"What's Wrong With My Music?"

By: Katie Rath

Psalm 149:3, “Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with the tambourine and harp.” (NIV)

Almost everyone loves music. Music can be very soothing and relaxing after a stressful day. It can get you pumped up for the big game. It can help you work your mind around a problem or refocus your attention. Music is a universal communicator: it speaks to all people on a variety of levels for many reasons.

God was a big fan of music. He loved when King David praised Him in the Psalms. Though the Psalms are written as text in our Bibles, many were written to be sung out loud. The use of musical instruments and singing are described throughout Scripture. The authors of the Bible encourage the reader to “sing with joy” or “praise Him with the strings and flute” or even “praise Him with dancing.”

Music may essentially be a good thing, but is all music glorifying to God? Sadly, the answer is no.

My mother used to refuse to listen to anything else in the car except for our local Christian radio station. I wanted to listen to the popular music my friends liked, but she often said no. I didn’t understand that while I was a kid, but she used to tell me that the music I listened to affected me. If I listened to bad music, those lyrics and ideas would get stuck in my head.

I ignored my mother for a long time until I went to a youth conference one summer. A speaker at that conference discussed the “trash in, trash out” theory. If you listen to music that has hateful attitudes, curse words or raunchy lyrics, you’re more likely to mirror those attitudes, say those words, and remember those lyrics. He played many music examples for us, and all of a sudden the audience understood -- much of the popular music we listen to doesn’t please God.

God is praised when our music is righteous and pure. That doesn’t mean every line has to say “God, you’re so good” or “Praise Jesus.” Almost half of the Psalms are David complaining to God or explaining his fear and negative attitudes. God created everything on this planet to praise Him, including our music. God also commanded everything to be pure, and our music isn’t exempt from that either.

My Prayer for Today:

Heavenly Father, I ask today that You fill our hearts with the joy that You give us. I pray that You give us every reason to praise You and seek Your face. Help us decide which of our music is good to listen to. If it isn’t pure, I pray that You help us get rid of it. Father, I know it will be hard, and our friends might not understand, but help us to make the right choices to glorify You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Being a Girl Who Leads: Becoming a Leader by Following Christ, by Shannon Kubiak Primicerio

Teen People of the Bible, by Daniel Darling

Think About It:

Does all my music glorify God?

If Jesus were listening to all of my music, which songs would I be embarrassed for Him to know that I listen to?

If I’m in a situation where my friends are listening to bad music, how can I ask them to turn it off?

Live It:

You knew you were going to have to do it. It’s time to throw away some music. The first ones to go are the songs that curse, the ones that talk about shooting people, sexual perversion and hating your enemies. If you love the type of music but the lyrics are bad, search for cleaner artists that have the same music. Search around on the internet for music databases that suggest Christian artists that sound like your favorite mainstream artists. http://www.christianmusic.about.com/ is a good place to start.

Power Verses:

James 3:9-10, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” (NIV)

Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (NIV)

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things.” (NIV)

© 2009 by Katie Rath. All rights reserved.

DEVOTION ANNOUNCEMENT

Hi ladies,

For the past while I've been writing on Fridays to share with you what God has been teaching me in my life. Starting next week, that will change a bit.

I am happy to announce that we will now be posting devotions twice a week on both Mondays AND Fridays!

I will still continue to write from time to time, however I will not be writing every Friday as I have been. We have a great team of devotion writers, each with great insights and inspiration to share with you about God. They have a passion to encourage and inspire your faith, so enjoy hearing more from them!

Keep reading below for today’s post…

Love and blessings,

Kristen

Next Generation Coordinator
Proverbs 31 Ministries

+ Show Me the Right Path +

We’ve all heard the saying that life is a journey. Along the journey we will encounter many forks in the road, which are the choices we must make. With each fork in the road, we have to decide which path we will take.

One of my favorite poems is “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I love this poem because it reminds me of my relationship with God. Being a Christian is sometimes hard just as the Bible tells us (John 15:19, John 16:33). However, despite this we always have God with us. He’s behind us encouraging us, beside us helping us (and sometimes carrying us), and in front of us guiding us. He’s all around us.

When we come to a fork in the road of our lives and have to decide which path to take, He doesn’t leave us there to figure it out for ourselves. He is our faithful friend and guide who will lead us if we let Him.

“God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.” – Jim Elliot

If we ever find ourselves on the wrong path, God will cut a path through the woods to get us back to the right path. However, the journey is much easier when we allow God to lead us from the very beginning.

