Very, Very (Very) Exciting News!

Since I started blogging, everything I've read has said that WordPress is better.

And...then Blogger updated or something and is now more annoying than before. So I decided it was a good time to switch.

And now comes the excitingness: a few minutes ago I pushed the publish button on my very first WordPress post on my shiny new WordPress blog!

True and Pure: trueandpure.wordpress.com (and it is yet another indication that it is time to leave Blogger that I cannot get this to work as a link.)

So head over there! Read the About pages and my first post, leave me a comment, and then subscribe so you can get the new posts ASAP!

I'm super excited and hope you are too!!

Quick Update

Hi all!

Just a quick update since I most likely will not get any posts up this week. I am running a second week of ballet camp for tiny kiddos so I'm very tired in the afternoons...

And I'm working on a very exciting new blog *ahem* project that will be revealed soon! I'm doing some major updating and stuff to make my blogging better than ever before. So get excited!!

In the meantime, feel free to browse around the archives and read some old posts! (You can even comment on posts from last November if you want...I check!)

See you soon!

Book Club: Generation Rising (Do Hard Things, chapter 10)

A quick blog update: Apologies for not posting this week. I was running a summer camp for little children and had zero energy to do blog posts. Regular posting will resume ASAP. Also, in the last Getting to Know Me, I said I couldn't think of a real-life role model. I thought of one the next day: William Wilberforce.

Anyway, now on to today's post...

We've examined the five kinds of hard things you can start doing right now, most of them coming into play in our everyday life. 

But what about the big things, the world-changing things?  

That's what this chapter is about. 

Building a Counterculture
"This chapter is about that response: exchanging our 'normal', comfortable world for a bigger and very real world that rarely shows up in most of our homes. This chapter is about zooming out from a focus on personal rebelution (the Five Kinds of Hard things) to look at the Rebelution as a movement: a counterculture of like-minded young people whose efforts God can bless and who together can make history." (pages 169-170)

What could happen when rebelutionaries work together to overcome problems? What could happen when we stop assuming that "someone else will take care of the brokenness in the world.." (page 170)? What could happen when a group of passionate young people find what God is calling them to do? 

Salt and Light
We are called to be salt. When Jesus talks about salt in the Bible, he's talking about something that was used as a preservative. 

"When Jesus tells us we are 'the salt of the earth', He's saying we have been placed here to preserve it until he returns: to fight against the decay of sin, to combat sickness and suffering, and to oppose corruption and injustice." (page 172)

We are also called to be light. We are called to bring truth into the secular world and reveal God to all people.

"Where secular methods and philosophies hold sway in fields of business, education, the arts, or any other area of society and culture, we are called to bring biblical philosophies and methods founded on that 'total Truth': that's what it means to be light." (page 173)

It isn't true that to "live for Jesus" you have to go into the ministry or be a missionary. The world needs Christians in every aspect of work and daily life.

"A thriving Christian counterculture will fight poverty, heal disease, and expose corruption even as we earnestly fight against the sin and spiritual darkness at the root of all suffering. A generation of rebelutionaries will write books, direct films...run for office, and make scientific and medical discoveries. We will strive to bring the truth of God's Word and the gospel to bear on every area of life we touch." (page 175) 

The Three Pillars of the Rebelution
The next part of the book discusses the three things that will make us successful rebelutionaries. "Only when all three work together can we build an effective and sustainable counterculture." (page 176)

The three pillars are these:

1. Character (being passionate about sharing the gospel and growing more like Christ);
2. Competence (caring about skill, strategy, and creativity);
3. and Collaboration (working with a community of like-minded people). 

"The honest truth is that to balance your life on these three pillars requires constant work and consistent attention. And the good news is that the surefire way to build character and competence is to do hard things. Furthermore, the best way to attract people to come alongside you is to tackle a hard thing that is too big to accomplish alone." (pages 178-179) 

A Holy Ambition

The book describes holy ambition as passion for something under the lordship of Jesus Christ. So what is yours? What large-scale thing do you feel God calling you to do?

"Think of your holy ambition as a world-sized passion placed under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Open your heart to His world in all its broken beauty, praying that He will show you how you could be salt and light in the middle of it. He will." (page 182)

Are you ready to change the world?

What do you think? Did you like this chapter? Is it inspiring to you? What big things has God given you a passion for? 

Weekly Challenge: Faith in the Big Things

Last week I challenged you all to pray for small things as well as the big causes. I said that if you are only praying for big things, that could be a sign that you don't believe God cares about your life. 

This week I want to talk about the opposite problem: only praying for small things and no big causes.

The Challenge
#5: Pray for really big things.

