Archive for January, 2007
January 12, 2007
a fiction story by Jenn Joshua, RTF Staff Writer
A Second Chance
Kelly couldn’t understand it. She’d known all the right things, said all the right things (or so she thought). Why hadn’t she done all the right things? Sure, it felt right at the time, but what about now? The steamy feelings of that night were long gone; instead she faced was with despair – the kind that didn’t easily go away. She felt sick in the middle of her stomach, but that was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. The pain of betrayal, the pain of loss, the pain of rejection – she’d been dragged through all three.
And now she carried his child.
His child.
She spat out the words. And what’d it been? Three, no four months since he’d deserted her. There was no “let’s just be friends†ploy attached to this deal – no. He was gone. Completely. Whole-heartedly. Just like that. Was the result of their encounter too much for him?
The coward.
Kelly let her eyes drift to the scrapbook in her lap. An old family album. There is such beauty in waiting. She looked at the glowing faces of her mom and dad as they presented their newborn daughter to the camera for the first time. There was an openness and peace attached to the tender scene. Naturally, there were tears when her mother delivered Kelly, just as there would be tears when Kelly delivered her own baby into the world, but tears of a very different kind. Her mother’s tears were tears of pain ending in joy. Kelly’s would be tears of pain, anger, and bitterness.
Bitterness at Shawn’s abandonment. Bitterness at being alone in her trial. Bitterness that she could not be happy about her baby. Bitterness that the baby would soon belong to another woman.
The album slipped out of her hands and thudded to the floor. The decision to carry the baby to term had been her own. She might’ve made one mistake, but that didn’t mean she had to follow it with another. She knew what was right, and it was her responsibility to herself and her child to see that it reached the world safely, even if she couldn’t have the responsibility of caring for it afterwards.
She gazed out the window. A moth was stuck between the glass and the screen. It beat its wings in desperation, flying repeatedly against the netted cage, falling, then flying up again. By afternoon, it would probably be dead. As another wave of sickness and misery threatened to sweep over her, Kelly felt the slightest fluttering feeling within her womb.
Life.
As the moth finally crawled out the hole from which it had entered, she placed a protective hand over her stomach as her tears dissolved into hope. It would be hard, but she wouldn’t be alone. Sure, her prince turned into a frog, but God was her real prince - the Prince of Peace – and he wasn’t going away.
Kelly quietly thanked God for His unexpected gift of grace. Tomorrow wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Helps for young moms: Life Interrupted: The Scoop on Being a Young Mom by Tricia Goyer or The Mom I Want to Be - Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future by T. Suzanne Eller
Filed under: real devos, jenn joshua
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 6:41 pm | 7 Comments
January 11, 2007
Battles
by Charity Christy
When one thinks of battles
They don’t always find happiness.
Theres always pain and heartache
That never seems endless.
The battles going on in my life
Aren’t those of far away…
Instead they are more painful
And make up their minds to stay.
I often ask “How”…Battles
“How do I escape?”
There seems to be no light
Even though there’s a huge gape!
Are there answers?
Should I reach out…
Or will I be pushed?
Can there be a reason not to shout?!
The questions come…
Where do I start?
Will I understand these voices…
From these battles of the heart?!
CC 11/24/03
This poem is somewhat old but I like it. Reading it brings me backdown to earth to remember where I’ve been and to be thankful for the changes that have happened. Charity
Filed under: real poem
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 9:42 am | Comments
January 10, 2007
Welcome back to Part II of my interview with Crystal Miller, author and speaker. Crystal has traveled around the world, sharing her message of hope. Crystal is a Columbine survivor and she has written an amazing book called, Marked For Life.
Let’s continue the interview. Welcome back Crystal!
Suzie: You wrote a chapter called Heroes of Hope. How would you define a hero of hope?
Crystal: I believe that a hero of hope is someone who chooses hope over chaos- hope over suffering and hardships- hope over bitterness and anger - hope over death- hope over circumstances- hope over situations beyond control and hope over despair. All people who choose hope, even when things don’t make sense or add up- even when things still hurt- they are choosing Jesus Christ- the Hope-giver himself. The only one capable of bringing good from the bad.
