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Author Archives: Monica Harness

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You Are God’s Desire

By | January 2, 2013
2012-12_CYM-GodsDesire

This time, though, His message had something more. This world that I mentioned that we simply live in can be a very wicked place. There are so many things out there competing for our attention. Money, popularity, power . . . the list can go on and on. All those things won’t bring us true happiness, though. There is only One that can fill our hearts and make them overflow with happiness. No matter how wicked this world is, He is there sending us His messages of abundant love in that powerful beauty. All we have to do is open up our hearts to receive that love.

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God, Are You Listening?

By | April 3, 2012
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God always answers our prayers – There are three answers that He can give us: Yes, No, and Not Now. The hardest one for us to ever hear is “No.” I remember my parents telling me “No” many times as a child. It was hard to accept because I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t do everything I wanted to do. As I grew up, I came to realize that it is because they knew what was best for me. It’s the same way with God. He knows what we need, when we need it. If we don’t need it, the answer is “No.” This is also true when our prayers are for others. He knows what everyone needs, when they need it.

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The Challenge to Change

By | March 22, 2012
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In the past couple of months, I have been challenged in ways that I didn’t think would ever be possible. However, that isn’t even the strangest part. The person that has been bringing those challenges my way is what has been the most surprising. As a youth minister, it is easy to fall into complacency within your faith. It’s not something that happens because we want it to, but we can become very wrapped up in ministry. In fact, we can become so immersed with what we are doing for the

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Encountering God Through Being Present to Others

By | October 17, 2011

I have heard countless times in the past ten years how important it is to be present to teens. I have always understood and agreed that presence is essential in developing relationships centered on Christ. After all, Jesus was present to everyone he encountered, and this is the model that we should follow.