A Car Left Dangling

 Thismorning I saw a photo of a car that had crashed through the railing of a mall car park and was dangling over the edge. Thankfully the railing did its job and the car didn't crash down onto the footpath below. The driver got out unharmed.
As I've been thinking about the picture of the car, I realized there are some spiritual life lessons from it that we can learn.

1. Thank God for boundaries and railings!

It was the railing that helped stop the car. It was the boundary. If that boundary hadn't been there? The car would have sailed over and the driver might have been killed or at least injured.

The Bible is full of boundaries--principles, commandments etc. Why are they there?  For our own good. To keep us safe.

Sometimes they may seem like nuisances. A hinderance to our happiness. But they are to keep our lives from becoming wrecks.

2. The closer you are to the edge, the more danger.

You can't fall off the edge if you are miles away from the edge. My point is, the closer we stay to God and the further we stay away from sin, the safer we'll be. 

Don't park your life near the edge.

 I don't know what caused the crash, but I can think of at least two reasons that a crash like that could happen.

1. If the brakes weren't working.

I have heard brakes being compared to self control. We need to make sure our brakes of self control work. Otherwise we can make choices that make a mess of our life and cause damage. We can do things that we regret the rest of our lives, all because our brakes weren't working. We didn't know when to stop.

2. If the driver pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.

Pressing the right pedal can make a world of difference when you're driving. There is a time for accelerating and a time for stopping. Failing to press the right one can cause accidents.

In spiritual life there is also a time for going and a time for stopping. We need to stay close to God in prayer and reading His Word then we will have the wisdom to know when we are to step forward and when we are to stand still. Then we need to obey.

Two Backpacks

     Two people went on a hike. They both had backpacks. The girl had a small backpack with essentials. The boy had a large backpack with everything they might possibly need. Talk about being prepared! The only problem was he could hardly lift his! Having to lug this heavy pack around slowed them down. The girl told him to leave it, but there was no way he would. Later on there was an accident and he fell off a cliff into the lake below. The girl looked down and all she could see was a big backpack floating in the water. The heavy weight was keeping the boy under. She dove in, pack and all, and was able to get his head above water and pull him to land. In the end, he finally let go of all those things they might need!

    I heard this story recently, and while I doubt it's true, I think it's a perfect object lesson. I can't get the picture of that heavy backpack out of my mind---slowing them down on the track and holding the boy under the water.

    There are many
lessons we can learn from this story. But here are two.

    Hebrews 12:1-2 says,...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus...

    The Christian life is like a race or a hike. We need to travel light! There are many things that can weigh us down and make our growth much more slow than necessary. 

Unbelief and wanting to see before we will trust
Fear, worry and all the what ifs

Covetousness, greed and attachment to things

Envy and jealousy

Sin and guilt from the past (if it's been dealt with and forgiven, it doesn't need to be a weight)

Pride and the fear of what people will think

Friends that are a negative influence

Impatience

etc.

    What is hindering your spiritual growth? What is stopping you from taking the next step? What are you not willing to give up?

Here are some things that should be in your backpack!

Faith, Prayer, Contentment, Thankfulness, Patience, Love for God and others, Humility, Peace, Trust, Joy, Self control etc.

    The Bible also says in Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

    Are you bringing all the things that burden you to the Lord in prayer?

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

The Nail and the Toothpick

 

This devotional is about having strength to withstand temptation and peer pressure. And also strength to keep going when we want to give up. Where can we get the strength we need from?

My Strength

 

Are You A Mary?

What is more important to you? What God thinks of you or what other people think of you?

Are you like Mary? When she was told by the angel Gabriel that she would have a baby, what did she say? She said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. ((Luke 1:38) To a married lady, this would be no big deal. But to an unmarried woman engaged to be married this was a huge deal. Today it is considered normal to be pregnant when you're unmarried, even though it's still just as wrong. But in those days it was big scandal. Her whole reputation would be ruined. Yet she knew that God knew that she was pure. What God thinks of you is what is most important! He sees and knows what others don't see.

