I had it going on (or at least I thought I did)! I was part of the youth leadership team at my youth group. I was a good student. I was involved in the elite music groups at school; even sang solos in church! I ran on the cross country team. I didn’t get in trouble or hang out with those who did. I had it going on – or did I?
I wonder if any of you are like that too. On the outside, do you appear to have it all together, but on the inside you really don’t. Every day you feel like you have to perform a certain way to keep up with the expectations of parents, teachers, coaches, and friends when all the while inside things are not quite the way that they seem. Maybe we believe that no one knows what we are really like; they don’t get us. They just see the exterior “show.” Well, I knew what was on the inside. I remember every few weeks, I would hear the sermon preached in church, take a look at my life and think that I needed to give my life to Jesus again. Surely when He looked at me, He felt disappointed in me.
The really cool thing about Jesus it that he knows it all, the stuff others see and the stuff they don’t see. He knows and he still loves every part of us – inside and out. Even when we make bad decisions, things we are ashamed of; things we would be mortified if our parents found out about, he knows and it doesn’t change the way he feels about us. It doesn’t erase his love for you!
“One of the lies I struggle with is that I am who I am based on what I do. Drawing closer to Him has helped me to realize that it is ok if I am not good at everything! Mariah, age 14
Grab your Bible and check out Psalm 139:1 – 18. Psalms is the book of the Bible found almost right smack in the middle. Once you find it, I want you to read these verses out loud so that you can hear what Jesus is saying to you! I know it is kind of long and you’ll feel weird, but go ahead! It’s really important for you to hear this truth as you read it out loud.
“O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me; your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.” Psalm 139: 1 –18 NIV
Did you read that? Did you read that Jesus loves every part of you? Maybe you’ve heard the saying “love is blind”? Well this love isn’t! He has searched you. He knows you. He knows everything you do, everything you’ve done and everything you are going to do. Does any of it change the way he feels about you? No! Where can you flee from his presence? No where!
My friend, please know today that he is crazy for you. No matter what you've done or what is going on in your heart, it doesn't change the way he feels about you. Sure, there may be some changes to be made; big changes in fact. Just know, that he is right there loving you as you the two of you work through those changes together!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Right On Time
The screaming and whining could be heard all over the store. “But, Mommy, I want that one!” Passing by the toy department, I spotted the culprit. A little girl; I’d guess she was about 3 years old, was pitching a fit. Pointing to the beautiful china doll on the top shelf, she cried out again. “But, Mommy, I want that one!” I heard the mother trying to reason with her. “You really are not ready for that doll, honey. We need to pick a different one.” “I don’t want a different one! I want that one!” The child didn’t understand, or care, that the one she wanted was not the best doll for her. She just liked the way that it looked from afar and that was all that mattered.
My parents once gave me a gift I can still remember when I turned 16. On that sweet sixteen birthday, my parents gave me a unique keychain with a key to their car. I loved it! That key represented freedom; independence. Exactly what I was craving at that time! They took the time to pick out something they knew I would like. They planned ahead to have the key made. It was the right gift at the right time.
If, however, my parents had given me that exact same gift when I was 6, it would have been very strange; inappropriate even. At 6, I would have wondered what it was for. I wouldn’t have even known how to use it! My parents knew what to give and when to give it.
In James 1:17 we are told that God our Father gives good gifts to us, His children. Not only does He give good gifts, but He knows perfectly what to give and when to give it. His gifts are not spur of the moment because He forgot that a special day was on its way. His gifts are all about perfect timing.
When I was five, I couldn't reach my jacket that was hanging on the last peg just above the cement steps that led to our basement. I called out for help, but just refused to wait. A tumble down those steps produced a black eye that stayed with me for a very long time.I didn't trust that those who loved me would come and do what I needed when I wanted it.
The key is, can we wait patiently, all the while trusting that, in fact, His timing is perfect? Can we trust that He has our best in mind and is all the while working on our behalf?
