God of wonders

~Monday Movies & Music~

"God of Wonders" is a song here sung by Third Day. Here are the lyrics.

Our God is definitely awesome. He is holy. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is worthy of our praise.

Let us praise Him!

Skinny by Laura L. Smith

~Saturday Stories~

Typical Melissa: "Melissa opened the pantry: chips, Twinkies, cheese crackers. "Translation: fat, fat, fat," she murmured. She couldn't bring herself to eat any of it. She turned and opened the fridge: leftover bacon, grease, a slice of cheesecake, calories, lots of calories."

 High school isn't easy even at its plainest. But when one adds tons of homework, a cute boyfriend, and rigorous dance classes she just might go crazy. Or go thin. Melissa feels all the pressure on her and seeks to control the one thing she can: food. But when problems go sky-high and she constantly feels hollow, will her strategy work? Doesn't God want her to be thin?

 Skinny explores a topic that's pretty close to my heart - anorexia. The disorder has captivated my interest for years. Starving yourself to fit in is so easy... and so wrong. It's a problem many teenage girls get into because of all the pressure and expectations others - and they themselves - have for them. The media version of beautiful doesn't help in the least. Skinny delves into the thoughts and feelings leading to an eating disorder. Laura also shows us what God has to say about food, and that is so powerful. God is, in fact, a great Curer, and He heals to this day.

 I think the story could have been even better if written in first person, not third. Also, Melissa's boyfriend was underdeveloped and could have been improved by having other dimensions besides being cute. A scene/scenes from either church or youth group would have added to the spiritual side of the novel.

 Overall, Laura L. Smith has written a story that dips into a real and large problem teens face. She reminds us that God is the solution to it.

 This is the first in the False Reflections series. The second and third are Hot and Angry. Skinny is now free on kindle.

For more on Laura L. Smith visit her website and Facebook page.

Regaining friendships

~Friday for Friends~

Have you ever been far-far away from a friend and then you were close again? Wasn't it SO awkward the first few times you met again? You groped for words and thought rapidly about the topics that could be easy to discuss. And then maybe after those few hard times it settled to normal and you were friends again. Or maybe it didn't work out. 

Isn't it amazing that God is always with us and that we can talk with Him anytime? He has called us His friends!

^"14 You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."  -John 15:14-15 (NIV)


Amen!

Heavens declare God's glory

~Tuesday Thoughts~

Our family was on vacation the week before school. We saw for ourselves some of the wonders God has created. Seriously, nature is such great evidence that there is a God.

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
  the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

Romans 1:20 (NIV)

How about you? What are some wonders you have seen? Did they remind you of God’s might?

Nothing is impossible

~Monday Movies & Music~

"Nothing is Impossible" is a song sung by Planetshakers. Here are the lyrics.

"I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
It is true! God can give us strength. And through Him we can do anything!

Out of the freezing water

~Saturday Stories~

It’s dark.
It’s hard to see the light.
Shadows are on the wall.
I feel alone.

Is there anyone
To lift me up,
To get me out,
To hold my hand,
When life is a dark ocean
Where I'm floating alone?

I hear a voice,
I feel a touch
Of Someone who cares.
He gets me out
Of the freezing water,
Brings sunshine into my life
And goes before me.

How about you? Has God delivered you out of the dark? Take a couple minutes to praise Him!

Take the time to... PRAISE GOD

~Friday for Friends~

This is the thirteenth post in the Take the Time series. The rest are Take the Time to Listen, Encourage, Talk With Someone, Stop Gossip, Forgive, Calm Down, Plan Ahead, Smile, Thank God, Think of What is Right, Rest, and Meditate.

"1 Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise God in his sanctuary;

    praise him in his mighty heavens.

2 Praise him for his acts of power;

    praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

    praise him with the harp and lyre,

4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,

    praise him with the strings and pipe,

5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,

    praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord." Psalm 150 (NIV)

Our God, our great Friend, is mighty, loving, righteous, faithful, and so much more. We need to remember more often to praise the One who has called us friends. He is worthy of the praise!!!!!!