quote for Wednesday, March 5

sorry for not posting for a while! here's a verse for today :) I'll be posting this month's top picks soon, too!

So...

February 14th used to be one of my favorite days of the year. I always had something planned for my significant other, and I always anticipated something from them. It was great. It was lovey-dovey. It was "romantic" (in every 9th-grader sense of the word).

Until I became single.

Like now.

Now I get to walk through Walmart's mountains of giant teddy bears and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. I think most of you girls are single, and you've probably been single for your whole life. Or maybe you're single, but you have hopes and dreams that you could be with someone. And sometimes, we can get down about our situation. A lot of us don't have a problem with the holiday, but most of us look forward to the day that we can spend Valentine's with a special someone. And some of us get our buttons pushed when we see our friends having a great day with their romantic interests.

We all know about 1 Corinthians 13. But do we really get it? Do we just read all the characteristics of love and then say, "Yeah, that's great. I'll show love to my family and my friends and the people I influence." That's wonderful. But let me tell you something. There's nothing wrong with loving your future husband now, either.

Look at the characteristics of love from 1 Corinthians 13....

Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love does not envy...

Let's pause there for a second. You can love your future husband by being patient for him. You can show love to others by being kind to those people that are having a fun time with their significant other. You can love your future husband by not being envious of the couples around you, knowing that God's plan for you and your future husband is beautiful. Let's go on...

Love does not boast.
Love is not proud.
Love is dignified.
Love is not selfish.

We can love our future husbands by not boasting of how we are "following God's plan" by waiting. God's plan for you is probably much, much different than God's plan for the next person. Don't look down on someone, or act pridefully, because you don't think they are following God's will. Their life is completely different than yours, and their walk with God is only between them and God. This shows dignity, in that you are confident in God's leading in your life, but you don't judge others. We have to be very, very careful to avoid selfishness. It will mar our love, because true love is selfless. Let's look at some more.

Love is not easily angry.
Love does not think evil of another.
Love does not rejoice in iniquity.
Love rejoices in the truth.

If you are in love with God and your future husband, you should not be easily angered at your situation. It's important that we realize that God makes all things beautiful in His time. His timing is perfect for your life. Also, you should not be assuming sin of another person. This ties in with what I said earlier. Don't assume that someone else is going the "wrong" way, just because they aren't going your way. Now we see that someone showing love to another (including her future husband) does not rejoice in iniquity. She will not rejoice in rebelling against God's commandments concerning abstinence. She will instead rejoice in the truth that God knows the desires of her heart, and that God's timing is amazing. Let's see some more characteristics of love...

Love bears through all things.
Love believes through all things.
Love hopes through all things.
Love endures through all things.

"All things" is not limited to fun, fluffy things. Actually, it's a lot more likely that the point here is that love bears, believes, hopes, and endures through all hardships- small or big. A jewel of Jesus, showing the love of Jesus, and loving her future husband, will strive to show this love through all things. She will bear through hardships, because she trusts in God. She will believe God's Word and His promises. She will maintain her hope in a heavenly wedding feast with Jesus. She will endure through all things, knowing that as she shows love to others, she will be rewarded in glory.

Obviously, all these characteristics are characteristics of perfect love, and only God has perfect love. We, as human girls, will struggle through some of these things, if not all of them. Life's tough, but love's stronger.*** Ask God to help you show His love to others, including your future husband.

There's this verse that says, "She (a virtuous woman) will do him (her husband) good all the days of her life." (Proverbs 31:12). Jewels, "all days" includes today. You can truly love your future husband now. Be sure you ask for God's help, because any kind of journey of love requires a lot of strength, which only comes from God. Don't be discouraged when you struggle with something; we all do struggle with these things, more than we like to admit.

There's two more characteristics of love from 1 Corinthians 13 that I want to conclude with:

Love never fails.
Love abides forever.

Love someone today <3

Top Song Picks: February

Instead of Sunday re-post, we have a special post today! All of our favorite songs for the month of February. Take the time to listen to at least one of them. :) (If you have one, comment on this post!)

Pushing Back the Dark
by Josh Wilson
(Cosette's pick)

The Words I Would Say
by the Sidewalk Prophets
(Micaela's pick)

You Are
by Colton Dixon
(Karlee's pick)

God's Definitely Not Finished with Me Yet

I remember when I was younger, my family had a magnet on our fridge that pictured a cute caterpillar and read: "Don't judge me; God's not finished with me yet!"

