The Lord knows the plans.

There are many expectations heaped on young women today. The world is telling you (pressuring you) to go to college and get a good job, to be strong and stand up for yourself. The world has plans for you, but so does God.

"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.-Jeremiah 29:11

Personally, to know that God has plans for me is very comforting, but...I still have to fulfill those plans, don't I?

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.-Psalm 138:8a

The Lord has great plans for every one of you, plans that He will fulfill if you'll only surrender to Him. Like the rich young man (Matthew 19:16-26) found out, it is daunting to give up everything for Christ. It is hard, too, especially while living in a world ruled by sin. The temptation will always be there to forfeit God's amazing plans and choose the world's. Burdens, stress, and worry get heavy after awhile! Run daily to the cross of Jesus. Fall at His feet in worship, lay down your burdens, pick up His plans for you, and cling to His cross. One day you will see Him in Heaven and KNOW, it was so worth it.

Your sister in Christ,
Becky :)

Answering the Call

Lately I have been thinking more about what God is wanting me to do with my life. Is He asking me to do something more? Am I neglecting to act upon His will?
The very basics of being a believer in Christ is reading your Bible. That is our spiritual nourishment that sustains us throughout our life. But quite honestly, that is just a very small part of living a life that radiates Christ. A lot of us could say that we read our Bibles, but the real test of our faith is if we are putting what we are reading into practice. Every minute we spend with God in His Word should make a difference in our lives, and we should come away from that quiet time with a small piece of your heart changed to be more like Christ. Many of us have grown up in church. We know all the basics of God's Word, and now we need to move onto some spiritual meat, instead of just feeding off spiritual milk. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)
So many of us want to continue taking baby steps in our walk with Christ. We get so acquainted with being in our comfort zones that we ignore God when He asks us to take a leap of faith. I have definitely been convicted lately to start making a better effort to witness to the lost around me. That's a big step for me to take. My prideful fleshly desires want to be comfortable and normal, but that is not what the Holy Spirit desires for my life.
James 2:26 tells us in a very clear and matter of fact way that "faith without deeds is useless."
I don't want my faith to be normal and useless. But if I don't start taking action, then that is what it will be. Will you join my in my conquest to live life on the edge, always ready to do whatever God asks? If God asks you to take a leap of faith, how will you respond?

You Sister in Christ,
Jessica

Death

I had a dream last night.

I died.

I remember thinking as I was dying, "goodbye world, I'll never see you again, you've been good to me". I remember fighting to get back into the world because I was so scared of what was about to happen. I slipped away. I was suddenly transported to heaven- so quickly. It was amazing. Heaven was beautiful, I don't even know how to describe it. I remember being so scared for my life, what if I didn't make it into heaven? This was eternity. Life or death. No second chances. Forever. I remember looking at the gate and thinking, "I could have done so much more on earth." Then I saw Jesus' arms of mercy. Reaching out to me, telling me I was His. I remember tears running down my face realizing how unworthy I am. I remember being called to play piano for him for all my days. I remember how happy I was- heaven I made it!

And I thought all this was real. It was a dream. Not reality. But it was so close to reality is scared me. What would I do if I knew I would die today? What would I say? How would I prepare for heaven?

This dream has been haunting me all day. I believe God gave me that dream to wake me up. I've been living selfishly. It's time to go all out for him. I want to be told on that day I die, "Well done good and faithful servant."

What about you?

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Time with God is precious.

Time with God is very precious. Savor it, if only for five minutes.
Five minutes with God can...

• Give you joy
• Give you hope
• Give you peace
• Give you patience
• Give you understanding
• Show you the way to go
• Refresh your soul
• Change your perspective
• Lighten your burdens
• ...And much, much more! (For a taste, check out God's Word for yourself, and spend some time in prayer!)
  

Well... yeah, I'm a Christian...

Do you ever feel pushed towards a halfway Christian life? It's hard being a "radical" Christian when there is all this pressure to live a half-hearted, half-way life. You are being tugged back and forth and it's hard to decide which path to take.

76.5% (159 million) of Americans claim the status of "Christian."

