S3 Stories of Strength

My name is Rachel and I was a part of Students Standing Strong (S3) in middle school. When you are already a part of a Christian group, you don’t quite realize just how important and how influential it is. Having strong friends who are devoted to their faith in your community is one of the best things you can do for your own faith.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him–a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” We can apply this message to communities of Christians, and how much stronger we are together. We should rely on each other and help each other grow closer to God so that we will not be quickly broken. God has provided us all with peers who are believers and places to grow in our faith, such as S3. He wants us to have companionship of others so that if we fall, we have multiple hands to catch us.

I understand that it is extremely difficult to find that sense of community right now, but God never stops working in people’s lives. I encourage you to make the extra effort of forming and nurturing your circle of friends who love the Lord, and if you don’t have any, it is crucial for you to reach out and find them. There are amazing people just waiting to help grow your faith, and for you to grow theirs. I pray that you will lift one another up in the name of the Lord, growing closer to Him as one.

God Bless, Rachel

Do you ever feel like God thinks of us as an obligation rather than His children who He delights in?

I know I do. Since we can never measure up to God it is easy to feel like an obligation rather than His prized possession. But friends that’s SO NOT true! Psalms 18:19 says “He rescued us because He delights in us.” Not only does God love us, He likes us. He enjoys spending time with us! He knows all of our quirks, thoughts, and mistakes and He takes delight in that which He made!

A perfect example of this truth is modeled for us in the book of Hosea. Hosea was a Godly man who lived purely, but God told him to marry a woman named Gomer who did not live a very pure life. They were polar opposites, but because Hosea was faithful he obeyed God and took her hand in marriage.

As they were married Gomer fell back to her old sinful ways of life as a prostitute. Her mistakes led her to a very low point in her life, but God wanted to use the love story of Gomer and Hosea to model His unconditional love for us. Gomer stood naked and ashamed among a crowd of people, but no one would even buy her to be their slave. Instead, they ridiculed and mocked her until Hosea showed up and bought her back as he declared that he was her husband. He would choose her again and again.

In this same way, God picks us over and over no matter what we’ve done. We are the Gomer in this story, and just as Hosea bought his wife back, God paid the price of our sins with the blood of Jesus Christ. He doesn’t choose us because we are good enough. No, God chooses us because He loves us too much to leave us behind.

Bible verses:
-Hosea 3:1
-Psalms 18:19

Prayer:
Father thank You for Your everlasting love and forgiveness. Though I fall short of Your glory continuously You love me, You like me. Lord let us fall into Your love as we walk through this beautiful life. Father keep our eyes focused on You and Your greater plan for our lives. When we sin Father, let us run back to Your open arms always. In Your holy name we pray amen!

-Belle

Made in His Image

Genesis 1:27 ESV- So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

I want to talk about body image with you guys. Whether you think you’re “too skinny” or you think you’re “too fat,” I want to remind you that God loves you and He is so happy with the person He has created.

When I was a junior in high school, I was told I had to be put in a boot and I couldn’t finish the remainder of my cross country season. Over the next two years, I would find myself in this vicious cycle of, “I hate my body, I need to lose weight,” never losing the weight no matter how hard I worked out or how healthy I was eating, and then I would just give up. Learning to be okay with our bodies is so, so hard. We can always find something to critique and judge, but…God doesn’t critique or judge any part of your body. Anything you label an “imperfection” He labels “perfection!”

Matthew 6:25 ESV- “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Dang, “Is not the body more than clothing?” Why do we spend so much of our time concerning ourselves with what clothes we wear and what clothes look good on us? Our bodies are more than the clothes we wear, it is a temple of God and we should treat it as such. I challenge you to pray about how you view yourself. Pray you can not only love who God made you to be, but also that you may be content in how God created you. Start each day by waking up and reminding yourself you are made in the image of the Father and pray for contentment!

I want you to know, you are not alone! You are noticed and loved deeply. The Lord will always be your comforter; when you’re feeling low, run to Him!! He is the only one who can fill the void.

-Julia

Students Standing Strong has brought me closer to God.

I have felt my relationship with Christ grow and I am so grateful for the opportunity to grow together with other students and talk about the Bible at Students Standing Strong (S3). I am very proud of my faith and Students Standing Strong has just allowed it to strengthen! It gives me peace of mind knowing there are other students who I can talk with openly. Through trials and tribulations, S3 never stops standing strong. I want to learn more and S3 is guiding me to do that. The S3 community has allowed me to grow closer to Jesus and helped me further understand the Word. S3 is encouraging and a place to talk about pressing ethical questions with others, a place where I feel safe, a place where I feel God’s presence, and a place where every prayer is cherished.

Students Standing Strong has impacted my life in ways I never thought possible. It brought me friends and showed me new brothers and sisters in Christ. You can see the impact that Students Standing Strong has on the lives of others. Some people come for prayer, some come for the Word, some come out of curiosity, but in my experience nobody leaves spiritually empty-handed. Diving deeper into the Bible and discussing it with others brings me great joy.

In S3 I am always learning and building my relationship with Christ. God is speaking through the hearts of a new generation. It is incredible to see God working through the lives of those who come and to hear the stories of fellow students. When we read scriptures and passages, it is like they are meant for me. Every lesson I am reminded of the sacrifice Jesus made for me and for each and every one of us. I am so happy that I get to share my faith with others and know that I do not stand alone. We stand together and we stand strong.

-Roselyn, S3 Student

My Journey Back to Christ

Jesus looked at him intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Matthew 19:26

Hi, my name is Sarah! I am so grateful for S3 and the guidance I have received through the ministry.

A few years ago my dad was really sick, he was an alcoholic and addicted to pain medication from a previous injury. After a few years of being addicted he passed away. In the heat of the moment, we started to slowly ease our way out of going to church until we stopped. I was still young and didn’t necessarily enjoy going to church at the time so it didn’t bother me. When I started to get older it really bothered me that we didn’t go to church like the rest of my friends. I went to a small Christian school and everyone I knew attended a church so if the subject was brought up I would have to think of an excuse for why I didn’t go.

When I started to get older I thought I was kind of a bandwagon believer. Meaning I only prayed when something bad was happening or once in a while I would read a few pages of my Bible but that was it. I never really understood why I felt like something was missing from my life, then I went to church with one of my friends and the pastor said, “When you are craving God, that’s God craving you,” right then I realized I needed Christ in my life.

I switched schools to Palombi Middle School and at this point, I had given up trying to grow closer to Christ. Soon after attending Palombi I found out my mom’s college friend worked at the school and she invited me to attend s3 club. This was kind of like the light at the end of the tunnel for me. This invitation was the little push that I needed to truly convince myself I needed the Lord. S3 saved me from drifting away from God.

Sometimes things get rough in life but you have to trust in the Lord.

CHALLENGE: I challenge you to find someone in your life that isn’t a believer and try to bring them to Christ. Everything is possible with God.

Sarah- Illinois S3 student