Stop and Take a Moment

In life we usually take every day things for granted.  I am guilty of it too.  Sometimes we just need to slow down and take a moment and say Thank You God for this beautiful day and for being able to live in this beautiful world.  Let me tell you a story.  Last year at on Christmas I was sick I was really sick.  I had the flu an aggressive form of strep and an aggressive form of pneumonia (a triple threat).  I went to the hospital on December 26.  I was so weak I could not stand for more than five seconds without collapsing.  I had so much toxic in my body that I got an infection in my blood (which mean my blood was literally poisonous) it was so bad that I got toxic shock.  It has a 50/50 survival rate.  I was released was released from the hospital January 1^st 2015.  When I found out the survival rate of the toxic shock I felt so blessed and thanked God for being alive.  I realized how I took everyday day things for granted.  If we are sick we can go to the doctors, but you never really think about what it would be like if we did not have doctors.  Here are some things we sometimes take for granted.  Siblings (I know I know siblings really, but think about it no matter what you are going through your siblings are always there for you.), medicine (back in the day doctors did not have the medicine we have now a days.), and internet (we did not always have the internet if someone wanted to know about something they had to ask someone who knew about it or read about it.  They did not have Google.).  I cannot stress enough how important it is to slow and think thank you God.  It could be about anything your family and friends, the day, or even just being alive.  I thank God for being able to help run this blog with this amazing group of girls.  Merry Christmas

Trust in the Lord

     Typically, I am a shy person.  I don't enjoy talking to strangers, saying speeches, or performing in front of a crowd.  I have been trying to overcome this weakness (and yes, being shy is a weakness, not a personality trait exactly), but it doesn't always feel like it gets easier.  

     Anyway, one day I was in town with my mom and sisters shopping at a consignment store.  (my kind of shopping) =) I felt like God wanted me to talk to someone I saw across the store!  My first instinct was, "No way!  I can't do that!  What would I say?  We are about to leave anyway, so my family would have to wait for me.  There is NO way I am going to do this!" 

     But then I remembered.  I thought about the times that I have said no.  I realized that when I got home, I would feel bad that I had disobeyed.  I would always remember how I failed.  And I would be ashamed that I had really just said "No" to God, the One who had given me the very air I was breathing!  It was a hard struggle, but eventually, I forced my feet forward and walked over to where the elderly, African-American woman stood with her daughter trying on shoes.

     "I just wanted to tell you that God loves you."  It was more of a whisper than anything else, and I am not even sure that she heard me.  But I do know that she felt the hug I gave her and the smile I forced to my lips.  My heart was pounding harder than it ever had, I think, but I did it.  I obeyed God and was glad that I did.  Even as I walked out of the store, I could see the woman staring at me in wonder.  I don't know what she thought, or if she even heard my words, but it doesn't matter. I trusted God, and I am so glad that I did.  Even a month later, it makes me smile to remember how scared I was and how I relied on God.  That is all that matters.

     Next time remember that.  All that matters is that you obey God.  You don't have to be scared, and you don't have to hesitate.  You just have to trust.  It sounds so easy doesn't it?

Run to Jesus When You Are Scared

Hello, everyone!  It's Alea posting today.  :)

Recently there was a shooting at my school.  It was the most terrifying experience of my life.  I was just down the hallway from where it was.  The teacher whose classroom it happened in ran into our room, telling us to lock our door.  The look on her face was indescribable.  The entire class ran into the corner, silent as we had ever been.  Everyone would have screamed if a pen had dropped.

My heart pounded.  I didn't know if these were my last moments alive.

I started praying.  My prayers went something like, "God help me."  I am still not entirely sure what I actually meant by that.  I just knew I needed to pray.

I ran to Jesus and He wrapped me in His arms.

I recited Psalm 23 over and over.

"He leads me beside quiet waters.  He restores my soul." Psalm 23:2-3.  He used those words to comfort me.  I was not walking (or hiding in a corner) outside of His will.  There was no safer place to be.

