Shocking News

"Did you see the clothing that those girls are wearing? It is so immodest!"

"Did you hear the language that man was using in line?"

"Did you see them drinking and partying all weekend long? How is that ok?"

A lot of times we have this kind of judgmental attitude towards unsaved people. Being constantly in a Christian environment makes it that much easier. We get so used to seeing girls dressed properly, people speaking kind words, and students behaving with self-control. We forget that this is the way that Christians are supposed to live. Why? Because it is our "reasonable service" to live for Christ (Romans 12:1). 

So, why are we so shocked that unbelievers live in ways that are not pleasing to God? Why are we shocked at immodest clothing? Why is their language so offensive? Why do we judge them for living the only way they know how? Isn't that the way they are supposed to act? 

They don't know any better. This is why they need Christ. 

If you take a look at Christ's relationship with the people he ministered to in the Gospels, you will see not an attitude of condemnation, but an attitude of compassion. Jesus went to the people and built relationships. He didn't tell them what horrible, wicked sinners they were. He loved them. 

This truth was shown to me in my Bible class this week, and to tell you the truth, I've never thought about it like this before. We should not be ruining the name of Christ by judging and condemning; we should be building relationships by having compassion, encouraging others to draw closer to Christ, not run farther away from Him.

We, as Christians, have the greatest responsibility in the world - to show Christ's love to a loveless world. 

Reading Fairy Tales

Fairy tales are probably every little girl's favorite kind of story. Princess is in distress. Prince rescues Princess. Prince and Princess fall in love. Prince and Princess get married and live happily ever after. I think that a lot of times we have a tendency to read the Old Testament stories like fairy tails. We read them and think, "Oh, that's nice," or "Oh, that's so sad." But we don't think about the fact that these stories are true. We don't realize that these are real people with real feelings. They face the same struggles you face every day!

This semester at school, I've been picking up on my study of the five women in the line of Christ. Right now, I have the privilege of studying Bathsheba. Most of you are probably familiar with her story. She was what we would consider David's biggest sin. But what an amazing story she has! I would challenge you to take are few minutes and think about these questions concerning her life. Don't look at David and Bathsheba's story as a fairy tale gone wrong. Think about her emotions as a real woman going through the whole situation. How did it affect her?

     First, read 2 Samuel 11-12 and 1 Kings 1. This covers the whole story!

     Could Bathsheba have stopped David from sinning? 

     Could she have at least stood up for what's right?

     Why did she continue to hide their sin from her husband?

     How did Bathsheba respond when Uriah was killed?

     Did she know that David murdered her husband?

     Soon, she was not just one wife, but one of many wives. How was it living with the other women?

     Was she judged by the other wives?

     What did she go through when she lost her first child?

     How did God restore His relationship with Bathsheba?

     How did she deal with all the family turmoil even after she was forgiven?

     How was Bathsheba blessed in the end?

Looking at Bathsheba's story in this way gave me a new perspective on how I study Bible characters. Do I see them as real people who are able to make the same decisions and mistakes that I would? Am I too quick to judge them for their wrong actions? Do I understand that these people are not just part of my favorite fairy tale? Am I studying these characters for the real people that they are. 

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. 

Only Two Things that Matter

Just this morning, one of my friends passed away. He was only 23 years old. This is just two years older than I am now, and he was doing something I do almost every week and more so at home: driving in a car. 

When someone so close to your age dies, it makes you realize the brevity of life, and the importance of living a life that counts. So, what am I really living for? 

This summer at camp one of my friends said this: "There are only two things that matter in this life, God and people." 

As I go throughout my days, I want to remember that I'm here to love God and others, no matter what that cost may be. It may not be easy. It may not be convenient. It may not always be what I feel like doing. But in the end, it will be totally worth it. 

I can honestly say that my friend loved God and loved his campers this summer. He was a true example of the joy found in serving Jesus Christ. Though he is not with us any longer, I know God will use his life and his death to bring glory to Himself. (By the way, I know my friend doesn't want to come back here!) 

I pray that at the end of my life, whether it's tomorrow or 50 years from now, I will have a testimony of a genuine love for God and people. 

Appearance Isn't Everything

She flipped her beautiful, straight locks in my face. She batted her long, luscious eyelashes my way. She glanced at me covered in a tanned, flawless complexion. Walking through a cosmetic store this past weekend, this is the face that pulled me in. And she can be summed up in one word: fake.

This woman, she is the face of the world. She calls out to us, screaming that we have to look like her. You're not skinny enough. You're not beautiful enough. Your skin is not right. Your hair is too big. You will never get anywhere in this life. She yells out her lies. But where exactly is she trying to get? 

Proverbs 31:10 - Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. 

External Beauty is temporary. Internal beauty is eternal. We have come to put so much emphasis on the outward appearance that we have disregarded the importance of the internal appearance. So, what if you have the latest fashions if your God is not pleased by your clothing choices every day? Are you clothing yourself in hot dresses or humility? Are you covering your face with a rejuvenating concealer and a pearly white smile or with a renewed countenance of the joy found in Christ? Is your hair straightened out smoothly or is your hidden life simply a secret you hope no one finds out? Could we possibly be hiding the fact that we are falling apart inside by fixing up our outward appearance? 

