This past weekend I asked the Jr. High Students if they had any storm stories they would like to share...I let them write their stories down and they gave them to me at the end of our time together. I was shocked at how many turned in stories...almost 40...Needless to say, I think this was an awesome series, that was totally relevant to them (hello...all of us) So I wanted to share some of them with you...

*My mom on Halloween had to go to the hospital because she had a really bad
reaction to the medicine she was taking. I was on the steps crying but
then i calmed down and prayed to God and asked him to help my mom and that
she wouldn't die. God heard my prayer and saved my mom.

*I just feel empty inside for some reason, I am slipping away from God and
not doing as good in school like i used to. It seems like I get closer to
God and then go away from him...That's my storm story.

*My dad had back cancer and I was really afraid. I thought he was going
to die but then I prayed a lot for him with my family and the cancer went
away. I was really happy.

*I am just coming out of a storm...I got all C's on my report card, my
parents got angry and grounded me!

*I'm in the middle of a storm. It's almost the end of the school year
and i need to raise my two D's up so I can act and go into the 8th grade.
And my friends are mad at me and I want them to apologize so we can be
friends again.

*When my boyfriend dumped me, I seriously didn't know what too do. We
had been together for a year and i was full on head over heels for him. My
heart shattered into a million pieces. But God was there. He was my
comforter and gave me the strength. He healed my heart.

*There is a family that is really close to mine and the father on the family
died. I was so sad and was crying all the time. At the funeral i could not stop crying...I still always feel like i could cry even though it has almost been two years. His wife has been living with us for a while. Now I know he is in a better place.

*A few years ago my brother went to the emergency room. He had a
condition where he had a line in his chest where he got hooked up to
medicine. He was in the hospital for a few months and my mom stayed with
him while he was there. So at home it was me my dad and grandma. It
was very hard. But when he came home everything slowly started to get
back to normal.

*One of my best friends last year was killed in a dirt bike accident. I
try to forget about it but it wont leave me. I visit his family every
couple of weeks. I don't know why God took him away for the world.

*When I was little my dad died. I cried for a long time but then my mom
said that the Lord does everything for a reason. After that I started to
feel better. I still cry about it every once in a while, but i know God
will comfort me.

*My biggest storm, has been my parents divorce. Everything seemed
really nice until I was around seven years old. My parents were never nice
to each other any more, they were always arguing so they moved away from each
other for a half-year then got back together for my sake, but it didn't work out
and they got divorced on my 9th birthday. then my dad found my step mom we
hated each other for a year then things got better, but I still feel weird
around her. My mom goes for the biggest losers on earth, the first
one was a psychopath and the one she is with now has a drinking problem.

*My friend...parents might be getting a divorce soon, I pray for her when she
feels bad.

*At the beginning of the year I was grounded for 4 weeks for something I
didn't do. Also, my grandma is getting sick.

*I'm in a storm right now. My grades aren't good because I don't like
doing homework. I know I need to do it but i can't seem to find the
passion or will to do it.

These are some of their stories...we have learned over the past three weeks that God is with us in the middle of the storms...he has promissed to never leave us. If you are in the midle of a storm, run to God not away from him...He is closer than you think!

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Many of us see what we’re not instead of who we actually are, don’t we?


We see someone who burned dinner or spilled juice on the carpet. Someone who lost her car keys—again. Someone who is not the right height or weight. Someone plagued with could-have-beens and if-onlys.


These disappointments and imperfections are why we want to cover up who we really are. We want to make sure that the world around us sees only the version of us that we want them to see. But the Bible tells us we are children of God—loved and treasured exactly as we are.


Over the next two weeks we are going to challenge students to take a look at themselves and dare to be real.

Have you ever noticed how tabloids and mainstream magazines always seem to capitalize on the difficult trials celebrities face. If a celebrity wanted more publicity, it seems like all they need is a good trip to rehab or a divorce or a custody battle.

When people go through storms, the world pays attention. Something in us wants to see how other people handle the troubles life throws at them.

This week we are going to look at the potential for influence that we all have when a storm hits, whether we want it or not.

Questions:

Has God ever used a "storm" in your life to influence others?

Have you ever known someone who went through a terrible storm? How did they handle their situation?

Think about the storm you are in right now, or a storm you have been through in the past. How has that storm changed you? How is it changing you?

We want to hear your stories!

Scripture References: Acts 27; Isaiah 43:1-2; Psalm 119:11; Romans 8:28

“Why, God?” If you have ever said a prayer, it has probably been this one. “Why God” is a natural response when we are hurting. This week, we will talk discuss the idea that God is okay when we need to ask this question. While there may not be a very clear and rational answer, sometimes God uses the struggle to show us something about ourselves, about Himself, or to draw us into a closer relationship with Him.

Is it possible that God has a reason for the "storm" you are going through? Have you ever gone through a storm and wondered why would God allow this to happen to me, and then after it is all over seen the "Why" or the "How" God used the storm for your good, or how He protected and provided for you during the storm?

We want to hear your stories! Being able to share your storm stories with other people helps others know they're not alone, and that people do and can survive a "storm".

Some verses to read and think about: Psalm 22:1-2 Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

Thats right! We have a blog! We wanted to creat a place where we could interact with students and parents, and where parents and students could interact with each other! This will be a place where you can find out about what we are talking about in Jr. and Sr. High, info on trips...places we are going but also places we have been. This will be a place where parents can interact with each other...mom and dad, you are not alone!

Students, this will be a place where you can comment about the topics we discuss on Sundays and Thursday nights! You can ask questions, or even answer someone elses questions that they leave...

Our desire is that this will be a community of people that interact, support and encourage one another!

So here we go...lets blog!