Trials

~Tuesday Thoughts~

About a month ago Tessa Emily Hall wrote a blog post on trials: The Purpose of Trials: 5 Things Being Diagnosed With Diabetes Has Taught Me. 

Sometimes it can be hard to look at the trials we have in our lives and say "Your will, God, not mine". Let us pray that we can do that more and more often.

How about you? Do you have trials that are hard to be thankful for? Mind sharing how God is working in your life?

Who You Say You Are

~Monday Movies & Music~ 

"Who You Say You Are" is a song by Britt Nicole. Here are the lyrics. 

God is truly who He says He is. He knows everything; He can do everything. He is who He says He is. We can really trust Him. Even if it's hard sometimes. 

 

Motorcycles, Sushi and One Strange Book by Nancy Rue

~Saturday Stories~

Typical Jessie: I guess my life was crazy even before the day it really lost its mind. I just didn’t think it was. I did think my friend Chelsea’s life was a little weird. Her parents had been married to each other for twenty years and her family sat down at the table to eat supper together every night... I definitely considered my friend Marcus’s life to be strange. His family went on a two-week vacation every single summer to places like Key West and the Grand Canyon... Totally off the wall.

When Jessie's mom is sent to the hospital for gulping down a bunch of pills, Jessie is left with her dad. Who she had thought was dead. Her plan is simple: drive him nuts until he sends her back home. Except it might be nicer in some ways in Florida: like motorcycles, the beach and a book that she can actually read. Can there really be a relief from the hamster wheel in her head? Can she just be herself, without always covering up the fact that she has ADHD?

Like most of Nancy Rue's books, Motorcycles, Sushi and One Strange Book is awesome. I love how Jessie changes from the I-have-to-hide-this girl to someone who more or less embraces herself as she is. RL-the book that she found herself reading despite her disability- is basically a modern-day paraphrase of the Bible. It can mysteriously be clear when it's time to read and blur when the reading is enough for the day. Although a book like that isn’t really out there, Nancy Rue does show us that parts of the Bible can stand out to us too.

This is the first of the Real Life series for teens. The others are Boyfriends, Burritos and an Ocean of Trouble, Tournaments, Cocoa and One Wrong Move and Limos, Lattes, and My Life on the Fringe. They can all be read as stand-alones since the only thread is the RL book that they find when they need it and leave for someone else to find.

For more on Nancy Rue, visit her website, Facebook page, and blogs for tweens, teens and new adults.

Why should we love one another?

~Friday for Friends~

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11 (NIV)

That is so plainly and beautifully said that it’s hardly arguable. God loves us. Therefore, let us love one another. Not easy, but with the help of the One who loved us first, can we not do it? God bless you and give you strength to love one another.   

When everything's gone

~Tuesday thoughts~ 

Anne Bradstreet was a poet in 17th century America. Contrary to what you're probably thinking right now, her poems are actually pretty neat. This week for literature I sort-of analyzed her poem "Verses Upon the Burning of our House". 

Could we do that? Could we see the ashes but, instead of weeping, be full of hope? Could we remember the greatest treasure above when all our earthly ones are gone?

With God's help, I think we could. Can. Let's try to remember that we have something - Someone - greater than anything the world can ever offer. 

Have you ever experienced a loss and remembered that God promised us much more? Mind sharing?  

You matter

~Monday Movies & Music~

"Matter" is a really awesome song by for King & Country. Here are the lyrics.

YOU matter. To the God of the Universe. Yes, you. All of us. We MATTER. How cool is that?

"You don't need to be strong" and other quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"You don’t need to be strong. Let God do that for you.” - Darlene, Roadside Assistance

"You’re much more likely to make true, authentic choices when you have a relationship with God." The Whole Guy Thing

"I might not like who I am - all that I see - within - but I'm me. That's important. Now that I have accepted that, I've been freed to - with God's help - work on who I am- deep down inside of me". -Berta, The Bluebird and the Sparrow 

How about you? What do you think about these quotes? Any quotes you can share with us?