I want to challenge you to look past your own outward beauty (because you are beautiful just the way God made you; see Psalm 139:14) and search your heart for the flaws that are there. Because this is so much more important than just the outward appearance. Pretty character is always more beautiful than a pretty face. 

Do's and Don't's

A lot of times we just go through the motions. Wear your skirt to your knee. Don't drink. Don't do drugs. Don't say bad words. Be kind. Be respectful....the list could go on. Are you stuck in this rut? Maybe, you've thought before, Why am I even doing this? 

Well, why are you doing it? Is it because that's what you've always done? Or because your parents say so? I'd like to venture out and say, those aren't the right reasons. You can stop reading now if you want. You can keep going day in day out doing the same things. But just hear me out for a minute. 

There is always some kind of motivation behind everything that you do. It could be as simple as sleeping because you or tired, or it could be a perfectly laid out plan to accomplish a long term goal in the next five years. But both of these have a motivation behind it: it's something that you desire above anything else at that moment. 

Psalm 42:1 says, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."

Just like a deer has a longing, a necessity, for a drink of water, so is David's desire for His Savior. Ultimately, this motivation is what led a 17-year-old boy to fight a giant. This is what led Him to show restraint from killing Saul even though he had multiple opportunities. This is what led Him to repent and accept the punishment for even what we would say is his greatest sin. All of these actions were motivated by His love for God.

Where do we begin to have this great love for God? We don't have to look very far. Just look up a hill on a dark day long, long ago. The hill called Calvary. What do you see there? I see a Man, broken and bleeding. I see the weight of my sin, crushing His holiness. I see a Savior, who loved me more than anyone ever could. 

So, why do you do what you do? Just because your parents say so? Or because a love for God's Word motivates you to obey? Because others will praise you? Or because God will be pleased? If we could even just begin to understand what Christ did for us on the cross, we would have absolutely no excuse, no reason not to live out of love for Him, our ultimate sacrifice. 

No Better Time to Be Thankful

Because of Thanksgiving coming up tomorrow, it seems appropriate to pull this one up from just a few weeks ago. I hope you'll take some time to be thankful for those little things we so often forget!

Have you ever gone through something and thought, Why me? Why now? I have definitely been there. But you know what I've realized? There's no better time to be thankful for everything that God has given me. So, here's my list of 101 things I'm thankful for:

1. God knows the number of hairs on my head.

2. I have godly parents who encourage me to not just do right but to be right.

3. I have godly friends who encourage spiritual growth.

4. I get to go to a Christian college.

5. God always provides, despite my doubts.

6. Weekends!

7. The ability to read and write

8. I don't have to wash my clothes by hand.

9. God gives me a new day every day.

10. I don't have to worry about what others think of me, only what God thinks of me.

11. Warm blankets

12. The freedom to do right

13. Good food

14. A bed to sleep in

15. Air conditioning

16. Stairs (for all of my Wilds' friends)

17. Creativity

18. Pretty handwriting

19. The opportunity to be a Wilds counselor

20. Alarm clocks

21. The bond of Christians even if they have never met before

22. The unity that prayer brings

23. Bible studies

24. Emotions (there are good ones and bad ones!)

25. Organization!

26. Having a place to call home

27. Having friends that make being away from home easier

28. Laughter

29. Experiences I've had that allow me to help others

30. Fuzzy slippers

31. Warm water

32. Day planners 

33. Purses and bags

34. Comfy clothes

35. Family dinners

36. God's leading me to be a teacher

37. That I'm not in nursing school!

38. A nana that writes to me

39. My collegian at college

40. Not always getting what I wanted

41. Being a senior!

42. God having a bigger plan

43. A solid church family

44. New friends

45. Good roommates that I don't want to leave

46. Transportation

47. Dunkin' donuts' coffee

48. Imagination

49. Nail polish

50. Journals

51. A summer/Christmas job

52. Love

53. Goals and dreams

54. Lights

55. Stars

56. Musicals and plays

57. A copy of God's Word to read every day

58. Wise counsel

59. Kittens

69. Rain

70. Curly hair

71. Little sisters and a brother that make me smile

72. The beach and ocean

73. I can talk to the God of the universe.

74. Sunshine

75. Seasons

76. Christmas and its activities

77. Cold weather

78. Blogs and articles

79. Makeup

80. Swimming

81. Cameras that capture some of the sweetest memories

82. The ability to remember

83. The ability to memorize

84. The sense of taste

85. God's gift of true joy even when circumstances aren't the best 

86. Friends that pray for me

87. Technology such as iPads and phones and computers

88. Good books

89. Sunday afternoon naps

90. Pinterest

91. New recipes

92. The old classic Disney movies

93. Windows to see outside 

94. Good health

95. I live in a free country. 

96. The ability to hear

97. Sports 

98. Medicine and healthcare

99. God's creation (waterfalls, mountains, etc.)

100. God gives me strength, His strength. 

101. Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross.