16 Ways to Act Like a Christian on a Christian College Campus

People think it's easy being a Christian on a conservative Christian college campus. Yes, we may not have the outright influence of drugs, alcohol, immorality, and other things we might see as big issues, but it's definitely not easy.

Why? You may ask. Because the Christian life isn't easy.

What does it mean to be a Christian? First of all, you must accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. After that, we are called to live like Christ. Being a Christian gives us the responsibility to act like Christ. Talk about some huge shoes to fill! After all, this is where the term Christian came from (Acts 11:26). These people were "little Christs." Being a "little Christ" is a challenge because it goes against our sin nature. Our flesh screams at us to do our own thing. It still does that after salvation, and it will keep doing it until one day we meet Christ (hopefully soon!).

I've got some shocking news....You're not going to see Christ in every student you meet. Some people are going to rude, mean, cutting, disrespectful, rebellious, etc. You get the point. Just because they go to Bible college, it doesn't mean they have their act together. There have been plenty of times where I have not acted like Christ; it's sad.

If we know that this is a huge issue, what can we do to change it? Well, there's not a cure all answer. Here we are back to the little things again. It's choosing to act like Christ in all the little things. (Insert "What Would Jesus Do?" question here.) We have to choose in every moment that we are going to make the Christ like choice. Here are just a few examples of how we can do that on a Christian college campus:

1. Actually get up and read your Bible and talk to God. Spend meaningful time with Him (Matthew 6:33; Psalm 42:1).
2. Have a positive attitude even if you have first hour class (Psalm 118:24).
3. Choose to be kind to that rude person even when you really don't feel like it (Ephesians 4:32).
4. Don't gossip (Proverbs 10:19).
5. Use speech that isn't questionable in any way (Ephesians 4:29).
6. Do your best in your classes, not just what it takes to get by (Colossians 3:23).
7. Wait on God's timing; don't rush into relationships (Psalm 27:14).
8. Be patient with your roommate even when she is loud while you are sleeping (Gal. 5:22-23). 
9. Tell someone how good God has been to you today (Psalm 103:1).
10. Use your time wisely whether it's working on projects or encouraging a friend or accomplishing goals. Don't waste it (Eph. 5:16).
11. Be respectful to your authority whether they are present or not; don't talk bad about them (Romans 13:1-2).
12. Be willing to learn; accept correction and constructive criticism with grace (Proverbs 19:20).
13. Don't be afraid to kindly confront someone else about a problem; stand up for what you know is right (Romans 12:1-2).
14. Go the extra mile (Matthew 5:41).
15. Give. Your time, money, friendship, clothes, food, etc. (2 Corinthias 9:7).
16. Don't worry about finances, friends, relationships, family, grades, health. Don't worry about any of it. Trust God. (Matthew 6:34)

All You Need Is a Good Book

Have you ever read a really good book? I'm not talking about one that is just a great story. It's one that makes you laugh, cry, maybe both at the same time. It's that one you get so attached to you think the character's are real, and when the book is over, you don't know what to do with your life anymore. Please tell me I'm not the only one who has been there.

Books are a great form of entertainment, but they're also great for learning, growing, and just imagining. Reading is that place you can go to escape. I could give so many examples of this. It's getting lost in history, in a make-believe world, even in the amazing character of God in His Book. When we read, we can gain so much. 

With all the junk that is written today, it's hard to find something worthwhile. Honestly, I get bored with that same Christian fiction. Girl is alone. Girl meets guy she's not so sure about. Girl and guy fall in love. Girl and guy have a big fight or problem. Guy saves girl. Girl and guy fall in love again. And they live happily ever after. It's the same story over and over again. (If you've ever read a Christian fiction book, you would know!) So, what's something good and wholesome that's out there? I'd like to give you just a few of my favorite books. Now, I'm the girl that will read a book two, three, maybe a million times if it's a good one. These would definitely make that list.

1. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. This book is my all-time favorite book, and yes, it's one of those Christian romance books. But it's not your normal story. This one is based on the book of Hosea in the Bible. It's a great read because it portrays who we are as opposed to who Christ is. You have to read the author's notes in order to get the whole effect! I would recommend this book to college age and older ladies. Other ones by Francine Rivers that I would recommend are The Mark of the Lion Series and A Lineage of Grace. Excellent reads!

2. Lies Young Women Believe by Nancy Leigh Demoss. This one falls into the inspirational category. It's not necessarily just a pleasure read, but it will teach you oh so much. I would recommend this to girls of any age, but especially teenagers. When I read it as a teenager, it hit all of my problems right on the head. It's filled with Scripture that points you just where you need to be. 

3. Holiness by Nancy Leigh Demoss. This book again falls into the inspirational category. The spiritual growth that I received in this book is amazing. No, it wasn't anything that I had not heard before, but it was refreshing. We get surrounded by the filthiness of this world; we get so caught up in it ourselves that we don't even notice it creeping into our own lives. This book gives you a fresh look at what a life lived for God should look like. 

4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Now, when I read this book in high school. I did not like it. It wasn't until I read the story a second time that I realized how beautiful a story it actually is. The book is just a classic love story. It teaches that love looks past the faults. 

5. Blink by Ted Dekker. This one is for all you suspense and mystery lovers. (But yes, there's still a little love story, but very little.) A man who can see into the future, a possibility of alternate realities. It's definitely a winner in my book. 

6. Three by Ted Dekker. Another mystery and suspense one, but this one is even better than the previous one. I honestly never saw the ending coming! Love it. 

7. Refiner's Fire Series by Lynn Austin. This is your historical fiction series. If you like learning about the Civil War (which if you're from the South, you probably do), then this series is for you. But be prepared to get attached. 

8. The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins. I know this one is a touchy series that many people have mixed feelings about, so please, please, please talk to your parents about it first! These books are well-written with an excellent plot and subplots. The political theory behind the book and the symbolism = amazing! All that being said, it does have some worldly philosophies that you need to watch out for. Being rooted and grounded in God's Word is the key. 

9. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. This is one of those classic tales that I think everyone should read. Although it's been a very long time since I read it, I would recommend it. It's a great fantasy read that you can trust to be clean with good morals. 

10. The Bible. Last, but so not the least is the Bible. It has everything! Romance, suspense, battles, history. It's a story book from cover to cover, but it's all true! I'm reading through the Bible this year, and I'm only through Genesis, but the stories have me captivated. They will not only captivate you, but they will also teach you to love your God more.

What are some of your favorite books?

14 Things to Help You Enjoy 2014

I think we would all agree that we want to enjoy this year. Maybe you're off to a rough start already. Well, I've come up with a little list that will hopefully help you out. It's not going to cure all of your problems, but these are some things that I've found to help me enjoy life just a little more.

1. Spend time with God every day.

• Set aside some special time each day just to talk to God and read His Word. This is the most important thing you can do each and every day. Knowing God better will make your relationship with Him even more amazing. You'll find that when you start your day off with God, you're starting it off in the best possible way. 

2. Choose to have godly friends.

• Choose to be around people who are going to encourage you in your walk with God. They'll provide you with fun times, encouragement, and just general joy. 

3. Get involved in your local church.

• Whether it's watching the babies, teaching Sunday School, singing in choir, or whatever else you can do, get involved in church. Don't just sit there every Sunday. See what you can do to be an active member of your home church. You never know what a huge blessing it will be not to others but to you to serve. 

4. Spend your money wisely. 

• This is a great one, especially for me as a college student. You might be tempted to spend money on things you don't need, but save it for something in the future. You never know when life will bring you an unexpected surprise. It could be an emergency or something as simple as a birthday gift. You want to be prepared.

