misrepresentation

i have spent a lot of time with teenagers in my life.
for the past 12 years, i have been a youth leader (sometimes with a group of other adults, sometimes just me and adam) at my church.

when i first started, my desire was to be an encouragement to the "churched" teens, in particular.
sometimes, it felt like people were so focused on helping the teens who were getting into trouble, or the ones who had gone through really hard childhoods, that they were kind of overlooking the ones who were...

i don't know how to say it...

normal?
not that i would necessarily categorize myself as normal, by any means. ha.

but you know...my parents were still married,
i was raised going to church,
i wasn't into drugs and drinking,

so i was just...

normal.

i really wanted other teenage girls, growing up in "normal" homes to understand that obeying God was the best way...i had done it! so could they!

i wanted them to know that there was still someone who was going to be there for them.
for.
like...
ever!

i had a lot of youth leaders in my life come and go.

a lot.

it seemed like (and still does, in my opinon)
that a lot of people just "do" youth group as another thing to do,
or a lot of times..

see it as a stepping stool to get to the "real" job - senior pastor! ha
so where does that leave the teens?

my goal was to be a youth leader at this church, and basically?

never stop.

so here i still am.

not really young, and cool and hip anymore, but still doing the same thing!

and i still have the desire to show teenagers that living a life that is pleasing to God is always...always the best way! no matter what other people, who are not doing so, try to convince them!

i recently heard this quote

God is misrepresented by those who don't even know Him.

when i heard it, i started getting really irritated!!

i thought..ya know what? that is so true!! how dare they?!?

people who  know nothing about who God is at all...

are the ones who are saying you shouldn't believe in Him!

He is unloving,

He is unmerciful,

He is unjust,

and that's just not fair.

they don't even know him! how can they be saying that?

if someone who wasn't friends with adam tried to convince everyone around them of what a terrible person he was..i would be livid! how dare they?

it's the same with God.

if you don't know him.

maybe you shouldn't be talking bad about him!

my question is...

if not this?

then what?

if not heaven after death?
then what?

if not a creator that has a plan and purpose for my life?
then what?

what are the other options?

why AM i here?

where AM i going to be when i die?

if i have nothing to fall back on...then where does that leave me?

where do i find my answers?

JESUS is the answer.
He is the one who is the author of life, and i absolutely love the incredible peace that i can live my life with!

that is what i am going to continue to tell other teens...and other people!

and that is what i am telling you.

don't let someone's misrepresentation of who God is determine who YOU think he is!

find out for yourself.

i promise you this...

you won't be disappointed!