wanted to share a little story of encouragement with you. I think, it will be interesting for all of us and the described feelings will be understood by everyone. We all sometimes feel lonely or have thoughts like:. "HOW WILL I MAKE IT? HOW CAN I CLIMB THIS MOUNTAIN WITHOUT BEING HARMED? IS IT POSSIBLE.... I WON'T MAKE IT!" and while we are thinking, we hear this well-known warm voice:
"MY CHILD, WHY ARE YOU SO SAD AND WHY DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE LONELY? DON'T BELIEVE THIS LIE. I PROMISED YOU, THAT I'M ALWAYS WITH YOU AND THAT I GO BESIDE YOU. Trust me. Even though you will have many bad experiences, I'm sorry for that, my Child, never forget: I will never disappoint you....!
That's good to know, isn't it? Is there any more beautiful declaration of love than this from our Father? I don't think so (... okay there are many nice words, friendly gestures, presents and other things, but are they sincere??)
There are only a few people, I can depend on and it's hard, never to know what they really think. Perhaps this is the reason for being here. It's not always easy, but think you are not alone.
The eyes of the Father always rest upon you. Yes, that's not easy. How can you trust someone, you don't see .... but you see him. Look at him. Don't you see the birds, the butterfly on the flower? Don't you feel the rain on your skin, the sun that warms you or don't you listen to the thunder?
That's our Father. He shows himself, so that we can always see him.
Take the time to listen to him. Let your housework rest. Don't listen to stupid gossip ... tomorrow will be a day too.... don't you think so?????
Who knows .... with these thoughts I close my story and I hope that you make the best of everything as it should be.
Live how you feel. Don't be shaped by the illusions of this world.
Do the things you feel are right and if you don't feel good ... I tell you, that you are not alone.
Your Father shows you the right way ... You can choose, if you will climb many mountains or walk straight on.
I wish you just all the best, much love and success and to learn how to evaluate others. It takes a long time.
I'm 28 years old and I saw more than enough. People came and went away, the sun rose and set, the flowers bloomed and withered. I hope that good experiences may prevail in your life.
"And friends are friends forever, if the lord is the lord of them.
And a friend will not say ever, because the welcome will not end."
In October 2000 I went to "Jesus House" (an Event for Youth in Germany). Before that I had already heard about Jesus, but never invited him to come into my life. When I went to this event, I saw young people and they were different ... so hearty, so friendly, sooooo wonderful and I realized that they all have something I didn't have - JESUS. That evening, I invited JESUS to come into my life and I want to live my life through him. These people I told you about are my friends today. I go to youth groups, where I can enjoy the community together. I used to be really shy and not open and brave. But I can say that Jesus changed me. Yes, I can wear the crown he wants to give me every day. I can be free and myself in him.
God as our Father is really creative and he knows everything exactly, yes he knows best, how to show us his love. He shows me his love in friendships. I met lots of nice girls, yes ... I met Princesses.... what an *HONOUR*. Friendships are really important to me. Friends play the melody for life. If I forget that they pray for me, we can pray together, we walk together in silence through the creation of the Lord. And even if we are silent, we understand each other, talk and listen. Sometimes my friends surprise me in the often cold daily life and enrich my life (..Emails, greeting cards,...). That's so precious. We can talk about everything and also about our relationship with God, about our desires, wishes and dreams...! Friends are always there and the best friend is JESUS - always connected always online!
That's the name of the youth group that I'm leading. The teens should know that Jesus is always there for them, even if everything else breaks down. It's worthwhile to build up friendships and to refresh them - the Lord blesses them and let them be a blessing for others.
Friendships -
to love
and RECEIVE SO MUCH!
I'm sure of this:
Every life is a blessing.
I prepare the right people,
places and experiences!!!
Something like misfortune doesn't exist,
nothing happens by chance.
There are no accidental encounters,
experiences and I make no mistake!!!!
- God
May your life in this world be a happy one
- be blessed, tine @-,-
I wrote my songs about the struggles every woman has to fight each day. I'm sure, we know them all. But my Lord gave me a deep strength and peace, amidst these storms in life. My journey with Jesus began at the age of 15 and I'm still learning, how to encounter him and how to live my relationship with him. It's a process!
