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{Heart4Teens.com}  *Set Apart*

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If you enjoy this free email service, I encourage you to spread the word to family and friends that we may bring inspiration into the lives of teenagers everywhere! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, you can join Heart4Teens.com readers around the world by visiting:

http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Heart4Teens


Visit our inspirational web site to read all the past articles in our archives and view the tons of resources we have there for teens!

http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Teen_Stories


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Over 95,000 people have listened to popular Chicken Soup Author Michael T. Powers' free inspirational message entitled: "Breathing Life into Others".  If you aren't one of them just visit: http://www.HeartTouchers.com and click on the link to listen to the free streaming audio message!


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SET APART

...God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted
beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,
he will also provide a way out so that you can
stand up under it.
--Corinthians 10:13

I've always felt that I didn't fit in. I was never the prettiest, never the funniest, and no matter how hard I tried, I always fell short to somebody in just about everything. This plagued me. Sure, I had friends, and I had a family who would give the Waltons a run for their money--but still, I didn't ever really "fit in."

When I was in seventh grade, we moved to a new town. Again, no matter what I did, I just couldn't fit in. Eventually, I found a few good friends, but I still longed for and struggled to be part of a group. This became blatantly obvious to me one night.

My freshman year, four of my closest friends were seniors. None of them were bad kids. They were actually pretty good friends to me. I even thought for a while that I fit in with them.

One night after a basketball game, I went into town with them. As we were driving along, one announced that we were going to go to his older brother's house to drink. Immediately a strong, heavy feeling of conviction came over me. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was not supposed to go there that night. My feeling of conviction was at war with my desire to fit in.

I struggled to find a way out, but it was about 10:30 p.m. and I was already in the car, on the way there. Let me not forget to mention how scared I was that these friends of mine wouldn't accept me if I turned them down.

"Let's go eat first. I'm hungry," one of them suggested. Whew, momentary relief. I decided that would give me time to think of a way to get myself out of the situation.

We got to a restaurant and I asked a girl with us to go to the restroom with me. When we got there, I told her that I didn't want to drink. She sort of laughed and said she wouldn't drink that night either, just for me. It made me feel a little better, but I still wasn't satisfied.

I remembered that my parents always told me that if I were ever in a situation that I knew I shouldn't be in, I could call them anytime, and they would come get me. I wanted to, but the fear of what everyone else would think scared me out of doing it.

Then it hit me. God said that he would always provide a way out. He was my only hope. I cried out to him, "Lord, I don't know how you're going to pull it off, but you said you would provide a way out of all bad circumstances. Please, show me a way out."

I went back to the table, hoping that my prayers would be answered. Because I was so nervous that night, I didn't eat. Minutes passed and my friends' food hadn't come. As a matter of fact, it took about an hour to be served in a restaurant that was usually fairly quick. By the time they got their food and ate it, it was nearly midnight, my curfew, and I had to get home.

Of course they were aggravated to have to change their plans because of me. After taking me home, they didn't want to have to drive back to town, so they went home, too. I know without a doubt that God showed me that his promises are real, and that he really does love us and take care of us.

My four friends were still my friends after that night, up until the day they graduated and moved on in life. Yet that was the last night that I ever tried to be like them in order to please them. In the long run, I think they saw my choices and respected them.

I've always known that I didn't fit in; I haven't always known that I've been set apart. Years of looking to God for guidance has shown me that I am set apart and was created for a reason. Rather than seeking acceptance, I now trust that God likes me just the way he made me. That has taken the pressure off so that I can concentrate on living the life that God has planned for me.

That's all that matters.

Meredith Breitling, 16

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Taken from "True, Vol. 1", by Irene Dunlap, copyright 2004, Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here: http://echo3.bluehornet.com/ct/ct.php?t=1105388&c=1020541007&m=m&type=4&h=B84953CDBB7B1BFEEFC39B3EFE7984C0


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Thought For The Day:

The Leadership Prayer
"Lord when I am wrong, make me willing to change; when I am right, make me easy to live with. Strengthen me so that the power of my example will far exceed the authority of my rank."


Verse for the Day:

"...to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example." --2 Thessalonians 3:9


Teen's Thought for the Day:

"When you flee temptation, don't leave a forwarding address."


Parent's Thought For The Day

"The best way to teach character is to have it around the house."


Coach's Thought For The Day

"If a game is not worth winning, it is not worth playing."


Deep Thought For The Day:

"Listen to your heart... A stethoscope will make this easier. "



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Author MICHAEL T. POWERS
www.Heart4Teens.com

Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Teen's Soul on Love and Friendship and 25 other inspirational books.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

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ALL-STAR Ministry

--The Youth Church of Faith Community Church in Janesville, WI

If you are in 6-12th grade and live in the southern Wisconsin/northern Illinois area and would like to check us out, we meet every Sunday night from 6:30-8:00 PM at Faith Community Church which is located at 2931 Lucerne Dr. in Janesville, WI. (About 3 blocks south-east of The Skating Place.)

All-Stars:  6:30 - 8:00 PM Sunday nights!  Open to all youth grades 9-12.

The Outlet:  6:30 - 8:00 PM Sunday nights in the Multi-Purpose Room! Open to all youth grades 6-8.


Currently we have students from Edgerton, Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Marshall, Franklin, Orfordville, Clinton, Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, South Beloit, and Hononegah. E-mail me back if you have any questions about our weekly meetings or would like to come to any of our events that are listed below... We have way too much fun and then, most importantly, talk about issues that are relevant to you as a teenager.


Upcoming Topics:

Rewired:  Developing a Biblical World View

January 14: We're in this Together

New Series on Creation and the Authority of the Bible!

January 21: The Six Days of Creation
January 28: The Fall of Man

Visit our youth website to see our topics for all of 2007!
http://www.faithcommunitychurch.net/youth


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Teen Community Groups

6:30 - 8:00 PM Wednesday nights (September though May)

These groups are limited to no more than ten teens and are split into Jr. High and High School ages. This night is for those teens who want to dig deeper than what we do in All-Stars, but may not be ready to be a part of the Xtreme Teens. These cell groups will also be doing special activities with each other as the year goes on to build community. 

Jr. High age meets at the church and are led by Kent and Rachel Martin

High School age are led by Matt and Kristi Kauffman: 4339 Fox Hills (Call 758-1243 if you have any questions!)


Xtreme Teens

Xtreme Teens meet on Wednesday nights from 6:30 - 8:00 PM all year round at the Powers' house. This group is very extensive with weekly homework, memorization, service projects, etc. Students interested in this group will have to fill out an application, provide references as to why others think they should be involved with this, and sign an agreement as to what is expected of them.  Admission into Xtreme Teens is on a case by case basis.  Contact Pastor Michael for more details!



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YOU'RE NOT ALONE

Meet some people who are on the same the journey as you, who've experienced some of the same struggles that you have--and a few people who are still struggling. People who can honestly say, "I've been there."

These stories, most by just regular teenagers, and a few by guys like Audio Adrenaline, PAX 217, Slick Shoes and rapper/actor T-Bone, cover it: from dealing with loss, addictions and unwelcome surprises, to surviving tragedies and life-threatening situations, to holding on to faith in the middle of life's messiness.

You can find "True Vol. 1" at:
http://echo3.bluehornet.com/ct/ct.php?t=1105388&c=1020541007&m=m&type=4&h=B84953CDBB7B1BFEEFC39B3EFE7984C0

Also available in your local Christian bookstore