"Telling the truth and facing the consequences is better than telling a lie and living with a guilty conscience."

God Can Use Us While We're Young

Topic: God Can Use Us While We’re Young

Introduction: Even though we’re young, God can still use us.  

1 Timothy 4:12 says, "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example of the believers in the word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

Despise means to think little or nothing of.  So don’t let anyone think little or nothing of you because you’re young. 

There’s a story in the Bible that I'd like to share with you.  It’s about how God used a young girl to tell someone about Him. 

2 Kings 5:1-14 says

Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. 2 And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.” 4 And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel.”5 Then the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 Then he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said,Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.7 And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me.”8 So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lordhis God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ 12 Are not the Abanah[a] and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

So Naaman, who was the captain of the Syrian army, had a skin disease.  But God used a young girl, like us, who Naaman had captured to be a servant to his wife.  The young girl, told Naaman’s wife about the prophet who knew about the one true God, who could heal him.  And then Naaman’s wife told her husband about it.  So even though this young girl was taken from her own home, she was bold and had faith. 

Verse 15 at the end of the story explains that Naaman realizes Who the one true God is.  And that all started because of the young girl. 

So even though we might think we’re just kids or seem unimportant, God can still use us to do His work, just like the young girl we read about.  Maybe he’ll use us to be friends with someone who doesn’t have any friends.  Maybe he’ll use us to be a light to our unsaved relatives and show love to them.  Or maybe he’ll use us to encourage our family and friends. 

But no matter how unimportant we think we are, (using a quote from the author Tolkien) “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”

So if we’re wanting to do something bigger, when we’re young, and we’re not satisfied with where we are and we want to do more for Jesus; we just need to remember that God has placed us where we are in this very moment for a reason.  We just have to remember that and trust that He is working everything out! 

Which reminds me of a verse in Luke.  Luke 16:10a, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much...”

So God wants us to be faithful in the things that He gives us to do when we’re young so that He can give us bigger things to be faithful in when we’re adults. 

This summer, God has given me, and several others from our church, the opportunity to get to do five-day-clubs.  We get to share the gospel with neighborhood children and that’s an example of God using young people. 

Read Jeremiah 1:6-8

Then said I:“Ah, Lord God!Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”7 But the Lord said to me:“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’For you shall go to all to whom I send you,And whatever I command you, you shall speak.8 Do not be afraid of their faces,For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

God doesn’t want us to use our youth as an excuse for not serving Him.  He will provide opportunities for us. 

The most important thing God wants us to do, when we’re young, is to trust in Christ as our Saviour.  Then once we’ve given our lives to Him, we can be praying for opportunities to serve Him. 

I bet some of you have the opportunity to play kindly with your younger siblings or help your mom out in the kitchen.  Those are all ways to serve God when we’re young. 

Conclusion: God has a purpose for our lives, even when we’re young, and He has us right where He wants us.  

(picture from Google)

"He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, 

trusting in the Lord." 

Psalm 112:7

Happy Birthday, Jacob!

I’m so glad you’re my cousin!  I’ve enjoyed our countless games of Ping-Pong, Bluff, Pit, etc.  I've also enjoyed texting you while you're sitting right next to me:D  You’re like a brother to me and I’m so thankful for you, even though you're a head taller than me...literally;)

2015

We'd better get these published before we graduate=)

So, my friend Leah and I are writing a trilogy.  I'm writing the 1st book, she's writing the 2nd book, and then we're writing the 3rd book together.  The 1st two books are about each of our characters...me writing about the background story of my characters in my book(the 1st book), and Leah writing about the background story of her characters in her book(the 2nd book).  Then, the 3rd book is when our characters meet.  So at the end of my book and at the end of her book our characters meet but when you read the end of the 1st two books, you read about the characters meeting from her and my character's perspectives.  And then that's where both two 1st books end and the3rd book starts.  Also, you don't have to read the books in order like 1. 2. 3.  You can read them 2. 1. 3. because the 1st two books don't line up...they're just about my character's background and about her character's background between the two books.  In addition to the trilogy, I'm writing a prequel for the trilogy.  If you aren't confused yet, you deserve an award!  :)


The Journey description(the prequel)...I'm writing this one
Lance Chestal works for the Journey, a company run by Jefferson Thompson...a.k.a. Commander Jefferson.  Work here for Lance is going well; but life in his home is slowly failing.  He is slowly falling away from his wife, Melanie, towards the business life.  On realizing what Jefferson's main purpose for the Journey is, Lance must find a way to keep his wife and daughter Megan safe from it.