I always feel his presence, but when I go through hard times, I REALLY feel him near.
I want you to know, that God has a plan for each and everyone of you. He uses our stories to encourage others. That's the beauty of grace. He lifts us up and so we can help others on their ways!!!
Dream big and shine brightly in the darkness!!
God is waiting to meet you and he has big plans for your life.
Beautiful
Words and music by Jessica McLean 2007
From album “Designed to Dream” 2007
Everything is perfect I’ve got it all under control. Everything is just fine here Not a care in the world But that’s a lie
Battling my reflection A desperate dissatisfaction It’s hard to see The real me But I just long to praise you
So Lord make me beautiful from the inside out You’re love is what matters to me And I am beautiful in your eyes O Lord You love me Just as I am
This world leaves me empty Fitting a box that I never will fill Killing myself for the sake of beauty But what is beauty after all? I’m broken, and tired, and angry Of always trying to please them
So Lord make me beautiful from the inside out You’re love is what matters to me And I am beautiful in your eyes O Lord You love me Just as I am
I’m sick of crying, sick of trying To fit into this world
So Lord make me beautiful from the inside out You’re love is what matters to me And I am beautiful in your eyes O Lord You love me Just as I am
Hi! My name is Shae. I'm a native Floridian completely in love with Christ. Since I was 15 I was running away from God's love. I was broken because I didn't get the love that I needed from my father, so I started seeking love from people .. men .. women. I thought I'd found true love in a man .. we even had a child together but it turned out his love was fake just like all the others. I searched for comfort in sex, drugs, and alcohol.. I even contemplated suicide.
But just then Jesus stepped in and saved me, brought me to a place of nothingness so God could have my entire focus. He chased me for so long and he finally got me. He's not letting go of me and I am surely NOT letting go of Him.
I'm on a quest for Heaven. He even laid it on my heart to start and outreach ministry for young women, teenage girls and young girls called The Heiress Movement™.
His love is incredible all He wants is you to choose Him.
I want to tell you of one experience, I had with God and by which I learned, that God cares for us.
It was Sunday evening. I was laying in my bed but I couldn't sleep. The next day was full of things I would have to do. After school, I should have to go to the drama club and then school again. After this I would have to run home very fast to go riding on my horse. I would be at home at 7 pm.
Because of these activities I'm totally tired every Monday evening and this Monday I would not have the time to do my homework and to learn for my music test the next day. The test was important for my school report and I wanted to have good marks, but I didn't learn until this day.
All this came to my mind on Sunday night at 10 pm. I could have cried. "Why do all these things always come to my mind when it's too late?" I thought. I prayed to God, that he would do any miracle so that I would have the time to learn for the test. I prayed quite a long time and thought about everything. I thought about skipping school, pretending to be ill or not riding my horse. These thoughts were still in my mind when I stood up the next day. But I decided to do the whole program.
At school a school mate told me that one school lesson would not take place. This happened several times in the past, but on this day it was very special to me! It was a little miracle, God did for me! My school mate didn't understand why I freaked out, hugged her and danced for joy.
God answered my prayer! And even in a way I wanted it to be. In the afternoon I had enough time to learn for the test and got a good mark in my school report.
I really want to encourage you, to come to God, if you face a problem in your life and to talk with him about it. I'm sure, that he hears you and that he will answer your prayer. Maybe he won't always help you in a way you want him to, like I experienced it in my situation. But God is creative and he has more ideas than us to help us and solve our problems.
My name is MOLLY MARIE and I'm 12 years old. I have big dreams for my life and one day I want to travel around the world, sing in many places and get to know people from every nation. God has a great purpose for my life here on earth and I want every moment to be counted and every moment is important, because HE gave it to me.
I encourage you, my sisters, to dream big ... we have a BIG God. Nothing is impossible for him, when we trust in him. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you.
