+ Lent +

James 4:8, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you...” (NASB)

How much do you know about Lent? If you haven’t grown up in a liturgical church like me, then Lent may be a new concept. Lent describes the 40 day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter. (Ash Wednesday was this past Wednesday, so we’re now in the season of Lent.) Lent is a time of reflection on Christ’s sacrifice for us to give us eternal life.

It’s a time to draw closer to God. Traditionally, people will give up something they value during Lent to make more room for God in their lives and remind them of what Jesus gave up for them.

I’d like to challenge you to do something intentional to grow in your relationship with God during the next six weeks. There are a ton of things you can do, and for different people different things will be more meaningful. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:

Give Up…
Your favorite food or drink (chocolate, coffee, pizza, etc.)
Your favorite pastime (for instance, watching T.V.)
Buying anything for yourself

Add On…
Doing one kind deed a day
Spending 15 minutes more a day in prayer
Thanking God for at least five things every day
Read the Bible more
Volunteer at a local charity or homeless shelter

Here’s a tip: If you’re thinking I can’t possibly give up chocolate for six weeks or I can’t possibly spend 15 minutes a day praying, that’s okay! You can start with two minutes a day praying. Or you can choose one day a week to not eat chocolate.

The whole point is sacrifice – experiencing what it’s like to go without something that you value, and learning instead to depend more on God. Even spending two minutes a day praying is a sacrifice of time.

Remember, this is something you do because you want to, not because I or anyone else tells you to. It’s your decision. It’s a great opportunity to depend more on God. You will learn something from the process, guaranteed.

Peace in Him,
Kristen

* It's a Spring Thing! *

Hey fashionistas! Can you believe spring is right around the corner? I don’t know about you, but this time of year gets me so excited! Even though most of us live on modest budgets for clothes and beauty products, if you’re anything like me, you can hardly wait to get to the mall to see all the new stuff!

I’ve done a little pre-shopping for you, so grab a cup of your favorite java and settle in to find out what’s in.

Before we get started on the new trends, let’s consider what you already have.

Take an inventory of your closet by weeding through it. Be honest with what you’ve got in there and organize your things by hanging items together that are of the same type. For example, hang all your jeans together, then your other pants, tops (by color), dresses, skirts and so on. Go through your drawers and get rid of sweaters and t-shirts you don’t wear anymore. Bag these items and take to Goodwill or make plans for a spring yard sale. Try on all your clothes and make sure they still fit. In order to bring in new items, you must purge some old ones or you’ll have a big fat closet and you won’t even know what’s in there!

Now go through your accessories, socks, and shoes. Do the same with them so you know what you need. Sometimes I buy a new pair of flats when I should have bought a new pair of Chuck Taylors instead!

Okay, ready, set, shop!

All girls need a new pair of jeans, right? Find a pair that fits you perfectly and make sure they’re not too tight or too loose. A darker wash will help you appear slimmer and opt for a low to mid rise since the super low rise jeans can be so revealing. Besides, the super low rise style is out this season!

Next, add a pair of comfy shoes. If you’re a Converse tennis shoe kind of girl, get a pair in your favorite color, like bright yellow or pink! Keds has a new shoe out called Keds Green Label made of organic cotton and recycled rubber. For every pair sold, Keds will plant a tree in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation.

If tennis shoes aren’t your thing, then select a pair of aviator or roman type sandals that are all the rage this season. Finally, in the shoe department, if you’re more of a high heeled gal, then choose a wedge for stylish walking.

Buying one new accessory? Then buy a new pair of hoops that have an ethnic edge to them. These can be gold or silver, with embellishments on them, whether they be scrolled edges or beading.

Add a pair of soft cotton pants to your already casual wardrobe. These pants are comfortable to wear, fit below the waist and you can find them in natural colors at The Gap, Target and Urban Outfitters. These cotton beauties will certainly become your fast faves! And they don’t break the bank, either!

Print blouses in silky fabrics or plain v-neck t-shirts in your beloved colors will go with these new cotton pants and your jeans. Simple dresses are all the rage, too, and are fig ure flattering as well as very easy to wear. They look good on most body types, too!