5. Get a planner and use it. 

• I am the queen of planners. I have one that's actually supposed to get here in the mail tomorrow, and I am so excited! Writing down everything you need to do in any given day will help you to get more accomplished. Write down those birthdays, anniversaries, your to-do lists, grocery lists, homework assignments. If there's a day for it, write it in!

6. Make a to do list each morning.

• One of the things that I do almost every day is I write down everything that needs to be done. I love to check off lists, so this is a great way for me to get things done. The feeling of marking something off that list is just wonderful! You should try it right now!

7. Choose a verse for the year. 

• Choose yourself a theme verse for this year. It could be a verse of encouragement. It could be a goal for the year. It could just be something that you want to remember throughout the day. I chose Philippians 1:27a, "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ."

8. Choose someone and make a difference in her life this year.

• We probably all know someone who just needs a little more love. Do you have that person in mind? What can you do to be her friend? How can you make a difference in her life? It doesn't have to be through money or gifts. It might just be letting them know you care and showing it by the way you treat them. 

9. Eat healthier and drink more water.

• Now, this is one that I really struggle on because I love food. But at the end of last year, I finally began to choose some healthy food choices. It was nothing drastic; I didn't even go on a diet! I just chose to eat foods that were a little better for me. I found that I felt so much better! I think you will too.

10. Read. 

• Reading is quickly becoming a lost art. With all of the social media that we have, people simply don't enjoy reading as much any more. We spend all our time in front of the TV, stalking on Facebook, and pinning on Pinterest. Take some time to curl up with that old favorite book. Read something challenging. Learn something new. You'll broaden your imagination, vocabulary, and intelligence. Enjoy reading!

11. Make it a goal to memorize Scripture.

• Here's another struggle area for me. I'm not the best at memorizing Scripture frequently. In high school, I did a lot because I had to. But I quickly fell out of memorizing after I graduated. Psalm 119:11 tells us to hide God's Word in our hearts why? So that we won't sin against Him. When we are memorizing Scripture, we're building up our armory for Christ. Memorizing Scripture will help you to fight off temptations in your life, making your year that much more enjoyable!

12. Say "I Love You."

• Sometimes those who are closest to us miss out on our love. We live with them, or we see them every day. We think, "Oh, he knows I love him. She knows I love her." But we never tell them. You never know when it may be your last chance to say "I love you." 

13. Take pictures and get them printed.

• Capture those moments that you want to remember and print them out. A few days ago when my sister and I cleaned out our closet, we found tons of old pictures from when we were kids. It was so sweet looking back on all of those old times. With Facebook and Instagram, it's easy just to take a quick picture and upload it. But I want to challenge you to print it off and store it away. Having that picture to actually hold in your hands will be such a sweet moment one day. 

14. Don't waste time.

• If you're anything like me, there have been times in your life where you've looked back and wondered what you were doing with your life. Why did you waste all that time? It could have been years spent on a bad friendship, or it could just be that you sat in front of the computer for way too long. Don't waste your life. Think of something to do, and do it! 

Enjoy 2014!

I Resolve To

So, here it is. The time for New Year's Resolutions. Most of which have already been broken because after all, it is January 5.

But I actually like to jump on this bandwagon because I'm cheesy like that. New Year's resolutions give me a goal. They give me something to look forward to. (Check out my 101 goals in 1001 days!) And it's a new list (I absolutely love lists!) But I like lists that I can try to actually accomplish. That's why I keep my New Year's Resolutions short, sweet, and to the point.

So here are a few of my New Year's Resolutions! Comment some of yours. I'm always looking for some great ideas!

1. Get to know God better.
2. Eat healthier.
3. Drink more water.
4. Make a difference in someone's life.
5. Make a journal smash book.

3 Things to be Thankful For

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "In everything give thanks." Everything. Sometimes it's hard to narrow it down to just one thing that I'm thankful for. So, I decided to go with a little more general of a list this week. Here are 3 things that we should always remember to thank God for:

1. What God has done in your life.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the present that we don't even remember what God has done for us in the past. Do you remember any times that you have really seen God work? Did you know that God is the same now as He was at that time? Think back just over the last week. Where have you seen God work in your life? If you haven't seen anything, you may want to step back and reexamine your perspective. We know that God is always there, and He is always working. Be thankful for what He has done!

