What to Do When Life Doesn’t Turn Out Like You Planned 02-07-15

It happens at some point in all of our lives. Something unexpected happens. It’s nothing you planned on. Things are no longer the same, and what once felt solid is no more. Life has thrown us a curve ball. It might be the divorce of our parents. It could be something at school. Whatever it is, sometimes its hard to know what to do.

So what do you do when life throws you something unexpected? What do you do when it feels like your family is falling a part around you? Where do you turn when it feels like there is nothing left for you to do? Here’s a few things I learned when going through a really hard time in life a few years ago.

1. Don’t let your relationship with God fall between the cracks. It can be really easy to want to let this happen. You might not understand why this is happening to you. It can be easy in times like these to let go of your relationship with God. You might want to blame God, or just not feel close to him in tough times. The thing to remember is that God is not the source of the bad things that happen to you. Don’t let a rough time in life steal your relationship with God.

Your relationship with God is what will get you through the tough times. It can be your foundation when it feels like the world is falling apart around you. Choose to stay close to God and rely on Him in tough times.

2. Don’t Take It Out On Others. It can be easy when you feel upset to want to take it out on other people. Maybe you are hurt and angry and want to yell at everyone who talks to you. However, taking it out on other people is never the answer. You will ultimately drive people who love you and care about you away if you begin to take it out on them. These people can be your support when times are tough.

3. Learn from it. As much as life’s tough times stink, you can use tough times to learn. You may be able to help out someone in the future who is going through what you are facing. You can be an encouragement to others who are going through tough times by learning from those tough times.

Tough times also show you a lot about yourself. You may find that you don’t have the character you thought you did because you came unglued in a tough time. You may learn that you have some areas in your life that you need to work on. Tough times are a good indicator of character.

4. Look up. When life doesn’t go the way you wanted, know that you can look up. Jesus is your answer to life’s problems. He understands what you’re going through completely. He can be your anchor in the midst of life’s storms.

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. – Hebrews 4:15 (NLT)

When life doesn’t go the way you wanted it to, its never easy. The good thing to remember is that you’re not alone. You’ve got Jesus on your side. Don’t forget to lean on him in tough times and in good times!

Running on Empty – Learning to Lean on God’s Help 01-06-16

Have you ever run out of gas when driving? You were driving down the road just fine, and then all of the sudden, your car doesn’t want to go anymore. It sputters, slows down, and finally rolls to a stop. You realize, you’re not going any farther. You’ve run out of gas.

Its easy in life to feel like you’re out of gas. There are so many things asking for our attention. We have jobs, church, school, homework, maybe even babysitting your little brother and at times it just seems overwhelming. Sometimes it feels like you can’t go on. Its sort of like you just ran out of gas in life.

The Bible speaks to this in Matthew 11:28-30 in the Message Translation:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Jesus said that when we’re tired, worn out that we can come to Him. We can learn to not take the stresses, cares, and worries of life on us, but rather learn to lean on Jesus. He’s the one that can show us ways to de-stress our lives. Lots of times all we need is a little God perspective on the situation.

So when you’re stressed out and feeling like you’re running on empty, remember you’re not alone. You’ve got Jesus ready to help you out all you have to do is ask Him for it.

When you’re stressed out, remember to lean on Jesus. He’s got a way to help you out. – @studentdevos

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Pray: Jesus, I thank you that you’re here to help me in every stressful situation that I face. I choose to look to you for help when I’m running on empty. I believe that you’re showing me the steps to take or changes I may need to make to de-stress my life. I ask for your help with all I’m facing this week, and know that with your help I can make it. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

What Math Homework Can Teach You About Leadership 01-05-15

For me, math homework has always been a drag. If I could put off doing it, I would. There is not much that is less fun than doing math homework. However, math homework can teach us some great stuff about leadership.

1. Math homework stinks. It’s hard work and to do well in math, you’ve got to study hard. That’s a lot like how leadership is. Leadership requires you to study to be a good leader. Good leadership skills don’t develop overnight. It takes study and hard work to become a good leader.

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” -John F. Kennedy

2. Math formulas can help you out. Whether you use the quadratic equation or cosine you can use the predefined formulas to reach the answer you need. In the same way, there are tons of leadership experts who can help provide you with proven formulas for success. Ask around or do a google search there’s lots of answers to your leadership questions.