The Rebellion description(book 1)...I'm writing this one
For years, Jefferson has been suspecting a rebellion.  Working for the Journey for five years, Biggins Winterlock is tired of the business life and might just fulfill Jefferson's suspicion.  The combat life in the Journey isn't so bad; it's the way Jefferson runs the Journey.  Biggins decides she has had enough of this evil.  She escapes.  Biggins now must survive on her own, maintaining the title of fugitive.

The Initiation description(book 2)...Leah's writing this one
While Biggins is managing life as a fugitive, Royal Westerien is trying to reclaim her inheritance that Jefferson Thompson got a hold of.  With Kenneth Katz, a family friend, they will journey together on a dangerous quest and Royal will find out about a past she was not familiar with...a past bringing painful memories.

The Termination description(book 3)...Leah and I are writing this one
On this time-consuming mission, Royal and Kenneth won't have to suffer alone.  After running into them at a hotel, Biggins and Isaac Desdan(a Journey agent who also rebelled), agree to join Royal and Kenneth in reclaiming the inheritance if they but help them overthrow the Journey.

Leah and I started writing The Kingdom of the North a year ago but we were writing it together so it was hard to do so since we live about 40 minutes away from each other.  So we decided to let that story sit a while as we started a trilogy plus a prequel.  Even though we are writing the 3rd book together, we each have our own books to write so book 3 is kinda on hold too:)  Plus we were texting each other the Termination back and forth(like I would send her a part and then she would write onto it)and then she accidentally deleted all her texts so it was up to me to write the Termination on the computer.  Then a couple months later, I accidentally deleted all my texts.  So now I'm trying to get what we have written of the Termination so far onto computer.  We can't start up with the Termination until all our deleted texts and inspiration scenes are recovered written back up:)  Plus, I'm trying to finish the Silent Seeker and edit that...the joys a writer=)

Update: I just finished the 1st draft of the whole book of the Journey!!!

Keep Calm, Handle Situations Wisely, and Trust God!

Wondering about trust/who to trust? go to section 1

Wondering about strength and how to become stronger? go to section 2
Wondering about how not to be afraid and what to do if you are afraid? go to section 3
Wondering about friendships? go to section 4
Wondering about how/what to pray for? go to section 5
Wondering about praises? go to section 6
Wondering about serving others? go to section 7
Wondering about what to avoid in life and also what to seek? go to section 8
Wondering about building others up? go to section 9

Several of the verses are doubled or tripled since some fall under more than one category

Everything after a dash are my thoughts.



Section 1: Who to trust in
Psalm 56:11, "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me."
-We don't have to be afraid because God is our trust.
Proverbs 3:5-6, "5Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  6In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path."
-Trust in the Lord and not myself.  Follow the Lord and not my heart.



Section 2: How do we become stronger and where we can find our strength?
Psalm 71:7, "I am as a wonder to many; but thou art my strong refuge."
-Follow God no matter what others think about you.
Psalm 94:16, "Who will rise up for me against the evil doers?  or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?"
-As Christians, we must stand strong for the Lord!
Proverbs 28:1, "The wicked flee when no man pursuit: but the righteous are bold as lions."
-There's no reason to cower from the wicked when God is on our side!
Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."
-God gives us strength.  If someone hasn't trusted in Christ then they don't have His strength to do all things.
Mark 10:27b, "...with God all things are possible."
-It's explained right here^^



Section 3: How not to be afraid and what to do if I am afraid
Psalm 56:3, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."
-If we're ever afraid trust in God.
Proverbs 3:25, "Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes."
-Don't let fear overcome me!  Just because something's dangerous, doesn't mean you have to be scared, if you have Christ."