2. What God will do in your life.

God promises his children blessings when they follow Him. We don't know where God will lead us down the road. If we did know, we might be scared and never follow God's plan. But He always has a purpose, and He is always good. You may not be able to see God working right at this moment, but He has something awesome planned for you! It may not be anything huge like it is in your mind. It could just be those little everyday blessings. Take time to relish what God will do in your future.

3. What God hasn't done and won't do.

Have you ever had something happen that didn't go the way you planned? Maybe you even pitched a temper tantrum in your heart. Oftentimes, we ask for things, and God just says, "No." We don't understand why at that moment, but God sees fit not to give it to us. Later down the road, you will often see why God didn't give you whatever you were desiring. His plan is so much greater than ours! Aren't you glad that we have a God who can see the bigger picture? He knows exactly what we need, and He only does what is good for us. 

On this Thankful Thursday, remember to give thanks in everything. You'll see a changed perspective on your life when you do!

Lessons from a Rotten Apple

Imagine a juicy, beautiful, crimson apple. It looks like the one that the teacher has sitting on her desk. In it's very essence, it is perfection. 

This is what I saw when one of my friends brought an apple to the lunch table, but then she took a bite. Her face was one of shock as she turned the apple around to us. The core of the apple was completely rotten. Immediately, God brought some lessons to my mind that we can learn from this nasty, rotten apple. 

1. Looks are deceiving.

From the outside, this apple was beautiful. That's why my friend even picked it up in the first place! It looked delicious. A lot of times, Satan does this with sin in our lives. He dangles that beautiful red apple in front of your face and enticing you to take just one bite. But as in the story of Snow White, just one bite hurts. Hebrews 11:25 tells us that Moses chose His people instead rather "than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." Sin may make you happy for a moment, but that moment won't last. Just like this apple, the first bite may be good, but when you see sin for what it really is, it will disgust and destroy you. 

2. Our looks should not be deceiving.

What's on the outside should always match the inside. When my friend bit into her apple, she was expecting it to be savory not sour. The outside appearance should have matched the inside. But there are so many times in our lives that this is simply not true. Modern Christians are experts at putting on a show. We have our life on Sunday in front of our church friends, and we have our life the rest of the week in front of coworkers and other companions. Matthew 6 talks about the importance of not being hypocritical in our worship, specifically through giving, prayer, and fasting. This passage stresses that everything we do is not just for an outward show. If you act like a Christian but your inside is rotten, you are not pleasing God because He can see straight through that (1 Samuel 16:7). The heart is the most important part!

3. What's inside will come out.

Even though the outside of this apple was still beautiful, it wouldn't be long before the outside matched the inside. Luke 6:45 says, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Eventually, what is inside your heart is going to come out. You may be able to keep it hidden for a time, but whatever you believe and think in your heart and mind is going to come out in the way you live. This is why it's so important for us to make sure that our heart is right. If the heart isn't right, the outside doesn't really matter. 

4. The problem starts on the inside. 

With this apple, the outside looked great, actually perfect. But inside was the real problem. Something caused the core of that apple to slowly rot away, and eventually, the whole apple would be destroyed. When sin first comes into your life, it starts small. You may not even have had a desire to do wrong. But it happened. And slowly, that small problem grows until it's out of control. James 1:15 talks about the cycle of sin. It starts with lust, that inner desire. Soon, it brings death. This is why the Bible encourages us to run away from sin just like Joseph ran away from Potiphar's wife. Stay as far from it as possible.

This is just one example of the little object lessons that God sends our way every day! Be on the lookout for what He wants to teach you! And in the meantime, don't let your life be like the rotten apple. 

