Fill in the contact form below and we'll send you a printable PDF of these Identity in Christ cards.
0 Comments
Even though life is pretty ordinary right now there are still plenty of things to be grateful for. Click on the download icon at the bottom of the second image. In Philippians 4:19 God was speaking specifically to the church at Philippi who had sent money to help Paul in his ministry. It's important to remember that he was speaking to a generous church. Proverbs 11:25 says, A generous person will prosper. He also said God would supply all their needs, not their wants. Sometimes in the first world we confuse needs and wants. These needs are both physical and spiritual. The promise also refers to when God will meet all our needs when we live with him in his kingdom and we won't need or want anything. CHALLENGE: Even if you don't have much money you can be generous. List some ideas of how you can be generous. You can download a free printable PDF of this week's verse below. This is a particularly relevant promise given that we're in the middle of a global pandemic at the moment. It's easy to feel a bit unhinged and crazy and afraid, but God did not give us a spirit of fear. When we are his we can be unshakeable in the storm because he gives us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. Paul wrote this to Timothy who was a young man in charge of the church in Ephesus. Let's look at the three characteristics Paul mentions. POWER: God gives us power for our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. LOVE: Our natural instinct is to be selfish but God's spirit in us helps us to love others and put their needs before our own. SOUND MIND: It's easy to get carried away with the paranoia, panic, stress, worry and anxiety around us, but God's spirit helps us to stand firm despite our circumstances. You can have peace, knowing that God loves you and is looking after you, even in the middle of a global pandemic. This power, love and sound mind is not anything you can conjure up on your own - it's God's gift to you. You can download a free printable of this week's verse below. God is not an angry, vindictive God who sits on his throne wielding his trident and and smiting people with lightening bolts. He is loving, kind and compassionate. He wants good things for us. Matthew 7:11 says, Even though you are bad, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So surely your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him. God loves us more than our earthly parents so he will surely bless us with good things. It doesn't mean that he will make everything perfect and life will be all sunshine, rainbows and unicorns. We learn and grow through the difficult times. I don't believe that God causes bad stuff to happen to us but I think he uses it. I know that he is with us and helps us when we are going through it. I also believe that God is able to redeem any situation. When bad stuff happens he can create a positive outcome from it. In Genesis 50 Joseph was talking to his brothers who had sold him as a slave, but he ended up being second in charge over all Egypt and was able to save thousands of people from famine because of a dream God gave him. So, even though bad stuff happened to him, good things came out of it. In verse 20 he said to his brothers, You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. I think that God wants to bless us in this lifetime but ultimately he is preparing a place for us in eternity - that far outweighs any troubles we experience during our life. Romans 8:18 says, I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us. Below is a printable PDF of this week's verse. Many people are struggling with mental health issues during the Covid 19 pandemic. It's not normal or healthy to be cooped up in your house 24/7. Humans need fellowship and physical affection. Some of us a having a better time than others because being introverted is our natural bent. Some of us are going nuts because we need to be around people that we aren't related to. Some of us are really struggling because we already have an existing mental health disorder that is being exacerbated but the pandemic and isolation. Some of us are stuck inside homes with a lot of tension or even abuse. Whatever your situation, there are some basic things that you can do to cope better. Here is a PDF that I put together with some friends for our Young Adults at church. IF YOU NEED HELP, PLEASE ASK FOR IT. DON'T SUFFER IN SILENCE - GET HELP. You can download the PDF below. When you are a teenager you are have to make decisions that could impact the rest of your life:
CHALLENGE: Is there are area in your life that you need wisdom? You can download the free printable PDF below. Isaiah 40:31 says, But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak. These verses were written about the Israelites when they were held captive in Babylon. Isaiah was encouraging them to put their trust, hope and confidence in God. They were in captivity for 70 years. Sometimes I am physically exhausted, sometimes I am mentally exhausted and sometimes I am spiritually exhausted. Right now you might be experiencing all three kinds of exhaustion. I am confident that God can renew us, refresh us and re-energise us in all these ways - physically, mentally and spiritually. We need to put our trust, hope and confidence in Him. We also need to ask for wisdom in case we need to make some lifestyle changes. For example, you might need to eat better and get more sleep to improve your physical and mental health. You may also need to spend more time in prayer and reading your Bible to strengthen your faith. You can download the free PDF of this week's verse below. This is one of my favourite verses in the Bible. You often see part of the verse quoted in isolation "Be strong and courageous." But the end of the verse is the reason that we can be strong and courageous, because God is with us. We are right in the middle of a crisis that will go down in history as one of the most significant world events since the Second World War. But despite this, we can be strong and courageous because God is with us. You might be going stir crazy stuck in your house with your family but be strong and courageous because God is with you. You might be stressing about how you're going to pass school exams or uni this year but be strong and courageous because God is with you. You might be stressed about your grandparents catching Covid 19 but be strong and courageous because God is with you. You might be stressed because one or both of your parents have lost their jobs but be strong and courageous because God is with you. You might be feeling sad or lonely but be strong and courageous because God is with you. Write this verse out or print out our free PDF version and stick it somewhere that will remind you during the day. Print out this free postcard, glue the two sides together, write a kind note and put it in someone's letterbox or send it in the mail. NOTE: Make sure it prints out 100% - my computer printed it out 138%. |
About UsShort and sweet inspirations for Christian teen girls. Archives
May 2024
Categories
All
|