Never give up

His forehead glistened as the sun bared down on him, his body soaked with sweat from the heat. His lungs were on fire while he labored to keep a smooth rhythmic pace of his breathing. His legs were tightening and aching as they methodically moved beneath him.
“100 meters to go…yeah I can do this,” he said to himself as he rounded the curve. Struggling to keep going, he tried to push himself harder in that final stretch, but his body just wouldn’t let him. As he crossed the finish line, he heard the chief call out his time, and he collapsed on the grass beside the track as a wave of disappointment washed over him. Once again Daniel Walker managed to miss passing the 1-mile run. The chief walked up and said, “Walker, you got to start pushing yourself harder. Run everyday….if not you ain’t ever gonna pass this run.” “Aye sir”, Daniel replied. John, one of Daniel’s best friends and current platoon commander walked over and said, “Hey, you’ll get it next time bud”. “Yeah, easy for you to say John, you run varsity cross country and even on your bad days you still pass. Man, I’m never gonna pass this.” John paused for a minute in thought, “You just gotta listen to the Chief, his right you have to run every day and push yourself to do better. I didn’t make you my second in command for nothing, you good at pushing yourself when you want something bad enough, now apply it to this.” “Yeah, alright…I guess your right” Daniel admitted. “Come on, we’ll head back in and head up to Krispy Kremes after school and do that bible study.” “Haha alright man, sounds good.”
For the past 2 years, young Daniel Walker excelled in just about everything he tried in high school that is until we talk about athletics. He didn’t have a bunch of talent, but he certainly wasn’t terrible at things…just average. However, running was always his weakness. Did fine on the other aspects of the physical fitness test, but never could quite get that run down. Now, it was a big deal because he needed it to get promoted so now it mattered. However, the next few months until the run would have a huge impact in his life. It’ll all began with that trip up to Krispy Kremes.
“Alright Daniel, here’s what we’re going to do,” John said as they arrived at Krispy Kremes, “you and I are going to run every day after school getting you ready for this next PFT.” “I don’t know about that too much now,” Daniel replied. “Hey, if you want to get promoted then you better start working and I’m going to help you. We’re starting next week,” John almost commanded. “Alright fine John, but you are probably gonna kill me.” With a smirk on his face, John replied, “just maybe. Monday at 1600.”
Monday afternoon, John was waiting at the track for Daniel. It was hot outside and there was a cloud in site. The humility was already making John sweat from just standing there. Daniel finally got there, seeming to be a bit reluctant to do this. They stretched out, got lose and started to run around the track. Barely making it one lap around the track, Daniel fell out. “John, I’m sorry man but I just can’t keep running at that pace.” “Dude, yes you can come on,” John yelled as he ran back to get him. “No, I can’t…I’m sorry John,” Daniel said with his head held low. “Alright, we’ll take it slow.”
