Sneak Peak Part 3

Receive It

Listen to “Let It Go” by Tenth Avenue North. Use it as part of your confession and prayer to God. Sing it everyday this week until you truly let it go.

“I've been holding on so tight
Look at these knuckles
They've gone white
I'm fighting for who I wanna be
I'm just trying to find security

Click on link to hear video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uytR50iJEdc&feature=related

Sneak Peak Part 2

Claim It

Who does God say you are…

2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Why let go and let God?

Jeremiah 29:11
“ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

What Paul learned about letting go…
Philippians 3:13-14 NIV
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Release It
Are you ready to let go? Are you ready to live the life promised to you? Take time to cry out to God, let go and listen to Him.

Sneak Peak of teen Girl Bible Study

Letting Go
“You say life is waiting for the one's who lose control” Tenth Avenue North

Acknowledge It
‘A’ Honor Roll, Student Council, Honor Society President, Yearbook and Newspaper editor, Dancer, Youth Group Leader, Homecoming Queen, Cheerleader and dedicated my life to the ministry are my list of accomplishments. But, my mom still seems only to see the worst in me. She noticed every little failure. When she was upset, she called me those names that hurt so bad. Who was I? Was I a girl with a bright future or was I those names she called me? At some point, I started holding on to those names. Why not become that person if she already believed it? I held on to each cruel word. Why can I not let go? I do not want to be that person, but I just cannot let go.

Know It

At this point in your life, you are deciding who you are and who you want to be in the future. You make big and little decisions everyday that determine who you are. Parents, peers, teachers, media and friends, all in one way or another, try to influence who you are. What others say, true or untrue, makes you who you are. Life throws things at you that hinder or help you become you.
But in the end, you know who you want to be today and tomorrow. You either grab hold of who you want to become one day or you become who others and the world say you should be. At some point, you grab hold of the world’s view and miss who God says you are and who He created you to be for Him.
Is the life you are holding on to what you really want or who you really are? If you did not determine who to be based on the world but on God, would it change who you are? If you let go of what others say about you and just listen to what God says about you, would you see yourself differently?

New Year, New Trust Part 2

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.
Jeremiah 29:11-14

Today, instead of a general topic, I want you to share with me. Are you struggling with trusting God? Have you lost hope in the future? Email, facebook or share in a comment, what area do you struggle trusting God with right now? And I will pray for you and try to give you Godly wisdom on your specific struggle.

My life, I choose…

*to write the verse above on my mirror and memorize:
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for my lack of trust in Him.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for showing me His faithfulness and promises.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see how He has already taken care of me.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

New Year, New Trust

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.
Jeremiah 29:11-14

How do you trust God when you are hurting or struggling? When hope seems to be fading and it feels like it will only get worse, can you trust God? When the pain and loneliness overtakes you, do you still trust God?

Say verse 11 out loud right now. You just said God knows the plans He has for you. God, unlike you and me, sees the bigger picture while you and I live in the moment.

Maybe you remember the story of David. He was promised to be the next king, but before that day came he was hiding in caves. As David hid in those caves he had to wonder not only if he would be King but if he would live until the next day. And while at times he had to ask God why, he trusted in God.

My sweet, young friend, I know your life can get complicated and full of pain. But your God is faithful and if you let Him, He will teach you, guide you and carry you through the tough times. You just have to choose to trust Him even when you cannot see the big picture.

Read some of the Psalms David wrote while he was in those caves. Use them as your prayer today.

My life, I choose…

*to write the verse above on my mirror and memorize:
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for my lack of trust in Him.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for showing me His faithfulness and promises.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see how He has already taken care of me.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Trust

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

I hope you have chosen to move forward and have found the willingness to be forgiven and to forgive. More than likely, opportunities have come to practice what we spoke about last week. Whether you choose wisely or not, this is a new week and I pray you will continue to work at forgiving.

Another part of moving forward is trust, trusting in something we cannot see. Or you could say it is believing in something bigger than you. So, do you trust God?

Maybe the answer is an easy yes for you. Let me word it another way, do you trust God with your life and your future? Hmmm...when you add a couple of words to the question, it makes it a little harder to answer.

Why is it so much harder to trust God with our own life and future? Or maybe we should ask why not trust God with our lives and future? Is God not the creator? Did God knit you together in your mother's womb? Who besides God cares enough to know the number of hairs on your head? Who besides God sent His Son to take your punishment and die on a cross?

My friend, I know many people have already broken your trust. A promise to you may mean nothing because no one keeps them. But remember, each one of them are human and none of them have a big thick book (aka the Bible) showing all the promises they have kept.

Read the passage of scripture again. Say verse 11 again and again. Say it aloud and choose to believe it. Keep saying it until we meet again tomorrow. Listen to the words as you say them. Choose to listen because it is God speaking.

My life, I choose…

*to write the verse above on my mirror and memorize:
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for my lack of trust in Him.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for showing me His faithfulness and promises.

*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see how He has already taken care of me.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Choose To:)

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus Christ."
Philippians 3:13-14


New Year Choices:
1.Choose to accept God's forgiveness of last year's mistakes.
2.Choose to forgive those who hurt you and not hold onto your anger.
3.Choose to put God first this year and focus on Him.
4. And just because...choose to smile...God loves you and so do I :)

The last thing on our list is choose to smile. Why that might seem like the easiest one, it can be the hardest some days. It is actually humorous that it falls as our topic today.

I, myself, has faced much hurt and betrayal this week. So today just like I you, I must choose to smile. And we can make that choice because God loves, forgives and cares for you and I. That alone, my dear sweet friend, is a reason to smile. And if you accept God's forgiveness, forgive others and just fall in God's arms today, the love and peace you feel will bring a smile to your face.


