That One Song That Makes You Smile

A man and a woman performing a modern dance. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As I write this, Awolnation is softy playing in the background. Maybe you love them. Maybe you hate them. Maybe you’ve never heard of them. But this album is my current obsession and I’m not afraid to admit it.

Pretty much every one of their songs does the same thing to me. It doesn’t matter where I am or what’s going on. I can be stuck in the middle of traffic or sitting quietly soaking in a sun beam. I can be happy, sad, frustrated, bored or angry. But as soon as one of their songs come on…

I smile.

I sing.

I dance.

I make a complete fool of myself, even if it’s only for three and a half minutes.

Too often we treat joy like this unobtainable high that’s within our grasp but we can never reach. We let people and situations and problems get us down. One conversation can leave us devastated. One decision sends our whole day into a downward spiral. One bit of bad news breaks us and we feel like we can never be whole again.

But joy isn’t always a slow climb out of a dark pit. It isn’t always a matter of praying and waiting and waiting…and waiting.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.’” – Lamentations 3:22-24

Doesn’t that reverberate in your soul the way that one song that you like so much does?

This was written by the prophet Jeremiah during a very dark time in his life. His country was destroyed, left in shattered pieces. His friends and family were gone. All around him were constant reminders of the tragedy that had torn his life apart. Lamentations is exactly that – a book of lament and sorrow.

And yet…joy! Celebration! Smiles! Comfort!

Jesus is always there, wanting to zap us with a mega dose of joy that can lift us up no matter what is going on. How? It’s Him! It’s the joy of knowing who He is, what He’s done, how totally in charge He is, how good He is, and how much He loves us.

That news right there lifts my spirits more than any song every can.

It makes me smile.

And sing.

And dance.

And make a complete fool of myself.

Question: Does Jesus lift up your spirits the way that one song you love always does? What verses can you put around your room, car, school stuff, etc. that will serve as a reminder of the joy that He brings? How can reflecting on who He is change the way your heart feels in low moments?

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• Shift In the Atmosphere (virtuouswoman73.wordpress.com)
• Praising the God Who is Merciful (ptl2010.com)

Why You Should Like Things That Suck

Shadows in the late afternoon. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I hate birds. And frogs.

Grocery shopping in the rain is one of the most miserable experiences of all time.

Traffic makes me cringe.

Smokers make me want to throw up.

This world is full of things that suck. Big things. Little things. Daily things. Once in a while things. It seems like there’s always something that will make us sigh in frustration, roll our eyes, and grumble in our hearts.

Here’s the thing – we need those things.

Grocery shopping in the rain helps me to really appreciate when it is sunny and dry.

Traffic helps me smile when I cruise down the road (at the speed limit, of course) with nothing to stop me.

Smokers help me appreciate places I can go where the air is clean.

Those daily, monthly, momentary or long-lasting joy suckers don’t need to be simply that. They can be reminders of the things that don’t suck. They can remind us that, when we weigh awesome versus sucky, awesome always wins. They remind us of what the Scriptures say:

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Not only are there more wonderful things in this world than terrible, those terrible things are reminders that this world is not our home. After all, if we had everything terrific and perfect in this life all the time, why would we want heaven?

In the words of Switchfoot, “The shadow proves the sunshine.”

Don’t let sucky things get you down. Instead, let them serve as a refreshing reminder of the good we have in this life and the greatness of the life to come.

Question: What are little things that make a big (negative) impact on your heart and attitude? How can you turn those things around to remind you of the greatness of God? What are you looking forward to leaving behind in this life when you move on to spend eternity with Jesus?

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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?

When You Just Don’t Wanna Have Faith

Image by lempicki.maciek via Flickr

How many times a day would you say you look at God and say, “I don’t wanna!”?

Is it when you’re hanging out with your friends at lunch and they start making of fun someone else? You feel that twinge of guilt in your chest, knowing you should get up and leave or maybe say something. But instead, you sit silent right where you are, gritting your teeth, telling God, “I don’t wanna!”

