Chapter two-You are Exceptional

When we seek God with all our heart, mind and soul, we become His children. However God, as a father has still given us freedom to choose whatever we want. Though we still have this freedom, the risk when one turn away from Him, where will he go. It is for this reason that it's important for one to be close to God, hat make him to be Exceptional.

One day they was a terrible accident on the high way 3 cars collided-1 was Jetta, the other one was van and the 3rd one was Mercedes Benz. As we all know that when accidents occur, first people to be seen on the scene are the break downs. They towered the Jetta and they came back to tow the van, but they never towered the Mercedes Benz. Onlookers asked them why they don't tow the Benz and the people who tow cars said- see the sticker behind the Mercedes it says do not tow, meaning it has special people to come and tow it. While waiting 3 cars came from a special towing company- a private car, big truck and a van. The Mercedes was pulled to a big truck and it was escorted by the private car and the van.

The moral of the story: When you do what God want, no matter, He will take care of you, whilst others the demons are dragging them. When they come to you they won't touch instead they will see God in you- like that sticker do not tow- this person has his own tow company meaning JESUS is with this person. Never try to please others you are exceptional when you have Christ in you.

The strength of the youth comes from within- volume2

Description of volume 2- God's plan

Some things are beyond planning!

And life doesn't always turn out as planned.
You don't plan for a broken heart.
You don't plan for a failed business venture,
You don't plan for an adulterous husband or a wife who wants you out of her life.
You don't plan for an autistic child.
You don't plan for spinsterhood.
You don't plan for a lump in your breast.
You plan to be young forever.
You plan to climb the corporate ladder.
You plan to be rich and powerful.
You plan to be acclaimed and successful.
You plan to conquer the universe.
You plan to fall in love- and be loved forever.
You don't plan to be sad.
You don't plan to be hurt
You don't plan to be broke.
You don't plan to be betrayed.
You don't plan to be alone in this world
You plan to be happy.
You don't plan to be shattered

Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want. But MOST times, what you want and what you get are two different things. We, mortals, plan. But so does God in the heavens. Sometimes, it is difficult to understand God's plans especially when His plans are not in consonance with ours.

Often, when God sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger. True, we cannot choose the cross that God wishes us to carry, but we can carry that cross with courage knowing that God will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with.

Sometimes, God breaks our Spirit to save our soul.
Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.
Sometimes, God allows pain so we can be stronger.
Sometimes, God sends us failure so we can be humble.
Sometimes, God allows illness so we can take better care of ourselves.
Sometimes, God takes everything away from us so we can learn the value of everything He gave us.
Make plans, to be a better person when you grow up
Make plans, but understand that we live by God's grace.

The strength of the youth comes from within- volume 2

Chapter Ten- Journey

The journey I took it was not easy, I fell on the way; bruised my knees; tears on my eyes. I stepped on the thorns that made my feet to bleed, it was hard to get up and walk again but i had to finish this journey.

Throughout this journey; I was stoned, cursed and mocked but I was looking ahead to my goals. "The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert." (Deuteronomy 2:7)

Hearing voices of discouragement along the way such as "why do you continue because you will never reach where you want to reach, its better for you to give up because what you want you wont get, give up, give up!", the voice kept on shouting aloud.

Being alone on this journey anything could have happened, but when you have set a target, no storm can shake you, nothing can make you stop along your journey and if I want to reach to the other side I have to finish this journey.

The journey can make you cry day and night, put you through agony, but I know to reah my target I have to finish this journey.

The journey still continues and I wont look back for I am about to reach my destination- my target!

The strength of the youth comes from within!!!!!

Chapter Nine- Forgiveness

Growing up, I remember my fathers family told me that the reason why my mother left me when I was 2 months old is because she never loved me. Since then my heart was surrounded with hatred and grudges. Things became worse when my father got married again, my step mother was ill-treating me, I cried day and night, with no one to help me. My father used to always say that things will get better. I used to ask myself how long I had to endure that kind of life, to the extent hat I even contemplated suicide- I overdoses on sleeping tablets. I was so angry and disappointed that I was still alive, things never changed instead I was dying inside, my heart was getting dirty.