SO sorry I haven't blogged in for an eternity! That should give you some indication on how crazy my life has been. But not to worry, I've learned how to say "no" and also how to delegate tasks, thus my time will be freer. Here's a new post about the story behind a song I wrote called "he knows" - will be writing more, I promise :)
"He Knows"
I love my job. I think I might just have the best job in the world. Because the truth is, it's not really even a job. I get to do what I love and what I've been called and created to do for a living. I get to travel across the country and occasionally the world and share the message and hope of Christ through music. Because I'm a worship leader, I get to lead for all different kinds of churches in all different kinds of places. However, one of my favorite things to do is to attend church services without leading. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE getting to do ministry at services, but rarely do I get to just sit in the congregation and sing in the background without being on stage. No one listening and no one watching. Just me singing in the back row. So when I do have the opportunity to attend, it's special and refreshing. One particular Sunday morning I went to The Village Church in Dallas, TX. I had heard great things about this church and some of my friends went there, but I'd never had the chance to check it out for myself. For some odd reason (or God's sovereignty), I had an open Sunday and I was in the Dallas area, so I went to visit. The time of worship through song was incredible and the message was amazing, as well. The pastor Matt Chandler was dynamic and definitely the kind of guy I could listen to for 45 minutes despite my major a.d.d tendencies.
He began preaching out of Hebrews 4 and instantly I was hooked and locked in. He began talking about how Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses. He deconstructed the passage verse by verse and made a compelling case for the reality of the closeness of Immanuel. The first part of the passage goes like this: "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God who was tempted in every way as we are, yet was without sin." I was so encouraged by the message because I have many weaknesses and at that time in my life I was feeling like I was alone in what I was going through. So often I get caught up in thinking I need to be strong and keep up the spiritual giant façade, despite my internal sufferings and struggles. But the truth is that God's power is perfected in our weakness, not our strength. I felt like God was speaking directly to me through the message. In the midst of trying to write down every word he said, I began to notice a song rising up in me. I was kind of bummed because I didn't want to be distracted from the message, but God had other plans. Turns out His plans are way better anyway.
Then the pastor said something that hit me like a 2x4: "No matter how dark the trail goes, Jesus knows." I heard the rhyme and I immediately had a melody and lyric in my head. I tried to shake it at first so I could continue focusing on his message, but it got the better of me. Unfortunately, when I get song ideas in the middle of sermons I have to pause my brain from listening to the rest of the message and I have to get out what's in my head, otherwise I might lose it forever. So I began feverishly jotting down the lyrical thoughts that God was bringing to my mind on the church bulletin paper thingy. All I kept hearing over and over again was, "No matter how deep and dark the trail goes, He knows. No matter how lonely, lost and low, He knows." The words were coming out fast and all I wanted was to sit down right then and there with my guitar or piano and write the song. But that definitely would've been awkward to walk up on stage and say, "Hang on Matt, I am enjoying your sermon and all but I need to write a song real quick. I just need about 30 seconds." So I decided to hold it together and stay in my seat until the service was over.
As soon as people started filing out of the building, I went up to the stage and sat down at a beautiful baby grand piano (assuming I had divine permission, I suppose). The tune and melody came almost as quickly as the lyrics. It was as if the song had been completely handed to me, in full, from the Lord. I immediately connected with the lyrics because they so closely represented what I had been going through in that particular season in my life. The Lord was taking me through a beautiful transformation where He was showing me that I was not alone and had never been alone.
When I got the lyrics and melody down, I left the church and immediately started performing this new song at concerts and other ministry events. Eventually, I was able to record it on my latest project. The Lord even provided a way for me to record a music video for the song, which was hilariously fun and out of my comfort zone. It turned out to be an excellent ministry tool, but talk about weakness, I am so not a rocks tar or a diva, so making music videos is not my gifting. Plus, in the video, I have on way too much lipstick. I was told it would be necessary because of the camera and lighting and such. But here's the thing about me: I would rather eat glass chips than wear lipstick. I enjoy a simple gloss, but I digress…
So in my personal relationship with Him, the Lord kept teaching me the importance of weakness and surrender. He was growing deep inside me the passion for authenticity. For too long, I had been fake. I tried to be someone I wasn't, and it was exhausting. I always thought since I was in full-time ministry that I had to act like I had it all together. I thought I had to be all super-spiritual. But then I realized that God never called us to be strong in our own strength. He called us to be real in our weaknesses. In Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he tells us that God's power is actually perfected in our weaknesses, because when we are weak, HE is strong and HE gets all the glory due His name. I wanted so badly to boast in my weakness, though I had no idea what that really looked like in reality. I realized that even when I feel like no one else understands what I'm going through, Jesus knows. Even when my parents and closest friends can't completely sympathize with me, Jesus can. He knows the ins and outs of every bit of pain and He is intimately concerned about every detail of my life. He's been there. He knows pain. He felt the deepest of pain on the cross. He knows triumph. He felt the victory when He rose from the dead. He knows hope in the midst of adversity. He is the one who for the joy and hope set before Him endured the cross. He knows humility. He is the King of Kings born in a feeding trough. And He knows love. He is the Unconditional Lover who first loved us and taught us how to love.
