Life is full of ups and downs. As the author of the book of Ecclesiastes says, There is a time for birth and death, planting and reaping, for killing and healing, destroying and building, for crying and laughing, weeping and dancing, for throwing stones and gathering stones, embracing and parting. There is a time for finding and losing, keeping and giving, for tearing and sewing, listening and speaking. There is also a time for love and hate, for war and peace (3:2-8).
We are in the middle of winter at the moment and I have to confess that it's my least favourite season. But I know in six weeks that it will be spring. There will be times in life when you are deliriously happy and other times when you are unbearably sad. If you are experiencing the sad bit now, remember that it is just a season and it will pass. After the winter comes the spring. And don't forget, that Jesus walks with you through all life's seasons.
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Being transformed into the likeness of Christ is like renovating a house. It takes time and you need professional help. We renovated an old house - it took us 10 years and we employed a lot of tradesmen during the process. When you become a Christian, you don't usually radically change overnight (though some people do). Even people who have been Christians for 30 years are still being transformed - it is an ongoing process. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him. We still need to make an effort - prayer, read and study our Bibles, meet with other Christians etc. The Holy Spirit is like the tradesman who does the work. I can paint and do a bit of tiling but not as good as a professional painter or tiler. I can try to be like Christ but only God can transform me.
This cute button craft was made with buttons (obviously), thread, a piece of chambray fabric and a small canvas from K-Mart. You could glue the buttons on which would be faster and easier, but I think it looks better when you sew them on. I arranged the buttons then placed strips of sticky tape over them to hold them in place. I sewed through the tape and peeled it off afterwards.
I drew the wording on with pencil then backstitched over the top of it. When I was finished I stapled the fabric over the frame with a staple gun. I love Joanna's television show, Fixer Upper. Here is her testimony.
As a teenager you may not earn much money, but how you use it is still important. How you spend your money reflects your priorities. In Luke 21:1-4 Jesus told the story of someone who didn't have very much money, As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
It is good to learn to be generous now, when you are young, even though you may not have much. You can give to the church, missions, charities, your friend who doesn't have enough lunch money... |
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