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
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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
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