I didn't have my family with me to hold on to.  I didn't even have a close friend in the class.  It was just me and God.  My faith grew tremendously that day.

Take this to your heart, dear readers, and run to Jesus for comfort.  He can comfort you like no other.  Yes, I was scared, but somehow, deep down, I knew that if I died that day, it would be His will.

Cling to Jesus at all times.  He is truly the Great Comforter.

A Letter to Girls I Know (on Modesty)

Hello!  Hosanna here!  This is an article that my mom found several years ago.  I did not write this!!  I know it is long, but if you have the time, this is a great read!!

(author’s name removed at his request)
A Letter to the Girls I Know:
Dear Girls, 

There are two kinds of men: Godly men, and worldly men. What kind of man do you want? I’m betting most of you said “a Godly man.” Someday, you want to marry a man who loves God with every fiber of his being because he will be an excellent husband and father. He will honor and be true only to you. Most women want a Godly man or at least think they do. Well, I think I have found a way to tell you exactly what kind of guy you will get. I don’t even have to know you! All I have to do is look at you. The kind of guy you want or will get is advertised by the clothing you wear. I know what men want. Trust me, I am a guy. I know more guys than you do and I know them better. I know what we think, what we talk about, what we want, and what we look for, and it is different for each one of us depending on our relationship with God. I’m sure you already know this, but men were created differently than you. We have different desires and priorities. Our eyes and minds react very differently to some things than yours do. It isn’t disgusting, perverted, or wrong; it is wonderful and good! It is how God made us. It’s how we handle these differences that separate a Godly man from a worldly man.

A worldly man doesn’t control himself, rather, he looks at anything that attracts his attention or gets him excited. A worldly guy has no problem when girls wear clothes that show off skin, like boxers, high or low-cut shirts, low-rise jeans, and “cute” little swim-suits. He’s a fan of tight-fitting shirts and pants that show off your form, he thinks they’re fine! Worldly guy watches a lot of TV and R-rated movies, isn’t really offended by sexual content or nudity and secretly dabbles in pornography. He’s a “Christian” and makes up a significant portion of your church and youth group. He’s a really nice guy and sees you mainly for your body. If you were to marry worldly guy, he’d bring lots of baggage into the relationship, have intimacy problems, entertain thoughts of other women, and possibly cheat on you.

A Godly man is in control of his drives and desires. He constantly seeks God and reads his Bible. He “walks in the Spirit” and isn’t set off by everything he sees. When immodestly-dressed girls, magazine covers, or risqué advertisements come into view, Godly guy quickly “bounces his eyes” away from the image. He’s constantly guarding his thoughts and what he allows into his mind. He hates being around girls that disrespect him and his struggles by wearing inappropriate attire. Godly guy doesn’t watch much TV and is selective about the movies he sees. He views you as a person, knows you and respects you. He has your best interests in mind and guards against inappropriate thoughts of you. If you were to marry Godly guy, he would give you the emotional attention you need, he would ignore other women and remain faithful to you no matter what.

Unfortunately, there are more worldly men than Godly men. And to make matters worse, to the untrained eye, a worldly man can look a lot like a Godly man. So what can you do to only attract a Godly man? An important way of delineating between them lies in how you dress. As mentioned before, the clothes you wear advertise what kind of guy you are looking for. If you dress immodestly, you will attract worldly guys and scare away the Godly ones. It all comes down to the kind of man you want to spend your time around and eventually marry. You cannot afford to be complacent in this area of your life! You will pay the price someday.

This issue isn’t limited strictly to you and your future relationship. The way you dress directly affects other men and women and their relationships. You don’t see the struggles, the pain, the tears and the sin that you cause, but I can promise that you would be shocked if you did! Ask any Christian young man; we’ve all seen it. It’s kept hidden but it is definitely there. By dressing immodestly, you effectually spit on the struggles of our weaker ranks, appearing to care more about toying with us than helping us. You’ll never know how many broken relationships and lifestyles of sin you’ve contributed to simply by the way you dress. You want to marry a Godly man someday, well so do many other women. Don’t just help yourself and your future, help all women and their relationships by showing discretion in your dress.