Sometimes we are just like the 5 year old me. We grow impatient waiting for God’s gift. We want the gift and we want it now. So we make the mistake of trying to get the gift by ourselves. Have you ever tried to get something by yourself? Are you tempted, like me, to go and get it any way, even if there is a possibility that if it doesn't go just right you could end up with way more than a black eye?
There are times, with all of our prayers, (if we would admit it, maybe we are a bit like the screaming and whining child) He seems to be saying “no” or at least saying “not now”. It is here, in the place where our desires intersect His will, that we have to trust. It is here that we must trust that Father knows best and that every gift comes from the Father. Every time, in His time, the gift is good and it is perfect.
I have seen God's perfect gifts in my life as I have waited on Him. Waited on Him for a husband. Waited on Him to open doors for ministry. Waited on Him to draw my kids to Himself. Lord, I see my history with You. I'm going to choose to keep on waiting for your good and perfect gift.
My parents once gave me a gift I can still remember when I turned 16. On that sweet sixteen birthday, my parents gave me a unique keychain with a key to their car. I loved it! That key represented freedom; independence. Exactly what I was craving at that time! They took the time to pick out something they knew I would like. They planned ahead to have the key made. It was the right gift at the right time.
If, however, my parents had given me that exact same gift when I was 6, it would have been very strange; inappropriate even. At 6, I would have wondered what it was for. I wouldn’t have even known how to use it! My parents knew what to give and when to give it.
In James 1:17 we are told that God our Father gives good gifts to us, His children. Not only does He give good gifts, but He knows perfectly what to give and when to give it. His gifts are not spur of the moment because He forgot that a special day was on its way. His gifts are all about perfect timing.
When I was five, I couldn't reach my jacket that was hanging on the last peg just above the cement steps that led to our basement. I called out for help, but just refused to wait. A tumble down those steps produced a black eye that stayed with me for a very long time.I didn't trust that those who loved me would come and do what I needed when I wanted it.
The key is, can we wait patiently, all the while trusting that, in fact, His timing is perfect? Can we trust that He has our best in mind and is all the while working on our behalf?
Sometimes we are just like the 5 year old me. We grow impatient waiting for God’s gift. We want the gift and we want it now. So we make the mistake of trying to get the gift by ourselves. Have you ever tried to get something by yourself? Are you tempted, like me, to go and get it any way, even if there is a possibility that if it doesn't go just right you could end up with way more than a black eye?
There are times, with all of our prayers, (if we would admit it, maybe we are a bit like the screaming and whining child) He seems to be saying “no” or at least saying “not now”. It is here, in the place where our desires intersect His will, that we have to trust. It is here that we must trust that Father knows best and that every gift comes from the Father. Every time, in His time, the gift is good and it is perfect.
I have seen God's perfect gifts in my life as I have waited on Him. Waited on Him for a husband. Waited on Him to open doors for ministry. Waited on Him to draw my kids to Himself. Lord, I see my history with You. I'm going to choose to keep on waiting for your good and perfect gift.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Hearing Above the Noise
Quiet? When are we quiet? Our world is bombarded with noise from all directions...ipods, tvs's, radios, computers. Yet the Lord says, "Be still and know that I am God."
Do you carve out any time to come to God and be quiet? He promises that it is in the secret that we will find Him. A secret place. In order for a secret place to be secret doesn't it have to be quiet? If it wasn't, then it wouldn't be secret would it?
This weekend, get quiet. Spring is the perfect time to find a patch of grass, the shade of a tree, where you can pray, listen, read His words of love to you...
Get quiet. Find God :)
Do you carve out any time to come to God and be quiet? He promises that it is in the secret that we will find Him. A secret place. In order for a secret place to be secret doesn't it have to be quiet? If it wasn't, then it wouldn't be secret would it?
This weekend, get quiet. Spring is the perfect time to find a patch of grass, the shade of a tree, where you can pray, listen, read His words of love to you...