This week's challenge is to find a few big causes you care about and add them to your prayer list. Maybe your list is full of requests for family and friends, but you aren't really praying for anything bigger than that. Add something! 

You could pray for the pro-life movement, government elections, or mission work in other countries. Pick something that matters to you and commit to praying for it consistently.

Why It Matters
If your prayer list is full of small things and no big causes, that could be a sign that you don't really believe in the power of prayer. The truth is, prayer is powerful. It can change the world just to have a group of believers praying together for the cause of Christ. 

Believe and trust that prayer can change things. It's something you can easily do, no matter what your life is like right now, and it is the most important thing you could possibly do to help any cause in the world today.

Will you take the challenge? What big things will you start praying for? 

Book Club: Taking a Stand (Do Hard Things, chapter 9)

You're sitting in class one normal day when suddenly the teacher asks a question. And it's a question that has a clear answer according to the Bible, but that answer isn't the one most people would give. You sink further into your chair, focusing on your pencil, and hoping against hope that the teacher won't ask you what you think.

Has this ever happened to you? 

This chapter in Do Hard Things focuses on the final kind of hard thing: taking a stand against things we know that are wrong.

"This is one of the hardest things...to do. It goes against our natural desire to fit in, to be liked, to make friends...We'll look honestly at some of the costs of that decision...But we'll also look at some of the genuine blessings that can come as a result of standing up for what's right." (page 148)

As they put it, a changed heart will result in a changed life. Your convictions will change. Your lifestyle will change. The way you interact with others will change. Going along with the crowd is not always an option. 

Six Principles to Guide Us

1. Start with the Bible.

"What does God's Word say on this topic? Even if the activity isn't directly forbidden, is it in line with scriptural principles in general?" (page 158) We should be regular students of God's Word so we know how to find what we need and what we need to stand up for. 

Don't get caught up with obscure things "like whether it's unbiblical for someone to dye their hair purple...Just because something is new, odd, or distasteful to some doesn't necessarily mean it's unbiblical...Always start with what God's word is clear about." (page 158) 

2. Examine Yourself.

"Challenging cultural norms starts with you and with the commands from God you already know but may be used to ignoring...you must be fighting the fight yourself. People who aren't even trying to practice what they preach are called hypocrites." (page 158)

If you see something going on around you that is sinful, first examine your own life for hints of that same sin. Don't judge others without judging yourself.

3. Listen to Your Conscience.

"Our conscience is our God-given sense of what is right and what is wrong, and as we read and apply His Word, it becomes more finely tuned. If you find yourself thinking that it might be time to take a stand, it's probably because your conscience is flashing the warning lights. Listen up." (page 159)

If you feel like something is wrong, it probably is. Be tuned in to your gut feelings about something. Don't ignore them. 

4. Seek Godly Counsel.

Seek the help of someone more godly and experienced than you (unless you have to make a fast decision). "Tell them what you think God's Word says about the topic, as well as what your own conscience tells you; then ask them what they would do in your position." (page 160)

5. Be Humble, Loving, and Bold.

"The attitude with which you take a stand says just as much as the stand itself...We can (and must) stand boldly...but our standing should always be done with loving humility. We must hate the sin, not the sinner." (page 160) 

In other words, don't try to pick a fight through standing up for the Bible; don't treat people with contempt, remembering that apart from grace you would be no different from them.

6. Be Part of the Solution.

"Try not to point out problems without providing solutions. Make it your goal to show people a better way." (page 161)

Remember that your ultimate goal is to bring people to embrace God's way. Don't just disagree with what is bad; proclaim what is good as well.

The chapter ends with these two questions and a challenge:

• Is there a stand you know you should be taking but haven't?
• Is there something in your life you know is wrong but continue to do? 

"If a challenge comes to mind, don't ignore it. Take a first rebelutionary step. The hard thing you're contemplating may be the biggest, most difficult, and most rewarding hard thing you've ever done. Don't miss this good thing God is inviting you to do, and don't tell yourself it doesn't matter. 

"Doing what is right always matters--and it matters now." (page 164)

What do you think? Did you like this chapter? What right do you need to stand up for in your life? 

Getting to Know Me: Characters and Role Models

Today's random questions about me:

Who is your favorite fictional character?
I hate these questions more every time. I have to pick one favorite??

Okay. I'm going to say Aragorn, because narrowing it down and picking one from Lord of the Rings just makes it all slightly easier. And Aragorn is pretty awesome.

Who do you most admire?
Are we talking real people or fictional people? 

If fictional people, then Elsie Dinsmore. If real people, then I honestly have no idea. I'm sure there are plenty of worthy role models out there, I just can't think of any right now. 