Maybe there’s a guy. A cute guy. He’s fun, funny, and interested in you. But…he’s not a Christian. Or he has one of those not-so-great reputations. But he likes you! You ignore what you know to be right, telling God, “I don’t wanna!”

Or maybe it’s when you’re at home. Your parents are driving you nuts…again. They keep asking you to do stuff. Or telling you that you can’t do stuff. Those youth group lessons about obeying your parents keep floating into your thoughts, but you’re just so angry and frustrated, you shout at God, “I don’t wanna!”

Faith is easy…when life is easy. When everything is going our way. When we’re happy, healthy, safe.

But is that really faith?

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Paul sure doesn’t sound like someone who ever told God, “I don’t wanna!”

Faith is something that is constant and consistent. We don’t choose when and where we want to be Christian. We’re called to follow, obey, and trust 24/7. No matter how juicy the gossip. No matter how hot the guy. No matter how annoying the parents.

Question: Where do you find yourself putting your faith to the side and telling God, “I don’t wanna!” How can you pick it back up, humble yourself, and do a better job showing that you love Jesus?

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Awakening

Image by .curt. via Flickr

Each morning, the sun slowly wakes, stretching over the horizon.

As light spills over into darkness, dew drops glisten, saying their last goodbyes before fading into yesterday.

Trees stretch their branches, scratching at the sky, allowing life to pump through their roots and trunks.

Flowers uncurl their petals after a long night’s sleep, soaking in the goodness of a new day.

The sky opens its blue eyes, growing brighter with each passing breath of the wind.

Birds begin to sing good morning, joyfully hopping from tree to tree, soaring across the sky, filling all the earth with the greetings of today.

All creations cries its praises as each day begins. By being alive, it brings glory to its Creator. Its sustainer.

Jesus, I wake today, declaring that this day is for You.

********

“There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.” – John Calvin

How To Become The Best Version of You This Month

Read part 1 here

If you’ve been as convicted as I have about wanting your life to be different, you’ve start thinking about change. The brothers at the Do Hard Things conference gave some real practical application about how to make that happen and I just had to share it with all you kick butt ladies.

What does it look like to make an amazing change this month?
1) Find other like-minded people.
Surround yourself with friends who will encourage you in the changes you want to make and who will keep you accountable. Don’t underestimate the power of Christian fellowship and friendship.

2) Make friends with heroes and dead people.

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” – 1  Corinthians 11:1

Have a mentor or two. Someone older and wiser who you can ask all sorts of questions to and who can help lead and guide you in your Christian walk. And the power of classic books is amazing! You can spend hours a day with amazing people like C.S. Lewis and John Calvin.

3) Change something.
Make it a structural change. You want to read more, but you find yourself watching TV? Get rid of it! Or hide it in a closet. You want to have better friends? Make tons and tons of plans with your Christian friends so you don’t have time for the people you’re trying to let go of. Just physically do something to help you with your change.

Question: Which one of these things speaks to you the most? What are you going to do this week to make them happen?

And here is my continued plug for The Rebelution – the birth place of these ideas and a great resource for you.

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A Happiness Boost

 

You’re having a bad day. You got in a fight with your parents. You got grounded. Maybe you have to clean your room instead of hanging out with your friends. Or maybe you’re just bored and it’s making you grumpy. Believe it or not, there are quick fixes to boost your mood and make your day better.

 

Five Minute Fixes

-       Put on your favorite upbeat song and turn it up as loud as it can go. Sing, dance, and even sweat a little.

-       Watch a funny YouTube video. A couple of my favorites? Youth Pastor Screw Up, David Goes To The Dentist, Bible In A Minute.

-       Wash your hands. Seriously. Get some amazing soap from Bath And Body Works and lather up. It’s amazing how a good smell can help you feel better.

 

Fifteen Minute Fixes

-       Read a chapter of a book. Nothing serious, sad, or heavy. Get something fun and funny.

-       Go for a walk around your block. Walk as fast and as hard as you can, beating our your frustrations on the sidewalk.

-       Play a game. I’m a solitaire and minesweeper fan. Just a quick game to help take my mind off my problems and allow me a moment to breathe.

