5 Steps To Make It Sweet

Verbal and physical abuse, violence, lack of role models, poverty, no communication, divorce, separation, betrayal. 

These are few examples of what many young people go through in their homes. It's so common  nowadays to talk to youths whose families are falling apart. This is a shocking reality. Sometimes I few that we, YPG pastors, are not doing enough to help them. Not that we don't put effort. It's just that it seems not to be enough. We can feel their pain. 

Sorry to be so honest but sometimes I feel like giving an earful to their parents, some slaps if so.

Due to these awful experiences, they develop hatred, grudges, suicidal thoughts, depression, loneliness and all kinds of evil feelings which, with time, develop so much that the need for a coping system is needed.

And that's when things get worse. Plans to kill the culprit of the family's crime begin to disclose. Running away from home or swapping the family for the streets become the only apparent solution. Slashing the wrists or consuming drugs seem to be the only method available to vent the frustration and scape the pain.

The question is: who is hurting who? Is this type of behavior and act the solution to solve the problem? Is it an intelligent way to 'get back on them'? I don't think so. I mean, doing all these and keeping all alive, vividly inside for too long is hurting you only, not your parents or whoever hurt you. You put your future into jeorpady because of what happened years ago. Is it worth it? 

I know one might say, "I am what I am because of them. So why should be the one to forgive?" True. One might have plenty of reasons to think in such way. But, again, IS IT WORTH IT?

I've heard of people getting to the point of going to jail due to the turn his/her life took after years of tasting the bitterness at home.

So, there is only one way to beat all these: FORGIVE and FORGET.

I know some of you will probably frown after reading these, like some youths did before once they heard the magical word FORGIVE. But this is the only way. What else is left to do? Get into a time capsule, turn the leveler back 10, 20 years ago and arrive back in time in order to try and fix the whole thing? There is no such thing and we know that.

We, at the YPG, are proposing that you come and let's help you with that. We know it isn't easy but with spiritual help and guidance you will definitely get there. We've witnessed this happening many times in the YPG. www.youthpowergroup.com

Beginning this Sunday we will teach you 5 steps of how to turn a bitter home into a sweet one. We meet at 1pm (some churches at 1.30pm) in every YPG branch throughout America.

God bless you.

Pr Luke Castro

YPG National Coordinator

Will He Catch You Sleeping?

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus and His disciples were in the garden of Gethsemane. Taking Peter, James and John aside, He told them to "Stay here and watch" while he went further to pray. But three times he came and found them sleeping, why? Because, as it is written, "…The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mark 14:38)

And maybe that’s what happens to you! Many times you receive instructions and direction but you find yourself weak to obey.

There are three secrets to having an effective faith which is through obedience, fighting doubts and taking action. It is not by coincidence that obedience was amongst the requirements.

It’s one of the hardest things to do because it requires sacrifice and our nature don’t want to sacrifice. Obedience to God demands you to trust and have faith in the One you do not see while putting your will aside.

"After all, you don’t want the Lord Jesus to find you

sleeping when He returns do you?"

The example of the disciples is just an illustration of how often your spirit is ready to obey but your flesh is ready to do the opposite. And that’s what the devil wants, because his nature is rebellious he wants you to be a rebel and turn against God just as he did.

At this point the disciples were unable to follow Jesus’ instructions because they were still in the flesh, they were not born of God. Therefore, though they wanted to please the Lord Jesus, they were unable to do so. And perhaps that’s your case. Though you have a sincere desire to please God and obey His instructions you find yourself doing the opposite.

This includes disobeying the directions of the authorities also, such as your parents, teachers, leaders etc. when they tell you to do something. Though it seems unrelated you are in that moment disobeying God because as it is written, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves." (Romans 13:1-2)

The devil wants you to ‘sleep’ in your faith. But you can overcome this because as it is written "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world." (1 John 5:4)

If you want to overcome your flesh so that you may be able to please God through your obedience, seek for this new birth. After all, you don’t want the Lord Jesus to find you sleeping when He returns do you?

If you want to grow in your faith, join other youths for the Real Talk meeting every Thursday at 7pm (time may vary in some branches) in all YPG branches.

Pr Luke Castro

YPG National Coordinator

Spiritual Graduation

Once You're Dead, What Next?

So, after you die, where will 

your soul go to?

"Anyone whose name was not found written in the 

in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."

Revelation 20:15

"And as it is appointed for men to die once, 

but after this the judgment,"

Hebrews 9:27

Stop and think. Don't take this message for granted. 

The message is short but of a great importance.

Pr Luke Castro

YPG National Coordinator