When You Need To Be A Little More Serious

How would you describe yourself?

Energetic?

Immature?

Social?

Awkward?

Crazy?

Irresponsible?

Teenagers and young adults don’t have the best reputation in our culture. Just look at any show on ABC Family and you will see that you are painted as dramatic, inconsiderate, rebellious, selfish, hormone-driven, short sighted, and slightly stupid.

Yes, you should be offended.

But here’s my question for you, tough girl. Are any of those negative stereotypes true for you? Do people at your school think you’re just like everybody else? Do your parents? Does any part of your life reflect those girls on TV and at your school that you find so disgusting?

Truth is, you could probably afford to be a little more serious. I’m not talking about not smiling or laughing. That’s boring, not serious. It’s about much more than that.

Serious conversations. Having real heart-to-heart talks with friends where you talk about things that are deep. Being vulnerable and open, even if it is hard or embarrassing.

Serious school time. Not goofing around or playing with your phone. Actually respecting your teacher and your education.

Serious family time. Not taking your parents and all that they provide for granted. Helping out without grumbling. Occasionally choosing them over your friends.

Serious thoughtfulness. Thinking through the things you say and how they will be received. Thinking through what you wear and what message it sends. Thinking about how you spend your time and if it is best.

Serious Jesus love. Reading your Bible. Praying. Giving of your time and money. Making sacrifices. Reading Christian books. Talking to people about your faith.

If you’re itching to look different – to be different – than the typical young girl, maybe it’s time you started being a little more serious about…well, everything.

 

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God…put to death therefore what is earthly in you…” – Colossians 3:2-3, 5

 

Question: Do people look at you think you’re different than everyone around you? Are you seen as dedicated, focused, and mature? Where in your life do you need to be a little more serious?

 

Is Something Sapping Your Joy?

Are you having one of those days? Like your head is in a cloud, your heart is in a funk, and you just can’t shake it? It’s not like anything has or hasn’t happened. You’re just…blah.

It’s hard to obey the command to be joyful when you just don’t feel like it and for the life of you you can’t figure out why.

Here are some things that might be sapping your joy:

- Bitterness

“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, any bu it many become defiled.” – Hebrews 12:15

Are you clinging onto some kind of hurt? Are unforgiveness or criticalness stewing in your heart? Has something happened and you just plain refuse to let it go?

- Envy

“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”

Is there someone that you envy? You find yourself desiring the things, the opportunities, or the life that they have? Are you struggling thinking that things would turn around if you just had what they have?

- Discontentment

“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment…” – 1 Timothy 6:10

Are you holding out, waiting for something better to come along? Do you keep thinking that if you had a certain thing, you would be happy? Or that if circumstances were different, you would feel better?

-Discouragement

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.” – John 14:1

Has hopelessness settled into your spirit? Is something going on and you’re doubting it will ever get better? Do you feel like you keep trying and not succeeding and you want to give up? Are your faith and hope in yourself and what you can see?

Joy is a promise from God. Unconditional. Unfailing. Unbelievable. Never let joylessness become an option.

Question: When or where do you find joy seeping out of you? Do you recognize triggers? What are some Bible verses you can cling to that help you cling to joy?

When PDA’s Are Good For Christians

Boys are blue. Girls are red. Together, they make purple. And purple is not allowed.

Well, at youth group events, anyway.

But apart from awkward two week teenage relationships, there is an affection that Christians should not only desire and strive for but show no matter what. Actually, twelve of them.

Jonathan Edwards, known as the most important American Christian in history, wrote a work called Religious Affections. In it, he talks about how there are certain things which every Christian should display. Evidences which reveal the change inside of us from Jesus who changes us for His glory.

In other words, things that make it obvious if someone loves Jesus or not.

Are you wondering how affectionate you are? How passionate, zealous, and devout?

#1 – A new inward perception. You are created. You are not alone. You were fearfully and wonderfully made by Someone wonderful and worthy of holy reverence and fear. Yes, there is a God.

