Featured Articletag:www.virtuousreality.com,2009:/articles//42009-07-02T05:01:01ZMovable Type 3.34Totally Worth Ittag:www.virtuousreality.com,2009:/articles//4.4082009-07-01T22:57:02Z2009-07-02T05:01:01ZI was talking with a friend the other day who's going through one of the hardest times of her life and she asked me if Jesus is worth it. Is He worth hanging in there when you just want to...Shawna Petersonhttp://www.virtuousreality.com
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' - Acts 17:26-28
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. - Jeremiah 29:13-14]]>
Confessions of a Former Mean Girltag:www.virtuousreality.com,2009:/articles//4.4022009-06-02T05:06:06Z2009-06-03T03:33:46Z"We've come a long way, God" is all I could think as I sat and watched the home video of myself celebrating my fifteenth birthday. I could not believe the horrendous attitude. It was as if I thought that I...Shawna Petersonhttp://www.virtuousreality.com
"We've come a long way, God" is all I could think as I sat and watched the home video of myself celebrating my fifteenth birthday. I could not believe the horrendous attitude. It was as if I thought that I had arrived and the world revolved around me. Now I am not opposed to birthday party fun or the person with the special day being treated special. But there is a definite line that can be and was crossed for me. I could not believe that such a girl existed. I was so obnoxious, it amazed me that I had friends at that party. And not just one friend that could put up with me but several who all seemed to enjoy my company, adding fuel to my destructive fire.
That girl on the video sure looked like me but who was she? Where in the world did she come from and more importantly who in the world did she think she was? She was beyond obnoxious. A better description is self-centered. The thing that really got me was all the hard work that my mother put into making me a special birthday cake. When the time came to sing and blow out the candles, I wanted no part of it. In fact, I blew out the candles before she was finished singing and walked out of the room. I pierced my mother's heart. The only thing I cared about was me. I had relationships that benefited me. I did things that benefited me. I was very shallow.
Why do we do that anyway? In my case it was because of pure insecurity. I was desperate for people to like me, is anyone relating to this? I was determined to make myself look the opposite of what I really was.
I had always known that I gave my parents a hard time growing up. I was a wayward child of sorts but I did not realize the extent of it until that defining moment. I was caught on tape, no denying it. It reminded me of what the Bible tells us in Jeremiah 17:9 that, "the heart is deceitful above all things, who can understand it?"
God grabbed a hold of me several years ago when I was finally serious about giving Him full access to cleaning up my heart. We went through a time where He slowly showed me the ugly things that did indeed reside in my heart. Over that period, God slowly removed them one by one as He showed me that true security comes from Him alone. It was a hard process but it was well worth it because in the end came true freedom. I know there are still things that need to be cleaned up but God reminded me of this verse, "So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image" (2 Corinthians 3:18, NLT).
God changes us little by little so we can be changed into his glorious image. Oh, to glow for Him. That is all that I want at this time in my life. In the end, it was nice to see the transformation that had taken place since my fifteenth birthday. God definitely will not allow us to remain the same. He does want us all to reflect His glory.
If a video camera was taping your life, what attitudes and behaviors would it reflect back to you? What steps are you taking to reflect His glory? Is there anything that God needs to work out of you? Why don't we all ask God to "Search our hearts" as David did? God will reveal anything that needs to be changed in us. If you are a former mean girl like myself or know one,
take heart, God will not let that behavior stay forever. He is in the transformation business, for "He makes everything beautiful in its time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
By Angela Parsley
Refresh My Soul Ministries at refreshmysoul.com
A Year With Jesustag:www.virtuousreality.com,2009:/articles//4.3942009-05-01T20:00:00Z2009-05-02T01:22:24ZLet me tell you a little story about the last year of my life. It's been amazing, more than I could have imagined, and it never would have happened if I hadn't stepped out in faith to follow Jesus. Once...Jamie Lambhttp://www.virtuousreality.comOnce upon a time there was a girl named Jamie (nice to meet you) who worked at a church and tried and tried to do everything right and live a life that was good enough for...well for everyone actually. She would have said she was doing it for God but I think really she was doing it more for herself and public opinion than anything else. You see, it's always been important to her that people do the right thing, and she tried her best to do it herself as an example. The problem was that no matter how hard she tried she kept noticing that there was this junk in her soul that kept coming to the surface. So she would push it down and work harder. And the harder she worked to control herself and her life, the more frustrating it got because what Jamie didn't realize is that we have minimal control over ourselves in this life and absolutely none over anyone else. No matter how hard she tried to push down the bad and make herself perfect she never seemed to be gaining any ground and sometimes (horror of horrors) she actually seemed to be moving backward. Little issues that she thought she had dealt with already would rise to the surface at the worst possible times and take over until she thought that maybe... she might just be... hopeless. Maybe this was never going to work out for her. Maybe she wasn't actually the child of God she thought she was and she should just give up. (It was a lie but sometimes, when things are dark, it's hard to tell the lies from the truth).
Then in May of 2008 a miracle happened...except it didn't look like a miracle. Miracles sometimes start out looking like something regular or even bad, and at first this one just looked like loss. Loss of a job she had loved and a paycheck she counted on. Loss of some friends and a safety net that kept her life comfortable and easy...or so she thought. I should tell you that two of Jamie's favorite things about God is that He always knows her better than she knows herself, and He can always see what's really going on in her life and what needs to change in order for her to live the life He has planned for her. So early in 2008 Jesus whispered in her ear "Follow me" (an invitation He whispers to everyone He loves dearly) and for once she actually did just that. She stepped away from everything safe and comfortable and known and walked into the world with just His hand to hold and the smallest grain of faith that everything would be ok.
OK doesn't even begin to sum up the last year. I think the joy Jesus must feel when one of His kids finally decides to hand over their life and trust Him with the whole thing must just be skip-worthy. That's not a real word, but you know how it is when you're so happy about something that you have to jump around and skip to release some of the thrill? I think He must feel that way when we let go of our own dreams and expectations and grab His hand so He can show us His. Which is very much what it felt like when I stopped fighting Him and started following. It felt like we took off in a sprint so that He could show me new and exciting things. Things in the Dominican Republic, Mexico City, China, Belgium, Paris, and England. He introduced me to people, food, and cultures I never knew existed. He showed me Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower. We traveled on motos, trains, planes, buses, subways, and trams. And every step of the way, whether I was traveling alone or with friends, He was right there with me. Never in my life has His constant companionship been so incredibly real and joyful to me, and I finally understand that He is and will always be the love of my life. He is the only One in the world who can fill me up and make me whole. To expect that from anyone or anything else is ridiculous and futile. I know that the true Happily Ever After begins when this life is over and we step into the real one with Jesus, and that in this life there will be sorrow and suffering, but for the first time in my life I can honestly say that He, all by Himself, is more than enough for me. Nothing this world has to offer, from a husband and family to comfort, stuff or fame can ever be as satisfying as Jesus is to my soul.
