The Word Is Alive

My name is Nathan O'Neal and I am fourteen years old and words cannot descibe the difficulty of these last few months. But I will try. My former youth director and I shared a very close friendship and relationship. At this time he was my biggest spiritual influence in my life. His name was Bro. Chris Dowdy. Well, our youth group went on a mission trip to Nicaragua in July. It was amazing. Everyone was ready for God to work in our lives. That was until we received word of Bro. Chris resigning. He resigned about a month after we got back from Nicaragua. This was devastating to me because I was very close with him and so this was really a step back for me. I was very very sad. And so I called him and he explained that I shouldn't be sad because we would still be able to talk to each other and hang out. But after I got off the phone my sadness turned to anger and I began to get very angry with God and my church. I thought it was all my preacher's fault and thought that nothing was worth getting hurt again so I stopped being close with the people of my church and I would cringe when the preacher would preach. I literally turned my back on God. I stopped praying. I stopped reading my Bible. I did not want to have anything to do with my church. I was very angry. Well, about two months later the oreacher announced we were getting a new youth director and his wife, Bro. JD and Mrs. Kim. They were so nice and were good Christian people. So, my anger began to subside a little and I started talking to the new youth director. Well, one of my friends began to pass around rumors about the new youth director because she missed our former youth director and did not like the new one just because he was new. This really discouraged me and I my anger began to come back a little. I had switched all my music to hard rock music and didn't care anything for my former favorite band (Casting Crowns). And one day I gave up and turned on "Praise You In This Storm" and I cried. Hard. I began to see that I was wrong. I prayed to my savior an d asked him to please just get me over my anger. One quick, short prayer. My first one in weeks. The next day I woke up and I was just not angry anymore. I could not be. It was very good. I prayed and thanked the Lord so much. Well I began to talk to my new youth director and his wife and we are becoming very close. And I thank God every day for them and what they are doing with are youth group. So my youth group went to winter reatreat camp in Georgia and it was amazing. The speaker was Bro. Steve Roberson who was the preacher when I got saved. And we had one girl from our youth group get saved. It was amazing. When we came back from camp everyonw was praying that we would all stick to our commitments that were made. We had a bonfire and everyone opened up and everyone was crying and sharing the things that God was doing in their lives. And I basically said what I am saying now. But we are still praying and watching for God's miracles to continue to happen. The word IS alive!

Comments

[Judith]

While it is difficult to have people we care about come and go throughout our lives, we must be able to adjust and realize that just around the corner are more great people; those we will miss are the wonderful memories we now have. But the best is yet to come, when we will all be together again someday in God's kingdom.
Thank you for your honesty.
Thank God that he puts good people in our lives.

[Darcy]

This song is so POWERFUL!! I turn up the volume loud when this comes on. I LOVE it. It touches my spirit and comforts my heart. Thank you so much!!

[Bible Quiz]

wow Nathan, thanks for posting this. God can help us to release bitterness if we are open to Him.

[Kyle Webster]

Nathan, I commend you for being so honest and telling us that story of yours. I have a few songs from CC that really touch my heart eveytime I hear them and remind me of my faith when I get weak, and to tell you the truth, I get weak A LOT! A lot has happened to me in my short 19 years and it is just something that you need to get you through the tough times!! One of the songs for me is Voice of Truth. It always gets me though! Again, I commend you!
God Bless

[Becky Schwarz]

Nathan,
I am also 14 years old and had a similiar experience. Your story has really encouraged me to turn back to God and allow him to work in me once more. Thank you so much for posting this.

[Johnathan Roy]

Hey Nathan, Please just remember to lean on God. People will fail you, because we are human. That is not an excuse, just a fact. God, on the other hand will never fail you. In His word He said, "I willl never leave you or forsake you." What a blessing!
Johnathan Roy

[Kim]

The Word is Alive......

just before the concert, my sister in law insists.... "the bible is written by Man so you have to be careful when you read it..... it is not written by God." Whew! I tried to stand firm and not end up in an ugly argument, but I could see there was no persuading her to think otherwise. I went to the concert, a little saddened by our conversation. But then the song came on, the painter painted, and I just knew God was encouraging me. I do pray that God's word will come alive for her too....