Passion and Persuasion

Chase the Sun (The O.C. Supertones album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This, tough girls, is a picture of the Supertones. AKA one of the greatest, most fun, totally amazing bands EVER! The Supertones were super popular back in my high school days, when ska music was all the craze. Like all good things, ska music slowly faded away and, along with it, one of my favorite bands.

 

Until this last week. I got to see them in concert – over ten years after their last album – and, wow, were they great!

 

Perhaps the only more amazing thing  than their ska-riffic concert were all the high schoolers I jumped around with who are now totally on the Supertones bandwagon. Now, of course part of that is attributed to their fantastic guitar riffs and and dance worthy trumpet solos. But I think a big part is due to…

 

ME!!!

 

Any high schooler in our youth group could tell you how obsessed I’ve been about seeing these guys. I’ve blasted their music every week after youth group, jumping up and down while signing/rapping right in students’ faces. I’ve talked about the Supertones, posted You tube videos, and locked people in my car so we could finish a song of theirs.

 

Not surprising that so many of them decided to go to the concert.

 

Isn’t it amazing how our joy, excitement, and passion over something can influence people? How it makes them curious about something they have no idea about…all because we’re slightly obsessive about it?

 

Can you imagine that happening with our faith?

 

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, 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

We are all passionate about something. The more passionate we are, the more persuasive we are. We become fangirls of movie stars. We rant and rave over the amazingness of books and bands. Heck, we eat a good meal and get so dang excited, we post pictures of it on Facebook!

 

Let’s use our passion for something greater than influencing people to love things of this world. Let’s rant and rave about Jesus. Let’s jump up and down as we reflect on quiet times. Let’s smile and giggle and talk a million miles an hour as we tell people about the Bible.

 

Passionate About Purity

A water drop. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Have you ever wanted something so badly, you would do anything to get it?

Maybe you wanted to buy something or go somewhere and you worked your pretty little tush off to earn the money. You avoided lattes, movies, and vending machines because nothing was going to deter you from that something.

Or maybe it’s a fitness thing. A sports goal or a desired weight. You disciplined yourself, pushed yourself, punished yourself until your crossed that glorious finish line.

Can you imagine if all tough girls were like that about their purity?

Imagine valuing your purity above anything else. Like a priceless treasure. A one-of-a-kind painting. Something of so much value and worth, you would do everything in your power to protect it.

You guard your eyes, not wanting anything that you see to mar your purity even a little. That might mean not watching certain TV shows or movies. Or maybe even avoiding hanging out with certain people who don’t believe in modesty (that goes for girls and guys).

You guard your body, knowing it’s been bought with the precious blood of Jesus. You know you’re walking on this earth, filled with His Holy Spirit, and the last thing you want is to bring Jesus into an unholy situation. So you draw the line at not even a hint. No compromise. You are precious and worth waiting for.

You guard your heart, knowing it is the very center of everything you feel and do. You don’t let lies, compromise, or negativity taint it even a bit. Instead, you fill yourself up with things that build you up, encourage you, and grow you in godly ways. The Bible. Books. Music. Friends. Time. It’s all pure.

Can you imagine being so passionate about your purity, it shapes everything you do? Can you imagine fighting for it?

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 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: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” – Colossians 3:1-5

Question: Is there any impurity in your life? Any compromise or shame? What do you need to change? Do you fight for purity, seeking it in every area of your life? What are you actively doing to cherish purity?

 

Related articles

• How to Pray for Purity (purehopeblog.net)
• “Purity Sucks” (procrastinatingtomorrow.com)

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)

How To Become The Best Version of You This Decade

Read part 1 here
Read part 2 here
Read part 3 here

The last two weeks, we’ve talked about becoming the best you that God wants you to be. It’s a challenge to do something as opposed to getting by by doing nothing. We talked about making changes that matter and changes that stick this month and this year. Now it’s big picture time.

What does it look like to make an amazing change this decade?
1) Be strategic.
Break through the myth of adolescence that says this is your time in life to goof off, do whatever you want, and grow up later. You are capable of amazing things now, so come up with a plan and the steps to make it happen. BUT, when you do, don’t get it into your head that you are special for doing it. You’re just being what God wants every person your age to be.

2) Be focused.
What do you want for your future? What can you do to help prepare yourself for the future right now? Keep big goals in mind and use every day to bring you closer and closer to getting there.

3) Don’t be paralyzed.
Doing hard things and thinking about the future can feel overwhelming and scary. You may doubt that you are capable or wonder if it’s really what God wants for you. It’s not about some big booming voice telling you exactly what to do. Daily submission to God will get you to the heart of God’s will. The more intimately you know Him, the more you will know His will for your life. So keep moving forward! Step outside your comfort zone!

I don’t know about you, tough girl, but these are some of the most kick butt ideas I’ve ever heard! So simple, yet so incredible. So practical, yet so life-changing.

Question: How have these past few weeks challenged and inspired you? What are some differences you hope to see or are already seeing? What big things do you want for your future that you can prepare for today?

