(Hope you enjoy my Saturday articles. Please comment and let me know what you think!)
Around every corner, we are faced with a barrage of images. Some images are positive. It is inspiring to see a beautiful piece of art or to watch a movie that uplifts and encourages us. But we may find ourselves watching television shows and movies, or looking at things on the Internet, that do not help us in our walk with God, but rather hinder it. Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” How can we meditate on things that are good and pure when we are filling our minds with things that are negative and unacceptable to God?
Also, as women, it is important that we are not causing anyone else to stumble with their eyes by the way that we dress. Romans 14:21 says, “It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.” Although we are not ultimately responsible for the soul of another, we will be held accountable if we cause another to stumble in their walk with God by the way that we dress or act or talk. I Timothy 2:9 says “…in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety (appropriateness) and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing.” God put in us the ability to appreciate beauty. It is good for us to feel good about the way we look and to take care of our bodies. But we have to do this within the confines of God’s will for us. More importantly, we must seek to be beautiful on the inside. Inner beauty is the only kind that counts with God and the only kind that lasts.
April
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Two Are Better Than One...
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him up." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Friends are one of the greatest blessings God gives us. They are there to enjoy the good times with us and to support us through the rough time. Christian friends can be a twofold blessing. Not only are they fun, but they can be a huge help in our Christian walk...and the opportunities for you are countless. Together, you can increase the good that you can do for God.
I am blessed with many good friends in my life. One of my best friends is April, an amazing Christian lady that I met when we were both students at Freed-Hardeman University. She is one of the most grounded, Spiritually minded women that I know. I am so grateful to her right now because she has graciously agreed to be our Saturday "guest blogger". :) Tomorrow, she is going to begin a series based on the children's song "O, Be Careful..." I think you'll enjoy and appreciate what she has to say.
Thanks and I <3 U, AJ.
Friends are one of the greatest blessings God gives us. They are there to enjoy the good times with us and to support us through the rough time. Christian friends can be a twofold blessing. Not only are they fun, but they can be a huge help in our Christian walk...and the opportunities for you are countless. Together, you can increase the good that you can do for God.
I am blessed with many good friends in my life. One of my best friends is April, an amazing Christian lady that I met when we were both students at Freed-Hardeman University. She is one of the most grounded, Spiritually minded women that I know. I am so grateful to her right now because she has graciously agreed to be our Saturday "guest blogger". :) Tomorrow, she is going to begin a series based on the children's song "O, Be Careful..." I think you'll enjoy and appreciate what she has to say.
Thanks and I <3 U, AJ.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
FAITH
Forsaking
All
I
Trust
Him
Do you really have faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
The acrostic above tells us that to fully put our faith in Christ, we have to forsake all. We cannot let other things like friends or extra-curricular activities get between us and God. We have to prioritize and make sure our focus is always on Him. When we focus on Him, everything else falls into place.
We also have to trust that, when we are focused on the cross, God is going to lead us on the right path. He will guide our decisions and will protect us in the choices we make. We only have to have complete, total faith in Him. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Remember, if God leads you to is, He will lead you through it.....IF you let Him.
All
I
Trust
Him
Do you really have faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
The acrostic above tells us that to fully put our faith in Christ, we have to forsake all. We cannot let other things like friends or extra-curricular activities get between us and God. We have to prioritize and make sure our focus is always on Him. When we focus on Him, everything else falls into place.
We also have to trust that, when we are focused on the cross, God is going to lead us on the right path. He will guide our decisions and will protect us in the choices we make. We only have to have complete, total faith in Him. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Remember, if God leads you to is, He will lead you through it.....IF you let Him.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Have You Prayed Today?
If not, maybe you should stop right now and do that. Don't know how? It's as easy as talking to your best friend.
Phillipians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God."
Don't let your worries pile up. Take them to God immediately. You don't have to get on your knees and close your eyes to pray. You only have to focus by whatever means it takes for you to give all of your concentration to your prayer. Admit in prayer that you need God's help. Ask Him to guide you on the right path and to keep you safe. Ask Him to lead you in making the right decisions. Focus on God and asking for His wisdom - don't focus on yourself and your wants.