 Or what about Mary, Martha's sister? Martha was extremely annoyed at Mary for listening to Jesus instead of helping. And yet, what did Jesus say about Mary? One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:42) What was more important to Mary? What Jesus thought or what Martha thought?
  At another time, Mary took something very precious to her and extremely expensive and gave it to Jesus (John 12:1-8). One of the disciples gasped and exclaimed, "What a waste! It could have been sold and given to the poor." But who did Jesus tell off? The disciple! And then He defended Mary. He knew that Mary loved Him, and He also knew that the disciple (Judas Iscariot) was a thief who didn't care about the poor!

Will you be like these Marys? Will you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and live to please Him? Even when people gasp and say, What a waste! What a stupid thing to do!  Even when people misunderstand, mock and judge you. Even when people are totally unfair in what they think of you.
It's very hard to give this to God and not live to please others. And God is merciful to forgive when we confess our failures to Him.
God knows you inside and out. He knows your intentions and your motives. He knows your heart--what you truly love.
It is God who you will account of your life to. 
Of course, you want to have a good reputation. And you should try to where possible. But at the end of the day, it's what God thinks of you that truly matters.

BE A MARY!

Too Hard

Do you ever feel like something is too hard for you?
Something you know you are supposed to do, and yet you think you just can't do it?
Maybe it's forgiving someone who has badly hurt you.
Maybe it's respecting and honoring your parents when you feel that they are wrong.
Maybe it's being a kind and patient sister to difficult siblings.
Or maybe it's something different like starting a new job,
using your talents for God, or helping with a ministry.
Or maybe it's just surviving through a difficult time.
God called Moses to take the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses was completely overwhelmed and felt he couldn't possibly do it. If you read Exodus 3 and 4, you will read all the objections Moses had.
But you know, it's good to feel like you can't do something!
It's not good to complain and say, "I can't do it."
But it's good to know that you are not strong enough to do it and that you need God's help.
Whatever God wants you to do, with His help you can do it.
So what will you do when you know you should do something and yet you feel completely inadequate or that you can't do it?
Will you say, "I can't do that. I'm not good enough."
Or will you pray to God to help you and depend on His strength and help?
Feeling inadequate is not a reason to not do something. But it's a very good reason to depend on God!
If life was never too hard for you, you would never learn to depend on God and experience His help.

Disguises

This is a repost from a couple of years ago.

(Lessons from Jeroboam's Wife #2)

“Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself.”

“She shall feign herself (pretend) to be another woman.” (different looking from the wife of the king)

“Why feignest thou to be another?' 1 Kings 14:2,5-6

Are you like Jeroboam's wife? Do you try to disguise yourself? Is there something you are trying to hide? Are you pretending to be what you're not?

Here are a few disguises people wear.

The Happy Disguise

My husband and I once visited a family who were going through something awful. After telling us the bad news, the father laughed and joked most of the evening. If he hadn't told us what had happened in their family, we would never have guessed from the way he was acting. Yet underneath he must have been really hurting.

We used to have a young couple living next door to us who were very rough. When they had parties with their friends we would hear them all laughing together so loud. But then the next morning when their friends were gone we would hear them yelling and fighting. Or we might see a police car parked outside. It really struck me that people are often not as happy as they seem. You can laugh loudly while you're crying inside.

Proverbs 14:13 says Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Sometimes the most sad and empty people can act like the happiest people on earth. It's a disguise to cover their pain, insecurity, struggles or emptiness.

Are you trying to cover up a hurting heart by pretending nothing is up? Take your hurt to God in prayer, but don't be afraid to open up and share your troubles with someone who cares about you. Talking with the right person can be far more helpful than keeping it all inside. If people don't know, they won't pray for you and try to help you.

Be real!