What choices are you being faced with now? Take some time to ask God what your decision should be in each of those choices. Then, listen for His answer and be willing to follow what He tells you.

Psalm 25:4-5, “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” (NLT)

Blessings on your journey,
Kristen

* Summer Fashion 101 *

• There are basic lessons about fashion that every girl must know. One of them is to have the right clothes in your wardrobe when you need them. But what are those nifty pieces you might ask?
  
  Since most of us don’t have lots of money to run out and buy a new wardrobe every season, it’s important to have staples in your closet so you don’t have to depend on your extra income (or your mom or dad’s!) to have a summer or wardrobe that works for you. So here you go, a list of the must-have’s:
  



• 1 pair of really great jeans: I like a dark wash in a style that suits your body type since they make your legs look longer and leaner.
  



• 1 pair of white bottoms, be it white jeans or white cropped pants.
  



• 2 –3 longer length tank tops: Wear under garments to hide bra straps. You can also tuck these into your jeans so if you’re wearing a shorter length top your undies or belly won’t show when you lean or bend over. These can be in your favorite colors.
  



• 2-3 T-shirts: Solids are best so you can add accessories and scarves to complete the outfit.
  



• 1-2 pretty lightweight tops: These add pure flair to your shorts and jeans!
  



• 1 great dress: A summer print will lift your spirits and can be worn with flats or wedge sandals.
  



• Khaki shorts: Wear these with any of the t-shirts or summery tops.
  



• A jacket: Made of lightweight fabric to keep you warm when there’s a light breeze.
  



• A flattering bathing suit: Always in your best color!
  



• Tennis shoes, flats and wedges: To complete all your outfits!
  
  Do an inventory of your summer and spring wardrobe. I’ll bet you have most of those pieces already! What you don’t have, put on a list and be on the look out for them. Don’t impulse buy. Look for the best prices and the best fit and add one or two items at a time. Each season, find one or two new fabulous accessories that will make your outfits look “new” and voila! You will be ready for any occasion!
  
  Beautiful Blessings,
  Shari Braendel
  
  www.fashionmeetsfaith.com
  

"Quenched Thirst"

By: Rachel Lowman

Psalm 42:1, “As the deer longs for streams of water, my soul longs for You, O God.” (NLT)

In early August before school started, I was in Crumpler, NC (among the Appalachian Mountains) enjoying God’s beautiful creation and relaxing in His presence. One morning, I had my devotion and read Psalm 42 where it talks about deer longing for water and how we should long for the Lord more than thirsty animals long for refreshment.

Unfortunately, on some days, my devotions are more ritualistic than an actual encounter with the Lord and this was one of those days. I wanted to be home because I didn’t have Internet or a good cell signal so that I could stay in contact with my closest friends, but God had other plans. Following my 11:30 a.m. breakfast, I went out on the porch to call my best friend. When I walked onto the porch overlooking the New River, I saw a beautiful doe and her fawn in the center of the river. My menial devotion convicted my spirit as I watched the deer drink of the refreshing mountain river to satisfy their thirst. As this awareness became real to me, I intently watched the doe to see what she might do next. She slowly looked up and seemed to stare right into my eyes as her fawn entered the brush behind her. She didn’t possess any fear of me for I was not there to harm her. What happened next is truly awesome; God spoke to my heart His immense love for me and how He longed for me to just be at peace. I was suddenly overwhelmed with it and forgot I was on the phone with my best friend. As I stood there, verse one of Psalm 42 repeated continually in my mind and gradually engraved itself on my heart.

All too often, I am so wrapped up in my inability to communicate with others because other things get in the way, when I should really only be concerned with my communication with the Lord. I’m not saying I am always where I should be spiritually, but the love I have for my God now has only grown since the beginning of my walk with Him 10 years ago. I am even more assured that HE is God and there is NO other. Honestly how could there be? I have not felt the presence of anything greater than the God I serve and will live with in eternity.

Those few days in the mountains were a learning experience for me to relax truly, in the Lord and not desire other things to fill my restlessness. I have become more aware of how much hope I truly have in Him. He is lovely, powerful, amazing, awe-inspiring, and the Creator of all, whose attributes are in creation (Psalm 19 and Romans 1:20). OH His beauty!!! Though we ask, “How can His beauty be missed?” do we ever consider the consequence of missing it? Do we share it with those who miss it?

