Diamonds, Strawberries, and the Ultimate Love Story September 5, 2009

Diamond rings. Tiffany’s earrings. Coach watches. Marilyn Monroe was right when she said that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” right? Actually, no. She wasn’t even close! “Stuff” is really important to us. Have you ever noticed how much emphasis we put on labels? A Target purse just isn’t the same as an original Louis Vuitton! Labels or “class” are extremely important in our society. And sadly, they have been for a long time.

Why is that? Why do we look for value and worth in a certain diamond ring or type of pants? Because we haven’t rooted our worth in what’s eternal. We think that by wearing a certain line of clothing our image or “psyche” is made complete. In the new movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Rebecca Bloomwood struggles with this very sensation. She thinks that if she just buys one more thing, her life will be complete. She quickly realizes, however, that this is not true. Now, I am not going to spoil the ending for you….so go watch the movie to see how Rebecca turns out!

Where should we get our worth? Psalm 19:10 says, “God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.” Our worth comes from the best love story ever told–a love that never runs dry. God’s Word is so much more satisfying than any treasure bought off of a store shelf. God’s Love Letter never goes out of style. You can’t outgrow it and look for a new size. The Bible is a love story written specifically for you. God’s love defines you. God alone can give you confidence. A ring can never do that. A single item leaves you wanting more. In Christ alone you can be satisfied and confident in who you are.

(Photo courtesy of Emily Campbell)

God-Confidence May 19, 2009

She walked with her shoulders back and her head held high. Her hair was in a messy bun and she modeled a dirty t-shirt and running shorts. As she walked by the large group of bystanders, she didn’t flinch or shrink an inch. She kept walking forward. It was as if she was walking in a ball gown and tiara. What was she thinking?

God-confidence [God con-fi-dence] verb: the deliberate choice to rely on Jesus Christ for everything; not a feeling of euphoria or false confidence; a complete trust in God’s plan.

She walked straight past the hot quarterback and didn’t second-guess herself for even a second. She walked right by his laughing jokes. She kept walking down the hall until she reached her destination.

This kind of confidence is not a feeling or passing whim. It is the deliberate choice to rely on Jesus Christ with everything that we have. We must wake up each morning choosing to believe that what Jesus says is true.

She walked right up the their table–the outcasts and unpopular. She sat down and smiled. “Hi, my name is Melany. Can I eat lunch with you today?” She ignored the taunting jokes that were poignantly aimed in her direction from the in-crowd. She focused in on those who needed love.

God-confidence is not cocky, over-bearing, arrogant, or ignorant. God-confidence is humble, joyful, contented, satisfied, and rooted in Christ alone. With Christ as our leader, nothing else matters.

She was satisfied with where God told her to go–to a lunch table of outcasts who were looking for a friend. She encouraged them to step out and get involved with the activities that they enjoyed and ended up discovering a creative writer who became the editor of the school newspaper, a talented musician who had the privilege to lead the orchestra, an athlete that led the high school track team to victory, and an aspiring chef who transformed school lunches. She was so confident in Christ that she reached beyond herself to love others.

Confidence is temporary. God-confidence is eternal–if we choose to believe it.

Following Close Behind May 19, 2009

Decisions, decisions. There is always a choice to make. What clothes to wear, who to date, what to eat, what classes to take, etc. Some choices are big and others are small. Sometimes it just isn’t easy making the right decision. Sometimes those tough choices are pretty big in our minds like where to go to college or if you should get married. There are so many different sayings and theologies like “If God closes this door, He will open a window.” Well, today I read about a great theology–it’s even better than the doors and windows idea. What would happen if we chose to follow God’s footsteps? If we chose to follow Him, then we could just follow His leading wherever He goes. Life isn’t about us. But we can only realize that when we finally come to grips with the fact that we cannot be number one in our lives. God must take first place–when we let Him. Once we give Him control, then we can take the backseat and follow His leading. We can follow His footprints in the sand. Follow God’s footprints. He will show you just which way to go.

“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him and He shall make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

Defeating Culture April 24, 2009

Living for God in the 21st Century isn’t easy.

With body image, popularity, endless name-brands, celebrities, lyrics, friends, and the entertainment industry breathing down girl’s necks it is hard to live a life devoted to God.

Has it only been hard for Christ-followers to live unashamedly in the 21st Century? Actually, the choice to pick up your cross and live for Christ against the grains of society began way back in the Old Testament. In the book of Ezra, the Israelites were rebuilding the temple for God–they were building their foundation on Jesus Christ. The people that lived around them (culture and society) did not want the Israelites to turn to God for hope. They wanted the Israelites to be just like them, without answers and searching for life in selfish desires. Check it out for yourself: Ezra 4:4-5 says, “Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.” Is life any different today? Sadly, not at all.

If you have given your life to Jesus Christ, you have chosen to live a life devoted to Him–a life against the grains of society. The voices of the culture around us will come pounding on your door trying to convince you that it is OK to compromise. After all, Jesus is a God of forgiveness, right? Culture wants you to turn away from building your foundation on Jesus Christ. They want you to stop building your temple on Him.

What are some lies that culture tries to shove into our lives?

