Sh*tuff Christian Girls Say

Admit it, it’s funny

 

Have You Ever Wondered What Boys Are Thinking?

“What do you think about junior high boys?” a friend of mine asked her thirteen-year-old daughter.

With a glare, she replied. “They’re annoying. And perverted.”

“It’s not any better in high school,” her older sister chimed in.

What’s up with that? How could those creatures who draw so much of your attention and affection also repulse and bug you so much?

Easy – they’re guys. By nature they are different. And by nature, we can’t quite wrap our heads around that.

Tough girl, if this is you, READ THIS BOOK!!!!

For Young Women Only isn’t just a book written by a woman with an opinion about guys. It’s the result of years of research, surveys, and studies to really get what guys are thinking. When you read it, it’s like a light bulb clicks on. “Oh! So that’s why they do that!”

This book will change the way you think about guys. It will change some of those neurotic over-analytical things you think. It will change the way you dress. And it will well up in you a compassion you didn’t even know you had for these guys who are a whole lot more complex than you could have ever imagined.

Get it, tough girl. You won’t be sorry.

Bible In A Year 2012 – Week 9

2.26.12

Numbers 12-14, Mark 5:21-43

 

2.27.12

Numbers 15-16, Mark 6:1-29

 

2.28.12

Numbers 17-19, Mark 6:30-56

 

2.29.12

Numbers 20-22, Mark 7:1-13 (Don’t ask me how this happened. My Bible has a 29th day of February. Did it know I would buy it during a leap year? Crazy…)

 

3.1.12

Numbers 23-25, Mark 4:14-37

 

3.2.12

Numbers 26-27, Mark 8:1-21

 

3.3.12

Numbers 28-30, Mark 8:22-38

Are You Just Like Everybody Else Your Age?

In light of the blogs I posted this week, here’s one of my faves from Switchfoot. Just because everyone else is doing it…

 
“Chem 6a”

Nothing but a chemical in my head
It’s nothing but laziness
Cause I don’t wanna read the book
I’ll watch the movie
Cause it’s not me
I’m just like everybody else my age

I think I’d rather play around
And I think I’d rather watch TV
Cause I don’t wanna face my fears
I’ll watch the movie
Cause it’s not me
I’m just like everybody else
I’m just like everybody else

Because I don’t wanna be here
I don’t wanna see this now
It’s all wrong but it’s alright
And I don’t wanna be here
And I don’t wanna study now
It’s all wrong but it’s alright

I don’t know what love is
I don’t know who I am
And if I ever want to find out
I’ll watch the movie
Cause it’s not me
I’m just like everybody else my age

I don’t wanna change the world
And I don’t wanna be someone
I don’t wanna write the book
I’ll make the movie
Cause it’s not me
I’m just like everybody else
I’m just like everybody else

I don’t wanna be here
I don’t wanna see this now
It’s all wrong but it’s alright
And I don’t wanna be here
And I don’t wanna study now
It’s all wrong but it’s alright

Ten Ways To Stand Out From The Crowd

Image via Wikipedia

If you don’t already know, I live in Olympia, Washington. I am convinced that Olympia is in the top five for cities where people dress like freaks. Have you seen Portlandia? Yeah, that show is pretty much everywhere in Oregon and Washington west of the Cascades.

For some reason way beyond me, it’s become “in” to be different. The more mismatched, hipster, and funky – the better.

If that weren’t strange enough, it’s this whole being different thing that makes you fit in. And if you strive to be normal and fit it, it sets you apart as not fitting in at all.

Wait…what?

See, this is why it’s great to live life according to different standards than the world. The whole hipster thing just doesn’t make sense.

So here’s ten ways to stand out from the typical teenage crowd…in a good way. Whether you live in hipster, suburban, rural, or urban community, these are for you.

1. Dress to impress…Jesus. Yes, I know. The modesty thing again. But it needs to be said over and over! It kills me to see teenage girls dressing “cute” by rocking booty shorts and low cut tops. Cover up, girl! Keep people’s eyes on your face and not your body!

2. Put down your phone. A guy from my church, after returning from the mall, affectionately nicknamed teenager’s thumbs as “texticles.” Seriously. Is anything that vital and important that you need to read and write back every other minute? Do yourself a favor – go to the mall/school/your living room and turn your phone off. Shocking, right? Show the world that you don’t have to be plugged in all the time.

