Let's Chat...(in a virtual coffee shop)

Is there anything better than sitting down with a nice hot drink to catch up with a friend and just learn more about them? Today we're doing that in a virtual sense so that you can learn more about me.

My friend at Retro Piggy (retro-piggy.blogspot.com) is doing this "tea tag" which she tagged me for; basically there are a bunch of questions that I answer about myself in a blog post.



You can read her post here: http://retro-piggy.blogspot.com/2015/03/hey-there-long-time-no-post-so-i-love.html
And here is the post from the other blog she tagged, A Tightrope to the Sun: http://a-tightrope-to-the-sun.blogspot.com/2015/03/tea-tag.html

Check out those blogs, they are pretty cool!


So, here goes my Q&A (with a few removed that I didn't want to answer):

earl grey: how do you take your tea?
I like herbal tea plain without anything else added to it. Weird, I know, but my taste buds just don't need sweetener.

lady grey: favorite outfit?
My go-to outfit is jeans, a solid colored t-shirt, a cardigan, scarf, and ballet flats. It's simple, comfortable, and still looks really put together.

Irish breakfast: what country do you want to visit?
Oh, dear...Ireland, England, France, Italy, New Zealand, and I'm sure there are more that I just can't think of right now.

chamomile: comfort movie?
There are so many...probably Disney Cinderella (the old one) or other Disney movies.

peppermint: what's your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas, because it lasts the longest :)

milk: do you have any allergies?
Dogs and cats :(

green tea: where do you feel most at peace?
Curled up with a good book somewhere quiet.

bubble tea: which ride would you pick at an amusement park?
Something relatively mild, because I am definitely not a roller coaster person.

mug: when/where do you normally drink tea?
In the mornings (at 6 AM for school...) with my breakfast.

chai: what do you order at Starbucks?
I don't go there often enough to have an answer to this question. I've been there maybe three times in my life and honestly I think I ordered something different every time.

oolong: what are you hoping to be doing in ten years?
Teaching high school English and ballet, writing young adult novels, and still blogging!

herbal: post a selfie
nope, sorry, don't post pictures of myself online.

coffee: surprise coffee ask! How do you take your coffee?
I don't like coffee unless it's a latte or something else with a lot of sugar and whipped cream (i.e. something that isn't really coffee).


What do you think? Did you enjoy getting to know more about me? Tell me your answers to these questions in the comments below, or answer them in a blog post if you have a blog! Keep the conversation going!

Surviving Public School: Class Tips

So far, we've discussed tips for getting up, getting ready, and riding the bus. Now you're actually at school, and I'm going to start touching on class-specific survival tips.

Today we will begin with general tips that will help you in every class. Some people like math, some people like English, some people like science...it all depends on your personal preferences. I will cover each of those classes in the coming weeks, but today I just wanted to focus on some things that you should remember for each class.

Don't Complain
Obviously, how much you enjoy a class depends a lot on the teacher you get. It can be hit-or-miss, and unfortunately you usually can't change it, but your attitude can make a big difference. Try to avoid trash-talking teachers with your friends, no matter how bad they are or how much homework they give or how hard their tests are.

Now, if a teacher is saying or doing something that you actually have an issue with or that offends you, definitely talk to a parent about it. Just don't go around talking bad about a teacher that you don't like because they are boring or give you too many pop quizzes.

Do the Homework and Study
Remembering to do these two things will make a huge difference in your grades. Write down your homework every single day, make sure you are bringing home everything you need, and then do the homework as soon as you get home, if possible, or after a short break (and a short break does not mean three hours of TV).

If you have a quiz or test coming up, study for it, even if you think you know the material. Even just looking over the textbook pages or doing a few practice problems can help reinforce things in your head and give you the boost of confidence you need to remind you that you know everything.

If you don't know material, do some serious studying. Get out your books, notes, and other tools and really work on memorizing it. Do practice problems for math, memorize dates for history, and learn vocabulary and facts in whatever way works for you. I will cover specific study tips in later posts.

I usually start studying for a quiz two days before and a test a week before, but play around with it to see how much time you need.

Stay Organized
This goes along with the last one. Make sure all of your materials and papers have a place and keep them there. Write down your homework every day and get it done. Keep your locker from becoming a landslide of stuff. It doesn't have to be perfect and pristine, but try to keep your backpack, locker, and binders from becoming a junkyard of old papers.