I’m so excited about the fresh new styles for spring! They are simple and easy to wear, and I promise you’ll find yourself reaching for them over and over to put on. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Happy Spring beautiful girls!

Beautiful Blessings,

Shari

www.fashionmeetsfaith.com

"Childlike Faith"

By: Autumn Sisk

Luke 18:17, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (NIV)

People laugh at me when they find out that I am 30 years old and would rather watch the Disney Channel than any TV show that is full of drama. I prefer fun “teeny bopper” movies to the movies that leave you with a tear in your eye. In my choice of music, I stick to light, happy songs (usually contemporary Christian). Even in my career, I chose to become a youth tennis instructor because I would rather be around children than adults. Some may think I’m strange, but when people say that I am a child at heart, I take it as a compliment.

The reason that I surround myself with childish things is because I long for the innocence of youth in my heart and because Jesus told His disciples that being childlike is the only way to have a good relationship with Him. When Jesus’ disciples tried to send the children away from Jesus, He scolded them. He told His followers how much He loved children and never wanted any child to be turned away. I believe that He loved to be surrounded by their innocence and honesty. He knew that those children truly believed in Him and showed it by their actions. Children have no clue about stereotypes. They do not know about racism or socio-economic status. Children love with their whole hearts and honestly care for those around them. I have seen children of all races and social status walking through the halls of school holding hands and laughing.

Children also believe anything that their parents teach them. I remember when I was about six years old and my granny was at our house visiting. She was a wonderful Christian woman and was always teaching me lessons in faith. We had been outside playing in the summer heat that day. Somehow, I came upon a beautiful butterfly that was having trouble flying. All the butterfly could do was sit there and it broke my heart.

My granny told me that I should pray and ask God to heal the butterfly. Without hesitation, I bowed my head and asked God to allow the butterfly to fly again. Within minutes, the butterfly perked up and was flying around everywhere! To me, as a child, it was no great miracle because I had asked God and He heard me. That was what I had been taught to believe.

As I got older I realized that God had indeed performed a miracle that day. I learned that as you grow up, most people lose their childlike faith. It is as if we are afraid to profess faith in God as young adults because others might think we are silly. It is as if we “out-grow” God.

That really hurts Him. Jesus wants all of us to be like children in our faith. He has the power to do anything we ask of Him, but we must first believe that He can, just like we did as children.

My Prayer for Today:

Dear Lord, help me to recapture my childlike faith in You. I remember the days when I never doubted You. I want to be like that again. I want to come to You with complete openness knowing how much You love me. Thank You for hearing my prayers and answering them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Faith: God Can Work it Out, by Stephanie Perry Moore

Making it Real: Whose Faith is it Anyway?, by T. Suzanne Eller

Think About It:

Do I feel that I have “out-grown” God?

Do my friends give me a hard time about praying or going to church?

Do I worry that others will think I am stupid if I believe in God?

Live It:

Pray each day that God will help you become more childlike in your faith.

Make a point of keeping the music, television, and movies you watch clean and light-hearted.

Begin praying to God about every detail of your life, no matter how small. He wants to be your closest friend.

Power Verses:

Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (NIV)

Matthew 21:22, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (NIV)

Mark 5:25-29, “A woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors, and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better, she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’ Immediately, her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” (NIV)

© 2009 by Autumn Sisk. All rights reserved.

+ Preparing for Mr. Wonderful +

Proverbs 31:10-12, “Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” (NLT)

Have you ever dreamed about your future husband? What is he like? How about what kind of wife you will be? Proverbs 31:10-31 lists qualities of an honorable wife. She’s a treasure, trustworthy, and adds a lot to her husband’s life. She also does him good and honors him all the days of her life.

Did you notice that? All the days of her life. That means even now, even before you know who Mr. Wonderful is. How do you do this?

Walk away from situations which may cause you to compromise your purity. Make decisions with him in mind, not just yourself. Guard your heart because “it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:23, NLT).

The problem is sometimes we’d rather live life moment by moment than consider how our choices today will influence our lives tomorrow. However, if we make unwise choices now, we’ll have to live with the consequences.