Who is your celebrity crush?
Luke Evans. (he plays Bard in the Hobbit movies, for those who don't know) 

What is your favorite season?
Spring. Because the weather is so nice, not too hot or too cold, and it's also when all of the flower bushes in our yard are blooming and look so pretty. 

Weekly Challenge Update: 
This week's challenge was to add something small to your prayer list if you haven't already. This is something that I already do, regularly praying for family, friends, and my own life (including this blog). 

Next week we'll talk about the opposite problem: praying only for small stuff and not for the big stuff. 

What do you think? Do you agree with my favorite characters, etc.? How did you do on the weekly challenge? 

How to Talk To Unbelievers About Controversial Issues

In the United States today, Christianity is going down the drain. 

We are called to speak the truth, yet Christians are being attacked for our stances on every issue from homosexuality to modesty to abortion. People are less and less accepting of believers. 

How do you speak the truth to someone who wants nothing to do with the truth? 

Witness Priorities 

If you try to defend your views to an unbeliever, what reason do they have to listen to you? How do you use the argument "the Bible says it's wrong" when they don't believe the Bible? 

As Christians, our priorities are in the wrong place. We are focusing on the wrong thing. While it's important to proclaim the truth about all aspects of Christianity, you're wasting your time if you try to convince unbelievers that something is wrong using the Bible. 

So, how can you go about talking to an unbeliever about something controversial like this? If you have a friend or family member that's involved in homosexuality or something else, how do you approach them about it?

Pray for Them
Pray for them. This is absolutely the most important thing. Only God can change a heart; you can play a part in that, but God is ultimately the one who will need to work in them.

So pray for them. Pray for them everyday. Pray for them hard. Never underestimate the power of prayer.

Show Love 
The first thing you need to do is show them that you care about them. Be loving and kind. Build a relationship with the unbelievers around you so that they will be able to listen to the hard things you have to say. 

If you don't have a relationship with the person first, they won't accept that you are trying to help them with what you are saying. 

• Take your time. This shouldn't be a rushed process.
• Get to know them. Focus on learning more about them in conversations so you understand where they're coming from and how you can best approach them with the gospel. 
• Invest time and energy in them. Go places and do things with them. Remember their birthday. Text or email them occasionally when you haven't seen them in a while. Show them you care about them and their well-being. 

Set a Good Example 
This can happen at the same time as the first step. Set a good example to them. Don't conceal your faith from them; openly model what the Christian life looks like. If they see that it is something you actually believe and live out, they will be more likely to listen to what you say. 

Preach the Gospel First 
The first thing you need to focus on when talking to an unbeliever is the gospel. Don't jump straight into the controversial stuff. If they don't believe the gospel, they have no reason to believe anything else you talk about. The way to approach them first is with the gospel message. 

Once they believe the Bible is true, it will become ten times easier to approach them about the controversial issues of our day and age. If you put in the time and effort to find verses that apply to whatever issue you need to talk to them about, someone who truly believes the Bible will not be unresponsive to that.

So stop with the hate-messages and the angry defensiveness. Show love and preach the gospel before confronting someone about sin in their life.

This world needs truth. It needs love. Most of all, it needs Christ. Stop hating, start loving, and preach the gospel with boldness.

Have you ever had to talk to an unbeliever about your counter-cultural opinions? How can you use these steps the next time you're in that situation? Tell me in the comments! 

Are You Too Busy For God?

Are you too busy,
or are you just on your phone
too much? 

While at the beach, I went out to eat at a restaurant where the walls were covered with decorations, many with quirky or humorous sayings on them. While waiting for my food, I was reading the walls (I mean, there isn't anything else to do!) and one of these things caught my eye.

It said, "Jesus Is Coming. Act Busy!" 

Of course, it annoyed me that someone would put that up in their restaurant. It's obviously the wrong attitude to have. But as I thought about it more and more, I realized that often that is how we treat God in our lives.

How often have you let other things get in the way of your time with God? Do you procrastinate on your Bible reading time because you get stuck surfing social media? Do you give your full attention to church or are you thinking about how much you want to check your email when you get home? 

In other words, have you let God take second place in your life because you're "too busy"? 

The Greatest Commandment

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment in the Law was, here is how he responded:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)

That doesn't leave much room for doubt.  The most important thing in your life is loving God and those around you.

Put God First
What does it look like to put God first in your life and not let other busyness take away from that?

It looks like doing your devotions first thing.

• Read your Bible before you check email or social media or do anything else on the computer. 
• If possible, do them before you get out of bed so you aren't tempted to do other things first.
• Don't keep your phone by your bed so you aren't tempted to surf the Web "for a few minutes" first. 

It looks like putting church before other things. 