There are many celebrities, TV show idols, bands, teachers, and teenagers that say that they are Christians, and think they are pretty cool for doing so. They may go to church, sing some songs, and pretty much define Christianity as a whole, but it's all just a front. If 159 million people (and this is just from America) were die-hard radical lovers of Christ, I believe that our world would be a much different place. Set-apart followers of Jesus are in short supply these days, although if you stopped people on the streets, 7 out of 10 people would call themselves Christians. It baffles me that so many people could disregard the Lord and only use Him when things get desperate. He is just another acquaintance that you talk to every once in awhile. But here's the deal, Christ is not made to be a companion, you and God should not be co-pilots of your life together; God's the boss. He is in charge and in control. If you are just like all the other "Christians" out there, then that is horrible. Because God spits the lukewarm Christians out of His mouth. (Revelation 3:16)
Your relationship with Christ should consume your thoughts, texts, phone calls, lunch breaks, and service. It's a lifestyle, not a hobby or passing trend.

Psalm 4:3 (New International Version)
Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself.

You were lovingly created and formed by our awesome Creator. He uniquely made you for a wonderful purpose. But in order to fulfill the purpose that you were designed to carry out, you must live a set-apart life. This is no half-way, normal life; you will be weird. Matthew 5:11 tells us: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
People will think you are crazy, it's bound to happen (so I would suggest you prepare yourself a little bit and get used to the idea :) My lukewarm Christian friends don't think I'm very cool. But in comparison to the joy I have in Christ, it doesn't even matter!


Psalm 1:1-3 (New International Version)
¹ Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

Blessed are you when you are set-apart!! You will be fulfilled, radiant, and blessed when you allow your joy to come from Christ and delight yourself in carrying out His miraculous design and purpose for your life!

I know a lot of you lovely girls are living a life that reflect and radiates Christ! I just want to encourage to keep on the right path, even when no one else is. It's awesome to see y'all living for the Lord, it makes me feel like I'm not alone out there in this world full of halfway Christians.

Love in Christ,
Jessica

Healer

Hey girl! I loved this video and it touched me very deeply. Hope you love it too!
JESUS IS OUR HEALER! :)

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Consuming Love

Read the lyrics of "You Can Have Me" by Sidewalk Prophets below, and really think about them. Would you make this your prayer today?

If I saw You on the street
And You said come and follow me
But I had to give up everything
All I once held dear and all of my dreams

Would I love You enough to let go
Or would my love run dry
When You asked for my life

CHORUS
When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me

If You’re all You claim to be
Then I’m not losing anything
So I will crawl upon my knees
Just to know the joy of suffering

I will love You enough to let go
Lord, I give you my life
I give you my life

CHORUS

I want to be where You are
I’m running into Your arms
And I will never look back
So Jesus, here is my heart

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Jesus Christ is our greatest example of a servant. Being a servant is putting yourself into a position lower then others, humbling yourself so that life is no longer about you; looking at things from a selfless perspective instead of a me-filled perspective. All throughout the New Testament, the writers would greet their letters by saying "James, a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ" or "Paul a bond servant of our Lord."
Those men were bound and called to be servants. Servants to whom you may ask? Servants to the Lord. And with the responsibility to be servants of God, we also have to be servants of others. It is an awfully humbling thing to do- being a servant. I, for one, struggle with being self-less. Sometimes I tend to think of myself as "holier than thou" and look down on people who are lost, or even my own brothers and sisters in Christ. I definitely have not mastered being a humble servant. Zephaniah 2:3 tells us to "seek righteousness and humility." Philippians 2:3 says: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Lowering ourselves below others is hard. But it is so fulfilling to serve others with an attitude of humility and selflessness. It is such a witness to people when you live your life thinking about others! The world tells us that everything is all about us. Magazines, computer, music, clothing, and sadly sometimes even churches try to cater to your specific needs and make everything about you so that you will buy their products, or listen to their message. But do you know what God says about that? He says to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." (Hebrews 12:1) Those things lead us astray so easily and allow us to take our focus off of what our life should be about. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Nothing. Live your life with all of your strength focused on God and what His Word says, then being a servant will come easily to you.

