Twilight is all the buzz at this house. All three of my kids went opening night. I checked out the online reviews; it sounded like it was an ok movie. No sex, right? I have yet to read the book. I am waiting on Mary to finish her's.
Ever thought Twilight might be a good way to share your faith? YouthMinistry has some ideas. Check it out. It might be just the openers you could use to share your faith with your friends.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Psalm 19:14
Hey Girls,
Our new verse for this week is Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."
Remember, we can do it with His Power!
Our new verse for this week is Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."
Remember, we can do it with His Power!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Christmas Crush or Contentment
“Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along….”
Romans 13:8 (MSG)
Recently, I heard the tv blare out the news that the credit crunch would definitely be affecting the Christmas spending this year. Credit card companies are lowering credit limits and raising interest rates. Maybe you have heard your parents talking about the economy and how things in America just aren’t that great right now. When I heard this news program, I pictured many American families beginning to worry. Where was the money going to come from to keep up with the way we have grown accustomed to celebrating Christmas? Is there any possibility, though, that this could actually be a good thing?
Overspending during the holiday season is a joy robber. In years past, you might have sensed stress in your family during this season. Romans 13:8 encourages us to owe no one anything except love. My sister and her family practiced these gifts of love last Christmas. They all chose one family member’s name to buy a gift for. In addition to this gift, they also wrote a letter of love to the receiver. My sister shared with me that the reading of these letters out loud before they opened their gifts created tears of love, healing and forgiveness. As the tears flowed from her family, she celebrated in her heart their best Christmas ever. The boxes may have been the fewest, but the love was the most!
How about your family as this Christmas season approaches? Can you make a suggestion to your family to adopt a new way of showing each other how much you really love them this Christmas?
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, Thank You for giving your Son as the ultimate gift to us. Please help me this Christmas to focus on you and help my family to do the same! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Think About It:
In past Christmases, have I put undue pressure on my parents to keep up with other families when it comes to gift giving?
What is one thing I would like to receive this year that money can’t buy? Is this something I can give to another?
What can I do each day in December that will help me to focus on Jesus?
Live It:
Plan one gift to each of your family members that costs very little, but says the world about how you love them.
Sit down with your parents and relieve them of the pressure to have to try and keep up with others this Christmas.
Power Verses:
1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (NIV)
Proverbs 19: 23 “The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” (NIV)
Job 36:11 “If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.” (NIV)
Romans 13:8 (MSG)
Recently, I heard the tv blare out the news that the credit crunch would definitely be affecting the Christmas spending this year. Credit card companies are lowering credit limits and raising interest rates. Maybe you have heard your parents talking about the economy and how things in America just aren’t that great right now. When I heard this news program, I pictured many American families beginning to worry. Where was the money going to come from to keep up with the way we have grown accustomed to celebrating Christmas? Is there any possibility, though, that this could actually be a good thing?
Overspending during the holiday season is a joy robber. In years past, you might have sensed stress in your family during this season. Romans 13:8 encourages us to owe no one anything except love. My sister and her family practiced these gifts of love last Christmas. They all chose one family member’s name to buy a gift for. In addition to this gift, they also wrote a letter of love to the receiver. My sister shared with me that the reading of these letters out loud before they opened their gifts created tears of love, healing and forgiveness. As the tears flowed from her family, she celebrated in her heart their best Christmas ever. The boxes may have been the fewest, but the love was the most!
How about your family as this Christmas season approaches? Can you make a suggestion to your family to adopt a new way of showing each other how much you really love them this Christmas?
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, Thank You for giving your Son as the ultimate gift to us. Please help me this Christmas to focus on you and help my family to do the same! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Think About It:
In past Christmases, have I put undue pressure on my parents to keep up with other families when it comes to gift giving?
What is one thing I would like to receive this year that money can’t buy? Is this something I can give to another?
What can I do each day in December that will help me to focus on Jesus?
Live It:
Plan one gift to each of your family members that costs very little, but says the world about how you love them.
Sit down with your parents and relieve them of the pressure to have to try and keep up with others this Christmas.
Power Verses:
1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (NIV)
Proverbs 19: 23 “The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” (NIV)
Job 36:11 “If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.” (NIV)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The Princess Within
Very cool. That was my weekend. I had a great chance to travel to Kinston, NC to spend Saturday with some incredible girls at a community center called The Gate. We talked about the life that the Lord wants for us...realizing the passionate love He has for us and wants us to have for Him.
Thanks to everyone who came! Let's do it again!
Thanks to everyone who came! Let's do it again!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Say "yes"
4:50 a.m. Not my ideal time for waking up, but if I am going to succeed at finishing a half marathon in December, it's what I have to do. You see, this is the time that my friends are able to run. If I'm not going to run alone, I have to get up and do what I don't want to do.
This morning, our run started out as normal. The two fast runners ahead, with my friend and I a bit behind, but shortly into our run, my friend felt sick and needed to turn back. What was I going to do? I needed to run at least five miles. I have been feeling weaker and knew I needed to push my body. But keeping up with two fast, well-seasoned runners in the pitch black seemed beyond me. I chose to go.
My legs burned as I struggled to keep up the pace. My lungs ached as it breathed in and out the cool October air faster than normal. I so wanted to quit. My mind kept saying, "It's ok, Lynn, you can't keep going at this pace. You'll be alright if you walk a bit." Yet, I knew that Greg would never want me to be out running in the dark alone. I needed to keep up.
As I fought to keep my body going, I thought of my Jesus. How He has given me life. How He has called me to keep going. Though my thoughts fight me at times. Though those around me fall behind or quit, He calls me to push on. Push myself to follow hard after Him, even when it feels like I cannot.
