{"id":8276,"date":"2012-10-03T22:23:04","date_gmt":"2012-10-03T14:23:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.creativeyouthideas.com\/resources\/?p=8276"},"modified":"2012-10-03T22:23:04","modified_gmt":"2012-10-03T14:23:04","slug":"gods-word-for-youth-giving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.creativeyouthideas.com\/resources\/devotional\/gods-word-for-youth-giving\/","title":{"rendered":"God\u2019s WORD for Youth: Giving"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the\u00a0name\u00a0of a disciple – truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” –\u00a0Matthew 10:42<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today I give a cup of cold water. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, this means I\u00a0extend myself for other people, especially children. When I see a need, I\u00a0reach\u00a0out to help. I am fully aware of what’s going on around me, and I see the\u00a0opportunity for service along the way.<\/p>\n

At one time I looked at all the injustices and waited for God or someone\u00a0else to\u00a0fix whatever was wrong – and perhaps even to fix me. I believed that God could\u00a0make everything all right and that all I had to do was sit back and watch it\u00a0happen.<\/p>\n

The truth is that God’s work takes place through me as well as through others.\u00a0When I recognize my responsibility and accept oneness with all God’s\u00a0creation, I\u00a0take the first step toward the healing of myself and the world I live in.<\/p>\n

Today I give a cup of cold water and become part of the healing process.\u00a0Today I live in hope as a person of the light. I, like John, tell others about\u00a0the light I’ve found, joyfully inviting them to explore this light for\u00a0themselves. Especially when I enter into places of darkness – hopelessness,\u00a0abuse, hatred, or war – I share the light that is a part of who I am as a\u00a0Christian.<\/p>\n

In the darkest corners of my life there still may lurk dark shadows, menaces,\u00a0and threats. Darkness separates me from my neighbor or friend. When I step\u00a0into\u00a0darkness I cannot recognize the trouble within.<\/p>\n

Today I step out of the murky shadows and experience the wonderful light that\u00a0was lit when Jesus appeared in the world. In light I have hope, a new\u00a0beginning!<\/p>\n

Jesus was and is a light to the world. Only as I understand the darkness in\u00a0which I once lived can I fully comprehend and experience the wonderful\u00a0light of\u00a0Jesus.<\/p>\n

Today I have hope as I rejoice in the light of the world, Jesus Christ!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the\u00a0name\u00a0of a disciple – truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” –\u00a0Matthew 10:42 Today I give a cup of cold water. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, this means I\u00a0extend myself for other people, especially children. … Continue reading God\u2019s WORD for Youth: Giving<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotional"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t