3. Be “all there.” At school. At church. At dinner with your family. You are so used to multitasking, it’s hard to give anything your undivided attention. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Curb the note passing and texting, quit doodling, don’t whisper, and take your eyes off the clock.

4. Respect adults. From your parents to your teachers to the rest of the world, you are sorely outnumbered in the teenager to adult ratio. But a little respect goes a long way. Listening and not talking back. Holding doors. Even the occasional “sir” and “ma’am” will be enough to make people look twice and realize that you are different.

5. Try hard. Somehow, somewhere along the line, the expectation for teenagers has become 75%. C. Average. And when people expect that, you live up to that. Hey, if no one else is going to raise the bar, raise it yourself. Give 110% at school, at home, on your homework, and on your church life.

6. Smile. And, no, this isn’t just for those emo girls. (Is emo still a thing? I feel like I don’t see them as much as I used to. Maybe they all started taking a little more Vitamin D…) Smile in a way that says there is joy in your heart. Don’t give spiteful, mean smirks. Don’t whisper to your friends and then smile. Walk, drive, talk, and sleep with a smile on your face. (And on a separate note – don’t obsess over your smile. It’s the one God gave you. Don’t not smile in pictures or in front of people because you’re self-conscious. Show it proudly. Jesus Himself painted it!)

7. Do one selfless thing a day. Pick up random trash. Hold the door for someone. Park way in the back of the school parking lot. Stay after class and straighten chairs. Fold your sister’s laundry. Do at least one thing once a day to show that you don’t think you’re the center of the universe.

8. Admit weakness. Whoa. Whoa! Wait – do I mean that you should admit that you’re less than perfect? Let your friends know when you struggle and screw up? Actually say the sentence, “I was wrong?” Yes, yes I do. By admitting when you’re struggling, you give glory to the One who can get you through it.

9. Get by with less. It’s amazing to me how expensive it is to be a hipster. For people who dress like they did a blindfold grab at Goodwill, they sure do spend a lot of money on super nice bikes and anything with an Apple or an iPaid-a-lot on it. Other groups are the same, always buying the latest and greatest gadgets or filling their closets with new clothes. Be different by not always wanting something new. Be different by being content.

10. Be kind. Not nice. Not fake. Truly and genuinely kind. It’s easy to do kind things for people who are kind to you. But extend that to people who don’t like you, people who annoy you, people who believe different things than you.

Question: Which of these do you already do? Which of these could you increase so as to stand out? Are there other things that you do to make yourself different than those around you?

Do You Know That I’m Judging You Right Now?

Source: teenagerposts.tumblr.com

I ran across this other day on Pinterest and laughed – hard. Not because it’s me, but because it used to be me. And it is now pretty much every teenage and young adult girl that I know.

So, being the obsessive person that I am and craving some more belly chuckles, I clicked over to “teenagerposts” on tumblr and read through a couple of pages of funny teenager related quips and giggles. Do you know what I came away with?

A very low view of teenagers. According to these quotes, you are lazy, conniving, self-centered, sarcastic, naive, and disrespectful. Oh, and you have a potty mouth too.

Here’s the thing – I know lots of teenagers. In fact, outside of my family, they are the age group I spend the most time with. And I know they’re better than that.

Are you?

Do you stand out from the crowd? Can people tell you’re different than the other girls your age?

Can they tell you’re different by how you dress? (Read: Do people think your shorts could pass for underwear?)

Can they tell you’re different by how you talk? (Read: Do you say, text, and Facebook things you’d never say to your parent’s face?)

Can they tell you’re different by how you treat your parents, your siblings, your teachers, and your friends? (Read: Are you an eye-rolling, sighing, whining, critical, disrespectful, not-at-all-like-Jesus girl?)

Can they tell you’re different by how you spend your time and money? (Read: Are you so busy and materialistic that you could have a hit reality show on MTV?)

Does Jesus set you apart from the crowd?

Like it or not, you’re being watched. More than that, you’re being judged. By people you know. By people you don’t know. At school, at home, in the mall – anywhere and everywhere.

So what do they see?