I made it. I ran 5 miles in 43 minutes and 22 seconds - faster than I have ever run before. I had friends who were with me and I didn't quit.
During my time of personal worship with the Lord this morning, I sang Him this song written by Matt Redman:
Yes and Amen
Hear your people saying yes
Hear your people saying yes to you
Yes to everything you ask
Yes to anything we're called to do
Hear your people say amen
Hear your people say amen to you
Let your kingdom come on earth
Let it be just like we prayed to you
Yes and Amen to everything that's in your heart
yes and amen to EVERYTHING that you have planned
We live to see your will be done
And see your perfect kingdom come on earth, on earth
Yes and Amen, we're taking up our cross for you
Give us the strength to take these dreams and follow through
We live to see your will be done
And see your perfect kingdom come on earth, on earth
Don't quit, Friend! Keep your eyes on Him and press on!
This morning, our run started out as normal. The two fast runners ahead, with my friend and I a bit behind, but shortly into our run, my friend felt sick and needed to turn back. What was I going to do? I needed to run at least five miles. I have been feeling weaker and knew I needed to push my body. But keeping up with two fast, well-seasoned runners in the pitch black seemed beyond me. I chose to go.
My legs burned as I struggled to keep up the pace. My lungs ached as it breathed in and out the cool October air faster than normal. I so wanted to quit. My mind kept saying, "It's ok, Lynn, you can't keep going at this pace. You'll be alright if you walk a bit." Yet, I knew that Greg would never want me to be out running in the dark alone. I needed to keep up.
As I fought to keep my body going, I thought of my Jesus. How He has given me life. How He has called me to keep going. Though my thoughts fight me at times. Though those around me fall behind or quit, He calls me to push on. Push myself to follow hard after Him, even when it feels like I cannot.
I made it. I ran 5 miles in 43 minutes and 22 seconds - faster than I have ever run before. I had friends who were with me and I didn't quit.
During my time of personal worship with the Lord this morning, I sang Him this song written by Matt Redman:
Yes and Amen
Hear your people saying yes
Hear your people saying yes to you
Yes to everything you ask
Yes to anything we're called to do
Hear your people say amen
Hear your people say amen to you
Let your kingdom come on earth
Let it be just like we prayed to you
Yes and Amen to everything that's in your heart
yes and amen to EVERYTHING that you have planned
We live to see your will be done
And see your perfect kingdom come on earth, on earth
Yes and Amen, we're taking up our cross for you
Give us the strength to take these dreams and follow through
We live to see your will be done
And see your perfect kingdom come on earth, on earth
Don't quit, Friend! Keep your eyes on Him and press on!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Stand True
Today is the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity. We must speak up for those who cannot speak. For those whose voices are silenced every day.
Below is some information from Stand True. This is a ministry my teen daughter found on line from their website:
Make sure and register for the 2008 Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity at www.silentday.org
Today is the 5th annual Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity; are you ready?
I wanted to first share an e-mail which I received last night that brought tears to my eyes.
“I got one girl to not get an abortion because I took a ZERO in class for this and she started crying. She pulled me into the bathroom and told me she was pregnant and was going to have an abortion and she said because of how much this meant to me she didn't! We both sat in the bathroom and cried for a few minutes." The ended up giving birth and her baby was adopted.
Even if this were the only e-mail I got with a story like this, it makes all the effort worth it. The truth is, I get dozens of e-mails like this every year from students who participate in the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity. We are so blessed to see what God is doing with this event.
Some Important Reminders
1. Please remember that not everyone is going to be nice to you tomorrow; in fact you will probably experience some harassment for participating. It is important that you remain peaceful and loving towards everyone, no matter how nasty they are to you.
2. This is a day of prayer and solidarity, not a day of rebellion. Please stay focused on why we are doing this and remain in a prayerful attitude all day.
3. If someone needs to talk to you about abortion it is ok to break your silence. The girl in the opening story broke her silence last year and was able to help her friend and a baby was saved because of it.
4. Please take pictures and write down your experiences about the day. You can submit them on the web site or e-mail them to us. This helps us show the world how many of us are pro-life.
5. If you have a blog, MySpace, Facebook or other web site, please promote this event tonight.
Here are some of the groups and events on Facebook and MySpace you can use to promote:
Invite your friends on Facebook to the official event at http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=5669658602
Invite your friends on MySpace to the official Silent Day Page at http://www.myspace.com/silenced12273
Invite your friends to the official group on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=5669658602#/group.php?gid=2248662014
We would also like to ask everyone to please add the official song "Silent Screams", from the band My Brother's Scars to your MySpace. http://www.myspace.com/mybrothersscars
I want to thank you so much for taking a stand and being a voice for the babies and for Christ. I will be praying for all of you tomorrow as you light up the darkness.
Very Important
Has the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity been a blessing to you? Have you seen the amount of good that has come from this event over the past 4 years? Do you believe in this event and Stand True (the ministry that puts it on every year)?
If so, we would ask you to please consider helping to support this event with a donation. It takes a lot of time and money to make this amazing, pro-life, witnessing, opportunity happen. I know most of you are students and don't have a lot of money. Most of you will spend at least $5 on a value meal or some kind of fancy latte between now and the event. Would you consider skipping that meal or coffee to help the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity?
