4 Ideas for Celebrating New Year's

Christmas is over, and we are rapidly approaching the end of 2014! I hope everyone had a wonderful year and is feeling ready to meet 2015 on Thursday.

Here are some ideas for acknowledging the new year:

• If you cook, offer to cook a nice New Year's Eve dinner for your family. Set the table with fancy linens and dishes, light candles, and plan a meal with multiple courses.
• Have a family board game night. Pull out favorite board games, make snacks, and have some fun together!
• Usher in the New Year with a personal or family prayer/devotion time or watch some favorite family movies before watching the ball drop on TV. 
• On New Year's Day, spend some time in personal reflection and planning. Think about the past year and thank God for his many blessings in your life. Review your life goals (or if you don't have any, then make some!) and check yourself: how are you doing with achieving them? Make plans to get one step closer to your goals in the New Year. 

Of course, if your family has traditions already, be sure to participate in those! It should be a joyful time of celebration with family and friends!

What do you think? How do you celebrate New Year's? Do any of these ideas sound good to you? Do you have any other ideas for ways to celebrate? 

Here for a Purpose

Everyone, at some point in their life, hits a dead end. They reach a point where they do not know where they are supposed to be or what they are supposed to be doing, or don't understand why they are where they are. Maybe you've started at a new school and you don't like it. Maybe you moved to a new state or new sports team, or maybe something familiar in your life is falling apart.

It's important to remember this simple fact: God put you exactly where He wants you to be right now, and He put you there for a reason. It could be a period of growth for you, or there could be someone who desperately needs your help, whether you can tell or not. Follow the path He has for you. You might never find out why He had you in one particular place, but you can be sure that there is a reason.

Take the examples of two people in the Bible: Joseph and Esther. Joseph was pretty much in one of the worst situations possible at first: he was sold into slavery by his brothers and then Pharaoh's wife got him thrown into prison. But God had a purpose in it all; Joseph didn't know when he was sold that God would later need him to store up food and save Egypt and the surrounding countries from famine. "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." (Genesis 50:20)

Another Biblical example of this is Esther. She was chosen to be the wife of the king of Persia, out of many other women. Soon after this, Haman began plotting to get the king to kill all of the Jews. Mordecai, her cousin, tries to convince her to go in and talk to the king, which could lead to death if she had not been invited. At first she refuses, but agrees when Mordecai says that perhaps this is why God allowed her to be married to the king: "And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14b)

You can never tell at the time why God may have placed you in a situation that is less than desirable, but always remember that you are in exactly the right place at the right time to do the work that God has for you.

What do you think? Have you struggled with this before? Have you ever been in a bad situation and later been really needed for something in that situation?

Don't Forget the True Meaning of Christmas!

Christmas is less than a week away! Who's excited??

I feel like this December has been especially busy for me, even more so than in the past. It's been hard to get into the spirit of Christmas when every spare minute has been spent studying for cram-in-before-Christmas-break tests, rehearsing for Nutcracker, decorating, family reunions, Christmas cooking (well, not yet, because I haven't had time), and trying to find perfect gifts for everyone in my family.

Well, school has finally ended for break, and I finally have time to just focus on getting into the spirit of Christmas. It's so hard to remember what the point of Christmas actually is as we get too stressed over everything else that goes on in December.

Tips for Not Getting Overwhelmed

• Try using the Advent Bible reading plan I posted at the end of November, or make your own. Try to spend some time reflecting on the Christmas story during your devotions. If you can't every day, at least do some on Sundays!
• Make a list of everything you have in your head that you need to get done before Christmas. Then take a step back and challenge yourself to cut at least a quarter of the tasks off the list or postpone them until after Christmas. Plan what day you will do the rest of them and get it written down so it isn't in your head!
• If your Christmas gifts are not yet completed, try to get the done over the weekend or at least before Wednesday so you can devote Christmas Eve to family and getting spiritually ready for Christmas

What do you think? Have you had trouble getting in the Christmas spirit this year? Are there other things you can suggest for minimizing stress during the holidays? 

Celebrate With Tinsel and Reindeer...But No Jesus!

"How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!"

-Benjamin Franklin

"Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel, and reindeers, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas."

-Ronald Reagan


These quotes discuss a problem that I see continually at Christmas. I watch people get caught up in the Christmas season who have no idea what they are actually celebrating. It makes me wonder why Christian holidays are any different from those of other religions. In other religions, you only celebrate the holiday if you practice the religion. But when Christmas and Easter roll around, everyone gets involved, usually not even realizing what they are celebrating. It's sad to see the Christmas season defaced by store managers who want to get rich, children who only care about the presents, and stressed adults trying to find the perfect presents and losing sight of the whole point.

The second quote talks about school in particular: this is something that really resonates with me now, having started public school for the first time in September. (Before that, I was in a Christian school.) I still haven't quite gotten used to the fact that I am in a minority in my school with the beliefs that I hold (although people are usually very accepting toward other's beliefs). I love the last sentence in the quote. Think about it; how would a teacher respond? The Christian connotations are worked into the very name of the holiday. You can't get rid of it without changing the essence of the holiday itself.

All this to say, don't forget that Christmas is when we celebrate Christ's birth (not when we get more stuff, stress about getting others more stuff, or make money over other people getting stuff to give their family and friends). Take a minute, step back with me, and take a deep breath. Don't let the stress overpower you!

What do you think? Do you like these quotes? Do you see this as a problem too? Do you have favorite quotes you would like to see featured?

Be Good to Your Future Husband...In High School! (Proverbs 31, part 3)

You know him. He's the one with the tawny auburn hair, sparkling green eyes, and captivating smile. He's the one who rides in on his dashing steed, kneels at your feet, and begs you to marry him. And then he sets you on his horse and you ride away into the sunset. End credits begin rolling. Or you wake up.

If you're like every other teen girl, you probably dream about your future husband often. Maybe you also worry; will you ever find the right one? What if you never find someone and live out your days single in a two-room apartment working in a gas station? What if you find the perfect one and then suddenly he isn't, and you have a terrible divorce that tears apart your life? What if...?

Trust God

God tells us very specifically not to worry about our lives. Matthew 6:34 says, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Earlier in the same passage, Jesus talks about how God cares for the birds. If he cares even for birds, shouldn't we trust that he will do the same for us?

If he intends for you to be married, he had your future husband picked out for you before you were born. Isn't that amazing? And over the first few decades of your life, he is forming you both into the people who will one day meet and discover that they are perfect for each other. 

When you worry...pray!

You might be worried about your future husband and feel that there is nothing you can do to control the fallout of events in your future. But there is one thing you can do: pray for him! Proverbs 31:12 says, "She does him good and not harm all the days of her life."

Read that again. All the days of her life. Not just after they are married. And what is the one way we can do good for our husbands starting NOW? Pray for them! Pray for their spiritual and moral development, their college applications, their family life...even though we don't know anything about them, we can still pray.

And hopefully, that will ease our worries at least a little. 

What do you think? Do you dream about your future husband? Do you worry about it too? Do you like the idea of praying for him and think it could help calm your worries? 

"The Son of God became a man..." -C.S. Lewis

"The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God."

-C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

To Think About

• Jesus cared enough about us to descend from His heavenly home and live a life as a man on Earth so that we could go to heaven to be with Him forever. 
• This quote summarizes the true meaning of Christmas so well! Keep this in mind as we go about the season and you are doing all of your Christmas shopping, decorating, last-minute homework, wrapping presents, performing in Nutcrackers, Christmas plays, pageants, recitals...remember that none of those things are really what the season is about!
• One of my favorite Christmas hymns is "Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendor." It goes like this at the beginning: "Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor all for love's sake becamest poor. Thrones for a manger didst surrender, sapphire paved courts for stable floor." It captures the essence of Christmas beautifully! (And the tune is beautiful too...if you've never heard it, go look it up!)

