God won’t give up on you: Phil 1:6

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6216761_sI started reading Philippians a few days ago. I picked Philippians because this book is so full of the joy that comes from living with Jesus in your heart. The Apostle Paul was in prison when he wrote Philippians. Even though his own circumstances were miserable, he was rejoicing with the people in Philippi over their faith and how they were serving God.

The following verse was brought to my attention by my pastor many years ago when I was struggling with depression. If you click on the link you can choose any translation to read it. You can also expand it to read the whole chapter and more from the Bible.

Phil 1:6 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (NLT)

I wanted to please God and to serve him, but it was so hard because someone close to me was opposing me in every way. I felt like a failure. But clinging to this verse helped me to realize that God was right there with me. He wouldn’t abandon me because he had begun a work in me and he wasn’t finished.

Father God, help me to always trust in you and to know that you are right there beside me pulling for me to succeed at life.

Listen to Steve Green sing He Who Began a Good Work in You. (YouTube – my apologies for the ad at the beginning)

Image credit: designpics / 123RF Stock Photo

Hello world!

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Welcome to Bible Bites 4 Teens. I plan to create bite sized messages from God’s Word on a regular basis for the teens in my life, and for those I hope to meet some day, either in this life, or in eternity with Jesus.

There are posts earlier than this post that have been imported to this blog from one of my other blogs, Honeycomb Adventures Press, LLC. These posts were written with youth in mind.

Whatever – devotions for tweens by Allia Zobel Nolan

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WhateverWhatever (a faiThGirLz book)
Author: Allia Zobel Nolan
Paperback: 294 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (2012)
Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-310-72534-3
Price: $9.99

Ages: “Tweens”

Reviewed By: Janice D. Green

Rating: :) :) :) :) :)

Who hasn’t seen a Jr. high girl roll her eyes and say “Whatever?” Yet this “whatever” theme takes on new meaning in Allia Zobel Nolan’s 90-day devotional for tweens. The book is organized around one of my favorite verses, “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things,” (Philippians 4:8) as she divides the devotions into each of these categories.

From white lies to cheating to attitude adjustments and much more, Allia Zobel Nolan has crafted each three-page devotion with stories and discussions that will capture the imaginations of tween girls in real-life settings. The scripture passages are well selected to inspire girls, and the discussions give them tools to help them navigate the challenges of the teen years.

Each devotion is completed with “Food for Thought,” “Second Thoughts,” and “Divine Thoughts.” The first two are general take-aways or insights to something about the scripture passage that might otherwise leave unanswered questions, and the Divine Thoughts are brief prayers.

What do I like about this book? Everything. It is engaging and encourages the readers to apply real faith to real situations.

What do I dislike about this book? Nothing, unless I complain that I don’t have any tween girls in my everyday life to share this book with. I’m going to have to find some.

I was given a copy of this book for review, though I was under no obligation to give a good review. This review contains my honest and enthusiastic opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

A light for my path

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Jans-BibleWhile getting your gear together for a camping trip, you check off your packing list… You have your clothes, food, water, tent, sleeping bag… What else will you need? Did you remember a flashlight so you can see to walk around at night? Does your flashlight have fresh batteries?

There were no flashlights in Bible times. Instead they used oil lamps to see at night.  says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (NIV)

What does this verse mean?” The Bible is often called the Word of God. Do you think you could use a Bible instead of a flashlight to walk around in the dark when you are camping? Of course not. And that isn’t what the Psalm writer meant either.

Sometimes it seems dark, even when the sun is shining. Perhaps we have problems that are so difficult that it feels dark inside us. We wonder which way to go, what to do. Or maybe you have friends who try to get you to do things that are wrong. Someone may be bullying you. Or you may know about someone who is hurting another person, but you don’t know how to get them to stop. These things make us feel dark inside.

Psalm 119:105 tells us that the Bible is our light. This verse does not guarantee that we will just happen to turn to the right page when we have a problem and the answer will jump out at us. But it does mean that if we will take the time every day to read a little more, we will be prepared for the hard times when they come. Reading the Bible every day is like charging your batteries so your flashlight will shine in the dark.

You may be facing dark days already. If you haven’t yet started reading the Bible, get started. Meanwhile, seek out a Christian friend who has been reading it a long time to talk to about those dark problems. Perhaps her batteries will be charged up enough to light your way for now. She might show you some of her favorite places in the Bible where you might start reading as well.

David and the Big Bully

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There was once a giant soldier who was over nine feet tall. He towered over the other Philistines in his army. This giant stood alone in the valley between two armies and shouted at the army of his enemies, the Israelites. Every day he shouted to the Israelites to send him one soldier who would fight him, but none of the Israelites were brave enough to take his challenge.

The Israelites worshiped God. They knew about the many miracles that God had performed for them in the past. They had eaten manna in the desert that God provided. They saw God part the waters for them to cross the Red Sea and 40 years later he parted the waters of the Jordan River for them to cross into the Promised Land. And they saw the walls of Jericho tumble down when the Israelites followed God’s instructions to march around them seven times and then shout. But King Saul and his entire army trembled in fear of this giant soldier.

David was a young shepherd boy who guarded and protected his father’s sheep. He had learned how to fight off bears and lions that came to attack the sheep. He also passed the time singing praises to God and worshiping him. One day David’s father asked him to take food to the soldiers. When he arrived in the army camp he saw the giant and heard his murderous threats.

How dare he defy the army of the Almighty God? David thought. Then he said it out loud and began asking questions. When his three older brothers heard him they made fun of him and told him to go home and take care of his few sheep. But the king heard that David wanted to fight the giant and asked the soldiers to bring David to him.

When the king put his armor on David it was much too big and heavy for him. “I can fight this big bully as easily as I fought the Lion and the Bear,” David said. Then he took off the armor and gathered five smooth stones to put in his bag.

The giant laughed at David when he saw he was only a boy, but David shouted at him, “I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel.” As the giant ran toward his young challenger, David reached into his pouch, grabbed a stone, and placed it in his slingshot. He swung it around his head and released it so that the stone sunk deep into the giant’s forehead and he fell to the ground. David then used the giant’s sword to cut off his head.

 

Who or what are the giants in your life? Have you ever been bullied because of your faith? How can David’s courage help you to feel stronger and braver?

This story really happened. It is usually called the story of David and Goliath, and it is recorded in the Bible in 1 Samuel 17. Read it for yourself for even better understanding.