My Prayer for Today:

Lord, I desire to long for You as a deer does for streams of water. You are the only One that quenches my thirsty heart. The beauty You have placed in creation takes my breath away and I ask You show Yourself to me in such a way that I can’t help but praise You! I desire You in my inmost for You are the upmost. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Holding His Hand: A Devotional for Teen Girls, by Beka Dewitt

Teen Devotional Bible

Think About it:

Has my walk with the Lord been in a place where all that I see reminds me of His glory and might?

Do streams of water and magnificent sunrises remind of the Word I read earlier that morning, bringing me closer to His throne?

Has my life been different since the day I received Christ as my Savior and Lord? Am I growing in that relationship?

Live It:

Set aside time each day for a “snack” in the Bible. This “snack” is separate from your devotion; it is a time where you pick a Bible book and daily read through it. Allow God to surprise and speak to you through all that you encounter.

Power Verses:

John 4:13-14, “Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” (NIV)

Psalm 42:2, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (NIV)

© 2009 by Rachel Lowman. All rights reserved.

+ A Different Kind of Miracle +

Isaiah 14:24, “The LORD Almighty has sworn, ‘Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.’” (NIV)

Does God always answer prayer? I’ve asked myself this many times. I’ve discovered that He does, but we may not always like the answer. Sometimes it’s “yes,” while other times, “no” or “wait.”

Recently, I was praying for a friend with some life and faith struggles. I prayed every day that God would do a miracle in his life. Now, a few months later, God answered my prayers but in a different way. Things have occurred in his life that seem to have made his issues worse. For a while this caused a faith struggle for me too because I know God is capable of performing miracles, so I didn’t understand why He didn’t in my friend’s life…at least not as I had hoped He would.

Someone reminded me that God sees the big picture and things happen as they do for a reason. This person challenged me to look for small miracles that have occurred. So I began asking, Where have I seen God's hand? I realized He’s been in every detail. Now, I can see how God was there every step of the way for my friend, and He still is. One day he will also be able to see how God has been there.

God heard my prayers for my friend, and though He didn’t answer as I had hoped, His answer was ultimately the best. His plans stand and they are good. God did a different kind of miracle in my friend’s life than I prayed for, and He’s continuing to do tiny miracles every day.

What are you facing in your life? Have you prayed for something which God answered in a different way than you hoped? I challenge you - look for a different kind of miracle. Look for God in the smaller details of life. He’s there and has been from the beginning. He is good and is still the God who performs awesome miracles – both big and small. We just have to look for them.

With love,
Kristen

* Trendy Bible Covers *

Today, let’s talk about an accessory that protects one of the most valuable things you probably own – your Bible.

Bible covers come in a variety of colors, textures, and designs. There are even many Bible covers today that look like handbags. You’d never know they are Bible covers.

While owning a cover for your Bible is not a necessity, it is nice to have something to protect your Bible from rain and spills, particularly if you can find a style that represents who you are. After all, your Bible is God’s Word, a gift for you from God.

“…I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” – Job 23:12 (NIV)

Here are some sites to check out for some trendy Bible covers:

www.christianbook.com
www.bible-cover-store.com

If money is tight for you, check out your local thrift store for a nice handbag or convert a handbag you already own into a Bible bag. Or if you’re crafty and can sew, why not create your own? If you do a search on the web, you can find instructions for how to create your own. Another option is to add it to your “wish list” for your birthday or Christmas and let your parents or grandparents know that’s what you want.

Here’s another idea: Swap out your Bible cover with your friends’ covers every once in a while to mix it up a little bit. This could also remind you to pray for your friend whose cover you have.

Fashion doesn’t have to just be in the clothes you wear. It can also be in the accessories you carry with you…like your Bible cover. Give your Bible some love and find a cover for it that fits your style!

~Your Radical Revolution Fashion Team

"The Lesson of Linen"

By: Emily Watkins,
Age 17

Exodus 38:9, “And he made the court...of fined twined linen.” (KJV)

What is the first thing you think about when you read the word worship? You might think of your favorite praise CD, song, or music group at church. Although that is all worship, the Bible gives us a somewhat different picture of worship. To find it, let's go back to the beginning – to the book of Exodus.

