"He has never left your side" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"That's Who you need to have faith in, sweetheart, because through every one of these trials, He has never left your side." -Mrs. March, Jupiter Winds

"... I'm finally putting my inner life above my exterior life. I'm letting God change me, and he's showing me how to live for him. And I'm finding out that it's pretty cool." - Leah, Faded Denim

"I know, it probably sounds like I'm becoming a real fanatic religious freak, which I am not. But I am falling more in love with Jesus all the time. I can't even explain it, but I know that it's very real - and it's pretty cool." - Caitlin, Becoming Me

How about you? Do you put your faith in God? What do you focus on more: your inner or exterior life? Are you falling in love with Jesus? 

Spend time with your friends

~Friday for Friends~

I have to say... I don't spend that much time with my best friend. She' s a year older, and, as of now, I only see her 3-4 times a month. God has blessed me so much, and I hope I don't take it for granted. 

  "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,

    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

How about you? Do you spend time with your friends? In what ways has God blessed you? 

The Unknown.....

~Tuesday Thoughts~

Looking ahead might be exciting. It's also sometimes scary. College, a new job, new friends, maintaining old friendships, etc., etc., etc. Anthem Lights' song, "The Unknown" (lyrics) reminds us that God is with us no matter how scary the future. 

"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 (NIV)

What about you? Is something new about to invade your life? How do you plan to deal with it? 

Your heart

~Monday Movies & Music~

Chris Tomlin has a great song, "Your heart" (David). Here are the lyrics. 

"After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’" Acts 13:22 (NIV)

Are you striving to follow God?  

On our own vs by God's grace

~Saturday Stories~

On our own we are

Sinful

Burdened

Weak 

Dirty

Scorned

Alone

So messed up. 

By God's grace, we are

Forgiven - 1 John 1:9

Helped - Psalm 54:4

Nourished - Matthew 4:4

Cleansed - Isaiah 1:18

Loved - Romans 5:8

Wanted - Revelation 3:20

By such an amazing God

Reconnecting

~Friday for Friends~

This past Saturday I spent some time with my friends at prom. Okay, so not the best place ever for deep discussions, etc., but it was nice to just hang out. I hadn't seen one of these friends in quite some time, and reconnecting and laughing and smiling together was so much fun. God has blessed me so much by giving us this friendship.

  "A friend loves at all times,

    and a brother is born for a time of adversity." Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17 (NIV)

How about you? Do you have friends or family that are a blessing to you? Who can you be a blessing to? 

The center of our lives

~Tuesday Thoughts~

Sometimes we get so burdened by all the things we need to or want to do. Seriously, it's crazy. Homework, sports, perhaps a job, time with family, at church, etc., etc., etc. Sometimes, wrapped in all this "essential" stuff, we forget WHO we are doing it for. Or, perhaps, we're not even trying to do it for Him. The song "All Eyes On You" by OBB speaks of who should be at the center of our lives: God. Amen to that!  

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

God, help us live for you!

God's Not Dead 2

~Monday Movies & Music~

All she did was answer a question. In a history class where they were discussing Gandhi and Martin Luther King Junior. Was it really all that bad to answer a question comparing their methods to what Jesus taught? Apparently, yes. Teacher Grace Wesley has gotten into so much trouble for that half a minute where she let herself quote God's Word in a public school. Now it'll take great courage, others' encouragement, and, most importantly, God's help to prove to the jury that her license does not need to be revoked and to the world that the Bible can be discussed in the classroom. 

God's Not Dead 2, the sequel to God's Not Dead, explores whether or not teachers - or anyone else, for that matter - can discuss God and Christianity openly. While the beginning was not overly interesting, the ending gripped my emotions. However, like a good friend of mine told me, it would be nice to see more nice and polite non-believers, instead of making most of them pretty vehement about their stance against Christianity. 

God's Not Dead 2 dives into a topic that is well in need of a discussion. What do you think? Should teachers be allowed to discuss God in public schools?

Becoming Me by Melody Carlson

~Saturday Stories~

Typical Caitlin: "... in very controlled voice, I told Dad that I knew all about Belinda. And furthermore, I told him that I thought he was a liar and a hypocrite and that I no longer respected anything he had to say about church or Christianity or anything for that matter."