The Religious Disguise

In Brother Andrew's book, God's Smuggler, he shares how he would go to church each Sunday with his parents. His parents thought he was sitting at the back, but he would actually slip out of church and just come back at the end. He would listen to the other comments people made about the sermon so he knew what it was about, then he would discuss the sermon too. His parents never suspected he hadn't been in church. He was wearing a religious disguise.

Are you the Christian that you appear to be? Are you a Christian 24/7? Is your faith real or are you just 'religious'? Are you a Christian at home?

The Worldly Disguise

It's easy to be a Christian when you're around other Christians. But when you're around people who don't believe the same way, it's easy to put on a disguise and pretend you're the same as them. It's easy to be ashamed of what you believe and blend in with the others.

 Sometimes we're ashamed to show who we really are.

What about you? Do people around you know you're a Christian? Or are you pretending to be what you're not?

Be real!

Only One Life...

(Notes from my teen journal)

Not Ashamed

  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans1:16
Are you ashamed of the gospel? Do you ever speak up for what you believe? Do you ever share your faith in God? Or do you do your best to avoid the subject?
It's so easy to be ashamed or afraid to share! I'll admit I find it very difficult sometimes. But I have to remember this verse. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. The gospel has the power to completely change a person's life if they will believe it. It can change anyone no matter how bad they are. It can make a suicidal person find purpose, hope and joy. It can help a scarred person find healing. It can help an addict find freedom. It can give a sinner forgiveness and cleansing from their sin. It can stop someone from ruining their life.
You never know what a person is going through or what they think. Because they laugh a lot or look happy, doesn't mean everything is ok inside. For all you know they could really be struggling. They could be the next suicide statistic. They need the gospel. They may not know they need it; they may mock and laugh. But don't be afraid or ashamed to speak up. The gospel has the power to completely change that person's life.
People need the gospel. Forget yourself, put your pride in your pocket and let your light shine!

Victim of Circumstance?

 

Some thoughts on circumstances taken from Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss 

 

10 Reasons Why You Should Stay Pure Until Marriage

This post isn't to condemn those of you who have already failed in this area.
But it is my earnest prayer that this post would prevent someone from having to learn the hard way why God says to wait until marriage.
Thankfully I don't have to speak from experience. But from what I have heard from others who learned the hard way, I know it's true. By God's grace, I stayed pure and I wish this for every other unmarried girl. You don't have to learn the hard way!

Why is it important?

1) God says so
God has warned us so many times in the Bible. If God says it, it's important! God created us and He knows what is good. He has rules for our good.

2)It saves much regret
No one ever regreted staying pure. Doing right doesn't bring regret!
But from what I've heard over and over from those who've failed in this area, it brings regret that you have to live with for the rest of your life. God forgives and forgets when we repent, but we can't forget!

3)It saves unnecessary complications.
I'm talking here about getting pregnant before you are married. I went to a parenting course where the majority of the mums had children to different dads that they were no longer with. Listening to all the problems each week that this kind of lifestyle brings, I realized just how wise God is and how good the Biblical principles about marriage are. I heard about problems I never would have imagined. So many complications---children having to still see their dads etc. I am so glad I was kept from those problems.

4)Purity is the greatest wedding gift you can give your future husband

5)Once your purity is lost, you can never undo it.
It's permanent. You can be forgiven and put things right as much as you can, but you can't change it. It is a 'permanent marker.'

6)Being a parent is hard work!
Again about getting pregnant. I can't imagine trying to raise my children without my husband! It is hard and you need a husband's support and help. Children need a mum and a dad.

7) It is the 'easy' way
It may be hard to wait, but in the long run it is the easy way. So many people today do it the hard way!

8)It brings no shame
Sin brings shame. When you are married and you get pregnant, it is happy news. There is nothing shameful about it. But when you're not married, it brings you shame because it is a result of sin. If you call yourself a Christian it brings shame to God's name too.

9)It saves guilt
Sin brings guilt. Even when you are forgiven you may still struggle with guilt. Whereas if you wait, there is no need to feel guilty.

10) It brings joy!
How nice it is on your wedding day to know that you waited. You are brand new!