Psalm 119:36 (New International Version)
Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.

If you are struggling with this, ask God to help you! Ask Him to help you cultivate a selfless, gentle spirit.

James 3:13-17 (New Living Translation)
¹³ If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. ¹⁵ For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

Your Sister in Christ,
Jessica

What's YOUR idol?

You may be thinking, "Huh? I don't bow down to any false gods and I certainly don't watch American Idol!” That's not exactly what idols necessarily are (though they can be). Idols are anything/everything that you are constantly thinking about or doing. Anything can be an idol. What are you always striving for? Is it godly things? What gets first place in your life? We are constantly being bombarded with all different substitute idols other than God. Think about this for a minute. American Idol, music (secular), celebrities (Justin Bieber), obesity, evolution, books (Twilight), clothes, beauty, food, health, boyfriends, popularity, well....you get the picture. Though these things are part of everyday life they should NEVER be an idol! This doesn't mean you can't ever do these things or have them, it just means not to obsess over them! How do you know when you have an unhealthy idol in your life? Here are some quick, simple clues:


1. What are you constantly thinking about?
2. Who do people know you as?
3. What is your goal from day to day?

Exodus 20:4 (New International Version)

4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

If you think you don't have any idols in your life, great! I'm so happy for you! To keep this healthy lifestyle up keep Christ always at the front of your mind.

How do you change your idol status? If you have an idol in your life, you need to get rid of it ASAP! God detests idols and hates not to have first place in your life! SO! Take a fast from whatever you feel is your idol. Spend that time repenting and praying that God will be on that throne from now on. I know you can do it! If you'd like to talk more about this contact me at iheartministry@yahoo.com
Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

What's the Goal?

1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

When you run a race, it is easy to lose sight of the goal and get caught up in the moment. Life is the same way. Often we, as Christians, lose sight of the end result, which is eternity with Christ. It is easy to become bogged down, even with "good" things such as school and ministry, but neither of those can be the end result. Our focus, our goal, what motivates and keeps us going should be Jesus Christ. We should run in such a way as to win the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24), throwing off the sin that easily entangles and looking towards the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Your sister in Christ,
Becky

"Have you considered my servant Job?" -God

Job 1:6-12 (New International Version)
The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

⁸ Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."

⁹ "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. ¹⁰ "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. ¹¹ But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."

¹² The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."


What if you were Job in this situation?

God wants the best for us in our life, but sometimes the best is hard. God allowed Satan to take everything away from Job that he treasured: his family, his livestock, his home. He was all alone, except for God. Although Job endured these trials, he never turned away from his faith in God. As I read that story this morning, I couldn't help but wonder how I would react in that situation. What if God's words were, "Have you considered my servant Jessica?" Would I continue to stay strong in my faith even if God allowed me to endure tribulations in my life? Yes, I hope with all of my heart that I would, but what about when I'm in that situation? All of us have gone through various trials in our life; some are smaller than others. But it all depends on our reaction. Do we use those hardships to strengthen us in our relationship with Christ?


God isn't sitting there thinking, "Hmm... what can I do to make her life miserable.." the trials He puts us through have a purpose. They are meant to challenge you and grow you closer to the Lord. At the end of Job's trials, he still had faith in God. And God blessed him!

Job 42:10-15 (New International Version)
The LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. ¹¹ All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought upon him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.

¹² The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. ¹³ And he also had seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴ The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. ¹⁵ Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

Hebrews 10:36 says that "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."

Persevering through trials is hard. But if you are living in God's will, then you will reap a bountiful harvest at the end of your race, whether you receive it here on earth or in heaven. I pray that all of us will stand strong against the devil, so that he will not have a foothold into our life, or slip through a crack in our armor. Stay strong! :)

Your Sister in Christ,

Jessica

Armor of God!