#2 – A pure love for God. Not a half-hearted, when it makes me feel good, “Hey, there’s a cute boy at that church so I’ll go there,” kind of love. But a consuming, heart stopping, can’t stop smiling kind of love for the God of the Bible.

#3 – A sense of beauty for God’s holiness. Realizing just how big and perfect God is and how little and imperfect you are isn’t a sad thing. It’s an amazing thing! It causes you stop and bust out in song and dance because He’s so worth it!

#4 – A spiritual understanding. The Bible is real. What it says is real. Jesus is the star and everything points to Him. And as a result…

#5 – A true conviction based on Scripture. The things that the Bible says aren’t distant and arbitrary. They’re for you personally.

#6 – A deep sense of a person’s insufficiency. You are a sinner. If you were Eve in the garden, you would have been making forbidden fruit pie on day 1. You are in desperate need of salvation and a Savior. Like, seriously, desperately, can’t hardly breathe in need.

#7 – A growth in becoming Christ like. You aren’t the same as you were last year. You are kinder, more generous, more bold, more loving. Bottom line – day by day you are becoming more like Jesus.

#8 – A Christ centered gentleness. The way you treat people reeks of Jesus. You stand apart from every girl around you because of how kind and gentle you are. And it isn’t something based on their likeability or your own good mood. It’s because you love Jesus.

#9 – A horror and sensitivity for sin. Sin disturbs you more than the idea of the Hangover III. When you sin, you are quick to repent and long to change. And there’s no justifying sin because you know your Bible well enough to call sin sin.

#10 – Consistency and constancy. Good days. Bad days. Busy days and Saturdays. 24/7 you are a Christian.

#11 – An intensified spiritual longing. You seriously get Scripture when it talks about hungering for God. No matter how much of Him you get, you want more. You want to be closer. You want to be more like Christ.

#12 – Holy practices. Commitment to reading the Bible, prayer, and going to church. Generosity, sacrifice, service, and purity. These are just a few of the many, many life-style changes that consume the affectionate Christian.

 

Question: Which of these affections are evident in your life? Which would you like to make grow? Do you have any friends who you think need to see this list and work on their PDA’s?

Related articles

• Why I Love Him (spiritualprayers.wordpress.com)
• What is a Christian? (samuelatgilgal.wordpress.com)
• Living in “Less Than” Guest Post by Stefanie Lein (iwokeupyesterday.com)

Is Faith A Private Matter?

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1

Have you ever noticed that this amazing verse that speaks of unshakeable trust and belief in Someone we can’t see sometimes gets used as a crutch for nominal, lukewarm, slightly nauseating Christians.

“Sure, I believe in God. I go to church on Sundays.”

“I believe, just like you. Only…I’m not so loud and annoying about it.”

“My relationship with God is private and personal. I don’t need to put it on display for the world to see.”

Um…yes you do.

Faith begins with an assurance and belief in Someone that we can’t see. But real, biblical, kick-butt faith doesn’t stop there. It can’t stop there.

“But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works…For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” – James 2:18,26 (emphasis mine)

Works don’t make you a Christian. If that were the case, Angelina Jolie and her rainbow family would be ranking with Mother Theresa at the feet of Jesus. (Sorry all you Brangelina fans out there…and Mama T fans…) It has to start with assurance in Jesus as the only God and one true Savior.

But you can’t have faith and not have works. You can’t have a secret, private faith that nobody knows about and it still be real, true, Bible based faith.

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

Faith isn’t a private matter. People should know what you believe based on how you act. You are light. You are salt. You are a city shining on a hill.

Question: Do people know what you believe? Is there an area in your life where your faith is more hidden than others? Where can you do a better job putting your faith on display?

Related articles

• Importance of Faith (walkonwater727.wordpress.com)
• Defining Faith – By: Jon W. (livesharp.org)
• Faith – 2 Sides of a Coin (quiettimesamz.wordpress.com)

5 People Who Will Fail At Reading Their Bible – Are You On The List?

No one sets out to not read their Bible. I’m sure you didn’t open your eyes this morning and think, “You know what? I know I committed to trying to read my Bible every day. It’s January first. Nah – I think I’ll just skip today.” When it comes to Bible reading, we all have good intentions. But there are a few ladies out there who are set up to fail from the beginning.