The bottom line is that Jesus knows. Right now, on this day, as you're reading this, God knows exactly what's going on. He is the Alpha and Omega of all things and He sees the beginning and end of your particular situation. He already knows how He's going to get you through this pain and He knows what you're going through. He is the God who grieves with you. He is the Savior who sympathizes. He is the King who cares deeply for you. He is the Healer who will hold you broken heart and give you a new, whole one. May we never forget that Jesus sympathizes with all of our weaknesses, trials and pain. I love the advice and encouragement found at the end of Hebrews 4: "Therefore, let us draw near to the throne of grace with confidence so that we might find mercy and help in our time of need." So often, we tend to run away from God when hardships come. Think of Adam and Eve. The first thing they did when they realized they had sinned was to take off running. Of course, God knew where they were the whole time, but they tried to run from Him. They went and hid. But God is calling us to come out of hiding. He is calling us to run toward Him instead of away from Him, no matter what the cause of running might be. We can throw ourselves on His throne for His is safe and trustworthy. He loves without condition and His love doesn't change based on what we do or don't do. When the valleys gets deeper and the roads get bumpier, that's the time when we should run as fast as we can to the Lord for He Himself is our Peace. And when we meet with Him in that secret place, He will remind us that He is in the process of working all things (the good, the bad, and the ugly) together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
We all have times of need. We are all in need of mercy and help. Instead of running away from the Lord in our toughest of times, let's run to Him. I wrote this song as an encouragement to people who feel like they're all alone and that no one knows what they're truly going through. Take heart, He knows. He's been there and He's there with you now. He's holding you and He's ready to meet you where you are.
At one time, I would have told you-with an apologetic little smile-that my testimony was unspectacular. I was brought up in a Christ-centered household, and I repented in faith at an early age. But to label any conversion "unspectacular" is to utter defamation against the greatest of all God's works: the regeneration of a hardened, sinful heart. My salvation is a miracle of grace wrought by God Himself, carefully planned before the foundations of the world were set in place.
My parents are both passionate followers of Christ. Growing up, the Word was integrated into my everyday life, and I saw its veracity proven daily through my parents' selfless love. Some of my earliest memories are of Dad opening the Bible, holding me on his knee, and reading aloud to me. As a result of this home environment, my biblical knowledge grew rapidly, and I was able to parrot the message of the Gospel as a young child. But in the sovereign, perfect timing of my Father, I did not cross from death to life until I was about twelve years old.
When I was eleven, the Holy Spirit began to bring deep conviction of sin upon me. Every night, I lay awake, beleaguered by one truth: I deserved hell. My conscience condemned me constantly, and I felt the words of Isaiah 64:6 sharply: "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away." Every night, I cried out for forgiveness-often with tears. For the first time, my eyes were opened to recognize the filth of my moral condition against God's holiness. And it terrified me.
Up until then, I had been baffled whenever I attempted to comprehend the reason for Christ's death. Oh, I knew that it had been for the atonement of sin-in an impersonal, distant way that failed to penetrate my heart. Because my inclination has always been to attempt to earn God's favor through performance, I naturally rested my hope for salvation in my reputation and obedience.
During that time, I began to read a small, powerful book by C.J. Mahaney called The Cross-Centered Life. God used it to drive home the inadequacy of legalism and works to restoring fellowship with Him. Conformity to rules out of self-righteousness is a feeble crutch to lean on; when the Spirit's conviction stripped that prop from me, I toppled into overwhelming despondency.
