To Timothy, my True Son in Faith...

1 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I think it’s probably safe to say I am one of the youngest writers on the TJ devotional team. I’m actually only in high school! Because of my age, however, I find this passage of Scripture close to my heart.

Paul is writing a letter to a young man named Timothy. Paul is Timothy’s mentor. This means Paul is guiding Timothy in Timothy’s spiritual journey. Not only was this mentorship beneficial to Timothy, but it was beneficial to Paul, as well.

I have many mentors in my life. My teachers, my friends who are older than me, and my family members are my mentors, just to name a few. These people give me hints and tips, they help me make sense out of things that happen in my life, and they guide me and encourage me in my journey with Christ. Not only can I learn from my own mistakes, but I can learn from my mentors’ mistakes, too. In these mentoring relationships, I’m like Timothy.

However, there are times when I am like Paul. Even though I am still young and still being mentored, I have already begun to mentor others. I learn just as much, if not more, by mentoring others and not just being mentored. When you are a mentor, you have to constantly refresh your memory. You must remember all the basics, and you must have a firm understanding of the things you are teaching. This forces you to pay much more attention than you would if you did not mentor.

Iron sharpens iron. If you are in a mentoring relationship, you may think you’re the one doing the teaching. However, you may very well be doing a lot of learning! And if you aren’t mentoring, maybe God wants you to find someone to mentor. Even if you don’t believe so, there is so much you can teach someone, and so much that same person can teach you. Just look at Paul. He was in prison, yet he was still mentoring. Ask God how He can use you to teach others, hone your theologies, grow closer to Him, and watch His power transform in both directions.

Prayer: Lord, I pray You would show us the benefits and amazing things that result from mentorships. I pray You would guide us as we seek to do Your will, and I pray You would give us understanding as we try to help others gain understanding, as well.

Additional Scripture: Job 8:8-10

Madelyn Leembruggen


(All time favorite picture. Okay, maybe not all time, but most recent favorite picture. :])

Three Things I Think I Know

Thing One: Now, I may be wrong about this, but I believe Peace, Love, and Happiness originate from and can be found in the glory and wonderfulness of God. That's the easy part-- finding where Peace, Love, and Happiness are. The hard part is achieving all three. It's hard because we have to be dedicated and willing to stick it through to the end. It's hard because we might not see any results while we're on our journey. It's hard because not everyone is willing to be as earnestly devoted to God as is required. It's hard because true Peace, Love, and Happiness will not come, nor will they be achieved, until Christ's kingdom is established once again, and we are all settled in for eternity. But like I said, that's just my view.

Thing Two: Tragedies do actually happen. I thought stuff like that only happened on the news until it happened to me. I didn't think that anything worse than a paper cut or a fight with a friend could happen in my small world. But then something worse did happen. And it can happen to you, too. All those stories you see in the magazines and on tv aren't just made up. They happen to real people. People like you and me suffer through them. So don't act apathetically and indifferently when you see horrible stuff happening. Our sisters and brothers are feeling real pain. Our neighbors need real help. And live! Live while you can! No human has any clue when life will be taken away. Unpredictable things happen. Things that are impossible to imagine. So enjoy life.

Thing Three: Why do we say we're alright when we aren't? I've decided that no matter what, I will not lie to someone when they ask me how I am. I don't care if they don't actually want to know how I am, and we don't have to go into the details of why I'm feeling that way. But what if someone who does care asks me? And if I ask someone how they are, I actually do want to know how they are! Why should I say that I'm 'good' when I'm really feeling lower than a worm's belly? (Ha, I bet you liked that analogy.) We'll never be able to help each other if we lie about how we are. How is our hurt supposed to heal if we continue to deny it's there? If you get a sun burn and you deny you have a sun burn, chances are you'll continue to do the same activities you were doing when you got said sunburn. How will your skin ever heal if you refuse to acknowledge the need for it's healing?

Bedtime

Cicadas come sing me my lullaby;
Clouds come serve as the most comfortable cradle.
Moon, be my guide through multiple dreams;
A safari, outer space... be my anchor-- my nightlight.

Frogs come read me a story of fairies;
Wind come comb all the knots from my hair.
Fireflies come kiss me, tuck me in, say you'll miss me
Until next time these paths of ours cross.

Owls come whisper some wisdom,
Stars come bring me a midnight snack.
Abba, Father, come hug me, tell me you love me,
And then I'll be ready for bed.