The first tabernacle of worship appeared thousands of years ago in the Sinai desert. When the Israelites escaped from Egypt, God told them to prepare a special place for the Arc of the Covenant. The Lord gave Moses a specific blueprint of how His temple was supposed to look. First of all, it had to be small and portable, not elaborate and grandiose like King Solomon's temple. The Tabernacle of Moses was a simple tent consisting of two tiny rooms and a modest yard. This area divided into three sections: the Outer Courtyard, a covered Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place with the Ark of the Covenant. Enclosing the tabernacle was a white linen wall. No one could even begin to draw near to the Holy of Holies without first facing this linen barrier. Why linen? Why not cotton or wool? Well, because linen in itself has a lesson for us.

If you have ever worn or even run you fingers down linen, then you have felt the pleasing smooth, soft coolness of this lightweight fabric. Surprisingly, linen comes from a woody plant called flax. Linen has to go through a long and painful process before it turns into this beautifully delicate material. Grown to the height of approximately six feet, flax is selected by the miller for use while it is in full bloom. Then, at the appropriate time, bundles of flax are gathered together and cast into deep pools of water to rot. Here, they must soak for a long time. Buried deep with all the woodiness there lies a single precious fiber that must be released. Within this hidden core is the essence of white linen.

What is the lesson of linen? Linen teaches us that if we want to become true worshipers, we must first be willing to surrender and wait. Patience and humility lie at the very heart of praise. Worship is not just singing, but humble anticipation for Jesus, because when he speaks then everything changes. One word from his mouth and the world came into existence. Before the Israelites entered into the Tabernacle of Moses, they had to stoop down low and bow their heads to pass under the linen barrier. The lesson of linen guarded the entrance to the tabernacle. Those who want to worship God had to first learn to offer their “bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” as an expression of true, spiritual worship (Romans 12:1, NIV).

Worship is not just singing beautiful songs during church – it's a lot more than that. Sacrifice, patience, and humility come first and prepare our hearts for worship. So next time you think about worship, think about linen. When you are singing songs in church, think about linen. Think about what it means to wait and surrender, so that God can release the beautiful strands of linen from deep within your heart.

My Prayer for Today:

Lord, thank You so much for allowing me to worship You. I know that sometimes I am like hard flax, wrapped up in my own selfish desires. Teach me an attitude of surrender. I want to become like pure white linen in Your hands, so that I can truly worship You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Related Resources:

LIVE: Holy Bible, New Living Translation

Want More Life?, by Natalie Lloyd

Think About It:

What was God's purpose in putting a linen wall before the entrance to His Tabernacle?

What are some ways that you can worship God today?

How is obeying your parents and other authorities part of worship?

What lies at the heart of true worship?

Live It:

Every time you don't feel like doing something, think about linen. Remember, worship is linen released from deep inside your heart as a result of obedient surrender. Sometimes walking in obedience and surrender is hard. Sometimes it means giving up your right to something and allowing others to have their way. Remember though that every time you humble yourself, you destroy more of your “woodiness,” allowing the beautiful strands of linen deep inside your heart to come forth.

Watch Marc James, "Surrender" on You Tube.

Power Verses:

Romans 12:1, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” (NIV)

Ephesians 5:1-2, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (NIV)

Jonah 2:9, “But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good…” (NIV)

© 2009 by Emily Watkins. All rights reserved.

+ My 40 Day Commitment +

A few weeks ago you may remember me mentioning Lent and doing something intentional to draw closer to God during the weeks leading up to Easter. Today’s post is a follow up to that one.


I thought I would share with you my commitment for Lent…I am keeping track of 5 blessings a day – 5 ways that I’ve seen God working in my day or in my life. I am also reflecting on one Scripture passage a week which talks about God’s goodness.


I’m doing this because I sometimes have a tendency to think about the negative and be a little pessimistic, particularly when things aren’t going the way I had hoped. Therefore, I’m making a more intentional effort to change my thinking and what I allow myself to dwell on.

Romans 12:2, "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (NIV)

So, here are my 5 blessings for today:


1. The opportunity to work at Proverbs 31 Ministries and serve as Next Generation Coordinator


2. The awesome staff I get to work with at Proverbs 31, including our sweet intern Kirstie, from Liberty University


3. Seeing how God has grown our Radical Revolution ministry and is using it to touch young women’s lives


4. Knowing that God has great plans for all of our lives & will use each of us to do great things for Him if we let Him guide us – “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.” – Jim Elliot


5. It’s Friday!!! :-)


If you’d like to follow follow my 5 blessings and weekly Scripture verses, visit my blog. Click here.


I’d love for you to share with us what you’re doing to draw closer to God right now too. Leave a comment!