After wrestling with fear of damnation for months, God granted me faith to trust the simple promise of Romans 10:9: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." The Spirit testified within me to my adoption, bringing inexpressible peace. In one day, I was transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. I was transformed from a vessel of wrath-His enemy-into a vessel of mercy-His beloved child. The preceding period of despair and spiritual anguish was the necessary preparation for me to realize the worth of the Cross, and to embrace Christ's substitutionary sacrifice. Because of the bloodied, unrecognizable Man who hung on Golgotha and bore the full brunt of the Father's wrath for me, I stand justified before the throne of a righteous, gracious God.
My confidence now rests in the finished work of Christ, not in my own merit; when the Father looks on me, He sees the perfect righteousness of His Son. It was His immeasurable, unfathomable grace alone that secured my eternal life, and that same grace will continue to keep me until I meet Him face-to-face. Until that day, my most fervid desire is to honor my great Savior in every aspect of my life, know Him more intimately, spread the glory of His name, and revel in His beauty. Though the context differs, I think the words of Psalm 118:23 are appropriate in closing: "This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
To praise the Lord of Lords, God of Gods, King of Kings ... to honor, to praise
and to celebrate him. To look at him alone, at his beauty, his lovely character,
to forget everything else. To be lifted up by him. To be near him, to stand before him,
to be in his arms. I love him, he loves me completely, passionately, above all.
He rejoices over me, dances with me. He fills me up with everything that my soul needs.
He changes me, my point of view, my feelings. He gives me wisdom, creativity, hope, motivation.
He speaks to me, encourages me, shows me how he sees me.
I can give him my sorrows, fears, all the pressure, my failing, my faults, my weakness,
everything negative ... let it go and receive peace and freedom.
Every time of worship is different. It depends of the time I take,
the people around me, the place where I am, the burdens I carry with me ...
Sometimes I cry everything out, what weighs me down and I start
to honor God and lift him up above my problems.
Every time of worship is worth, changes me and draws me closer to him,
to know him more and to strengthen my (love-)relationship with him.
I grew up in Miami, Florida. When I was 12 years old, I moved up to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the USA. Since I have been a little girl I have always loved fashion, beauty, and anything else having to do with being a girl! In my grade school years, I tried all sorts of sports, like cheerleading, volleyball, soccer, tennis, swimming, even a little surfing. As much fun all of it was, none of it ever filled me up - none of it ever fit. It wasn't until I turned fourteen that I decided to simply do something in the area that I loved: fashion. So, I was praying one day and this little idea popped into my head: to give away my own clothes to girls who really wanted cute clothes, but couldn't afford them for one reason or another. I would name it Taylor's Closet. So, through about 2 years of planning and seeking clothing donations, Taylor's Closet has actually blossomed into a free-standing, high end boutique exclusively for girls at risk in the city where I live. In 2006, we opened our store and to date we have received over a million dollars worth of clothing donations and see about 50 "at-risk" girls a month come to shop in our store. It all started with one, tiny thought. These girls shop for amazing clothes and leave with something much more: knowing their worth and knowing there is hope in their Daddy. At 18 years of age now, I have seen Gods hand move in the way of miracles and provision more than my little mind can handle. Not only has this little idea grown into something huge, it has grown into something that God's kids are being touched with all across the globe.
I want to tell you this for one reason only: God loves you. God loves you enough to listen to your quiet thoughts - thoughts that are so tiny and insignificant - and turn them into your dreams. Dreams that not only touch many for His purposes, but dreams that are bigger than your and my mind could ever conjure up. He'll do it just because He loves you. God is good. Please never ever forget that. If He can turn one tiny thought that entered into my mind, into a living, breathing international ministry, what can he do with all of things you discount as unimportant. Let's make Him famous!
God created Eve, and women, as the pinnacle of beauty and complexity in all of creation.
Therefore each one of us is profoundly glorious and treasured most highly by our God.
We need to know this truth about ourselves, rather than believing the lie that we'll
never be good enough, smart enough, talented enough, thin enough, beautiful enough.