Here are four ways to donate:
1) Send a PayPal donation to store@standtrue.com
2) Go to www.silentday.org and click on the donate button
3) Call the office at 937.339.5648 and make a credit card donation
4) Send a check to Stand True - PO Box 890 - Troy, OH 45373
The Vision Behind the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity
In the spring of 2004, a student from McNeese State University asked me, "What can I do to work with other students around the country, in solidarity, to help end abortion?"
When I speak to students, I am often asked: "What can I do? I have ideas, but I don't know what to do with them. Can I really make a difference? I'm just one person."
In 2004, the question set off a spark in my head.
I replied, "What if we got students to not only act in solidarity with others, but also with the children that are dying every day?" As soon as I said it, I knew God had set something in motion.
At the time, I was working from the basement of my home with a computer, a web site, and a small e-mail list I'd collected over the previous months. I wasn't sure what could be accomplished with that, but I offered it to God and started sending out emails.
Now, something that started as just a few thousand students from 300 campuses has grown into a nation-wide outpouring of love and action. The Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity is on its fourth year and there are tens of thousands of people on thousands of campuses around the world.
Hearts are being changed, babies are being saved, and women are being spared the trauma of post-abortive pain. People are coming together in unity to promote a culture of life. Personhood is being restored on campuses across the nation.
I really cannot take any credit for the success of this movement. It is only God who grants us the power to do this. I was one person who listened to God and through Him acted on the vision He gave me.
If you have an idea, a vision or dream, don't be afraid to stand up and let your voice be heard. Don't doubt what you can accomplish with Christ. Don't think that because you are just one person you can't make a difference.
"I have a dream"— a statement powerfully spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and yet so much more than just words. He did not cower in the face of adversity. He spoke those words with passion and conviction. He challenged the world to stand up for the rights and equality of all men.
I, too, have a dream. I, too, will not cower in the face of adversity. I believe that, through Christ, we can restore personhood to the most innocent of our brothers and sisters: the children in the womb.
Today, 4000 of my generation will be silenced.
Today, 4000 of my brothers and sisters lives will be ended simply because of their age.
Today, I will stand up and share my dream, my idea, and my vision with the world.
Will you stand with me?
For Christ I stand,
Bryan Kemper - bryankemper@standtrue.com
Founder - Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity
Change email address / Leave mailing list
Hosting by YourMailingListProvider
Below is some information from Stand True. This is a ministry my teen daughter found on line from their website:
Make sure and register for the 2008 Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity at www.silentday.org
Today is the 5th annual Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity; are you ready?
I wanted to first share an e-mail which I received last night that brought tears to my eyes.
“I got one girl to not get an abortion because I took a ZERO in class for this and she started crying. She pulled me into the bathroom and told me she was pregnant and was going to have an abortion and she said because of how much this meant to me she didn't! We both sat in the bathroom and cried for a few minutes." The ended up giving birth and her baby was adopted.
Even if this were the only e-mail I got with a story like this, it makes all the effort worth it. The truth is, I get dozens of e-mails like this every year from students who participate in the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity. We are so blessed to see what God is doing with this event.
Some Important Reminders
1. Please remember that not everyone is going to be nice to you tomorrow; in fact you will probably experience some harassment for participating. It is important that you remain peaceful and loving towards everyone, no matter how nasty they are to you.
2. This is a day of prayer and solidarity, not a day of rebellion. Please stay focused on why we are doing this and remain in a prayerful attitude all day.
3. If someone needs to talk to you about abortion it is ok to break your silence. The girl in the opening story broke her silence last year and was able to help her friend and a baby was saved because of it.
4. Please take pictures and write down your experiences about the day. You can submit them on the web site or e-mail them to us. This helps us show the world how many of us are pro-life.
5. If you have a blog, MySpace, Facebook or other web site, please promote this event tonight.
Here are some of the groups and events on Facebook and MySpace you can use to promote:
Invite your friends on Facebook to the official event at http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=5669658602
Invite your friends on MySpace to the official Silent Day Page at http://www.myspace.com/silenced12273
Invite your friends to the official group on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=5669658602#/group.php?gid=2248662014
We would also like to ask everyone to please add the official song "Silent Screams", from the band My Brother's Scars to your MySpace. http://www.myspace.com/mybrothersscars
I want to thank you so much for taking a stand and being a voice for the babies and for Christ. I will be praying for all of you tomorrow as you light up the darkness.
Very Important
Has the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity been a blessing to you? Have you seen the amount of good that has come from this event over the past 4 years? Do you believe in this event and Stand True (the ministry that puts it on every year)?
If so, we would ask you to please consider helping to support this event with a donation. It takes a lot of time and money to make this amazing, pro-life, witnessing, opportunity happen. I know most of you are students and don't have a lot of money. Most of you will spend at least $5 on a value meal or some kind of fancy latte between now and the event. Would you consider skipping that meal or coffee to help the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity?
Here are four ways to donate:
1) Send a PayPal donation to store@standtrue.com
2) Go to www.silentday.org and click on the donate button
3) Call the office at 937.339.5648 and make a credit card donation
4) Send a check to Stand True - PO Box 890 - Troy, OH 45373
The Vision Behind the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity
In the spring of 2004, a student from McNeese State University asked me, "What can I do to work with other students around the country, in solidarity, to help end abortion?"
When I speak to students, I am often asked: "What can I do? I have ideas, but I don't know what to do with them. Can I really make a difference? I'm just one person."
In 2004, the question set off a spark in my head.
I replied, "What if we got students to not only act in solidarity with others, but also with the children that are dying every day?" As soon as I said it, I knew God had set something in motion.