My prayer for all of you is that you pursue Jesus with your whole hearts and don't give up until you find Him. He really does blow everything else out of the water. ]]>
Guarding your heart from even your friendstag:www.virtuousreality.com,2009:/articles//4.3902009-04-01T14:00:00Z2009-04-01T14:17:02ZAbove all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. - Proverbs 4:23 Have you ever been so hurt by a friend, someone you used to call your bff, that you thought something was wrong with you?...Jamie Lambhttp://www.virtuousreality.com
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. - Proverbs 4:23
Have you ever been so hurt by a friend, someone you used to call your bff, that you thought something was wrong with you?
You're not the only one. I'm seeing this more and more out there and I'm thinking we need to talk about it. I used to think the verse at the top was just about romantic or dating relationships but it isn't. Some of the biggest hurts in my life have come from my closest friends and happened partly because I thought I didn't need to guard my heart with them. I think what happens is that we make a new friend and we get all excited about them and because it's new and fun we lose ourselves in the friendship and let this person become more important to us than anyone else. Then, because they're the most important thing to us, we become dependent on them and open up our hearts more than we should. I honestly believe that there are places in our hearts meant only for Jesus. It's like a throne room where He sits and holds our hearts safe in His hands. A place where He alone is God and no one else is qualified to sit. And when we get rid of the guard on those places and let others take over, we set ourselves up for a world of hurt because people are by nature selfish and make terrible gods. We have a tendency to use others because it's fun for a while and then move on to someone new who's more fun, and the person left behind is stuck trying to pick up the pieces and figure out what went wrong. From my own experience I can say that the pain that comes with being dumped by a friend can be just as bad as the pain that comes from being dumped by a boyfriend.
So what are we supposed to do? How do we have healthy friendships and love our friends well but still guard our hearts? The truth is that only Jesus can keep us on track when it comes to relationships. If I'm more invested in a relationship with Him than I am with anyone else, then He sits in a position to guard me against even myself. The verse at the beginning tells us that our heart is the source of a joyful life, and a heart that's been beaten and stomped on isn't able to sustain a healthy life. Here are some clues that you've given someone else too much control of your life and your heart:
- You find yourself so strongly drawn to someone that you think about them all the time and you've lost interest in everyone else.
- You have to stay constantly connected by text, e-mail, phone etc. and if they don't respond immediately or pick up when you call you assume the worst and get anxious and depressed.
- Your relationship is highly physical even to the point of making those around you uncomfortable.
- You've lost yourself so much in the friendship that you've done things you always said you wouldn't.
- You feel anxious and depressed when you can't be together, or when your friend chooses to hang out with someone else.
- You're constantly trying to manipulate every situation so that you can be together, even to the point of lying to your parents and other friends.
Those are just a few but if any of those are ringing warning bells in your head, you need help to get some boundaries back in place and steer things in a healthier direction. If you don't, one or both of you will end up getting hurt and it won't be worth it. Start talking to Jesus about it and then get someone else involved who really loves you, like your parents.
Anybody out there know what I'm talking about?
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The Buicktag:www.virtuousreality.com,2009:/articles//4.3842009-03-01T22:01:42Z2009-03-02T02:40:41ZI want to introduce you to the Buick. This isn't the exact car, it's just a picture I found to give you an idea what she looks like. Beauty isn't she...she was my mom's car but soon she'll be mine....Jamie Lambhttp://www.virtuousreality.com
This isn't the exact car, it's just a picture I found to give you an idea what she looks like. Beauty isn't she...she was my mom's car but soon she'll be mine. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking it's a grandma car... my thoughts exactly. Here's the story - it used to be my mom's car but she died in 2007 and since she doesn't really need it anymore (you wouldn't believe the transportation options in Heaven!) it just sits around doing nothing. And recently my mechanic told me that I should get rid of my car because it would cost more than it's worth to fix. So I did. And I had all these exciting ideas about what kind of car I would get next and even went out with a friend to test drive some new ones...not that I can afford a new one but why not drive a few just for fun. But then reality set in and I starting talking to Jesus about the whole thing because He's really the one who owns all the cars in the world in the first place - always go to the source, that's what I say.
So I'm talking to Jesus when my Dad calls and he says - "You should take the Buick. It's just sitting here and it's still a great car."
And I say, after a moment of silence - "I don't really want the Buick Dad...it's just so...big. I think I can fit 47 people in the back seat."
To be honest my first thought is how uncool the Buick is. Not for my Dad, because he loves it, but for me because...well I think the Smart car is really cute and just about the perfect size...I LOVE those little cars. And I think 4 Smart cars can fit into the Buick... so you see the problem.
Then I start noodling the idea around in my head and Jesus says - "What if that's the car I've chosen for you Jamie? Are you going to reject it because it's not what you were hoping for? Because you see, I know what's coming next and maybe, just maybe, the Buick is just what you need for now."
So we talk it through for a bit and I realize that this is just one more opportunity to trust Jesus and roll with what He gives me instead of fighting for what I think will be better. I've never been right once in my life when I've chosen my own thing over His. So it looks like I'm about to be the proud parent of a 2000 Buick LeSabre, and the plan is to rock that Buick. Because it's not what you drive that defines you, it's Jesus, and He seems to think we're a good fit for now. ]]>
Wuv...Twu Wuv...tag:www.virtuousreality.com,2009:/articles//4.3772009-02-01T14:00:00Z2009-02-02T03:39:44ZName that movie. If you can't, I am shocked and order you to go watch the Princess Bride right now...well, finish this first and then go watch it. I'm on a crusade to redefine love because I think the word...Jamie Lambhttp://www.virtuousreality.com
I'm on a crusade to redefine love because I think the word has lost all of it's beauty and depth and importance these days. Like it shouldn't be possible to say, in the same sentence, that I love chocolate cake and I love my mom. Is it the same? Do I love the cake as much as my mom? Hope not. Why don't we have a better word for my feelings about the cake - which I do seriously enjoy but wouldn't take a bullet for. The Greeks did. They had 4 words for love. All that aside, my real issue is in how easily we throw the word around but don't really mean it. Like if a boy tells you he loves you but moves on to someone else in a few months or so, then he didn't really love you, he was just infatuated with you. And we use the word to get something out of people, but when we're done with them we just throw them away and move on. That's not love at all. So let's break it down a little bit and figure out what true love really is. In order to get this right I'm going straight to the Bible because that's truth consolidated into one book.
We'll go straight to the love chapter (1 Corinthians 13) and see what it has to say.
1 - Love is patient (even when things aren't going your way and everyone is driving you crazy)
2 - It's kind and not jealous.