What do you think? Do you like this quote? Do you have trouble remembering the true meaning of Christmas? 

6 Rules of Cell Phone Etiquette

As a teenager, you probably have a phone. Or maybe you don't (I think that's great)! Maybe your phone is for emergency purposes only or doesn't do much beyond calling and texting other people. Or maybe you have the latest iPhone with a million apps and free internet access. Either way, you should still bear in mind some basic cell phone etiquette.

Teenagers have a reputation for always being on their phones, all the time, to the point of rudeness. This blog is here to encourage teens to change the reputation! And being courteous with your cell phone use encourages people to look below the surface and not just brush you off as "another teenager".

So, here are some basic guidelines I can come up with:

• Don't answer your phone in the middle of a meal, club meeting, small party, important conversation, or other situation in which you are interacting with a small group of people in person, unless it is a real emergency (like your dad). Otherwise, turn it off and wait until later to return the call. 
• If you must answer a phone call in one of the above situations, apologize beforehand and explain that the call cannot wait. Then step out of the room to answer your phone.
• The same rules apply for texting.
• Do not text, surf the internet, or do anything that requires staring at your phone when you are having one-on-one (or two) time with a friend. They want to talk to you, not just sit there! (Exception: if you are looking at pictures or something on a phone and talking about it.)
• Don't stare at your phone while walking. Please. You technically should not do this with a book either, but I think people are more forgiving if a teenager bumps into them while reading rather than being on their phone. And yes, I read while walking sometimes. :) 
• If an adult is ever trying to talk to you, please please please do not use your phone in the meantime. This will give them a very bad impression of you! Try paying attention to what they are saying instead. 

To summarize, you basically should not ever use your phone when you are in a situation where you should pay attention to the people around you and/or be communicating with them!

What do you think? Do you have a phone? Do you use it responsibly, or is that something you should work on? Do you have anything you think should be added to this list? 

"Faith is taking the first step..." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

-Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

To Think About:

• Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." What are some things you have trouble believing exist because you have never seen them?
• If we trust God fully with our lives, we will be willing to take the first step in something he seems to be telling us to do, even if we have no idea how it will turn out.
• We should always be attuned to what God might be telling us about our lives; his plans for you might be completely different than your plans for yourself!

What do you think? Do you like this quote? Have you ever taken a big step, unsure of how it would turn out, and trusted God to carry you through? What are some of your favorite quotes you would like to see featured here? 

The Proverbs 31 Girl Is...Diligent

Last time I did a Girls' Corner post I talked about trustworthiness as a Proverbs 31 virtue. Today I want to talk about another virtue: diligence.

There are two places in Proverbs 31 that it talks about diligence:
"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens." (verses 13-15)

"She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle." (verses 18-19)

Diligence means being willing to work and doing our best. There are several components to this diligence:

• She works with her hands. Her labor could be hard and even boring, and yet she still does it willingly. 
• She gets up early. She does not moan about sleeping in, but gets up ready to greet the day. 
• She provides for her household. She makes sure that they have light and food at all times.
• She does all of this cheerfully and willingly, not grudging the time that she spends in her work and caring for others. 

How can you show this kind of Proverbs 31 diligence in your life?

• Do everything diligently and cheerfully, to the best of your ability. Even the small, seemingly insignificant or menial tasks should be done in this spirit. 
• Don't complain about having to get up early for school (and yes, I realize how hard this is!), but get up cheerfully and be ready to start the day. 
• Do household chores cheerfully as well. Be willing to care for your siblings and help out their parents whenever you have time and they need help.

What do you think? Is diligence something you struggle with? Do you agree that diligence is a Proverbs 31 virtue? 

5 Ways to Improve Time Management

Teenagers have a reputation for being procrastinators. Not just "I'll do this after I watch this episode" procrastinators, but "I did my math homework for today during my English class" procrastinators. What's wrong with this picture?

As Christians, we already know that we are called to do our best in everything. When you procrastinate, it leads to sloppy work, and often late work as well (although there are some people who have their procrastination down to a science and wait until the last possible minute while never turning in a late assignment). When you are stressed and rushed, it doesn't reflect well on the work you are doing.

There can be other problems too: you are involved in too many sports, clubs, or other after-school activities. Maybe you have a job or volunteer. Juggling all of this stuff can be hard, and we still need to sleep too! This can lead to leaving homework until the last minute as well.

It is imperative that we learn to manage our time well, for now and the future. How can you do this? Here are some tips:

• Get some form of planner, whether provided by your school, bought for you by your parents, or downloaded onto your phone. Enter everything in your planner that you have scheduled for each day and the time it will take to do it. Don't forget to include transportation and preparation time for activities or events! Schedule homework, chores, and free time around these things.
• Every week, take some time to look at the upcoming week in your planner and schedule your days so you know when you are doing homework, practicing a musical instrument, doing chores, etc. Some days you will have more time open than others. 
• It's okay if you don't stick to your schedule exactly, but do try to follow it as closely as possible so that you can get everything done that you need to!
• Prioritize your homework assignments so that if you don't have time to do all of them you can at least finish the ones due the next day and work on any big projects or tests. 
• On weekends, don't worry about scheduling your whole day. Fill in things with specific times (i.e. sports games/practices, family events) and make a to-do list of other things you need to do throughout the day. Then work through your to-do list whenever you aren't involved in something else. 

Don't obsess over it too much, but try to make sure you have time to get everything important done each day!

What do you think? Is time management something you struggle with? Do you already have a planner system, or is that something you need to work on? What are strategies you have for getting all of your tasks done in a timely fashion? 

Jesus...Created; Jesus...Was Needed

Happy December, everyone!

To kick off the Advent season, today I will be doing a study of the first eight Bible verses on my Advent Bible reading plan. These eight verses fall into two general categories: Jesus Created and Jesus was Needed.

Jesus Created-John 1:1-5, Genesis 1:1-25, Genesis 2:4-9 and 18-23

In these verses we learn several important truths to keep in mind as we continue on our Advent studies:

• Jesus is God (John 1:1-5). Jesus is described as being the creator in this verse. God is the only creator of the universe, therefore this proves the deity of Christ, a truth essential to our understanding of His life, death, and resurrection.
• As God, Jesus created everything in the universe. We get a taste of this truth in the carol Joy to the World: heaven and nature rejoice in the advent of their creator to the Earth. 
• Man was created in God's image. Though, in the fall, the image was distorted, the resemblance still remains.

Jesus was Needed-Genesis 3:1-15, Romans 3:23-25

Everything was perfectly created, and then came the Fall of man and the entrance of sin into the world. 

• With the fall, the image of God in humans became broken and distorted, like a broken mirror. 
• Jesus' birth was the beginning of God's wonderful plan for redemption, without which we would be hopeless on our own. 
• Christ came into the world to save the people that He had created. He cares about and loves us, enough to sacrifice himself to us. 

What do you think? What do these verses mean to you? Do you like these verses? Can you think of other verses that would fit with these categories? 

Advent Bible Reading Plan

With the end of Thanksgiving and the last few days of November comes the Advent season, a season for reflecting on Christ's birth and the salvation it brought.

To encourage you to focus on the real meaning of the season, I have put together a Bible reading plan for December. If you don't want to read all of that, that's okay. Pick and choose the passages you want to read, or do the whole thing just as written.