You ARE enough. No more striving.
We're human beings, not human 'doings.'
A spirit at peace is a spirit full of the love
and beauty that is Christ's.
My name is Stefanie Vogel and I have been working in Romania for 8 years. When I arrived here as a 20 year old, all I wanted to do was go back home, but God led me in a way that I still sometimes cannot grasp.
In 2003 I started working in an orphanage for children from ages 0 to 3 years. There could be up to 25 babies together in one room. Out of all these children, there was a precious girl who captured my heart named Roxi, who I took home in 2004 and after years of fighting finally finished her adoption in 2008.
After the doors closed for orphanages in 2005, friends and I went to together to the local children's hospital. There we found a lot of children left alone in their cribs. Without touch, love and attention, the children laid in their beds, for weeks to months at a time. Eventually the social worker would take the children back home or the parents would come and pick them up. We immediately started buying diapers for the children, who were previously wrapped in rags, and spent time with them.
There in the hospital I met two more children that I took home (both 5 years old now).
Costel was in a need of a leg surgery which was preformed in Germany after raising the needed funds. Beca was neglected by her parents and weighed only 6 kg/13 lbs at the age of 15 months.
Today I am the mother of three children and vice president of an association. We are working with the abandoned children and babies in the Brasov Children's Hospital, leading and mentoring two Roma teenage girls groups and helping numerous Roma families who are in need.
God has given me so much over the last years. It never gets boring! He has led me through many challenging situations and has always been faithful. But it takes a lot of trust and faith to step out of the "boat of comfort" and walk on water believing He will catch you if you fall. It will for sure be an adventure you will never forget.
Lauren, year of birth 1994 Leslie, year of birth 1991
God calls unqualified people to do the unimaginable!
At 5:30 in the morning, the fire alarms went off, sending a shrill ring throughout the building. Smoke bombs billowed in the hallways, as firemen ordered us campers to grab our sleeping bags and shoes and hurry outside.
This was the beginning of our very first summer camp.
We were 14 and 11-year-old sisters who had never left home for more than a couple days. What we experienced following that morning was no ordinary experience and it produced no ordinary results. After waiting anxiously for what seemed like an hour, we, along with 50 other campers, were told that we were now "Refugees". The fire wasn't real and neither was our new identity, but we were going to discover first hand what it was like to live on almost nothing.
For the rest of the day, we scavenged for food, constructed shelters out of a pile of old garbage, and shared one port-a-potty between 50 campers. After a meager dinner, we received replicas of Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. Included in each child's wrapped box were a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap bar, washcloth, and toy. It wasn't much, but we could hear murmurs of delight echo throughout the campers.
Once we returned to our air-conditioned home and loaded fridge, we could not forget how significant a single toothbrush and bar of soap had felt when we were tired and dirty. We couldn't imagine how thrilling it would be to receive shoeboxes like ours after a life time without washing our hands or brushing our teeth.
God was doing a big work in our hearts, but we weren't sure what that meant for us. We dreamt of flying around the world handing out similar shoeboxes full of goodies, but then God opened our eyes to the homeless people in our city.
After a year of brainstorming and research, we finally launched a non-profit ministry called Hope2Others (H2O). Along with our family and volunteers from our church, we stuff paper lunch bags with non-perishable food, sanitary items, socks, a Gospel tract, and a homeless shelter meal voucher. The ministry is designed to meet some of the physical and spiritual needs of homeless people in our community, as well as provide drivers with something tangible and beneficial to carry in their cars and hand out to panhandlers they see asking for help.
One of our main visions for H2O is to see other Christian groups start H2O where they live. We can't fill bags for the whole world on our own, but with the help of others, we can reach more homeless people with hope. On our website, www.H2Obags.com, a starter kit is available, containing all the necessary information to launch the ministry elsewhere. Already, many teens and adults have taken up the challenge throughout the country and even in the Philippines!
God has by far exceeded our expectations for this ministry.
We want to encourage you with a verse that has greatly ministered to us over the years.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Following God's call on your life won't always be easy, and it's easy to make excuses like "I'm too young," "I don't have enough time,"
"I don't know how," or "Where will I get the money?"