3 - Love doesn't brag and isn't arrogant
4 - It doesn't act unbecomingly (which means inappropriately or in a way that's unattractive or takes away from your character)
5 - It doesn't seek it's own (it doesn't put itself first or demand it's own way)
6 - It's not provoked (easily aggravated or bothered)
7 - Love doesn't take into account a wrong suffered (no holding grudges)
8 - Doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth (doesn't find joy in what is base, crude and ugly but finds joy in all things good and true)
9 - It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Meaning that for the sake of the one loved, it will endure, believe, hope and bear up under whatever comes.
10 - Love never fails. It never walks away, it never quits, it never gives up, it is faithful to the end.
Man. That's huge. That's exactly what my heart aches for and can't ever seem to find. To be loved like that and be able to love others like that. How amazing would the world be if we could put into practice a love like that? I'm pretty sure that's what God was shooting for when He said that we should first love Him with everything we have and then go love others as much as we love ourselves. The bad news is that we just keep messing it up over and over and over again because we have this horrible tendency (we'll call it sin) to put ourselves first. The GOOD news (and when you really start to understand this you can see what amazingly good news it is) is that Jesus gets it right absolutely every time. Think about that. All that we've just said about love is exactly how Jesus feels about you every minute of your life no matter what you do or say. So if you're looking for true love and can't seem to find it, it's because you're looking in the wrong place. One of my favorite passages in the Bible is in Acts 17. It says that He made each of us to seek Him, to reach out for Him with our whole hearts to find Him, because He's not far from each of us. It says that in Him we live and move and exist. I don't believe it's possible to get any closer to anyone than that right there. So you do have a True Love. One who promised never to leave you or abandon you. If you're having a hard time finding Him, keep reaching out with all you've got until you find Him. Because He's right there - He said so.]]>
Does a new year change anything?tag:www.virtuousreality.com,2009:/articles//4.3692009-01-01T14:00:00Z2009-01-01T14:15:09ZI've been thinking about this today...will 2009 be any different/better, than 2008? Will I be any better? Will you? Can I do a better job of loving God wholeheartedly and loving others like I do myself and what exactly does...Jamie Lambhttp://www.virtuousreality.comI've been thinking about this today...will 2009 be any different/better, than 2008? Will I be any better? Will you? Can I do a better job of loving God wholeheartedly and loving others like I do myself and what exactly does that look like? For me, does it mean that I take a chance and adopt a kid who has no family and needs to be loved? Because everyone needs to be loved and it stinks being alone in this world. And what if I learn to live each day to please God alone and stop worrying about what people think? What about you? What does it mean for you?
My church has this beautiful vision for being a "church for the city", and the plan is to move into the poorest part of town and be Jesus there. I LOVE being a part of something like that and hearing stories of people who are putting themselves out there and taking chances because they want the world to see Jesus for who He really is. So who are we going to be this year? All I know is that I don't want the be the same person I have been, and with God all things are possible. Which means that He can do good things with even me. And THAT is great news for a new year! Happy New Year everyone! I pray that by the end of 2009 we all look more like the people God created us to be and the world is a better place because we're in it.]]>
As You Wishtag:www.virtuousreality.com,2008:/articles//4.3652008-12-01T18:00:00Z2008-12-02T02:09:09ZYou know how in the beginning of The Princess Bride, Buttercup keeps bossing Wesley around and his response is always "As you wish"? Then the narrator tells us that "As you wish" really means "I love you". Wesley is so...Jamie Lambhttp://www.virtuousreality.comYou know how in the beginning of The Princess Bride, Buttercup keeps bossing Wesley around and his response is always "As you wish"? Then the narrator tells us that "As you wish" really means "I love you". Wesley is so completely in love with Buttercup that he lives as her servant and happily does whatever she asks him to. Well I just had an epiphany!! Wesley is exactly like Mary (the mother of Jesus) in the Bible. Don't believe me? I'll show you.
Each Christmas I read through Luke 1-2 because it's the real Christmas story and each time I read it I am amazed and inspired by Mary. Here's why. When Gabriel shows up to tell Mary that her whole life is about to turn upside down, her response is "As you wish". You might not think it's a big deal, but let's break it down. This is all from Luke 1:26-38.
Let's say it's you and you're in high school. You're dating this great guy and doing it well - nothing shady going on. You're even planning on getting married once you're out of school and both of your families are thrilled. Then one day, out of the blue, God sends a messenger with some news. In the Bible, when an angel appeared to people it usually made them pass out because it was so shocking and awesome.
So Gabriel (the angel) shows up, and he's calmed down his brilliance a little so you don't freak out, and he says, "Hello blessed one!! God is with you!"
And then you respond by freaking out a little...because what exactly is going on and what does THAT mean??!!
Then he goes on to say "Don't be afraid, you're going to get pregnant with God's Son. He'll be the greatest King ever, and He's going to save the world!"
To this, your logical response is "Ummm...I'm not actually married and having sex so how's that supposed to happen?"
And Gabe says "Oh don't worry, the Holy Spirit will use His power to make you pregnant. That way this baby will really be God's son. I know it sounds impossible but God does the impossible all the time."
And here is where Mary becomes my hero. Because she's going to have to walk around high school pregnant, and everyone is going to think she's been sleeping around; and her friends and parents are all going to think she's lying and be so disappointed; and her boyfriend will be hurt and break up with her, which means no beautiful wedding and happy future with him. And even though all that must have gone through her mind, her response was "I am the Lord's servant, let it be done to me as you have said." which translated in today's English is simply..."As you wish". That makes me cry every time I read it. I think it's because the only way a person could respond like that is if her love for God is much much bigger than her love for anything or anyone else. Someday I hope to have an attitude more like Mary's...until then I keep pressing on.
Merry Christmas everyone. You're in my prayers.
Love
Jamie]]>
Following Jesus - part 2tag:www.virtuousreality.com,2008:/articles//4.3602008-11-01T12:00:00Z2008-11-01T16:23:41ZI'm not a good writer. I mean I can write and it usually ends up legible but it's like pulling my toes out through my left ear...try that and see how it works. It's coming up with something to say...Jamie Lambhttp://www.virtuousreality.com Back in May I quit my job to hang out with Jesus and see what would happen. Wanna know what's happening? He keeps taking me places and showing me Himself in different ways and introducing me to his kids from all over the world. And so far I'm loving it...really loving it. Like in July I spent 3 weeks in the Dominican Republic speaking bad Spanish and getting to know His kids down there. And when I say bad Spanish I mean BAD Spanish...because I took French in high school and they are in no way the same thing. I told one kid I was "soup" but I meant to say "hot". Then in October I went to Mexico City and did the exact same thing but with different people. In two days I'm heading out on a new adventure (I'll let you know more about it when I get back) and here's what I'm learning in all this following Jesus:
I'm learning that when He says "seek Me first and with your whole heart" it's because He's the only true love in this life and my heart is so very desperate to be loved.