• Go to each church service your church offers every week unless you are sick or traveling. If you're traveling, find a church there or do extra Bible reading and prayer time. 
• Don't skip church for extracurricular activities. If they conflict with your service, church wins out every time. 
• Try to stay focused on the church service. Don't let your mind wander to who you need to email, what you need to do, or what's for lunch. 

It looks like thinking about God all throughout the day.

• I just read a genius idea on another blog. Every day, write your to-do list on a note-card to keep in your back pocket. Write a Bible verse you want to think about on the back. Whenever you check your list, read the Bible verse as well.
• If you don't use a to-do list, pick a verse of the day and keep it easily accessible on your phone or computer. Whenever you do something on your device, read over the verse. 

Finally, it looks like evaluating your life. If you truly feel that you are too busy to allow for half an hour of Bible reading a day, look hard at what you are doing. Is all of it necessary? What can you stop doing to gain more time for God? You may legitimately be too busy; but that means that your priorities aren't straight and you're doing too much. 

Christianity is more than just a religion. It isn't just for Sundays. Christianity is a lifestyle, every day of the week. Nothing is more important than your relationship with God. Nothing! Never let other things get in the way of your faith in your day to day life. 

Never be too busy to spend time with the Lord.

What do you think? Have you been letting other things get in the way of your time with God? How can you start putting God at the center of your life again? Share in the comments below! 

Weekly Challenge: Faith in the Small Things

So far, I've challenged you to: a) read your Bible every day, b) memorize a new passage of Scripture each week, and c) pray little prayers all throughout the day. I hope you are making these things habits in your life! 

Today I have another challenge for you. This one, like last week's, relates to prayer. 

The Challenge
#4: Pray for the little things, too. 

This week's challenge is to add some small things to your prayer list. It's great if you're praying for the upcoming presidential election or the cause of Christ in Uganda, but if you don't already have them, add some small things from your own life.

This could be something for yourself, like that upcoming driver's licence test. Or it could be for someone else, like the stressful person your friend has to deal with at her job. If you're a writer, pray that God would help your writer's block or help you figure out something you're stuck on.

Why It Matters
If your prayer list is made up of really big causes and no small everyday things (and we'll talk about the opposite problem next week), that could be a sign that you believe God only cares about the big stuff, that he doesn't really care about your life. And that's all wrong.

Matthew 6:25-32 says,

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on...Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they...Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all." (ESV) 

You see? God cares about every little detail of our lives. No prayer is too small for Him to answer. Start believing right now that He cares about everything and praying for the small things in your life that you need help with too. 

Will you take the challenge? What are some small things in your life you can be praying for? 

Book Club: Small Hard Things (Do Hard Things, chapter 8)

We've talked about going outside of your comfort zone. We've talked about going above and beyond the requirements. We've talked about the big hard things that require you to do them with other people.

Where do just little, everyday, mundane tasks come into the rebelutionary mindset? That's what chapter 8 of Do Hard Things is all about. 

"The truth is that your life (both now and later) will require you to invest a lot of time and energy in things that aren't big and that don't seem to make much of an impact. Some days they don't even make sense. Sometimes the smallest hings can be the hardest of all." (page 134)

Why Are They So Hard?
The book outlines five reasons why the small, everyday things like chores, getting up on time, or reading your Bible are so hard:

1. They don't usually go away after you do them. (You have to wash the dishes every day. You don't do homework once and then quit. The house doesn't stay clean.)
2. They don't seem very important. (Isn't it more important to raise money for a big cause? Aren't small hard things like, a distraction or something?)
3. They don't seem to make any difference. (Will it matter in five years whether I did the dishes today?)
4. They don't seem very glamorous. (Being patient and kind isn't something I'm going to get famous for. I don't get much thanks for these chores.)
5. No one is watching. (Everyone's impressed with her. No one notices all of these small things I'm doing.)

And here are five ways we tend to respond to these things:

1. Procrastination (I'll do it right after I do this. And this. And this.)
2. Inconsistency (I did it last Tuesday. And then I think last month sometime.)
3. Compromise (I'll stop this bad habit for good soon...but not right now.)
4. Begrudging (I'll do it, but I won't like it.)
5. Cheating (If you don't count under my bed and in my closet, I cleaned really well!)

Why Do They Matter?

These things benefit our lives right now and they also develop habits that will serve us well in the future, like self-discipline, relationship skills, and serving others.