My life, I choose…
To :):):):):):):):):):):)

*to write the verse above on my mirror and memorize: Phil. 3:13-14
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for my not so smart choices last year.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for His forgiveness and say out loud "I accept it."
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see those I am still mad at today and help me forgive them as God forgives you.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Choose God First

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus Christ."
Philippians 3:13-14


New Year Choices:
1.Choose to accept God's forgiveness of last year's mistakes.
2.Choose to forgive those who hurt you and not hold onto your anger.
3.Choose to put God first this year and focus on Him.
4. And just because...choose to smile...God loves you and so do I :)

Number 3 is something I have said over and over again since the first blog. No matter if you have accomplished this or struggle with it, it is a new year, a new day for you to start.

I want you to choose to spend at least 15 minutes with God in the morning. You can just talk to Him, crank the worship music and praise Him or you can read this blog and use the prayer guide below as you get ready.

Also, please find 15 minutes to read a Psalm or Proverbs or read your favorite Bible story. You just need to choose to open your bible or use a bible on your phone or computer and read it. You can read it anywhere with technology now.

So this new year do not try to put God first, choose to put Him first. Today, tomorrow and the next, you will either choose to make God a priority or you will choose another priority. So let's choose God.

My life, I choose…

*to write the verse above on my mirror and memorize: Phil. 3:13-14
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for my not so smart choices last year.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for His forgiveness and say out loud "I accept it."
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see those I am still mad at today and help me forgive them as God forgives you.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

New Year: Choose To Forgive

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus Christ."
Philippians 3:13-14


New Year Choices:
1.Choose to accept God's forgiveness of last year's mistakes.
2.Choose to forgive those who hurt you and not hold onto your anger.
3.Choose to put God first this year and focus on Him.
4. And just because...choose to smile...God loves you and so do I :)


God forgives you, you accept forgiveness and...you forgive others??? You wonder why you should forgive? You wonder why you should forgive someone who is not sorry? It is very simple, you forgive for a couple of reasons.

First, God tells us to forgive as He forgives us. Jesus mentions it in the Lord's prayer and also answers the question another time. We forgive and forgive because God forgives and forgives us.
Second, we forgive because holding onto that anger, resentment and bitterness, actually harms us more than the person who needs forgiving. It eats at us and makes you and I feel horrible. You and I need to forgive whether the other party is sorry or not. And we do it so we are obedient to God and free ourselves from those feelings that tear us down.

One final thing, a wise lady, who was my mentor, once told me forgiveness is choosing not to seek revenge. So today I ask you if you will choose to forgive (not seek revenge) those who hurt you this past year? And those who will hurt you in the days that follow?

My prayer is that you choose to forgive so you yourself can be free.

My life, I choose…

*to write the verse above on my mirror and memorize: Phil. 3:13-14
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for my not so smart choices last year.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for His forgiveness and say out loud "I accept it."
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see those I am still mad at today and help me forgive them as God forgives you.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Choose To Accept God's Forgiveness

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus Christ."
Philippians 3:13-14

New Year Choices:
1.Choose to accept God's forgiveness of last year's mistakes.
2.Choose to forgive those who hurt you and not hold onto your anger.
3.Choose to put God first this year and focus on Him.
4. And just because...choose to smile...God loves you and so do I :)

We are going to look at number one today, accepting God's forgiveness. Confessing our mistakes is not always that hard, but accepting that God forgives us again for the same stupid mistake is a hard concept to grasp. Because we do not forgive and forget that easily, how can God forgive and forget so much?

I could tell you all the things you have heard before about God's love for you. I could remind you that God sent His Son to die for you. Instead, I am going to say something else, you and I can never comprehend everything about God. But you and I can accept that He is God and His love for you and me is great enough that He will forgive us every time we mess up.

You may face consequences from your bad choices but once you confess, God forgives. So stop accusing God of not being able to forgive you (if you think about it, you are kind of calling God a liar when you do not believe He forgives you) and admit the truth that He does and accept it. God has already forgiven you, will you free yourself from the burden of your mistakes and accept it.

My life, I choose…

*to write the verse above on my mirror and memorize: Phil. 3:13-14
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for my not so smart choices last year.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for His forgiveness and say out loud "I accept it."
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see those I am still mad at today and help me forgive them as God forgives you.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God.

New Year, New Choices

It is a new year with new choices to make everyday...is that good or bad? It is good if you are learning to make better choices. But if you still choose not so wisely, well it is another year of learning for you.

So to start the new year, I want us to go with a verse that has us heading in a forward direction instead of looking back on all the not so good things.

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus Christ."
Philippians 3:13-14

Whether last year was a year of good things and good choices or a year of just nothing going right and stupid choices, today is a new day and a new year. Here are a few choices crucial to starting off a new year and moving forward:

1. Choose to accept God's forgiveness of last year's mistakes.
2. Choose to forgive those who hurt you and not hold onto your anger.
3. Choose to put God first this year and focus on Him.
4. And just because...choose to smile...God loves you and so do I :)

We will cover each topic a little more each day this week. But to help you with each one, start with our daily steps below. Each step is there to help you remember to talk to God each morning and form a habit of talking to Him while you start your day.

My life, I choose…

*to write the verse above on my mirror and memorize: Phil. 3:13-14
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for my not so smart choices last year.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for His forgiveness and say out loud "I accept it."
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see those I am still mad at today and help me forgive them as God forgives you.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God.