Have a great weekend!


Blessings,
Kristen

* Beauty *

Glance at yourself in a mirror. Do you see beautiful hair, a nice smile, good skin, and a cute girl? Or do you see the flaws that you think you have?

I want to take time in this week’s fashion and beauty column to remind you that God designed you exactly the way He wanted you. Now think about that a minute.
If God made you specifically in the body you are in, then why do you complain about it? Why do you think it should be different or better or shorter or taller?

Psalm 139:14, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (NIV)

You see, that’s the problem. We don’t know that full well. Seriously. When most of us look in the mirror and see ourselves, we don’t think we are wonderfully made…at all. We see every imperfection, every single zit, every greasy hair strand and our nose we wish was a different shape or size. And if we’re looking in a full length mirror, oh my! Then we see our belly that’s not as flat as we want it to be, our short (or long) legs, and those thighs that should be thinner if we had our way.

Each weekend I get to see hundreds of teen and pre-teen girls. I get to share with them how to dress cool without looking skanky (yes, that is a word!) and we get to discuss beauty in all its forms. Society has taken God’s idea of beauty and distorted it. We have been made to believe that beauty only comes in one size and color. That is so not true. Trust me on this. YOU are beauty. Your best friend is beauty. The girl that sits next to you in class is beauty.

Recently I was speaking in a small town in Michigan when I saw two teen girls in line for color analysis. They were absolutely beautiful, even by the world’s standards, except there was something unique about this pair of sisters. They were in wheel chairs. When I inquired about why they were in the chairs, I was told they had been in a horrific car accident about seven years earlier and one was paralyzed from her waist down and the other was paralyzed from her chest down. Barring a miracle from our God, they will be in those wheel chairs the rest of their lives and will never be able to walk again. They can’t even get out of bed by themselves in the morning without help.

Were they beautiful? Amazingly so. Do you think the girls around them saw themselves differently than perhaps they did before they met these two? Probably. You see, we all have things about our bodies we don’t necessarily like. We wish we looked like the model on the cover of the magazine, but most of us don’t.

Try something different today. Look in the mirror and SEE yourself for the first time in a new way. Thank God for making you the way He did. Say out loud, “Thanks God for making me cute!” Even if you don’t yet believe it, keep saying it.

We would all like to trade places with someone else. You can bet those two sisters would like to have your legs. But I promise, God allowed them to lose the use of them for a purpose way beyond what you and I can even fathom or imagine. Now, if only they will believe that.

Will you believe that you are beautiful and made for a purpose way beyond what you can even imagine? I pray you do.

Fashionable Blessings,
Shari Braendel

www.fashionmeetsfaith.com

"Eating Disorders"

By: Kirsten Wilson

Proverbs 31:30 says: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” (NIV)

As some of you may have known, a few weeks ago (February 22-28) was National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. To help raise awareness about the seriousness of eating disorders my school, Liberty University, held a Health & Wellness Seminar and had a walk through exhibit called “The Mind of an Eating Disorder.”

Although you personally may not suffer from an eating disorder, studies show that 1 in 5 women do (National Institute of Mental Health's (NIMH) guide, Eating Disorders: Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions). 90% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25 years old (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, The Center for Mental Health Services, offices of the US Department of Health and Human Services).

Though some eating disorders are caused by pressure to look a certain way, many are caused by stress and anxiety. As I walked through the exhibit of “The Mind of an Eating Disorder,” I was first shown a healthy mindset. There were lots of pictures of family and friends, a calendar planned with fun outings, and a prayer journal. It than transitioned into an unhealthy mindset. There were pictures of models and tear outs of magazine advertising everything from shampoo to nail polish all saying, “If you had that ‘thing’ you could be beautiful too.” There was a food diary to record everything eaten that day, and scale to keep track of weight loss. What stood out to me the most was a poster of Adriana Lima, a famous supermodel, with a quote she had stated in an interview. It read, “No, it’s all fake. From my hair to my toes to my nails. Everything’s fake. Everything! Even my heart is fake.”

We try so hard to maintain a certain level of beauty. We try to live up to the media’s standard of beauty even though it’s fake! The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 3:3-5 how God sees beauty: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful….” (NIV).

We also need to remember that our bodies belong to the Lord and that He made us perfect! At the end of the Health & Wellness Seminar, we ended by turning to the person on our left and the person on our right and telling them, “You are a beautiful creation of God!” Today I say that to you; don’t ever forget it!

