A Couple More Songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nQy-aP_Koo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHgNCj4DU_M&feature=related

This week I want you to make a simple but very important choice. I want you to choose to start your day with God and have your own personal worship. I will be posting songs everyday to help you. Let's just choose God first this week and see how it goes.

Song: Sanctus Real: "I Am Not Alright"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fki04dpFD-0&feature=related

The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

My life, I choose…

*to write the verse above on my mirror
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for the times I stumbled and sinned.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to use my mouth to bring glory to Him..
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see those who needs God's love.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God.

Simple Choice Day 3

This week I want you to make a simple but very important choice. I want you to choose to start your day with God and have your own personal worship. I will be posting songs everyday to help you. Let's just choose God first this week and see how it goes.

Song: Bandon Heath Give Me Your Eyes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2cYxOkR2-g&feature=related


The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

My life, I choose…

*to write the verse above on my mirror
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for the times I stumbled and sinned.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to use my mouth to bring glory to Him..
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see those who needs God's love.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God.

Simple Choice Day 2

This week I want you to make a simple but very important choice. I want you to choose to start your day with God and have your own personal worship. I will be posting songs everyday to help you. Let's just choose God first this week and see how it goes.

Song: Hillsong United: From the Inside Out (great song to use as a prayer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdMJ9LH-Lc0


The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

My life, I choose…

*to write the verse above on my mirror
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for the times I stumbled and sinned.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to use my mouth to bring glory to Him..
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see those who needs God's love.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God.

A Simpe Choice

This week I want you to make a simple but very important choice. I want you to choose to start your day with God and have your own personal worship. I will be posting songs everyday to help you. Let's just choose God first this week and see how it goes.

Song: Came to My Rescue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWPABE3gycs&feature=related


The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

My life, I choose…

*to write the verse above on my mirror
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for the times I stumbled and sinned.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to use my mouth to bring glory to Him..
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see those who needs God's love.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God.

Choose To Trust in Something Big, Not Fear Something Small

Psalm 27
Of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.

3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.

7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.

8 My heart says of you, "Seek his [b] face!"
Your face, LORD, I will seek.

9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.

10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.

12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence.

13 I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

David was hiding in a cave, hiding to save his life. He was to be the next king, but at this moment Saul was searching for him. The Psalm above expresses David's fear yet his hope, trust and faith in God.

Whether your fear is a loved one leaving you (v. 10), fear of fellow peers (v. 2), fear of more trouble in life (v. 5), all you have to choose to do is call out to God. Cry out like David did to God. Give God your fears and claim the truth and promises you have in God. Say this truth out loud like David. Believe this truth:

The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

The world is full of humans and those humans will do stupid things that cause you to fear. But just like David, we have to choose to replace those fears with a trust and hope in something much bigger. And like David, we have to continue to trust, wait and depend on God to rescue us.

I wish I could tell you not to fear because nothing bad will happen, but I can tell you do not fear because God is there. So when the fear starts to consume, start quoting these scriptures out loud. Mark Psalm 27 in your Bible. Memorize Psalm 27:1. Remember God's Word is your sword so use it to cut through the fear.

I love you all very much. If you have any fear that has consumed you, please talk to me or talk to a godly adult who can help you. Do not be embarrassed to ask for help.

Isaiah 41:13
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father"



My life, I choose…

*to write one of the verses above on my mirror
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for letting fear control my life instead of him.
*as I brush my teeth, cry out to God to take away my fears.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see and believe He is here..
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God.

The fear of failing keeps you from succeeding.

The fear of being hurt keeps you from loving.

The fear of disappointment keeps you from living.

The fear of the unknown keeps you from taking the next step.

Things happen in our life that sometimes create a fear in our life. Once the fear gets hold of us it can entrap us. We become a prisoner to the fear. But my friend, you do not have to live in that fear.

When I was 7 years old, a man broke into our home. Many nights I laid in bed fearing it would happen again. At the age of 15, I experienced an awful tragedy. It led me to not trust anyone. 11 years ago, I attended a church where a gunman walked in a killed 7 people, injured others and killed himself. The one place that I thought was safe was no longer safe. Fear finally took me prisoner. It was then I had to choose to continue to live in fear or to trust in something bigger.