Girls love clothes. Throw in some shoes, jewelry, and a purse and we are good to go. We love to try on clothes, to see what looks good and what looks bad on us. Did you ever think that as you are getting ready for the day and putting your clothes on that you should ALSO be putting on the armor of God? That is the most important thing you will EVER put on!!! It will also be your favorite outfit because you shine for Christ while wearing it! People will notice your armor and ask why you are wearing it. That outfit will be the talk among your friends. You should be shining brightly in your armor of God ALL THE TIME!!

Ephesians 6:10-18
The Armor of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Put your Belt of Truth on! Pull that belt up and fasten it TIGHT! Be ready to give quick answers to unbelievers. Be truthful and honest in all you say and do.

Ephesians 6:14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Put your Breastplate of Righteousness on! Put this on to cover you in righteousness! Be righteous as God is our righteous King.

Ephesians 6:16
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Shield of faith- be faithful to your friends and family. Trust God to always provide. We don't have to see it to believe it!

Ephesians 6:15
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Gospel of Peace- be a peacemaker!!! If your peers get into fights or you and your brother are arguing calm down and resolve to work it out.

Ephesians 6:17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Helmet of Salvation- You are SAVED! COVERED! By His blood we are healed! Share the love of Christ and your salvation wherever you go. Sing until the whole world hears!

Ephesians 6:17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Sword of the Spirit- we are Christians have the Holy Spirit inside of us, guiding us. Listen to God and he will guide you!

Okay, so have we put on our armor? Go out and be ready to face the world! If God is for us who can be against us??
Remember, this outfit NEVER goes out of style!!
Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Friday Funnies

Philippians 1:27a
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

A Life of Holiness

Romans 2:21-23 (New International Version)
you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? ²²You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

Our problem in today's society is that people who claim to be Christians do not act like it. In that passage of scripture Paul is calling out to those people who aren't living what they are teaching. You see, it would be kind of difficult if your parents told you it was bad to drink, and yet they did it themselves; if they told you not to commit adultery, and then did it themselves. It completely destroys our witness when we do not act as God has called us to. I think that the reason that a lot of people are so closed up when it comes to faith, is that they have seen so many people come to church, talk about their faith, and then turn around and go against everything that they know is right. We don't act like children of God, we act just like the world. So, consequently, people do not see a difference in us.

Hebrews 12:14 (New International Version)
¹⁴Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

We are called to live peaceful holy lives as believers. A life worthy of our calling; a life that others look at and envy. People are not attracted to our hope in Christ when we don't live in holiness. Because, quite frankly, it isn't attractive. Everyone lives like the world. Everyone listens to the same music, does the same things, wears the same kind of clothes. But when you live in true holiness, you are going to be different. And if you aren't different, then something is wrong. Are you living a life of holiness?

1 Peter 2:22 (New International Version)
²²"He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth."

1 Corinthians 5:21 (New International Version)
²¹God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus is the perfect example of holiness. He was completely holy. When we make Him the person of our worship, awe, and adoration, we will start to act more like Him. His life was completely holy because he never sinned. Unfortunately none of us will ever achieve complete holiness because we have all sinned. But we can try with all that we have not to sin. When you live a life of peace and holiness, people see Jesus.

Write down some of the most important things in your life, and the things that you spend the majority of your time doing, whether it be sports, school, computer time, etc. Then look at that list and ask yourself if you are doing all those things for the ultimate glory of God. Ask yourself if you are living a life of holiness. Romans 8:6 tells us that "the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." Be controlled by the Spirit and re-focus your life on Christ. A life of holiness- a life that emulates Christ in everything.

Your Sister in Christ,
Jessica

The Power of Prayer

Many Christians have not truly experienced the power of prayer. Often it becomes a duty, something like "Lord, thanks for this day, and I pray for my family and my country and me," right before you drift to sleep... Prayer is a powerful tool and weapon in the Christian walk, one of the strongest tools we are given. Prayer is not a joke or pointless, for "What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?" (Deuteronomy 4:7). Neither is prayer a mindless wish-list for God.
Prayer is a petition to God (Philippians 4:6).
Prayer is a necessary spiritual discipline (1 Samuel 12:23).
Prayer is interceding for your enemies (Matthew 5:44).
Prayer is between only you and God (Matthew 6:5).
Prayer is presenting requests to the Lord (Philippians 4:6).