Several times in the past week I have been tempted to get discouraged because of all the areas in my life that God is working on. One of these times I sat down to read out of my Jesus Calling devotional book, and one of the sentences that stood out to me was, "The best way to get through this day is step by step with Me (Jesus). Continue this intimate journey, trusting that the path you are following is headed for heaven." As the words sank into my heart, I realized that this whole process of becoming Christ-like is only to be taken step by step.

Of course, I can't help but be reminded of a song I used to sing in youth group: "Step by Step" by Rich Mullins...

"O God, You are my God

And I will ever praise You.

O God, You are my God

And I will ever praise You.

I will seek You in the morning,

And I will learn to walk in Your way,

And step by step You'll lead me,

And I will follow You all of my days."

All this is a great reminder to me that, just like the caterpillar, I am going through a journey of transformation toward a better character that is meant to traveled one step at a time.

Quote for February 5, 2014

Re-Post Sunday

Guess what? It's re-post Sunday! Head on over to More to Be to read about how you can tell the difference between a guy being "Flirty or Friendly." We can all use to review this stuff!

Your Potential Energy

Today I was reading through my chemistry lesson. The title of the new chapter is "Energy, Heat, and Temperature." I don't know about you, but I'm not too big on chemistry class, and the faster I can get to writing blog posts and books, the better.

But as I was reading through the lesson, some things stood out to my all-too-analytical mind. I began reading about how a log supposedly has a ton of energy inside it, just waiting to be let out to boil up some water or blacken a marshmallow or grant some heat to cold, soaked toes or scorch some fingers.

And I think that's when analogies started to open 500 more tabs in my mind. Just like that log has that energy inside it that can be used for good or bad, we have "potential" in us that can be used for good or bad. We have a passion inside of us that can be used to excite a sister's heart or dampen her spirit. We have the opportunities to comfort a brother or add insult to injury, whatever we choose.

A log, though, does not just magically produce fire. It has to be ignited by other energy to let all the log's energy out.

In the same way, something ignites our hearts' passion. That something could be God's Word or an insulting person's word. It could be friction in our lives, or it could be a sister's fiery heart. You could flip that around and say that your fiery heart can ignite another's passion, or your insulting words could ignite a friend's anger. 

Obviously, how we each respond to an attempted ignition is up to us. If we are drenched in the world, then the fire of God's Word may not affect us as much. 

The point is, we each have the potential to affect other people in good ways or bad ways, and most likely we will each be affected by other people's fires. How we use this "potential energy" and how we respond to other's "energy" is totally up to us.

"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."

~Romans 14:19

Quote for January 29

Re-post Sunday

Hey, sisters! It's re-post Sunday, so here's an article to help start off your week :) Over at Rad Revolution, this post talks about the fact that "You Are Absolutely Beautiful." 

Following God with all your Trust

I never really studied the story of Ruth until the past month or two. Every time I read and study more, I learn more about following God even when it makes absolutely no sense. And I learn that where God leads us is part of the plan He has for us.

When you think about Ruth's story from a non-Christian perspective, she seems like a nutcase. Her husband of ten years just passed away. Now, of course, I don't have a husband, but I can imagine that if my husband died after being married ten years, I would go to my biological mother, the mother that held me and nursed me when I was sick as a child. Did Ruth do that? Nope. Maybe Ruth's mother wasn't alive; maybe Naomi was the only family Ruth had. But I don't think that was the case. At any rate, Naomi was leaving the only country Ruth ever new, and Ruth decided to go with her. To go live a life of probable poverty

So why did she do this? Naomi even tried to persuade Ruth to go back to her family and home, but Ruth refused:

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 

(Ruth 1:16-17)

The tone and meaning of Ruth's response really convinces me that she knew that following Naomi was what God wanted her to do. I'm sure it didn't make any sense to her at the time. I'm sure she wasn't thinking about herself and her own personal leisure. In her loyalty to Naomi, however, she would be greatly blessed. We know that she met and married Boaz and became the ancestor of both David and Jesus. 

God may be telling you to do something that just doesn't seem to make sense. But, He always know best. He knows His plans for you, and you can always trust Him. Unlike mankind's promises and character, God's promises and character never fail. Don't be afraid to follow Him... with all your trust.

