Choose To Believe Who You Are

Your parents have an opinion of who you are and who they want you to be. Your friends and fellow classmates have an opinion of who you are. If you asked them to describe you in 5 words there would be some similarities and some differences. Maybe even your school friends would have a different view of who you are than your church friends. But today, I want you to know who you are...who you are in Christ.

1. You Were Created By God
Psalm 139:13
For You formed my inward parts;You wove me in my mother's womb

Genesis 1:27
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them

2.You Were Chosen By God
2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth

3. You Are Loved By God
Romans 8:39
39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8
8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

4. Read your verse for the week.

Whether you are cool or not, size 0 or 12, blonde, red or brunette, tan or pale...You, my sweet girl, were created by God (every part of you), you were chosen by God, you are loved by God (to the point He gave his son for you), and God will never leave you and is with you.

Now, choose to believe it!!

This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for not believing who I am in Christ.

*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see who I am in Christ.

*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help the words I speak and believe who I am in Christ.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God

Beauty 101: Inner Beauty Shine

The hair, the outfit, the make up...you care about it in some sort of way. Whether you spend hours or minutes you care about your appearance. And while there is nothing wrong with make up, clothes and cute hair, why do we not choose to care or even think about our inner beauty? We do not usually leave for school in our pj's (even though pj days are great), why do we leave without preparing and beautifying our attitudes?

If a bad hair day can ruin our day, just think about what a bad attitude can do. And just like we wash, spray, whatever to our hair to fix it, we need to spend the time cleansing and preparing our mind, soul and spirit. Trying to throw a fake smile over a bad attitude is like trying to throw a cap over a bad hair day, people see right through it.

This week we have been talking about letting God influence us. And most days as a teenager, you need help and some positive influence on your attitude. So as I have said before, why not start your day with God and his word.

Seeking forgiveness for your mess ups is like washing your hair to get the crud out. Filling your mind with God's word is like using your hair product to make your hair shine. So as I have asked before, why not start your day with God so your inner beauty will shine? Why not turn heads because everyone notices there is something different and special about you.


This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for not living my life for him and losing sight of what is important.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see and understand how to live my life for him at school this year.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help the words I speak glorify him.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God

Choose to Let God Influence You First

For something or anything to influence you, you must be around it or spend time with it. So if you truly want God to influence your life you need to....

Even though I know you are smart enough to know the answer, let's still discuss it.


You start your day either rushing because you slept too late or you start your day checking facebook. Or maybe you turn up the radio and blare music to get you going. Whatever your choice, something is influencing you just like the weather influences what you will wear. So, why not choose to let God influence your first thoughts, your first actions?

Choosing to talk to God as you get up and moving and claiming the truth in his word is the best influence to start your day. Why not be encouraged about who you are in Christ every morning? Why not remember who is on your side? Why not remember that you are not alone? Why not remind yourself that God loves you?

So, unless you have an argument on why you should not let God be your first influence...then try this for the first month of school:

1. Write our weekly verse on a bathroom or bedroom mirror. (I choose the mirror because we all know as girls that is where we look the most.)
2. Repeat the verse as you get ready. Claim it as truth in your life.
3. Pray as you get ready. Use the prayer ideas I give you if necessary. (brushing hair: seek forgiveness, brushing teeth: pray for your mouth, eyes: open to see things, getting dressed: put on armor of God, etc.)

And remember trying it is not going to do you any harm.


This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for not living my life for him and losing sight of what is important.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see and understand how to live my life for him at school this year.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help the words I speak glorify him.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God

My school year, I choose...

Unfortunately, you cannot choose for it to stay summertime. But the new school year brings many choices for you to make and so far the choices have included clothes and school supplies. But I have a question for you, have you thought about who you are going to live for this school year? Who is going to influence the choices you make?

Parents and teachers will have some influence, but friends will probably have the most. You may be living your life to please your parents or friends. Now, while neither of those may be bad, should you choose to live for something else? Should you have something else that influences you more than anything else?

Or maybe you are choosing to live your life for a guy, a boyfriend. You make your choices based on what he wants or what will get his attention and love. You cannot decide anything without knowing it is okay with him (even the clothes you wear.) But when one person influences your choices so much, you might be heading down a road that leads to heartbreak.

My prayer for you this school year is that you will choose to live your life for Christ and choose to let God influence every choice that you make. And I pray you will see the difference you will make when you live your life for Christ.

Just think about a typical school day for a minute, and say "what if.."

* you choose to pray every morning and give your day to God.
* you choose to quote scripture on who you are in Christ before you walk in the school doors.
* you choose to let your inner beauty shine by being kind to all who cross your path.
* you choose to fall in love with God this year.
* you choose to do your best as if everything you do is for God.

Will you think about it? Will you pray about it? Will you talk with me about it?

I will be writing daily again on the blog as we start this journey and choose to live this year for Christ. Please join me every school day. Before you go on facebook, read the blog that will discuss the choices above and so much more.

(If you are new to the blog, you may want to go back and read the first blog to understand the next part.)

This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for not living my life for him and losing sight of what is important.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see and understand how to live my life for him at school this year.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help the words I speak glorify him.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God

GRRRRRRR...

