July 31, 2007
Hi, my name is Angel. I am 16 years old. I have read almost your whole book called Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life. Its a really good book. I just sat down on day feeling alone, depressed and I came across your book. I just sat there reading this book all day. Well anyway I have a problem with drinking, smoking pot, I lie, cheat and steal from the people I love. Its hard for me to tell the truth its mostly because I’m scared to tell the truth.
I grew up in a home with alcohol, drugs and abuse. I wasn’t taught about God and the things he can do. When I was about 5 my father was taken from me and my brother, it was his alcohol and drugs that caused him to take his life.
As I grew up I blamed him for everything. I blamed him for my alcohol abuse my drug use. I was about 12 when I had my first drink. It scares me sometimes, I drink until I come to a complete blackout. I hurt people and I don’t remember. It hurts me to see my mother cry. She is trying really hard to become a Christian.
I try to stop everything that I am doing, but I can’t do it on my own. Please write back.
Hi Angel,
I’m so glad that you liked the book. I’ve kept in touch with many of the teens from that book, who are now in their twenties. Bekka is now an aspiring author. Darrin is a young father of two and an amazing husband and man of God. Manny is also a dad and a very cool man of God. Nichole is a mom, and also an aspiring writer, and happily married.
I guess what I’m saying is that their lives were changed by their faith in God. None of them changed overnight. But all of them changed daily as they gave God their whole lives, their whole heart, and all of the crappy stuff too. : ) They didn’t wait until they had it perfect, but allowed God to walk in to their lives, and began to follow him. The more they knew God, the more they trusted God, the more that their lives found purpose.
Maybe the first step today is to give him all of it — every feeling, every fear, all that has happened to you, and all that has hurt you because he cares very much, Angel, about you.
In God’s eyes you aren’t a screwup, you’re his girl. I know that from personal experience.
Let’s keep talking, okay? May I pray with you today?
Father, thank you for Angel. People might look at her and see someone who has been through a lot, or who has messed up, but you see her heart. I love your scripture that says, “when we reach for you, we will find you because you are not far away”. I know that you have watched over Angel her whole life, from the very beginning, and you are waiting to show her how amazing your love can be. All you were waiting for was her to seek you, and she is. I thank you for her life, and what it will be as she walks with you — not perfect, but definitely full of purpose and life.
Thank you for my new friend, Angel. Thank you for the courage it takes today as she opens her life to you, and invites you in.
In your precious name, Amen.
Keep in touch, Angel. Okay?
Debbie says:
Hey Sis!
Welcome to the family! You have joined the earth’s biggest network…this incredible network spans all 7 continents. There are literally hundreds of thousands of us here. And I just wanted to tell you how delighted I am that you joined this AWESOME family! I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.
your sister
Debbie
diamond_1190@yahoo.com
Lydia Rule says:
Hi Angel,
And you are right when you wrote that “I try to stop everything that I am doing, but I can’t do it on my own”. You can do nothing by yourself.
It’s funny… I’ve just been away for a week as a camp counselor for my church, and one of my campers is named Angel as well!
It sounds like you are really wanting to totally and radically turn your life around…
The only way to “live” the Christian life is to have Christ in your heart. By yourself, you cannot change. With God’s power, all things are possible.
If you have never asked Jesus to forgive you and would like to be saved, here’s an awesome website that will show you how to be saved: http://www.tddm.org/salvation.shtml
If you have asked Jesus into your heart all ready, then just pray and talk to Him about your problem and ask Him for strength to overcome it.
I told one of my campers this week that she was going to have to build character in her life in order to overcome some problems she had. Character is built slowly, one brick at a time.
First, you must pray for God’s strength, then, you must act upon what you have decided in order to build character. In other words, tell God that you have a problem with drinking, then, remove yourself from temptation (i.e. don’t go to the bar, instead, call up some of your Christian friends on the phone or go to church).
Another thing to do is to talk to your pastor and have a counseling session with him (don’t worry, pastors don’t charge people in their church for counseling services or anything like that. If you need to talk to a pastor, they will talk to you and help you out).
I’ll be praying for you!
In Christ,
Lydia Rule