So, here goes:

December 1 to 5: Jesus Created
December 1: John 1:1-5
December 2: Genesis 1:1-13
December 3: Genesis 1:14-25
December 4: Genesis 2:4-9
December 5: Genesis 2: 18-23

December 6 to 8: Jesus was Needed
December 6: Genesis 3:1-13
December 7: Genesis 3:14-15
December 8: Romans 3:23-25

December 9 to 14: Jesus was Prophesied
December 9: Isaiah 7:10-14
December 10: Isaiah 9:6-7
December 11: Isaiah 40:1-5
December 12: Micah 5:2-5
December 13: John 1:9-13
December 14: John 1:14-18

December 15 to 18: Jesus was Prepared For
December 15: Luke 1:26-38
December 16: Luke 1:46-55
December 17: Luke 1:57-66
December 18: Luke 1:67-79

December 19 and 20: Jesus was Born
December 19: Matthew 1:18-25
December 20: Luke 2:1-7

December 21 to 25: Jesus was Worshiped
December 21: Luke 2:8-14
December 22: Luke 2:15-20
December 23: Matthew 2:1-12
December 24: Luke 2:22-35
December 25: Luke 2:36-38

What do you think? Will you follow this plan? Do you have a different plan you follow that you could share? What is your favorite part of Advent?

Thanksgiving Challenge Conclusion

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

As of yesterday, the Thanksgiving Challenge officially drew to a close. I hope many of you experienced the blessing of thanking God for the everyday things in your life. And if, like me, you fell far behind and did not get to the goal amount of things on the list, it was still beneficial to do. Even if you only wrote five things down, you are getting a start on forming a lifelong habit of giving thanks to God every day.

A few things I learned:

• It's hard to put this sort of thing as a priority. At night, I would often be too tired after a busy day to give much thought to what I was thankful for in the day. 
• Every little bit helps! I found myself, after writing down just a few things during the month, beginning to thank God whenever I found myself appreciating a good thing or circumstance in my life. Most of these did not get written down, but I was forming a habit of thankfulness.
• We tend to take things for granted. Don't take it for granted if you were with family yesterday, with a roof over your head, eating turkey and pumpkin pie. Someone had to work hard to make all of the food you ate. If you think about it that way, you have more of a tendency to be thankful instead of complaining about what you don't have. 

What do you think? Did you participate in this challenge? Did you find that it helped you be more thankful in your everyday life?

3 Ideas for Celebrating Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is almost here! Yay!

Everyone loves Thanksgiving because of the delicious food. Of course, you can only eat so much in one day though, so what are some other ideas for meaningful ways to spend your Thanksgiving?

• Do some fun family activities. Break out some board games to play with your siblings or put in a movie that everyone will enjoy. If your family is the active type, organize a family football game or walk around the neighborhood. Spend your Thanksgiving having some quality family time.
• Have a reading marathon. If reading for pleasure gets pushed to the end of the list during the school year, Thanksgiving break is a prime time to get a stack of books you have been meaning to read and spend hours curled up with them. Check out my Recommended Reading page for some ideas!
• Spend some time thanking God for blessings of the past year. As November ends, we are nearing the end of 2014. On Thanksgiving, spend some time praying and reading your Bible, thanking God for the many blessings in your life. If you participated in the Thanksgiving Challenge, read over your list and thank God for everything on it.

So there are some ideas for how to spend your Thanksgiving in a meaningful way and make some new, fun memories!

What do you think? What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Do you have any other ways you typically spend the day? 

Lights of the World (Matthew 5:16)

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

-Matthew 5:16

People judge other people. That's just the way we are naturally in our sinful nature. We are prone to make split-second judgments based on what people look like, what they are wearing, or who they hang out with, often putting people into stereotypical categories after we observe them for about fifteen seconds.

So, how do you come across to other people? 
Do you seem like another typical teen giggling with their friends or constantly on your phone, nothing special, nothing that will get a second glance? Many people would feel that this is a successful image. But that is not the mindset you should have!

When people look at you, you want there to be something different, something that will make them take a second glance. You want to live in a way that honors God all the time. Your faith should be written on your face as you go about your daily life.

For example, I tend to have a reputation among my friends and teachers at school for being someone who is good at everything, works hard, and gets good grades. Why? I believe firmly in Colossians 3:23, which says "Whatever you do, work heartily, as to the Lord and not to men". I work hard and try to do my best in everything.

And people notice, whether you think they do or not. You don't know who may be looking at the moment, who may influenced by your good works. The other day I saw a boy from my school  giving a bag of groceries to a homeless man standing with his family in a parking lot. I had seen this boy at school every day and never really given him a second thought until I saw this. He probably didn't know that I noticed; I was in a car at the time. But I did, and who knows who else was watching and how that may have impacted their life?

You can't know if someone is watching, so always act like they are! You can never know how your actions will witness to someone else!

What do you think? Do you like this verse? What are some of your favorite verses you would like to see featured here?

God's Gifts and Good Works

Everyone has something that they are good at. Some people can create beautiful pieces of art, while others love to perform. Some are stellar athletes or genius mathematicians. Some can write, others can draw, and others can play a musical instrument. These gifts can sometimes just seem like hobbies, when they are actually God's gifts to us.

If you are good at something, you can be sure that there is a reason that God gave you that gift. He wants you to use it for Him in some way. Don't let it just become a hobby that you do when you have time. If you love it, take it to the next level. Take classes. Plan to study it in college. Find a way to glorify God using your interests.

For example, I started this blog because I love to write. I saw that there was a need for Christian teen material and advice on the web, and since that is where most teenagers spend a lot of their time, I decided to fill that need using my love for writing. Someday, I hope to publish young adult novels with good, appropriate content and so improve some of the reading options that are out there for teens right now.

If you play an instrument, does your church need some more accompanists? Could you organize a concert with some of your friends and donate the money to charity or your church?

If you are good at a school subject, could you help tutor kids? Could you get a degree in it and use your title to influence the world for good?

These are just a few ideas as a jumping-off point to show you what I'm talking about. Find a way that you can use your gift for good, now or in the future, and then work hard to make it happen!

What do you think? What are some of your gifts? How can you use them to glorify God and change the world?

Introducing the Recommended Reading Page!

Today I am adding a new page: Recommended Reading. This is an in-progress, growing list of books that I enjoy and that are appropriate to read. I hope this will provide something for everyone! I took all of the current books on there from my previous book reviews and November reading list, but I will continue adding as I read more! If you have any suggestions, leave them in these comments or the comments on that page! I'm definitely always open for reading recommendations!

Do you like this idea? Are you excited to start reading some new books?

The Proverbs 31 Girl Is...Trustworthy

Today I am beginning my series on Proverbs 31. (I introduced it last week; you can find that here.)

I want to look at Proverbs 31:11 today. This verse says, "The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain." From this verse, we see that the Proverbs 31 girl is trustworthy. 

Many verses will talk about husband, children, and family while still presenting virtues that we can emulate in our everyday life. This is one such verse. Her husband trusts in her, which makes her trustworthy. Being trustworthy is something worth striving for in our everyday teenage life, even though we aren't married yet. 

Being trustworthy basically means that other people feel as though they can tell us personal information or confidential secrets without us telling the world. It also means that people can trust our word and that we don't have a reputation of lying. 