It is hard to pray for a long time and about many things, but God has called us to do it. "Pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) means just that. Our minds should be constantly focused on Christ and in a continuous conversation with Him. Jacob wrestled with God (Genesis 32:22-32). When I think of wrestling in prayer I do not think of a few sentences mumbled before a meal or a difficult science test. Wrestling in prayer involves struggling, sacrificing, and growing. Young women must take a stand and be prayer warriors and take a stand for brothers and sisters in Christ, because prayers is powerful (James 5:15).

Some general tips for prayer:

• Pray out loud-it helps keep your thoughts focused.
• Get away-whether you go outside or just in your room, being away from distractions will improve your prayer.
• Keep a list-write down what you pray for and when, that way you can see how God is answering prayers and working in your life.
• Involve others-Jesus said, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20). Prayer time alone with God is very important, but praying with others will help you grow and increase your prayer potential.
  

In Christ Alone,
Becky

The Word of God

We serve a living God who gave us our own guidebook to life that is flawless. I found the following verses comforting and encouraging because they give us assurance that the Word of the Lord is absolutely true. Nothing I say can make it true, but this came straight from scripture. If you haven't already, underline these verses in your Bible. They are great verses to share with someone who is having doubts about the Bible and their faith! It is so important for all of us to be familiar with our Bibles so when we are questioned about our faith, we can back ourselves up with scripture. If you have any verses that have been an encouragement to you lately, I would love to hear what they are! :) Have a wonderful week in the Lord!

Psalm 18:30

As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless


Psalm 19:7-9

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

⁸ The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

⁹ The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

Psalm 119:97-105

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.

⁹⁸ Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.

⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.

¹⁰⁰ I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.

¹⁰¹ I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.

¹⁰² I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.

¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴ I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.


Psalm 25:3

³ No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.


Psalm 33:4-6

⁴ For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.

⁵ The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.

⁶ By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

1 Peter 3:15

¹⁵But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

2 Corinthians 10:5

⁵We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Sing Sing Sing!

As teenagers, we are often overcome with emotion. I often let my emotions get the best of me. I can go from a high high, to a low low. Often, as I switch back and forth through these conflicting emotions I have a little argument with myself trying to back in check. When I start to pray for my bad attitude I am overcome with the love of God. I am so unworthy of his grace. I feel God's overpowering love on me. I know that sounds strange, but I feel so very emotionally filled when I think okay God's grace. I am uncontainably happy! Usually, I put worship music on and just get on my hands and knees and let Him feel me up. He fills my every emotional need. He is my everything. I don't feel grumpy and frustrated anymore, I am sooo happy and just want to tell the whole world of his grace!

Psalm 100

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made

us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Some of my favorite worship songs are:

Amazing Grace- Chris Tomlin

Hosanna- Hillsong

Shout Unto God- Hillsong

Sing Sing Sing- Chris Tomlin

Marvolous Light- Charlie Hall

Raise Up Holy Hands- Chris Tomlin

Revalation Song- Kari Jobe

Also, if you play an instrument learn some praise music! I play the piano and when everyone has left the house and I'm home alone I just sing at the top of my voice and play for the Lord. He loves it when you worship Him. When you feel emotionally messy, just break out in a worship song! It turns my whole attitude around.

HE IS HOLY! :)

Your sister in Christ,

♥♫•Madison

Looking for something unique?

As I was browsing the shelves at the local Christian bookstore today, I was feeling kind of let-down. There was a seemingly endless amount of books for teenage girls about "finding your inner beauty". Now...don't get me wrong. I'm sure they are all great books, but...it seemed so mediocre. So maybe you think of yourself as beautiful. So what? Is that really what God wants for you? Yes, I know, I know. God sees us as beautiful. I've heard it a million times. Does it say anywhere in His word that He wants us to see ourselves as beautiful? Do you think Christ wants a bunch of vain children? I doubt it. He wants intense devotion. To Him. I found one different book- Set Apart Femininity by Leslie Ludy. So far I've read one two chapters, and I would already recommend it. However, if you are happy where you are, this book is not for you. If you enjoy following the world and chasing after every male lifeform, this book is not for you. If you want something different-something very counterculture-this book is for you. If you want to follow Christ with your life, this book is for you. If you are looking for a book that is really going to make I difference, I would highly recommend it. God's calling is not the world's...SO many people have not realized it. It is often hard to know where to start changing your life. Hopefully this will give you an idea.