I know this from firsthand experience. In college, I was planning to marry my college sweetheart. During our relationship, I made some bad choices and compromised the purity I intended to save for marriage. As things turned out, I ended up not marrying this young man. In the years since then, I’ve had to live with the consequences of this – not only the reality of how it hurt my relationship with God, but also how it hurt my ex’s relationship with his wife and how it will impact my relationship with my husband.

Maybe you’ve fallen into the same trap. If so, don’t despair. There is good news. God redeems our situations. No matter where you’re at, let’s all strive to honor our husbands today and all the rest of the days of our lives. Let’s also strive to honor God all the days of our lives, because ultimately in honoring Him we will be honoring our husbands!

Love,

Kristen

* Calling All Fashionistas...Take 2! *

Hello ladies!

A few weeks ago you may remember us putting out a request for more fashion writers for our Wednesday fashion column...Well, guess what? We still need more writers!

Every Wednesday, we at Radical Revolution want to bring you the latest fashion trends and perspective on everything to do with fashion - clothing, shoes, accessories, makeup... you name it.

We need a few good writers to join our staff fashion expert, Shari Braendel!

You may be just who we're looking for if...
...you enjoy fashion or you're known by others as a fashion diva
...you keep up with current fashion trends
...you have a heart for modesty and virtuous living
...you like to write

If you have a flair for fashion, like to write, are looking for a volunteer opportunity, and are interested in impacting young women to live virtuous and pure lives, contact us at radrevolution@proverbs31.org.

Thanks!

~Your Radical Revolution Team

"Unheard"

By: Lynn Cowell

Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.”

Have you ever been speaking – sharing with another about how you feel (maybe rather strongly – even loudly!) when suddenly you are cut off? Interrupted mid-sentence? I have. You know how that makes me feel? It is as if the person had actually said, “What you have to say is of no consequence. It is unimportant. Your feelings are not valid. What you say and feel do not count.” Of course, that is not what they actually said; but it seems as if they could have.

The last time that happened to me, with tears trickling down my face, I told the Lord that is how I felt. You see, I am a person who struggles deeply with being completely real. You know, that gut level honesty of actually admitting how I truly feel about something.

A couple of years ago, I was digging in my garden, hitting the dirt rather strongly with my spade out of frustration. I was mad because my friend had just confronted me about being dishonest. I was asked what I was mad about, but rather than telling the truth I had given my standard reply, “I’m not mad.” There, up to my elbows in bulbs and brown mulch, the Lord told me that I was lying. Lying? Isn’t that a bit harsh? I mean all I was trying to do was not hurt her feelings and avoid an argument! Now the Lord was calling me out for this. Has this ever happened to you before?

Next thing I knew, I was dragging myself to my friend, in order to humbly admit that I am, at times, a liar. That day was a turning point for me. It was then that I promised the Lord that I would in fact become honest about the way I felt, the things I was mad about, and the truth about what I really wanted.

As I was contemplating this, I remembered that the Bible says the Lord struggled with the same things I do. Maybe He also struggled with these feelings I had –feelings of being unheard and of being interrupted. I knew He would understand. He was tempted and struggled in many ways, yet He remained sinless. I’m thankful that Jesus sympathizes with me and understands what I’m going through. He’s a model for us to follow when we face temptations and struggles. When you feel unheard, look to Jesus who always hears you, and follow His example.

My Prayer for Today:

Dear Lord, Thank you that You understand me even when I don’t understand myself. Please help me to be honest when it comes to communicating with others. I need You in order to do this, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

The One Year Devos for Teens, by Susie Shellenberger

Teen Devotional Bible

Think About It:

Do I struggle with being honest with others when it comes to my true feelings? If so, why do I think that is?

Why does the Lord want me to be honest with others – even when it seems scary?

What do I think being honest will cost me?

Live It:

Ask a friend to be on the look out for when you are covering up or not telling how you truly feel about something. Ask her to call you out on it.

Practice being honest with the Lord first; it is a safe place.

Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you when you are not being truthful. When He does, confess it right away!