Danger Ahead Warning:

Prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour...

Will attack anything that looks at it, breathes too loudly or refuses to give it its way.

Has no patience in getting what it wants.

Does not want to follow rules

Will eat you alive even if you are just a bystander

And I am not just talking about Satan. I am talking about your fellow peer who is angry and out to devour who ever crosses his/her path. It may not just be a peer, it could be a close friend who will bite off your head when she has a bad day. Or maybe it is you when you feel something is unjust. Whoever it is, you fear greatly when his/her lion side roars.

How do you deal with the lion? Are you a tamer, prey or do you roar back? Maybe you are the one feeding the anger? Maybe you get all the other lions going?

First of all, you and I should never be the one feeding the anger. And I am not just talking about doing something to make them mad. You and I cannot encourage their anger over a situation. It is wrong to justify the reason to seek revenge. When the complaining starts, never encourage a negative behavior especially one that intends to cause harm to others. Also, do not sit there and feed your own anger.

Instead of feeding the anger, we should become the tamer. Holding on to anger, fighting, quarrels do not help us. Just look at the list of scriptures below.

Proverbs 26:17
Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

Proverbs 15:18
A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.

Proverbs 17:14
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

Ephesians 4:26
"In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

Ephesians 4:31
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Proverbs 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control

Proverbs 22:24
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered,

Are you seeing any positives to anger? Will it do any good to come to school and let the whole world know you are mad and someone is going to pay? Does anyone win when you or your friend start biting off every one's head?

In life you will have reasons to be upset. But, destroying those around because you got detention for no homework...really are you helping anyone including yourself? Is giving looks that could kill because someone complimented someone else more than you going to help?

Maybe it is just time for teens and some adults to take a chill pill and be a little more forgiving. And if you think your anger and ugliness is justified, just think how God responds to you when you ignore Him, use His name in vain, worship others instead of Him. He loves you and forgives you.

Choose forgiveness instead of resentment. Choose serving instead of selfishness. Choose love instead of hate. Choose breathing instead of stewing.

This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: 1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me letting my anger destroy others.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see how I feed my anger so I may change my thoughts.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help me speak words of a tamer.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God

Alone

Keep me as the apple of your eye,

hide me in the shadow of your wings...

Psalm 17:8

Discouraged? Defeated? Tired of trying to avoid trouble? Feel alone? Weary of enemies? Well, I have some good news.

You are the apple of God's eye.

You can find protection and rest in God's arms.

You are at a time in your life where you are constantly surrounded by people (in person or online) yet you probably feel more alone than ever. The loneliness comes from having no one with same morals and convictions, no one understanding you, tired of trying to fit in or maybe you are actually alone at home and/or school. But my friend, you are not alone.

In those dark and lonely times, choose to be like David and call out to God. Before David was king, he hid in caves to save his own life. The man knew loneliness and fear. But in that darkest time, he called out to God.

You my friend can do the same thing. When the weight of the world is on your shoulders, when the darkness overwhelms you, when no one answers your cries, call out to God. He will hear you. If you do not know what to say, use one of David's Psalms like Psalm 17 to cry out.

The world will be mean. Sometimes the world may be actually trying to devour you. But do not worry, God will hide you in the shadow of his wings because you are the apple of His eye. Just choose to cry out to God.

This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: 1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for depending on the world.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see Him in my darkest times.
*as I brush my teeth, cry out to God and share all your worries, fears and loneliness.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God

Spring fever: Spreading Quickly

Health News Bulletin:
Spring fever is still on the rise and spreading quickly. It seems to be very contagious. Symptoms include stupidity on choices that lead to harming self or others. Treatment should be started immediately and include not hanging out with others showing signs of stupidity and by keeping your focus on God not coolness.

Alright, maybe there is no actual illness called Spring fever, but a lot of fellow peers seem to have the symptoms. For some reason teens think they become immune to consequences this time of year. Just because school is almost out, your generation thinks they can do whatever. And the whatever seems to include slacking in school, disrespect, shop lifting, smoking, drinking, sex and for some reason pot or prescription drugs.

You want to hear the other breaking news? The consequences of the actions are the same in the spring as anytime of the year. The end of the school year does not mean, you can choose to do whatever you want with no consequence. But the only word I can think to say is "DUH."

My words of wisdom to you this morning, do not hang out with other idiots. Remove yourself from situations or places where spring fever is out of control. Remember the only way to survive this dangerous spring fever is by keeping your focus on God and His purpose for you. And just in case you are unclear on your purpose, it does not include frying your brain, lungs or any other organ with any chemical or drug. It also does not include spending time in jail or failing in school.

Look, the next few weeks are going to be a little insane. Temptation and stupidity will be all around. Your flesh is going to long for fun. But fun does not have to be stupid.

Choose carefully these next few weeks. Be aware and alert. Be prepared. Use wisdom from God.


This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: 1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for unwise choices and for following spring fever.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see the situations I need to remove myself from before I am in them.
*as I brush my teeth, to ask God to help me speak to my friends so they do not make stupid choices.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God