Dirty Room/Dirty Life
Janae, 15, Claremore, OK
Hi, my name is Quin, and I’m in high school. From the outside I may look like a normal teen. At least, I thought I was… then I had this — what’s it called — revelation?
It happened yesterday while I was sitting in my bedroom. As I looked around my room, I realized my life had changed a lot in the last month. I used to be an organized person. My room was always neat — but as I glanced around, I could see it was full of clutter and junk.
Yeah… I’d let it get way out of hand. It looked like I hadn’t cleaned it in ten years! It might as well be that way, because it’s going to take me that long to clean it up, I thought.
I realized it was the same with my life – it had gotten a little cluttered lately too. I used to be on fire for God. I had this feeling that nothing could get in my way of sharing His love with others. I always made time just to hang out with Him like a friend.
Then I got busy. Things were out of control.
I let go of the fire I had for God. Spending time with Him wasn’t a priority anymore. I barely went to church. I wished I could go back to how things used to be. I wanted to change. No, I needed to change.
I needed God’s burning passion back into my life! I needed to let go of the things in my life that crowded out God. My room wasn’t the only thing that needed cleaning… so did my life.
As I thought about that, I started to clean my room. Before I knew it, I was finished. I’m so glad I got that over with! Now I won’t have to worry about it anymore.
But it doesn’t always work that way. Some days I’m tired and I don’t want to put my shoes in the closet. Oh… the closet….I never looked in there. I didn’t know what might be lurking there.
As I peered into my closet I was horrified! What?! How could it be so dirty while my room was clean?
Did my heart look like this too? I realized that reading my Bible, praying, and going to church weren’t the only things I needed to do. Maybe they would help clean up my life, but my heart?
I knew there was something more to my relationship with God than what others could see on the outside. So I asked God to fill me up again. I felt better afterwards.
Okay, so maybe I’m not completely back to the way I was, but it’s a start. And maybe my closet still needs some work, but I do know that my life has forever been changed, and I am NOT going back to the way I was… and neither is my room.
"How can we claim to know personally the Creator of All There Is, and not strive to be the most creative of His children?" -Robert Sterling
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Fading Smile
by Janelle, 14, Dallas, Texas
You see her walking down the hall
Seems so perfect
She has it all
The look, the friends, the guys, the fame
She's laughing without a care in the world
Then you turn around and you see...
She's lying on the floor Broken
Can't seem to get back up
She's hurting
The things that she has done
Are killing her
She covers it up
With a perfect simle
A perfect smile
He's the captain of the team
He's oh so hott
You wish he talked to you
Look at him smile
It takes your breath away
So it does to all the girls
Then you look into his eyes and
He's lying on the floor Broken
Can't seem to get back up
He's hurting
The things that he has done
Are killing him
He covers it up with a perfect smile
A perfect smile
So what you gonna do
In this world so big
You gonna help get them back up
Or envy all they have
Will you show them love
Will you give them love
They need it
They're yearning for it cuz
They're all lying on the floor broken
Can't seem to get back up
They're hurting
All the things that they have done
Are killing them
That smile is fading Away
That smile is fading away...
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"As the Day Does Begin"
by Kia, 17, Corydon, Iowa
As the sun breaks over the water,
I breath deep the peace from my Father.
As the day does begin,
I pray that you would enter in
To fill me up with your love,
and help me strive for things above,
not these earthly things possess,
but to know that more is less.
Today I pray for strength and grace,
to be ready for the battles yet to face.
I know Satan will be near,
but in you, there is nothing to fear.
My victory in you is claimed,
for this sinner is unchained!
Satans sronghold is no more,
for on that rugged cross you bore
My sins so many you took upon,
so that I could live on,
with you, my Savior, for eternity,
for this I praise you endlessly,
For this I praise you endlessly.