I became a Christian when I was 18. Yes, just as the delights of Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll were imminent , God rocks up and turns my life upside down. Four years on, I present to you a collection of thoughts from a Christian now struggling with her first year at Uni. Some may find it insightful, others just amusing! Laugh on my friends.
What do you hope in? For many of us its the usual things, happiness, health and peace in this life. But what about those less fortunate? the hungry? the homeless? what hope do they have when those simple pleasures can seem so unobtainable?
Hope 2008 is an initiative of the churches of Britain and Ireland which is helping to demonstrate Christian faith in action and to explain the meaning of that faith in villages, towns and cities throughout the UK. On their site they suggest five different ways in which to offer people hope.
Hungry
Hard to imagine that in wealthy countries like the UK and Ireland that there could be people going hungry. But there are. The reasons are complex. But does it matter how they ended up hungry? Let’s just “be the hope” to them! Oasis is doing just that. Why not join them?
Stranger
A stranger is a friend we haven’t met yet! One way to “be the hope” is to befriend someone that others don’t care about. For example, The Marylebone Project gives homeless women a shared community and sense of belonging and helps them into independent living.
Naked
Vulnerable people are often exploited by deceitful and violent people. Stop The Traffik is a global movement working to combat the fastest growing global crime, people trafficking. Visit their website to find out about the issues, and how you can “be the hope” to those affected.
Sick
We may not be nurses or doctors but we can still help people who are sick. Only 2% of people have basic life saving skills; if more people did then more lives could be saved. St John Ambulance helped with this film and need volunteers. Click HERE to find out more.
Prison
Hope in prison? How can we can “be the hope” for people in prison? One way may be Restorative Justice - click HERE to find out more or read about it on the Prison Fellowship website (PF helped in the making of the film).
If you want more information on how to give hope to others, why not send off for your free copy of recipes for hope.
I suffer a constant barrage of slagging about my sex life (or lack of). Though its all generally just playful classroom banter, I often wonder how much my friends really understand about my choice to remain celibate until marriage. My decision to live the Christian life at the exciting age of 18 is often met with confusion, “why didn’t you wait until after uni?”, “don’t you wish you’d messed around a bit more first?”. In reality, though deciding to stay celibate for the rest of my unmarried life seems like a difficult decision, it really wasn’t. When I weigh up the benefits against the sacrifice I’m definitely on to a winner.
Let me first explain that God does NOT think sex is wrong. God created sex and he created it to be enjoyed, but as with every good thing he has given us, if it is abused or taken for granted we end up hurt. When I became a Christian I came to realise that sex is more than a quick drunken fumble, more than an experience shared between to lovers and even more than a deep intimate commitment to another person. Though it can of course be all of these things, he intended for it to mean so much more. The bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 that when two people have sex their bodies become one, not only physically but spiritually. In marriage this is a beautiful bond where the two of you are united in everything you do for the rest of your life, the downside is of course if you do not intend on spending the rest of your life with that person, though you will no longer be physically joined, part of your soul is still united with them.
Ok, I know this all sounds a bit deep for someone barely in their twenties but on perhaps a more relative note, when I finally do meet the man of my dreams I would love to be able to give the whole of myself to him on my wedding night without having already shared that part of me with anyone else. It is one of my biggest regrets that I will never be able to do that. As I only really became a Christian when I was 18 I hadn’t always thought of things in this light, however I know that God does not love me any less for my mistakes, and now I choose to honour him with my body.
Still wondering what on earth I’m on about? Here’s a little recommended reading for you…
This book Gift Wrapped by God explains far more articulately than I could, about singleness, sexual purity and forgiveness. Essential reading for every girl I only wish I’d had it as a teenager.
This one is for the guys, though I’ve never read it but I hear its a keeper (if a little Americanised for us Brits).
A stranger is a friend we haven’t met yet! One way to “be the hope” is to befriend someone that others don’t care about. For example, The Marylebone Project gives homeless women a shared community and sense of belonging and helps them into independent living.
