Youth Blog

Do you think that Christmas is important?People today have many different answers to this question - even Christians. Sometimes we focus on the commercial side of Christmas, whilst others try to focus on different parts of the Christian Christmas story. Perhaps for you the most significant part of the story is the role of the wise men, or maybe the part where Jesus is born in a stable. The part I try to focus on is not only the story of Jesus being born, but also that fact that the Bible says “he will save people from their sins”. And if you read on further, he does! Have you heard the phrase XMAS? For me this is a term which tales Christ out of Christmas. How do you think you would feel if you were told that you weren’t getting any presents this year?  I don’t know if this is me being old but it wouldn’t particularly bother me because I’m not very present focused. I want to encourage you all this year to be Godly about your Christmas - don’t become another commercialised Christian. Anyhow - a very wise man once said “its better to give than to receive” and I for one happen to agree.

Hey guys.

It’s been great to get to know each of you over the last couple of months but I have some stuff to tell you so you can get to know me even better. Did you know that I got bullied really badly in school? Did you know that out of the entire school I would be the only one to have NO friends? Have you noticed the Billy no-mates in your school, because in my school I was him! Now you’re probably thinking why did he tell me this and like most things I do have a reason. The reason is that no-one was willing to reach out to me in my lowest days and it almost drove me to do things that would not have a great effect on my being, and yet, in the days where young Christians are making more of a stand in their schools and colleges it still happens.

Just ask yourself the question do I care about those in need in my school/college/work?

If you do then that’s great, prove it! Get out there and change someone’s life, be Jesus for someone.

If you don’t then do you want to want to care? Someone that loves God cares about what god cares about, and if you don’t care about what God cares about then you need to think why and what can be done to change that.

I want to challenge you this week to go and make the difference, to show compassion and love for people you normally wouldn’t, be Jesus for someone!

Do you dare to be different?!

Hey again

What did you have to eat yesterday? Do you remember? Because I can’t! Have you ever really thought about food and how you can go out one evening have a massive meal and then the following morning - your hungry again!

This coming Sunday our theme is “yesterday’s food” and we’re going to be thinking about how after having a meal on Sunday, we don’t wait until the next Sunday until we have our next meal! That would just be crazy wouldn’t it, we would starve to death! However, when it comes to being fed spiritually that can sometimes be our attitude!

I remember a few years ago, I got into the attitude that the only place that I got fed spiritually was on Sunday at Church and Tuesday night at cell group because I guess I got the impression that the more services and meetings that I attended the more spiritually healthy I would become. However, very quickly I found felt empty - and going to church and cell group just was not enough. I needed to be getting fed every single day and if I didn’t, I would eventually starve.

Guys, this is probably one of the hardest things to do in the Christian journey because it doesn’t just involve going to church. It requires us to make time in our day for God. This means spending time praying, reading the bible and worshipping God. So the question this week is what works for you? How do you keep yourself spiritually fed? Do you take the dog for a walk and talk to God then, do you set aside a certain time in the day which you spend with God.

May this week we could give each other ideas about what does work for us?

Take care, see you Sunday

Blessings

James