Power Verses:

Psalm 15:1-2, “LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart.” (NIV)

Psalm 25:5, “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (NIV)

Proverbs 23:23, “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.” (NIV)

© 2009 by Lynn Cowell. All rights reserved.

+ Enough Love to Go Around +

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Who’s excited?!? As girls, we love love, right? What is it about love that so enthralls us? It’s exciting…passionate…deep and intimate. It gives us a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. It brings us hope and captivates us by all the possibilities the future holds.

Romantic love is what we all dream of. We want to be in love, to find someone who will love us with total abandon, passionately and deeply. We love Valentine’s Day for these reasons…except when we think of spending it alone, without anyone special. Maybe this isn’t you, but if so, I identify.

I’d be dishonest if I said I’m ecstatic that tomorrow’s V Day, mainly because I don’t have that special someone in my life yet. But who said V Day has to be about romantic love?

In the last few years, I’ve done something slightly different for V Day. Instead of focusing on myself and my love life (or lack thereof), I’ve turned the focus to others by finding ways to remind them of God’s love for them (and my love for them too). I’ve made homemade valentines with Scriptures on them. And for my close girl friends, I’ve bought each of them a rose and attached a hand-written card with a special Scripture on it. I’ve even given anonymous gifts to others I know could use some encouragement.

Why stop at Valentine’s Day? Sharing God’s love is something we can do any time of year. When we love on others by sharing God’s love, we find that God loves on us too! It truly is more blessed to give than to receive because not only do we get to make someone else’s day, we also are blessed. God shows us that HE is the “someone special” who gives us the love we’ve always dreamed of.

How will you spend your V Day? How can you encourage your friends and remind them of God’s love for them? What are some Scriptures you can share with them? Here are some of my favorites…

"I am God, your personal God...your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you...
That's how much you mean to me!
That's how much I love you!" - Isaiah 43:3-4 (Message)

"I have loved you...with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself." - Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)

"All beautiful you are, my darling;
there is no flaw in you." - Song of Solomon 4:7 (NIV)

"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully." - Ephesians 3:19a (NLT)

"God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." - Romans 5:5b (NIV)

Have an awesome V Day, and remember God’s love incredible love for you!!!

God loves you and we do too!
Kristen

She Speaks Conference 2009

Hey ladies!

We want to announce an exciting event coming up this summer –
It’s our annual…

She Speaks Conference

The Next Generation Track
July 31 – August 2, 2009
Charlotte, North Carolina

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!!!!

Space is limited, so sign up now to reserve your spot!

Cost: $275

Gain the confidence you need to make a difference
within your own sphere of influence!

The Next Generation Track will equip you with skills that will enable you to answer God’s call on your life to impact others through speaking, writing, or simply setting an example for His kingdom.

For more information or to register for this life-changing conference, visit us at www.shespeaksconference.com or call 877-P31-HOME.

For a list of breakout session descriptions visit:
http://www.shespeaksconference.com/sessionDescriptions.htm
[*Next Generation session descriptions are marked with (NG)]

Speakers:

T. Suzanne Eller * Shari Braendel * Lynn Cowell * Lindsey Kane

Guest Worship Leader:

Lindsey Kane

She Speaks 2009

DON’T MISS IT!

Visit www.shespeaksconference.com for more information and to register.

If you have any questions, contact Kristen@proverbs31.org.

"Love Bombs"

By: Katie Rath

1 Peter 4:8, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (NIV)

When it comes to love, most of us are incredibly selfish. We choose who we want to love, how we want to express that affection, and we can choose to stop loving whenever we want to. As a young child, I was dubbed a compassionate girl, willing to give my left arm, and then my right one, for any individual.

At some point in my teenage years, I started looking very closely at people and their lives. I kept close tabs on who screwed up and who “deserved” my love. As a cruel result, I lost any desire to be compassionate towards the people around me. But I was a Christian! I had to be compassionate, because God told me to be. So how could I love people that I didn’t want to love? My solution was love bombs.

In my mind, I could both satisfy people with love and starve them simultaneously by tossing out love bombs—incredible acts of what appeared to be affection, but at the same time condemning their sins and keeping them at arm’s length. From a distance, these love bombs were perfect examples of how Christians should love people. They came in many different shapes, like forgiveness, favors, prayers, and compliments. But if you examined them closely, they would explode in your face.