In Christ Alone,
Becky

Not on what is seen... but what is unseen

We always think about what's next. The world bombards us with questions about our future, but only our future here on earth. Most people don't what to focus on the eternal, but as Christians, that should be how we measure every decision we make.


2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (New International Version)
¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

I have to say that my focus is primarily fixed on my life here on earth. It's difficult for me to look past this small dot of time because right now, it seems like a pretty large dot of time.

Most of the time I don't wake up and think "hmm, maybe I will die today!" it's not really the kind of attitude I enjoy having. And I'm not saying that is how we should look at life. But we should be paying more attention on eternal things.

Mark 13:32-37 (New International Version)
³²"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. ³⁴It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

³⁵"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. ³⁶If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ³⁷What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' "

Only God knows when us as believers will be taken up into heaven. I have no idea when Jesus will come back for us, but I do know that our world is quickly turning farther and farther from Him. People do not love God, and when you are not for Him, you are against Him.



Hebrews 11:13-16 (New International Version)
¹³All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. ¹⁴People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

All those people (being Abraham, Moses, Noah and many more) lived by faith. They lived with their focus on the eternal, just waiting for God to take them home so they could receive their real reward. This world is not our lasting home! It is temporary. And a very short amount of time compared to the vastness of eternity. We will live forever and ever in eternity with Jesus. Can you even imagine? I can't wrap my brain around the fact that it is forever. Nothing that I know on the earth is eternal. Nothing. But our hope and salvation is everlasting! Take joy in that fact! Live your life focused on the unseen. Don't ever forget what we are living for. And don't forget the job you have to reach other for Christ. Because we do not know when Jesus will come back, we always need to be sharing the good news of Jesus with others! If Jesus came back right now, I know people who would go to hell because they do not have Jesus in their heart. When your focus is on the eternal, it doesn't matter how weird people may think you are, you will be unashamed to tell other about Christ. Live like no one else lives-with your focus on the eternal, so you can live like no one else when you get to heaven!

Love in Christ,
Jessica

That's my King!

**Don't skip over this video, it will change your life**




Ever thought about what God's character is like? I mean really, really, thought about it? What is he like? We cannot comprehend the greatness/vastness of he who created us. He is the beginning and the end. He knows you personally as he knows the other billions of people. He cares for each of us. He has had all of our lives planned out before we were even conceived! Try and wrap your mind around that for a minute! He is so great we don't even know how to describe him. he thinks of everything. He is perfect. He will never end. he, out of his mercy, made us. Try and wrap your mind around that! He knew we were undeserving and he created us anyways. We sin everyday, he is sinless. He forgives us, no matter how wrong we have been! He has a unique purpose for ALL OF HIS CHILDREN! We are loved more than we can imagine!!! And if you live your life for him you can spend eternity with him. So tell me, do you know him?
Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

I've always considered myself pretty normal. However, it hit me a couple of days ago-to the average person in today's culture, I am not normal. I'm probably one of those "weird homeschoolers" who doesn't date and is "socially awkward". Those are, of course, misconceptions, but many people believe them nonetheless. Let's face it: real, die-hard Christ-followers are not today's social norm. We are called to be different. Often when there are differences in a group, people have the tendency to cling to others like themselves, with whom they feel safe. As Christians, though, this can hinder our witness. You have to be in the world, but not of it. If I go to London, England, I'm there. I'm in London, but I'm not of it. I'm not from there, didn't grow up there, have no history there. Since I'm there, though, I can interact normally-shop, eat, work, hang out like anyone else would, yet I still have to remember it isn't me. This isn't my life. I'm going home someday. The same is true of the world. We are going home to Heaven someday! That gives you a new freedom. As "tourists" here on earth, we don't have to be held down by what people think. Christ fives you the ability to meet, interact with, and change the lives of all kinds of people. Don't be afraid to stand out!