At the time, I was working from the basement of my home with a computer, a web site, and a small e-mail list I'd collected over the previous months. I wasn't sure what could be accomplished with that, but I offered it to God and started sending out emails.
Now, something that started as just a few thousand students from 300 campuses has grown into a nation-wide outpouring of love and action. The Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity is on its fourth year and there are tens of thousands of people on thousands of campuses around the world.
Hearts are being changed, babies are being saved, and women are being spared the trauma of post-abortive pain. People are coming together in unity to promote a culture of life. Personhood is being restored on campuses across the nation.
I really cannot take any credit for the success of this movement. It is only God who grants us the power to do this. I was one person who listened to God and through Him acted on the vision He gave me.
If you have an idea, a vision or dream, don't be afraid to stand up and let your voice be heard. Don't doubt what you can accomplish with Christ. Don't think that because you are just one person you can't make a difference.
"I have a dream"— a statement powerfully spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and yet so much more than just words. He did not cower in the face of adversity. He spoke those words with passion and conviction. He challenged the world to stand up for the rights and equality of all men.
I, too, have a dream. I, too, will not cower in the face of adversity. I believe that, through Christ, we can restore personhood to the most innocent of our brothers and sisters: the children in the womb.
Today, 4000 of my generation will be silenced.
Today, 4000 of my brothers and sisters lives will be ended simply because of their age.
Today, I will stand up and share my dream, my idea, and my vision with the world.
Will you stand with me?
For Christ I stand,
Bryan Kemper - bryankemper@standtrue.com
Founder - Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity
Change email address / Leave mailing list
Hosting by YourMailingListProvider
Monday, October 20, 2008
'Rents...Can't Live With Them? Can't Live Without Them!
If you are joining me today after reading my post on RadRevolution, welcome! If you would like to read the devo, just click here.
So, let's just admit it. This stage of live is way hard! You want to make your own decisions; do your own thing, yet you don't have what it takes to do that. You still need your parent's home, car, food, you know, the basics. Hopefully, you also want more than that. Hopefully, you also want to get along with your parents and enjoy these last few years you have together before you are on your own!
Let me take a couple of moments, as the mom on the other side with three teenagers to give you some pointers on what goes a long way with me. Maybe you will find some similarities that will help you in your relationships as well.
1) Be respectful.
My kids and I cut up all the time. I try to understand their language, what they find is funny and even am the brunt of their teasing now and then. It is important to me, though, that they know where I draw the line. One line, for instance, is in correcting me. I don't mind if my child shares with me something she sees is wrong, as long as it is done with respect and not in front of others!
2) Be real.
Perfection is above us all and it is definitely above me and my family. Mistakes and bad choices are bound to happen; we're human. Just tell the truth when it does and then we can all go from there.
3) Be relational.
I get that my kids have friends. They have plans and stuff they need to do like homework, sports and jobs, but when they are home, I want to spend time with them, too. When I ask them how their day is, I would like to hear more than a grunt! When you have some time, step out of your world and step into your parents for a few minutes and talk about your day. It doesn't have to be deep (at least not at first if you don't want), just start talking. I think you will find this will go a long way toward developing a better relationship.
I hope these ideas help! I would LOVE to hear some more from you. Would you take a minute, click comments below and tell me what you do to try to get along with your family better? Thanks! I can't wait to hear from you!
So, let's just admit it. This stage of live is way hard! You want to make your own decisions; do your own thing, yet you don't have what it takes to do that. You still need your parent's home, car, food, you know, the basics. Hopefully, you also want more than that. Hopefully, you also want to get along with your parents and enjoy these last few years you have together before you are on your own!
Let me take a couple of moments, as the mom on the other side with three teenagers to give you some pointers on what goes a long way with me. Maybe you will find some similarities that will help you in your relationships as well.
1) Be respectful.
My kids and I cut up all the time. I try to understand their language, what they find is funny and even am the brunt of their teasing now and then. It is important to me, though, that they know where I draw the line. One line, for instance, is in correcting me. I don't mind if my child shares with me something she sees is wrong, as long as it is done with respect and not in front of others!
2) Be real.
Perfection is above us all and it is definitely above me and my family. Mistakes and bad choices are bound to happen; we're human. Just tell the truth when it does and then we can all go from there.
3) Be relational.
I get that my kids have friends. They have plans and stuff they need to do like homework, sports and jobs, but when they are home, I want to spend time with them, too. When I ask them how their day is, I would like to hear more than a grunt! When you have some time, step out of your world and step into your parents for a few minutes and talk about your day. It doesn't have to be deep (at least not at first if you don't want), just start talking. I think you will find this will go a long way toward developing a better relationship.
I hope these ideas help! I would LOVE to hear some more from you. Would you take a minute, click comments below and tell me what you do to try to get along with your family better? Thanks! I can't wait to hear from you!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Motel 6 - Just Passing Through
Not too long ago, I took a plane trip. Shortly after I got on the plane, I settled in. I hung up my curtains, put up my family picture, rolled out a rug, plugged in my tv, computer and phone and hung up my clothes. Ridiculous hun?
I was thinking this morning as I was preparing to speak at a teen event in a couple of weeks, that this is exactly what lots of us are doing in this life. We are "settling" in on this planet as if this is our final destination. Our daily routines reflect this. The amount of time we spend watching TV and on the computer reflects this. Our plans for the weekend reflect this. But if we truly believe that heaven is our home, than this place really needs to be seen as the temporary passage that it is.