If you haven’t already, stop by The Rebelution. I promise, it will be worth your time!

Setting The Bar High

Today, you’re in for a treat. My wonderful and fantastic husband decided he was sick of me having all the fun of blogging to you awesome ladies and wanted to share something that was on his heart. Trust me, this guy knows what he’s talking about.

 

 

Have you ever had one of those teachers that, on the first day of school, you absolutely despised and then, by the end of the school year, you loved?

 

You know- that teacher who, on the first day of school, hands you a forty-seven page syllabus and then proceeds to read it out loud to you as if you couldn’t read for yourself.  By about the third day of syllabi, you want to rip your hair out as you ask yourself, “Why does this stupid teacher have so many rules?”

 

Why do you think it is that you love them by the end of the year?

 

I want to suggest that the reason is something that you probably have never thought of…you need structure! Yep I said it. You actually thrive when the standards are higher and the rules are more structured. I know we love to hate rules and high standards, but our success rate is always higher when we know what is expected of us.

 

Why do you think that is?

 

 

Sin keeps us from desiring to achieve and to pursue the standard of doing right, but God has built into each of us a need and to love the high standard He has set.

 

Look at a few verses from Psalm 119.

 

“…I delight in your law.” (Psalm 119:70)

 

“Let your mercy come to me that I might live, for I delight in your law.” (Psalm 119:77)

 

“I long for your salvation O Lord, your law is my delight.”  (Psalm 119:174)

 

The Christian who is fighting (like a girl…haha) to grow closer to Jesus Christ will actually thrive and succeed better as they live within His very, very high standard, namely the Bible.

 

Do you love the Bible?

 

I don’t mean worship it, because we only worship Jesus.

 

But do you love what it says? Do you love and take great delight in God’s Words?  Have you learned to thrive in the structure that God has given us in His Holy Word?

 

Here is a bit of advice…as you have to learn to give that school teacher a chance to win you over by the end of the year, you need to give God’s Word an opportunity to win you over as well. Delight in His Word…take it in…love the Bible…taste and see!

 

“Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.”  Psalm 34:8

 

-Nate Mazzuca (Crystal’s exceptionally white and awkward husband)

What Matters More?

Image via Wikipedia

The following is a song written by Christian artist Derek Webb in regards to our reputation as Christians. It has some hard words in and a couple of swears – pretty controversial, so beware. But the heart of the song is what I pray you’ll hear:

 

You say you always treat people like you’d like to be

I guess you love being hated for your sexuality

You love when people put words in your mouth

About what you believe, make you sound like a freak

 

‘Cause if you really believe what you say you believe

You wouldn’t be so damn reckless with the words you speak

Wouldn’t silence your concern when the liars speak

Denying all the dying or the remedy

 

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?

Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

 

If I can tell what’s in your heart by what comes out of your mouth

Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it’s all about

Yeah, it looks like being hated for all the wrong things

And chasing the wind while the pendulum swings

 

We can talk and debate it till we’re blue in the face

About the language and tradition that He’s coming to save

Meanwhile we sit just like we don’t give a s**t

About fifty-thousand people who are dying today

 

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?

Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

 

Brother, what matters more to you?

Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

 

Tell me, what matters more to you?

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?

 

Breaking The Box

Image by ecstaticist via Flickr

Do you think it’s easy to be a kick butt Christian kind of girl?

 

You have to be super conscious of the way you talk and the way you dress.

 

You only let yourself watch certain things, listen to certain things, and read certain things.

 

You spend time reading the Bible, praying, and going to church,

 

You put others before yourself at the sacrifice your own time, wants, and feelings.

 

And, if you ever slip up on one of those things, there is this nagging feeling of guilt, shame, and disappointment.

 

Seems easier to be less than all of the above, doesn’t it?

 

Left up to ourselves, we would always choose the easier route. Whatever takes less time or energy. Whatever causes less ripples amidst our friends, families, and schools. We would rather chill out, veg out, and coast through life with only ourselves to worry about.

 

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24-26

This is one of my favorite verses when I find myself growing lazy and complacent in life. Why? I hate running. I HATE running. And the idea of running a race is about as appealing as giving away all my shoes or eating only plain toast for the rest of my life. And the main reason I hate running is that whole discipline thing. I just don’t want to work at it.

 

Maybe you feel that way about life and faith. It just seems too hard, it takes too much work, and it takes too much time. You don’t know enough. You haven’t been taught enough. You don’t know how. You’re just not up to it all day, every day.

 

And you know what? You’re right. You’re not up to it.

 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

We’re new creations because God knew it would be impossible to do life the way He wants us to if we were still our old, lazy selves.

 

Feel like you can’t cram God and godly living into the box of your life? Move to a different box. A Christ designed, Christ centered, Christ oriented one.

 

Video Viernes #36

Do You Have A Dream?