I'm learning that people are no substitute for God because they can't love unconditionally and unfailingly even when they mean to. And I only love people well when my heart is safe in His hands.
I'm learning that when God told Martha that Mary had chosen the best thing and it wouldn't be taken from her (Luke 10:38-42), He meant that she had chosen Him and that knowing Him is better than anything the world has to offer.
And I'm learning that a life spent in the arms of the One who loves me most is so much better than anything I can force on my own.
What are you guys learning?
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Let's Talk TTYL tag:www.virtuousreality.com,2008:/articles//4.3572008-10-01T06:05:00Z2008-10-01T06:24:43Z I wish you guys were in the room with me and we could just have this conversation instead of me writing out all that's in my head and waiting for your comments. This is why the internet will never...Shawna Petersonhttp://www.virtuousreality.com
I wish you guys were in the room with me and we could just have this conversation instead of me writing out all that's in my head and waiting for your comments. This is why the internet will never take the place of real relationship. So let's pretend...my first question is how many of you have read this book? And in my head I think maybe a lot of you have because it's a bestseller. I also think I heard some of you say that it's just a harmless book that's fun to read because it's written in IM or because it's stuff you can relate to. But I have to tell you that it made me so incredibly sad when I read it. It made me sad for anyone who reads it and thinks that it's harmless and sad for the author who wrote it and thinks that it's harmless...because it really is anything but. What I have learned from experience is that the more junk I put into my head, the more my view of things gets twisted and warped until it lines up with the junk instead of with the truth. I have also learned from experience that the only truth I can really trust is the truth laid out by Jesus himself. And I honestly believe this book makes Him sad too. Sad because so many of His beautiful girls think it's normal to be obsessed with boys and sex. Sad because He created us for Himself first and to be a light in this world instead of just another gossiping, crude, cussing, self-centered, desperate, over-sexed young woman who gives herself away freely to whoever or whatever seems like the most fun in the moment.
I know that there are girls like the characters in the book and messed up teachers like the one in the book - I have met them. What the author doesn't show in the book is that these girls aren't usually happy-go-lucky and they often struggle with depression and all that goes with it. God never intended for us to be all about ourselves - we are here on a mission to love Him the most and others like we love ourselves.
So here's what I walked away with after reading the book: First I need to pray. Pray for all of us who have chosen any life other than a life with Jesus, because there is minimal joy there and it goes away pretty quickly. Pray for authors like Lauren Myracle who do more harm that good with their abilities and lead others away from God instead of toward Him.
If you haven't read the book, please don't. It's offensive and base and shows girls at their worst instead of encouraging them to be women of character and integrity. If you have read the book...let's talk. Let me know what you thought. I really want to hear from you guys.
love
jamie]]>
Why I Waitedtag:www.virtuousreality.com,2008:/articles//4.3452008-09-08T17:41:50Z2008-09-10T21:37:42Z"There is a beautiful gift inside this package. It's wrapped for protection; tied for security, Stamped:'Fragile!' 'Handle With Care!' It's easy to loosen the strings, to let just anyone tear away the wrapping. To give the gift without commitment-- or...Shawna Petersonhttp://www.virtuousreality.com
"There is a beautiful gift inside this package.
It's wrapped for protection; tied for security,
Stamped:'Fragile!'
'Handle With Care!'
It's easy to loosen the strings,
to let just anyone tear away the wrapping.
To give the gift without commitment--
or hand it out as the prize for a game.
There's a gift wrapped inside this brown paper.
It's for keeps. Non-returnable. Not to be exchanged.
It's a surprise, a happy treat
to be opened by the person to whom it's addressed,
on the date marked: 'FOREVER'."
- Ruth Senter
I found this poem in the pages of a Seventeen magazine back in 1980. Not knowing why at the time, I cut out the words and glued them to a page in my self-made scrapbook. Around the poem, I put several quotes about liking myself along with some individual pictures of myself at 13, 14 and 15. What's ironic about that is I certainly don't remember being particularly fond of myself or overly confident during those early teen years. It would be years later that I truly understood the meaning of the words in that poem yet something about it struck a chord in my heart.
At the age of thirteen my body more closely resembled that of an eighteen year old woman than an adolescent girl. Because of this I received an excessive amount of attention from boys--and I gladly welcomed it. With my newfound popularity among the males came constant pressure to be physically involved.
I had been raised in a moral home, and given snippets of advice in this category, but none that made any sense. My father was physically present but completely checked out of my life once I embarked on puberty. The only "talk" I got from my mother was something to the effect of "boys only want one thing and don't have sex before you get married." I always wanted to know "why" and would often ask my peers for advice on the subject. The problem was that most of them were already beginning to experiment with sex. I was curious yet at the same time had a very strong conscience. Deep in my soul I knew there had to be a reason to wait. I simply wanted someone—anyone—to give me that answer.
By my sophomore year of high school the majority of my girlfriends had lost their innocence. “Everyone was doing it.” That year I became involved in my first serious relationship. This was the young man of my dreams and in my heart I had made the decision that I would give in if and when he asked me. My best friend told me “when he goes away to college next year, he will never forget you if you have sex with him.” Such wise advice—not! By the grace of God, my first love was a Christian and deeply committed to waiting until marriage. He respected me and we shared a sweet, innocent love for two years and he led me to a personal relationship with God. During our courtship, I was out with a girlfriend one evening when we stumbled upon her boyfriend at the beach with another girl. As we approached them we discovered it was his former girlfriend and they were kissing. My friend’s reaction to this was enough to reinforce my decision to remain pure. As she confronted him she asked “how he could make love to her and turn around and be with another woman?” She was absolutely devastated and sobbed the entire evening. In that moment the answer to my question was staring me in the face. I thought to myself: "I never want to be in this place she is in—ever! This must be why you’re supposed to wait. She is bonded to him forever. It shouldn’t be like this.”
As it turned out, my high school sweetheart and I went our separate ways after graduation. I have such fond memories and never once have I looked back with regret on not giving him “the beautiful gift inside this package.” Although it was not an easy, or popular, path I’m happy to say I was able to give the gift to the very special person—my husband—on the date marked “Forever”.