Be Respectful to the Teacher
I'm not saying you should suck it up and become a teacher's pet, but do be polite, respectful, and friendly with them. First of all, it's how Christians should treat anyone, and second if all, if your teacher hates you your life is going to be miserable.

Don't be afraid to talk to your teachers, especially if you have a special interest in something you're learning about! Teachers love to talk to students who want more information about things or who have a cool story to share. They're real people too, and they exist outside of the classroom. Get to know them as people with a personality, a background, and interests.

What do you think? Do you like these tips? What would you add to the list?

Just To Let You Know...

Just wanted to let everyone know about a few minor changes that will be happening around here; nothing major, so don't worry, and I'll still be posting regular content!

The main change is that I'm switching from posting every day to posting Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday only. Posting every day is too much for me to keep up with and I don't want to be overloading you with content either.

Because of this, I will need to put the Great Bible Stories series on hold for now. It will probably be back; if you would like to see it back at some point let me know in the comments! However, I will be continuing 100 Ways to Live for God, Surviving Public School, and the Book Club series, as well as finishing up the Digging into 1 Timothy 4:12 series in one or two more posts.

I have lots of great posts planned for April that I'm very excited about! If you have any posts you would like to see, tell me in the comments. I'm always looking for new ideas!

Your Biblical Roadmap

Let's be honest: the Bible is huge. It contains book after book of stories, poetry, and instructions for living. So it can be overwhelming when you sit down to read. Where in the world do you start?

To help with this, here is an overview of the major book categories in the Bible to help you get the big picture of what this amazing book holds.

The Old Testament

1. The Pentateuch: This section contains the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). They tell the story of the creation and God's establishment of his covenant people beginning with Abraham. After Genesis, they are mostly made up of God's law for the Jews, so they can be hard to get through if you are just starting out reading the Bible.
2. History: This contains the next twelve Old Testament books, from Joshua to Esther. These books continue the history of Israel begun in the Pentateuch, telling of the judges and then the kings. This would be a good section for you if you like reading history or nonfiction.
3. Poetry and Wisdom: This includes Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. These books contain poetry in praise and petition to God or wisdom for living. If you like reading poems, this is a good section for you.
4. Prophets: This makes up the rest of the Old Testament. Prophetic books can be hard to understand if you are just starting out, but are something you should definitely read at some point.

The New Testament

1. The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This is a very good place to start if you are new to Christianity or just like a good story. They tell the story of Jesus' birth, life, and death, recorded by four different authors.
2. History: The book of Acts is the only other history book in the New Testament. It was written by Luke to continue his gospel, telling of the work of the apostles after Christ ascended into heaven. Definitely a good thing to read if you're looking for a story.
3. Letters: These make up the bulk of the New Testament. Many of them were written by Paul, some by other apostles. These provide the basic guidelines for Christian living.
4. Prophecy: The book of Revelation, prophesying the age to come, is definitely a confusing book and not where you want to start if you are new to the Bible, but don't be afraid of reading it at some point!

So, here is the order I would suggest reading the books in if you are new to the Bible:

1. Read the Gospels first. They aren't as hard to interpret and also explain the fundamental beliefs about Christ behind Christianity.
2. Read Genesis next.
3. Now read the Old Testament history and Acts.
4. Read the New Testament letters.
5. Read Old Testament poetry now.
6. Then Old Testament prophets.
7. Now, go back to the Pentateuch and read Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
8. Finish with Revelation once you are better equipped to understand it through reading the rest of the Bible.

Of course, there are many ways you could go about it, based on what you like reading personally. And if you've already been reading your Bible, hopefully this helped with the big picture and helped you see the parts you need to go back and focus on more in-depth.

Happy reading!

What do you think? Have you read all of your Bible? What parts do you need to go back and reread? If you haven't read the Bible before, where will you start?

Set an Example in Actions

Two weeks ago I discussed speaking in a godly way, one that brings glory to God and sets an example for other believers around us.

But speaking isn't enough; we must show our faith in our actions as well!

Look to the Bible
There is no way to cover everything the Bible commands us to do in a blog post. You have to discover that for yourself; read it regularly! If you have an issue that comes up in your life and you are unsure how to respond, try to find it Scripture before you turn to any other sources, whether people or books.

