Today, I want you to know one thing, God loves you.
God loves you today. While He may desire you to spend more time with Him and wants you to be obedient, it does change His love for you. You may have chosen poorly this week. I know I have stumbled a few times myself. But it does not and will not stop God from loving you.
Or maybe, you have beaten down by classmates, friends and/or parents this week. Everything in your world may seem to be falling apart. Oh my dear, sweet, little friend, God is still there and He loves you. God is your heavenly Father. Crawl into His lap, let it all out and let God love you.
In the pit of my stomach, I hear God telling me one simple thing. "Tell my girls I love them."
One or maybe more than one of you are struggling in believing those three little words. But I promise they are true. So I will say them again, God loves you!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
How To Learn From Our Choices
Today, I am not going to talk too much. I want you to do the writing. I just have a few guidelines.
I would like for you to print or use as an example the Choice/Consequence Journal. It is on my website on the Soul page underneath the study links heading.
http://www.bodysoulandhome.com/discography.html
I want you to use two pages to answer these two questions.
1.What choice did you make that pleased God (chose God over the world)?
2.What choice did you make that was against God's will (chose the world over God)?
After you finish, spend time talking to your Heavenly Father. Be honest about your answers and with God. What changes in choices do you need to make more godly choices? And remember, God does not condemn, He convicts. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, but do not let the the devil tear you down.
Proverbs 4:6
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
This is my life, I choose:
Write this verse on my mirror:
Proverbs 2:10
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul* as I brush out the tangles, to ask God to forgive me for repeating the same bad choices.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see the consequences and learn from them.
*as I brush my teeth, to ask God to help me speak what I learn to others so they do not make the same bad choice.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God.
I would like for you to print or use as an example the Choice/Consequence Journal. It is on my website on the Soul page underneath the study links heading.
http://www.bodysoulandhome.com/discography.html
I want you to use two pages to answer these two questions.
1.What choice did you make that pleased God (chose God over the world)?
2.What choice did you make that was against God's will (chose the world over God)?
After you finish, spend time talking to your Heavenly Father. Be honest about your answers and with God. What changes in choices do you need to make more godly choices? And remember, God does not condemn, He convicts. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, but do not let the the devil tear you down.
Proverbs 4:6
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
This is my life, I choose:
Write this verse on my mirror:
Proverbs 2:10
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul* as I brush out the tangles, to ask God to forgive me for repeating the same bad choices.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see the consequences and learn from them.
*as I brush my teeth, to ask God to help me speak what I learn to others so they do not make the same bad choice.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Choose To Learn From Your Choices
We have been on our Choices journey for a few weeks now. I do not know about you, but I know I still do not always make the right choice. While I have greatly improved on recognizing the choices I make daily, I am still not perfect. (I know you are in total shock.;)
But tonight I am asking myself if I am learning from my bad choices? Or do I still continue to make the same dumb choice knowing the consequences?
As usual, God has been teaching me as He uses me to teach my son. As God gives me the words to say to my child, I realize they are for me, too.
Hopefully you read his blog yesterday. But if not here is the story. My child made a bad choice on where he choose to sit which led to one more stupid little bad choice. But, unfortunately the consequences have been big. Now he has recognized the consequences of his choices. In a very mature way, he owned up to them and sought forgiveness. At the same time, the enemy was tearing him down. All of this led to a discussion of learning from our bad choices.
So, here is what God taught me while I was teaching my child:
1.We have to take responsibility for our choice no matter how little it may be.
2.We need to evaluate the consequences of our choice. (Remember the Holy Spirit convicts not condemns.)
3.We need to apologize to those affected by our choice even if they do not realize how they were affected.
4.We have to choose if we want to learn from our choice.
Most likely we think we learn, yet we seem to soon forget and the bad choice repeats itself. So, how can we truly learn from our bad choices?
My thought is to write it down. When we make a good or bad choice, you and I write it down. We also write the bad or good consequence plus what God taught us. The next time we are faced with a similar choice, we can go back and look at it.
I am going to start a Choice/Consequence Journal. As I make the right choice and reap the benefits, I will record it as an encouragement of making the right but not so easy choice. I will also record the bad choices and the consequences to serve as a reminder if the choice comes before me again. Please also record the consequences of days when you put your focus on God and the days you choose to loose focus. Not only will the journal help you, it will be a teaching tool for others.
So, who is with me? Who wants to truly learn from our choices?
Choice/Consequence journal available on website: http://www.bodysoulandhome.com/discography.html
It is just one page but you can print as many as you need and put it in a pretty notebook or use it as an example to make your own.
This is my life, I choose:
Write this verse on my mirror:
Proverbs 2:10
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul* as I brush out the tangles, to ask God to forgive me for repeating the same bad choices.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see the consequences and learn from them.