How to do it:

• Try not to gossip. Often, we participate in gossip without even realizing what it is. If you're talking about a person who isn't with you and it isn't something you would say to their face, it probably classifies as gossip. A gossip will often not be trusted with the secrets of even her closest friends. Try to steer the conversation of your friends to something else if it becomes gossip, and never, ever, start gossip circulating. 
• If someone tells you something that they don't want shared, it's very simple. Don't share it. If you do it will be very hard to get their trust back. 
• Don't tell lies. This is probably something we have all been taught from a very young age, but it's actually very important. If you get in the habit of telling lies, you will lose your credibility when you actually need people to trust you.

What do you think? Is this something you need to work on? Do you have any other strategies for being a trustworthy girl? 

2 Reasons Why We Go to Church

If you grew up in a Christian family, chances are you have been dragged to church every Sunday by your parents for as long as you can remember. And as you grew up, maybe your point of view switched from it being a long, boring time to sit still and pretend to listen, and you started enjoying it, even looking forward to it during the week. Maybe you're still in transition between the two. Or maybe you haven't transitioned at all.

Whether you enjoy it right now or not, church is an important part of your life as a Christian. First of all, there are direct commands in Scripture to go to church. Hebrews 10:25 says, "...Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Romans 10:17 says, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

These verses bring up two of the most important reasons we go to church.

1. We go to church because it builds our faith. On Sunday my pastor preached an excellent sermon on how to be truly grounded in your faith and values, you must have knowledge of the Bible and of the doctrines of the church. The best way to learn more about these things? Go to church with an open mind and pay attention to all that is said. You will find yourself growing more grounded in what you believe and closer to God in the process.

2. We go to church to encourage each other. If you go to public school, you probably are around non-Christians all day every day. If you don't spend time with fellow Christians who can encourage you and be a good influence, you may find yourself slipping into sinful habits. Being around Christian friends is uplifting and helps you find the strength to go through your week resting on God.

So there you have it: two main reasons why church is so important!

Next Steps: If your family goes to church, go with them! Participate in the service and offer to help out with extra events the church hosts. If your family is not Christian, try to find a way to get to a church service if possible. See if you have a friend who can give you a ride to their church or if you can find a church that is walking or biking distance from your house.

What do you think? Do you attend church regularly? What is your favorite part? Do you find it uplifting?

Always Together (Romans 8:38-39)

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
-Romans 8:38-39

I love this verse. It paints a beautiful picture of the love that God has for us because of Christ. Paul is sure of everything he says here; there is no doubt in his mind of the bold proclamation that he is about to make.

And it is a bold proclamation: Paul is sure that absolutely nothing can separate us from God's love. Whether we are alive for the next thirty years or we die tomorrow, if Satan or human powers try to come between us, no matter where we are living or what we are doing, we can never lose God's love for us because of what Christ did on the cross.

To Think About

• Paul talks about "rulers" in this verse. Have you ever had an actual experience with a higher humanly power where they tried to challenge your faith, whether with parents or other older relatives, teachers, or an actual government official? Does it make you feel safer to know that these mortal powers can never separate you from God, no matter how much they try?
• If you have not had a situation like that above, how do you think you would react if you did? Do you feel grounded enough in God that you would be able to withstand it?

Next Steps: Go about your life feeling God's presence with you always and take strength and comfort in this verse!

What do you think? Do you like this verse? Do you have a favorite verse you would like to see featured here? 

P.S. Sorry about my formatting issues; I can't figure out what's going on with my font and the weird highlighting!

A Peek Inside My Bible Reading Notebook

Sometimes I find it helpful to hear about what other people do in different areas of their life. So today I thought I would share the system that I use to keep my Bible reading notebook organized. Different people will have different systems that work for them, but I thought this might give you some ideas of how you can keep a notebook.

The notebook
I bought my notebook from Staples as part of a customizable system where you pick a notebook and then fill it with pages, dividers, pockets, etc. (My notebook looks like this). My notebook has a cover page and four tabs as well as a pocket sleeve in the back. The tabs are labeled Sermon Notes, Personal Study, Prayer/Memory, and Extra Paper.

Tab 1: Sermon Notes
Under the first tab I keep all of my sermon notes from church on Sunday. I title each page with the passage being preached on, the pastor during the preaching (I have two pastors who preach and sometimes guest preachers, so I like to keep track) and the date. I put the sermon title on the next line. Your note-taking system will vary based on your pastor's preaching style, but I do recommend that you take notes, especially if your mind tends to wander. It can be very encouraging to go back and read related sermon notes if you have a problem in your life or are just having a bad day.

Tab 2: Personal Study
Under the next tab I keep my notes from personal Bible study. The way I do these studies vary based on my mood, the type of passage I'm studying, and how much time I have. I don't always study a passage, either; much of the time I just read. When I do study, a format I often use is going through and defining each important word and taking a few notes on the summary of the passage, then coming up with some application points I can use in my everyday life.

Tab 3: Prayer/Memory
Under this tab, I keep a record of verses I have memorized and a prayer request for each week. When I begin memorizing a verse, I write it out on a sticky note and post it on my mirror. When I am done memorizing it, I copy it into this section to keep a record. I try to do a new verse and prayer list every week, although that doesn't always happen.

Final tab/pocket
Under the final tab I keep a liberal amount of extra paper that I can move into each section as needed, like if I run out of paper in a section while at church. Then I have a plastic pocket where I keep sermon-related handouts and the like with the corresponding date at the top so I know which of my notes they go with. My pastor will occasionally print a handout with quotes related to the sermon on it, and that is the kind of thing I keep in my pocket.

File box
The final step in my organizational system is the file box that I keep in my closet with file folders in it. In addition to other things, I have folders labeled 'Bible Reading' and 'Sermon Notes'. When my notebook runs out of space, I transfer some of the papers into the appropriate file folder in chronological order.

So there you have it: my Bible reading notebook and organizational system. I hope you find this helpful and get some ideas for how you can manage your own system.

What do you think? Did you find my system helpful? What is your personal system for organizing Bible notes?

Thanksgiving Challenge Update

How is the Thanksgiving Challenge going for you? I have to admit that remembering to write down three things at the end of every day is my worst problem right now and I have missed some days, coming down to a grand total of 20 things on my list at this point. But, as I have to tell myself, some is better than none at all.

So here are a few samples from my list in the past weeks:

• Friends
• Great music
• Librarians
• Imagination

As you can see, the list can encompass a wide range of things!
P.S. If you missed the initial challenge post, you can find it here.

What do you think? How is the challenge going for you? What is your grand total as we approach the halfway point of the challenge? Have you noticed a difference in your thinking since I started the challenge? 

Book Review: The Mitford Series

For today's book review I wanted to bring your attention to a lovely series by Jan Karon, one of my favorite authors.

At Home in Mitford kicks off the Mitford series, which continues with six more books as well as a few related detour books. It tells the story of an elderly Episcopalian priest living in a small town in North Carolina. He begins the series alone and ends up with a huge dog, wife, and adopted son by the end of these seven books.

The books are sprinkled with humor as well as beautiful, tear-jerking moments, and you can read them over and over again. Just because they are about an elderly priest does not mean that they will not be enjoyable to teenagers. Sure, they aren't fantasy/dystopian/chick lit/insert typical young adult genre here, but they appeal to a wide range of ages and I would highly recommend giving them a try!

What do you think? Have you read these books? Do you like them? Are there books you have read or heard about that you would like to see reviewed here?

Introducing the Proverbs 31 series

Proverbs 31 is a treasure house of practical wisdom for Christian girls. It outlines the day-to-day tangible life of a woman who fears the Lord, setting the standard that Christian girls and women try to meet.

Over the next few weeks I will be doing a study of Proverbs 31:10-31 in twelve parts. I will examine the different attributes shown in these verses and giving practical tips for living these out in your daily life.