If you can't find anything that you feel relates to your topic, ask a parent, pastor, youth leader, or other godly adult in your life for help. Maybe they can point out verses that you overlooked or that relate in a way you hadn't thought of.

Remember that the Bible gives us all of the instruction we need for our life. There is always something there to guide you, whether you can find it at first or not. Dig deep!

Follow the Golden Rule
Digging aside, there is one teaching that the Bible gives that relates to pretty much everything we do: treat others as more important than yourself.

Treat others the way you would want to be treated by them in the same situation; it's a foolproof rule of thumb for living and interacting with others (unless you enjoy it when people are mean to you, which I highly doubt).

Do Everything for God's Glory
The ultimate purpose in the Christian life is to glorify God. This should be your priority; God's glory and majesty should be reflected in your actions.

If your goals aren't aligned with this one purpose, maybe it's time to rethink where your life is going. Remember that life isn't about being happy; it's about bringing God glory. This will inform everything you do.

What do you think? Do you like these reflections? What else would you add?

A Little Crash Course on St. Patrick

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I hope your day has been full of green and Irishness (I don't think that's a word, but oh well).

St. Patrick's Day is yet another example of a holiday with Christian roots that has been turned on its head and is now celebrated by millions of people who have no idea what they are actually celebrating.

But you should know what you are celebrating. So who exactly was St. Patrick, and why do we celebrate him?

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was born in Roman Britain, but he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at age sixteen. He worked as a slave in Ireland for six years; during this time he became a devout Christian.

He claims that a voice spoke in a dream to him, telling him that it was time to leave Ireland. He managed to escape and made his way back to Britain to be reunited with his family.

And then he had another dream in which God called him to go back to Ireland and witness to the people there. So he returned and began the process of bringing Christianity to the Irish, who at the time practiced a religion full of Druids and nature spirits. Many legends of him exist today, one of which is that he used the three-leaf clover to illustrate the trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

So there you have it: who St. Patrick is and why we celebrate him on March 17.

What do you think? Did you know this before? Have you learned some new things? Are there other things you can add to this that I left out?

5 Truths About Prayer

Prayer. Arguably one of the most important responsibilities and most exciting benefits of the Christian life. I mean, you get to spend time talking personally to the God of the universe, something that other religions really have no equivalent to.

But so many people see prayer as a chore, something they do before they eat and before bed so that they can be a "good Christian". Today I want to dive into some of the Bible's teachings about prayer, what it is and isn't for, and what you will get out of it if you stop viewing it as a chore and start viewing it as a privilege.

1. Prayer is not an outward show.
"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
-Matthew 6:6

Now, this verse isn't saying that it's wrong to pray with a group of people. It only means that you should not see prayer as primarily something to do in front of others to show them what a good Christian you are.

This was something the Pharisees were very guilty of; they would pray on the streets to show the whole world how righteous they were. That is not the point of prayer. The point of prayer is to come into the presence of God and develop your personal relationship with Him.

2. We are to pray continually.
"...be constant in prayer."
-Romans 12:12b

Prayer is not something that you only do before meals and before bed as part of your routine. You should be in the habit of praying anywhere, anytime, about anything. Send little prayers up to God all throughout your day, whenever you think of someone who needs it or find yourself in a difficult situation where you need a little help.

3. We are to pray for others.
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
-James 5:16

While it's fine to pray for things in your own life, prayer is very powerful when many people are all praying to God for each other. If you have Christian friends, share prayer requests with them and pray faithfully for them, trusting that they are doing the same for you. There is nothing more encouraging than going through a hard time knowing that there are people praying on your behalf.

4. Prayer is a cure for worry.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 4:6-7

When we pray, we are essentially turning our lives over to God. We are saying, "Lord, this is where I need help, and I am giving it to you because I know you will do what is best for me." When we know that God is in control of our lives, we will naturally be less anxious, because we are giving our worries to Him and letting Him take care of it.

5. God hears the prayers of His people.
"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry...when the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles."
-Psalm 34:15-17

The reason prayer is such an amazing, encouraging thing is because God actually hears us. If we believe and trust in Him, He listens to every little prayer you think throughout the day. So never worry that he isn't listening to you; He hears every word you speak to Him and knows exactly what you are going through each day.

