For The Friend

For the friend whose smile is forced

As she tells us that sometimes

She feels like cutting.

For the friend whose home life

Leaves much to dream, to wish for.

For the friend who tells us

She smoked pot three times

And we don’t know what to say.

For the friend who feels

That she’s not good enough

Just being herself.

For the friend who doesn’t

Know and love the living God

And Jesus who died for her.

For the friend who doesn’t

Have the knowledge that

She is loved.

Prayer: It Works

Sometimes it seems like prayer never works.  Never helps.  Maybe God’s not listening.  But you have to have the faith to be able to banish those thoughts no matter what is going on in your life.  GOD ALWAYS HEARS.  He always answers.  The only thing is that he doesn’t always answer as you would have him.  I have read in many older books that God answers either with “yes,” “no,” or “not now.” 

As an example of how God works is school.  Public school is not the easiest place to tell someone that you’re praying for them.  There was a girl in one of my classes that I knew was a Christian but she was having a lot of what she termed “drama” in her life.  She softly admitted to me and a friend that she had even thought about cutting herself.  I asked her if she had prayed about it.  She hung her head for a moment and then she said looked up and said, “Yeah.  God doesn’t want me to do it.”  I felt terrible for her.  But how could I help her when I had only met her that semester?

The answer: I could pray for her. 

Every day I prayed for her.  That God would give her strength and feel His love and that the drama wouldn’t overwhelm her.  That she would have peace.  The one day I was talking her again (I also made sure I at least said hi to her every day, to remind her that someone else cared) and she was looking pretty depressed as she told me that she didn’t think the drama would reach her on weekends, but it did.  I felt God prompting and I told her “I’m praying for you.” She smiled a little and said thanks.

Maybe a week or so later, she came up to me and said, “Megan, I want to thank you for praying for me.  It gave me the courage to talk to my friend [that she was having trouble with].”  I felt so blessed that my simple prayers every day could make a difference in someone’s life. 

Why?  Because God is always listening and God works daily in our lives.  Prayer works.

Don’t like the Swearing?

Then try to stop it.  I have found that some people will stop if you let them know that it offends you – not everyone, of course, but you can always try.  Just be sure to ask nicely!  Ordering them to stop will not sound good, nor is it nice at all. 

When I was at my locker at the end of the day, the girl next to me asked, “Does my swearing offend you?  I’m sorry; I’ll stop, I promise.”  I was astounded, because not just everyone goes around asking people if their swearing offends them.  It might just be because I wear a veil; but whatever the cause, I appreciated her thoughtfulness and told her so.

So not everyone is rock hard inside when it comes to their swearing and being considerate of others.  If you have too much swearing around you, politely ask the person(s) to stop and you might be surprised.  Give even those you don’t want to talk to a chance – you may be surprised.

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. - Matthew 5:34-37

James 4:7: Submit Yourself to God and Resist the Devil

Recently at a friend's youth group that I have been attending, we talked about resisting the Devil and fleeing from evil.  Later on in school, while reading Macbeth, our teacher informed us that we were going to have a "Witch Off," or a contest to see who could dress up as and act as the best witch.  I was stunned at how evil that was and I immediately knew I would do all I could to be excused from doing the activity.  I asked my parents to write me a note requesting that I be exempt from the activity just in case my teacher did not listen to just me.  


So the one day I went up to her and told her that I did not feel comfortable participating in the Witch Off and I would gladly do an alternative assignment in place of it.  To my relief she had no problem with it, and I thanked the Lord for that!  It really made me realize how evil the world is and how Satan works in public schools to promote his witchcraft and other evils.  Now that I no longer attend a private school, I often face more evils that I must flee from, ways that I must resist the devil.  


But it says in James 4:7-8, "Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."  We should always be avoiding evil by whatever means possible, even if it is just praying for God's help and wisdom and protection if we cannot actually flee.  We should also be reading the Bible every day so we can better defend ourselves against the Devil's schemes.  


So submit yourself to God and resist the Devil and the evils in this world! 

Facing The Future: God Goes Before Us

After “graduating” from my private Christian school after 8th grade, I faced the fact that I have to go to high school - and a public school, with no one there that I really know - this upcoming school year.  I was really scared about the whole idea, and I was talking to my cousin about it.  During an Instant Messenger conversation, she reminded me of Deuteronomy 31:8 - “And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

I felt much better about the situation after I read that.  To think of such a wonderful thing - God goes before us!  He is right ahead of us, helping us take each step.  He will not fail us or forsake us in any way - I do not have to be dismayed over a simple matter of high school.  Praise God for his promises and love!