Finally, don't forget to thank God for the blessings He pours out on your daily. Mention specifics. Remember, you should be closer to God than any person on Earth, so there is nothing that is too insignificant to mention in prayer.
Phillipians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God."
Don't let your worries pile up. Take them to God immediately. You don't have to get on your knees and close your eyes to pray. You only have to focus by whatever means it takes for you to give all of your concentration to your prayer. Admit in prayer that you need God's help. Ask Him to guide you on the right path and to keep you safe. Ask Him to lead you in making the right decisions. Focus on God and asking for His wisdom - don't focus on yourself and your wants.
Finally, don't forget to thank God for the blessings He pours out on your daily. Mention specifics. Remember, you should be closer to God than any person on Earth, so there is nothing that is too insignificant to mention in prayer.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thought for the Day
The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have.
--Norman Vincent Peale
Wow. Who couldn't use more energy? I think this quote is saying that when you immerse yourself and become passionate about something, you will be more driven and more enthusiastic about it. If you love to play basketball, you will enjoy practicing and playing. If you don't, you won't. It's a lot easier to work at something that you like than something you care nothing about.
I think that applies to our faith also. If we lose ourselves in God, we will have more energy and zeal to serve him. If you start your day by praying or reading your Bible, I think you'll find that you are ready to face whatever comes at you in the day ahead. When you find yourself struggling, stop and pray - rejuvenate your faith. At the end of the day, pray and turn it all over to God. Let him carry your burdens and you'll sleep well at night.
Readers - what do you lose yourself in? What are some other ways you find to energize your faith?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Complacent or Content?
When it comes to your life, which are you?
Complacent means to be “pleased with one’s merits, advantages, situation, etc. often without awareness of some potential danger”(http://www.dictionary.com/). This means you go along in life without any cares or concerns. When applied to your Christian walk, it means you are stagnant and unconcerned with pursuing more for yourself. It means you just walk in a daze without realizing that spiritual dangers lurk around every corner. You aren’t necessarily doing anything wrong, but you aren’t doing much to make sure you stay on the right path.
Complacency is dangerous. The Bible refers to this as being “lukewarm”. Revelation 3:16 says, “So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot or cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” We cannot be lukewarm; we as Christians must work for the Lord. Christ knows what effort we put into our faith.
There is a Switchfoot song with lyrics that I think are applicable. It says, “We were meant to live for so much more, have we lost ourselves?” Sometimes it’s hard to maintain a fervent zeal for God. As teenage girls, there are so many things out there ready to tear you down. Now, more than ever, you have to focus on Christ and be active in your faith. It is easy to lose your ambition or drive, so you have to continually study and recharge yourself spiritually. Make time to read the Bible and don’t discount the power of an active prayer life. Nothing you want to say to God is insignificant.
Content means to be “satisfied with what one has”. The difference is that when you are complacent, you are unaware of your situation; basically, you are uninvolved in your Christianity. If you are content, you are fully aware of the blessings God has bestowed upon your life, and you know your place in His plan. You are living your life to the fullest and are passionate about your faith in Him. I Timothy 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
So, what’s it gonna be? Do you want to be spit out of His mouth? Or do you want great gain?
Readers – how do you achieve contentment in your life? Share your responses in the comments.
Complacent means to be “pleased with one’s merits, advantages, situation, etc. often without awareness of some potential danger”(http://www.dictionary.com/). This means you go along in life without any cares or concerns. When applied to your Christian walk, it means you are stagnant and unconcerned with pursuing more for yourself. It means you just walk in a daze without realizing that spiritual dangers lurk around every corner. You aren’t necessarily doing anything wrong, but you aren’t doing much to make sure you stay on the right path.
Complacency is dangerous. The Bible refers to this as being “lukewarm”. Revelation 3:16 says, “So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot or cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” We cannot be lukewarm; we as Christians must work for the Lord. Christ knows what effort we put into our faith.