Caitlin's dad, who constantly told her why dating was wrong and how guys only wanted one thing, is seeing another woman. Seriously?! How can she trust anything he says now? And church - what a joke. If she wants to date Josh, it's her choice. And so what if that includes kissing and going a wee bit further? But there's something nagging at Caitlin and calling her for something more than dating the cutest guy in school. Is she going to let Christ be her only love?

Becoming Me (Diary of a Teenage Girl) is an incredibly well-crafted story that covers multiple issues girls deal with. Even when Caitlin accepts Christ as her Savior, it's hard to decide all that stuff about dating and sex and forgiveness and pain. But God always sees her through, teaching her to become more like Him.

Becoming Me is the first in the Diary of a Teenage Girl: Caitlin series. The rest are It's My Life, Who I Am, On My Own, and I Do!.

For more information on Melody Carlson, visit her website and Facebook page.

New Hope

~Monday Movies & Music~

Senior year. Pastor's kid. Moving. Those three just don't go together. Oh, one more thing? Some of the community is still grieving a boy's suicide that happened a year ago. Newcomer Mike soon learns that fitting in will be a lot harder than he thought. Especially when Lucas, the dead boy's brother, seems to hate everything and everyone, especially Mike. And then there's the issue of how far is too far with a girl who seems so nice one second and so luring the next. 

New Hope (here is the trailer) is a movie that explores how people react to someone's suicide. There's a lot of anger, guilt, confusion. How can one get beyond that and, still realizing who that person was, live life how it's supposed to be lived? Does God really care about teenagers with broken hearts, sketchy pasts, and unanswered questions? 

Although New Hope did not have the best movie quality, the quality of the story and its moral are well worth the time spent watching it.  

"It seems hopeless" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"It seems hopeless." ...
"Even in the darkest night, there is always hope." - Rin and Mrs. March, Jupiter Winds

"Thank You, I guess, for letting me see myself for what I really am, even if I don't like it very much. Please help me to change. Amen." - Caitlin, Becoming Me

"Please, let me have eyes like you ... Let me look beyond the physical stuff and see what lies beneath." - Emily, Faded Denim

“You’re never meant to control [your life]. God does. And when you know He’s in control, it’s a little easier to accept what happens.” - Thomas, Worth the Time

How about you? Does life seem hopeless sometimes? Have you asked God to change you and give you eyes like His? Do you know that God is in control of your life? 

Praise God because of others

~Friday for Friends~

"Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me." Galatians 1:21-24 (NIV)

How about you? Can you praise God for what He has done in other peoples' lives? Can you share what He has done in your life with others? 

God made beauty

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"... Just look at all the beautiful green leaves and flowers starting to bloom around us and you have to know that God appreciates beauty too!" - Caitlin, Becoming Me

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

  the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

God is so amazing. His creation reflects that! 

Living for our God

~Monday Movies & Music~

There are two songs I have enjoyed recently that talk about living for God: "All Eyes on You" by OBB (lyrics), and "Don't Want to Live for Me" by Moriah Peters (lyrics).

"As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more." 1 Thessalonians 4:1 (NIV)

Do you live for God? 

No matter how I'm doing right now

~Saturday Stories~

I'll praise You when I'm living off two dollars
I'll praise You when I'm buying a new TV
I'll praise You when my mom gets cancer
I'll praise You when she's cancer-free

I'll praise You when I'm getting straight As
I'll praise You when 70 is my best
I'll praise You when I come in first
And I'll praise You when I come in last


'Cause You are, You are, You're worthy of my praise
That holds no matter where I am.
You are, You are, You're the Almighty Creator
No matter how I'm doing right now


I'll praise You when I have my first kiss
I'll praise You when he rapes me
I'll praise You when my parents divorce
I'll praise You when they're together and happy

I'll praise You when my baby sister is born
I'll praise You when You take her back
I'll praise You when peace is won
I'll praise You in another attack .


'Cause You are, You are, You're worthy of my praise
That holds no matter where I am.
You are, You are, You're the Almighty Creator
No matter how I'm doing right now


Bridge:
I don't promise I'll be quiet.
I'll kick and scream and I'll doubt You
But even then You are my God
And I I I I I I'll praise You


Praising God in hard circumstances is so hard! But He is always there, with us through everything. Amen! Amen! Amen! 

Carrying burdens

~Friday for Friends~

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:1-2 (NIV)

Have you had anyone who has carried your burden? Whose burden can you carry?