Greg and I have carpet in our upstairs that is 12 years old. As you can imagine, with 3 kids growing up here and countless others who have called it "home" over the years, it is one sorry sight. We have had plans to replace this fall, but are rethinking those plans. In the long run, is it really very important? Sometimes, I really need to take a step back and ask myself that question. In light of eternity, who really cares if my carpet is worn out?
Today, let's look at our lives and ask ourselves: Does my life reflect the fact that I am just passing through? If not, Lord, show me today how you want me to change and then give me the strength to store up my treasures in heaven and not here on earth. What can you do today that will impact eternity? Ask the Lord for an idea - He is sure to have plenty!
I was thinking this morning as I was preparing to speak at a teen event in a couple of weeks, that this is exactly what lots of us are doing in this life. We are "settling" in on this planet as if this is our final destination. Our daily routines reflect this. The amount of time we spend watching TV and on the computer reflects this. Our plans for the weekend reflect this. But if we truly believe that heaven is our home, than this place really needs to be seen as the temporary passage that it is.
Greg and I have carpet in our upstairs that is 12 years old. As you can imagine, with 3 kids growing up here and countless others who have called it "home" over the years, it is one sorry sight. We have had plans to replace this fall, but are rethinking those plans. In the long run, is it really very important? Sometimes, I really need to take a step back and ask myself that question. In light of eternity, who really cares if my carpet is worn out?
Today, let's look at our lives and ask ourselves: Does my life reflect the fact that I am just passing through? If not, Lord, show me today how you want me to change and then give me the strength to store up my treasures in heaven and not here on earth. What can you do today that will impact eternity? Ask the Lord for an idea - He is sure to have plenty!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Who Are We Up Against?
Hey girls,
Here is our new verse for this week.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers and this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12
Sunday night I went to a meeting for new students in our church's youth group. The leader made this statement "Hurt people hurt people, healthy people heal people". Wow. It has been two days and I keep thinking on that nugget of truth.
So many times when I have been hurt by someone, I have made it all about me. What did I do? Why did they do that to me? I didn't deserve that. This statement turns all of that around. Instead it becomes: What is going on in them? Why did they feel the need to do that? Why are they hurting
Last week, my friend Zoe said it was her goal in life to become a Q-tip. Quit Taking It Personal. More great advice.
This week you will have opportunities. Opportunities to look at someone who is hurting and decide to be part of their healing process or decide to become another person on their list of people they have offended. Take His road. Embrace that person and become a healer!
Here is our new verse for this week.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers and this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12
Sunday night I went to a meeting for new students in our church's youth group. The leader made this statement "Hurt people hurt people, healthy people heal people". Wow. It has been two days and I keep thinking on that nugget of truth.
So many times when I have been hurt by someone, I have made it all about me. What did I do? Why did they do that to me? I didn't deserve that. This statement turns all of that around. Instead it becomes: What is going on in them? Why did they feel the need to do that? Why are they hurting
Last week, my friend Zoe said it was her goal in life to become a Q-tip. Quit Taking It Personal. More great advice.
This week you will have opportunities. Opportunities to look at someone who is hurting and decide to be part of their healing process or decide to become another person on their list of people they have offended. Take His road. Embrace that person and become a healer!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Run With Me
I can’t believe I did it. Somehow, I committed myself to running a half marathon with some friends. That’s 13.1 miles! How did I get myself into this? It is true that I enjoy running, but this is taking it all a bit far. See, for someone like myself who easily becomes bored with exercising, this is big!
Over the years, I have discovered something about myself that I am not too proud of. I am not highly motivated. When I run, if I am running alone, I stop to walk up the hills, but when I am running with a friend, I keep going. In fact, just this week I ran 8 miles without stopping! All because I had someone who ran with me.
My running habits look a lot like my faith habits. Ecclesiates 4:9 - 12 says it all: "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall (or want to quit like me!), one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone with he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (NKJV)
I need friends. I need ones who will come along side of me and encourage me to pursue Jesus. I need ones who will be honest with me and push me to grow.
Maybe you too are like me. You also need a friend to come along side of you to encourage you to keep going; to push yourself up that spiritual hill and become stronger. If you already have that friend, let them know that you are counting on them to support you in this race you are running. If you don’t, ask the Lord to bring you a friend that will not only encourage you, but that you can encourage in return. You just might be the answer to someone’s prayer today.
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, Thank you for always being beside as I run this race called life. Please help me to find another friend who will not only run along with me, but one that I can encourage as well. In Jesus’ Name. Amen
Think About It:
Do I tend to want to give up in my run with Jesus when I hit a hill or am I the type who digs in and pushes on?
Do I have a friend in my life already that I need to be encouraging, even when it might feel a little weird to talk about our faith? Do I need to pray for a new friend?
How about my parents? Consider sharing with them that you need a little support to keep heading up the hills in your life.
Live It:
What are some practical ways that you can encourage your friends? Try one of the following:
· Invite them to a Christian club at school or your youth group.
· Ask them how you can pray for them.
· Memorize a verse together that talks about something you are both struggling with.
· Pray together for some mutual friends who need to know Jesus
Power Verses:
2 Timothy 4:6 & 7 The Message “You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way!”
Hebrews 12:1 – 3 The Message “Do you see what this means – all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running – and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside of God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”
Philippians 3: 14 The Message “Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward – to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”
Over the years, I have discovered something about myself that I am not too proud of. I am not highly motivated. When I run, if I am running alone, I stop to walk up the hills, but when I am running with a friend, I keep going. In fact, just this week I ran 8 miles without stopping! All because I had someone who ran with me.
