From: Chelsea [#005]

Dear God,

When was the last time I was totally dedicated to you? It seems like the times when I'm wholeheartedly devoted to you, it only lasts for a series of days. It's like that parable with the sower and seeds.

³ Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. ⁴ And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. ⁶ But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. ⁷ And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. ⁸ But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

I'm like the seed that immediately sprang up but then got withered because of its lack of root. I don't really like that thought, but... that's just what I am. Lord, give me the strength and perseverance to not get caught up too much in what the world has to offer. It has no root, and unlike You, it's not reliable and unwavering. I know I have to try harder, but please, only with Your help. Allow the grace of the Spirit come into me without holding back, and open my ears for Your words.

Your child,
Chelsea

From: Slim [#004]

Dear Heavenly Father,

I always feel pulled away from You by something. Something, something that weakens our relationship. Father, guide me down the right path.

I want to feel the joy that Mrs. Hazen talked about in chapel this past week.

J is for Jesus first
O is for others second
Y is for yourself last

Lord, help me to be like the pilot and put myself last. It seems like I put other things before you. Now, I feel bad. Help the high school applied class do well tomorrow for the first chapel in the new chapel building. Thank you so much for the chance to build the CPAC, where we can worship you and glorify you with our talents. Thank you.

Love, your lost child,
Slim

From: Mia [#003]

Dear God,

I pray that you help us everywhere we may be.

I want to thank you again, but I pray that you help all those in need.
My aunt just told me that a man murdered his wife, mother, and kids because of financial problems, and then committed suicide. What kind of world are we living in, Lord? We need to learn that life is a gift that we should always, always be thankful for. People in this generation think that committing suicide is an easy way out. Please help us to learn that we only live one life and help us.

Be with us always and forever.

Thank You Lord,
MiaCeleste

From: Chelsea [#004]

Dear God,

Sometimes I really don't like myself. I'm mad at myself. Why can't I change to be the daughter my dad wants me to be?
And I realized that my iPod was taken away because I asked for it, and God, you do listen. I miss it though. I wanted to learn a new song by ear.

Your child,
Chelsea

From: Slim [#003]

Dear God,

I like I said, I was going to make a thank you list because Mrs. Ball made us make a happy list. =]
Thank you for......
SENDING JESUS TO SUFFER AND DIE FOR US SO THAT WE MAY LIVE ALL ETERNITY IN HEAVEN WITH YOU[!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
For my friends and family that love me [including Tibby =) ]
For the clothes on my back
For the chance to get a good education
For the food You place on the table and clean water
For the jobs You give to my parents
For good health

Lord, I can't name the all countless blessings You have given to me! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I know others may not have the blessings and opportunities as I do.

I pray especially for those who have lost all of their family and friends. Give them the joy of Your salvation in their heart. I pray for all those in poverty, that they have the nessicities that they need to make it through the day. I pray for Emilio's cousin. He has cancer, if it be Your will, allow him to heal quickly.

Lord, please help me to be my best and be the best Christian I can be. Also, help lip sync to go well. If it be Your will, please may 7th grade win.

Thank you Lord!
Slim

From: Chelsea [#003]

Dear God,

It's so hard. With all these worldly distractions - laptop, iPod, TV, mass media, magazines, and so much more - it's so hard to dedicate my life to You. Sometimes I wish I'd been born in a different time period, like some two centuries ago. No one had this sort of stuff. Yeah, there'd be ways to still stray away... but you know... this temptation is...UGH!

So I'm asking for Your help tonight. Detach me slowly from everything. It's almost impossible for me right now, since I am young and rash. But...everything's possible with you. Help me, only if You will it. Only if You want to.

Your child,
Chelsea

From: Mia [#002]

O My God,

I pray to you always&& forever.

I think that I'm starting to realize life. I hear a lot of people tell me, "Oh, Mia! You have the perfect life!" or "You're so lucky! I want your life!" I never actually realized how perfect my life actually is compared to different others. Thank you. I pray that You can help others who need help in their life.

I want to be the best person I can be and live life, but without disappointing my parents. I want to do that, but I have no courage to be like that. I pray that You help me to become that person. I pray that You help me be the person that you sent on this earth to do, whatever it may be. Please help me find my way through life, the way it's meant to be, because only You know how my life will turn out.

Always Yours, Your child,
MiaCeleste

From: Chelsea [#002]

Dear God,

Lately, I've been in really bad moods at home. My brother's just annoying me so much. I know everything I've been doing to him is wrong, and I can't bring myself to do the opposite. It's so much easier said than done. Give me the patience, and give me a tongue slow to anger.

Your child,
Chelsea

From: Slim [#002]

Dear Heavenly Father,

I'm really sad that Camille is leaving. I know that everything happens for a reason, and everything happens for the better. Please, please help Camille to find lots of new friends and still keep in touch with me and her other current friends. She is a really great friend, God. Thank you for making our paths cross. Also, please help Camille to fight any temptations that she may face at her new school, such as drugs [especially], because some public schools have drugs. Our school doesn't because of the drug testing, so we never have to face those kind of temptations.