Image via Wikipedia

As an African-American, I have a whole lot of love for today – celebrating a man with an amazing dream and the courage, perseverance, and faith to see it through. Without Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the other amazing leaders of the civil rights movement, I probably wouldn’t be writing this blog today.

Martin Luther King had a dream.

Rosa Parks had a dream.

Frederick Douglas, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman and Malcolm X all had dreams.

Do you have a dream?

Do you have something that drives you? A passion? A vision for justice? A vision for peace? Is there something that makes your heart ache? Something that makes it hard to sleep at night because you want to see a change so badly?

You should.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me…” – Philippians 1:21-22

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus…preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” – 2 Timothy 4:1-2

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…” – Matthew 28:19-20

Believe it or not, you have something in common with these people in history who have made monumental ripples that changed the world forever: you’re human. You are a person with a voice and a heart and a mind. You have the ability to do great things because God has both empowered you and called you.

Do you have a dream to see people at your school living their lives for Christ? Do you have a dream to see girls stop dressing and acting in impure ways just to get a guys’ attention? Do you have a dream to see poor people in your community have a hot meal, warm clothes, and a bed to sleep in?

If you don’t have a dream, get one. Pray for passion, for vision, and a heart for something.

If you do have a dream, what are you doing about it?

Dr. King used to be a teenager. Rosa Parks didn’t have a lot of money. Sojourner Truth, Fredrick Douglas, and Harriet Tubman didn’t have the freedom to do whatever they wanted. But that didn’t stop them from dreaming, hoping, praying, and taking action.

What are you doing with the dreams that God has given you?

Refurbished Resolutions

Image by koalazymonkey via Flickr

According to usa.gov, there are several resolutions that people make year after year. But, if you are a kick butt kind of girl, you’ll find them kind of meh. So here is a fixed up resolution list for all you tough girls.

 

Their #1 – Drink less alcohol

Kick Butt #1 – Drink more water. Exchange your Starbucks cup for a water bottle. You’ve heard it all before, right? But it’s true! Drinking water helps you feel great, loose weight, and even helps with cramps. Can I get an Amen?!? Check out this site for a wonderful list about the benefits of water. Not only will you be more prepared for random ninja attacks, you’ll have more cash in your pocket by forgoing those toffee nut lattes.

 

Their #2 – Get a better education

Kick Butt #2 – Read more. There is no such thing as an ignorant tough girl. When is the last time you read a book not for school? I’m a big time fiction lover (hopefully you are too since my fiction book will be out this next year!) However, I know I need to balance it with a healthy dose of non-fiction, help me grow in my faith kind of books. My husband has an incredible book list on our youth group’s website to help you get started.

 

Their #3 – Get a better job

Kick Butt #3 – Work harder at EVERYTHING. School work. Helping out around the house. You name it. Tough girls dedicate themselves to giving 100% at everything they do. So whatever you plan on doing this next year, do it better.

 

Their #4 – Get fit

Kick Butt #4 – Get tough. I hate exercise. But I know it’s good for me and takes care of this body that God has given me. So I’m forcing myself to do it. Tough girls are more than just fit. They are healthy. What do your eating habits look like? How much TV do you watch? Are you proud of the way you treat your body? How can you be tougher?

 

Their #5 – Manage debt

Kick Butt #5 – Be more giving. I had a great talk with a high school girl about this the other day. It’s not about debt. It’s about spending. It’s not about how much you spend. It’s about who you spend it on. Are you tithing? Are you saving? Do you spend more on yourself or on others? Does your money reflect a contentedness is Jesus, or a desire for material things?

 

Their #6 – Manage stress

Kick Butt #6 – Chillax. All this striving to be tough and kick butt can wear a girl out! Don’t “do” all the time. Learn to “be.” Be still. Be quiet. Be restful. Not lazy, mind you. But take a Saturday for fun and friends! If your to-do list doesn’t get done, don’t stay up later trying to finish. Take a few things off. Even the Lord rested. Take His lead.

 

Their #7 – Quit smoking now

Kick Butt #7 – Quit the verbal diarrhea. Don’t be a gossip girl. Don’t be a pretty little liar. If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all. But, since tough girls never keep silent, work on the niceness.

 

Their #8 – Save money

Kick Butt #8 – Simplify. Clean out your closet. Clean under your bed. Want to be more content this year? Be more generous? De-clutter your life. Learn to live with less.

 

Their #9 – Take a trip

Kick Butt #9 – Take a trip. Can’t really argue with this one. I love to travel! But, if you are going to take a trip, make it special. Visit a friend you haven’t seen in forever. Take an unplugged trip where you don’t have an iPod, cell phone, or DS – just your Bible, a book, and a journal or sketch pad. Or sign up for a mission trip!

 

Their #10 – Volunteer to help others

Kick Butt #10 – Volunteer to help others. The difference? Do it in Jesus’ name and for His glory. Not because it’s fun. Not because you’ll feel better about yourself. Do it because we’re called to love like Jesus.

 

Which one of these do you want to do? Any to add to the list? Don’t forget about the read the Bible in year plan I talked about here.