What do you think? Do you find these truths encouraging? Are there things here you never thought about before? Are there other verses you can think of that talk about prayer? Tell me in the comments!

Book Club: Do Hard Things, chapters 1 and 2

Remember the Book Club series I introduced last Friday? We will be looking at various books and I will give you the summaries, for those of you who don't want to read (except I'm sure there isn't anyone like that reading this blog...is there?). Then I will prompt your thinking with some questions.

This series will be even better if it's interactive, so feel free to leave your thoughts on each chapter in the comments below!

Last week I said that today we would be discussing chapters 1 and 2 of Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris, our first book.

So, here goes.

Chapter 1: Most People Don't...
"Most people don't expect you to understand what we're going to tell you in this book. And even if you understand, they don't expect you to care. And even if you care, they don't expect you to do anything about it. And even if you do something about it, they don't expect it to last.

Well, we do."

-Do Hard Things, chapter 1, page 3

So begins this book. And it poses a wonderful challenge to us to keep reading and to let the message of this book change our lives.

"Do Hard Things": What It Is and What It Isn't
The book goes on to discuss what Do Hard Things is actually about. Here is what it says:

"What you're holding in your hands right now is a challenging book for teens by teens who believe our generation is ready for a change...we believe our generation is ready to rethink what teens are capable of doing and thinking. And we've noticed that once wrong ideas are debunked and cleared away, our generation is quick to choose a better way, even if it's also more difficult." (page 4)

Think about our culture's expectations of teens. Are they particularly high? Not really. That is what this book is out to change. The brothers challenge teens to rethink their lives into something wonderful.

But there's something that doing hard things doesn't mean. They say that the reaction of most people to the phrase "do hard things" is something like,

"Hard? Uh-oh. Guys, I just remembered that I'm supposed to be somewhere else. Like, right now." (page 6)

But doing hard things doesn't mean doing things just because they are difficult and make you miserable. It also doesn't mean that God will love you more. Doing hard things is just a challenge to make your teen years better and more exciting.

Chapter 2: Their Personal Stories
In chapter 2, the brothers share their personal journey, how they got where they are. Suffice it to say that they were directors of a political campaign at seventeen...

I'm not going to go into a lot of detail from this chapter, but it really is an amazing story and I would recommend reading it if you haven't already. One of the most inspiring parts of this book is the stories of real teens doing amazing things. They alone make the book well worth reading.

Questions to Think About

• Do you think that teens in our culture today are shackled by low expectations?
• How do you think that we can make that change?

What To Do Next
It's not too late to get a copy of this book and get caught up! You can get it in whatever form you want, but get it and read it if you can. So, so, important!

What do you think? Have you read this book already? Did you like it? Are you reading along? What did you think of these two chapters?

Great Bible Stories: Moses, part 4 (Exodus 11 and 12)

When we last left our friend Moses, God was raining plagues down on the Egyptians because the Pharaoh wouldn't let the Israelites leave. So far there has been frogs, gnats, flies, locusts, and other terrible things.

But God has one more left.

The Biggest Plague
"So Moses said, 'Thus says the Lord: About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die..." (Exodus 11:4-5a)

This plague will be the biggest, most terrible plague of all. God is planning to kill the firstborn of every Egyptian. Pharaoh's stubborn resistance to God will now end in disaster not only for him, but for all of his people as well.

But so that the Israelites will be passed over in this terrible plague, God tells them to sacrifice a lamb and paint the blood on the doorpost. In this way, the lives of their children will be spared.

This is wonderful foreshadowing to the Lamb of God, the one who will be sacrificed to spare the children of God from death.

The Passover Arrives, and the Israelites Leave
And so, at midnight the Lord passes through and kills all of the firstborn of the Egyptians.

And it works. Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron and says, "Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said." (Exodus 12:31)

The Egyptians that did not want the Israelites to go now want them to get out as quickly as possible, afraid that they will all die. So the Israelites leave, free at last.

This is also where Jews get their celebration of Passover; God instituted it after the Israelites left Egypt.

And this concludes the story of Moses that we will be looking at. I hope you enjoyed it!

