Another Begining...

Well for most of you school has started today and it has for me to. Even being home schooled I usually keep up with the public school schedules. But as I woke up this morning I thought and prayed  for all the kids who were grabbing their backpacks and heading to the bus. They were stepping into a  world of sin and evil. They are going to be tempted daily. Whether they know the Lord as their personal Savior they are going to face challenges each and every day. Probably even more so if they are Christians. There is so much out there that is scary and sad. Guys fighting physically or mentally. Girls flaunting their bodies for guys. Teens flirting. Cranky teachers who you have to respect whether you agree with them or not. Swearing and crude language and jokes. Teasing and bullying. And lately... school shootings. It is not easy out there in the world if you are a Christian. Jesus said it never will be. In fact he warns us what is out there and tells us to pick up our cross and follow him. He said there are going to be many trails of various kinds. He said you will be mocked and hated and treated differently. Yet Jesus says to stay strong in your faith. He also says " I will never leave you nor forsake you." I am not in the public school but I did sports last year and maybe this year and I go into public a lot and hear a lot of things and see a lot of things that I know are out there. When I was in sports last year and I had to spend a few hours at the high school alone with all the students after school without my parents. I was tempted a lot. It was hard being a Christian and having to say "No" to certain songs and certain talks and doing certain things.. I had to remember to ask God for strength and wisdom before saying my answer and doing something.
It says in Bible that if we stay connected with God through devotions and prayer our faith will grow stronger. He never says that it won't falter, but he says we will grow in our faith and wisdom. I would challenge you to spend time in the Bible everyday and in prayer. Pray for yourself and pray for others. Read your devotions and don't hurry through them. I will be praying for all you guys as well as we are all in a world of sin and temptation.