My running habits look a lot like my faith habits. Ecclesiates 4:9 - 12 says it all: "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall (or want to quit like me!), one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone with he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (NKJV)
I need friends. I need ones who will come along side of me and encourage me to pursue Jesus. I need ones who will be honest with me and push me to grow.
Maybe you too are like me. You also need a friend to come along side of you to encourage you to keep going; to push yourself up that spiritual hill and become stronger. If you already have that friend, let them know that you are counting on them to support you in this race you are running. If you don’t, ask the Lord to bring you a friend that will not only encourage you, but that you can encourage in return. You just might be the answer to someone’s prayer today.
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, Thank you for always being beside as I run this race called life. Please help me to find another friend who will not only run along with me, but one that I can encourage as well. In Jesus’ Name. Amen
Think About It:
Do I tend to want to give up in my run with Jesus when I hit a hill or am I the type who digs in and pushes on?
Do I have a friend in my life already that I need to be encouraging, even when it might feel a little weird to talk about our faith? Do I need to pray for a new friend?
How about my parents? Consider sharing with them that you need a little support to keep heading up the hills in your life.
Live It:
What are some practical ways that you can encourage your friends? Try one of the following:
· Invite them to a Christian club at school or your youth group.
· Ask them how you can pray for them.
· Memorize a verse together that talks about something you are both struggling with.
· Pray together for some mutual friends who need to know Jesus
Power Verses:
2 Timothy 4:6 & 7 The Message “You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way!”
Hebrews 12:1 – 3 The Message “Do you see what this means – all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running – and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside of God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”
Philippians 3: 14 The Message “Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward – to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”
Friday, September 12, 2008
Truth Will Set Us Free
Since our new group started a terrific book called Lies Young Women Believe and The Truth That Sets Them Free, I thought we would memorize a verse this week that will help us to remember what our goal is: to walk freely with Jesus!
It is John 8:32 "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!" These words came directly from Jesus.
If you find after a couple of days that you already know this one, just comment below and I'll post another!
It is John 8:32 "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!" These words came directly from Jesus.
If you find after a couple of days that you already know this one, just comment below and I'll post another!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Give Them a Try
“For if they fall, one will lift up his companion, but woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NKJV)
I read an interview with a seventeen year old girl that blew me away. She talked about how badly she wanted her parents to know what was going on in her life: who she was dating, how far they had gone, how he treated and the mean things he said to her. She didn’t tell them though. She was afraid; afraid of how they would react.
As a parent, this crushed my heart. I want my kids to be able to tell me the things in life that they are struggling hard with. I want them to know that they are not alone. I want to be able to pray for her, love her and hold her when she needs it, but the only way I can do that for her is if she is honest with me.
Honesty; that is a tough one. If we are not honest, though, how can someone support us when we need it? How can someone help us to avoid trouble?
The Lord has given us parents to be these exact people; people who can help us up when we fall. People who will love us even when we find it hard to love ourselves. People who believe in us.
Give your parents a try. Ask them to not freak out; to just listen to you. If you give them a chance, you may find your parent to be just the type of friend you need!
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, Thank you for the whole plan you had of parents; what a great idea. Help me to be able to trust my parents. Show me how I can develop a better relationship with them and find that extra bit of help I need in life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Think About It:
Do I trust my parents with my really personal stuff?
Why do I withhold information from my parents?
Do my parents have the wisdom I might need for exactly where I am at right now?
Live It:
Figure out a time when you can get one-on-one with one or both of your parents. Try a walk at the park or dinner out. Begin to share some things with your parents and see how they handle it. You can start small; just be sure to start!
Pray and ask the Lord to help you to build a trusting relationship with your parents where you trust them and they trust you.
If you don’t have a parent who is a believer, look for another adult who loves the Lord and start building a great relationship with them.
Power Verses:
Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.” (NKJV)
Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (NKJV)
Psalm 51:6 “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” (NKJV)
I read an interview with a seventeen year old girl that blew me away. She talked about how badly she wanted her parents to know what was going on in her life: who she was dating, how far they had gone, how he treated and the mean things he said to her. She didn’t tell them though. She was afraid; afraid of how they would react.
As a parent, this crushed my heart. I want my kids to be able to tell me the things in life that they are struggling hard with. I want them to know that they are not alone. I want to be able to pray for her, love her and hold her when she needs it, but the only way I can do that for her is if she is honest with me.
Honesty; that is a tough one. If we are not honest, though, how can someone support us when we need it? How can someone help us to avoid trouble?
The Lord has given us parents to be these exact people; people who can help us up when we fall. People who will love us even when we find it hard to love ourselves. People who believe in us.
Give your parents a try. Ask them to not freak out; to just listen to you. If you give them a chance, you may find your parent to be just the type of friend you need!
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, Thank you for the whole plan you had of parents; what a great idea. Help me to be able to trust my parents. Show me how I can develop a better relationship with them and find that extra bit of help I need in life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Think About It:
Do I trust my parents with my really personal stuff?
Why do I withhold information from my parents?
Do my parents have the wisdom I might need for exactly where I am at right now?
Live It:
Figure out a time when you can get one-on-one with one or both of your parents. Try a walk at the park or dinner out. Begin to share some things with your parents and see how they handle it. You can start small; just be sure to start!
Pray and ask the Lord to help you to build a trusting relationship with your parents where you trust them and they trust you.
If you don’t have a parent who is a believer, look for another adult who loves the Lord and start building a great relationship with them.
Power Verses:
Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.” (NKJV)
Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (NKJV)
Psalm 51:6 “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” (NKJV)
Friday, August 29, 2008
Who? Me?