There is a Switchfoot song with lyrics that I think are applicable. It says, “We were meant to live for so much more, have we lost ourselves?” Sometimes it’s hard to maintain a fervent zeal for God. As teenage girls, there are so many things out there ready to tear you down. Now, more than ever, you have to focus on Christ and be active in your faith. It is easy to lose your ambition or drive, so you have to continually study and recharge yourself spiritually. Make time to read the Bible and don’t discount the power of an active prayer life. Nothing you want to say to God is insignificant.
Content means to be “satisfied with what one has”. The difference is that when you are complacent, you are unaware of your situation; basically, you are uninvolved in your Christianity. If you are content, you are fully aware of the blessings God has bestowed upon your life, and you know your place in His plan. You are living your life to the fullest and are passionate about your faith in Him. I Timothy 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
So, what’s it gonna be? Do you want to be spit out of His mouth? Or do you want great gain?
Readers – how do you achieve contentment in your life? Share your responses in the comments.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
What Must I Do?
I felt like this was an important place to start because what good will any of this do if any of you aren't saved yet? Before you can live a Christian life, you have to turn your life over to Him and become a Christian. Read below and take the time to look up the scriptures for yourself. If you don't have access to a Bible, check out http://www.biblegateway.com/ where you can read verses online.
First of all, it's important to realize that the gift of salvation is only available through Christ. No one else can provide us with that opportunity. I Peter 1:18-19 says, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."
The plan of salvation is clearly laid out in God's word.
1 - HEAR - This seems obvious enough. A girl must hear the Word of God before she is able to proceed. (Check out Rom. 1:16 and Rom. 10:17) With this hearing comes obedience. Following God's commandments means doing what He asks of us. (Heb. 5:9)
2 - BELIEVE - Along with obedience comes belief. Believing in God means trusting and having enough faith that you will do everything else that He wills. It means having faith without being able to see everything. It is a belief that Jesus is His son and that the Bible is His word. (Read Heb. 11:16 and Mark 16:16)
3 - REPENT - Repentance is a pivotal step in turning your life around for Christ because it means just that...to turn around. Repentance isn't just asking God to forgive your past sins. It's about making the commitment to change and to turn from your former wicked ways and follow the Godly path. (See Acts 17:30 and II Peter 3:9)
4 - CONFESS - When you confess, you stand before others and acknowledge your beliefs. You affirm that you believe in Christ and believe that He is the Son of God. (Find this in Rom. 10:10 and Acts 8:35-38)
5 - BE BAPTIZED - This step is commanded as a part of our salvation. It is not an optional step; it is not something that can be done later. Each step must be completed as a part of the process, and this cannot be left out. Being baptized means being immersed (not sprinkled!) in water for the remission of your sins. This water represents the blood that was shed by Christ on the cross to save us. (See this in Mark 16:16, Rom. 6:3, and Acts 2:38)
***Every instance of conversion in the New Testament includes baptism. Take some time to read the following conversion stories and you will find baptism included as a part of their process.
First of all, it's important to realize that the gift of salvation is only available through Christ. No one else can provide us with that opportunity. I Peter 1:18-19 says, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."
The plan of salvation is clearly laid out in God's word.
1 - HEAR - This seems obvious enough. A girl must hear the Word of God before she is able to proceed. (Check out Rom. 1:16 and Rom. 10:17) With this hearing comes obedience. Following God's commandments means doing what He asks of us. (Heb. 5:9)
2 - BELIEVE - Along with obedience comes belief. Believing in God means trusting and having enough faith that you will do everything else that He wills. It means having faith without being able to see everything. It is a belief that Jesus is His son and that the Bible is His word. (Read Heb. 11:16 and Mark 16:16)
3 - REPENT - Repentance is a pivotal step in turning your life around for Christ because it means just that...to turn around. Repentance isn't just asking God to forgive your past sins. It's about making the commitment to change and to turn from your former wicked ways and follow the Godly path. (See Acts 17:30 and II Peter 3:9)
4 - CONFESS - When you confess, you stand before others and acknowledge your beliefs. You affirm that you believe in Christ and believe that He is the Son of God. (Find this in Rom. 10:10 and Acts 8:35-38)
5 - BE BAPTIZED - This step is commanded as a part of our salvation. It is not an optional step; it is not something that can be done later. Each step must be completed as a part of the process, and this cannot be left out. Being baptized means being immersed (not sprinkled!) in water for the remission of your sins. This water represents the blood that was shed by Christ on the cross to save us. (See this in Mark 16:16, Rom. 6:3, and Acts 2:38)
***Every instance of conversion in the New Testament includes baptism. Take some time to read the following conversion stories and you will find baptism included as a part of their process.