3. Just get started. If you don’t start on your homework, you will never finish. The same is true with growing in your leadership skills. You need to get started somewhere. It might be asking your youth group leader to plug you into a leadership position at youth group, or you could look for opportunities to lead at school. Whatever the case, just start stepping out and begin to lead. You’ll get better and feel more comfortable as you step out and lead more and more.

Finally, don’t let yourself hold back because you think you’re too young or that you don’t know enough to lead.

“Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, faith, and purity.” – (1 Timothy 4:12 GNT)

Daily Bible Verse – Jan 4, 2016

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Cor 4:18 (NIV)

When we look at all the things going on around us, we can get distracted. There is so many things trying to take up our attention. The things that we see are only temporary. None of it will last. Yet, the promises of God are eternal.

Placing our eyes and minds on the promises of God, helps us to see the unseen. These things will last forever. If God made a promise to you in the Bible, then you can be sure it’s eternal. It doesn’t matter if you see that promise working at this moment, it is a true and you can stand on it.

Trusting in God’s promises more than what you see around you can be very comforting. You can know that what you see is only temporary.

Today focus in on a promise that God made to you in the Bible. Realize that His promise to you is eternal.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – December 31, 2015

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid – John 14:27

Have you ever had one of those really crazy stressful days? Maybe everything is not going the way you want or you have too much to do and too little time. Whatever it is that stresses you out, it’s good to remind yourself in stressful times that you can go to God for peace.

Jesus said in today’s verse that He left us peace. What does that really mean? Here are a few definitions from Merriam-Webster.com for peace.

• A state of tranquility or quiet
• Freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
• Harmony in personal relations

God’s peace covers many of the things that bug us. Whether it’s oppressive thoughts, emotions, bad relationships, or just the stresses of life, Jesus said that He gave us peace.

However, just like any gift you get, however, it’s up to you to use it. If you got a new pair of shoes for Christmas, but you never took them out of the box and used them, they wouldn’t do you any good. The gift of peace is the same way. You’ve got to open it up and use it in stressful times and situations. Take a moment today and choose to tap into God’s peace. Give Him the things that are stressing you out and choose to walk in His peace today!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – December 30, 2015

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? – 1 John 4:20

Today’s Bible verse uses some pretty strong language. It says that if you say you love God, but hate another Christian brother or sister that you’re a liar. Think about that for a moment, if you don’t love your brother or sister, then you’re a liar if you say you love God. To really love God is to put aside your thoughts and desires for God’s thoughts and desires. So when you run across that person you can’t stand, or that lady at church that sings too loud you’re supposed to love them despite their flaws and shortcomings. To really love God is to treat people with love and respect.

As a Christian there should be something different about you. You should be a person that others are drawn to. If you choose to show extraordinary love to others, you’ll stand out from everyone else. God is calling us as Christians to live our lives differently. Normally, if someone treats you badly, you would want to get back at them. However, we should be living differently than others. We should be striving to be more like Christ everyday.

So the next time someone does something that drives you crazy instead of hating them or seeking revenge, choose to do something different. Choose to let God’s love flow through you and be an example to those around you of God’s great love. As you love God, you will begin to love others also. That’s what we’re called to do!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotional – Dec 29, 2015

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

There is 2 popular beliefs when it comes to the things of God. Those two beliefs are grace and faith. Many believe in one or the other, but often they do not see how these two beliefs need to work together.

Many people believe in the grace of God. They believe that God has provided wonderful gifts. They believe that He has given those blessings out for us to receive. However, if they only believe in the grace of God and not faith, there is no clear understanding on how to get those blessings to flow into your life.

Then there are those who believe in faith. They have grasped the understanding that it’s impossible to receive anything from God without mixing faith. Those that have a strong emphasis on faith alone can error on feeling that they need to get God to do something for them that He hasn’t done. It can be a very tiring a discouraging thing if your trying to get God to move.

However, this verse says that it takes grace and faith working together for us to receive from God. Grace is something that is freely given by God. It cannot be earned. It is a gift. Faith is what we do to step out and believe what has already been given freely by grace. Faith cannot get God to do something He hasn’t done yet. It simply reaches out and receives what has already been provided by grace.

Today, find a scripture of a promise that God has already done and then use that verse to step out and believe it in faith. This is how you get grace and faith working together.