R.I.P. Me

This isn't so much a question, more some of my ponderings which I found encouraging and hope others might too!

So here goes.

I'm 16, doing my AS levels - and that means no more summer camps as a camper D=!! (Doesn't mean no more Oakes though - you haven't got rid of me yet!)

They say, work wise, it'll be hardest two years of my life. And to top it all off I want to do medicine at university which it's very unlikely I'll get into! Some of my friends are having serious problems and there's a whole load of other issues, in other words it's a very stressful time.

But there's always this light in the darkness - God. When everyone else fails, God will still be there. God's happy to listen to all my grumbling, all my praise, all my apologies, all my pleas - everything. First bit of encouragment I've found. God's always there for me and he'll always have me back. I've fallen away from God so many times - even today I've done several things I regret - yet he's so patient and forgiving. But he's not just that, he's prepared to make a difference. Not only prepared but mid action. He's changing me, he's changing others. He's responsible for the encouragment I'm writing down here.

Also God helps me not to be afraid of anything. Whatever happens I'm saved by Jesus and his grace. There is no one and no thing which can undo this - how incredible is that? Also I know that he's been through so much worse than I'll ever have to face! Jesus was mocked, whipped, beaten, pierced and even when they'd driven nails through his flesh and suspended them from a cross they didn't give up (sorry that that's a little graphic!). And he put up with so much more before and after that. The humiliation and physical pain of it all is just mind boggling - and yet he didn't just allow it to happen, he made it happen so that I would be saved. It's really humbling.

I know I was raised a Christian, but I say that I only became Christian at the very start of January this year, and that's the truth. I remember perfectly the joy I had when that happened - indiscribable, uncontainable joy - I cried and smiled and laughed and prayed all at once! It was the most incredible thing I've ever felt and beyond description or understanding - even while I was going through it. I believe that to be but a taste of what's to come - and that will last for an eternity. That I just can't get my head round - and that's worth whatever trouble I have to go through now to reach (Moses when he met with but a glimpse of God had to have a bag put over his face, I believe, because it was so radiant from just that tiny part of God)! But it also inspires me to tell over people (something I need to get much better at though) so that they can know the same joy, and something which encourages me when I see other Christians - knowing that they've been saved too!

I believe Paul wrote this (although I can't quite remember where I found it so I can't say for sure and it might be paraphrased slightly - sorry guys!):

"I have learnt the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

No matter what we can be truely content (which is better than the kind of content you normally here people misusing), because in Christ we have everything.

The subject title comes from something I mentioned briefly part way through this. When we become Christian, the old us in the flesh become dead, basically, and is replaced with this new us which wants to seek God. The new us doesn't get super perfect super quick but one day it will be =)

And finally, Romans 8:38-39

I know this is kind of repeating stuff we probably already know as Christians - but I find it really helpful to remember these things and remember that they're just as amazing now as when we first heard them :)

Hope this is encouraging for someone else too. I do seem to ramble a bit though! =D