I have known Jesus for a while, but one of my friends walked away from Him recently and got into sex, drugs and alcohol. When he brought up these things I kept quiet and never said anything, but lately I had Jesus tell me to really let people know what my life is about. So whenever my friend brought up something about alcohol or sex I told him that those things don't satisfy me and I have hope in better things. He got wierded out by it and knows i'm saying it because I am still a follower of Jesus. If he stops hanging out with me because I don't show interest in that kind of stuff, it's fine, I just want him to know that by walking the opposite way I won't have to go from one thing to another like to find peace and that when he gets tired of running in circles chasing hapiness the worldly way, he'll always have me and Jesus to turn to for help.

My story is one af great sorrow, depression, and later, great joy. It all started about two months ago and the new school term had just begun. I was just saved this past April and was so excited to start witnessing to people in my school. (BTW if you ever set foot in my high school, you'd know it was full of demons...literally). My closest "friends" had known I was a warrior for Christ for a while and there would be a lot of things changing about the friend they once had. I was not doing the things they do anymore. They listen to the punk rock music, read books with demonic plots, vampire books, and numerous other "bad" influences. My two best friends(names i won't mention) began to reject me completely. Once i started to rebell against the things they were doing, they started to ridicule me and put me in one of those "persecuted for Christ" times in my life. It was really hard between the ignorance and dirty looks and takling behind my back. It was painful to the point to where i would isolate myself and go into depressions that lasted from 5 hours to 5 days. This went on for about a month. I finally decided to just tell them. God had lifted me up in the most horiffic times in my life. He held me and carried me through that time. I went up to my "friends" and told them i was happy to go through the persecution and ridicule they were giving me because I knew my Lord was gaining glory in my suffering. They looked at me for the longest time before i just walked off and never said a word to them again. It broke my heart to do that but that is just solid proof that God hears prayer and can lift you out of the deepest and darkest moments of your life. You must stay strong, you warrior of the army of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

My story starts off like most I grew up in a christian home and was saved when i was very young. On Christmas Eve at church my father told my mother he was leaving when i was 3 years old. He packed his bags the next morning he was with someone else while still with my mom. I didn't know for a while I was definately 4 by the time they told me. He married that woman and my mom remarried when i was 7 and we moved from California to Connecticut. Unfortunately I only see my dad every few months for a couple of days when I'm off school. My grandmother resently passed away and my grandfather is having a very hard time as well as my mom. I have always had a hard time with friends I don't fit in very well and lifes been hard lately. One of my best friends hates me right now he is lying to me and about me he denies all of it and has blocked me on his cell phone we used to be really close but things have fallen apart. I had even started to give my mom a hard time sort of keep secrets and take things out on her there were a lot more fights in the house and it started to become an unpleasent place for me at least. I shut out God and thought he didn't care or wasn't willing to help. But a few weeks ago my youth group got tickets for Rock the Sound 2008 and one of my only friends convinced me to go. I was one to stand when they said who has areas of their life that isn't God's and I've seen him a lot in my life the past few weeks things aren't perfect like at first I expected God should make it but at least I know he will always be there to help me through the tough spots.

I'm a kid who plays the guitar, on in a million but i'm also a kid age of 15 who has seen a sanctuary full of kids my age in a state of worship knowing God put me there. it started 5 years ago when my brother asked for guitar for Christmas and out of lack for a better idea, I said why not. Since then God has used his presence in the lives of people around me to show me in just how many ways I am part of something bigger than me...MUCH MUCH bigger than me.I ask that you would pray for me however. I fall short just as everyone does butI wish to live this life God has blessed me with to the max of His prosperity that I may be used to Glorify Him through everything. "Love the lord you god with all you heart, with all your soul, with all your mind" I want to see Him lifted up Higher at work, at school, in public, in poverty, and even at church. I also pray that this Opposite Way Movement will continue to grow and reach those who need scriptural guidance. 1 cor. 10:13 has been so true though my life and my shortcomings as well as ps.23 and jer. 29:11 assuring through scripture that the peace that comes from God surpasses anything that we may have in mind.

A couple weeks before my 12th birthday,my dad died.It took me until about my sophmore year of high school to truly come to God.Before that,i was so hurt,and resorted to sex,drugs,and suicide to deal with all the pain in my life.Truth is,that Jesus is the only hope.Jesus loved me when i felt like nobody else did.He is always there for me,can relate to all my problems,and has the answer to everything.As I fall more and more in love with Goid,I slowly start to not care about wordly things.Nothing this world can offer can compare to God's love.My life is not worth living for myself.I want to,need to give it up to God.God's plans for me are perfect,far better than my own.I mess up alot,but always get back on my feet.God is always there for me,no matter what.God is love.