When I was 16, doing my Matric, I asked my brother to reunite me with my biological mother; this would be the first time we meet as I grew up without her. When I met my mother, she had converted to Christianity, and she prayed that God would soften my heart and allow me to forgive her. She never gave up on that prayer until my heart softened up. After 16-17 years of not knowing her, I met her and although I still had anger and hurt. I wanted to now my mother, I wanted to feel her love.

I then lived with my mother, I would walk past her and ignore her as I could not get past the rejection. My aunt, who saw the situation, invited me to the church and told me that only God can help me deal with my anger and frustrations; after refusing to go with her for sometime- I took her up on her invitation. I remember the day so clearly, it was a Wednesday, and the pastor said in his preaching that "You can have everything this world could offer, e.g. a house, car, good marriage, etc. but if you don't have a forgiving heart everything you have is meaningless." he called those who had hard time forgiving and letting go of the past to come in front of the altar and ask God to forgive them. I believe I was the first one to stand up, and since that day- after pouring out my soul to God - I couldn't wait to go home, for the first time I hugged my mother with tears of joy in my eyes. With cheerful heart, I told my mother how much I loved her and forgave her for everything, I even forgave my step mother.

Today I can say I talk to my step mother more than my dad. After two years of having the love of my mother she passed on, but I believed her heart was at peace because all her children were united. When you decide to forgive God helps you in all aspects.

Take hold, for God always forgives us even Jesus He forgave all our sins, forgiveness opens the way. "But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared." (Psalms 130:4)

The strength of the youth comes from within!!!!!

Chapter Eight- Courage

The Lord Jesus had courage to face death... King David had courage to face the giant... Daniel had courage to kill the lion... Esther had courage to confront the King... Peter had courage to walk on the water... Shadrack, Meshack and Abednigo had courage to face the fire because of what they believed.

Many men and women of God had courage to face the imposer that was against their freedom. Being courageous takes guts, looking straight ahead to conquer what you want. Courage means standing firm to your beliefs no matter what happens or how the wind blows, or how heavy rain is- you stand steadfast. Courage doesn't have second thoughts, you don't allow doubts to overshadow your life.

You just enter in the cage where they are many lions and face the problem. You don't care whether they will eat you alive or not. Courage brings results in ones life, never doubt or allow anyone to put you down! Look ahead and face your mountains because the courage you have will make you reach the top.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

The strenght of the youth comes from within!!!!!

Chapter Seven- Sadness

Sadness occurs when it is least expected. I remember my sister saying something that made me angry and sad that I ended up crying like a baby. After a while I looked at her and the fact that she never cared or felt sorry for what she said. Suddenly, I heard an inner voice that said take out what is making you sad for it will never benefit you with anything, it will only cause you harm internally. " So the king asked me, "why does you face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart. "I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" (Nehemiah 2:2-3)

As I thought about that word, my heart became calm and the sadness was removed instantly.Sadness is something that is always there expected or unexpected, it will always take place whether rich or poor, strong or weak it doesn't choose, it affect everyone who lives on this earth. It is my duty not to keep sadness in my heart but to remove it, because it will overpower me. I must crush it and move on with my life as if nothing has ever happened.

The Lord Jesus knew that one day his disciple was going to betray him, he was sad for a moment, and even tried to warn Judas, but Judas never heeded the advice; instead he closed his ears when Jesus was speaking. Sadness affects everyone but let us not allow it to rule our lives because it will destroy us.

The strength of the youth comes from within!!!!!

Chapter six- The Youth

The Bible states in the book of Ecclesiastes 11.9 that " be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment".

Youth enjoy your days while you still young but remember the day of Judgment. God himself says we must enjoy our young days to the fullest and do what our hearts desire. Although He says that, He warns us of the limits to enjoying our youth which is not to exceed or over step the freedom God has given us.

The simple fact is that, when I do what is wrong I will be judged on it. As a youth of God, I should not cross the boundaries and commits acts that are not in accordance to the word of God, things that are against his command. God really want me to have this freedom and still I can not oppose him by doing what is against his will. Nowadays in our country we the youth have rights and these rights can not make us disrespect the will of God after all, He is the creator of Heaven and Earth. He created me, so how can I make myself a superior?

God always looks at what we do in fact, he looks when no one is looking; take care of the gift that the Lord has given to you before it is too late.

The strength of the youth comes from within!!!!!