I had a friend ask me a question last night...why do people always blame others? It is really causing problems in my family! Good question....
I started thinking about that this morning...why do I blame shift? It is a perpetual temptation for me, I admit. I HATE blowing it; let alone admitting I have done it. Last week, I had over 40 people in my house three days in a row. Fun, but crazy! My mind was constantly in a whirlwind. In the middle of day 2, I headed out the door and decided to take my husband's new car. I approached a stop sign, with my head definately several miles down the road. The Altima in front of me stopped and then began a right turn. I, not driving defensively, assumed she did indeed turn. So I looked left - clear - and then began to turn right. Low and behold - she didn't turn. So - again let me state - in my husband's new car that he has waited for over two years to buy - I HIT HER! Oh my gosh! Immediately, my mind said "It's not my fault. She pulled out - she should have turned". Fortunately, it was a small bump and no damage was done. But OF COURSE when it came time to retell the story to my husband, it was her fault.
So, why do I do it? Why do I blame others instead of just saying, "Greg, I blew it. I was busy thinking of all of the stuff I had to do today and instead of rechecking, I pulled out and hit her". I can guarantee you that is not how I told the story to my husband.
Reason #1) Fear
If the accident wasn't my fault, you can't get mad at me right? I have asked my children before, "Why don't you just tell me the truth when you mess up? I won't get so mad at you if you just tell me the truth?" Because you get mad at us is their answer....sounds very familiar. I guess you would call that learned behavior. The Bible calls it fear of man. Peter gives us a pretty big hint on how to handle this situation in our life in Acts 5:29 "We ought to obey God rather than men." When we fear the reaction of people more than we fear the reaction of God - we end up sinning. Rather to be honest with people and call it like it is than to deceive and disobey God.
Reason #2) Pride
Yes...like every other person on the planet, I hate to mess up and admit it because I hate to mess up and admit it! If I want to figure out what God thinks of this issue in my life, all I have to do is read Proverbs. Every other verse deals with this really gross sin. Jesus himself tells us how to defeat this one, "Whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:4.
Reason #3) Laziness
I know you are probably thinking...what? That doesn't have anything to do with blame shifting. Well, it does for me. See, if I admit that I forgot to put chlorine in the pool and it turned green, than that means I am responsible to get it back to blue again....but, if the temperatures just got too high and there seemed to be an inbalance in the pool chemicals, then Greg will probably fix it. See? Yep...this is another struggle for me and one I would just soon not admit. I sometimes pile so much on my plate and then there is that very real problem with procrastination that I have to deal so sometimes blame shifting seems to be a very easy solution (again - laziness even comes out when I blame shift. UGH!!!)
So once again, I head back to the cross. It sure is a good thing He is so full of grace. I know that looking at this again today has reminded me to humble myself, tell it like it is and deal with it. Life will be more peaceful and my Love will look down on me and smile at my reflection of Him.
I started thinking about that this morning...why do I blame shift? It is a perpetual temptation for me, I admit. I HATE blowing it; let alone admitting I have done it. Last week, I had over 40 people in my house three days in a row. Fun, but crazy! My mind was constantly in a whirlwind. In the middle of day 2, I headed out the door and decided to take my husband's new car. I approached a stop sign, with my head definately several miles down the road. The Altima in front of me stopped and then began a right turn. I, not driving defensively, assumed she did indeed turn. So I looked left - clear - and then began to turn right. Low and behold - she didn't turn. So - again let me state - in my husband's new car that he has waited for over two years to buy - I HIT HER! Oh my gosh! Immediately, my mind said "It's not my fault. She pulled out - she should have turned". Fortunately, it was a small bump and no damage was done. But OF COURSE when it came time to retell the story to my husband, it was her fault.
So, why do I do it? Why do I blame others instead of just saying, "Greg, I blew it. I was busy thinking of all of the stuff I had to do today and instead of rechecking, I pulled out and hit her". I can guarantee you that is not how I told the story to my husband.
Reason #1) Fear
If the accident wasn't my fault, you can't get mad at me right? I have asked my children before, "Why don't you just tell me the truth when you mess up? I won't get so mad at you if you just tell me the truth?" Because you get mad at us is their answer....sounds very familiar. I guess you would call that learned behavior. The Bible calls it fear of man. Peter gives us a pretty big hint on how to handle this situation in our life in Acts 5:29 "We ought to obey God rather than men." When we fear the reaction of people more than we fear the reaction of God - we end up sinning. Rather to be honest with people and call it like it is than to deceive and disobey God.
Reason #2) Pride
Yes...like every other person on the planet, I hate to mess up and admit it because I hate to mess up and admit it! If I want to figure out what God thinks of this issue in my life, all I have to do is read Proverbs. Every other verse deals with this really gross sin. Jesus himself tells us how to defeat this one, "Whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:4.
Reason #3) Laziness
I know you are probably thinking...what? That doesn't have anything to do with blame shifting. Well, it does for me. See, if I admit that I forgot to put chlorine in the pool and it turned green, than that means I am responsible to get it back to blue again....but, if the temperatures just got too high and there seemed to be an inbalance in the pool chemicals, then Greg will probably fix it. See? Yep...this is another struggle for me and one I would just soon not admit. I sometimes pile so much on my plate and then there is that very real problem with procrastination that I have to deal so sometimes blame shifting seems to be a very easy solution (again - laziness even comes out when I blame shift. UGH!!!)
So once again, I head back to the cross. It sure is a good thing He is so full of grace. I know that looking at this again today has reminded me to humble myself, tell it like it is and deal with it. Life will be more peaceful and my Love will look down on me and smile at my reflection of Him.