 

Thirty Minute Fixes

-       Take a nap. Enough said.

-       Watch a TV show. I’m certainly not advocating a mind numbing day where you only move off the couch to go to the bathroom and refill on chips. But taking a break from whatever is going on and watching something that brings smile to your face can do your attitude good.

-       Bake something. Cookies. A cake. Something sweet where you can lick the batter and a delicious aroma fills your house for the rest of the day.

 

Whenever You Can Fixes

-       Read your Bible. I guarantee you will have a better attitude whenever you take the time to read the Word.

-       Talk to a friend. Not someone who will listen to you complain, tell you how right you are, and get you even more riled up. Make it one of those friends who will kick you in the butt and tell you to stop being so grumpy…in a totally kind and loving way.

-       Get outside. Nothing clears the clutter from your head and heart like God’s creation.

-       Do what you do best. Are you a  musician? Play some music. Are you artistic? Write or paint something. Are you athletic? Get up and play something. Whatever you do best, chances are you enjoy it. So do whatever it is that you like to do and you will find your spirit lifted.

 

Any other quick fixes that you do the help yourself get rid of grumpiness?

Forget About Tomorrow

 

As I opened my laptop this morning, my little weather app popped up. According to Yahoo!, my neck of the woods will have sunshine and warmth today. There will be even more tomorrow! Wednesday we will have a little bit less, but still enough to suffice. And then Thursday, the weather plummets back down to 61 and cloudy.

 

Guess what my reaction was?

 

Seeing that low 60 number brought a frown to my face and bitterness to my heart. I mean, come on! It’s June! It’s summer! Where’s the sunshine? When can I set up the kiddie pool and sit outside and tan? So not fair!

 

Interesting that I got all whiney and complain-y about Thursday, completely ignoring the beautiful weather we’re going to have till then.

 

Why do we do that to ourselves? Too often, worry or anxiety about the future robs us of the joy we should have today.

 

“Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself…” – Matthew 6:34

 

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” – James 4:14

 

None of us is promised tomorrow – so why do we let it dictate our today?

 

Today is sunny and warm. Today I get time with my BFF. Today I get to hang out with my kids, love on my husband, rock out to my Pandora Switchfoot station, have a BBQ…the list of fantabulous things goes on an on.

 

Forget about clouds and cold. Forget about those hard things looming on the horizon. I’ll deal with them when they get here.

 

Today I have today. I can be joyful about that.

 

What do you have today that brings you joy? Are there things on the horizon that you need to ignore so you can enjoy today?

 

P.S. – My hang out time with my BFF comes from the idea of having a summer friend that I wrote about here. We are reading a book together, which gives me one thing to cross out on the Summer Tough Girl Challenge. Have you gotten started yet?

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The Benefits of Low Self Esteem

What do you think of yourself? Honestly and truly?

 

Do you think that you’re pretty? Smart? Athletic? Do you think you have a good sense of humor, amazing logic, or talent beyond compare?

 

We live in a society that tells us to always look for the good in us. To build ourselves up, dwell on our achievements, and constantly pat ourselves on the back.

 

But is that biblical?

 

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” – Philippians 2:3-4

 

Selfish ambition and vain conceit are something most of us wear like a designer fragrance. We think we’re fabulous and want the world to know. Our conversations are all centered around the words “I” and “me,” and, when they’re not, we’re only asking questions to get some piece of juicy gossip because of how it makes us feel.

 

There isn’t a single one of us that wouldn’t benefit from thinking a little less of ourselves.

 

No, I am not always right.

 

No, I don’t have to have my way.

 

No, I don’t have to prove my point.

 

No, I don’t know everything.

 

No, I am not the center of attention.

 

No, everyone doesn’t have to know what I’m thinking.

 

No, I don’t need to tell people what to do.

 

No, everybody isn’t talking about me.

 

No, every boy that shows me a hint of friendship is not necessarily interested in more.

 

The less we think of ourselves, the more we will think of others. We will be better listeners and better friends. We will serve others and be aware of their needs.

 

We will be more like Jesus.

 

Where’s an area where it might help you to think a little less of yourself?

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