*as I brush my teeth, to ask God to help me speak what I learn to others so they do not make the same bad choice.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God.
But tonight I am asking myself if I am learning from my bad choices? Or do I still continue to make the same dumb choice knowing the consequences?
As usual, God has been teaching me as He uses me to teach my son. As God gives me the words to say to my child, I realize they are for me, too.
Hopefully you read his blog yesterday. But if not here is the story. My child made a bad choice on where he choose to sit which led to one more stupid little bad choice. But, unfortunately the consequences have been big. Now he has recognized the consequences of his choices. In a very mature way, he owned up to them and sought forgiveness. At the same time, the enemy was tearing him down. All of this led to a discussion of learning from our bad choices.
So, here is what God taught me while I was teaching my child:
1.We have to take responsibility for our choice no matter how little it may be.
2.We need to evaluate the consequences of our choice. (Remember the Holy Spirit convicts not condemns.)
3.We need to apologize to those affected by our choice even if they do not realize how they were affected.
4.We have to choose if we want to learn from our choice.
Most likely we think we learn, yet we seem to soon forget and the bad choice repeats itself. So, how can we truly learn from our bad choices?
My thought is to write it down. When we make a good or bad choice, you and I write it down. We also write the bad or good consequence plus what God taught us. The next time we are faced with a similar choice, we can go back and look at it.
I am going to start a Choice/Consequence Journal. As I make the right choice and reap the benefits, I will record it as an encouragement of making the right but not so easy choice. I will also record the bad choices and the consequences to serve as a reminder if the choice comes before me again. Please also record the consequences of days when you put your focus on God and the days you choose to loose focus. Not only will the journal help you, it will be a teaching tool for others.
So, who is with me? Who wants to truly learn from our choices?
Choice/Consequence journal available on website: http://www.bodysoulandhome.com/discography.html
It is just one page but you can print as many as you need and put it in a pretty notebook or use it as an example to make your own.
This is my life, I choose:
Write this verse on my mirror:
Proverbs 2:10
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul* as I brush out the tangles, to ask God to forgive me for repeating the same bad choices.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see the consequences and learn from them.
*as I brush my teeth, to ask God to help me speak what I learn to others so they do not make the same bad choice.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God.
Monday, April 12, 2010
One Choice Has Many Consequences
Today, you are not going to listen to me. I want you to click on the link and read a fellow teen's blog on one choice. It is "Learning New Things."
www.littlecrackedpot.blogspot.com
Read it for today and we will discuss more tomorrow. But do think about a time when you made one bad choice and all the consequences that followed.
www.littlecrackedpot.blogspot.com
Read it for today and we will discuss more tomorrow. But do think about a time when you made one bad choice and all the consequences that followed.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
From the Inside Out
Yesterday we talked about choosing to live and choosing to live for Christ. I know you may feel that it is too late. You are too messed up. Maybe you feel your life is too far from God. My friend you are wrong.
No matter where you are in your life. No matter how much you have messed up. It is never too late to choose God. It is never too late to give God control. And it is time we start trying to change ourselves. Let's choose to let God consume us and change us from the inside out.
Listen to this song and read the words. I mean really read the words. His light shines when all else fades. A thousand times I fail but you remain. This song is so true. Make it your prayer to God. Cry out from your soul to Him. Choose to live for Christ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv0qZl_Qu84&feature=related
From the Inside Out (Hillsong United)
A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise, become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
My Soul cries out to You
My Soul cries out to You
to You, to You
My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out.
No matter where you are in your life. No matter how much you have messed up. It is never too late to choose God. It is never too late to give God control. And it is time we start trying to change ourselves. Let's choose to let God consume us and change us from the inside out.
Listen to this song and read the words. I mean really read the words. His light shines when all else fades. A thousand times I fail but you remain. This song is so true. Make it your prayer to God. Cry out from your soul to Him. Choose to live for Christ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv0qZl_Qu84&feature=related
From the Inside Out (Hillsong United)
A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise, become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
My Soul cries out to You
My Soul cries out to You
to You, to You
My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Choose to Live
Sadly, I have known or known a friend of someone who has or attempted suicide this school year. Life has become overwhelming, too hard, too lonely and/or too much for so many teens.
I do not know where you are in your life. I do not know the struggles you are facing daily. Your home or school life may be a complete disaster. But I do know the pressure can be overwhelming. Life can be very competitive. And even if you have several hundred friends on facebook, you can still feel alone. And some things in life just completely stink.
So how do you handle all the stinkiness of life? How do you deal with all the yucky parts? Do you choose to give up? Or do you choose to live?
I pray you choose to live. But it is not only choosing to live but choosing what you live for.