Passing the Blame

(Lessons from Eve #7)
Genesis 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled (tricked) me, and I did eat.
Instead of facing up to what she'd done, Eve tried to put the blame on someone else to try and make herself look better. But she didn't convince God. She had disobeyed and she would have to face the consequences.

True—the Devil did deceive her.

But true—she disobeyed God's very clear instructions.

The devil tricked her, but he didn't force her.

We are often like Eve.

Instead of owning up and admitting we've sinned, we try to pass the blame in order to make ourselves look better.

Maybe we blame ...

...our parents—"They're too strict. They make mistakes. They're hypocrites. They don't have time for me. They're too busy. If they were better Christians, I would have turned out better ."

...our friends—"They talked me into it. Everybody else is doing it. They made it look not so bad. They pressured me. They would laugh at me if I'm different."

...the devil

...brothers and sisters—"They were annoying me."

 

...Or even God—"God could have stopped me. God gave me these desires. God expects too much from me anyway."

One of my husband's coworkers got in trouble with the police for beating up his girlfriend. My husband told me this guy's comment  about his sin was, "It was her fault!"

How often do you try to pass the blame?

People may trick you, deceive you, push you or pressure you into doing what's wrong, but they usually can't force you. With God's help you can still choose to do what's right.

 

If you do what you know is wrong, it's your fault no matter who was involved.

If you've done wrong, be honest and humble. Put the blame where it rightly belongs –on yourself. Face up to the fact that you did wrong.

 

 God dealt with Satan for deceiving Eve. And God will deal with those who help you to do wrong.

But God also dealt with Eve for eating the fruit. Don't be like Eve and try and pass the blame. Just own up and ask forgiveness.

 

The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

I love this promise! But notice it says if we confess. If we try to pass the blame, God can't forgive and cleanse us.

The Choices You Make TODAY...

God Won't Give You More than You Can Handle

What a special promise!
There are no difficulties or temptations you go through that no one has ever been through before. There is someone else who has been through the same thing and come through as a more beautiful person with a greater trust in God.
What troubles do you have at the moment? Health issues, relationship problems, family difficulties, a difficult job, trying people around you, not enough money? You are not the only one! So be encouraged. If other people can get through, so can you.
But God is faithful---unchanging, consistently reliable---the opposite to us! He can give you the strength you need.
He will not give you more than you can handle with His help.
Do you feel like you can't possibly cope? That you can't get through your difficulties? Remember and trust this promise. God has promised not to give you more than you can handle. You can do it, if you will trust Him to help you. 
 The other day I told one of my girls to do something that I knew that she could do. She just sat there and said over and over, "I can't do it." My answer was, "You can, now just do it!" It made me think of myself and how often I think or pray to God, "I can't do this. It's too hard. I don't have what it takes." I wondered, "Does God feel the same way I feel as a mother? Is God's answer the same to me? You can, now just do it!"
What God wants from you may seem impossible and too hard. And for you it is. But when you depend on God, He can help you through anything.
He will make a way to escape so that you can handle it. The way to escape might be taking away the problem or it may be showing you some way to deal with it. I find it very hard being a mother sometimes, and I have to pray and look for ways to cope. Ways to escape! And God has promised that there will always be a way to escape! A way to get through.
Instead of saying, "I can't do this" say "I can do this with God's help!"

You don't have to Learn the Hard Way!

Created....Beautiful!

(Lessons from Eve #3)

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Psalms 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

 

Eve was part of God's creation and everything He made was very good. She was also made in the image of God--in God's likeness. She was different to the animals.

And so are you! You are God's creation and you were created in God's image. Although sin ruins beauty, you are still God's creation. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are beautiful! God doesn't make junk.

Do you ever look in the mirror and wish you were taller, shorter, prettier or a different size? Do you wish you could have chosen the way you look?

Remember that God created you just the way you are and you are beautiful!