Quote for January 22

Re-post Sunday

Hey, girls! It's re-post Sunday, so here's an article to get you started this week. :) Over at Kindred Grace, this post talks about "How to Find Words for Hurting Friends."

Where is Your Treasure?

Mansion Over the Hilltop

a hymn by George Morgan

I'm satisfied with just a cottage below,

A little silver and a little gold;

But in that city where the ransomed will shine

I want a gold one that's silver-lined.

~ refrain~

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop

In that bright land where we'll never grow old;

And someday yonder we will never more wander

But walk on streets that are purest gold.

~~~

Tho' often tempted, tormented and tested

And, like the prophet, my pillow a stone;

And tho' I find here no permanent dwelling

I know He'll give me a mansion my own.

~refrain~

Don't think me poor or deserted or lonely

I'm not discouraged, I'm Heaven bound;

I'm just a pilgrim in search of a city

I want a mansion, a harp and a crown.

~refrain~

Life is precious, and all too short. In an instant, it can end. 

So why do we spend so much time in this life chasing after things that won't last?

Over and over and over again,we watch the same TV show episodes, the same movies read the same magazines and books, play the same video games. We build up our possessions around us until we are comfortable. We seek to find security in human relationships that can and will at some point falter.

But for what profit? 

And at what price?

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:35-37

If we spend our lives  striving for more more more things here on earth, and lose sight of what really matters--bringing glory to God--we miss the whole point of living.

Jesus promised us a mansion in Heaven.

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:2-3 

He also cautioned us not to lay up treasures on earth.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21 

The things we have here on earth remain when we die. You can't take it with you.

But if we build up treasures in Heaven, our hearts will be far more Christ-centered. Our desire will be for the Lord! As we serve and grow closer to Him, He will bless us far beyond our wildest dreams. Not merely with things here on earth, but with eternal rewards and blessings. Are you more concerned with your mansion here on earth or the one Christ is building for you in Heaven?

Let's begin today to build up treasures in Heaven, for they will last for all eternity.

Introducing...

Introducing.... 2014! Now it's time to erase the "2013" on our school papers every time we forget it's a new year.

I'm sure you've looked back at 2013 and said, "Well, that went by quickly!" or maybe you said, "Wow, a lot changed this year!" or maybe you thought, "Oh, well, I didn't really reach my goals." or maybe you thought, "Oh, no. I'm going to be a senior in high school this year."

Or maybe you're like me, and all of these thoughts came into your mind at once.

And then come the new resolutions and the knowledge that next January, you'll be preparing for college.

But... have you stopped to think about how God blessed 2013? I think that after 15 days into 2014, it's about time for me to do that.

Looking back, I can see when God gave me wonderful friends, where He taught me that not having over 50 people at my 16th birthday party was okay, where He showed me who my true friends were when I needed someone to be there for me, where He divinely provided exactly what I needed in His timing.

If you haven't yet, stop and think about what God has done in your life in the past year; thank God for what He's going to do in the next. I can't wait to see what God is going to stir up in my life this year!

Set your Affection

Where is your affection? No really, I mean it. Think about it. Where is your affection? What are you actively concerned about? What do your actions have to say about that? What are you constantly thinking about? What is your mind on?

Me? oh, yeah.... not on what's it's supposed to be most of the time. I have to admit, I have been thinking a whole lot about my future... in a worried way, like will I ever get married? (even though I'm only sixteen, yes, I think about this...) like, will I ever have kids? like, will I be able to afford college? like, will I ever be able to go to Paris (okay, now we're getting a little off-track...)

The point is, my mind is not usually where it should be. Sometimes it is... but lately, not so much. Worry squirms its slimy way into my mind and expands until all other things are completely minimized. And then I feel like I'm walking around trying, trying, trying so hard to squeeze under the worry and dwell on something worthwhile, but the honest truth of the matter is that when worry is in a small part of my mind, it's in every part of my mind. And I don't like it, but for some reason I want to hang on to it. Maybe it's a control thing, I don't know. But I know that worry is no good.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

-Colossians 3:2

We've been studying this verse a lot in girls' group the past couple of weeks... And I've been thinking about worry. I don't think it quite fits in with the "things above..." It fits in a bit more with the flesh. The Greek word used in the previous verse for "set your affection" is phroneo, which is the same word that pops up in Romans 8:5-

"They that are of the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, and they that are of the Spirit the things of the Spirit."