I think the epitome of a biblical Hope hero is the apostle Paul. Paul is the one who was whipped, received lashes, beaten with a rod, was stoned and shipwrecked and never gave up hope! In fact, he viewed the difficulties as an opportunity to rise up and become stronger and even boast about the suffering, because of God’s strength was made perfect through His weakness.
However, I don’t just believe that heroes of hope are found in the Bible, but we are surrounded by them every single day. They are common people who go through everyday suffering. Maybe that suffering looks like, an illness, change, a move, loss of a job, loss of a pet, or loss of a loved one- regardless, the faces of suffering are many, and it’s the people who choose hope and choose life despite the pain.
Suzie: You are still traveling and writing. What’s next for you?
Crystal: I never would have imagined that my full time job would be traveling and speaking and writing, but I couldn’t be more grateful for what the Lord has done and what He continues to do. I never believed myself to be a good speaker, or writer for that matter. However, that is how the Lord works, He uses the things we don’t believe we are capable of doing, and gives us the power, and authority to do them with excellence.
I absolutely love what I do, and would love to continue in this direction- however, I also want to be willing and available for whatever he has planned. Therefore, I do not know what is in store for me, but I can’t wait to see where He will lead me!
Suzie: If you could share one message with teens, what would that be?
Crystal: I absolutely love the youth of our nation, I believe in them, I see such immense value and worth in their lives to make a difference in the world. I am sad that they are constantly inundated with a hollow message, one that tells them they will never amount to anything unless they make a certain amount of money, own certain possessions, or hold a certain title. I want students to be able to think for themselves, to make a stand for what they believe in and find their true identity in Christ. More than anything, I want teens to live with passion and intention. I pray that the thing that drives them is knowing Christ and making Him known.
They wouldn’t be concerned with what others think- that they wouldn’t wait a single moment to share the love of Christ through action and word! There are no certainties in this life from one moment to the next, so it must be lived well. We each have one life we have been given- what matters is what we choose to do with the one life we have been given. Above all else, I pray that the teens would choose Christ and let Him direct their every step!
Suzie: Thank you so much, Crystal, for taking time out of your busy travel schedule to answer these questions. May we pray for you?
Father, we come together today to pray for Crystal. We ask that you give her what she needs as she travels, as she ministers to others. Thank you that you equip each of us. Thank you that you show us where to go, and where not to go, as you lead us step by step on the journey. Thank you for giving Crystal the direction she seeks. Last, Father, we thank you for bringing something beautiful out of something so difficult. Continue to touch others through Crystal. Protect her, keep her, and walk with her through the beautiful and challenging moments as she listens to your voice.
Filed under: real review
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 2:37 pm | Comments
January 10, 2007
Marked for Life: Choosing Hope and Discovering Purpose After Earth-Shattering TragedyHi Crystal. This is Suzie Eller and we are thrilled to have you at Real Teen Faith. Columbine was a turning point in our nation. It’s something that previous generations never thought of, and yet violence in schools has occured in many states across our nation. Thank you for sharing with the readers of Real Teen Faith.
Let’s get started:
Suzie: After Columbine, you traveled to Beslan, Russia to minister to others. What prompted you to make this decision?
Crystal: My trip to Beslan proved to be yet another eye opening, life changing and healing experience in my life. I had already witnessed so much in this broken and hurting world from living in places like Central America, and Africa, but this was different- it was about 5 years after the events at Columbine and I was already moving in the direction the Lord had given me.
So going to Beslan really confirmed once again He was using me in a unique way to be a part of the way He was moving in the world.
Whenever something tragic happens in the States or abroad, my heart is overcome with sorrow and my mind is distracted, and I cannot seem to do anything else until I have the opportunity to go and lend a helping hand. This was the case with the situation in Beslan- when that terrorist attack happened- I found myself glued to the television and reading everything in the newspaper related with the tragedy. I prayed that God would open the door for me to go and love on the people and bring His message of Hope. Sure enough- that open door presented itself through the ministry of Operation Christmas Child (a project of Samaritan’s Purse). I was asked to go and not only deliver shoe-boxes to the children affected by the tragedy, but speak and share that message of hope. I was so thankful, but also found myself at a lose for words. I couldn’t imagine what the people there had been through, but I knew that perhaps the Lord had allowed me to walk through the pains of Columbine for this purpose- to share the only hope that got me through; the unending love and salvation through Jesus. (more…)
Filed under: real interviews
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 2:12 pm | Comments
January 9, 2007
“I don’t understand”
By Ashley PhillipsI just don’t understand how you can walk away.