 

Round-to-it Rudy

Rudy is a typical girl. She goes to school and plays a sport or two. She really likes hanging out with her friends and spends a lot of time texting and liking things on Facebook. Her room is kind of clean, she does the dishes after dinner, and has certain times when everyone knows they better not disturb her because her favorite show is on.

So when does she read her Bible? She always plans on doing it when she gets around to it. Once everything is done. Once the house is quiet and she can really concentrate because there isn’t anything else to do. She doesn’t want to set a quiet time because, well, she had too much to do.

Hate to break it to you, Rudy, but you’ll never read your Bible regularly if it’s at the bottom of your priority list.

 

Nighty-Night Nelly

Nelly actually has a set time that she plans on reading her Bible every day. She’s got it sitting right on her night stand. Her plan is that, when the day is done, she’ll pull on her jammies, slip under the covers, turn on a little lamp, and end her day basking in the Word of God.

How long until Nelly falls asleep? I give her two minutes, tops.

I am a huge advocate of reading your Bible in the morning. There’s just something amazing about starting your day off with Scripture. But I’ve also know people who genuinely enjoy reading in the evening – and they are committed to it. But never ever have I met a Nighty-Night Nelly who can climb into bed after a long day and regularly read and engage in the Bible. Beds are way too comfortable for that!

 

Distracted Denise

Denise sees her friends Rudy and Nelly and knows she doesn’t want to fall into their same traps. So she plans on reading her Bible right when she gets home from school. So she does. In her living room. With the TV on. And the computer open. And her phone sitting face up beside her.

Denise gets about two sentences in before she’s distracted.

There’s a reason we call it quiet time. Godliness and wisdom aren’t something we just absorb. We don’t grow closer to Jesus through osmosis. We have to sit down and…wait for it…concentrate! We have to focus. We have to turn off the world and turn on our brains and hearts. That can’t happen when everything around us is so noisy, it draws us away from God.

 

Perfect Polly

Polly not only knows she should read her Bible every day, she genuinely wants to. So she sets out to do it perfectly. She has forty minutes carved out each day. She has a study Bible, her journal, her journaling pen, her highlighter, and a cup for coffee. She has a devotional that’s at the top of the Christian best seller list. She is ready to go…

Until a day goes not so perfectly. And she suddenly has twenty minutes instead of forty. Suddenly, Perfect Polly is Panic Polly. How can she have her quiet time when her routine is messed up?

It’s easy to become religious with our Bible reading – to fall into a pattern of doing it the same way every time. The problem with that is, when life throws us a curve ball, we refuse to be flexible. And curve balls do come. The Pollys of the world get discouraged and give up when things suddenly don’t go their way.

 

Excuses Ellen

Ellen has committed to reading the Bible in a year. She even starts the year off great, reading every day for two weeks straight. Then comes a weekend where she’s hanging with her BFF the whole time. And she forgets to read. “But that’s okay,” she says, “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

But tomorrow is Sunday. She helps out in Sunday school and goes to youth group that night, finishing homework in between. Again, her Bible gets neglected. “But I spent most of the day doing church stuff, so that counts.”

“I spent the day praying as I went along, so that counts.”

“I’m only reading to say that I read, so I need to take a break and get excited about reading the Bible again.”

“Oh, I’m not reading anywhere in particular. Just kind of skipping around.”

Ellen – get over yourself. Not only are you not reading your Bible, you refuse to be humble enough to admit it. So you make yourself feel better and try to make yourself look better by layering on excuses.

 

The Bottom Line

Nobody is perfect. We’re all going to struggle to be consistent in Bible reading. But that doesn’t mean we should be okay with that. Want some tips to help you succeed?

-Set a time to read. Treat it like an appointment that you can’t miss.

