airwavesonsunday

I thank you grandly for taking this time out of your life to read this journal. It really means a lot. I'm smiling on the inside. :)

Allow me to progress you through this:
Up until I was about nine years of age, I attended private school. I have now learned that this was to keep my sisters and I in a safe school because our surroundings weren't of the highest caliber. I cannot thank my mother enough for caring about me and the effect this school had on me. When I was attending, it never really occured to me that there were people out there who didn't believe in God. I now know differently.

In 4th grade, I had to say 'goodybe' to all my friends and move in with my grandmother, for my parents were getting a divorce. Don't worry; the split hasn't had very much of an effect on me at all. In fact, I'm glad it happened because I wouldn't be where I am today, and I don't think I could live without not being here. Anyways.. I moved out into a very small town (I can't even think of an example town to compare it to). The school system wasn't the greatest, but it sufficed; it was enough to get by. I stayed there for roughly four years, and then moved again, after my mother finished college and couldn't bare living where we were. I moved to my current location in Franklin, and just last year, changed houses to a tiny, tiny town just outside of Franklin called Needham, but I still go to the same school.

During all this time, I lost touch. I lost touch with my friends way back in private school (I even still barely talk to them). I lost touch with my Dad. I lost touch with my older sister, who was basically my best friend. I lost touch with several people whom I could have treated better. I lost touch with myself and who I thought I was/was becoming. I lost touch with everything. And most importantly, I lost touch with God. I lost touch with the one being that is more important to me than most anything/everything.

I remember over the course of these years saying, "Oh yeah. I believe in God. I used to go to private school," and never saying another word about it. Fine, okay, I said I believed in God. I thought I meant it, because I did. But there's so much more to it. I basically kept my 'faith' a secret. I mean, my friends knew, sure, but we never talked about it and half of them weren't sure or didn't believe at all. I wasn't going to church, I wasn't reading Scripture. I wasn't even praying. I wasn't really believing. I was just assuming that I would be fine the way I was, slacking on God.

Just about a month ago, one of my good friends asked me if I would like to go to youth group at a local, Christian music venue. At first I naturally hesitated. I had never been to a youth group in my life. I had no expectations and could only assume the worse. 'At church they shove stuff down your throat. Will it be the same here? Surely it won't be..' I put it off for a day or two and finally decided I should go. I made this decision because I had been declining any and almost every invitation I got to go anywhere or do anything. I needed a change. I didn't want to miss out on life's opportunities. In the back of my mind, I wandered if this was the change I needed-getting back in touch with Jesus. And it was.

I arrived at the venue (I had been there a couple times. I love that place) and Emily (the friend) was already there. I had called her on my way there and she told me she was already outside and waiting. She was nervous, too. She had some expectations because she attends a few youth groups at various churches, but it was still something new. She had also never been to the Gear (the venue). I lead us in after she pushed me and insisted I go first due to her lack of confidence. We walked in and saw about five people sitting in a circle, comfortable, content, and regular people of the same age as me. We sat down and hung out for awhile, and then gave testimonies. (For those of you who don't know, testimonies are, say, reasons you have to believe in God because of your witnessing, or just simply talking about what's going on in your life and how God can help you.) In other words, this youth group turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made in my entire life.

I've only attended about three or four of them, but I'm already seeing a major difference in my life. I've started praying regularly and I actually know what to pray for now. Just a few weeks ago, I began reading the Bible for the first time. I consider Scripture to be a giant book of inspiration. The Bible is my guide to life. I still do not attend church, but I go to every youth group on Wednesday that I can, or any party they throw. I've also quit hiding my belief. I talk to various people as often as I can and encourage them to try going to youth group with me, or to pray and read Scripture. It's scary, sometimes, doing this, but it's totally worth it. Most people are very willing to listen. The scariest part, however, is having Atheist or Agnostic friends who either don't really want to lend an ear or aren't sure if they should believe you. Building faith in God builds faith in yourself. I'm building a house for myself with God.

So what I'm trying to do here is not to totally change you over from whatever your religion may or may not be. Of course I would never pressure you into such a huge feat. All I am trying to do is spread my love of God. You don't have to accept it if you wish, but I will always continue to spread it, and I will pray for you. I'll pray for anyone who needs it. I pray for even the people I don't get along with so well. I pray for everybody.

Jesus loves every single one of us. He would never deny that. He loves us more than we can ever begin to imagine. It feels great, knowing someone loves you with everything in them. So reader, I'm telling you this now: Jesus loves you! He will never betray you. He will put his faith in you, if you put your faith in him. He will love you unconditionally and do whatever it takes to help you through your everyday situations. He will do for you things no one else could ever do, if you do the same for him. If you put your faith in God, you will have eternal life, and have the honor of standing beside Him in heaven. God is great, and all he asks is that we love Him and love one another as we would love ourselves. With God, anything is possible.
Dear reader, God loves you, Martina loves you.

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. -John 1:12-13

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. -John 1:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16

But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. -John 3:21

The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. -John 3:33

Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. -John 4:13-14

He told me everything I ever did. -John 4:39

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. -John 5:24

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endure to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval. -John 6:26

I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. -John 6:35

For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him sthall have eternal life, and I will raisie him up at the last day. -John 6:40

This is bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. -John 6:51

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. -John 6:63

He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. -John 7:18

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. -John 8:38

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. -John 8:12

But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world. -John 8:26

The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone. -John 8:31

He who belongs to God hears what God says. -John 8:47

Give glory to God. -John 9:24

I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. -John 10:7

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. -John 10:9

I am the good shepherd. The good sheperd lays down his life for the sheep. -John 10:11

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. -John 10:14

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. -John 11:25

The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. -John 12:25

This voice was for you benefit, not mine. -John 12:30

I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. -John 12:47

Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. -John 12:34

I will lay down my life for you. -John 13:37

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. -John 14:1

I tell you the trugh, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these. John 14:12

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. -John 15:1

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. -John 15:11

I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. -John 15:15

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. -15:18

No one will take away your joy. -John 16:22

Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. -John 16:24

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. -John 16:33

Glory has come to me through them. -John 17:7

For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. -John 17:19

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. -John 20:29

If you are interested in reading the Bible and don't know where to start, or have any question at all, don't feel shame in asking me! I will be much more than welcome to guide you in the right direction.