Alex on #Plans

Ever made some plans that were ruined? Today I was a Teacher's Assistant in 1st Period. The substitute teacher didn't explain the instructions very well, so the students ended up completing the assignment wrong. At the end of class, they had to redo the entire assignment!

Before Mary was the mother of Jesus, she was just a normal teenage girl. She had plans and dreams for her wedding and future life with Joseph. But then something rocked her world. An angel named Gabriel appeared before her and told her that she was going to be the mother of the Savior of the world. So Mary turned to him and said, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin." (Luke 1:34). We know that God works out the details, but it's important what Mary said later. She answered Gabriel, "I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true." (v. 38)

Wow. She doesn't complain that her plans have changed. She doesn't argue with the angel or get angry at God. She says, "Okay, let's do it." She's open to the plan changes because it's what God knows is best for her -- and us! She doesn't judge truth by her feelings. She judges her feelings by truth. In other words, she doesn't let her emotions get the best of her.

Mary teaches us to go out on a limb. To go for it. God has incredible plans for us! Some of them may differ from our own plans -- but it's what is best for us. So don't let your emotions hold you back -- go ahead and do what God is placing in your path.

Alex W / Message Writer

Alex on #Crowd

A true encounter and connection with Jesus will cause you to step away from the crowd. -- Josh

Many people have the wrong idea about Christianity. One idea is that Christianity 'lives' at church. Like, if we're not at church, we don't have to be Christians. Another side of this idea is that Christianity exists in crowds -- that a Christian isn't different from non-Christians when they're alone. Or that the only place Christ can be found is in a group.

Believe me, Varsity is awesome. God definitely uses big group or "crowd" situations in his plans for us! Matthew 18:22 says, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

But if Varsity (or Christian friends, or a club or your church) is your only connection with God, then you're missing out. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God...". God's own son demonstrates this in Luke 5:16, "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

Are your "Jesus moments" associated with large crowds? Christianity isn't in a place. It's everywhere you are. It isn't a feeling you get around others. It's a relationship with your Maker, Savior and Friend.

Step away from the crowd, and don't do what everyone else is doing. Worship God however He calls you to worship. Live your life according to his plan, even if none of your friends are. The band Barlowgirl writes, "Be a voice, not an echo".

Alex W / Message Writer

Alex on #GoodEnough

Are you good enough?

As I write this, I'm sitting on my bed with my family's laptop in front of me, my Bible to my left, a book on Babysitting slightly behind me, some clothes directly in front of me. There's homework and Key Club information on the kitchen table. I'm wearing my uniform from school today. Above my head is a bookcase full of books. My family has a fridge full of food and a couple TVs. Yeah, I may seem like a fairly normal American teenager. I mean, I'm not pregnant or doing drugs or going to drinking parties. And I don't cuss, and I try to be nice to everyone and I obey traffic laws. I seem good enough... Am I? Are you?

A rich young ruler approached Jesus during Jesus's earthly ministry. The guy falls on his knees in front of Jesus and cries out, "'Good teacher, ...what must I do to inherit eternal life?'" Then Jesus turns to the guy: "'Why do you call me good?' Jesus answered. 'No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" (10:17&18)

Then the guy tells Jesus that he has kept all the commandments "since [he] was a boy" (v.20). Jesus then looks with love and compassion upon the guy. Jesus says, "'One thing you lack, ...Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me.'" (v.21) Did I mention the guy was rich? Instead of doing what Jesus asked, he "went away sad, because he had great wealth." (v.22)

Was the rich young ruler "good enough"? I mean, he obeyed the commandments. He seemed like a nice guy. But his efforts to make it into Heaven, to gain eternal life, didn't work. The only way he could get eternal life was if he gave up what mattered most to him: his money. Are you holding on to something so tightly that you're pushing God away in the process? Give it up! Jesus is asking for the hard stuff. He isn't accommodating. He wants to be first in your life. When Jesus says, "Come and die," he wants your life. He can do great things through you when you aren't afraid to let him use you.

So, no, none of us are good enough. But Jesus died for us to cleanse us from our sins and provide a way for us to gain eternal life without having to be "good enough". Through him, we are way more than "good enough" -- we are God's children and co-heirs with Christ.

Alex W / Message Writer

Alex on #Realize

So you got in a fight with your boyfriend... or you'd just like to have a boyfriend. You study hard for a test, then make a bad grade. You don't make the team or the cut or the club. Your parents fight, then get angry at you over nothing.

What if there is more going on than you realize?

During the last supper, the last real time Jesus spent with his disciples, Jesus turned to Peter (a.k.a. Simon) and said, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat." (Luke 22:31) That's one those "ohhhh-kayyy..." moments where everyone glances around and it's kind of awkward. But did you know: to sift wheat, you shake the seive and toss the wheat into the air. I don't think getting sifted would feel good.

Jesus doesn't turn to Peter and say, "But it's okay, dude, because I'm not going to let him sift you. You'll be fine." Instead, Jesus says, "But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail."(v. 32) Jesus is not going to spare his disiciples from hardship. He's going to let them face it and become stronger people because of it. That's the same reason wheat is sifted: because the wind will blow away the bad, inedible parts and the good wheat will remain. It's why we are sifted, too. Josh said, "If you feel shaken up, God is moving the bad out of your life and good into your life." He is using the situation for good.

You are here in this world in this time for a reason. Never doubt it. When things happen in your life, good or bad, remember that there is more probably more going on than you realize. God wants you to face your struggles and come out in the end a better and stronger person, deep into a relationship with Christ. When nothing seems to be going right, cling to God. Don't run from Christ, run towards him.

Alex W / Message Writer