• LIE: It’s OK to have sex before you are married. You won’t get pregnant the first time. Just try it once.
• TRUTH: It is not OK to have sex before you are married. Sex is a gift from God for marriage. And you can get pregnant the first time that you have sex. Once you make the choice to have sex, you cannot turn back. Will God forgive you? He will forgive a repentant heart that is striving to move forward in purity.

 

• LIE: Modesty isn’t important. Guys should learn to control their emotions anyways. Dress for yourself. Don’t worry about messing a guy up. He should learn some self-control anyways.
• TRUTH: Should guys have self-control? Yes! Is it our job to teach them how to be self-controlled? No. We need to leave Spiritual lessons up to God. Only He can change some one’s heart. Modesty is important–for our hearts and for the hearts of the guys around us. Have you ever heard the expression, “If it’s not for sale, then don’t advertise it”? Maybe you remind yourself of that statement when you get dressed in the morning.

 

• LIE: You have to be skinny in order to be beautiful. Do anything to get skinny. Be thin! If you have to, be anorexic or bulimic. Either one works and they aren’t detrimental to your health! Are you kidding!? Many girls have done it to lose a couple pounds and were just fine. Guys won’t like you if you are “heavy”–which in this world is over 120.
• TRUTH: Ah, no! You do not have to be super skinny in order to fit in. Life is not about “skinny” but about “healthy.” Find out what your healthy, not skinny, weight should be and stay there. Health is not throwing up or starving yourself. Health is filling your body with good nutrients and exercising regularly. And bulimia and anorexia are not good for your body! Many girls have not done it just to lose a couple pounds and then been OK. NO! They have become addicted to it and have needed severe medical treatment in order to be healthy again. Choose health over the world’s idea of ideal weight. God made you beautiful! Please believe that!

 

• LIE: You need to have a boyfriend. If you don’t have a boyfriend, then you are just not pretty enough or something because everyone has a boyfriend!
• TRUTH: Again, ah no! You do not have to be dating in order to be truly satisfied in this life! Guys can sometimes only cause more drama and heartbreak to come into your life! Now, is it wrong to have a boyfriend? No! If you have talked to God and He has given you the “OK” to go ahead and date and your parents are fine with it, then that is between you and God. But you do not need to boyfriend to give you your value and identity in this world and not everybody has a boyfriend!

 

• LIE: You need a lot of money in order to be happy. Don’t be happy with just any car. You need to have the best car on the market. Don’t settle for clearance rack clothes. Buy whatever you want. Look great. Wear everything designer. Then you will fit in.
• TRUTH: Money does not bring happiness. Money eventually does run out and it can’t buy you everything that you want. Please know that everyone wants your money. Everyone is advertising for your money–what you have worked for. You don’t need designer labels in order to fit in! Can you really tell the difference between Target jeans and Guess jeans? I know that I sure can’t! If you really like the patterns of some designers, that is fine! Just don’t get the attitude that you cannot leave your house without your little pink prada tote!

While these are just a few “philosophies” that the world throws our way, I truly believe that they are probably the hardest for us to live with–or without! It is hard to sit home without a date when all of your friends are out with their boyfriend. I know–I have been there! It is hard to look at yourself in the mirror and think that maybe you would be more popular if you just lost a pound or two. Yep, I have been there too. But did I chose to follow Christ because I wanted Him to change my life and I wanted to pursue a relationship with Him or did I choose to follow Him because I could get a simple “get out of hell free” card and still live how I wanted to live?

When To Start Dating–The Key to a Solid Relationship April 24, 2009

Oh, the famous question, “When should I start dating?” Well, sadly I cannot give you some magic formula that gives you the perfect age and time to date, but I can give you some practical tips!

1) Check in with you parents. Your parents are pretty smart people and they have already been down the whole path of dating before! God placed your parents in your life for a reason–to guide you through the crazy ups and downs of life!
2) Look up to God. God created you and He created the perfect guy for you! He knows you inside and out. Ask God about when to start this whole process of dating. He will guide you with the “when” and the “who” of dating!
3) Set guidelines for yourself. OK, so you have talked to your parents and to God. Your parents may have given you a rule, like you aren’t allowed to date until you are seventeen for example. It is your job to obey that. But you also need to set your own rules to follow. When would you like to start dating? You have already outlined what you are looking for in a guy (check out past posts). Now it is just finding that guy! Be patient, God will bring him to you in the right timing!! But for know, set guidelines in when to date, with whom and with whom you won’t date, and what you will and won’t do when you date.
4) Some Ideas to Get You Started…..

• Wait until you are an upperclassmen or out of high school. I realize that you may be out there at fifteen years old and wondering why in the world I would say such a thing! Well, even though you are mature in ninth grade, you still have a lot of learning to do and so do those ninth grade guys! Wait it out a little bit and make lots of friends! You will cherish those memories, believe me!
• Don’t date just to date. Every person that you date is a potential person that you could marry someday. So do not date someone who you only see yourself with for a little over a month!
• Set your guidelines high and don’t lower them. Like choose to remain sexually pure, wait to date until you are out of high school, save your first kiss for your wedding day, etc.
• Keep praying it up! God will guise you in this whole area of when to date! Believe me, I do not have it all figured out either, but with God’s help, I know that He is guiding me through life.

“Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.” Song of Songs 2:7