You know what I don't see in that verse? I don't see "they that live in the 21st century may mind the things of the flesh and the Spirit cooperatively." No. Ya either mind the things of the flesh, or the things of the Spirit. Those of the Spirit are called to mind the things of the Spirit. No worry allowed. As a matter of fact, Christ tells us to cast all our worries on Him...

"Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you."

-1 Peter 5:7

And I think I just hit an analogy. Have you ever gone fishing? I haven't. So maybe I don't have the liberty to use that as an analogy... But I'm pretty sure this verse means to completely give all our worries to God ;)

Rewind. There's another one here that I'm sure I understand.... When I read "Set your affection on things above..." it comes to my mind that there are different setting I can have my mind on. For example, picture a metal lever with a big red ball for a handle on the end of it. This lever is coming out of a wall with writing next to the lever. The lever can be moved to stay in one of two modes: the fleshy mode, and the Spiritual mode. Now picture that lever coming out of the side of your head, wired to your mind inside. It's your choice every moment of every day what setting you want your mind to be on... Whatever you choose, you will dwell on things pertaining to that mode. We might say that the result of each of the "modes" is revealed through an attitude, and further revealed through what actions are prevalent in our day. Now actually picture that lever on the side of your head right this very minute. What setting is it on???

You can tell by your attitude or your actions from a few minutes ago... Were they resembling the things of the earth, or the things above? Were they representing fleshly things, or Spiritual things? 

Don't be afraid to admit it if your mind is set on things on the earth right now... We have all been there many times and God already knows. Just grab that lever (FIGURATIVELY) and push it on up to the Spiritual mode. Ask God to change your thoughts, attitudes, and actions to bring glory to Him, instead of yourself.

If your at all struggling with this, read right on down through Colossians 3. The chapter talks all about the flesh vs. the Spirit. Take the time now and refocus on the things of God. It'll be worth it.

*Manufacturer's note: One of my creations once said... "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." The lever to your mind tends to naturally pop back to fleshly mode, because that is your human nature. You can keep this from occurring by continually focusing on the things of the Spirit and let the Spirit have rule in your hearts. If at any time your mind pops back into fleshly mode, you can simply refocus on Spiritual things. If you would like to know what these are, read Colossians chapter 3 in your manufacturer's manual; this will explain further the fleshly things and the Spiritual things.

The Journey

I love books.

Interesting way to start a post about a journey, right?

I’ve always loved books, always been writing stories. Through the years I have made many a friend who shared my love of books and writing.  One day, while chatting with one of these friends, she told me that when she goes to read a book, she flips to the end and reads the last page. That way, she’ll know if she likes it or not.

*perplexed face*

“Uh, but then you know the ending. What fun is reading the story if you already know how it ends? You miss the whole journey of the characters. You miss out on…. everything.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ever wanted to do that with your own life? Pick it up like a book and flip to the last page, to see how it ends? Or maybe at least flip to the interesting chapters, where the answer to today’s questions are found (Who/when will I marry? How many kids will I have? Where will we live? Will I succeed in starting that career?).

Wouldn’t that be fun?

Oh, sure, maybe.  But you’d miss out on the journey. You’d skip how you got there. You’d miss the lessons, the laughs, the tears, the victories along the way. Really, the journey is the most important part of the story. How interesting would it be to read a story that went “Once upon a time, there was a princess. She was in distress, but then the prince came and they lived happily ever after.” Whew, that’s a good ending! 

The journey is what makes us appreciate the end of the story. God wants us to go on a journey. He wants us to learn lessons, experience ups and downs, have victories, have defeats, draw ever closer to Him. Because the real end of the journey isn’t in wedding vowsor cute little houses or building a successful career. The End of the journey comes when we reach Heaven and Jesus says “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful in a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. {Matthew 25:20-21}” The journey is where we are faithful in a few things, serving our Lord.

Wishing we could skip to the end won’t get us there any faster.

It won’t be easy. Then again, He never said it would be.

 But the journey is worth it.

*This was originally published on my personal blog*

God's Workmanship

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” -Ephesians 2:10

§

You are so often disillusioned by the terrifying heat in your life. You feel so heated inside by struggles and hurdles that, let's face it, make you melt. You don't understand. All you see before you is fire, and you become intensely aware of the ripping and tearing inside yourself, and you start to lose confidence and sink. You question if your Creator is really strengthening you or even cares about you. The heat rises to excruciating temperatures as the flames devour you. You cannot see an escape.