If you and I choose to live for the world, live to please the world, live to be like the world, well life is going to get stinky. For one, the world changes what it likes and wants faster than we can keep up. Second, everyone else living for the world will not hesitate to trample all over you and tear you down for the world. It is just an ugly place.
But...and I mean BUT...if you live for Christ, well there are actually some benefits.
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness " Colossians 2:6-7
(If life has become too much and you do not think you can choose to live, immediately get help from a youth pastor or worker. If possible talk to a parent. If you need someone, call me day or night. Your life is too precious to God and to me. 817-522-8231)
This is my life, I choose:
Write this verse on my mirror:
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
* as I brush out the tangles, to ask God to forgive me for living to please the world.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see the changes I need to make to live my life for Him.
*as I brush my teeth, to ask God to help me speak words that are pleasing to Him..
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God.
I do not know where you are in your life. I do not know the struggles you are facing daily. Your home or school life may be a complete disaster. But I do know the pressure can be overwhelming. Life can be very competitive. And even if you have several hundred friends on facebook, you can still feel alone. And some things in life just completely stink.
So how do you handle all the stinkiness of life? How do you deal with all the yucky parts? Do you choose to give up? Or do you choose to live?
I pray you choose to live. But it is not only choosing to live but choosing what you live for.
If you and I choose to live for the world, live to please the world, live to be like the world, well life is going to get stinky. For one, the world changes what it likes and wants faster than we can keep up. Second, everyone else living for the world will not hesitate to trample all over you and tear you down for the world. It is just an ugly place.
But...and I mean BUT...if you live for Christ, well there are actually some benefits.
- You do not battle the world alone. God fights for you.
- You are never alone. You are a friend of God.
- God's Word is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. It does not change.
- You are storing up treasures in Heaven. (Remember this earth is our temporary home.)
- You do not become the world, you get to rock the world for Christ.
Listen, my sweet young friend, you were created by God and you and your life are very important to God. (Remember, so important God has even numbered the hairs on your head.) God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for your sin. God loves you and He will never leave you. So your life is worth living.
And (and this is a big AND), your life is worth living for God. As I said yesterday, most adults are messing up their own lives and others around them. God is calling you to live your life for Him. God has chosen you. Are you ready to live your life for Christ?
You have two choices, to live or to live your life for Christ. What have you got to lose? But just think what you have to gain!
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness " Colossians 2:6-7
(If life has become too much and you do not think you can choose to live, immediately get help from a youth pastor or worker. If possible talk to a parent. If you need someone, call me day or night. Your life is too precious to God and to me. 817-522-8231)
This is my life, I choose:
Write this verse on my mirror:
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
* as I brush out the tangles, to ask God to forgive me for living to please the world.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see the changes I need to make to live my life for Him.
*as I brush my teeth, to ask God to help me speak words that are pleasing to Him..
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Choose to Rock Your World
Have you ever noticed how stupid adults can be at times? They worry about too many things. It seems they are always busy. And why do they work so hard to have a lot of stuff that they have no time to enjoy? Most adults borderline on being hopeless. Unless God smacks them upside the head they will keep wandering around in endless circles.
But your generation has passion, wants to be different. You want to make a statement. The greater the challenge, the more you want to do it. I love that part of your generation. When you are young, you are ready to take the world.
Well, I think you should. You and your friends are being called to shake up this world. You are being called to take a risk. You are being called to action. God is calling you.
Now, my questions for you:
But your generation has passion, wants to be different. You want to make a statement. The greater the challenge, the more you want to do it. I love that part of your generation. When you are young, you are ready to take the world.
Well, I think you should. You and your friends are being called to shake up this world. You are being called to take a risk. You are being called to action. God is calling you.
Now, my questions for you:
- Will you answer His call?
- Are you willing to take a risk?
- You know God's truth, will you stand up for it?
- There will be sacrifices, will you make them?
- Do you want to rock this world for Christ?
Honestly, my friend, we can no longer wait for the adults to get their act together. Time is running out to reach the lost and heal the broken hearted. The world is falling apart before our eyes. We cannot depend on the government any longer. Sadly, we cannot even depend or trust in some churches.
My friend, will you choose to rock this world for Christ? Will you choose to share Christ without fear? Will you give your time to help those in need? Will you save your family from the world and get Christ back in your home? In your school?
I wish I could explain what I feel right now. I know there is a fire burning in each one of you. I know you are tired of adults letting your generation down. But I also know, you have been chosen and called to make something happen. Listen to God. He needs you. With God, you can do it.
Are you ready?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5AkNqLuVgY
This is my life, I choose:
Write this verse on my mirror :
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
* as I brush out the tangles, to ask God to forgive me for not answering His call.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see the purpose He has for me now.
*as I brush my teeth, to ask God to help me speak up and rock this world for Him.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God.
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