"Doing hard things is how we exercise our bodies, our minds, and our faith. Small hard things are the individual repetitions--like a single push-up. They are seemingly insignificant by themselves but guaranteed to get results over time." (page 138)

"If we're willing to strive for excellence, even in the boring, repetitive tasks and responsibilities that others delegate or neglect, we will reap the powerful benefits that others miss. Embracing small hard things can make a radical difference." (page 141)

You probably have responsibilities that you try to ignore. You have to remind yourself that you have to keep an eye on those areas and commit to excelling in them even when it's hard. 

Small hard things are preparation for the future, but they are also significant by themselves as well. The book quotes Colossians 3:23, that says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." 

There is a quote near the end of the chapter from Martin Luther King Jr.:

"If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music...Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Like the street sweeper, your actions at home, at school, at church, and elsewhere in your community can bring honor and glory to God if you are willing to throw yourself into them 100 percent just because they're things He has given you to do." (page 144)

What do you think? Did you enjoy this chapter? What are some small hard things in your life that tend to get neglected? 

Getting to Know Me: Movies and Authors (+weekly challenge update)

So...I didn't post much this week. Sorry about that. 

The lack of a post on Tuesday was actually planned, since that was my birthday. I am now officially 15 years old! Yesterday it just...didn't happen. Unfortunately. I will get back on schedule now, hopefully. This is what vacation does to you. 

On to today's getting to know me questions...

What are your favorite movies?
Probably my all-time favorite movie is Amazing Grace, a movie that tells the story of William Wilberforce. It is so good. Go watch it.

I also love Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, so obviously those movies make the list. Also, the Avengers movies. My favorites of those are both Thor movies, both Captain America movies, both Avengers movies, and Guardians of the Galaxy. Basically everything except Iron Man. 

Oh, and The Princess Bride. And the first Pirates of the Caribbean. Also Pride and Prejudice (BBC), the new Cinderella, Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, and Tangled.

That's a long list. 

Who is your favorite author?
I am not capable of answering this question.

Okay, I'll try...if I have to pick an absolute favorite, like  I couldn't do without their books, I would say J.R.R. Tolkien. But it's close between him and many others...

Weekly Challenge update...
This one (prayer all throughout the day) was kind of hard to measure. I think I do okay with this, since it's already kind of a habit for me. But it's not as clear-cut as the others were, and it's definitely an area I can still grow in.

What do you think? What are your favorite movies and authors? How did you do with the weekly challenge? Leave me a comment and tell me! 

I'm Back with Another Challenge For You...

I'm back from my week of vacation!

It was super fun (like the beach always is), very relaxing, and so nice to go a whole week without checking email/doing blogging stuff. But I'm happy to be back, since even at the beach I kept getting ideas for posts...a writer's brain never takes vacation. 

So far I've challenged you to 1) read your Bible every day, and 2) memorize Scripture regularly. And today I have another challenge for you!

This Week's Challenge
#3: Pray without ceasing, in good circumstances and bad. 

This week's challenge is to pray often throughout your day. I'm not talking about prayer in your devotional time, although that is good too. I'm talking about little prayers all during the day, in all circumstances.

When you read a tragic news story...pray for the people. When you're feeling grumpy or angry...pray for your attitude. When something fabulous happens...pray and thank God. You get the idea. The goal is to make it a habitual, automatic response to any situation. 

Will you take the challenge? 

Getting to Know Me: Clothes and Books (+several blog updates)

Today's icebreaker questions:

If you could live in any other time period, only for the clothes, which one would it be?
Hmm...probably the 50s. I love the vintage-looking dresses and shoes and I think most of the ones I like are 50s style.

What are your favorite books?
I hate this question.

First of all, because I have like 20 favorites, and second of all, because I can never remember them all when I actually have to answer the question. Then I inevitably think of some more after the question has already been answered. But here goes...

• Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris
• Dancing Through It by Jenifer Ringer
• Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
• The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
• Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
• Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
• Beauty and The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley
• The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander
• Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom, Little Men, and An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott
• Elsie Dinsmore series by Martha Finley  
• Mitford series by Jan Karon
• The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall
• Pride and Prejudice, Emma by Jane Austen
• Ella Enchanted, Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Is that enough for you yet? I'm sure there are more that I can't think of, but the ones that made it on that list right now are ones that I have read over and over or that had an emotional effect on me that I still remember.

And now, some blog updates:

Weekly Challenge Update
I succeeded at this challenge this week through memorizing 1 Chronicles 16:8-9. I hope to finish memorizing the rest of that poem in my devotional time in the next few weeks.

There won't be a challenge next week (see below...) so keep reading your Bible and memorizing Scripture!

Going on a Blogging Break
Tomorrow, I leave with my family to go to the beach. So, starting tomorrow, I'll be taking a weeklong blogging break. I want to put away the electronics and spend time relaxing and recharging in the coming week.