Of course, I understand the desire to look stylish, attractive, and “cute.” It’s important to fit in and get attention. Trust me, it can be done modestly! I also understand that it is easier for some girls to find stylish and well-fitting clothes than it is for others. This is an area where guys really don’t understand what you are up against. But just remember, for every sacrifice you make to honor God with your image, Godly men are making sacrifices in their lives that are just as hard, if not harder! They will and do respect you so much for choosing to be modest! A real lady is conscientious of the image she presents, and real men want a real lady. And you can forget about any guys missing out on how attractive you are because you don’t wear revealing clothing. You could wear a circus tent and we would still know; it’s a gift we have.

And so the question still remains: What kind of man do you want? Answer me with your clothes.

Orphan Sunday

Hi guys, Aubrey here! I am a horrible writer and have a hard time putting my thoughts on paper but this topic is near and dear to me so I thought I would try to write something. Today is Orphan Sunday.  Some people don't know about Orphan Sunday. Orphan Sunday is an event that happens every year to reawaken churches and people to their calling to help orphans and widows.  Orphans are mentioned a lot in the Bible. It talks about taking care of orphans in James 1:27, Isaiah 1:17, Psalms 82:3, and many more. You can learn more about Orphan Sunday if you go to the link below.

http://orphansunday.org

Also if you go to YouTube and search Orphan Sunday Video. There will be TONS of videos about Orphan Sunday. 

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

-Psalm 82:3 

So, I hope y'all will go look at these videos and scriptures! Have a great Sunday!

Aubrey Rutledge 

Be Yourself

Have you ever thought to yourself I wish I was like her?  As you think that to yourself have you ever thought that maybe that she is wishing she is someone else?  I know sometimes I find myself wishing I could talk to other people better or that I could be better at math, but you know what everybody does that sometime or other.  Nobody is perfect.  Everybody has their strengths and weaknesses.  Some people are better at some things than others that is just the way things are.  So instead think of what you are good at.  Everybody has something their good at and love to do they just need to find what it is.  Do not wish to be somebody else wish to be yourself.

Having Self-Control in Your Day-to-Day Life

     “Self-control is the exercise of inner strength under the direction of sound judgment that enables us to do, think, and say the things that are pleasing to God.”—Jerry Bridges

     Self-control, or temperance, is something that is commonly spoken about, taught about, and esteemed in others, but how many of us actually practice it?  How many times have you been in a supermarket and heard the sound of someone yelling at his or her parents?  How many times have you seen children (or adults) throw fits when they did not get their own way?  How many times has that person been you?

     The Bible has examples of what a life is like without self-control. None of the examples are positive.  In fact, they are everything you would not want to have.

     “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.” (Proverbs 13:3)

      “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” (Proverbs 25:28)

However, there are also verses about a holy life with temperance.  “(better is) one with self-control than one who takes a city.” (Proverbs 16:32)  What is the point of an “amazing” life, if you do not have temperance?  You have probably seen famous people in the news—politicians, movie stars, or billionaires, who, without self-control, have come to ruin.  Perhaps they still were rich and popular, but did they have joy in life?  Of course not.

     Self-control is the control of yourself. It sounds so simple and yet, no one in this world can make himself have temperance in anything!  It is something that can only come from God, by asking Him for it.  You can try…but you will never perfectly master it without His help.  However, 2 Peter 1:3 says, “His (God’s) divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue…”  If God has given us everything we need to live a Godly life, then why would we not accept it?  This is such great news! We can have self-control in any circumstances because of this free gift from God!  All we need to do is ask.

     This means you don’t have to answer back when someone speaks bad about you.

     You don’t have to argue with that person who just loves to bug you.

     You don’t have to whine when you don’t get your way.

     You don’t have to frown when something bad happens.