§

He has turned on the furnace. As he gently places the impure gold in the burning flames. He prepares His tools to purify the precious metal. The gold begins to melt, sinking to the bottom of the pot as the impurities separate and rise to the top. He removes the sludge from the gold, purifying and strengthening it. He carefully raises the temperature until the gold reflects his face, and he lifts the now purified gold out of the fire to cool.

§

In the corner of a shadow, she clutches her face in her hands. She's crying. She's confused; she feels utterly abandoned. The things she is going through don't make sense; her life seems to be falling apart. She cries out, "Why, God, why?" And a whisper brushes by her heart. She is calmed, for she knows that He knows the way she takes, and that when she is tried, she shall come forth as gold.

§

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10

p.s.- reread the top and bottom paragraphs, keeping the last verse in your mind. Since we are God's workmanship, He is going to work on us. In the end, God will be able to see his reflection perfectly in us. But until that wonderful day in glory, let us strive to be mold-able and trust that the Goldsmith knows what He's doing!

When...

When you don't kn ow exactly what's going on with girls' group because you are supposed to be organizing it but all of a sudden you are going to 4 summer camps and then you find out you'll be heading off hours away to your first job for 10 days.

And then you sit down and edit the rgog blog until it's sore from all the re-arranging.

And then you realize the last post on this blog was like, three months ago.

And so ya sit down in the middle of quite the messy house screaming "MUST BE CLEANED."

But you ignore it.

And you start posting on the girls' group blog about your personal life because really someone's gotta post somethin'...

And now you are contemplating if you really should tell them that you're writing a book, cause then you have to be very committed to it and then you need money for college and publishing and ain't nobody got time for that. But you know God wants ya to do it.



:D



Ah well might as well smile bout it, right? So yes, i blurted it out :/ I AM WRITING A BOOK. But it's not just me... hehehe guess who else? you'll never guess. Let me give you a few lines to think about it...






























...uh, it's YOU. You are helpin' me out. lol. Because I have always enjoyed it when you're like, reading a book and then you have actual people's real responses and stories with the lesson being learned. Because then it's real.

And now YOU'RE thinking, "Ain't nobody got time for that!?!" But don't worry about it. We got time for that. Because we are all a team in RGOG, right? We all put our input in at girls' group, and that's where the stuff, with your permission, comes from to go into the book. It's gonna be a study guide for teen girls written by teen girls and would be very cooperable with a girls' group setting :D I'm excited for the journey... the journey of a thousand miles that begins with a single step.

True Beauty mini-Conference

Attention, ladies and girls:

RGOG is hosting a special event:

A mini conference on the subject of true beauty!

You are invited to join us!

Here are the details:

When: Tuesday, June 4 at 6-8:30pm EST

Where: online, via Google+ hangouts

Speakers: Micaela and Cosette

Subject: What God and His Word say about true beauty

We’d love to have you join us! There will be all kinds of fun things happening, including special music, door prizes, and more! For those of us joining via webcam, we will still be able to enjoy all of these things (well, except snack time  ) Come prepared to learn from God’s Word as we study His definition of Beauty.

You can RSVP via email, comments, or through the G+ event.

Hope to see you there!

Song

Hey everyone! At Girl's Group tonight, Micaela shared "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus", and I kept thinking about Francesca Battistelli's song, "Strangely Dim". These are the lyrics...

I've got all these plans piled up sky high
A thousand dreams on hold
And I don't know why,
I got a front row seat
To the longest wait
And I just can't see
Past the things I pray
Today

But when I fix my eyes on all that You are
Then every doubt I feel
Deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
All my worries fade
And fall to the ground
Cause when I seek Your face
And don't look around
Any place I'm in
Grows strangely dim

Sometimes where I stand
On this narrow road
Is in a raging storm
Or a valley low
But oh

When I fix my eyes on all that You are
Then every doubt I feel
Deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
All my worries fade
And fall to the ground
Cause when I seek Your face
And don't look around
Any place I'm in
Grows strangely dim

I don't know, I don't know
What tomorrow may hold
But I know, but I know
That You're holding it all
So no matter what may come

I'm gonna fix my eyes on all that You are
'Til every doubt I feel
Deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
Let all my worries fade
And fall to the ground
I'm gonna seek Your face
And not look around
Til the place I'm in
Grows strangely, strangely, strangely dim.

And this is the music video...