After knowing all the things He planned for you today,
And not just today but everyday you’re alive.
I just don’t understand…
I still don’t understand why you want to run away,
From the God of grace and mercy; who runs after you today.
How after spending so much time chasing after God,
You could turn and walk away and not even care.
I still don’t understand….
Filed under: real poem, ashley phillips
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 9:29 am | Comments
January 8, 2007
Life changing.
It’s not a word I use very often about a movie, but Born Into Brothels is one of those movies that you think about long after you’ve seen it.
A woman travels to Calcutta as a professional photographer to capture life in the Red Light district. It’s a harsh reality as whole families — many of the dads addicted to drugs, the moms, grandmothers, and even young girls adopted as part of “the line”, another word for prostitution.
Once the photographer arrived she moved into the district. What captured her attention was the many children running around the district. She became friends with several, and she began to teach them how to capture the life around them through a photo lens.
What resulted was greater than anything she ever thought could happen. These children saw their life and the busy streets and harshness around them with an eye only a child could envision.
One class stretched into nearly two years. Kochi, one of the children forced to work from 
4 a.m. until 11 p.m. every night for her mother, grandmother, and the other women in the brothel area, became a true photographer. Others, like Puchi and Gour, scoured the streets looking for new angles, new photos, new ways to show life in Calcutta.
Three years later a documentary was shown to the world. The photos were launched in art galleries. When their “auntie” went back to the children three years later and told them that the sales of their photos would allow them to do whatever they wish — attend school in America, be a doctor. . . it was almost beyond the comprehension of the students.
This documentary is both beautiful and painful. There is some language (translated in print) that is harsh. A child is beaten before the cameras. But that is only a small part of what these children lived in, and it was real life for them.
Want to expand your horizons? Want to see how one person can literally change the lives of others? Want to see how dreams can turn into reality, no matter what the circumstances? Or how to love someone in ways that are creative and awesome?
This is a great documentary that will make you think, may you cry, make you laugh.
T. Suzanne Eller (Suzie)
Real Teen Faith
Filed under: real review
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 2:31 pm | 1 Comment
January 6, 2007
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. Psalms 116:2 KJV
Bible Passage: Isaiah 55:5-7
Calling God!
By Lydia Yvonne Rule, RT Staff Writer
The chewed-up cordless phone sat there in my hand, its fraying wires and gnawed buttons a pathetic sight. I had left it outside for a fleeting moment, but just long enough for a neighborhood stray dog to find it and use it as a “chew toy.” Worst of all, it wasn’t even my phone. I had been babysitting twin boys, and their parents had given it to me “in case of an emergency.” Did this qualify? I wondered. I offered up a quick prayer, asking the Lord to help make the parents patient with me, and understanding of the circumstances.
That’s when it hit me. It seemed that too often the only time I “dialed up” the Lord was when I needed something from Him. Otherwise, my communication with Him was about as dysfunctional as this busted phone I now held.
Fortunately, unlike the destroyed phone, I could repair my relationship with God because he was always there, ready to accept my speed dial call and to listen to my pleas, praises, and prayers.
How about you? Is it about time you gave God a call, just to chat and grow closer?
PRAYER: Jesus, help me always to keep an open heart and mind to what You have to say. I want to have open communication with you in my life. Amen.
Our newest teen staff writer is Lydia Yvonne Rule. Lydia Rule is a homeschooled
senior in high school. She has been published in NextStep Magazine, Long Story
Short, Aboite Independent, The Torch, and Fundsforwriters. Currently she is
working on her fifth novel as well as a variety of other writing projects.
Filed under: real devos, lydia rule
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 12:48 pm | Comments
January 4, 2007
“. . . The ultimate test of leadership is not the polls you take, but the risks you take. In the short run, some risks prove overwhelming. Political courage can be self-defeating. But the greatest defeat of all would be to live without courage, for that would hardly be living at all.” - U.S. President Gerald R. Ford (1913-2006)
Filed under: real quote
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 9:33 am | Comments
