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Topic: STAND UP FOR JESUS (don't write about the song) (04/09/15)
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TITLE: My Stand | Previous Challenge Entry
By Danae Frank
04/15/15 -
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This is my last memory from before my accident. My parents informed me that I had gone with my friends to ride our bicycles after my 12th birthday party. Our property was beautiful, with 40 acres of rolling hills, and trails that allowed access to the most picturesque areas. My favorite place was the gully. Frogs in all stages of life lived happily there. We were on a trail overlooking the gully. My bike and I were far from the edge, but the earth gave way, and I fell fifty feet to the bottom. I became paralyzed from the neck down.
My doctors and therapists encouraged me to live as normally as possible. Life, however, was far from normal. My mom quit her job so she could care for me. She bathed, fed, and dressed me, took me to each of my classes, everything. The only thing I could do was speak. She pushed me to stay involved in our youth group. So, when my pastor announced summer camp, ours were the first names on the signup sheet.
I always enjoyed summer camps, but this year was obviously different. It was my first year to teen camp, and I was being pushed through the whole week in a wheelchair. I was embarrassed and angry. I felt helpless and inferior. My mom was amazing, but I felt guilty about her needing to constantly care for me. I felt like that accident ruined my life and hers. We went through the week as normally as possible. I think my mom actually enjoyed it. I endured it.
The last night of camp, we met for the final message. The preacher announced the title, “Stand up for Jesus”. I rolled my eyes, and my heart sank simultaneously. I decided to listen to him preach to everyone else in the room. Obviously, I could not glean anything from what was about to follow.
“Now you might be surprised!” He began, “Standing for Jesus rarely requires any type of physical action. What I hope to show you tonight are three things necessary in order to stand for Jesus, which require no physical action whatsoever.”
I began to hope, “Maybe this message is for me!”
He continued, “In Luke 23:40-43, Jesus is hanging on the cross. Two thieves hang beside him. One thief mocks Jesus, ‘If you are truly the Christ, save yourself and us!’ The other thief stops him, saying, ‘Do you have no fear of God? We are all in the same situation, but you and I deserve to be here! Jesus has done nothing wrong!’ He then turns to Jesus and says, ‘Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’”
“The first thing we must do if we hope to stand for Jesus is accept him. The thief’s acceptance of Jesus gave him the strength and courage to stand against the other man’s mockery.”
“Now we go to 1 Samuel 17, the story of David and Goliath. I want us to see David before the battle. David was a shepherd, musician, and the youngest of eight brothers. He did not look like much, but the spirit of God was with David. He was a man after God’s own heart. Prior to David’s confrontation with Goliath, God had delivered him from a lion and a bear. David knew the Lord, and his relationship with God gave him the courage and faith to stand for the Lord before Goliath.”
“Lastly, we must live in Him. Jesus says, in John 15:5 (KJV) ‘I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ Without living and abiding in Him, we can do nothing. But, ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’ Philippians 4:13 (KJV)”
“So, if we are to stand for Jesus, we must first accept him, second get to know him- develop a relationship with him, and lastly, live in Him. Every thought that enters our mind, every word that comes from our lips, may it be to magnify him. Every gesture, every smile, may it be to share him.”
I could do that! I had accepted Jesus, I could get to know Him more, and I could live in Him. I would never stand on my feet again, but I could live the rest of my life standing for Jesus.
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