It took a lot of motivation from John, but he managed to convince Daniel to keep running with him each day. John would pick up the pace slowly over time, and Daniel would always go home sore. Around the end of the first week, Daniel felt better about it. He told John that he was going to keep going each day. It was painful, his legs were tight each night, and it was tough to move around from the aching pain of being sore each morning, but he wasn’t going to quit. He needed this and he knew that, so Daniel got out there each day, pushed past it and ran with everything he got.
After about a month of running, John made Daniel do the mile by himself, and John was going to time it. “Daniel, it’s only 4 laps. We’ve been training for a month now, you got this bud.” Daniel stretched, got lose and started up his mile. He started off with a good pace, go that breathing pattern going and just kept running. “Eh, this ain’t too bad,” Daniel said to himself as he kept the motivation going. The 3rd lap came around. Breathing was tougher, but the past month has helped him keep that under better control. He wasn’t as sore as he use to be, and things were going ok. Final lap came around. Daniel’s heart was pounding from the run; he tore around that finally curve and dashed with all he had left the last 50 yards. A wave of exhaustion hit as he laid down in the blazing summer sun, but the smile wouldn’t leave his face as John showed Daniel the stop watch. “20 seconds to spare,” John said as he patted Daniel on the back. “Just in time too, we got PFT next week.” “Yeah, John, I can’t thank you enough man, I’m really glad you helped me,” Daniel said. “Hey, I know it’s been tough for you, but you never gave up and that’s what counts. Let’s kill that run next week.”
It was a mildly hot day for the summer down in the south. There was a cool breeze rustling the leaves and clouds were moving in and out over the sun. “Perfect running weather,” Daniel thought to himself, “this is gonna be the day.” The Chief stood there with his stop watch ready as everyone lined up. “Ready, set, go,” he yelled and off they went. Daniel felt great. The mildness helped keep his motivation up and he was set on finally passing. “A month of pushing myself and busting my butt is finally going to pay off,” he thought as he started on his second lap. As he started his 3rd lap, the chief called out the times. “Dang, that’s a whole extra 30 seconds faster than I thought. Finally lap…yeah, this is in the bag.” He came up on that last curve, his heart was pounding, and the anticipation of finally passing the run for the first time in 2 years was just building in his chest. He was ready to take that passing time and wear it proudly. He came around the end of the curve, then snap, his foot found a hole in the track. Daniel collapsed in pain as John and the chief ran up to him. “You alright Daniel? What happened?” the chief asked. “I don’t know,” was all Daniel could muster. It was right there, right there in his grasp, and he lost it. The defeat was killing him as they loaded him in the golf cart to get him back up to the school.
Over the next few weeks, Daniel rested up on his ankle. When it got stronger he got out there and ran every day, just like him and John did a month ago. He pushed on and tackled the next PFT ready. In the end, Daniel did get passing times on the run, well under a minute of what he needed. He overcame many obstacles along the way; soreness, lack of physical fitness and injuries. Despite the difficulties, Daniel never gave up on it. Eventually Daniel would become a Coast Guard Rescue swimmer and lead a life of high physical fitness levels and saving lives because of it, all because of deciding to push past adversity and never giving up.