It's worth noting, however, that this is not a call to be a perfect girl. Verse 30 says, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." All of the things talked about in the verse as examples of how we should live spring from loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. If you read your Bible every day, commit Scripture to memory, and pray regularly, the virtuousness shown in the Proverbs 31 girl will naturally come to light in your life, from the inside out.

Verse 10 says, "An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels." It's never too early to begin preparing yourself to be a godly wife and mother and take care of a household! If you develop the virtues of Proverbs 31 in your life, you will be a priceless treasure to a family someday.

What do you think? Do you like Proverbs 31? Do you have particular verses that are your favorites? Do you have any questions about these verses that I could answer in the next few months?

I Wish I Had Their...

When was the last time you found yourself watching someone else, thinking I wish I had their hair/skin/fashion sense/grades/sportiness/etc.? 

I think teenagers especially especially are prone to be watching everyone around them, looking for ways the other people are better than them. But this is harmful and self-destructive. It leads to insecurity and self-hate.

As Christians you also have another reason not to compare yourself to other people: God made you fearfully and wonderfully, exactly how he wanted you to be. You don't ever need to be anything other than what he made you. 

So make an effort to stop comparing yourself to others. Complimenting others is fine, as long as you can try to curtail the feelings of jealousy that go along with it. Keep reminding yourself that the way you are is how God made you.

You are his perfect and wonderful creation. Remember that today!

What do you think? Do you struggle with insecurity? How can you try to stop comparing yourself to other people? 

God Is... (Isaiah 40:28)

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable."

This verse is such a comforting one for us as Christians. It proclaims the majesty of God to His people. There are several attributes of God that jump out at us from this verse:

• God is everlasting: He is not human, but God, and He will always be there for us. He will not die or fade away.
• God is Creator: God made everything you see around you, no matter what you might learn in science class. He created every amazing leaf and tree and cell in your body. The whole earth is his.
• God is tireless: Once again, God is not like humans. He will not get tired and have to rest, but will work tirelessly on watching over His creation and His people. 
• God is wise: Wiser than wise, to be precise! We can't even imagine his wisdom and understanding compared to ours. It is too great for us.

Take this verse into the rest of your week knowing that God will always be there controlling our lives in the way that will be best for us!

What do you think? Do you like this verse? Does it strengthen you as you go about your week? What are some of your favorite verses you would like to see featured? 

It's All About Me, So Stop Being Selfish

Why is it that our culture promotes such a "me-first" image, and yet there are countless hero movies beloved by all that focus on the beauty of being selfless and serving others? Heroes like Captain America are praised and held up to us as examples of what we should be, and yet we are taught to value ourselves, our stuff, and our time above all things. It's as though we believe that everyone should be selfless except us.

Remember the Greatest Commandment? It says to love God above all things, and love others second. There's nothing in there about loving yourself first, above all things. We are so prone to lose sight of this and think that everything should be all about us.

What does the Bible say about selflessness?

• Philippians 2:3-4-"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." 
• Galatians 5:14-"For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

It doesn't get much more straightforward than that! Think about it: if everyone loved their friends and neighbors as much as we usually love ourselves, that would be a whole lot of love! 

This could mean letting your sister have the better seat in the car or when you're watching a movie. It could mean giving free babysitting to a woman in your church who needs help, or helping your mom with extra chores you don't usually do. 

There are tons of little ways to bring selflessness into your daily life, if you actively look for them!

What do you think? Is this a problem you have noticed with our culture? Can you suggest ways to show selflessness to those around you? Are there other Bible verses on this topic you would like to share?

Thanksgiving Challenge Update

Hi!
Sorry I haven't posted lately...I've been sick for most of the week. But don't worry! I'm feeling better, the blog is still up and running and I have lots of great posts coming!

So the Thanksgiving challenge has been the last thing on my mind for the past couple of days while I've been in bed all day, as I'm sure you can imagine. I'm realizing how hard it really is to be focusing on God's gifts all day, every day, especially when you're sick!
(If you missed the Thanksgiving Challenge post, you can find it here.)

A few samples from my list so far:

• Clean rooms
• Fellow Christian friends
• Sisters
• Sleep

Also, I just wanted to remind everyone that it's okay if you miss a few days, like I have, and don't write anything. That doesn't mean you should give up! It's better to have a few short of the goal than to have nothing at all. It's not really about the numbers; it's about training our minds to think gratefully throughout our lives. 

What do you think? Are you taking the challenge? How is it going for you?

Works of Faith (James 2:14-16)

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

In this verse James is discussing an important point: the issue of how we act if we have been saved.

There is a distinction that must be made before we can understand the verse: we are not saved by works. We are saved by faith. What this verse means is that if we have true faith it will show in our lives and the way we act.

Think of it this way: if you particularly like or look up to someone, you want them to think well of you. You act, talk, and generally live in a way that you hope will impress them. If we have true faith, we love God with all our hearts. We want him to be pleased with the way we are living and so we try to live in a way that lives up to the instructions of the Bible. That is what true faith leads us to do.

What do you think? Do you like this verse? Do you have any verses you would like to see featured here?

Introducing the Thanksgiving Challenge

I think that sometimes, in the midst of all the turkey and pumpkin and football, we forget about what Thanksgiving really means.

It's all right there in the name of the holiday: "Thanks-giving", or "giving thanks". There's a whole lot more packed into those two words than it seems, though, and giving thanks can be really hard sometimes.

I want to bring our focus back to the real meaning of Thanksgiving with this challenge during the month of November. It was inspired by the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

Here's the challenge:

During the month of November, I want you to set aside a journal, Word document on your computer, or other location where you can write things down. Every day, write down three or more things that you are thankful for that day. You may not repeat anything. If you do this, by Thanksgiving you will have a list of over 80 blessings in your life. On Thanksgiving, take a little time to sit down with your list and thank God for each thing on it.

So, will you take the challenge with me?

What to Read This November

Happy Reformation Day!

Since it's the last day of October, I thought I would share some book recommendations for the month of November, in case you are looking for a good book.

November Featured Read

The best book I can recommend to you for November, as we approach the Thanksgiving season, is One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I would highly recommend this to all of you as an inspiring book worth reading. I wrote a more detailed review of this book last week; you can access it here. 

Other Recommendations

If you like science fiction:

• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a compelling story set in a time where books are banned, and firemen have the job of burning them. It tells the story of a fireman who meets a teenage girl whose questions prompt him to think deeper about the job he does. Definitely recommended! (And definitely scary to think about for a bookworm like me!)

If you like fantasy:

• Beauty by Robin McKinley is a very well-done retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Robin McKinley's book are typically very clean as well as being well-written. 

If you like romance:

• My Heart Remembers by Kim Vogel Sawyer and its sequel, In Every Heartbeat; Kim Vogel Sawyer is a very good Christian writer who manages to include a Christian message in her books without making them overly 'preachy'. All of her books draw you in from beginning to end, and you won't be able to put them down!

If you like mysteries:

• The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin is a fast-paced, interestingly told mystery. It features a dead millionaire who has left a puzzling will, and a lovable cast of unique, eccentric characters trying to figure out who will get his money. This is another book you won't be able to put down!

If you like classics:

• Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott is a not-so-well-known book by this well-known author. One of my favorite books, it tells the story of Rose, an orphaned girl who comes to live among her many aunts and boy cousins. It's so good and something you should definitely read if you enjoy classics!

If you like contemporary fiction:

• The Penderwicks and sequels by Jeanne Birdsall is a very good series about the everyday adventures of four sisters, their Latin-speaking father, and a dog. There will be two more books in the series published eventually. This is another of my favorites!

