This week's chronicle is another excerpt from my new book, I Am Not Afraid of My Future, the first of The Timothy Collection, a series of writings for young people.

Who or what was waiting for you when you arrived on planet Earth? First of all, the loving God who is always for you—His name is Jesus!

Romans 8:29-31, TLB For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to Him…should become like His Son, so that His Son would be the First, with many brothers. And having chosen us, He called us to come to Him; and when we came, He declared us "not guilty,” filled us with Christ's goodness, gave us right standing with Himself, and promised us His glory. What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us?

Romans 8:31, The Message Bible So what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?

Everybody needs encouragement. Every child and young person needs to be affirmed. That word means that you are acknowledged, that somebody has noticed you and wants you to know how special you really are.

Christianity is not religion. Christianity is the reality of knowing Christ and living for Him each day. Religion is a manmade substitute, and many times falsely presents God to be angry and mad with us. That kind of wrong thinking only produces a spirit of fear, condemnation, and frustration because people are afraid of saying or doing something that will upset God. They live in the fear of Him punishing them.

But Jesus loved to bless the children (Matt. 19:13-15). You never have to be afraid of Him that way because He is for you! "God is love” (1 Jn. 4:8,16), and He loves you! His desire is to bless you and to make you a blessing to others.

Psalms 27:1, TLB The Lord is my light and my salvation; He protects me from danger—whom shall I fear?

Isaiah 54:17, TLB …no weapon turned against you shall succeed…This is the blessing I have given you, says the Lord.

God, the best player, is on your side. Because He is for you, who or what can be against you? You are a winner, nor a loser. God's team always wins! From the day that you were born, Jesus, your best Friend, was here waiting to receive you, to love you, and to walk beside you.

You do not have to be afraid of your future. God is for you!

FURTHER RESOURCE: You can pre-order I am Not Afraid of My Future online at http://www.kvmonlinestore.org/ or by calling 910.324.5026.