Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Words of Life
As followers of Jesus, we all have verses that hold special meaning for us. Some verses get us though the stormy times in life. Others celebrate the times when the sun is shining. Looking back at cherished verses can be a great way to see how far we’ve come in our journey through life. Also, it can reveal how God has worked in and through our lives. Six college students shared some insight into their stories through Scripture verses that are important to them.
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 is a promise from God that Rebekah Schonschack took to heart when she was 16 years old. Rebekah, 18, from Farmington, Mich. is now pursuing a life in missions at Moody Bible Institute.“This verse was really precious to me during my high school years. I decided not to date or pursue any relationships with guys because I realized that I wasn’t ready for it. It wasn’t time and I knew God wanted to grow me individually first,” said Rebekah.
Jeremiah 33:3 says ”Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Seth Mathews, 18, from Three Rivers, Mich. takes comfort in Jeremiah’s message. “It helps me know the power we have, like a super hero, through prayer and helps me to pray with confidence,” said Seth.
When he died, Matthew Pickart’s grandfather left his grandson with a precious inheritance. Matt, 20, from Ogden Dunes,Ind. took his grandfather’s favorite verse and made it his own. When his grandfather died, he truly realized what Philippians 1:21 really meant. “It was like as long as I live for Christ, dying is a good thing. Meaning I don’t have to fear death, and that I can go into a place preaching, teaching, and serving God and not be worried about dying for it,” said Matt.
Anna Green, 19, from Ionia, Mich. did not become a Christian until she was 16 years old. “This was one of the first bible verses I heard when I became a Christian. I was struggling with forgiving myself for the things that I had done and this verse helped me with that,” said Anna about Isaiah 43:18-21. This Isaiah passage reminds us not to dwell on the past because God is doing a new thing in us. “I love it because it is so encouraging and never lets me forget that the things I have done in my past, God has redeemed,” said Anna. “ It also helps me remember that God is doing something new in my life all the time,” she says, “and if I spend all the time in my life looking back on what I did before I knew Him well, or even after I knew Him, then I might miss the new things that God is trying to do in my life right now.”
“I first heard this verse last semester it in a sermon that really stood out to me,” said Alyssa Vandermate, 18, of Allendale, Mich. about her favorite verse, Habakkuk 1:5. Habakkuk’s words draw us away from narrow vision and lead us to a bigger picture of what God is doing in the world. “I just like it because it calls me to look beyond myself, and see the hand of God at work,” she says.
The life of a college student can be overwhelming and stressful. Kimberly Ramsey, 19, from Wyoming, Mich. is a full time college student who also works 4 days each week. Kimberly’s favorite scripture verse is Jeremiah 29:11.“Life is so uncertain and complicated at times. This verse reminds me that God is in control, and that I don’t need to worry about anything in my life. He has it all under control, and will work out everything in His perfect timing,” said Kimberly.
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 is a promise from God that Rebekah Schonschack took to heart when she was 16 years old. Rebekah, 18, from Farmington, Mich. is now pursuing a life in missions at Moody Bible Institute.“This verse was really precious to me during my high school years. I decided not to date or pursue any relationships with guys because I realized that I wasn’t ready for it. It wasn’t time and I knew God wanted to grow me individually first,” said Rebekah.
Jeremiah 33:3 says ”Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Seth Mathews, 18, from Three Rivers, Mich. takes comfort in Jeremiah’s message. “It helps me know the power we have, like a super hero, through prayer and helps me to pray with confidence,” said Seth.
When he died, Matthew Pickart’s grandfather left his grandson with a precious inheritance. Matt, 20, from Ogden Dunes,Ind. took his grandfather’s favorite verse and made it his own. When his grandfather died, he truly realized what Philippians 1:21 really meant. “It was like as long as I live for Christ, dying is a good thing. Meaning I don’t have to fear death, and that I can go into a place preaching, teaching, and serving God and not be worried about dying for it,” said Matt.
Anna Green, 19, from Ionia, Mich. did not become a Christian until she was 16 years old. “This was one of the first bible verses I heard when I became a Christian. I was struggling with forgiving myself for the things that I had done and this verse helped me with that,” said Anna about Isaiah 43:18-21. This Isaiah passage reminds us not to dwell on the past because God is doing a new thing in us. “I love it because it is so encouraging and never lets me forget that the things I have done in my past, God has redeemed,” said Anna. “ It also helps me remember that God is doing something new in my life all the time,” she says, “and if I spend all the time in my life looking back on what I did before I knew Him well, or even after I knew Him, then I might miss the new things that God is trying to do in my life right now.”
“I first heard this verse last semester it in a sermon that really stood out to me,” said Alyssa Vandermate, 18, of Allendale, Mich. about her favorite verse, Habakkuk 1:5. Habakkuk’s words draw us away from narrow vision and lead us to a bigger picture of what God is doing in the world. “I just like it because it calls me to look beyond myself, and see the hand of God at work,” she says.
The life of a college student can be overwhelming and stressful. Kimberly Ramsey, 19, from Wyoming, Mich. is a full time college student who also works 4 days each week. Kimberly’s favorite scripture verse is Jeremiah 29:11.“Life is so uncertain and complicated at times. This verse reminds me that God is in control, and that I don’t need to worry about anything in my life. He has it all under control, and will work out everything in His perfect timing,” said Kimberly.
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