Lessons Learned

• God will achieve his plan no matter what. He can get past any obstacles to do what He wills in our lives. As we saw last week and continued to see this week, opposing Him is definitely not a good move.
• Your sin can also affect the people around you. Pharaoh's stubbornness in letting the Israelites leave caused not only the death of his child, but much other death as well. Our sin can have a negative affect on the lives of those around us as well as our own.

 What do you think? Do you like this story? Do you agree with the lessons I have drawn from it? What other stories do you think I should do? Tell me in the comments below!

Surviving Public School: 4 Bus-Riding Tips

If you ride the bus to school, you probably know that it can be fine, even pleasant, or it can be torture, depending on who rides your bus and how disruptive they are.

It is important that you set a good example by following the bus rules and not being exceptionally noisy or rowdy during your bus ride. That said, I know most of you probably already do that, so here are some tips for making the ride more bearable for yourself and others:

ALWAYS follow the rules.
It doesn't matter if they seem unreasonable or if "no one else follows them anyway". If you follow all of the rules all of the time, not only will you be a more pleasant bus mate, the bus driver won't hate you. It's kind of important that your bus driver not hate you since you will be in a confined space with them twice every day for the whole school year.

Wear appropriate outerwear.
This has more to do with the parts when you're walking to and from the bus stop. Make sure that you are dressed for the weather. Waterproof shoes and coat if it's raining, heavy coat/hat/gloves if it's really cold, and always wear shoes that are good to walk on.

Girls, this doesn't mean you have to wear athletic sneakers every day...but do make sure that your shoes are broken in around the house before you wear them to walk to and from the bus stop.

Let people sit beside you.
Don't be that person that spreads their stuff out over the whole seat and has a "don't bother me" look on their face. Be friendly! Show God's love to those around you, even on the bus. You could meet your new best friend or have a chance to share the gospel with someone!

Use the time wisely.
If you can read in vehicles (sadly, I can't), use the time to read something worthwhile or work on homework. If you can't read while moving, you can listen to music or something like an audiobook. You can even get the Bible on audio if that appeals to you!

If you are reading or doing homework, listen to some instrumental music. Whatever you do, put the headphones in, crank up the tunes, and tune out the world!

What do you think? Are your bus rides okay or are they torture? Will you try out these tips? What other tips would you add?

What Is the Bible? What Is It For?

The Bible gives us a lot of instructions, guidance, and encouragement on many topics, and one of these is the topic of what, exactly, the Bible itself is and is for. There are several verses, some of which are probably very familiar to you, which address this topic.

I want to look at four of these today:

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness..."
-2 Timothy 3:16

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
-Romans 15:4

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
-Psalm 119:105

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
-James 1:22

What Exactly is the Bible, Anyway?
The Bible, as we learn in 2 Timothy 3:16, is of God's making, "breathed out by Him". It was written by human authors, but another translation of this verse reads "All Scripture is inspired by God". He used humans to write it down, but told them what to say.

So what does this mean? This makes everything in the Bible true, right, and holy. It would have to be, otherwise what would that say about God?

How We Use It
The Bible has many purposes: it can be used for instruction, encouragement, and guidance.

• Instruction (2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 15:4) tells us how God wants us to live our lives and gives us the examples of Godly people of the past.
• Encouragement (Romans 15:4) gives us hope in the face of our daily struggles and temptations.
• Guidance (Psalm 119:105) helps us when we have hard decisions to make or don't know what to do.

Don't Be Passive!
James tells us that we are not to be "hearers" of the word only, but also "doers". In other words, it's not enough to listen to the passage at church and read your Bible at home, even if you are super-engaged with each passage and gain immediate understanding of everything being said.

Because the Bible isn't like that. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..." The Bible is ready to work in your life, but you have to be willing to let it make that change. It can't do anything if you listen to it passively and wait for something magical to happen.

So apply the Bible's teachings to your life; be a "doer" and not a "hearer"!

What do you think? Do you like these verses? What other topics would you like to see an article about?

P.S. Read Bible reading tips here.

As a reminder, all of the Bible verses in any of my posts come from the ESV version of the Bible.

Hardships, Happiness, and the Hope of Heaven

Has anyone ever told you how hard it is to be a Christian?