Lord, sometimes I feel far away from you. I want to know you through love and show your love through my actions. I want to feel the joy that comes from you, the joy that I learned about in the Bible study. So many things feel like they are pulling me away, not putting you first in my life, like in the Everything skit from chapel. God, help me and the Applied class to do out best in the skit and glorify you. Open the hearts of the students and allow them to accept the message we are trying to tell them.

Lastly, I want to thank you for so many things. Mrs. Ball gave me a great idea. You know how we made a happy list for chapel? Well, I am going to make a thank you list for you. I want you to know that I am thankful. I know sometimes I may not show it, but truly, thank you so much for all the blessings you have given to me and my family.

Love, your child,
Slim =]

From: Mia [#001]

Dear God,

I pray to You and all in heaven that you bless, guide, and protect us.

God, i pray to You every single night and i know that i am not the best Christian Catholic person around, but i want to be able to be truly inspired enough to live a life of faith. i want to thank you for sending people like my family to me. They are everything to me, and i mean that literally. My grandma is the most inspiring and Catholic person i know. Thank you for letting me be able to feel that inspiration from her.

Just like Chelsea, i've been to sermons, healing ceremonies, retreats. Over the years, i have realized how much You affect our lives. You give us everything, and i believe it is right to return that. I want to be able to know that i am always doing the right thing, or what i need to do. i know that i am not always obedient or following the commandments, but i want, i need, You to be in my life.

I ponder over my religion sometimes, and i wonder. I don't usually like to do that because i start to lose faith in what i truly and need to believe. it's is so easy to give in to other religions and false gods. i need You to help me believe in You, be with me always. and protect. i pray that you may help us and lead us onto the right path into heaven with You.

Thank You for everything You've done and everything You will do. Please help us in our time of need always and forever.

With Love,
Mia Celeste

From: Chelsea [#001]

Dear God,

I am so excited to be typing in here. Isn't this perfect? When my mom told me to keep a journal and write letters to You in that journal, I'd always put it off. Now that I actually like blogging, computers, and You, I bet I'll be doing this for quite some time.

God, I want to have a love for you. I don't know if I'm doing this right or not. When my dad was driving us back from California on Sunday afternoon, there was this preacher of some other Christian denomination who picked at the gods of the Hebrews in the Old Testament. There was Baal, Ashteroth, Amun, and many others.

I realized how a lot of people in the current day worship Amun, the god of wealth. It's like money drives their lives. Money is the reason they live. Money is what determines your future and everything else. Many women in this world worship Ashteroth, the goddess of romance. Yes, we all wait for that one dreamy guy to sweep us off our feet. The ups and downs in our love lives determine your life, everything you have, and everything you'll go through. These are all very tempting to give into. They're so easy to worship.

"The irony that you may find yourself getting into," the preacher mentioned in the middle of his sermon, "is that when all these worshippers of these false gods are let down, they blame God. Why? Because those gods change. Our God is a God who does not change. We don't always get things done our way. But that's how He works, just like surprises. You find yourself most surprised when you least expect it, and you're least surprised when you expect it."

God, will You tell me tonight if I'm doing anything wrong? God, will You be able to clear my head of any worldly thoughts? Teach me, I really want to love You.

God, I'm too scared to go out into the world. I'm too scared without You. I'm too scared to see people murdering, stealing, smoking, bullying...I'm not strong enough. I'm too scared to find out if I'll turn out a bad person when I'll be exposed to all this junk. And I think I know why. I'm not close enough to You, at least not yet. My faith isn't strong enough.

I don't want to lose my faith in You like so many others have. I don't ever want to reject You. I would truly be lost in life if I did not even believe in You. Here I come, repentant and without much knowledge in You. You know all of this...I just never got to say it to You. I really need You.

Note to self: I should pick up a Bible soon and read something in it.

All Yours,
Chelsea

From: Slim [#001]

Dear God,

Sometimes I really wonder why people think doing certain things are cool, such as stealing or murdering. When I think about these things, it makes me feel sad. I wonder if they know about the wonderful news about Jesus saving us. It brings such happiness to know that one day, I will get to meet you. *sigh* In religion class last year, (You probably know) we studied the book of Matthew. Mr. Boche made us watch a movie that was a visual version of Matthew. While the actor that was protraying Jesus was telling parables about the end of the world, he started to cry. You know Ryan, or I don't remember who said, "Mr. Boche, why is he crying?" Mr Boche: "He's sad becuz He knows that not all of His children will join Him in Heaven." Now, I understand because I know some of my friends don't believe in You.........it makes me sad to know that I may not see everybody I love and know in Heaven. Lord, please may they have a change of heart.

Love, your child,
Slim =]