Unanswered Prayers

One of my favorite Garth Brooks songs has the lyrics, "some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." I find this to be very true. Sometimes God has a better plan for you that isn't revealed after some pain or hardship in your life. For example, in the song, the main character goes back to his high school homecoming football game with his wife and runs into his high school sweetheart. He remembers praying to God that he would never ask for anything again if he could just have his sweetheart for the rest of his life. However, he realizes now that he wouldn't trade his wife now for anything; he loves her more than he could fathom loving his high school sweetheart. My guess is that the character had to go through a lot of pain when he and his sweetheart broke up, but God knew what was best for him in the long run. You see, God knows where our lives are headed. He has a plan for us, but it is up to us to ask for His guidance so that we may follow that plan. And if we just give God the glory and power, He will handle the rest. Sometimes I pray for things so much and so passionately, but then God doesn't answer my prayers like I hope. I get frustrated at first but I realize I have to take a step back and remind myself that God has my best interests at heart. He will take care of me and show me His plan in His own time. I just have to be patient. I am giving God my life and I pray that all of you choose to make that same decision sometime in your life. We just have to have faith.
God Bless!
ChristianKid

Understanding fellow Christians

Christianity is the world's largest religion. However, this encompasses countless denominations. We all believe different things here and there, celebrate rites differently, and place limits on our followers differently. But we are all united by one common theme: Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. And within these different denominations, we encounter countless brothers and sisters in Christ, each created as uniquely their own person. And although we may do the small things differently, we are all united by one common theme: Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We need to learn to embrace every follower of Christ as a child of the Lord our God. If you have ever taken a psychology class, you know that people have different traits and genes that make up who they are today. Followers of Christ have different traits and genes that correspond to their faith life, as well. Some people will be shy in their faith, and some people will be out-going. Some people will be inventive in how they approach others, some like to follow a well laid out plan. Some are better one on one while others can preach to the masses. Whomever you are, let your friends and other brothers and sisters in Christ know! That way you can each understand each other better and help each other grow in your faith. God has created each of you with your own strengths and weaknesses. Some may be similar and different than others. Be sure to embrace each follower of God as your own family for God loves you all equally.
God Bless!
ChristianKid

Jesus loves me, this I know

Sometimes in this world, we feel very alone. Whatever the situation may be that leads to the conclusion of loneliness or emptiness, God is the answer. He loves you no matter what. He will never turn His back on you or be cruel to you. Today is September 11th, a day that will go down in America's history and the world's history forever. Nine years ago today I sat in a classroom watching the news footage from 9/11, too young to understand what was really happening. All I saw were skyscrapers tumbling down as if they were made from twigs and sticks, people screaming, running, and crying, and the teachers in my classroom crying along with them. Little did I know that scene would be burned into my memory forever. Thousands of lives were lost that day; many of them heroic deaths of American citizens trying to save their fellow countrymen. However, those citizens whose lives were forever affected by the loss of loved ones that day had a serious choice to make. They could either turn to God for help in healing their broken hearts, or they could blame Him for letting such a terrible thing happen. Many people, no matter what the situation, choose the latter, unfortunately. We blame God for the terrible things happening in our lives, instead of asking Him to fix it. Why is it so easy to turn to anger towards God when things go south? Instances like 9/11, and all other situations of despair, are when we should turn to God and ask for His help. God is the Almighty, the Creator, the Alpha and Omega, and He loves us with all of His gigantic heart! If we break our arm, we go to the doctor because we know he can fix it. But if we break our heart, we don't turn to the only being who can. Instead we are mad at Him. I hate to break it to you, but life is not a pleasant picnic. Life can really bear down on us sometimes, and God is the only one who can truly bring us back up to our feet for eternity. So turn to Him. Please, my friend, turn to Him.
God Bless!
ChristianKid

Because you care

Many people take many different approaches when witnessing to people. However, as a Christian, you do not witness to people because you wish to prove you are right and the other person is wrong. You witness to them because you care about them. You want them to experience the same wonderful things you have experienced by being a Christian and living a life for God. You witness to someone because you care about their soul and what happens to that precious, precious soul when that person passes on. And whether you are witnessing to your best friend or a complete stranger, you will get much farther and touch them much deeper if you do not try to shove information down their throat. It is the Christian thing to do when you witness someone out of kindness and not condescension. And I know many of those whom you witness to will not return the kindness. They will get into a debate with you and ask you questions to try and stump you. Just pray that you handle these people with God's grace and honor their opinions and simply share your own. There is a three-way win-win situation when you witness to someone. The outcome can result in the person being saved which is the most awesome "win" there is; it can result in the person not being saved, but you have still planted a seed which may someday grow which is also a win; and it can also result in the person rejecting you entirely which is not great by any means although God realizes what you are doing for Him and rewards you for such works which is a win for yourself. But if you show those you witness to respect for their own opinions (which are usually formed from their own life experiences) and the kindness that Christ showed the world, you are that much closer to changing some one's life forever.
God Bless!
ChristianKid