If you like biographies:

• Dancing Through It is a very good memoir written by Jenifer Ringer, a member of the New York City ballet. She is a Christian and writes in a very fluent way, taking you into her struggles with eating disorders and her comeback into the world of ballet. Very highly recommended even if you don't usually read this sort of book!

What do you think? Have you read these books? Do you have any other recommendations for fellow Christian teens?

"For every minute you are angry..." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson (American poet, 1803-1882)

To Think About:

• Anger is self-destructive as well as destructive of others.
• Happiness is essential to our lives as people. Anger takes away from that happiness.
• Often our anger can be controlled more than we realize. Your mindset can make or break whether or not you have a good day.

What do you think? Do you like this quote? Do you have any favorite quotes you would like to see featured here?

Makeup: Do or Don't?

Girls meet with a lot of conflicting ideas about makeup. There are the people who talk about women's rights to wear whatever makeup they want. There are the people who make of you for wearing too much makeup. There are the people who think makeup should look 'natural'. There are the people who think girls shouldn't wear makeup. And all of that is just in the secular world.

As Christians, it can be even more confusing. What does the Bible say about makeup? What's a Christian girl to do?

Makeup is one of those things that the Bible doesn't expressly talk about. That means that, as a Christian, you are free to make your own decision based on passages that you feel imply one thing or another. My personal opinion is that there is nothing wrong with wearing some makeup if it makes you more confident. However, there are some things you should consider when making your decision.

• First and foremost, follow your parents' rules. If they won't allow you to wear makeup, it's simple: don't wear it. One thing the Bible is very clear on is obeying and honoring your parents. If that means going without makeup until you move out of the house, that's what you should do.
• If you feel that makeup will cause you to become obsessive over your appearance, it's probably best to leave it alone. The Bible does say that real beauty comes from the inside out, and you don't want to lose sight of that in a rush to make yourself the prettiest girl in school.
• If you do choose to wear makeup, it's best to keep it tasteful and natural. Modesty rules apply here too! As I said when discussing why we dress modestly, you don't want what you like on the outside to distract from the beautiful person you are on the inside.

What do you think? Do you wear makeup? Do you have the same opinion about this, or do you think that Christians should avoid makeup altogether? 

5 Tips for Witnessing to Non-Christian Friends

If you go to public school or do activities somewhere that is not church-related, chances are that you will have friends whose religious beliefs do not align with yours. These friends might curse frequently in conversation or dress in a way that you find inappropriate, or there might just be an underlying feel of hostility toward all religion or a particular religion.

What do you do if you have friends like this? It can hurt to see people you care about living a life that will lead to destruction. You want to help them, but you also don't want to offend them.

• Be yourself. Don't hide your faith from them; if they don't accept it as part of you, they are not true friends. If you find yourself trying to act 'cool' and hide your true self around them, leave the friendship. Most people are, in fact, very accepting of different religions from their own.
• Stick to your values. This goes along with the first one: don't let them convince you of a different opinion on something, whether big or small, if you know you are in the right. Stick to what you believe.
• Don't force your faith on them. Don't spend every spare minute trying to convince them of the truth of Christianity. While it is important to bear witness to non-Christians in your life, don't be obsessive and constantly try to force them to believe what you believe.
• When the time is right, speak up. If you see an opportunity to discuss what you believe, seize it! Approach the subject with them gently, but with conviction, and try to explain to them simply what it means to be a Christian.
• Let God work! Don't obsess over converting them. The truth is, you can talk as much as you want, but God is the only one who can change hearts. He uses people as his instruments, but you ultimately cannot decide what your friend will believe.

What do you think? Do you have friends like this? Have you ever tried to share the gospel with them, and how did you approach it? 

Working Heartily (Colossians 3:23)

Colossians 3:23 says,

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."

This is one of those verses that is easy to understand as far as meaning, and easy to apply to our lives today, but really hard to put into practice.

This verse means literally whatever you do. If it is work that you have been called to do at this stage of your life, you are to do it heartily. The major calling for most of you right now is probably school. In addition you may do sports or other after-school activities, babysit, or maybe you work an after-school job or volunteer. This also includes chores and other things you do with your family and around the house.

What does working heartily look like? It means doing everything completely and to the best of your ability. This is not a call to perfection, but we shouldn't be lazy with the tasks we have been given. It also means not complaining. As easy as it is for teenagers to slip into negative, whiny conversation, we should work hard to stay away from that, away from comments of "Oh my gosh, I have so much homework!" or "Can you believe we had to run six laps?"

Will you take the challenge of doing everything as though the Lord is the one who wants it done?

What do you think? Do you like this verse? Is this something you will strive to live out in your everyday life?

Book Review: One Thousand Gifts

One Thousand Gifts is a beautiful book. It challenges the very core of how we live in this very self-centered, complaining-oriented world.

It started when writer Ann Voskamp was challenged by a friend to make a list of 1000 things she was thankful for, things that God had blessed her with in her life. That dare turned into this book. 

One Thousand Gifts is written in a beautiful, very poetic style, different from other nonfiction books, making it enjoyable to read even for those who usually read fiction. It is sprinkled with stories from the author's own childhood and excerpts of the list of 1000 gifts that she wrote, and finished. 

As November and Thanksgiving season approaches, I highly recommend this book as something every Christian should read!

What do you think? Have you read this book? Was it inspiring to you? If you haven't read it, will you read it now?

"Reflect upon your present blessings..." -Charles Dickens

"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some."

-Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

To Think About:

• There are many places where the Bible says to be thankful. How can you personally benefit from having a more thankful mindset in your life?
• We should focus on the good things happening right now rather than any bad thing that happened in the past.
• Sometimes we complain about really small things; groaning to our friends about how long the lunch line is or how much homework we have. When we get into this mindset, we set ourselves up for despair when something actually bad happens.

What do you think? Do you like this quote? Do you have any favorite quotes you would like to see featured here?

7 Tips for Dressing Modestly

Over the past few weeks I have been discussing modesty. We talked about the why behind it, and we also talked about how to develop your own modesty standards for the way you dress. Today I want to provide some tips to fellow teen girls who want to dress modestly but also want to look cute and trendy.

So without further ado, here are some tips for making clothes modest and looking stylish and cute while honoring God.

• I suggest stocking up on tank tops in various colors and neutrals to wear under crop tops, sheer tops, shirts with a low neckline, etc. 
• I know how hard it is to find shorts that aren't too short! Some of my best finds have been shorts that look good rolled up or down, so I could roll them as little or as much as I wanted. Try looking for shorts like that.
• If you have a spaghetti strap shirt that you really love, try wearing it with a jacket or cardigan on top to make it more modest.
• Wear leggings under dresses and skirts that are too short to wear alone.
• Please, PLEASE do not wear leggings how you would wear any other pants. If you do wear leggings as your only pants, wear a shirt that is long enough to cover you. 
• On that note, be careful with skinny jeans and other skinny pants. Make sure you feel totally comfortable in them. If you think they look too tight on you, wear a longer shirt. 
• Accessories are your friend when trying to dress stylishly and modestly! Cute and tasteful scarves, belts, jewelry, and hair accessories can take your look to a whole other level. Shoes can also make or break your look!

Remember, the most important rule you can follow is that if you feel self-conscious or exposed in it, there is no reason to wear it! Always wear what you feel comfortable in and what makes you happy.

Next Steps: Make an effort to start dressing like this every day. If it helps, plan your outfits the night before.

What do you think? Do you agree with this tips? Do you have other tips to offer? Do you have any questions I could answer in another post?