     Instead, you can have joy all the time because you know something that many people do not—you can rely on the One who is perfect, and let Him fight your battles for you!

     I read part of an article online about self-control.  This was the first paragraph that shows the value of temperance in real life.  Maybe if you have a similar instance in your life, you can do the same.

     “In a department store, a young husband was minding the baby while his wife was making a purchase. The infant was wailing, but the father seemed quite controlled and unperturbed as he quietly said, ‘Easy now, Albert, control your temper.’

     A woman passing by remarked, ‘Sir, I must congratulate you! You seem to know just how to speak to a baby.’

     ‘Baby nothing!’ came the reply. ‘MY name is Albert!’” ¹

¹Self Control. Bible.org. J. Hampton Keathley III. May 26th 2004. Web. September 27, 2015.

Courage to Live Fearlessly

Alea here!  This is something I wrote a couple of months ago as encouragement for others on a mission to live fearlessly.  I pray it ministers to you today.

Source

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        We are told to live fearlessly, to be bold for Christ.  We hear it.  We clap, we cheer, we make up our minds to live that way.

Then reality comes.  That time to be fearless comes and goes.  You don't have the courage.  You are a Christian, but you hide it.

I am not naturally a brave person.  Remember this because it is a very important factor in the story I am about to tell.

This past year I went to public school.  Biology was set for the second semester.  I mentally prepared myself for a secular worldview in that class.  Nothing could have totally prepared me for the reality of that classroom.  My teacher was very mean.  He would put us down when no one answered a question correctly, saying that we were failures and we'd never go to college.

Half of the class rolled by this way.  I tolerated the whole "millions of years ago" spiel.  Then we came to the unit on evolution.  I knew that I had to be bold, to speak out like Jonathan Park.

The time came to rewrite our notes (yes, he made us rewrite notes we already took).  This was the opportunity I had been looking for.  God gave me the courage and wisdom to do it.  I talked about how evolution isn't possible and even managed to share the Gospel through it.

The courage most definitely didn't come from me.  I could never have done that on my own.  God gives us the courage to live fearlessly.

But that isn't quite the end of the story.  The next day of class, the teacher pulled me aside.  I walked stiffly out into the hallway, terrified.  I knew what was coming.

God gave me courage once more.  I blatantly said, "I am a Christian."

If you don't think you are brave enough to live fearlessly, ask the Lord for courage.  Romans 8:31 says, "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Who knows, maybe I impacted his life, or he will remember it in the future.  I may never know.  But if I impacted his life somehow, now or in the future, the entire thing was worth it.

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Today I will be praying that you, dear reader, are given the courage to live fearlessly for Christ!

Using Your Gifts For God!

Gifts.  We have plenty of them.  I’m not talking about presents.  Presents are something that last for a day or two…and then they somehow turn into clutter.  A gift is completely different.  A gift is something that is given freely to you with “no strings attached”.  If you look in the dictionary, it would perfectly state that a gift is “something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone…”

Why talk about gifts? Because everyone has at least one!  I have never met someone who didn’t have a God-given gift.  This can come in a million forms—a personality trait, ability, or even something you can see, like your family members, home, or pets.  No one can truthfully say that they have no gifts.  Are you breathing?  That’s a gift from God in itself!

In Romans 12:6 it says, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…” (Emphasis added)  Then it goes on to state some different gifts. Ministry …giving …exhorting…and others.  But what should stand out to you is the last part.  “Let us use them”.  How should we use them?

Maybe you are sitting at your computer wondering how you can use your unique gift to serve others.  I can’t give you the answer, because most likely your gifts are different than mine!  However, I will take a minute to list the gifts I have seen in each of the separate authors of this blog, and how they can use theirs for God.

Alea H is a writer.  She is about to publish her first novel!  Her gift, if used wisely, could touch thousands around the world! 

Shelby R is friendly, and a good friend can make all the difference!

Aubrey R has the gift of drawing.  She could share her artwork with others, helping them with their own talents of art and encouraging them not to give up on it.