Section 4: Friendships
Psalm 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
-Believers shouldn't have any differences that cause arguments/anger/broken friendships.
Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
-People who are arguing may want you to argue back.  They may want to make you mad.  So instead we should reply softly, gently, and kindly.
Proverbs 18:24, "A man that hath friends must be himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
-If we want friends, we have to be a friend.
Proverbs 22:17, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."
-Be a good influence on my friends.  And not just to my friends but to others.  Even though we may not see it, people are watching us all the time.  That's why it's so important to be careful what we do/say.
Haggai 1:7b..."Consider your ways."
-This is a p.o.w.e.r.f.u.l. verse!  We should consider everything we do.  We should consider the consequences our ways might cause.
Luke 6:27, "But I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you."
-If someone hurts you, don't say anything angry back to them or hurt them back.
John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
-Love is putting someone else first.  Even if it means sacrificing yourself for someone else.  That's what Jesus did for us on the cross.  He died for us!



Section 5: Prayers
Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
-We should pray to God to change us from our evil ways.
Psalm 56:3, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee."
-Trust in the Lord!

Psalm 139:1,4, "1O, Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.  4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knows it altogether."
-God knows everything we've ever said, done, and are going to say or do in the future.

Section 6: Praises
Psalm 57:7, "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise."
-Fix your heart on God!
Psalm 121:1-2, "I lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help comes from the Lord which made heaven and earth."
-God is our help.  He made all things.  If we're ever troubled, we can go to Him.



Section 7: Serving others
Psalm 100:2, "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing."
-We need to be cheerful when we serve and not grumbly.
Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many."
-Even Christ came to serve.  As Christians, we want to be like Christ so we should serve others as well.
John 12:26, "If any man serve me, let him also follow me; and where I am there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."
-If we serve God, He will honor us.
John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
-Love is putting someone else first.  Even if it means sacrificing yourself for someone else.  That's what Jesus did for us on the cross.  He died for us!
Galatians 5:13, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
-How should we serve?...with love.  When we're saved, it doesn't mean we have the freedom to sin.
Hebrews 6:10, "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister."
-For example, when we do something (such as loading the dishwasher) without being asked and no one sees it, God will reward us for it.
1 Peter 4:10, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
-What gift or ability God has given us, we should use it to serve others faithfully.
Ephesians 6:1, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."
-Obey your parents unless it goes against the Lord.



Section 8: What to avoid in life and also what to seek
Proverbs 4:14, "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men."
-Don't follow evil men and their ways.
Proverbs 4:19, "The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble."
-Don't stumble in the wicked ways.
Proverbs 4:27, "Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."
-Go down the straight and narrow path.  Leave the wicked.
Proverbs 12:15, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."
-Don't be wise in our own eyes, humble myself, and listen to counsel.
Proverbs 12:20, "Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but the the counsellors of peace is joy."
-Don't imagine evil otherwise we will be deceived.
Proverbs 12:22, "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His delight."
-The Lord hates lying!
Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
-People who are arguing may want you to argue back.  They may want to make you mad.  So we should reply softly, gently, and kindly.
Proverbs 16:19, "Better it is to be an humble spirt with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."
-Be humble...not proud.
Proverbs 16:20, "He that handleth a matter wisely; shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he."
-Handle situations wisely and trust God!
Proverbs 18:13, "He that answereth a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him."
-Don't answer before you hear the whole story/question.
Proverbs 12:19, "The lips of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment."
-Speak the truth and not lies.
Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
-We need to be careful what we say because we can't take back what we say.  We shouldn't say anything we'll regret.
Proverbs 22:1, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour."
-We shouldn't seek silver, gold, or fame.
Proverbs 24:1, "Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them."
-We shouldn't want to be around evil people.  We also shouldn't be jealous of them because that's basically being jealous of sin.
Proverbs 24:17, "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth."
-Everyone deserves a second chance.
Proverbs 28:21a, "To have respect of persons is not good..."
-Don't have favorites.
Ephesians 6:1, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."
-Obey your parents unless it goes against the Lord.



Section 9: Building others up
Proverbs 15:30a, "The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart..."
For example; if you're singing and it's hard to smile to show people you're having a good time, smile with your eyes.
Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."
-Never put people/others down.  Always encourage others.
Proverbs 4:18, "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
-Be a light to the world.
Proverbs 24:17, "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth."
-Everyone deserves a second chance.
Haggai 1:7b..."Consider your ways."
-This is a p.o.w.e.r.f.u.l. verse!  We should consider everything we do.  We should consider the consequences our ways might cause.
Ephesians 6:1, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."
-Obey your parents unless it goes against the Lord.

(The verses are from the Bible)