A Challenge to Pray Without Ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says this:
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Too often, we think of prayer as something that you do at certain scheduled times. Some religions have specific memorized prayers that you have to say; Christianity is not like that! One of the blessings of being in a personal relationship with God is that you can talk to him anytime, anywhere.

It's important to recognize the rest of the verse too: rejoicing always and giving thanks in all circumstances. We are not only to pray without ceasing for things we need, but also give thanks to God for what he has given us.

This definitely does not mean you have to constantly pray out loud! Quick, silent prayers are so helpful in getting through the day. Thinking a prayer before a big test, audition, or game can help calm your nerves. A quick, "Thank you, God" when you notice something good about your day can make all the difference in your mood.

Get in the habit of praying silently for other people as well. Maybe there's someone in your class who is struggling in school or at home. Pray for the person who walks by your house every day with their dog. Pray for the bus driver, or the person in the car next to you at a stoplight. It doesn't matter if you don't know anything about them; you can pray for them anyway.

This doesn't mean that it isn't good to have time set aside only for prayer. It is! Time where you are focused only on God is important too. It just means that we should get in the mindset that God is with us wherever we go and helping us with whatever we need.

Next Steps: Get into the habit of praying silent prayers throughout your day, for yourself and others.

What do you think? Do you do this already? Do you like the idea, but need to get started? How has prayer blessed your life?

The Peace of God (Philippians 4:6-7)

Another one of my favorite verses is Philippians 4:6-7. This verse says, in the ESV translation,

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I have always been a worrier. I worry about the smallest, most insignificant, and most unlikely things. I always have to remind myself of this verse when I notice myself starting to think worrying thoughts.

The verse is quite clear: We are not to be anxious about anything. We are to place everything, even the big things that matter, into God's hands through prayer.

What strikes me is the way the word thanksgiving is used in this verse. Rather than worrying, we are to give thanks for all things, all the time. I think if we begin to try to practice thanksgiving every day, we will really see a turnaround in the way we think about things, and begin to worry less.

And if we do this, what will happen?
We will receive the peace of God. If you think about, this makes total sense. If you stop worrying and let it rest in God's hands, you will have peace. Worrying is, essentially, the opposite of peace. If we let go of our anxiety and simply rest and trust in God, His peace will come to us.

That's true faith.

Next Steps: Begin to focus on thankful thoughts rather than anxious thoughts. If you find yourself worrying, say a short prayer about whatever it is you're worrying about and then simply let it go.

What do you think? Is this something you struggle with? Do you find this verse helpful? What are some of your favorite verses I could discuss in the future?

What's Wrong With Our Media?

When you go to the movie theater, have you ever noticed that the movies playing are dominated by those rated R? The same thing happens with ads for TV shows: the ads are dominated by shows rated PG-13 and R. Doesn't this make you wonder what is happening to our culture?

People today enjoy watching things that should never be seen, that are perverted and skewed to something that goes completely against the Word of God. New G-rated movies are almost unheard-of now, probably because producers think that G and PG ratings are not what audiences want (ignoring the fact that Frozen was so immensely popular). Books and music are the same way.

So what should we do when faced with all of the ugliness and ungodliness in the media? I'm not saying we need to totally avoid any one type of thing. But you do need to use discretion in what you choose to watch, read, and listen to, and see it all through the eyes of Christ. 

Will choosing not to read or watch a popular book or movie make you feel left out? Yes, and rest assured that I have experienced this. But will not having read The Fault in Our Stars or Divergent make you miserable for the rest of your life? Probably not. (Side note: I'm not talking about those books in particular, they were just what came to mind as popular books right now. I have not read either of them, so I can't really give specific advice). 

I recommend putting in the time to find books and movies that you enjoy and that are appropriate for a Christian to be reading and watching. Check out the book and movie reviews I will be doing on Fridays for more ideas! 

Next Steps: Make an effort to clean up your entertainment. Get rid of books, movies, and music that you think are not God-honoring (how far you go with this is definitely a personal choice!). Start choosing books and movies that lead you closer to God rather than farther away.

What do you think? Is this a problem you have noticed as well? Will you take the challenge to avoid media that is not honoring to God? Do you have any book or movie recommendations for your fellow teens?

Movie Review: Amazing Grace

Today I thought I would share with you one of my absolute favorite movies: Amazing Grace, a movie that tells the story of William Wilberforce, starring Ioan Gruffudd as Wilberforce, Romola Garai as his wife, Barbara, and Benedict Cumberbatch as the Prime Minister and Wilberforce's good friend, William Pitt. (Rated PG for the mature themes involving slavery and some mild language.)

What I love about this movie is that it shows not only the glorious moments of his life, but also the thankless things he did. The first scene you see is of him stopping his carriage in the rain to stop some men from beating a horse who has fallen down.

There are so many amazing moments in this movie that you just want to watch over and over again. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it!

What do you think? Have you seen this movie? Do you like it? If you haven't seen it, do you want to?

"If someone were to pay you ten cents for every kind word..." -anonymous

"If someone were to pay you ten cents for every kind word you ever spoke and collect five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?"

-Anonymous


To Think About:

• This quote really makes us stop in our tracks and consider the way we speak to others.
• How can you change the way you speak to others to become rich rather than poor?
• This week, try to say something kind to someone every day.

What do you think? Does this quote speak to you like it does to me? Do you have a favorite quote you want to see featured here?

My Standards of Modesty

Disclaimer: Please read all of the following introduction before you jump to the list of modesty rules! I don't want anyone to think I'm dictating how they should dress!

Last time I discussed why God’s girls should be concerned about modesty. Now I’m going to be getting into the practical side of things: how in the world do you dress well, look cute, and still stay modest? And where in the world are you supposed to buy shorts that are longer than two inches?

Today, I’d like to talk about some general tips about what is modest and what isn't. Sometimes, however, this can be very personal territory. There are some things that are obvious, but others aren't so obvious, and it really takes a personal choice to decide what you define as modest. Some people will want to make sure their entire legs or arms are covered. Others just want to wear clothes that keep their chest from spilling out of their shirt and their thighs from being inadvertently exposed.

But, I know that some of you probably want an actual, definitive list of rules for what is and isn't modest. And if you don’t, ignore this post. All of you are perfectly capable of defining your modesty rules for yourselves.

And now, for those of you with no idea where to start or who just want some ideas to get their juices flowing, here is my personal list of rules I typically follow.

• Shorts should not be shorter than the length of your fingertips when your arms are straight at your sides. If you prefer them longer, that’s always fine. Some of my best clothing finds have been shorts that you can roll up as short or as long as you want.
• Skirts and dresses should come at least halfway to the knee, and personally I don’t feel comfortable in anything shorter than three quarters to the knee. This is also a matter of personal preference, as long as it isn't an ultra-short miniskirt.
• Necklines on tops and dresses should go no lower than a hand-width below your collarbone. This should be pretty universal—anything lower than that starts to get seriously immodest. If you prefer that shirts come to your collarbones at all times, that is also a personal choice.

Obviously the rules can be tweaked and adjusted based on what you feel comfortable with. And if you prefer to ignore these altogether and create your own rules from scratch, please do so!

      Next Steps: Make a list—yes, actually write it down—of your personal modesty rules for clothes. Then go through your closet and try on each thing. Check if it follows your rules. If it doesn’t, toss it. Sometimes it can be nice to enlist the help of your mom, an older sister, or a good Christian friend. 

     What do you think? Do you agree with my modesty rules? Is there anything you would add/change? Do you already dress this way, or has this inspired you to take a second look at your wardrobe?