Get quiet. Find God :)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Letter to My 18 Year Old Self
I wrote a letter today to a dear girl who is turning 18 soon and will be heading off for college. It sure got my head thinking. Thought I would share it with you; maybe you are turning 18 soon as well....
Dear Sweetheart,
The other day I was thinking....if I was going to write a letter to my 18 year old self, what would I say? Because whatever I would say to her, is what I would want to share with you.
What I would say is it is worth it.
It is WORTH investing in your love relationship with Jesus. He is the only thing you can count on.
It is WORTH it to save your heart, mind and body to give away to just one man one day. I am so, so glad I did.
It is WORTH it to take risks to pursue not only what you love, but what you believe God created you to do.
It is WORTH it to say "no" to some things today, because it will mean you will get to say "yes" to the best.
It is WORTH it to stay close to your family; they are one of the only things that doesn't change.
It is WORTH to find your place in the body of Christ; we need each other.
It is WORTH it fill your mind with the truth of who you are in Him. If you don't, others will fill your mind for you.
It is WORTH it to count the cost now because the dividends are beyond this world.
You will grow, change and mature in the next few years unlike any other. You will make decisions that will impact the rest of your life. One choice at a time, you will create a path that has a likely outcome. Choose it carefully, honey. Forgiveness if free, but healing isn't. You are free to make wise and godly decisions. He'll speak; just be sure to always listen and obey.
All my Love,
Lynn
Dear Sweetheart,
The other day I was thinking....if I was going to write a letter to my 18 year old self, what would I say? Because whatever I would say to her, is what I would want to share with you.
What I would say is it is worth it.
It is WORTH investing in your love relationship with Jesus. He is the only thing you can count on.
It is WORTH it to save your heart, mind and body to give away to just one man one day. I am so, so glad I did.
It is WORTH it to take risks to pursue not only what you love, but what you believe God created you to do.
It is WORTH it to say "no" to some things today, because it will mean you will get to say "yes" to the best.
It is WORTH it to stay close to your family; they are one of the only things that doesn't change.
It is WORTH to find your place in the body of Christ; we need each other.
It is WORTH it fill your mind with the truth of who you are in Him. If you don't, others will fill your mind for you.
It is WORTH it to count the cost now because the dividends are beyond this world.
You will grow, change and mature in the next few years unlike any other. You will make decisions that will impact the rest of your life. One choice at a time, you will create a path that has a likely outcome. Choose it carefully, honey. Forgiveness if free, but healing isn't. You are free to make wise and godly decisions. He'll speak; just be sure to always listen and obey.
All my Love,
Lynn
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
So Into Me
Don't leave home without it! That seems to be many teens' mottoes when it comes to cameras. There is an overwhelming need to capture everything that's done...to load onto FaceBook. Hours a day can be spent posting pics, updating statuses, and commenting on everything from songs to videos.
Is FaceBook and other social medias simply a replacement of the phone or is it more?
"Almost 60 percent of college students agreed with the statement "People in my generation use social networking sites for self-promotion, narcissism and attention-seeking." The amount of comments per day for some has become the scale where they measure their friendships and for others, their self-worth.
This generation was the first to have praise poured into you when you were small. You were the first generation of kids to receive trophies not for winning first place, but for playing. You were constantly told "You're the princess". While for some, this has been a positive thing. For others, it has fed that selfish heart that we have all been born with and it hasn't turned out good.
This can lead to big problems in life. "Narcissists have an inflated sense of self, so they're prone to take too many risks. And they've proven to be worse at maintaining relationships or working on teams, which you need to be able to do in most jobs." And might I add, to function as part of the body of Christ, to be a stable marriage partner and a balanced parent.
Be aware of the amount of time your're spending on these social medias and what you're posting there. Ask the Lord, "Is this a harmless outlet for me or have I made it more?" Then listen. He'll show you.