There are school dances that you don't go to even though you really want to because you are afraid they will be inappropriate.
There are super-popular movies that you don't see because they are rated R.
There's the struggle to find dresses that are long enough to wear without pants.
You find that your friends don't understand some of your beliefs no matter how often you explain. You are looked down upon, called old-fashioned.
You lose friends because of your faith.
You may lose family as well.
And then there are all of the inward battles as you struggle to overcome sin and grow in your personal faith.
All of this, in addition to the normal everyday struggles that every teenager goes through.

So is it worth it?

The answer is absolutely!

Because as big as some of those problems may seem right now, they are all earthly things. And as we read in 1 John 2:17, "The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

If you follow the crowd and do things of the world just so you can be happy here, in this life, it will make you happy in the moment. But it will not last.

On the other hand, if you faithfully follow God's will in your life and live in a way that makes him proud, you will receive eternal life in heaven. And that will be a happiness that will last forever.

So all of the ridicule, embarrassment, and inconvenience you go through because you are a Christian is only temporary, and totally worth it.

Because in the end, all of those things will pass away, and the only thing that will remain will be God's kingdom. Wouldn't you rather be on God's side when that happens?

So don't give up! Rest in the truth that everything you go through now will end and you will receive eternal life in Heaven. Being a Christian in today's culture is hard, but totally worth it!
 
What do you think? Have you gone through hardships for Christ in the past? Do you find these truths encouraging?

Introducting the Book Club Series

I love books, in case you haven't figured that out yet. I've reviewed many on this blog already, and there will be more to come.

That's why I want to start a book club on this blog. Here's how it will work: you read a certain portion of the book, and once a week I do a blog post with questions to think about and truths drawn from that part of the book. This way I can share my favorites with you in a more in-depth way.

Our first book will be Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris. I've already reviewed this book and highly encouraged you all to read it. I'm hoping this will get more people to read it and start living out its message.

The book challenges teens to break the common stereotype and live in a way that makes a difference and makes God proud. It's a very inspiring book that I've read over and over!

So here's what to do: Get a copy of Do Hard Things. Get it off Amazon, on Kindle, or at the library. Read chapters 1 and 2 for next week, and check back next Friday for the first discussion post.

I look forward to exploring this book with you!

Great Bible Stories: Moses, part 3 (Exodus 5-10)

We last left Moses after an intense conversation with God in a burning bush. Now he is returning to Egypt to try and convince the Pharaoh to let the Israelites go.

But the first time, it doesn't go well at all!

Bricks Without Straw
Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and ask for him to let the Israelites go.

This is how he replies: "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go." (Exodus 5:2)

Ouch. And to make matters worse, he then takes away the straw given to the Israelites to make bricks with and tells them to gather straw for themselves, while still making the same number of bricks in a day. The Israelites are mad at Moses and Aaron and things are not looking good.

The Plagues
Moses and Aaron go before Pharaoh again, and this time they perform a miracle that God had given them: Aaron's staff turns into a serpent. But somehow Pharaoh's magicians are able to recreate the trick and Pharaoh still will not let Israel go.

So God sends nine awful plagues on Egypt.

• Water turns into blood
• Frogs
• Gnats
• Flies
• Animals die
• Boils (sores) all over men and animals
• Hail
• Locusts
• Constant darkness

Each time, Pharaoh repents, tells Moses that the Israelites may leave, and when the plague is taken away he changes his mind.

But God has yet another plan in mind...(for next week!)

Lessons Learned:

• When we try to achieve something without God, it won't work: The first time they met with Pharaoh, Moses and Aaron relied on their own words instead of the miracles God would work. We can see that that was not a good strategy!
• Opposing God will never go as planned: Pharaoh thinks he can just dismiss them and refuse to let God's people go; unfortunately for Egypt, things will not go well if you oppose God's will.

What do you think? Do you like this story and the lesson's I've drawn from it? Are there other lessons you would add?

 P.S. Read parts 1 and 2 of Moses' story here and here.

Set an Example In Speech

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

This is one of my favorite verses, and I think it's very important. So important, in fact, that it was the first thing I posted on! So important that now it's time for a new series!

In this series I will be breaking down each element that we are to set an example in: speech, actions, love, faith, and purity. Today we will be looking at the first one: speech.