-Have someone keep you accountable.

-Talk with friends about what you are reading.

-Have a Bible translation that makes sense to you.

-Journal – even if it is simply a verse that you read and liked and why you like it.

-When you fall off the Bible train, hop back on. Don’t fall into the habit of not reading.

 

Question: What are your weaknesses when it comes to reading the Bible every day? Have you told someone so they can keep you accountable? What methods have you found help you stay in the Word of God? What are your goals for staying committed to reading the Bible this year?

Lessons Learned From A Zombie Apocalypse

Image via Wikipedia

You don’t know how it happened. One theory is that it all began with God’s punishment on mankind for sin. Another links it to secret government experiments gone horribly wrong. Of course, there’s also the belief that it all began with some guy taking a bite of a tainted gas station burger. But it all results in the same thing…

Zombies take over the world.

Movies, TV shows, and video games are all obsessed with this story line. Why is it that we’re so fascinated with the idea of the walking dead, mindless munching on brains, completely unaware that they just lost a pinky toe? I think it has less to do with the undead and everything to do with the living.

We don’t care about the zombies. We cheer for those left unbitten, hiding behind barricades, shot gun in hand, clinging to the only humanity left in the world. We don’t want them to die! We want them to survive! Even with the odds stacked against them 1,000:1, we still think they have a chance.

Talk about faithfulness! I think tough girls around the globe could learn a thing or two about life from the threat of a zombie apocalypse. (And, no, this won’t be a re-telling of the survival skills from “Zombieland”…though they are good skills for every kick butt girl to know)

5. Fight For What You Believe In
Are you sick of seeing your world crumble to pieces? Everywhere you look, you see people living for themselves, living like God doesn’t exist, and snacking on brains like they’re Dorritos? Then do something about it!  Make sure people know what you believe, know what you stand for, and know that you won’t go down without a fight. Make sure everyone can tell you aren’t one of the zombie masses. Put the fact that you are alive and living for Christ (or just plain alive, in the zombie apocalypse world) on display.

4. Never Give Up Hope
You are hopelessly outnumbered. For every step you take forward, it seems like the opposition takes ten. But don’t give up hope. This battle is already won. The good guys come out on top. So, even when your back is against the wall and it feels like the world is out to get you (and, in Zombieland, it seriously is), keep the faith.

3. Live Each Day Full Equipped
You can’t expect to win any fight based on your own strength. You need weapons. You need training. A sawed off shotgun is the equivalent of the Word of God. You get the picture. No one in their right mind would face zombies without a weapon. Likewise, you should leave the house each day having been filled by and equipped with the Word of God.

2. Live Each Day Like You Might Die
This isn’t a movie. No one is making it out alive. Will it be today? Will it be tomorrow? With zombies on the rampage, you’d never live ho-hum. You do life to the absolute best that you can make it.

1. Have A Good Reputation
If a zombie were about to bite you on the leg, do you have people who would fight it off for you? Someone who would stand in the gap, banging on pots and pans to turn its attention away from you? You should. Make choices and live life in a way that makes people want to be around you. Dare I say, even like you? That way, when the going gets tough, you don’t have to fight off the invasion alone.

Are there any other connections between zombies and life that you can think of? Think you’d survive the apocalypse? Think you’re surviving now?

Related articles

• Zombie Preparedness – How To Survive A Zombie Apocalypse (costumehub.wordpress.com)
• Run, Zombies, Run! (wired.com)
• MNQ | Monday’s Noontide Query: Zombies (kestalusrealm.wordpress.com)

How Big Is Your Faith?

Image by gardener41 via Flickr

When is the last time you asked God for something big? Bigger than that pony when you were seven. Bigger than that date to homecoming you asked for last weekend.

When is the last time you asked God to change you? More than that, when is the last time you asked and believed that He could and would?

Faith is a funny thing. We can easily believe God for huge, unbelievable miracles because we read about them in the Bible. We believe that God can heal people because we’ve seen it happen. But when it comes to us personally, it’s a lot harder to believe that God can do big things.