1. Joiner, Whitney. "ego trip." Teen Vogue. April 2010: 54 - 55.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
New Name
Hey Girls,
The ministry that I am a part of Radical Revolution is looking to make a new name change. We are looking for something that is fresh and speaks to what our mission is. Can you let me know what you think? You can email me at Lynn@proverbs31.org. Can't wait to hear from you!
Name: She Reaches
Theme Verse: “… Press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” – Philippians 3:14 (NLT)
Tagline (& Mission Statement): Encouraging teen girls to reach their highest potential in Christ
About Us: She Reaches is a division of Proverbs 31 Ministries dedicated to reaching middle and high school girls. Our purpose is to be there with you in the ups and downs of life, encourage you find value in the heart of God, and challenge you to reach your highest potential in Christ.
The ministry that I am a part of Radical Revolution is looking to make a new name change. We are looking for something that is fresh and speaks to what our mission is. Can you let me know what you think? You can email me at Lynn@proverbs31.org. Can't wait to hear from you!
Name: She Reaches
Theme Verse: “… Press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” – Philippians 3:14 (NLT)
Tagline (& Mission Statement): Encouraging teen girls to reach their highest potential in Christ
About Us: She Reaches is a division of Proverbs 31 Ministries dedicated to reaching middle and high school girls. Our purpose is to be there with you in the ups and downs of life, encourage you find value in the heart of God, and challenge you to reach your highest potential in Christ.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
What's The Wise Thing?
If you are joining me here today through my devotion, Here is the Path, welcome! If you haven't had a chance to read it, please do!
Life is full of choices. What classes should I take next year? Where should I go to college? Should I use my money to go on that missions trip with my youth group or get that car that I really need? As I mentioned in my devo, some answers the Bible makes very clear. But what about those that are not?
In Andy Stanley's book, The Principle of the Path, Andy gives some great advice. He says that when we hit up against those decisions in life that we can't find answers for clearly in the Bible, we should ask ourselves this very simple question, "What is the wise thing?". You see, every choice we make is a step and each step evenutually leads down a path to a destination. Is that destination where you want to end up?
Let's say you are trying to decide if you should play lacrosse this spring or try out for the Chamber choir at your school? You know that with the classes you are taking and the demands that each would put on you schedule that it wouldn't be wise to try to do both. So how do you know what to do? Ask yourself the question: What would be the wise decision? Is it wise for you to have a physical outlet to help you to keep your sanity or are you hoping one day to be able to use your music in your future and this group would be a great place to grow? They both sound great. What is the wise thing to do?
When we ask God for His clear direction plus ask this simple question, often a peace will rise up in our hearts that makes the right choice a bit more obvious. Just remember to ask Your Father; He always knows best!
Life is full of choices. What classes should I take next year? Where should I go to college? Should I use my money to go on that missions trip with my youth group or get that car that I really need? As I mentioned in my devo, some answers the Bible makes very clear. But what about those that are not?
In Andy Stanley's book, The Principle of the Path, Andy gives some great advice. He says that when we hit up against those decisions in life that we can't find answers for clearly in the Bible, we should ask ourselves this very simple question, "What is the wise thing?". You see, every choice we make is a step and each step evenutually leads down a path to a destination. Is that destination where you want to end up?
Let's say you are trying to decide if you should play lacrosse this spring or try out for the Chamber choir at your school? You know that with the classes you are taking and the demands that each would put on you schedule that it wouldn't be wise to try to do both. So how do you know what to do? Ask yourself the question: What would be the wise decision? Is it wise for you to have a physical outlet to help you to keep your sanity or are you hoping one day to be able to use your music in your future and this group would be a great place to grow? They both sound great. What is the wise thing to do?
When we ask God for His clear direction plus ask this simple question, often a peace will rise up in our hearts that makes the right choice a bit more obvious. Just remember to ask Your Father; He always knows best!
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