There are things you can change and you can make yourself more attractive by being clean, tidy and dressing nicely. But don't worry about the things you can't change. Accept the way God made you. He made you just right.

And if you are proud of the way you look, just remember that you were created! You didn't design yourself or choose how you would look, so there is no reason to feel proud! Don't look down on others that you think are not so pretty or as slim as you, because you have no reason to.

Instead of being so focused on how you look, concentrate on having a beautiful character. That's what is most important and it is something you can change with God's help. Joy, thankfulness, kindness, friendliness and modesty are just a few things that will make you more attractive. No girl is ugly when she smiles!

Ask God to help you to accept the way He made you, to keep you from being proud of your looks and to help you focus on inward beauty.

Are you on Track?

I once read a story in my local newspaper of a mother and teen daughter who got themselves into a very awkward situation. They were hiking at a place called the Pinnacles and decided to go off track to explore. They made it about 60 metres before they got trapped on a rocky ledge above a sheer cliff. The Rescue helicopter had to come and rescue them.

The newspaper article was called “Detour off track sheer stupidity.”

Somebody who saw what happened told the newspaper, “It's beyond me that anyone could be so stupid and get themselves in that position.”

Somebody else said, “I think it was one of those things that seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Getting off track got them into a lot of trouble, and they could have gotten really hurt.

Walking tracks are built for a reason. But you have to choose to stick to them.

I was listening to a preacher preach a sermon on how people are like sheep. Sheep also like to wander off track. A few times during the sermon he asked, “What are sheep?” The audience answered, “Sheep are dumb.” Then the preacher asked again, “What are we?” The audience answered, “Sheep!” “What are sheep??!!” “Sheep are dumb!”

The Bible says

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

God is not talking about going off track on a walking path here, but about going our own way in life--doing what we think is right. Doing things our own way. Wanting to live “our own life.”

I was having a discussion with a guy from Israel once. His name was Judas!:) He said he believed in God, but he wanted to do it his own way. At breakfast time the next morning (This guy was having breakfast with us), Dad was reading the Bible and he must have read Isaiah 53 because I pricked up my ears when I heard, we have turned every one to his own way. I really hoped Judas was listening! Because his own way will not get him to Heaven.

When we live life in touch with God, asking him for direction and obeying His Word, we are on track. When we start to neglect our Bibles, forget to pray or deliberately do what we know is wrong we are like the woman and her daughter who went off the walking track. We are 'exploring' on dangerous ground and we'll end up in trouble sooner or later. Thankfully there is a “Rescue.” Psalms 50:15 says “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

Although going our own way is 'sheer stupidity' and we get ourselves into unnecessary trouble, God is amazingly kind to help us when we call to Him. That is, if we do it before death. Once our time is up, it is... too late.

Where are you right now?

Are you on track?

Have you come to God His way, through Jesus Christ?

Are you listening to God and living life His way?

Or are you off track?

Exploring sin?

Doing something that seems like a good idea right now but will bring trouble later?

Are you detouring off God's track? That's sheer stupidity!

“Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:27

Lessons from a Thermal Park

During our last holiday we visited a thermal park. The park is full of danger—big pits and boiling mud. I couldn't help noticing all the warnings posted around the park.    Some places were fenced well, but some places only had very little fences or no fence at all. We walked on a path right through the middle of a lake.  It was up to us to listen to the warnings and stick to the safe path. If we hadn't obeyed the warnings, we would have gotten very burnt.

As we walked through the park I couldn't help but think of how similar it is to life. Living life is like walking through a thermal park. The boiling mud represents sin.
Sin is dangerous! Sin burns! Sin hurts! Sin gives scars for life! Sin brings death! Sin brings eternal punishment in hell.

