5 Reasons Why You Should Go To Prom

A typical gathering, with boys in tuxedos, and girls in dresses with corsages on their wrists. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Maybe you read Monday’s post and felt a little sick to your stomach. This is prom! How could anyone not want to go? If that’s your mindset, here are some great reasons why the desire to go to prom isn’t a bad thing.

 

Reason 1 – It’s a night to be a princess. Long after the days of dress ups and tea parties, most girls still have that desire to look like royalty. And, outside of your wedding day, the opportunities to dress up like that are few and far in between. This is your night! Your dress can be as casual or as outrageous as you want. Hair, makeup, nails, shoes…it’s your night to shine!

 

Reason 2 – A date night like no other. If you are or have been in a dating relationship in high school, you know most “dates” consist of a movie, a trip to Dairy Queen, playing board games, or all of the above. There’s nothing wrong with those things (unless they tend to end in steamy make-out sessions – in which case there’s everything wrong with those dates…and your relationship), but prom is a special night. It’s a fancy dinner. Boys act like gentlemen. Girls act like refined ladies. It’s fun!

 

Reason 3 – You get to put on display how to have good, clean fun. It’s come to my attention that the center of the dance floor is not the place to be. So you can go to the dance and be one of those people on the outside who says, “Hey! You can have a good time and not be nasty!” Amazing, isn’t it?

 

Reason 4 – Girl Power! Who says you have to have a date to have fun? One of my best memories was going to a formal dance with a big group of girls. We had a blast, feeling like we could have fun and be goofy without the awkwardness of trying to impress a guy or having to dance every slow dance with him. Even if you don’t have a date, you can still go out and have a good time.

 

Reason 5 – The memories. While I said on Monday that I don’t remember much about my prom, at least I can say that I went. My parents still have a picture somewhere. It is a night that you won’t (entirely) forget, and that’s pretty cool.

 

Again, nothing too Biblical regarding prom because it’s just not in the Bible. But, if you are going to go to prom, make sure you do it right:

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, of there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8

What steps can you take to make sure you do prom right?

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5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Go To Prom

Photograph of interior of unidentified building with unidentified people. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s that time of year. Trees and flowers bloom, filling the air with sweet fragrances and the skyline with spring colors. It’s like the whole world is waking up from a long winter nap. The sun is shining, birds are singing, and best of all…prom!

Or, maybe in your case, it’s worst of all.

Prom has the ability to either make you super excited or super anxious. If you’re in the super anxious boat, this post is for you. (If you’re in the super excited boat, just wait till Wednesday Here are five reasons to make you feel better about not going to prom.

 

Reason 1 – It’s all about the money, money, money. Amazing, isn’t it? A few hours one evening can cost a whole lot of money – dress, dinner, dance, doing fun stuff. If it’s all about hanging out, do it on the cheap. Dress up in a fun away, go out to a fun dinner, and do something fun – without spending the money.

 

Reason 2 – The dance itself. Be honest – the only bump and grind you want to see is with whole peppercorns on Food Network. Spending all that money to watch people do things that you’d only see on some raunchy MTV show isn’t your idea of a good time.

 

Reason 3 – That awkward thing called a date. When it comes to school dances, there’s no such thing as “just friends.” So if you end up agreeing to go with a guy as “just friends,” it’s almost guaranteed that one of you will be in love with the other before that last slow song. Do yourself a favor – save the inevitable drama and just say no.

 

Reason 4 – The after party. Now, I haven’t been on the prom scene for quite some time, but I’m assuming there are still all those people who get together after prom and do a bunch of stupid things that you would see on some B-Rate Hollywood movie. If that’s your friends idea of a good time, then you just shouldn’t go. You should probably find some new friends, too.

 

Reason 5 – You’re not going in order to be there for a friend. Even if you have the money, have a dress, and have a date, you might have a friend who can’t go and is devastated. This could be your time to be the best BFF in the world and do a not-prom for her sake.

 

To be honest, thirteen years later, I don’t remember much about my prom. It wasn’t some magical night that transformed my life forever. If you choose not to go, the chances of a lifetime of regret are slim. There isn’t much Biblical here because, well, prom and anything prom-like wasn’t an issue back in Bible days. But there is this:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, of there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8

What is your heart telling you about prom?

 

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A Tough Girl’s Response To Social Injustice

¿Quien es Joseph Kony? (Photo credit: Jennol)

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past two weeks, you’ve heard about the whole Kony 2012 thing. Invisible Children, a group started about 10 years ago, created a video about Joseph Kony and his horrible crimes against humanity – especially children – in Uganda. The video, which states that its purpose is to make Joseph Kony a name everyone knows and, thus, cause support to increase in capturing and stopping him, has blown up all over YouTube and Facebook.