Written by: Dana CarpenterAbout The Author
Dana is married with 3 boys, but to get the whole scoop visit her website at http://www.hopehasavoice.blogspot.com]]>
Oh, the places you’ll go with God! tag:www.virtuousreality.com,2008:/articles//4.3412008-08-01T08:06:44Z2008-08-01T21:57:50ZIf you’ve recently walked through the mall, or flipped through your favorite magazine or newspaper, chances are you’ve seen the inevitable “back to school” ads and sales. It’s official, summer is coming to an end and before we know it,...Michele Armstronghttp://www.virtuoousreality.comIf you’ve recently walked through the mall, or flipped through your favorite magazine or newspaper, chances are you’ve seen the inevitable “back to school” ads and sales. It’s official, summer is coming to an end and before we know it, we’ll be back to the regular routine of classes and homework. For many of us, returning to school means seeing familiar faces and classrooms; but for others, it may be a time of tremendous change. Maybe you are finally entering high school, excited for the long-awaited days of football games, driver’s ed and your first homecoming dance. Or perhaps you’ve graduated from high school and are making final preparations for the big move to your college dorm. Whatever we may be facing - big or small - it is important for each of us as daughters of the King to seek Him first.
I recently finished my first year of college; so, I can definitely relate to what you may be feeling. When faced with uncertainty, we tend to become nervous, anxious, worried, or possibly even scared - no matter how excited we are. And as a self-diagnosed perfectionist, letting go of my “need-to-know-every-detail” mentality is a daily struggle.
Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” If we were to always rely on our own understanding, we would certainly have reason to worry – on account of simply being human. Meaning, we are incapable of knowing everything about everything. Rather than trusting our own thoughts or ideas of what the future may bring, we have to TRUST in our Lord. That’s the beauty of authentic faith. We know nothing in comparison to what God knows, so trusting Him (the One who knows everything) seems to be our best choice. So sisters, whenever you start to worry about the upcoming school year, think about this verse and know that God is in control! My freshman year of college was all about change, but God was the one thing that remained the same. When you’re in a new environment and the only familiar thing to you is your relationship with Jesus, I promise you this - you will experience joy and spiritual growth like never before!
God’s love and faithfulness will never change. Hebrews 13:8 says that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” He is always available, He always provides, and He never disappoints. As you begin this school year, be confident of this promise. We may not know what the next year of our lives will bring, but we DO know that God has great things planned for each of us!
Written by: Amanda Molleur*Amanda (center left) is pictured above with her family shortly after moving into her dorm freshman year. About the Author
Amanda is a sophomore at Baylor University studying journalism and public relations. She has danced for 12 years and loves reading, writing, photography, shopping, and the color pink. Amanda is a Yada Yada alumni (a Virtuous Reality mother/daughter conference for teens) and was recently a marketing intern for Virtuous Reality.
Amanda welcomes any comments or the opportunity to chat with you. Click here to email her.
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Texting Godtag:www.virtuousreality.com,2008:/articles//4.3372008-07-01T06:05:00Z2008-07-01T17:41:46ZDo you ever wonder if God is listening? Do you ever feel like you’re not getting a response after praying, only to assume He’s taking voice mail and doesn't really want to return the call? You may have even had...Michele Armstronghttp://www.virtuoousreality.comDo you ever wonder if God is listening? Do you ever feel like you’re not getting a response after praying, only to assume He’s taking voice mail and doesn't really want to return the call? You may have even had the following thought: What's up God? I've left messages, sent texts, short e-mail like prayers all day, and still no response! Are You ever gonna answer me?
What about this: Have you ever wondered if your friend is upset or, the nerve, busy the very moment you call or text simply because an immediate response did not follow? Or, what about when a call goes strait to voice mail, do you ever wonder if it will be ignored, deleted or even checked?
In our world of immediate response through e-mail, texting and IMing, we have adapted to a lifestyle of instant everything; Answer the phone. Answer the text. Answer the e-mail. We then expect God to do the same. And when He doesn’t answer immediately, we become unsure about our relationship with Him. I mean, when a friend doesn’t text or call back immediately, we automatically think they don’t care or are too busy to be our friend.
But that’s the problem with being human; we think God acts like us. We often assume that along with our busy schedules with sports, school, friends, youth group and the like, that God does the same. We become insecure and think that God is just too busy for us. And, if we don’t get the response we want, we begin to wonder if the message is even getting to Him at all. I Peter 3:12 states that, “…the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer.” But why do we doubt?
God doesn’t live according to our microwave, instant-everything world. I mean, which would you prefer: a quick text message or a long talk with your best friend when things get rough? It’s the same way with Jesus. He wants to spend time with us, not just “texting” prayers back and forth.
Psalm 46:10 declares “Be still and know that I am God.” Maybe God likes the idea of waiting on Him (for a response) because He knows what it will do for us. That kind of waiting teaches us all the good stuff (like patience, humility and compassion) that we might not want to learn. He wants us to slow down, sit for awhile and really talk to Him.
For instance, you send God a prayer about a guy you like: “God, does Jason like me? Is this going to be a good thing?” No response, at least not right away. So, what’s a girl to do in the meantime? Do you take the silence as a thumbs up to go ahead and do what you want? Or maybe the silence is to teach you to wait. Wait a few more days or weeks, and keep praying. What if it turns out that not being with this guy is the best thing for you? You could have made a bad decision because you sent God a “text” prayer and he didn’t respond with a “text” right away.
Being still with God will build a sweet relationship that every girl needs. Through that relationship you will find answers to all your prayers. They might not come when you want them to, but God is in the business of making you more like His son, Jesus, rather than simply passing out instant messages. He loves you so much that He would have you wait for the right answer, every time.
Girls love to talk, and God loves to listen. Say goodbye to text message praying and hello to a dialog with the One True Living God. From God - I hear ya/BTW/I luv u!
Written by Natalie Witcher
About the Author: If waxy chocolate donuts were a food group, Natalie would be the first to make them part of every meal. But, since they aren’t, she’ll keep her head about her and “feast” on what truly is important—the Word of God. She is a mom of three and a wife of one. She’s a friend, mentor, movie lover and is convinced that when ever a lazy thunderstorm rolls in that God ordered it just for her. Raising her own girls gives her a front row seat to watching God do great things in the lives of great girls! She prays that every girl reading this online magazine will find everything they need in Christ!Author Links
Natalie Witcher @ Blogspot
Stiletto Army @ Blogspot
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Don't give me that BULL!tag:www.virtuousreality.com,2008:/articles//4.3342008-06-02T20:52:49Z2008-06-03T00:35:08Z "They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass. They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt." [Psalm 106:20-21] Reminding us of a time when the children of Israel...Michele Armstronghttp://www.virtuoousreality.com"They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass. They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt." [Psalm 106:20-21]
Reminding us of a time when the children of Israel turned their backs on God, Psalms 106 paints a scene all too familiar. If you know the story, you know that God miraculously delivered them out of slavery. He parted the Red Sea for the children of Israel to escape, and then used that same body of water to drown the army that was pursuing them. Moses then proceeded up the mountain to receive the laws (from God) by which they were to live. It was during this 40-day period, while Moses was on the mountain with God, that the children of Israel began worshipping a bull. In choosing not to trust in His promises, they had forgotten all the great things that God had done.