But thankfully, there are also warnings. God has given us the Bible which is full of warnings. We not only have the Bible, we have parents, church, a pastor,and people who have scars already that we can learn from.
Do you have parents who warn you about sin? About making wrong choices? About what friends you should have? About how should dress? Do you have parents who have rules? If you do, you should be so thankful! They are wise and they care about you. They don't want you to get burnt. When I was a teenager I didn't always appreciate my parent's warnings and the fences they built to keep me safe. I didn't see the dangers that they saw. But now that I am older and can see the reasons behind their rules, I am so thankful! My life could have been so ruined if they hadn't made the rules that they did. And my life could have been scarred if I had ignored the warnings and gone off the right path.
Even though your parents may give you lots of warnings and have rules to keep you safe, there will be plenty of times that you will  have to make your own choices. The older you get--the less fences. It's up to you to listen to the warnings you are given and take them seriously.
 Listen to those who have already been burnt by sin--People who have gone off the right path and are full of regrets.
There are also those who have stayed on the right path but have seen others get burnt. Listen to the warnings they give you.
 Stay on the safe path—listening and obeying God.
When you read the Bible, look out for the warnings. Here are a few that I've found but there are many more. What are the warnings in these verses? How do they apply to your life?

1Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. A warning about friends. They rub off on us. We need to choose good friends.

2Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? A warning about who we should marry. Marrying a nonChristian won't work.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. A warning about pride. If you are proud, you will be embarrassed.

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. A warning about our actions. Our actions have consequences. We can either sow good seeds or bad seeds (good or bad actions). But whatever we sow is what we will reap.

Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. A warning about holding on to what we want in life. When we give our life to God and give up what we want, then God gives us His very best.

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Another warning about friends or the people we hang around. If we want to turn out well, we must choose good people to be around.

Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

A warning about  trying to hide our sin. If we don't face up to the fact that what we are doing is wrong and confess it, we won't be forgiven and we won't be helped.

Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. A warning about laziness. If you want to do well in school or work, you must work hard at it.

 

Listen to God's Warnings!

A Little Girl with Big Courage

(Lessons from the Little Maid)

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

2 Kings 5:3-4

When is the last time you did something that took courage?

This little maid had a lot of courage to speak up for the good of her Master and for the glory of her God.

She didn't let thoughts like, “What will they think of me? What will happen to me?” stop her.

She was more concerned about her Master than about herself.

Doing what's right often takes courage. To be different, to share the Gospel, to give out a tract, to invite someone to church, to witness, to speak up for God, to speak up for someone when they're being criticized or gossiped about, to be friendly to someone new or different all takes courage.

To apologize and admit you are wrong takes courage.

To own up and take the blame takes courage.

HOW can we have courage? To have courage we need to forget ourselves and instead think about the other person.

Or if it's a case of standing up for God and what is right we need forget ourselves and think of God.

I remember one time when I was a teenage girl that I did something that took me a lot of courage. I will tell you about it. (The names are changed)

In my teenage years I ran a Sunday School and a Girl's 4 God Club. There were 2 different girls from the community who came to both. Stacy had 2 friends who were sisters and the Chloe lived across from these same 2 girls. (These 2 girls were not Christians and didn't go to church or anything Christian.) So when I saw Stacy or picked up Chloe I saw or thought of these 2 girls. I knew I should invite them to my Girl's Club, but... I didn't want to. Why? Because I was afraid of their mum! I had seen her a few times and she was a loud person, always growling her girls. I was sure she would get angry at me too if I asked.

Finally, one day, I got an invite to my Girl's Club and knocked on their door in fear and trembling. I was in for a pleasant surprise. The mother answered the door and was very friendly to me. She told me it was up to the girls—they could go if they wanted to.

They started coming to my Girl's Club. Their friend Stacy told me, “They'd never be allowed to go to church!” But not long after, they started coming to church aswell! Some time later they went off to boarding school and when I got married I moved away. So I’ve lost contact with them now, but I am so glad that I invited them so they had a chance to learn about God and hear the Gospel. Maybe it's the only chance they ever got!

But I had to stop thinking of myself and what might happen to me and instead think of how much they needed to hear about God. I needed to think “What will they think of me on judgment day if I don't?”

To have courage you need to love God and others more than you love yourself.

Live when you're young...