After the video got popular, backlash started. Some criticized Invisible Children. People from Uganda even criticized the idea, claiming that Joseph Kony wasn’t an issue anymore.

Were you one of the people who re-posted the video right away, feeling pain and outrage in your heat at this issue of child soldiers that you may not have even known existed?

Or were you one of the ones who felt a little more cautious, reading the articles written in response to the video?

Maybe you decided not to chime in at all, not wanting to jump on an emotional bandwagon.

Regardless of how you acted, let me ask you this: How much did you pray about it?

It’s easy to re-post a video on Facebook and feel like you did a good deed, patting yourself on the back for caring and making a difference.

It’s easy to post articles, claiming their viewpoints as your own, feeling as though you are a part of something big.

But have you prayed about it?

When you saw pictures of the little boys with guns and the mutilated faces of other children, did you pray?

When you felt rage and anger at these atrocities, did you pray?

When you felt confused as to which side was right, did you pray?

Social justice is a good thing. We should care about people, no matter who they are and where they live. But to really make a difference, a lasting impact, a change for the better, we can’t forget the importance of prayer.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,” – 1 Timothy 2:1

“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” – Proverbs 31:8-9

You should care about what’s going on. It should hurt your heart and rile up all kinds of feelings. But don’t let that be the end. Don’t join your voice with the masses in crying, “Outrage!” and then do nothing about it. And don’t settle for a one night poster hanging campaign. Don’t settle for conversations on Facebook that simply result in more emotions.

Pray. Now. Get on your knees before the Father and pray for those little kids. Read up on the issue for yourself. Find out about more kids in other places that you can pray for.

Do something that really makes a difference.

Question: What has your response been to Kony 2012? Is it hard for you to pray for people so far away? Do you have a friend that you could join together with to pray for oppressed children around the world?

The Roadblock To Joy

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How are you feeling today, tough girl? Tired? Worn down? Discouraged and disappointed? Maybe even a little guilty or shameful over something or another?

Even if you don’t feel like that today, I’m sure you’ve felt like that before and will feel like that again. It’s days like these that make God seem so distant and joy seem so unobtainable. An insurmountable brick wall cuts off your heart from the Lord’s…and you just don’t feel like trying to get over it anymore.

Do you want to know what that roadblock is? You.

I’m serious.

Are you still reading? Because I’m not going to apologize or explain it in a way that is less offensive. Your roadblock to joy and intimacy with Jesus is you.

If you haven’t navigated away from the page yet and stopped your subscription to the blog, read this:

“I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” – Isaiah 57:15

God dwells with us when we are repentant, sorry, and sorrowful. When we come to Him on our knees, admit how badly we’ve screwed up, and ask for forgiveness once again.

“But Crystal,” you may say, “I haven’t don’t anything wrong. I just don’t have any joy.”

To that, I’d like to quote one of my favorite authors, John Piper, from his book Desiring God:

“It is true that our hearts are often sluggish. We do not feel the depth or intensity of affections appropriate for God or His cause. It is true that at these times we must, insofar as it lies within us, exert our wills and make decisions that we hope will rekindle our joy. Though joyless love is not our aim (“God loves a cheerful giver”), nevertheless it is better to do a joyless duty than not to do it, provided there is a spirit of repentance for the deadness of our hearts.”

Joylessness is a sin. Have you ever though of that? We are commanded throughout Scripture to be joyful. To find joy in the Lord. So, if we’re not joyful, that means we are disobeying God’s command, which means we need to repent, which makes us lowly and contrite…

A condition which God loves to revive.

Question: How does looking at joylessness as a sin change your attitude? Who could you share this hard, but incredible, truth with?

Related articles

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Missionary Dating

Also known as evangelism dating. Also known as suicide. It’s when a super amazing, kick-butt girl lowers her standards and starts dating a guy in hopes of lifting him up, encouraging him in his faith, and helping him grow stronger.

Could it work? Maybe. Is it a bad idea. Definitely!

Lowering your standards is lowering your standards, no matter how “holy” your intentions might be. If he doesn’t reach your bar, it’s a really bad idea to date him in hopes that he’ll one day get there.

Ready for a curve ball? This doesn’t just have to do with non-Christians.

Do you…I mean, do you have a friend who is super close with a  guy who is a new Christian? Maybe he’s been coming to youth group for a couple of months. He changed his religion on Facebook to say “Christian.” He might even have a Bible next to his bed.

Is that still missionary dating?