Pentecost - Acts 2
Samaritans - Acts 8:12
Simon - Acts 8:13
Eunuch - Acts 8:35-40
Saul - Acts 9:22
Cornelius - Acts 10
Lydia - Acts 16:14-15
Jailer - Acts 16:30-34
Corinthians - Acts 18:8
Ephesians - Acts 19:1-5
If you have any questions about anything you read here, please comment. Readers, feel free to comment with additional verses in regards to the steps. Those I listed are but a few.
Monday, May 12, 2008
The Purpose
Besides knowing about me, I guess you wanna know why I'm even writing this blog, huh? Well, I truly believe that teenage girls need guidance in their spiritual walk. I see every day the struggles of teen girls in a high school setting, and I remember being one not too long ago. It's rough, especially when you WANT to fit in.
Well, being a Christian isn't about fitting in, but it's about finding ways to be strong enough to stand firm and stick to your beliefs. I truly believe that I can have a positive influence on young girls and want to use my writing abilities combined with my personal studies of the scriptures to help them make good decisions.
Plus, I am a young woman trying to stay faithful as well. What you see in this blog will be a reflection of my own studies, so it's sort of a spiritual journal for me.
If at any time you do not agree with something I've said, please share your thoughts in a respectful manner. If I am in error, I want to be shown that error. If I am right and you are in error, I would like to show you where the Bible teaches the truth. Together, we can walk the Heavenly way.
Well, being a Christian isn't about fitting in, but it's about finding ways to be strong enough to stand firm and stick to your beliefs. I truly believe that I can have a positive influence on young girls and want to use my writing abilities combined with my personal studies of the scriptures to help them make good decisions.
Plus, I am a young woman trying to stay faithful as well. What you see in this blog will be a reflection of my own studies, so it's sort of a spiritual journal for me.
If at any time you do not agree with something I've said, please share your thoughts in a respectful manner. If I am in error, I want to be shown that error. If I am right and you are in error, I would like to show you where the Bible teaches the truth. Together, we can walk the Heavenly way.
About Me
To help you feel confident in the messages in this blog, I am sure you'd like to know a little about the author behind it. Maybe author isn't the right word. Perhaps "messenger" is more like it. I will be supplying you with information from a variety of sources, some of which I may not even know.
First and foremost, I am a Christian. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He was born of a virgin and walked this earth. I believe that He died on the cross for our sins and was raised on the third day. I believe He has gone to prepare a place for those who do the will of His father. I believe I am commanded to live my life according to the truths shown in the Bible.
Beyond that, I have been married to my husband since 2000. We have two beautiful daughters together, and we currently have 2 precious foster children with us as well. I am a high school English teacher, and I love my job. My family attends the Glendale Church of Christ in Newbern, TN. My husband works with the youth group at our congregation, and I am blessed to be a part of that work. Besides being a part of the group devotionals and get-togethers, I have been able to teach teenage girls' classes. I absolutely love working with them.
Any other questions about me, please feel free to ask!
First and foremost, I am a Christian. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He was born of a virgin and walked this earth. I believe that He died on the cross for our sins and was raised on the third day. I believe He has gone to prepare a place for those who do the will of His father. I believe I am commanded to live my life according to the truths shown in the Bible.
Beyond that, I have been married to my husband since 2000. We have two beautiful daughters together, and we currently have 2 precious foster children with us as well. I am a high school English teacher, and I love my job. My family attends the Glendale Church of Christ in Newbern, TN. My husband works with the youth group at our congregation, and I am blessed to be a part of that work. Besides being a part of the group devotionals and get-togethers, I have been able to teach teenage girls' classes. I absolutely love working with them.
Any other questions about me, please feel free to ask!
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