I (Hosanna K) have always loved writing letters, and try to bless others by sending letters for birthdays to older people who may not get any otherwise.  Also, sending get well letters is a good way to make someone smile!

Psalm ist is a great leader.  She led this very group of girls for a year, encouraging, praying and loving all of us.  She could do that for others who definitely need the encouraging.

Caroline N is gushing with love for everyone around her!  There are zillions of ways for her to make Jesus shine through her love and to love the unloved around her.  And she is quite the motivational speaker.

Karina N is very easy-going and gets along with…everyone!    She is the perfect type of person to listen to someone when they just need to talk!

Maybe your gift is different from any one of ours, but you have one!  And you need to use it!  We are not perfect, and many times, we use our gift selfishly, but through Jesus, we can do all things!  So step out there and use your gifts!  Remember that Jesus gave the perfect Gift on the cross…isn’t the least you can do to use the gifts that HE has given to you for His glory?

Prayer

I found this in a devotional I am reading. It is called "God, 30 ways to know him better" I did NOT write this. You can buy the devotional here.

"If you genuinely desire to know God, then you must pray... a lot.

     Is prayer an integral part of your daily life, or is it a hit-or-miss habit? Do you 'pray without ceasing' or is your prayer life an afterthought? Do you regularly pray in the quiet moments or the early morning, or do you bow your head only when others are watching? If your prayers have become more of a habit than of passion, you're robbing yourself of a deeper relationship with God. And how can you rectify this situation? By praying more frequently and fervently. 

   The quality of your spiritual life will be in direct proportion to the quality of your prayer life: the more you pray, the closer you will feel to God. So today, instead of turning things over in your mind, turn them over to God in prayer. Don't limit your prayers to the dinner table or the bedside table. Pray constantly about things great and small. God is always listening... and the rest is up to you."

One Day Too late

Time has literally flown for me this summer...It's crazy!  A lot has happened this summer and I felt convicted to write this...hope you enjoy!

She sits in her bed sobbing and pouring her heart out to the wall.  "I'm not ready yet!" she cries. "I need more time.  There's so much I need to say and I don't know if he'll make it tomorrow!"  She continues to sob until she finally falls asleep, but even in her dreams she can't escape her pain.  She jolts awake, tears streaming down her face.  She stares at the clock. 2:01 a.m...she combs here fingers through her hair and sighs.  She picks up her phone and texts her friend. "Hey...you up?"  She waits...and waits...3 o'clock passes by and she is still waiting.  The lonely feeling starts to suffocate her.  She feels small...she feels alone...She finally climbs out of bed and sits down at her desk and begins writing a letter.  "Dear Grandpa,  There is so much I need to tell you..."  That morning she goes to the hospital for her volunteer hours and meets her grandparents at a restaurant.  She hands her grandpa the letter. "Don't you dare open it until Wednesday right before your procedure!" she says with a smirk.  She hugs him and waves goodbye.  Tears streamed down her face as she tried to smile and keep her composure.  She told her parents she had written her grandpa a letter and they asked her why.  she answered, "Because tomorrow could be one day too late."

Sometimes it takes a shock like a terminal illness, a car accident, or a sudden death to make us realize our mortality.  Why is this?  Why do we live like we have a lifetime ahead when we may not wake up tomorrow?  Why do we not say the hard, meaningful, or complicated things while we still have time?  Why do we hold it all in?  We can't sit here expecting tomorrow to come.  No one is guaranteed tomorrow.  Ever since I was little, my dad has told me everyday that today could be my last day.  I didn't believe it...I mean I'm 16.  I have my whole life ahead of me.  It took a great shock to wake me up; to make me realize that I'm living on borrowed time.  Don't wait and expect tomorrow will come.  Say what you want to say now!  You may not be here tomorrow.  Your loved ones may not be here tomorrow.  If your father or mother or sibling died today...what would you regret?  If you died today, what would you regret?  Don't wait!  PLEASE don't wait because tomorrow could be one day too late!