Daniel sets a good example here for never giving up. High school comes with many challenges that we may not overcome the first try. However if we lean on God like Daniel does, seek Him and continue to strive at things, then we will succeed. No matter what the challenge or obstacle is, remember to never give up.

The Full Armor of God

<sup>Many of time we talk about how we need to do this in high school, reach out to people, stop doing this or that sin. We hear a lot about what we need/should/want to do, but instead, lets take a look at how we can do it. Life is like a battleground, we are going to experience times of success, failure, difficult, and peace. That's how things are gonna be. We are always having to fight against the things we want to do because it's how the world "has fun". It's easy to want to get wrapped up in them. Yet, Christians are given the tools to fight back. Just as soldiers go into battle prepared, so do the Sons and Daughters of God.


10</sup> Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, ¹⁵ and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; ¹⁶ in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

This is a passage from the 6th chapter of Ephesians talking about the Armor of God. Let's break down what Paul is talking about here as the Armor of God. The first item that lays the foundation, and helps to hold things together is the Belt of Truth. Girding your loins with truth is another way of talking about fastening a belt around your waist. Truth is what lays the foundation for fighting against sin and the devil. Knowing what is true will help us in making the right decisions in life and knowing that our God is true and faithful. If we don't know what is true, then how can we believe God, know what is right and wrong, and make the right decisions. So putting on that belt of truth is the foundation of living a Godly life.
Now we take a look at the breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness is that ability to know what is right and wrong, and then making the Godly decision with it. What's interesting is how righteousness is described as a breastplate. Breastplates protect the heart. In a spiritual sense, our heart is the one that gives us the desires in life, that place where those desires come from. So when we put on that breastplate of righteousness, we are protecting our heart, letting it's desires line up with God's righteousness.
When we talk about reaching out to people, and taking the Gospel to different places, we don't go there on our hands, or our head. We use our feet. Our feet are the ones that take us places. So that is why we prepare our feet for the Gospel of truth, to take it where God is leading us to.
Shields is the piece of armor that is used as the main article of defense. Just like in our walk in life, the shield of faith. When we are unsure of ourselves, our situations, or going through trials and temptations, we can always fall back on our faith to lead us through and to overcome these temptations. Our faith is what keeps us going, and protects us the most. Thus why Paul describes faith as a shield, the foundation of defense and protection.
The helmet of salvation is always a powerful one for me. It's what protects our mind. In Romans Chapter 12 is says, "Therefore do not be confirmed to the ways of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Our Salvation all begins with that mental realization that we need Jesus, and the decision to follow Him. As we put on the Helmet of Salvation that God has given us, we will be ready to make wise decisions and lead a Godly life with "our heads on straight".
Finally, our weapon of warfare, the sword of the Spirit. When we face those trials and temptations, hard times, good times, the armor that God gives us protects us. However, we can just sit there and continue to take a beating, we gotta fight back. God gives us the perfect weapon, His word. The bible gives us everything we need to lead a Godly life and to fight back against what the devil throws at us. That is why we call the word of God our sword.

As we wake up each morning, preparing for school and life, I encourage you to put on the armor of God so that we can live a life that is honoring and pleasing to Him. When we continue to seek Him, God will gives us the Armor that we need to honor Him each and everyday.

Making the tough decisions in life

High school is definitely a time of change for all of us. As freshmen, we transition into a larger schools, make new friends, and start to become young adults. As Sophomores and Juniors, we start to look at the classes we want to take more seriously, and which ones will benefit us for what we may want to do. Also, we start to look towards our futures, and develop ideas and plans for what we want to do. Finally, as seniors, we start applying for colleges and scholarships, get serious about the plans we have or the ideas floating around in our heads, and start putting them into action. It's the life of a high school student
We face crossroads all the time, some simple, others life changing. However, we will have to eventually make a decision once we get there. They won't always be easy though. Making the decision to study for your test instead of going to hang out with friends, cleaning your room when you are suppose to, or getting out of a relationship that is hurting yours with God. Many of times, we don't know what to do, or the decision to make. Will we regret the decision we made, or be thankful we made the tough decision?
In the end, all of the decisions we face now and in the future should honor God. I can tell you that these aren't always easy. Sometimes it will be simple like saying no to a drug. It's not easy to go against the flow seeing we want to fit in and have friends, but when we say no, we have honored God, fill relieved to have done the right thing. Quick and simple. Sometimes they can be painful like ending a relationship because it's getting in the way of you and God. It's tough, I know, and it will take time to move past it, but in the end, it will strengthen your relationship with God and being more able to work for His glory. Whatever the decision may be, remember to go with where God is leading you, or telling you to do. For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11. Though the decision may be unclear at first, God will always lead you in the right direction about it. So when you face those tough decisions, follow God's leading and honor Him with it.
What about the wrong decisions we've already made? I've asked the same thing in life at many points in our life. As teenagers, we aren't always gonna make the right decisions every time. We are only human. What I want to encourage you with, is don't dwell on them. It's ok to remember them, I actually recommend it. Why? So we can learn from them. God allows us to make mistakes, because we learn from them pretty darn well. We have to be willing to forgive ourselves. Jesus died on the cross, paying the price for our sins and forgiving us from them. If the God of the universe is willing to forgive us, then we certainly should be willing to forgive ourselves. We are only human. When we mess up, or what we messed up with in the past, just move on, learn from your mistakes and seek God even more.

When the tough decisions in life come, seek God, and make the decision that will lead you to a stronger relationship with God

Let's tackle some questions

I want to open the floor for questions, just feel free to ask them. It doesn't matter if it's a trial, or confuse, it could be anything. Just ask away in the comments.