Since there won't be any new posts next week, check out some of these popular posts from the archives:

• 3 Reasons to Dress Modestly
• 4 Tips for Daily Bible Reading
• Makeup: Do or Don't?
• Surviving Public School: Simplifying Your Morning
• The Church: People or Place?
• One Big Reason Why the News Shouldn't Scare You

Have a great week! See you after my break!

Dear Future Husband

*This post was inspired by Amanda's post at her blog, Scattered Journal Pages. 

Dear Future Husband,

Here's a few things you'll need to know if you wanna be my one and only all my life...

I want you to know that I pray for you every day, that you will grow more and more in your walk of faith. 

'Cause if you treat me right, I'll be the perfect wife...

I am striving every day to become the kind of woman you're looking for and praying that I will be able to love you with a selfless, self-sacrificing love. 

...You got that 9 to 5, but baby, so do I, so don't be thinking I'll be home and baking apple pies, I never learned to cook...

I know that raising a family and taking care of a home is the most important calling I have in life, and am learning the skills I need now to be a blessing to you. 

...You gotta know how to treat me like a lady, even when I'm acting crazy...

I will always try to act like a lady and make you proud to treat me like one. 

...After every fight, just apologize...even if I was wrong. You know I'm never wrong, why disagree?...

I know that we're both human and there will be disagreements. I pray that we will both be able to admit when we are wrong and that we will never let fighting come between us.

...future husband, better love me right.

I pray that I will be able to love you selflessly and fully, and that we will always put God first.

Love,

Grace

*The italicized portions of this post came from Meghan Trainor's song, "Dear Future Husband". 

Are You a People-Pleaser or a God-Pleaser?

My choir sang "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift at our spring concert earlier in June.

For the most part, the song itself was okay. There were a few mild curse words in the speaking part, but I didn't say those.

And then...we learned that there was going to be dancing. Worse, my chorus director was letting students come up with the dancing. If you know what kind of song "Shake It Off" is, you can probably imagine what the dancing they came up with looked like. Not okay.

The dancing wasn't something I could just inconspicuously not participate in, like the language. So the next morning before class started, I went to my chorus director's office and told him that I wasn't comfortable with some of the dance moves being put in.

He agreed with me, saying that it needed to be toned down a bit. I walked out of there feeling glad that I hadn't avoided the awkwardness and had stood up for things. It had been easier than I expected, for which I was thankful. But even if it hadn't been, I would still have felt better for having done the right thing.

We didn't end up dancing, because we ran out of time to put it together. But I had still learned something valuable--standing up for what you believe is right trumps going along with the crowd, every time.

Yes, it can be awkward. The problem may not always be solved as easily as mine was. But no matter how awkward it is, you have to stand up for what's right.

Because life isn't about pleasing people. It's about pleasing God.

Life isn't about meeting the world's standards. It's about meeting God's standards.

Life isn't about avoiding awkwardness. It's about sharing the truth.

So the next time you're faced with a situation where you're being asked to do something wrong, think through how you can stand up for the truth in the face of darkness.

We are called to be lights of the world; if you hide your faith, how can you brighten the darkness?

Have you ever been faced with an awkward situation like mine? How did you handle it? How can you handle them in the future? Tell me in a comment!

Weekly Challenge: Hide It In Your Heart

Last week, I challenged you all to read your Bibles for at least fifteen minutes a day. This week, I'm back with a new challenge for you.

(Oh, and keep reading your Bible this week too!)

The Challenge
#2: Memorize Scripture regularly.

This week's challenge is to memorize a passage of Scripture.

Pick a passage that you like or have been wanting to learn more about. If you absolutely cannot think of a passage, just pick a random Psalm.

It doesn't matter how long it is, either. It all depends on what you feel you can do this week. Work the memorization into your devotional time so that you will continue to do it after this week.

Happy memorizing!

Further Reading

• What's the Big Deal About Memorizing Scripture?
• Do Hard Things: Scripture Memorization

Will you take the challenge? Tell me in a comment what you plan to memorize!

(Just for reference, I'll be working on 1 Chronicles 16:8-9 this week.)

Book Club: The Bookshelf Tag

Today I'm doing something a little different and am going to participate in this bookshelf tag that I read about on The Road of a Writer. You probably know already how much I love books, and I hope you have as much fun reading this as I did writing it!

Describe your bookshelf (or wherever it is you keep your books) and where you got it from: My bookshelf is a white, open-sided, sort of slanted shelf from Ikea. The shelves get progressively deeper from bottom to top. I'm having some trouble describing it...oh, well.

Do you have any special or different way of organizing your books? Aside from them usually being all over the floor? Just kidding. As I said, some of the individual shelves on my bookshelf are deeper than others, so by necessity my books are sort of arranged by size. 