I think it’s because we know ourselves so well. When we stop and think about it, we realize what messed up, mistake laden, imperfect creatures we are. When we think about changing, we remember all the times we’ve tried to change in the past…and failed.

We don’t ask because, honestly, it seems impossible.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to HIS great mercy, HE has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heave for you, who by GOD’S power are being guarded, through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” – 1 Peter 1:3-5

Did you catch the main player in the drama described above? It ain’t you, tough girl.

When we don’t ask God for big things like transforming us, thinking that it’s impossible, we’re telling Him He isn’t big enough. That is love and grace are limited by our human weakness and sinfulness.

Ugh! When it’s put that way…

“Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.” – Corrie Ten Boom

No matter where you are at in life, no matter what you’ve done, no matter how many times you’ve messed up, He is able. You just need to ask and have big faith.

Is your faith big enough?

Related articles

• The New And Improved You (fightlikegirls.wordpress.com)
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When You Just Don’t Wanna Have Faith

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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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Five Minute Friday: Every Day

This week’s Five Minute Friday (which I discovered through Beauty for Ashes via Gypsy Mama) starts with the prompt “Every Day.”

 

Every day (clap clap) it’s You I live for…

 

I can’t hear the phrase “every day” without thinking of that song…and feeling convicted. It’s so easy to sing something like that. To believe that every day I’m living for God.

 

But I’m not.

 

My priority is myself. My wants and desires. My feelings and emotions. If I’m having a good day, I’m much more prone to “live” for God. I’ll think about Him more. I’ll sing Him songs. I’ll even talk about Him to others.

 

But if it’s a bad day…

 

Why is it that I let circumstances dictate my relationship with a faithful, unchanging, constant God? He loves me though all my moods and busyness. He loves me when I am fickle and distant. He loves me no matter what is going on in my head, heart, and soul.

 

I want to be faithful like He is. I want to keep my eyes up instead of in. I do want live for Him every day. I think the only way that can happen is if I literally treat every day like it’s the only day I have. To not worry about tomorrow or a week, a month, a year from now. To wake up in the morning, put away yesterday, and focus on now.

 

Every day, it’s You I live for.

Every day, I’ll follow after You.

Every day, I live for You my Lord.

 

Forget about yesterday. And I’m not going to worry about tomorrow.

 

Today. I live for You.

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Diss Disappointment

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Have you ever had something go terribly wrong? Something turn out totally different than you wanted?

That happened to me this last week. For a year I’ve been planning on accompanying the high school students from our youth group on a mission trip to Jamaica. A whole week of service in the sun. I couldn’t wait!

Then I got an e-mail telling me I couldn’t get the vaccinations. It’s a long story why and doesn’t really matter. What mattered was that my dream was snatched away in a second. All the excitement. All the preparation. All the anticipation…gone.

Yes, I cried. Yes, I yelled. Yes, I went shopping to try and make myself feel better (and got a pedicure in bright yellow to try and cheer me up).

But then it hit me. While I can’t go to Jamaica, it means that I can have a week to myself. The kids can still go to grandma’s. My husband will be gone. A week of just me, doing whatever I want, without a care for anyone else.

Do you think maybe God wanted me to have a week of rest as opposed to a week of intense service?

A friend of mine recently had a dream crushed as well. She’d been gearing up for an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime internship. But then, some medical issues arose, and she discovered that she wouldn’t be able to do the internship. She was heartbroken.

But then God opened up the door for her to get a great job. Now she will be making money instead of spending all her money commuting and parking and such.

Do you think maybe God wanted to provide her with a chance to earn and save as opposed to the internship?

“’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” – Isaiah 55:8-9

 

Are you struggling with disappointment? Take the time to try and see what God has for you instead of what you wanted. He is in control. When we trust that and believe it with out whole hearts, disappointment flees and is replaced with a joy that can’t be quenched by any circumstance.

Have you had one of those moments where disappointment was replaced by God doing something even better than what you wanted?