I’d have to say yes. You…I mean, your friend figures that since her new interest has been a Christian for all of five minutes, he’s ready to be that godly guy she’s been waiting for. The thing is, godliness takes time. Maturity doesn’t happen over night.

The worst part about missionary dating is that you don’t know if the guy is growing because of God or “growing” because of you. Would he still go to church if you weren’t there? Would he still be just as passionate and fired up if you weren’t around?

So how do you avoid the pitfall way too many Christian girls slip into? Wait. Be patient. If he’s the guy for you, you’ll see him do amazing faith-type things apart from you. He’ll join a small group and show up on Sunday mornings without you pestering him. He’ll talk with his friends about the Bible when you aren’t around. He’ll grow to your amazing standard without you nudging him every step of the way.

Your Prince Charming will be worth the wait.

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Pro Life or Anti-Abortion?

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Are they the same thing? I guess, kind of. But more than the controversial subject, let’s look at the prefixes.

 

Pro vs. Anti. One is positive. One is negative.

 

Are you known for being “pro” things or “anti”?

 

It’s a sad thing today that the reputation of Christianity is being “anti.” Anti-abortion. Anti-gay rights. Anti-science. Anti-everything. And, as heart breaking as that is, I know I’ve contributed to that stereotype. I’ll go on rants about TV shows, music, and movies. I’ll shake my head at decisions the government is making. I’ll whine, complain, and dance upon my soap box as I criticize everything and everyone.

 

But we shouldn’t be anti culture. We should be pro Jesus. Pro love.

 

“Beloved, let us LOVE one another, for LOVE is from God, and whoever LOVES has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not LOVE does not know God, because God is LOVE. In this the LOVE of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is LOVE, not that we have LOVED God, but that He LOVED us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so LOVED us, we also ought to LOVE one another…We LOVE because he first LOVED us. If anyone says, ‘I LOVE God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not LOVE his brother whom he has seen cannot LOVE God whom he has not seen.

And this commandment we have from Him: whoever LOVES God must also LOVE his brother.”

-1 John 4:1-11, 19-21

Yes, we’re called to hate sin. Yes, we’re called to stand up for truth. But we’re called to do it in love.

 

So what are you known for? Being critical and opinionated? Judgmental? Anti-everything and everyone?

 

Or pro Jesus? Pro love? Does your kindness, joy, and Jesus centered attitude outshine the things you stand against?

 

Are you known by your love?

 

Women’s Liberation! Women’s Liberation?

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The Women’s Liberation movement of the 18^th century till now has opened up countless doors for us. Voting. Working. Social status. You’ve been told from an early age that you can do whatever you want to. And you can!

 

If you live in America.

 

Imagine if you didn’t.

 

Imagine if you couldn’t read.

 

Imagine if you couldn’t work.

 

Imagine if you couldn’t get medical care.

 

What would you do?

 

Be thankful.

 

Of the estimated one billion illiterate people worldwide, over two thirds are women. Of the estimated 130 million children worldwide who aren’t in school, about two thirds are girls. By age 18, on average, girls worldwide have received 4.4 years less schooling that boys.

 

American children under the age of 13, on average, have more spending money than the 300 million poorest people in the world.

 

Next time you feel like complaining about school, think about these stats. Next time you whine about your possessions, think about all of this.

 

You are an amazing kick butt girl. You have been blessed beyond what you deserve. There is so much we take for granted. School. Doctors. The fact that we get to learn. The fact that we can have jobs.

 

Do us all a favor and realize that. Be thankful. Be humble.

 

And pray. Pray for your sisters around the world who have so much less than you. Pray that they would get by. That they would have food, education, medical care, and safety.

 

And be thankful. Have I said that already? I’ll say it again.

 

Be thankful.

 

Santa Insanity

Image by kevindooley via Flickr

This whole Santa thing is a joke. (Forgive me as I go on an angry rant)

 

As I type this, my four-year-old is glued to the TV, watching Dora and Diego Christmas specials. Both of them have the same theme. The characters who are “bad” are worried that they are on Santa’s naughty list. They must make amends so they can still get their presents.

 

Really? This is the message we’re pumping into kids’ heads?

 

There’s a couple of things about this whole Santa’s naughty and nice list that make me cringe. First off is the idea that you should do good things to get something out of it. Is it no wonder that, as people get older, they don’t want to do nice things, volunteer, help out, or sacrificially serve because they have the feeling of, “Well, what’s in it for me?”

 

Secondly, and more importantly, is that idea of being “good enough.”