Monday, August 4, 2008
To Wait or Not To Wait....The Banana Blunder
Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (NIV)
Willing to do anything to give my daily ritual of a chocolate breakfast drink a shake up, I grabbed one of the new bananas next to the blender this morning. Ok, so they were a little green at the top, but the rest of the banana was golden and ripe. Immediately after breaking off the top, I knew I was heading in the wrong direction. You know that resistance you get when you start to pull back the banana peel and part of it clings to the fruit? Well, I ignored that warning, threw the hard banana into the blender and hit the liquefy button. I anticipated a great new taste as I watched the yummy chocolate and banana swirl.
Wow...were my taste buds in for a BIG disappointment. Yuck! It tasted chalky, a little bitter and pasty. Even after that initial swallow, I continued to gulp down my breakfast. I couldn’t quit now - I had already mixed it together. Of course, an hour later I totally regretted my decision. My stomach wanted to remove that banana! How I wished I had waited one more day to eat the banana. One more day would have made all the difference between gross and great!
Do you ever feel like your life has been a series of short stories on waiting? Waiting to get to high school. Waiting to get out of high school. Waiting for your driver’s license. Waiting for a car. Waiting to start dating. Waiting for a date. I don't know about you, but sometimes while in the middle of waiting, it seems like some of my deepest dreams and desires will never come to pass or I feel that God has forgotten about them.
Now, I am starting to see life in a new light. I see that sometimes I have actually made choices to wait; waiting for the Lord to do His thing in His time. This waiting has been good and has led to many blessings, like waiting to give away my virginity until I got married. Don't get me wrong; there have definitely been those times when I didn't wait. For example, I didn’t wait to buy a car that really was reliable; instead I just bought what I could afford. Hopefully, as I grow though, I will see the true benefits of waiting for the Lord and those times of getting ahead of God will be less frequent.
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, Please help me to be patient when you call me to wait. Sometimes, it is so hard, Lord. Help me to trust You, knowing that every time You will do exactly what is best for me and what will glorify You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Related Resources:
A Young Woman’s Walk with God, by Elizabeth George
Think About It:
Do I struggle to wait?
Do I often feel like the Lord is late or wonder where He is when things don’t seem to be going right?
What can I do to encourage myself and wait on the Lord instead of getting ahead of Him?
Live It:
Grab your journal and write out the things you struggle with the most when it comes to waiting on the Lord.
Share your struggle with your parent or a good friend and ask them to pray for you.
Commit to the Lord that the next time the issue of waiting comes up, you will ask Him for strength to wait.
Power Verses:
Romans 8:25, "But if we hope for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (NKJV)
Psalm 25: 4-5, "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." (NIV)
Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven..." (NKJV)
© 2008 by Lynn Cowell. All rights reserved.
Labels: deeper faith, radical faith, radical purity
Willing to do anything to give my daily ritual of a chocolate breakfast drink a shake up, I grabbed one of the new bananas next to the blender this morning. Ok, so they were a little green at the top, but the rest of the banana was golden and ripe. Immediately after breaking off the top, I knew I was heading in the wrong direction. You know that resistance you get when you start to pull back the banana peel and part of it clings to the fruit? Well, I ignored that warning, threw the hard banana into the blender and hit the liquefy button. I anticipated a great new taste as I watched the yummy chocolate and banana swirl.
Wow...were my taste buds in for a BIG disappointment. Yuck! It tasted chalky, a little bitter and pasty. Even after that initial swallow, I continued to gulp down my breakfast. I couldn’t quit now - I had already mixed it together. Of course, an hour later I totally regretted my decision. My stomach wanted to remove that banana! How I wished I had waited one more day to eat the banana. One more day would have made all the difference between gross and great!
Do you ever feel like your life has been a series of short stories on waiting? Waiting to get to high school. Waiting to get out of high school. Waiting for your driver’s license. Waiting for a car. Waiting to start dating. Waiting for a date. I don't know about you, but sometimes while in the middle of waiting, it seems like some of my deepest dreams and desires will never come to pass or I feel that God has forgotten about them.
Now, I am starting to see life in a new light. I see that sometimes I have actually made choices to wait; waiting for the Lord to do His thing in His time. This waiting has been good and has led to many blessings, like waiting to give away my virginity until I got married. Don't get me wrong; there have definitely been those times when I didn't wait. For example, I didn’t wait to buy a car that really was reliable; instead I just bought what I could afford. Hopefully, as I grow though, I will see the true benefits of waiting for the Lord and those times of getting ahead of God will be less frequent.
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, Please help me to be patient when you call me to wait. Sometimes, it is so hard, Lord. Help me to trust You, knowing that every time You will do exactly what is best for me and what will glorify You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Related Resources:
A Young Woman’s Walk with God, by Elizabeth George
Think About It:
Do I struggle to wait?
Do I often feel like the Lord is late or wonder where He is when things don’t seem to be going right?
What can I do to encourage myself and wait on the Lord instead of getting ahead of Him?
Live It:
Grab your journal and write out the things you struggle with the most when it comes to waiting on the Lord.
Share your struggle with your parent or a good friend and ask them to pray for you.
Commit to the Lord that the next time the issue of waiting comes up, you will ask Him for strength to wait.
Power Verses:
Romans 8:25, "But if we hope for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (NKJV)
Psalm 25: 4-5, "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." (NIV)
Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven..." (NKJV)
© 2008 by Lynn Cowell. All rights reserved.
Labels: deeper faith, radical faith, radical purity
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