What's the thickest (most amount of pages) book on your shelf? The Hitchhiker's Trilogy by Douglas Adams (all five books in one) at 839 pages. 

What's the thinnest (least amount of pages) book on your shelf? I'll be totally honest...Doll Crafts from the American Girl kit. Why is this still on my shelf??

Is there a book you received as a birthday gift? Tons! But a favorite would be The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall.

What's the smallest (by height and width) book on your shelf? A tiny Bible that I keep in my backpack during the school year.

What's the biggest (by height and width) book on your shelf? A coffee-table book on Degas.

Is there a book from a friend on your shelf? You mean as a gift? There are quite a few...

Most expensive book? I have no idea.
 
The last book you read on your shelf? I think it was Beauty by Robin McKinley.

Of all the books on your shelf, which was the first one you read? I don't know for sure...but I know that one I read very early on was Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson.

Do you have more than one copy of a book? No. That would drive me crazy.

Do you have the complete series of any book series? Um, Lord of the Rings, Percy Jackson, The Penderwicks, the Hitchhiker's Trilogy, The Chronicles of Prydain...and I could probably think of more.

What's the newest addition to your shelf? Unwind by Neal Shusterman and Lord of the Flies. These are both for summer homework. That doesn't mean I won't enjoy reading them!

What book has been on your shelf FOREVER? Probably Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner, which I got for my tenth birthday.

What's the most recently published book on your shelf? Most likely Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys.

The oldest book on your shelf (as in, the actual copy is old)? It's a toss-up between The Gold Shoe by Grace Livingston Hill, Lord Peter by Dorothy Sayers, and Christy by Catherine Marshall, all books I stole from my mom.

A book you won? None.

A book you'd hate to let out of your sight (aka a book you would never let someone borrow)? I can't think of one at the moment.

Most beat-up book? Aside from the aforementioned old ones, maybe The Penderwicks? There isn't really one that stands out form all the others.

Most pristine book? The newest additions, see above.

A book from your childhood? Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace. Actually these might trump Bridge to Terabithia for a book that I read first.

A book that's not actually your book? Several devotionals that I stole from my mom.

A book with a special/different cover (e.g. leather bound, soft fuzzy cover, etc.)? None that I can think of.

A book that is your favorite color? I don't even know what my favorite color is at the moment.

Book that's been on your shelf longest that you STILL haven't read? The above mentioned Emil and the Detectives. I've had it since my tenth birthday and still haven't read it all the way through. It's really sad.

Any signed books? Sadly, I don't think I have a single one.

Leave me a comment to tell me if you enjoyed this! And if you want to do this tag on your blog, go right ahead!

Getting to Know Me: Names and Hair (+ weekly challenge update!)

I'm a real person. (Gasp!)
 
I want to feel real to you. I want this blog to be personal and I want each of you to feel like you know me.
 
So, because of that, I'm going to start a new series where I share little things about me and my life. For the first part of that series, I'm going to use this set of icebreaker questions from A Tightrope to the Sun, my friend's blog. I'm going to answer a few of the questions each Friday in a post.
 
Hope you enjoy! And now, on to today's questions:
 
What's your full name? How do you feel about this name?
My middle name is Evalyn, and please remember that it's spelled with an a not an e. :)
 
I really like it, especially since it makes my initials spell a word! (Not going to tell which one, or my last name, because this is the internet and you know, safety and all that, people).
 
If you could have any other hair color, what would it be?
Um...I've never actually thought about this before. My hair is actually brown.
 
I don't want my hair to be a weird color like pink or blue, but black, blonde, and red are all equally appealing. I'd probably say blonde. But I'm actually fine with the hair I have, so...

And now, on to more serious things...
How the week's challenge went for me:
This week's challenge was to read the Bible for at least fifteen minutes every day. And...I succeeded!
 
I made it the first thing I did every day. After my alarm went off (yes, I am one of those people who uses an alarm in the summer), I read with pencil in hand, making notes when I had thoughts I wanted to record.
 
Since I had already started reading through the Bible, I'm now in Judges. And there are some pretty interesting stories in Judges (tent pegs being driven into people's heads, anyone?).
 
I'm hoping that I can keep this Bible reading habit going strong for the rest of the summer and then into the school year. And if you weren't able to read the Bible every day this week, don't give up! Keep trying!
 
Oh, and here's one more article I found about this during the week: The Most Important Book for a Bibliophile .
 
Do you like this new series? Did you participate in the weekly challenge? How did it go for you? Leave me a comment and let me know!

4 Lessons I Learned From 9th Grade

I just completed my first year of high school. It was also my first year of public school.