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 4:10

Question: Do you look just like everyone around when you’re at school? At home? At work? What can you change to do a better job putting Christ on display?

Bible In A Year 2012 – Week 8

2.19.12

Leviticus 25, Mark 1:23-45

2.20.12

Leviticus 26-27, Mark 2

2.21.12

Numbers 1-2, Mark 3:1-19

2.22.12

Numbers 3-4, Mark 3:20-35

2.23.12

Numbers 5-6, Mark 4:1-20

2.24.12

Numbers 7-8, Mark 4:21-41

2.25.12

Numbers 9-11, Mark 5:1-20

Bible In A Year 2012 – Week 7

2.12.12

Leviticus 13, Matthew 26:26-50

 

2.13.12

Leviticus 14, Matthew 26:51-75

 

2.14.12

Leviticus 15-16, Matthew 27:1-26

 

2.15.12

Leviticus 17-18, Matthew 27:27-50

 

2.16.12

Leviticus 19-20, Matthew 27:51-66

 

2.17.12

Leviticus 21-22, Matthew 28

 

2.18.12

Leviticus 23-24, Mark 1:1-22

Making Mentorship Meaningful

Hopefully this week you’ve been encouraged to both have a mentor and to mentor someone.

So…now what? What exactly do you do when you’re together? Here are some ideas you can apply. If you’re thinking about your time with your mentor, ask her if she would do them with you. If you’re thinking about your time as a mentor, then make them happen.

1) Spiritual accountability. I blogged about this a few weeks ago. Get together and just talk. Be open and honest. Grow. Whatever else you do, this (or some form of it) should be a part of your time together.

2) Life accountability. Maybe you struggle with being lazy. Or maybe you’re so busy, you never stop and rest. So do those things together. Work out. Make tea and read a book. Go for a run. Go for a walk. Take weakness and make it a reason to get together.

3) Life skills. Can you cook? Do you know how to balance a check book? What would you do if your car broke down on the side of the road? There are things that, as and adult, you are expected to know. So do you know them? If not, ask! If so, teach!

4) Fun skills. I asked if you can cook. Are you a good cook? Do you know how to knit? Are you interested in writing, blogging, painting, crafting, boating, and all the other “ings” in the world? Take your passion and do it with someone else.

5) Experience. This is the easiest and maybe the best of all. Just do life together. Run errands. Go to the mall. Watch a movie. Hang out while doing…whatever. The most important part is being together.

Question: What types of things do you do in whatever kind of mentoring relationship you have? What can you do to make it better?

Why You Should Have Younger Friends

Image via Wikipedia

Monday, we talked about the importance of having a mentor. So today’s question: Are you a mentor to anyone?

“Wait!” you may protest. “I’m too young! I’ve got nothing to give!”

And you know what? That may be true – if you’ve been a Christian for less than a year. But if you’ve been devoted to the Bible, to learning, and to growth, then you are ready to mentor – even if you are young. Remember: mentoring isn’t just about age…it’s about experience.

“…Christ did not appoint professors, but followers. If Christianity…is not reduplicated in the life of the person expounding it, then he does not expound Christianity, for Christianity is a message about living and can only be expounded by being realized in men’s lives.” – Soren Kierkegaard

Are you living for Christ? Do you desire to put Jesus on display every day? If so, do it in front of someone younger! Younger in age, younger in faith, or younger in maturity. Do life with them. Show them what your faith in action looks like. That’s all that mentoring and discipleship really are. Does it mean that sometimes you’ll have to answer questions you don’t know the answer to? Yes (which is why it’s good for you to have a mentor as well). Does it mean that you’ll sometimes have to say hard things when you see the person you are discipling making poor decisions? Yes. Does that mean you shouldn’t do it? No!

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14, 16

You don’t have to be perfect or have a Bible degree to mentor. You just need to have a passion for Jesus and a passion to see other people grow and mature in Him.

Question: Are you mentoring anyone? What young people in your life can you invest in? Ask your mentor to pray for you as you seek to mentor someone else!

Related articles

• Shine your light, & let the whole world see. (jordanklosky.wordpress.com)
• Use What the Lord Has Given You (livesharp.org)
• Is Christian Discipleship Declining? (prophetiksoul.wordpress.com)