Guidelines for Speaking in a God-Honoring Way

1. Don't curse or use crude language that isn't quite cursing, but close. Find exclamations that you can use instead and make an effort to stop using bad words (and not necessarily just the ones society marks as 'bad') altogether.
2. Don't be a chatterbox. Think before you speak, and be willing to listen to others rather than talk all the time just for the sake of talking. Make sure what you say is necessary or will benefit others in some way.
3. Don't say things that are teasing, deriding, or mean. Make sure that your words will build others up instead of tearing them down.
4. When speaking to those older than you, be sure that you show them respect and courtesy.

Just a few tips for speaking in a way that will set a good example to those around you!

What do you think? Do you like this series idea? Do you have any tips to add to the above list?

P.S. You can read my original post on this verse here.

100 Ways: Work and Witness

Today I'm continuing the 100 Ways to Live for God series with numbers 7 and 8! (Yes, I know this isn't going very fast. Maybe I should start doing three per post...but what's the hurry, after all?)

Let's review quickly the things I have covered in the past, small ways to start making your life more God-centered:

1. Read your Bible every day. So, so, so important!
2. Put a reminder that teenagers can do great things too, like 1 Timothy 4:12, on a sticky note and post it somewhere you see every day.
3. Whenever you get dressed in the morning (girls especially), ask yourself if you would want to go out to lunch with Jesus in what you are wearing.
4. Memorize Scripture regularly.
5. Make prayer your automatic response to a difficult situation.
6. Commit or recommit your life to God and trust His perfect plan.

And now, for today's additions:

7. Commit your work to the Lord and then do it in a way that would make him proud.

Doing everything as though the Lord were coming on a personal inspection tour is one thing that can definitely turn your life around. In reality, he actually is watching everything you do. Do you think he would be pleased with the homework you're turning in or the dishes you're washing?

If you're answer to the above question was no, start making an effort to commit everything you do to Him. Whether school, sports, chores, or actual paid work, act as if everything you do was being done for Him personally.

8. Speak out as a witness.

This is definitely a weak point for me; we have to be careful that we don't hide our faith from the public eye, for fear that we will be scorned or ridiculed. Our faith is something to be proud of, not something to hide from. Sure, we may be teased or questioned, or even ignored occasionally. But if your faith can't hold up under pressure, what kind of faith is it?

Don't be afraid to speak out about what God is doing in your life. If you feel so called, post Bible verses in your locker! If a friend asks, don't deny what you believe. You may be the cause of bringing them around to Christ.

What do you think? Are these things you need to work on? Have you made any changes to your life from these tips? If so, how is it going?

Read the other parts of the series here and drop me a comment to let me know how you're using these tips!

The Church: People or Place?

My church doesn't have pews with velvet cushions, an organ, a choir, or even an acoustic piano. We meet in a bingo hall set up with folding chairs, a portable stage, and blue curtains that are taken down each Sunday night. Our piano is an electric piano, and there are exactly two small rooms to use for Sunday School.

Maybe you do have a fancy building to meet in for worship. Or maybe your church is like mine and meets in a makeshift location, like a school gym. Maybe it frustrates you sometimes; maybe you wish that your church could be more like a "real" church.

But what exactly makes a church "real"?

Church: Building or Body?
The word "church" doesn't actually refer to the physical building. It refers to the group of people that meet inside that building to worship.

If you think about that, it makes total sense. A church could meet outside in a park and it would still be a "real" church. The people, not the building, make the church what it is.

So it doesn't matter if you meet in a cathedral, bingo hall, or even a movie theater (no, I'm not joking, I know someone whose church actually does meet in a movie theater!). All that makes a church real is a group of people who love the Lord coming together to worship Him.

A Body with Many Parts and Purposes
One of the most well-known Bible passages about the church is 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. It says this:

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body...For the body does not consist of one member but of many...If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (verses 12-27)

When you look around your church, you probably see many different people in different stages of life and faith. And that's okay! God made us all different, with different gifts and talents.

What 1 Corinthians is saying is that all of us are individuals, but as part of a church we are also part of one whole. We all have different roles in the church, and together we are what keeps it going, just like hands, eyes, and feet all have different roles to play in your physical body.

Stay Together in Faith
Differences are good, but they should never drive us apart within the church. After all, the group of people inside the building worshiping together and encouraging each other is what gives the church life.

What do you think? Does your church meet in an actual church building or a makeshift space? Do you think your church is unified in one whole? What do you think your role is within your church community?

P.S. Check out this related post: Why Go to Church?