John 15:19 (New International Version)

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Your sister in Christ,
Becky

How far is too far?

I find that to be a common question that teenage girls ask. It seems like a way to dabble in a little bit of "worldly fun" but still keep up the good christian girl act. Although, coming from a girl who is striving to do the right thing, it is also a plausible question to ask. I once asked that question myself, but I now see how trivial a question it really is. Instead of coming from a mindset of how far I could go without doing something wrong, I now face that challenge thinking: how pure can I stay?

1 Timothy 5:1a-2 (New International Version)
Treat younger men as brothers, ²older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Living a life of absolute purity is a hard thing. If you have ever read the book Do Hard Things you know that it focuses primarily on doing hard things and throwing off low expectations. I truly believe that living with absolute purity is one of the hardest things you can do and one of those things that totally stands out. People find out you don't have a boyfriend and they flip out. How do you live? Your life must be so boring... on and on.

I don't think that it is wrong to have a boyfriend, but I do think there is a proper time for that.
If you are one of those people who has a boyfriend, one of the best questions to ask yourself when you are in a possibly compromising situation is: Would I do this if my dad was sitting here?

That is a great question for me to ask myself. I mean, really, what girl is going to be all over her boyfriend when her dad is standing there. Um, NOT ME! How awkward is that?

But here's the deal: He is.

Your Heavenly Father is everywhere. That includes the back of your boyfriend's truck. And the movie theater. And your bedroom.

2 Timothy 2:20-22 (New International Version)

²⁰In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. ²¹If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

²²Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Our best bet to absolute purity is to cleanse ourselves of all ignoble things that are not useful to the Lord. Once we have accomplished that, we will then be able to be used by God. Another thing that I find helpful to maintain purity is to try not to think about guys a lot. When you think "Ohh that guy was really cute!" and you start to dwell on what it would be like to hold his hand, or hug him, then a lot of the time those things actually happen. We have the desire, the desire evolves into sin, and that sin leads to death. (James 1:14-15)

Be self-controlled and pure. (Titus 2:5) Pursue the things of the Lord! Although sometimes it may seems like you are the only one who lives a pure life, you aren't alone! Live a life of absolute purity, that honors the Lord, and your brothers in Christ.

Your Sister in Christ,

Jessica

Too Much Jesus

"Too much of a good thing is a bad thing."
Religion is fine with the world as long as it is just that-religion. Just an add on to your life.
Whatever happened to religion that consumes your life? A relationship that is the center of all others?
This is what God desires for you. You can never have too much Jesus. You can never do too much for Him. You can never be too devoted. Don't ever forget that. Obey what HE tells you to do, not others. Serve Him to the utmost today and forever!

In Christ Alone,
Becky

Starting Fresh

It's about that time of year when everything starts to come back to life. The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, the weather is warming up. I love spring! (: It's like God's personal reminder to me that I can start my year again fresh.

This weekend we will be celebrating the death and resurrection of our Savior. I think that it is a very sad, but happy time as believers. We are sad because we know that Jesus died a horrible death on the cross, and we are happy because we have new life when He was raised from the dead!

A lot of us have heard the "Easter story" so many times that it kind of becomes dull to us. Some will let this weekend pass by without actually acknowledging everything Jesus has done for us! But I encourage you girls not to let the opportunity pass up for you to reflect on what Jesus did, and be spurred on toward sharing this awesome news with lost people around you. Although most of us have been saved, the story of Jesus' death and resurrection should not be overlooked by us! Take this weekend to meditate on what price was paid for your sin, and the great joy that comes with Jesus being raised from the dead. Start fresh this weekend knowing that you have been saved from your sins and you will spend eternity with the one who paid the price so you could have a place in heaven!

Matthew 28:6 (New International Version)
He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.

Your Sister in Christ,
Jessica