 

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23

“As it is written, ‘There is no one righteous, not even one.” – Romans 3:10

We can’t earn God’s favor. We can’t earn salvation. We are not, never have been, and never will be good enough for God.

 

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” – Isaiah 64:6

We do kids and ourselves no favor when we develop the mentality of “earning” good things. That’s not how Jesus works.

 

“For it is by grace you have been saved – through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

Whether or not you have Santa as part of your Christmas celebration, take a moment to check your heart.

 

Are you still living like you want to avoid the naughty list? Doing things with the hope of “getting something” out of it?

 

Are you living like you need to get on God’s nice list? Trying to earn his favor and stay on His good side?

 

Stop. There’s nothing you can do to make God love you more.

 

And there’s nothing you can do to make Him love you less.

 

He loves you based on HIS grace and mercy, not on your performance, deeds, or messy perception of goodness. So rest in Him. Let Him love you and let that love transform you.

 

We don’t celebrate Santa in our house. We give our kids presents and tell them that they aren’t getting them because they’re good kids (even though they are ) We tell them we’re giving them presents because we love them. That’s it.

 

Do you receive God’s love that way?

 

School Daze

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Today marks the beginning of the end. My oldest son is starting Kindergarten. And he won’t stop this school thing until he’s eighteen and ready to leave the house. Crazy!

It gets me thinking about my school days. If I could go back and talk to my school self, I’d have a few things to tell her:

Now Crystal: Hey, listen up girly!

Then Crystal: Whoa! Are you me? Hey, you look pretty hot for almost-thirty.

Now Crystal: I know, right? But we’re not here to talk about me. I want to talk about you.

Then Crystal: Me? I’m perfect. I know everything there is to know about everything.

Now Crystal: See, that’s the first thing. You don’t know everything. In fact, you know very little. Your whole world consists of boys, clothes, and Taco Bell.

Then Crystal: (panicking) Wait! Is that going to change?

Now Crystal: Well, not really. But do me a favor – hold back on the fast food. You won’t be that skinny forever. Anyway, I just want you to open your eyes. Realize that the world doesn’t revolve around you. There’s people out there to be nice to and to love. And, yes, that includes Mom. Practice random acts of kindness. Think about others before you think about yourself.

Then Crystal: That doesn’t sound like too much fun. Besides, high school girls are mean! Why should I be nice to them?

Now Crystal: Trust me, it will be worth it. You don’t do things because people deserve it or have earned it. You do it because it’s right. And the joy that you find in loving others is a whole lot more satisfying than the joy you find in loving yourself.

Then Crystal: Hmmm…I guess you’ve given me something to think about.

Now Crystal: You’re already thinking about Taco Bell, aren’t you?

Then Crystal: Actually, I was thinking about Sonic. Wanna grab some Chedda Peppas?

Now Crystal: (sighing) Fine. But that means we’re going to have to work out tonight.

Then Crystal: Work out? Are you kidding? We don’t work out.

Now Crystal: Just wait…

If you could go back and tell your younger self something, what would it be?

Money, Happiness, and Jesus

I don’t own a Coach purse. I’ve never bought designer jeans or shoes. My makeup comes from whatever is on sale at Walgreens. But that’s not to say I don’t have my indulgences.

I spend more money than most people to keep my toes looking pretty. I spend WAY too much money on coffee in little white cups with that wonderful green logo. And when it comes to groceries, well, generic just doesn’t cut it for me.

Chances are we’re all snobbish about something. Even if you don’t spend a ton of money on clothing or accessories or coffee, there’s got to be something you won’t budge on. Something you’ll go the extra mile for.

I sure do wish I felt that way about my relationship with Jesus.

Sure, I get up most mornings and read my Bible. But how often is it a chore instead of a pleasure? I pray at meal times. But when’s the last time I got down on my knees and interceded for some one other than me? I worry so much about how my toes looks. What about my heart?

“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” – Luke 12:33-34

Jesus talked about money so much because He knows what a grip it has on us. Whether we have a lot or a little, we all struggle with the same thing: we think money will buy happiness. Our list of “if onlys” grows as new technology is released, as our friends get new things, and as we covet (yes, covet!) stuff we don’t have.

But if what I think will buy me happiness exists in this world, why would I look to Jesus for satisfaction?

Too often Jesus is a part of my life instead of being my life. Instead of being my everything. And the way I think about money and happiness shows that.

Kick butt girl, let’s change that. It’s not about reading your Bible more, getting involved in more ministry, or volunteering more. It’s a heart thing. It’s a you and Jesus thing. It’s a less of you, less of this world, less satisfaction in things that don’t last and more of HIM kind of thing.

Are you up for the challenge?