My Prayer for Today:

Lord, please help those who are struggling with this serious disorder. You are the ultimate healer and can deliver anyone. Please fill them with hope and place people in their lives who can help them. Please help me to be a light to those I may encounter, who are struggling with an eating disorder, and I don’t even know it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

I'm Beautiful, Why Can't I See It?: Promote Healthy Eating and Positive Self-Esteem, by Kimberly Davidson

Lies Young Women Believe and the Truth that Sets them Free, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Dannah Gresh

Authentic Beauty: The Shaping of a Set-apart Young Woman, by Leslie Ludy

Live It:

Visit this link and watch the video

Write on an index card, “I am a beautiful creation of God!” and display it somewhere you will see regularly to remind you of that.

Get educated on eating disorders. By learning about them you can better help those who are struggling with them. (Visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org)

Think About It:

After watching the clip, how did you feel?

How does it feel knowing that 1 in 5 women have an eating disorder?

Power Verses:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (NIV)

Psalm 139:13-14, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (NIV)

***If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please get help or encourage them to get help, or tell someone in authority such as a parent of guidance counselor. Eating disorders are very serious and need to be dealt with professionally.***

Statistics taken from: http://eatingdisorderinfo.org/Resources/EatingDisordersStatistics/tabid/964/Default.aspx

© 2009 by Kirsten Wilson. All rights reserved.

+ Sufficient +

Do you like music? I love music. It's one of the major ways I hear God speak to me.

Lately, I've been experiencing a lot which has been challenging to me, particularly the burdens of a few close friends of mine. Through all this, there is a song which God has used to encourage me - "Sufficient" by Adie Camp. Have you heard this song? If not, you should listen to it! Here's a link to it on YouTube.

It's such a great reminder of God's provision for every need we have. He truly is sufficient for you and for me. He's sufficient to take care of all of our burdens and all of the burdens of our friends and family.

What are you dealing with right now? Will you allow God to be all you need?

Psalm 68:19-20, "Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign Lord rescues us..." (NLT)

~Kristen

Best Mom Ever Contest!!

Hello ladies!!

Check this out. There's a women's show called Living the Life and during the month of March, they're having a pretty awesome contest ~ it's the Best Mom Ever Contest!

If your mom is the BEST mom in the world, you should definitely tell them why she's the best. Click on this link and follow the instructions to submit an entry in the contest.

We would also like to hear your answer to why your mom is the best mom ever! When you submit your entry on Living the Life's site, please also send your response to us at radrevolution@proverbs31.org. We’d like to share some of your answers on our site too!

Thanks!

~ Your Radical Revolution Team

"Fully Equipped"

By: Angela Parsley

Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (NIV)

Acts 1:8 contains the last command that Jesus gave all of the people around Him right before He left the earth. He told them they had work to do, but this work was not something they were required to do in their own strength. Jesus knew that they would need a helper to complete the task at hand.

During this time, Jesus also told His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until the Helper, the Holy Spirit, came. Jesus wants the same for those of us who are His disciples today. He wants us to know Him, to be filled with His Holy Spirit, and then out of that power that He gives, to do great things for Him. Nothing is impossible for us in His strength.

I don’t know about you, but I am thinking some of that God-strength sounds good! Think about when you are sitting in your classroom or around other students. You can see there are so many who truly need Jesus in their lives. But you think to yourself, who am I to talk to them? You need to realize you are a child of God and with His power living in you, there is nothing you cannot do!

I challenge you to ask God where He would have you be His witness. Each place you set your foot is a place where you have potential influence. If you walk in the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in you, great changes can take place in all those that God places around you.

Related Resources:

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

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

My Prayer For Today:

Father, thank You for giving us the gift of eternal life and the Holy Spirit. It amazes me that You live in me. Because YOU live in me, I am thankful that I have the strength to do anything You call me to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Think About It:

Do you realize that there are many people around us who claim to be Christians but do not live like it? Why do you think that is?

Isn’t it wonderful that God only gives us tasks that He equips us to do?

Live It:

Pray for those you see who are not living an authentic Christian life. Ask God to show you who He wants you to talk to about Him.

Get a group of fellow believers together, form a prayer group, and pray for these people who need Jesus. You will see God do amazing things!

Power Verses:

John 14:26, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”(NIV)

Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (NIV)

Ephesians 1:13b-14, “…Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.”(NIV)

© 2009 by Angela Parsley. All rights reserved.