It’s so easy for us to look back at the children of Israel and think, how could they? I mean, he was only gone for 40 days. That’s just over a month. How could they forget all the miraculous things that God had done in such a short period?
Are we really any different?
Are you as close to God now - as you were when you first gave your life to Him? As the anticipation mounds for youth camp or a missions trip this summer, how long will it be before you forget your experience and resign it only to a photograph posted on Facebook or an entry in your journal? How long will it be before you resign to the thought, one person can’t make a difference, I might as well not even try?
You don’t have to exchange your Glory for the bull! Now you may be thinking, do you really think I would bow down to a bull? No, I don’t. But, I do believe that we allow things of this world and in our lives to take the place of our God. Here are a few examples of what this might look like practically:
She exchanged her Glory for a boyfriend, who “loves” her with a selfish, imperfect love.
She exchanged her Glory for popularity, which will cause her to seek the approval of others rather than the approval of God.
She exchanged her Glory for pursuit of physical beauty, which will leave her insecure and in a perpetual state of comparing herself with others.
She exchanged her Glory for an intimate relationship, which will leave her emotionally scarred, with a sense of worthlessness and could even lead to pregnancy, disease or even infertility.
Can you hear Him saying, “Don’t give Me that bull, that boyfriend, those friendships or anything else – absolutely nothing can take MY place in your life?” How often do we find ourselves looking away from God and to the things around us for comfort, for healing, for happiness and joy, and even for saving? Having a boyfriend, friends or even a social life are not bad things; however, when they begin to replace God in our life, it reveals our lack of trust in Him.
Let’s make a new commitment today to keep God in His rightful place in our lives!
Written By: Cheryl Adams
Millen, Georgia
Visit Cheryl Online]]>
Emotional Maturitytag:www.virtuousreality.com,2008:/articles//4.3222008-05-01T06:05:00Z2008-05-19T20:44:44ZA man who loves others well is a man who understands the Biblical premise of esteeming another person more important than oneself (Phil. 2:3). A man who assumes that the whole world revolves around him is a man who will...Michele Armstronghttp://www.virtuoousreality.comA man who loves others well is a man who understands the Biblical premise of esteeming another person more important than oneself (Phil. 2:3). A man who assumes that the whole world revolves around him is a man who will love miserably and will probably be the poster child for the local tribe of BOZO GUYS!!!
I know that living in a self-enthralled, navel gazing haze is not limited to the male gender. It just seems that the twenty-first century has increased the number of men who think such behavior is normal. The Me Generation has not left very much room for a Man Worth Waiting For (MWWF) to even rent space here on earth. Our planet seems to be over-populated with BOZO guys running in packs and encouraging the next generation to follow in their self-enthralled footsteps.
As we begin to look at the emotional lives of a Boaz (reference to the story of Ruth) and Bozo, I want to mention three deal breakers in male-female relationships. These qualities, if disregarded, will set a man and woman on an inevitable collision course with reality – and they may never recover from it. Women can side step a lifetime of unhappiness by merely being aware of these deal breakers and evaluating their boyfriends honestly. Incidentally, I got these ideas from a modern Boaz!
A MWWF has a growing relationship with Jesus and isn’t just good at the Christian verbal dance
A MWWF doesn’t abuse substances or people
A MWWF has personality quirks, but they’re ones you can live with for a lifetime
Because so many women disregard these three basic requirements, counseling practices are full and ministries have developed to work specifically with women who are suffering in fatally flawed relationships. A good friend of mine started a ministry called WAR (Women at Rest), which is for women who are spiritually mismatched. She teaches them how to face the daily battles that a spiritually unbalanced couple faces. When a woman ignores the deal breakers, she can count on frequent conflict, if not war, with her partner.
An Emotional Yardstick
We are going to look at different characteristics of emotional health, comparing the emotional instability of the Bozo and the growing emotional maturity of the Man Worth Waiting For. We’ll consider the negative Bozo quality first, followed by the contrasting positive quality of a Boaz.
Qualities of a Bozo
is controlled by his emotions
believes he is entitled
doesn’t notice others’ needs
is quick to criticize others
has a high opinion of himself
lacks integrity
Qualities of a Boaz
is patient and self controlled [Proverbs 16:32; James 1:19; Matthew 12:34]
can raise above disappointment and frustration [Isaiah 26:3]
focuses on others [Phil. 2:3-4; Matthew 20:28]
is tolerant of flaws (not criticizing or judging others)
has a humble, open heart and mind [Micah 6:8]
is a classic example of integrity
To a man of integrity, noble character in a woman makes her ‘simply irresistible.’
You tell us! When considering the premier signs of emotional maturity, which one is the most significant to you?About the Author
Jackie Kendall, president of Power to Grow Ministries, is a nationally sought after speaker to all ages. She has authored Lady in Waiting, The Mentoring Mom and a devotional, Say Goodbye to Shame. In addition, Jackie is currently booked with LifeWay’s You and Your Girl conferences with Vicki Courtney. Check out Jackie Online!
*Excerp used with permission by Jackie Kendall, from A Man Worth Waiting For. Copyright 2008, FaithWords Publishing.
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Once upon a time there was a girl named Jamie (nice to meet you) who worked at a church and tried and tried to do everything right and live a life that was good enough for...well for everyone actually. She would have said she was doing it for God but I think really she was doing it more for herself and public opinion than anything else. You see, it's always been important to her that people do the right thing, and she tried her best to do it herself as an example. The problem was that no matter how hard she tried she kept noticing that there was this junk in her soul that kept coming to the surface. So she would push it down and work harder. And the harder she worked to control herself and her life, the more frustrating it got because what Jamie didn't realize is that we have minimal control over ourselves in this life and absolutely none over anyone else. No matter how hard she tried to push down the bad and make herself perfect she never seemed to be gaining any ground and sometimes (horror of horrors) she actually seemed to be moving backward. Little issues that she thought she had dealt with already would rise to the surface at the worst possible times and take over until she thought that maybe... she might just be... hopeless. Maybe this was never going to work out for her. Maybe she wasn't actually the child of God she thought she was and she should just give up. (It was a lie but sometimes, when things are dark, it's hard to tell the lies from the truth).
Then in May of 2008 a miracle happened...except it didn't look like a miracle. Miracles sometimes start out looking like something regular or even bad, and at first this one just looked like loss. Loss of a job she had loved and a paycheck she counted on. Loss of some friends and a safety net that kept her life comfortable and easy...or so she thought. I should tell you that two of Jamie's favorite things about God is that He always knows her better than she knows herself, and He can always see what's really going on in her life and what needs to change in order for her to live the life He has planned for her. So early in 2008 Jesus whispered in her ear "Follow me" (an invitation He whispers to everyone He loves dearly) and for once she actually did just that. She stepped away from everything safe and comfortable and known and walked into the world with just His hand to hold and the smallest grain of faith that everything would be ok.