Through an eye-opening conversation with a friend who had been injured by one of these bombs, I began to understand that true love will not let us be selfish. True love cannot exist at a distance. No, true love is very, very up-close and personal.

Love is so up-close and personal that God, the true picture of love, gave us Love in the form of Jesus. For the first time, Love walked among us, refusing to be silent, openly showing itself to everyone who deserved it and to everyone who didn’t deserve it. God eliminated any excuse for love bombs when Christ showed us exactly what it meant to love unselfishly.

Scripture tells us time and time again that we need to love each other, no matter who we are and no matter who the “other” is. When we observe love as warlike or conditional, it is no longer love; it is in direct disobedience with what God requires of us. So please, let’s put down the bombs, crawl out of the barracks, and follow the ultimate Love Leader.

My Prayer for Today:

God, You are the best picture of love that any of us can know. Thank You so much for providing Jesus as the best model of love we could ask for. Teach us how to love one another without condition. Teach us to let down our guards and to love our brothers and sisters personally. Give us compassionate hearts that cannot love selfishly. Remove our human nature to pick and choose the people we love, and fill our hearts so full of affection that we overflow! We ask because we know You can and will do this. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Want More Love?, by Kathy Wierenga Buchanan

A Young Woman’s Walk with God: Growing More Like Jesus, by Elizabeth George

Think About It:

Who am I refusing to love?

Is there someone in my life that is a good model of a compassionate person? How can I follow his or her example?

Is there anyone I’ve ever hurt by refusing to love them? How I can I repair that relationship?

Live It:

While compassion cannot be created out of thin air, it can be cultivated by simply putting it into action. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, offer to babysit your kid sister so your mom can take a break, or help an elderly neighbor plant flowers for the spring. In a variety of random circumstances, you’d be surprised where love can show up.

Power Verses:

John 15:17, “This is my command: Love each other.” (NIV).

Philippians 1:9-11 “So this is my prayer: That your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus would be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.” (The Message)

1 Peter 3:8, “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.” (NIV)

© 2009 by Katie Rath. All rights reserved.

+ Confession +

James 5:16, “…confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (NASB)

Recently, I was at a spiritual retreat at which everyone was invited to confess their faults to a pastor as a step in “dying” to ourselves and making more room for God in our lives.

Have you ever done this? I’m not going to lie…it’s not easy. In fact, it’s very difficult. It can be painful and embarrassing admitting the truth about what you’ve done or what you didn’t do but should’ve. This kind of confession is sooooo good for us, though. It’s freeing to admit the truth about yourself and find that the other person doesn’t judge you but instead loves you and reminds you of God’s love and forgiveness toward you.

Why does James 5 say to confess your sins to another person? After all, isn’t it enough to confess our sins to God?

When we confess our sins to a spiritually mature, trusted Christian:

1. We’re speaking the truth out loud. Those faults are no longer in the darkness and they begin to lose their power.
2. We realize it’s okay to be real about ourselves. We begin to understand God’s love and grace a little better through the love and grace of the person to whom we confess.
3. Others know better how to pray for us. I don’t know about you, but I need all the prayer I can get! And as James 5:16 says, a righteous person’s prayers can accomplish a lot!
4. We may encourage others to also be real about themselves and participate in confession.

Confession is challenging because it’s hard to be real about the ugly sin inside ourselves. However, if we want to be healed and restored, and experience a life of freedom in Christ, confession is essential.

So, what are you waiting for? Find a trusted Christian – pastor, mentor, or friend – to whom you can confess your faults. Make confession a regular part of your life. You’ll be glad you did.

In His Love,
Kristen

* Shirts with a Statement *

Hey beautiful ladies! A few months ago, we talked about expressing your faith through jewelry (Click here to see the article). Today let’s talk about expressing your faith through your clothing, specifically shirts.

