God is in Control

     Does it ever seem like nothing is going right and your whole world is shaken up? We all have that time in our lives when everything seems to be crashing down around you. It seems like when you get your life straight, something comes and messes everything up. It may be hard to believe, but that’s when you draw closer to God the most. It’s the time when you can’t take it anymore, and you drop down to your knees before Him, crying out, “God, help me.”

     People think that God doesn’t hear them. Like when you pray for something you really want and you don’t get it? Or when you pray for healing, but you’re not healed? Because of moments like this, God helps us build character. It helps us build up our faith in Jesus, helps us figure out His will, and our patience for things we are expecting. 

     God’s holding your world in his hands. It’s like a snow globe, when your life seems like there isn’t any meaning and it’s dull and sad, God can take it and just shake it a little, and let blessings fall down like snow, bringing joy and happiness to you, just like snow. So don’t worry about the bills getting paid, the food you don’t have, and the clothes you need. You have Jesus, and He’s the omnipotent, almighty God who has control over everything in this world.

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?… for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.                                               

                                                                                                                   ~Matthew 6:31-32

written by: Sheridan Sharp

My Thoughts on the End Time

    Every time I hear of earthquakes, I think of the verse in Matthew that speaks of "earthquakes in diverse places." Several weeks ago, when I heard about a big earthquake on the news, the same verse kept speaking to me. It isn't hard to see that we are in the end times because there are famines, wars, earthquakes and sin, lots of sin.

    Even though all these horrible and sinful things are going on around us, God is still coming back, and He is coming soon. Revelation 22:7 speaks of Jesus coming quickly. If Jesus was coming quickly when Revelation was written, then He must be coming very, very soon today. We all need to be ready.

    Even though we live in the end time, God is still pouring out His Spirit and working signs and wonders. Acts 2:17 says, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." So even though things may look dark, the darker it is, the more God's light will shine.

Written By: Skylar Pool

Glad for a Change

Leaders of Valor, a class for those interested in becoming a leader in the kingdom of God, has been a place of growth and change and teaching in my life. For instance, I have learned how to fight temptation. One way to fight temptation is to turn on some Christian music or to read the Bible. This helps me to focus on God and not on my sinful human desires. The Bible has become a really interesting Book to me. When I read the Bible, I really get into it. I read at least two to three chapters a day. Sometimes, I look at what I am going to read the next day and, if it’s interesting, I read it also.

This class has changed my walk with God. Before I started going to Leaders of Valor, I did not want to live for God. No, in fact, living for God was the last thing I wanted to do. I started looking into sports and was thinking about playing football in college. My dream was to go to the NFL. My mom told me that I shouldn’t do it but, I wanted to go nevertheless. Every time I would try to play in any sport, my mom would not allow me. If I could not play sports, then I figured I could listen to country and rock music. I knew that my feelings and thoughts were wrong and that I needed to change. It was during this emotional storm that I found this class at my church and decided to try it out. Ever since I started going, I have realized a change within me. I have found a passion and a love for growing in God. Leaders of Valor brought a change to my unbalanced life, and for that, I am glad. Yes, I am glad it has changed me.

Written by Swayde Scarbrough

Edited by Natalie Alders

A Word on Fear

          

          Fear is a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil or pain.

Fear can manifest itself in different ways: the fear of hell, the fear of loneliness, the fear of darkness. However, the only fear we should have is the fear of the Lord. Our fear should be of disobedience.

“Ye shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him.”  

~Deuteronomy 13:4

Fear is a hard thing to overcome; we’re all human and we all experience fear, but that doesn’t mean that we should fear. God will protect us. He is always with us in every situation, when things are good and when things are no so good. If we recognize that He is there and remember how strong He truly is, it will make us stronger.                         

“The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  

~Deuteronomy 31:8

          Once you begin to trust in God and develop a relationship with Him, you will understand that His hand protects you. It seems easy to trust God with the big stuff like salvation, Satan, and death. But what about the daily fears? Who’s not afraid of spiders? Of course you know God’s there, but come on! Spiders!? That’s such a small thing and God is such a big God. Why would he care about our tiny fear of spiders?

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

                                                                   ~1 Peter 5:7

          I would be the last person to say that I have no fears because in all honesty, I’m scared of way too much. This is all easier said than done, but as I start, I developed a stronger relationship with God. Suddenly, I began to see my fears fade away, even all my silly ones because I know that He is right there next to me in the dark when I’m all by myself. I want to be at peace and without fears. I truly believe God wants us all to be at peace and, we should be. He really does have everything under control. My God is bigger than any fear.

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

~Pslam 34:4

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

                                                 

written by: Kaitlin Butler

Achieving Success through Failure

            Everyone wants to succeed at everything they do; however, this rarely happens. Success is a culmination of many days, months and years of failure. It is through failure that we learn how to succeed.

Unfortunately, this truth, in itself, has hindered man from achieving success since the beginning of time. Cain, the son of Adam and Eve, failed to give a proper sacrifice to God. His failure could have led him to success. He could have repented and offered an acceptable offering instead. He could have lived a life of success, but he didn’t. His failure cascaded to yet another failure – the murder of his own brother, Abel.

Failure, although necessary, is also dangerous. You must overcome failure, or failure will overcome you. You must learn from your failures. Thomas Edison, one of the most respected inventors in American history, while inventing the light bulb, was approached by his assistant. His assistant declared, “You have tried ten thousand times to make this light bulb. You have failed.” Edison replied, “I have not failed! I’ve just found ten thousand ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison pushed right on through his failures and finally succeeded. He went on to invent the light bulb, something that can probably be found in the room your sitting in.

Failure is promised, but success is not. Problems will come. But, do not give up. Do not stop. You will eventually succeed.

In our spiritual battles that we fight on Earth (temptation, heart-break, losses, deaths), we must fight through defeat and failure if we are to ever achieve success. True success will be determined by God after we have died. We must succeed in overcoming spiritual failures. We have the power in Jesus Christ. We simply have to use it. When you fall, get right back up and don’t fall again into the same trap. Learn from your failures.

“You always pass failure on the way to success.”      ~ Mickey Rooney

written by: Nolan Alders

Vision

    This blog will serve as a directory and a history for the workings and thoughts of the Leaders of Valor. The Leaders of Valor program originally began as a springboard for Christian youth to become more for God, to fulfill their purpose on the earth. This program began in a small church in Nacogdoches, TX - Christian Life Center. The Leaders of Valor  is a brotherhood of youth that stand for God. Denominationally, we are considered Apostolic. However, we only seek to follow the Word of God to the letter. We are open-minded and are constantly looking to change for the better. We do not claim to know all, but our mission is to unveil the mysteries of God. Together, we can and will accomplish our vision.

by Nolan Alders