As I was growing up, I always wanted to do my best in school or whatever I did. My fear of not succeeding created an anxiety in me. Even though I gave it my all, I still fear the end result. I had to choose to conquer the fear and just do my best or let the anxiety keep me from seeing how well I was doing.

Maybe you can relate to my story or maybe your fear is something different. Whether it is fear of failing or fear of someone close walking out on you again or losing a loved one, you can release that fear and live in freedom from the fear.

Before we can begin releasing ourselves from fear, I have one question to ask you.

Do you believe your Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to live in freedom from fear?
Because of what has happened in your life, can you trust God or is your fear keeping you from trusting Him?

Spend some time talking to God. Be honest with God about why you can or cannot trust Him. Try to be still and listen to God respond.

Today, talk to God. Tomorrow we will continue looking at letting go and trusting God.

Isaiah 41:13
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father"



My life, I choose…

*to write one of the verses above on my mirror
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for letting fear control my life instead of him.
*as I brush my teeth, cry out to God to take away my fears.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see and believe He is here..
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God.

To Fear or Not To Fear

October is here and it means so is all the scary things that come with it. Scary movies will be coming out. Haunted houses try to scare you to death. While some of it is fun, many of you live with daily fears. Some of the fears are minor while others may haunt you. So I ask you, are we suppose to live in fear and what should we fear?

Before we go any further, I want you to stop right now and pray. Even if you do not understand why, I want you to give all your fears to God. (we will go into more detail later.)

Some common fears for your age are passing a class, being accepted by your peers, no one else having the same prom dress, not getting asked to prom or homecoming, a boy not liking you, etc. While some of you have even more fears like; whether you will have food to eat, if your parent will not walk out on the family again, or if a loved one will live one more day. Whatever the fear may be, small or big, it can consume you. Fears can take the life right out of you.

My dear sweet friend, you do not have to live in fear. You have something greater on your side. We will discuss this more this week, but for now I want you to read the two verses below until you start to believe them. Tomorrow we will discuss it.

Isaiah 41:13
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father"

My life, I choose…

*to write one of the verses above on my mirror
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for letting fear control my life instead of him.
*as I brush my teeth, cry out to God to take away my fears.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see and believe He is here..
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God.

Choosing Between God's Will and Your Dreams

When you are little you start to dream of what you want to be when you grow up. Not only do you believe in your dream, you start preparing, training and practicing to make that dream come true. But how do you respond when God reveals He has other plans for you and all the doors are shut? Does a crushed dream lead to sulking or opening your eyes to see the awesome dream God has for you?

I personally knew a middle school student who had big dreams. The dream led to a certain college doing a certain thing. But as the teen approached high school, the doors to those dreams seem to shut. For awhile, the teen kept trying to make them happen and grew very frustrated. But God was trying to show the teen the plans He had and how the teen's time needed to be committed to that dream. But once the teen finally stopped fighting God and put energy and time into God's plan an amazing thing starting to happen. God begin to give the teen gifts and amazing abilities. Plus the teen experienced joy every time. This story is still in the process, but it is going to have an amazing ending as long as the teen chooses God's will.

You may be at a point in your life where God is saying choose my plan for you, not your dreams. Your heart breaks at the thought of not following your dreams. Wrapping your mind around another plan for your life seems too difficult. But my sweet friend, I ask you this,

"Do you trust God? Do you trust the creator of everything including you with your life?"

Let's look back at a verse,

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 a hope and a future.”

God is not a dream crusher, He just has bigger and better dreams or you. God is not crushing you. Going against God's plan will crush you. You were designed by God with special gifts and talents to be used for Him. My friend, you must choose to seek God's will instead of your dreams. And as you do, God will reveal so much to you and you will experience a joy inside that is like no other.

Choose to seek God's plan for you. Choose to trust God's plan for you. And you will be choosing to experience true joy when you are fulfilling God's will.

My life, I choose…

*to write 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 a hope and a future.”

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for putting my dreams before his will.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to use my mouth to speak the truth.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see his will.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God.

Glee Episode

Tell me your thoughts on the Glee episode tonight. What did they get right about religion? What did they get wrong? Can you identify with any of the characters and where they are in their relationship with God or lack of one?

This is not a test. I just want you to share with me or all of us.