OK doesn't even begin to sum up the last year. I think the joy Jesus must feel when one of His kids finally decides to hand over their life and trust Him with the whole thing must just be skip-worthy. That's not a real word, but you know how it is when you're so happy about something that you have to jump around and skip to release some of the thrill? I think He must feel that way when we let go of our own dreams and expectations and grab His hand so He can show us His. Which is very much what it felt like when I stopped fighting Him and started following. It felt like we took off in a sprint so that He could show me new and exciting things. Things in the Dominican Republic, Mexico City, China, Belgium, Paris, and England. He introduced me to people, food, and cultures I never knew existed. He showed me Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower. We traveled on motos, trains, planes, buses, subways, and trams. And every step of the way, whether I was traveling alone or with friends, He was right there with me. Never in my life has His constant companionship been so incredibly real and joyful to me, and I finally understand that He is and will always be the love of my life. He is the only One in the world who can fill me up and make me whole. To expect that from anyone or anything else is ridiculous and futile. I know that the true Happily Ever After begins when this life is over and we step into the real one with Jesus, and that in this life there will be sorrow and suffering, but for the first time in my life I can honestly say that He, all by Himself, is more than enough for me. Nothing this world has to offer, from a husband and family to comfort, stuff or fame can ever be as satisfying as Jesus is to my soul.
My prayer for all of you is that you pursue Jesus with your whole hearts and don't give up until you find Him. He really does blow everything else out of the water. ]]>
I've been thinking about this today...will 2009 be any different/better, than 2008? Will I be any better? Will you? Can I do a better job of loving God wholeheartedly and loving others like I do myself and what exactly does that look like? For me, does it mean that I take a chance and adopt a kid who has no family and needs to be loved? Because everyone needs to be loved and it stinks being alone in this world. And what if I learn to live each day to please God alone and stop worrying about what people think? What about you? What does it mean for you?
My church has this beautiful vision for being a "church for the city", and the plan is to move into the poorest part of town and be Jesus there. I LOVE being a part of something like that and hearing stories of people who are putting themselves out there and taking chances because they want the world to see Jesus for who He really is. So who are we going to be this year? All I know is that I don't want the be the same person I have been, and with God all things are possible. Which means that He can do good things with even me. And THAT is great news for a new year! Happy New Year everyone! I pray that by the end of 2009 we all look more like the people God created us to be and the world is a better place because we're in it.]]>
You know how in the beginning of The Princess Bride, Buttercup keeps bossing Wesley around and his response is always "As you wish"? Then the narrator tells us that "As you wish" really means "I love you". Wesley is so completely in love with Buttercup that he lives as her servant and happily does whatever she asks him to. Well I just had an epiphany!! Wesley is exactly like Mary (the mother of Jesus) in the Bible. Don't believe me? I'll show you.
Each Christmas I read through Luke 1-2 because it's the real Christmas story and each time I read it I am amazed and inspired by Mary. Here's why. When Gabriel shows up to tell Mary that her whole life is about to turn upside down, her response is "As you wish". You might not think it's a big deal, but let's break it down. This is all from Luke 1:26-38.
Let's say it's you and you're in high school. You're dating this great guy and doing it well - nothing shady going on. You're even planning on getting married once you're out of school and both of your families are thrilled. Then one day, out of the blue, God sends a messenger with some news. In the Bible, when an angel appeared to people it usually made them pass out because it was so shocking and awesome.
So Gabriel (the angel) shows up, and he's calmed down his brilliance a little so you don't freak out, and he says, "Hello blessed one!! God is with you!"
And then you respond by freaking out a little...because what exactly is going on and what does THAT mean??!!
Then he goes on to say "Don't be afraid, you're going to get pregnant with God's Son. He'll be the greatest King ever, and He's going to save the world!"
To this, your logical response is "Ummm...I'm not actually married and having sex so how's that supposed to happen?"
And Gabe says "Oh don't worry, the Holy Spirit will use His power to make you pregnant. That way this baby will really be God's son. I know it sounds impossible but God does the impossible all the time."
And here is where Mary becomes my hero. Because she's going to have to walk around high school pregnant, and everyone is going to think she's been sleeping around; and her friends and parents are all going to think she's lying and be so disappointed; and her boyfriend will be hurt and break up with her, which means no beautiful wedding and happy future with him. And even though all that must have gone through her mind, her response was "I am the Lord's servant, let it be done to me as you have said." which translated in today's English is simply..."As you wish". That makes me cry every time I read it. I think it's because the only way a person could respond like that is if her love for God is much much bigger than her love for anything or anyone else. Someday I hope to have an attitude more like Mary's...until then I keep pressing on.
Merry Christmas everyone. You're in my prayers.
Love
Jamie]]>
Back in May I quit my job to hang out with Jesus and see what would happen. Wanna know what's happening? He keeps taking me places and showing me Himself in different ways and introducing me to his kids from all over the world. And so far I'm loving it...really loving it. Like in July I spent 3 weeks in the Dominican Republic speaking bad Spanish and getting to know His kids down there. And when I say bad Spanish I mean BAD Spanish...because I took French in high school and they are in no way the same thing. I told one kid I was "soup" but I meant to say "hot". Then in October I went to Mexico City and did the exact same thing but with different people. In two days I'm heading out on a new adventure (I'll let you know more about it when I get back) and here's what I'm learning in all this following Jesus:
About The Author
Dana is married with 3 boys, but to get the whole scoop visit her website at http://www.hopehasavoice.blogspot.com]]>
If you’ve recently walked through the mall, or flipped through your favorite magazine or newspaper, chances are you’ve seen the inevitable “back to school” ads and sales. It’s official, summer is coming to an end and before we know it, we’ll be back to the regular routine of classes and homework. For many of us, returning to school means seeing familiar faces and classrooms; but for others, it may be a time of tremendous change. Maybe you are finally entering high school, excited for the long-awaited days of football games, driver’s ed and your first homecoming dance. Or perhaps you’ve graduated from high school and are making final preparations for the big move to your college dorm. Whatever we may be facing - big or small - it is important for each of us as daughters of the King to seek Him first.
I recently finished my first year of college; so, I can definitely relate to what you may be feeling. When faced with uncertainty, we tend to become nervous, anxious, worried, or possibly even scared - no matter how excited we are. And as a self-diagnosed perfectionist, letting go of my “need-to-know-every-detail” mentality is a daily struggle.
Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” If we were to always rely on our own understanding, we would certainly have reason to worry – on account of simply being human. Meaning, we are incapable of knowing everything about everything. Rather than trusting our own thoughts or ideas of what the future may bring, we have to TRUST in our Lord. That’s the beauty of authentic faith. We know nothing in comparison to what God knows, so trusting Him (the One who knows everything) seems to be our best choice. So sisters, whenever you start to worry about the upcoming school year, think about this verse and know that God is in control! My freshman year of college was all about change, but God was the one thing that remained the same. When you’re in a new environment and the only familiar thing to you is your relationship with Jesus, I promise you this - you will experience joy and spiritual growth like never before!
God’s love and faithfulness will never change. Hebrews 13:8 says that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” He is always available, He always provides, and He never disappoints. As you begin this school year, be confident of this promise. We may not know what the next year of our lives will bring, but we DO know that God has great things planned for each of us!
Written by: Amanda Molleur
*Amanda (center left) is pictured above with her family shortly after moving into her dorm freshman year.
About the Author
Amanda is a sophomore at Baylor University studying journalism and public relations. She has danced for 12 years and loves reading, writing, photography, shopping, and the color pink. Amanda is a Yada Yada alumni (a Virtuous Reality mother/daughter conference for teens) and was recently a marketing intern for Virtuous Reality.
Amanda welcomes any comments or the opportunity to chat with you. Click here to email her.
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Do you ever wonder if God is listening? Do you ever feel like you’re not getting a response after praying, only to assume He’s taking voice mail and doesn't really want to return the call? You may have even had the following thought: What's up God? I've left messages, sent texts, short e-mail like prayers all day, and still no response! Are You ever gonna answer me?
What about this: Have you ever wondered if your friend is upset or, the nerve, busy the very moment you call or text simply because an immediate response did not follow? Or, what about when a call goes strait to voice mail, do you ever wonder if it will be ignored, deleted or even checked?
In our world of immediate response through e-mail, texting and IMing, we have adapted to a lifestyle of instant everything; Answer the phone. Answer the text. Answer the e-mail. We then expect God to do the same. And when He doesn’t answer immediately, we become unsure about our relationship with Him. I mean, when a friend doesn’t text or call back immediately, we automatically think they don’t care or are too busy to be our friend.
But that’s the problem with being human; we think God acts like us. We often assume that along with our busy schedules with sports, school, friends, youth group and the like, that God does the same. We become insecure and think that God is just too busy for us. And, if we don’t get the response we want, we begin to wonder if the message is even getting to Him at all. I Peter 3:12 states that, “…the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer.” But why do we doubt?
God doesn’t live according to our microwave, instant-everything world. I mean, which would you prefer: a quick text message or a long talk with your best friend when things get rough? It’s the same way with Jesus. He wants to spend time with us, not just “texting” prayers back and forth.
Psalm 46:10 declares “Be still and know that I am God.” Maybe God likes the idea of waiting on Him (for a response) because He knows what it will do for us. That kind of waiting teaches us all the good stuff (like patience, humility and compassion) that we might not want to learn. He wants us to slow down, sit for awhile and really talk to Him.
For instance, you send God a prayer about a guy you like: “God, does Jason like me? Is this going to be a good thing?” No response, at least not right away. So, what’s a girl to do in the meantime? Do you take the silence as a thumbs up to go ahead and do what you want? Or maybe the silence is to teach you to wait. Wait a few more days or weeks, and keep praying. What if it turns out that not being with this guy is the best thing for you? You could have made a bad decision because you sent God a “text” prayer and he didn’t respond with a “text” right away.
Being still with God will build a sweet relationship that every girl needs. Through that relationship you will find answers to all your prayers. They might not come when you want them to, but God is in the business of making you more like His son, Jesus, rather than simply passing out instant messages. He loves you so much that He would have you wait for the right answer, every time.
Girls love to talk, and God loves to listen. Say goodbye to text message praying and hello to a dialog with the One True Living God. From God - I hear ya/BTW/I luv u!
Written by Natalie Witcher
About the Author: If waxy chocolate donuts were a food group, Natalie would be the first to make them part of every meal. But, since they aren’t, she’ll keep her head about her and “feast” on what truly is important—the Word of God. She is a mom of three and a wife of one. She’s a friend, mentor, movie lover and is convinced that when ever a lazy thunderstorm rolls in that God ordered it just for her. Raising her own girls gives her a front row seat to watching God do great things in the lives of great girls! She prays that every girl reading this online magazine will find everything they need in Christ!
Author Links
Natalie Witcher @ Blogspot
Stiletto Army @ Blogspot
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"They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass. They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt." [Psalm 106:20-21]
Reminding us of a time when the children of Israel turned their backs on God, Psalms 106 paints a scene all too familiar. If you know the story, you know that God miraculously delivered them out of slavery. He parted the Red Sea for the children of Israel to escape, and then used that same body of water to drown the army that was pursuing them. Moses then proceeded up the mountain to receive the laws (from God) by which they were to live. It was during this 40-day period, while Moses was on the mountain with God, that the children of Israel began worshipping a bull. In choosing not to trust in His promises, they had forgotten all the great things that God had done.
It’s so easy for us to look back at the children of Israel and think, how could they? I mean, he was only gone for 40 days. That’s just over a month. How could they forget all the miraculous things that God had done in such a short period?
Are we really any different?
Are you as close to God now - as you were when you first gave your life to Him? As the anticipation mounds for youth camp or a missions trip this summer, how long will it be before you forget your experience and resign it only to a photograph posted on Facebook or an entry in your journal? How long will it be before you resign to the thought, one person can’t make a difference, I might as well not even try?
You don’t have to exchange your Glory for the bull! Now you may be thinking, do you really think I would bow down to a bull? No, I don’t. But, I do believe that we allow things of this world and in our lives to take the place of our God. Here are a few examples of what this might look like practically:
A man who loves others well is a man who understands the Biblical premise of esteeming another person more important than oneself (Phil. 2:3). A man who assumes that the whole world revolves around him is a man who will love miserably and will probably be the poster child for the local tribe of BOZO GUYS!!!
I know that living in a self-enthralled, navel gazing haze is not limited to the male gender. It just seems that the twenty-first century has increased the number of men who think such behavior is normal. The Me Generation has not left very much room for a Man Worth Waiting For (MWWF) to even rent space here on earth. Our planet seems to be over-populated with BOZO guys running in packs and encouraging the next generation to follow in their self-enthralled footsteps.
As we begin to look at the emotional lives of a Boaz (reference to the story of Ruth) and Bozo, I want to mention three deal breakers in male-female relationships. These qualities, if disregarded, will set a man and woman on an inevitable collision course with reality – and they may never recover from it. Women can side step a lifetime of unhappiness by merely being aware of these deal breakers and evaluating their boyfriends honestly. Incidentally, I got these ideas from a modern Boaz!