But God promises in those situations, when we are unable to do it on our own, His power is sufficient for us. As a result of that promise, notice how Paul, the writer of 2 Corinthians, responded. "For Christ's sake, I delight…" Paul took joy in doing things that showed his weakness and were too hard for him. He loved it! Why? Because it was for Christ's sake-for Christ's glory-not his own. And God is greatly glorified when we rely on Him in our weakness.
Our challenge to you is, first, say "yes" to whatever God's calling you to do. Maybe it's feeding starving kids in Africa, housing the homeless in your city, or befriending the outcasts at your school. Whatever it is, say "yes" and let God use you in incredible ways! Second, believe the promise God gave you. Trust Him to do the impossible through you. Trust Him to be your strength in your weakness. And finally, be happy! Rejoice that God is strong enough for you and give Him the glory in what happens.
God calls unqualified people to do the unimaginable.
We are testimonies to that.
Just think of what He wants to do through your life!
Take up your cross and follow Him.
You won't regret it.
It is amazing how God has taken me from being moss under a rock to being planted as a blooming flower in His fertile ground. Our teen years can be really difficult at times when we're going through changes, pressures and frustrations, and mine were no different. Despite of the pain God has renewed me and I want to share my journey with other girls so that they know there is hope beyond the hurt.
Growing up I as a child was extremely shy but entering my teen years my self-esteem plummeted. I became increasingly self-conscious and would not ever step out or let my voice be heard aloud except when needed. I disliked the way I looked, felt as if I didn't really matter and would cower at the sight of people, only speaking freely to my closest family and friends.
Coupled with that I felt abandoned after my father left the family when I was a child. I was also struggling with an illness at the time that made it difficult to go to school regularly, and so in high school I missed many days because of trips to the doctor's office. It was a dark and lonely road.
Everything seemed bleak and I was merely going through the motions, not embracing life to its fullest potential. At 15-years-old I became depressed and only half aware of being alive. I was hardly taking care of myself; my body and spirit were shriveling into a tense, broken, guarded existence.
I only felt good about myself when I could please and have the approval of others through my abilities. My life revolved around serving people but not only in a godly way; rather I felt that my only worth was in doing what people wanted me to, that they would be angry with me if I didn't, and that there was nothing else about me left to offer. I had lost all joy I had as a child and even forgot the hobbies and pastimes I had enjoyed; nothing seemed worth it anymore.
I grew up going to church and still went with my mother, but the truth of God's love didn't quite become real to me until a few years ago when God showered me with His love in a real way. It began when I was very ill and had to be rushed to the hospital as a result of a complication. At the time I could remember being only half aware of what was going on around me. My chest was tight and I was scared that I might die there in the hospital. The fear didn't last long because an intense feeling of peace and calm that I'd never felt before captured me.
In those moments it seemed as if God was comforting me, telling me to let go and stop holding back. The thought of, "Who told you that you were worthless? Who said you weren't allowed live? Who said you can't?" kept repeating in my mind. I felt as if He was telling me to stop trying to make sense of my circumstances, stop belittling myself and to trust Him with my heart. He controls every beat, created me wonderfully and He is always there with me - just let go. Obeying that command has been a day-by-day release, but I can feel Him enveloping me in His freedom more all the time.
Before I was afraid to speak, to share, and to live freely. Now I am speaking, sharing and living to show and tell others about the love that saved me. From speaking engagements to sharing my thoughts on my youth website www.dreaminsoul.com/soar God has been amazing in revealing my purpose and launching me into hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). My pain has become a conduit to reach others going though the same. I know He loves me, and I know He loves you - will you let Him into your heart?
You don't have to wait until a major event like an illness to happen to realize that you and your life are worth it in God's eyes. Let Him takeover today - let loose your fears, hurts and troubles to Him. Jesus says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29). You will be amazed at how trusting in the Lord and deciding to live your life by only His opinions of you will liberate your heart, mind and soul.
He freed me from darkness and nurtures me to grow beautifully into His light; for that I am ever grateful.
You can find out more about me and my youth ministries and webzines at my websites:
