Hello everyone! I hope you have had another good couple of weeks. It has been nice and sunny and warm here in Ontario, Canada. The fresh strawberries have been great! The garden is growing, including the weeds (but a lot of them are edible, too!). Thank the Lord we can grow fresh food!

Thank you very much, Grace, Daniela, Rob, Hector, and Joel for your replies and Joel for your introduction.

Our question was:

I don't know were it's found or exactly how it goes but I think it goes something like this. .....to him gave the right to be called children of God. I started liking this verse just after I accepted Jesus. I was going through a tough time and feeling like God didn't love me any more like I was a discarded toy or something. Then one day not to long after one of my good friends from camp gave me this verse, telling me that I wasn't a discarded one for each and every one of us if we accept Christ as our personal Savior then we are given the right to be called son's or children of God. After I read that I started feeling much better.

My favorite verse in the Bible is the last part of Romans 8:31. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Many times we are worried of what is going to happen if I do this and that, but if we do God's will, he will help us, and none could do us any harm.

Hi! My name is Hector from Southern Cali. My favorite verse is from the book of Matthew"...I am with you alway even until the end of the world." It comforts me alot because to me what God is referring to is not just now in the end times, but whenever my life hits bumps and I feel like my world is ending, I know Christ is right there dusting me off, and saying "don't worry I got it all under control. Just put your trust in Me." (or something like that, but He is smiling though :) ). Like when Isaiah says, that God sends his Comforter to us, and it reminds me to thank God daily for the blessings He has given me.

My favorite Bible verse is the whole thing, since it is all God's word! Its pretty impossible for me to choose a 'favorite' when it's all given by inspiration of God and profitable for correction, reproof, instruction in righteousness, etc? There is lots of it I do struggle with understanding... That all said there are a few which stand out for me these days. Here they are: Acts 2:43-47 - It amazes me how the early Christians lived joyously in common in simple, loving communities committed to prayer and helping the poor and each other. So much different than our 'nuclear' family model that has become popular in the last century. Romans 12:2 - Renewing the mind and transformation!!! So exciting. Micah 6:8 - "What doth the LORD require" - a simple answer beyond all our philosophizing and theologizing - "to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God"... A simple call to the Christian life. Jeremiah 1:4-10 - a young man being told he can be a prophet and "to root out and to pull down, and to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant". Power of God reflected through those God chooses - even youth! Also, the so-called beatitudes... Luke 6:20-36... I could go on forever... The whole thing inspires me, challenges me to move deeper into the will of God...

I don't think I have a 'favorite' scripture, but this one means a lot to me: And He said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you." Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet." Eze. 2:1-2 Can you picture it? The scene makes my heart beat faster. God says, "Get on your feet, Ezekiel!" and then the _Holy Spirit_ PUTS Ezekiel on his feet. God didn't simply give Ezekiel a command, he gave the ABILITY TO DO IT!!! This promise belongs to us too (John 15:26); when we're drowning in our failure, we cling to it as life preserver.

Please send in your replies (I would REALLY appreciate them and they don’t have to be long) and contributions before or on July 14th so they can be published in the next issue.

Do you have any stories, poems, recipes, … that you would like to share?

Please tell your friends about GHH and feel free to send me email addresses to add to the list.

"The Lord has appointed the youth to be His helping hand."

God bless you all and I look forward to hearing from you!

Kyla

God’s Helping Hand Editor