Christian shirts come in a variety of sizes, colors, and styles. Styles include t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, and hoodies. Just as easily as you could pick up a shirt at a local department store that says “American Eagle” or “Hollister,” you could also get one that says “Reborn” or “Lifeguard: Mine Walks on Water” or…you name it. Or what about a shirt that advertises your favorite Christian band?

Wearing clothing that express your faith lets others know what you believe. It also serves as a great reminder to yourself of what you believe. So, not only is wearing one of these shirts with a statement a great way to share your faith with others, but it also holds you accountable to live what you believe.

There are a wide variety of Christian shirts available today. You just have to look for them. One place to look is at your local Christian store. Another place to look is online. Here are a few websites we came across with some pretty cool shirts:

www.kerusso.com
www.c28.com
www.goodnewsclothing.com
www.adifferentdirection.com
www.christianbook.com

How has God impacted your life? Why not let the world know by sporting a tee or hoodie that expresses who God is to you?

~Your Radical Revolution Fashion Team

"Away from Me, I Never Knew You"

By: Charlotte Cole

Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (NIV)

Can you imagine the sheer devastation of hearing Jesus say “Away from me” after years of church attendance and religious fulfillments, thinking you made the mark? It’s hard to believe “good” people are actually going to experience that scenario. People who are kind, gracious and considerate will not be welcome into the kingdom of God if they don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus as their Savior.

This verse hits home with me because it describes my former destiny. Growing up, I went to church, was involved in church activities and loved God. I was, however the person Jesus was talking to in Matthew 7:21 because I didn’t know Him personally.

I thought what I did in regards to church was plenty. Certainly there was room for growth but I figured I’d get to that when I got older. I believed it was good enough to go to church, get baptized, talk about heaven and celebrate religious holidays.

Though I talked the talk, I didn’t walk the walk. What if believing everything in the Bible meant having to give up things I was clinging to for security? For instance, what others thought of me. I wasn’t willing to give that up.

Though I clung to others and what they thought of me for security, I had an unfilled longing deep down. With all the “religious” things I had done I had resisted Jesus – the only one who could fill the gaps in my heart. By His grace and mercy, and by no good works of my own, He got through my wall of resistance and became my all and all.

As my personal Lord and Savior, He will not say to me, ”I never knew you.” No, my encounter with Him will be sweet. Matthew 25:31-33 tells us, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on his throne in heavenly glory…He will separate the people…as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world’” (NIV).

John 10:27-28 confirms this with, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”(NIV).

What is He going to say to you? If you’re not sure, take a minute and ask Him. If you want to go to Him but you are scared, I hope you find comfort in the fact that…

• You can’t earn God’s acceptance anymore than a child can earn her parent’s love. His love is already there in greater proportion than you could even comprehend.
• God is not interested in how religious you are. He is interested in your relationship with Him.
• If you’re scared to go to Jesus because you can’t get over something really wrong in your personal life, i.e. bad activities, thoughts or words: no matter how horrible it is, ask for forgiveness and your slate is wiped clean! No matter what you’ve done.

I encourage you…go to Him and get to know Him so you will know for certain what He’ll say to you on that day.

My Prayer For Today:

Dear Lord, Thank You loving me despite my sin and selfishness. Thank You for the assurance that I will be welcomed in Your kingdom and cared for eternally. For anyone who is searching but can’t quite see You yet, please open her eyes today to the Blessed Assurance that only comes through a relationship with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

A Young Woman’s Walk with God, by Elizabeth George

The One Year Devos for Teens, by Susie Shellenberger

Think About It:

If no one else on earth were available, would you still have somewhere to turn in times of need?

Is there something you fear about being in a relationship with Jesus? Do you understand He already knows everything about you?

Do you know for certain you are going to Heaven?

Are you ashamed of Jesus?

Live It:

Get one-on-one with Jesus.

If you aren’t certain if you’ve accepted salvation, it’s not too late. Confess your sins, acknowledge Jesus as Lord, and believe He died on the cross for you personally. For more on salvation please visit Do You Know Jesus?

Identify the things you are afraid to let go of if you make this step. Try to imagine what you will gain.

Power Verses:

2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (NIV)

Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (NIV)

Ephesians 2:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (NIV)

© 2009 by Charlotte Cole. All rights reserved.