6 Tips for Memorizing Scripture

Continuing with last week’s theme of reading the Bible, today I’m going to talk about another essential part of your spiritual life: memorizing Scripture!

If you have God’s word hidden in your heart, it won’t matter if you have a Bible with you or not. Whenever you get into a frightening situation, it will be there to comfort you.

Here are some tips:

• Try working on Scripture memory right after you read your Bible so you don’t forget.
•  For ideas on what to memorize, try looking at the Bible studies I do every Monday for some of my favorite verses. You can also use a concordance to find verses on a specific topic, or check out a devotional book that might have featured verses every day.
• Try memorizing the reference, i.e. 1 Timothy 4:12, first. Then learn the rest of the verse a little at a time. Take as many days as you need on one verse; there’s no rush!
• When you first start memorizing a verse, write it out and put it somewhere you look every day, such as your mirror or somewhere on your phone. Whenever you see it, take the time to read over it silently.  
•  Say the verse over to yourself in bed, in the car, or whenever you’re sitting and doing nothing. 
• As you get better at learning short verses, try out longer and longer passages so you can better see the context behind some of the verses you are memorizing. Don’t always limit yourself to one verse at a time!

The work will pay off when you begin to remember and bring up Scriptures in everyday conversation and have them with you if you’re scared or upset!

Next Steps: Take a few minutes after you read your Bible to memorize a favorite Scripture passage. Experiment with different techniques to find what works for you.

What do you think? Do you already make Scripture memory a regular part of your routine? If you don’t, do you think it would benefit you to try? How has having Scripture memorized blessed your life?

Ask in Prayer (Matthew 21:22)

Recently I got a request asking if I could do a Bible study on Matthew 21:22 because they were having trouble understanding it. I looked it up and I could see why it would be difficult!

This verse says,
"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."

At first glance, this seems strange. We all know that God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

But what does the word faith mean? Faith is complete trust or belief in something or someone. If we have faith in God, it means we trust fully in him to know what we need and do everything in our best interest.

One of my favorite authors, Jan Karon, in her Mitford series, has the main character (an older pastor) refer to the "prayer that never fails", or "thy will be done". I think this is a wonderful way to think about it. When we have true faith, our prayer will always be, "Thy will be done". When we pray this prayer, we will receive what we ask, when we ask for God to give us what we truly need.

I'm not saying that it's bad to pray for specific things. I'm only saying that the prayer of faith is the prayer that will give us everything we need.

What do you think?

• Do you agree with my interpretation of this passage?
• Do you have other opinions or help to offer our friend on what this means?

Book Review: Do Hard Things

One of the most life-changing books I have ever read...

Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex and Brett Harris, twin brothers who were teenagers themselves when they wrote it, is a book that challenges teenagers to rise up in protest of the low expectations. They have started a whole moment centered around this topic, called The Rebelution. 

The book talks about the myth that teenagers are supposed to kick back and have fun all the time. It discusses five kinds of hard things:

• Things that take us outside of our comfort zone
• Things that go beyond what is expected of us
• Things that are too big to do alone
• Small things that might seem insignificant (i.e. doing the dishes without complaining)
• Things that go against the crowd

The book is a wake-up call for the adolescents of our generation. It is something that every Christian teen should read; it will challenge your mind and your heart and change your life.

GO GET A COPY AND READ IT NOW!!!!!!

What do you think?

• Have you read this book? Do you like it?
• If you haven't read it, will you read it now? (you better. If my enthusiasm didn't convince you, I don't know what will.)

"I am only one, but I am one..." -Edward Everett Hale

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I should do, and, with the help of God, I will do.”

   --Edward Everett Hale, American author/historian/minister, 1822—1909

To Think About:

• We cannot do even what we should do on our own, but must lean on God.
• We are not asked to do anything we cannot do.
• While we may seem like the most insignificant person on earth, anything we can do for God could have a bigger impact than we see at the moment.

P.S. This is my favorite quote ever.
 

What do you think?

• Do you find this quote inspiring?
• What are some of your favorite quotes that you would like to see featured here? 

3 Reasons to Dress Modestly

If you are a girl, it’s almost inevitable that you will end up in a clothing store at some point. When you do, you are suddenly surrounded by clothing that you wish would just go away, clothes that tempt you to wear things you know aren't right because they are just so cute. Plus, every other girl in school is wearing them. What are we supposed to do?
 

1 Timothy 2:8-10 says,

“…likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.” (ESV)
 

But why do we have to dress modestly? What difference does it make?

1. We dress modestly to show others that we are different. When our peers, teachers, and other people we are around every day see that we do not wear the miniskirts and super low-cut tops that the other girls wear, it demonstrates to them that we have been changed and are attempting to live a God-honoring life.
2. We dress modestly to avoid tempting others to sin. Matthew 5:28 says, “Everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” When we dress in a way that tempts our fellow young men to sinful thoughts and actions, we are not glorifying God.
3. We dress modestly so that those around us will focus on our inner beauty instead of our outward appearance. When your outer appearance is distracting, people can’t see past that into your beautiful changed heart.

So there you have it: three reasons why Christian girls should dress modestly and appropriately. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be covering practical suggestions and tips for shopping and dressing in a God-honoring way while still staying stylish.

Next Steps: Pray that God would give you discernment to distinguish cute clothing from immodest clothing. Start actively considering the clothes you see around to develop your own personal ‘modesty eye’; start developing your own opinions of what is and isn't modest, aside from the obvious answers.

What do you think?

• Are there other reasons you dress modestly? Things on the list you don’t consider a reason?
• Do you have any specific questions about modest dressing that I could answer in the future?

4 Tips for Daily Bible Reading

Reading your Bible every day is one of the most important things you can do for the enrichment of your life as a Christian.

I know. You plan to read it when you get up, but when the alarm clock goes off at whatever unseemly hour you are expected to get up for school, all you can think about is the fact that if you skip your Bible reading you get fifteen more minutes of sleep. I have this problem too.

But reading your Bible is so important for spiritual health. It equips you for the battles that you face in the world every day and encourages you in realizing that you are not alone. It calls you to walk the walk of faith anew every day.

 

Here are some tips for reading your Bible:

1. Find a time that works. If reading it in the morning isn't working, rethink your plan. Could you read it right when you get home from school, at the beginning of your homework time? Before bed? Find a time when you won’t be tempted to skip, and commit to reading every day.
2. Don’t worry about studying the passage. If you are crunched for time, you often don’t want to get out a notebook and thoroughly dissect a verse. Simply reading can be just as good if your mind is engaged. Maybe on Sunday afternoons you could devote some time to Bible study, and just focus on immersing yourself in the Word of God the rest of the time.
3. Read what you enjoy. If you are just starting out in reading the Bible, some of it is definitely easier to understand and enjoy then others. Eventually you will want to read all of it, but at first find the things that you like. This will differ from person to person; my personal favorite for when I’m in the mood for a story is the book of Esther. Experiment and find your favorite places to go when you just want a quiet moment to read.
4. Pray that God would speak to you through the reading. Before you read, pray that God would use your reading time to teach you something about himself or his world. Be actively searching for what God wants you to learn. 

Even if the Bible seems boring now, in time we can come to love reading it just as much as our favorite novels!
 
Next Steps: Get a Bible, if you don’t have one already, in a version you will be able to understand. Find a time and plan to read it every day. Spend at least ten minutes reading.
 

h   What do you think?

•         Do you read your Bible every day already, or is this something you need to work on?
•         What Bible reading strategies have worked for you in the past?
•         Where are your favorite places in the Bible to read?