At this point I have tried homeschooling, private school, and public school, and let me say that I like public school the least of the three. But God had reasons for me to be there and ways for me to grow and learn to rely on Him more.

Thinking back, here are four things I learned this year that I want to share with you:

Christian friends are precious.
Up until this year, most if not all of my friends were Christian. This year, I started hanging out more with people who were not. My lifeline was the Christian fellowship group that met once a week after school.

I didn't get really close with everyone in the group, but just knowing that there were other Christians in the building was a huge encouragement to me.

I also got to be really good friends with several girls, who I would probably say were my best friends this year. Having a close Christian friend in such a secular environment is invaluable. I don't know how I would have survived the year without them.

Being openly Christian is scary, hard, and embarrassing.
I'm still not able to just tell someone I'm a Christian without feeling slightly embarrassed, although it has gotten better. My closest friends know that I'm a Christian, and we've had conversations about it. But when difficult topics come up in conversation like feminism, abortion, and the dress code, I tend to back away and try to become invisible rather than share my opinion.

I have grown a little in this though: I've gotten to the point where I can put Bible verses in my locker without feeling embarrassed and I no longer mumble when I tell people I'm going to Christian Fellowship.

But sharing that I'm a Christian is much, much harder than I ever thought it would be.

Just because someone says that they are a Christian doesn't mean they really are.
This was something that I really didn't realize until this year. One of my good friends says she is a Christian. When I first met her, I thought, "Great! A Christian girl I can hang out with!" It didn't take long for me to realize, though, that we were living very different lives.

I can't judge her heart, of course, but if you're truly a Christian it's supposed to show. So just proceed with caution; don't assume that someone is living the same life as you if they say they are a Christian. Often people just think that means you go to church. Which, as we all know, is not the definition of a Christian.

A true faith will be strengthened like never before.
I have heard the objection to public school that "it's really easy to stop being a Christian".

But here's the thing: if you "stop being a Christian", you were never really one in the first place. My experience was that my faith was tested, and strengthened in the testing. If you have a true faith, high school will be a place for it to be challenged and for you to rely on God like you've never had to before.

Leave me a comment if you identify with these truths! What else have you learned this year?

It's Not Just the Guy's Problem (the dress code controversy, part 2)

How many times have you heard the objection, "It's a guy's problem if he can't control his thoughts"?

Probably most of you have heard it many times, especially those of you in public school. With all of the discussion about the dress code lately, this is an objection that often comes up, right up there next to the myth about modesty meaning being ashamed of our bodies.

I talked about that myth several weeks ago, and today I want to discuss this other common objection: "It's the guy's problem!"

What's wrong with this attitude?
Let's revisit something I'm sure I've talked about before on this blog: living a life of service to others. This is what we are called to do as Christians, and it applies in all areas of our lives.

This begins in the heart. A heart that is willing to do things for others even when inconvenienced by them is a heart of service. On the other hand, if your instinctive reaction is, "They can do it themselves" or "that isn't my problem", you aren't going to be living a life of serving others. All of our actions begin in the heart.

Help the guys in your life.
The principle of serving others doesn't suddenly not apply when it comes to dressing modestly.

So that means that if dressing modestly is something we can do to help the guys around us, we should do it, and not grudgingly, either, but cheerfully and with an attitude of service.

Your thoughts should go from "It's the guy's problem" to "It's ultimately up to the guy to control his thought life, but I want to help him in any way I can".

How have you responded to this objection in the past? What other objections to the dress code have you heard before? Tell me in a comment!

Weekly Challenge: the B-I-B-L-E

Remember when I said that I had another plan for writing in detail about everything on the 100 Ways to Start Living Your Faith list?

Well, this is it! Every week I will present a new challenge from one of the things on the list and post some thoughts about it. Each Friday I will check in and update you on how the challenge is going for me.

The Challenge
#1: Read your Bible every day. Study it, talk about it, and ask God to help it come alive.

This week's challenge is to read your Bible for at least 15 minutes every day. And don't just read mindlessly; really study it.

You can jot notes in the Bible itself or use a separate notebook for the purpose. You can study it in detail, write down a few thoughts, or simply choose one verse from your reading to focus in on. It doesn't matter what you do, just do something to be engaged with the passage.

It doesn't matter where you read, either. Start in Genesis. Start in Matthew. Start in Psalms or Romans or Esther or even Revelation. Just read something every day.

Further Reading

• 4 Tips for Daily Bible Reading
• Feeding Our Hungry Souls
• Ten Reasons to Read the Bible
• Practical Helps for Bible Reading

Leave me a comment if you plan to take the challenge! What will you read? How will you study the passage?