 Each chapter includes Scripture references and questions that will help you examine your own heart and get closer to God. Or perhaps your youth group or family would like to read this devotional as a group and discuss the questions together. However you choose to use it, Rekindling the SpiritFire will show you how to be radically devoted to God. Excerpt from Rekindling the SpiritFire: Reflections of an American Honmeschooled Teen by Christie Gerschutz Copyright © 2005 PleasantWord (A Division of Winepress Publishing) ISBN 1-4141-0296-8 A 30-chapter Teen Devotional & Study Guide Life's Purpose Life. Such a short word... four little letters, yet this word sums up our entire existence here on earth. Four letters; each, I believe, with its own meaning. L:Love After all, love is most people's main focus in life. Finding the perfect person to marry; growing closer to God, who is love; showing love to their children. To live is to love, for we all love something--ourselves, money, nature--whatever we hold in high regard. But to love can also be to die. Jesus proved that. If you love someone so much (as Jesus loves us), you will be willing to risk even your own life for that person's benefit and future. Ask any of our brave American soldiers how much they love their country... this freedom. They are willing to lay down their lives for it. Ask any parents who love their children. How much will they give? Because love truly is a huge part of life, how much and what do we really love? I:I AM God is the Creator of life, the Master of the universe, and not a single thing breathes or moves without His knowledge and consent. He has created this thing called life in order for us to experience His love, praise His name, and glorify Him above all else. Life would not be worth living, nor even possible, without the great I AM. F:Friendship A person without friends is like a fish without water--he won't last long. Good friends rejoice with you, let you cry on their shoulders, pick you up when you are down, but aren't afraid to tell you when you're being a moron. They can keep you from doing a lot of crazy things and teach you some lessons that maybe you didn't want to learn but are glad you did. True friends are always there for you to talk, cry, and laugh with. Without friends, life would cease to be enjoyable. E:Eternity No, this mortal life will not last forever. But it is in this mortal life we choose our own eternal destiny. Jesus holds out His nail-scarred hands and says, "Take this. It's free. I gave my all for you." We can accept His wonderful grace and mercy, or choose to ignore it. If we ignore it, though, our eternity will be in a place of darkness, despair, fire, and suffering--eternally separated from the Father. If we choose to accept it, we will spend eternity in a place of light, love, joy, and peace with our Lord. He is waiting for us to decide our future. Which will you choose? Four little letters... each one with an incredibly powerful meaning. Let's make the most of our lives for Jesus. It's the only thing that really matters, and we will never regret it. STUDY QUESTIONS 1. Read: John 15:9-17 Romans 5 For further study: Proverbs 17:17 Proverbs 18:24 2. How has Christ's love affected your own life? 3. Are your closes friends usually there for you? 4. Do your friends ever try to lead you astray? Or tempt you to sin? 5. What choices have you made concerning eternity? No part of this book may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher. |