7 Reasons to Love Being Home

It's so easy to get caught up with school and friends...especially in your teenage years! A lot of times we don't even realize what we're missing until we're gone. This was so true of me when I went to college. Before college, I was a social butterfly. I was practically never at home because of school, sports, and friends. But when you leave, you realize all of the reasons that being at home is absolutely the best place to be!

1. Family - These are the people who will always love you and will always be there for you. God planned them just for you. Yes, you'll have your differences and "discussions," but you'll learn to look past them and enjoy all the time that you have.

2. Your own bed - Can you feel it right now? You slip under the covers and just breathe a deep sigh. It's so perfect. 

3. Home-cooked food - This girl loves food, and it's just nice to have the real deal. My college's food is great, but there's nothing like Mom's chicken and baked potatoes. 

4. Sounds - Can you hear the crickets outside your window? The dog is barking next door. The air conditioning unit powers up and down. Pitter-pattering feet and giggles makes everything seem just right. 

5. Free wifi - oh, yes. There's nothing like the freedom of your own internet and no cell phone data charges.

6. Bare feet - The one place you'll take off your shoes and socks and not really worry about who or what's been there. 

7. Weather - It just feels just right at home. It may be hot and sunny; it may be cold and wet. Whatever it is it's familiarity brings you back to that place of comfort. 

I think all of my things can be summed up in one word: comfort. I'm just at ease, comfortable. These are just a few of the things that I always miss at school. What are some of yours? What makes home home to you?

25 Things Every Teenage Girl Should Know

1. God loves you. Always. More than anyone else ever will.

2. That guy just isn't worth it. I promise. And if he's the one, he can wait till later. He will still be there.

3. Your friends are going to come and go, but your family will always be there. Spend time with them. Tell them and show them you love them.

4. Your mom is usually right. Even though you don't like to admit it, she knows what she's talking about. She was a teenage girl once. Trust her.

5. You don't have to be cool. Be yourself. Let others see how beautiful you are.

6. Your sense of style is going to change. What you think looks good now definitely won't later. Ahem. Junior high pictures.

7. Eat good food now! While you're playing sports and not putting on weight. Don't worry about losing pounds. Soon, you'll be in college.

8. Mean girls are hurting too. Try killing them with kindness.

9. You'll be surprised at how far a kind hand-written note goes. 

10. Girls groups are the way to go. No boys. 

11. Go for the classic look. The trendy stuff is expensive and not popular for very long. Refer to number 6. 

12. The little things are the most special things. Notes, small gifts, laughter, bus rides. Write the good memories down. 

13. Each day is a new day. A new opportunity to start over. Soak it all in. 

14. Don't drink coffee first hour. Your friends will not understand your sudden bursts of energy. 

15. Smile. People will always remember it. 

16. Be smart. Yes, study. Guys actually like girls with brains. And it'll definitely pay off when you get to college. Hey, you might even get to skip some classes. Take a pass on the ditsy act. 

17. You're never too old to have a slumber party. Or to color. It's one of the most relaxing things in the entire world. 

18. Love the unlovable. They need a good friend more than you need yours. You'll be surprised at how much you learn from the unlikely friends. 

19. Underclassmen are always watching you. They want to be just like you, so do the little kids. Don't mess it up for them. 

20. Read Lies Young Women Believe. It will change your life. Also, follow their blog. You'll find that there are girls just like you!

21. Skip the sappy romance novels and movies. Love doesn't work like that. You want something that's real. 

22. Make good habits now. Exercise, eat healthy, good sleep patterns, reading your Bible. You won't do it later. 

23. Try the other things like choir, band, and academic clubs. Yeah, they may seem nerdy, but singing, instruments, and knowledge last a whole lot longer than athletic ability. 

24. Learn to get up right when your alarm goes off. It will keep you from oversleeping and rushing. 

25. Seek God's will. It doesn't necessarily matter what you're doing or what everyone else is doing. Do what God wants you to do right now.