Think Before You Speak or Act....

I want you to answer the following questions...Don't worry..they aren't hard...Answer them TRUE or FALSE.

1. Thirty minutes is too long to wait for a table at a restaurant.
2. You get irritated if a friend takes too long to text you back.
3. Waiting at red lights drives you crazy.
4. You tend to think through all the alternatives when making decisions.
5. When you shop, you buy the first pair of jeans you like instead of looking around more.
6. You can't stand commercials when you're watching TV, so you either change the channel or use your DVR to fast-forward through them.
7. When you finish a test, you turn it in only after you've double-and triple-checked your answers.
8. You can recall a bad-hair phase that resulted from a spur-of-the-moment decision you made to cut or dye your hair.
9. You look for the shortest line at the checkout counter and race in front of others to get there first.
10. You prefer to read the novel rather than watch the movie based on it.
(taken from Esther-The Role of a Lifetime)

Hmmmm....How did you do? Did you answer true to most of these or false? Look more specifically at questions four, seven, and ten....If you answered false to these I think we can assume that you do things in a hurry. Is that a bad thing? Well, not necessarily, but SOMETIMES being hasty can cause some real problems...

I have been doing a study on the book of Esther..WOW! I am so intrigued by what this book has to offer us as women...yes, you are considered a woman :). For the next few weeks the plan is to look at some things brought to my attention by reading this amazing book in the Old Testament. So, grab your Bible and come study!

Can you think of a time you were in a hurry and forgot something of importance and had an embarrassing moment? I received an email from a friend a couple of weeks ago that is a nurse. She has three kids and obviously a crazy lifestyle. She went to the hospital to make her rounds and after she completed them she looked down at her feet...What did she find? Well, she was wearing two different tennis shoes--they were both tennis shoes, just not matches. Did this hurt anyone....NO ONE but maybe her, but sometimes our actions have impact on other people's lives--and sometimes that isn't a good thing..

Well, let's look at Esther Chapter 1 to meet a man whose actions set off a chain of events that changed EVERYONE's lives. Who do we meet, but King Ahasueres (yours might say Xerxes). We find out that he was a powerful man. He had everyone under is thumb except for Greece and he was throwing a party...not just an ordinary party, but a party that lasted 180 days or SIX MONTHS!
SIDE NOTE: When we read on in chapter 1 we can really see the decorations because they are described to us: white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver roods and marble pillars, couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble (verse 6)! That sounds like an extravagant place to me. One study I am working on (Esther-Its tough being a Woman by Beth Moore) suggested reading those verses like a movie maker.
The King had a beautiful wife named Queen Vashti. We don't know too much about her, but we do know she was beautiful! The King wanted her to come and show her beauty to the people and the officials (verse 11)--but she didn't want to. She REFUSED! This made the king furious--actually anger burned within him (verse 12). So what did he do? Well, he turned to those close to him to see what they thought should happen to Queen Vashti for her not obeying the king's orders. I love some of the responses from those in his cabinet (read verses 16 to 22)---the advice we receive sometimes should be taken with a grain of salt...
What happens to Queen Vashti--well, we don't know for sure...all we know is that she has been shown the door and is no longer in the picture. Some speculate she was killed, but the Bible doesn't tell us that---Read verse 19---she can come no more before the King and let him give her position to someone who is better than her!

What do you do when someone angers you? Do you turn to people around you like King Ahasuerus or do you turn to the Lord? What do you think you should do first?
I think you should turn to the Lord...talk to him about it. The best way to soften your heart towards someone is to pray. If you need to ask for advice on how to handle a situation to a trusted friend or someone you look up to, that is okay...just make sure you aren't doing it "hastily." Unfortunately for females--gossip tends to be a problem...it doesn't matter your age. When you go to someone and are angry--things come out that shouldn't. Have you ever had an argument with another friend, sibling, or even parent that you said something you wish you wouldn't have? Most of that is done in haste.
Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes (Proverbs 19:2 NIV).
I always heard the phrase "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me" growing up....I don't think that is true at all! It is hard to forget isn't it when someone has said something to you that hurts!
So, SLOW DOWN! Don't hurry! Give it to the Lord before you do something you wish you hadn't!!!

Posting Issues with Email

I want you to know that we are currently having issues with emails being sent to your inbox when a new posting is made. I am currently working on it and hope to have it resolved before a posting next week. Be sure to check the blog because two entries have been made this week : Shield and Are you better than....?

Sorry for the inconvenience!

Are you better than.....?????

BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER
by Maya Angelou

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christthat a man should have to seek Him first to find her.

'When I say ..... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'mclean livin''I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.

'When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say .... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name ..

When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!


Do you walk into a room, look at others who might be dressed immodestly and think you are better than them? Pride is very deceitful. Satan uses that tool so many times on us! (Proverbs 13:10, Proverbs 16:18, 1Timothy 3:6)

So, how do you perceive yourself as a Christian? Are you a prideful one or do you admit that you can’t be whole without God?

Here are some verses to think about. Grab your Bible and read these humbling words!

• Colossians 1: 15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
• Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
• Isaiah 45:12 I have made the earth and created man on it….
• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

We were bought at a price! Jesus came and lived on this earth a PERFECT LIFE and died on that cross for our sins. How many times a day are you tempted and fall? EXACTLY….you have no room to think you are better than someone else just because you are a Christian. You would not be whole without Him!

BTW, did you know that the name “Christian” is only mentioned 3 times (Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16). I don’t think we should take being one lightly.

Shield Thoughts

I started the posting "Shield" on the 5th but decided not to post it until this week. If you are looking for that posting, look below "Do You Pray" because it has a posting date of May 5th since that is when I started it. Sorry for the confusion :).

Do you pray?

I am going to start out this posting with a simple question: Do you pray? Sure, you may around the supper table with your family but I am asking about YOU. Do you have a prayer life? This is something that I think most of us struggle with. I have been challenged by several of my friends, women that I look up to, to work on my prayer life and I want to challenge you. Here are some thoughts I have gathered from them.

Satan sure does a good job of making us think that:

• we don't have enough time
• God won't listen to us
• we can rely on others such as our parents to pray for us
• it is only important when I am struggling with something or before I eat
• or even we don't know how to pray.

Do YOU know the truth though?

1. God is NEAR! Read Psalm 145:18: The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.

2. He hears US! 1 John 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

3. He CARES for us! One of my favorite passages that I meditate on almost a daily basis is 1 Peter 5. Read verse 7...it is in the middle of a complete thought "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (If you read on you can see how the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour--don't let him EAT UP your prayer life!)

4. God GIVES! Matthew 7:7-11 Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

I recently was given an acronym that makes a lot of sense to me about "HOW TO PRAY."

ACTS

A: Adoration-Praise to God: Know God's greatness! Know who he is! I would suggest reading Psalm 18: He is our shield, our Rock, our Fortress. Underline those in your Bible!

C: Confession: Tell God your sins! What a better way to "get those off of your chest" and repent of them!

T: Thanksgiving: Read Philippians 4:6: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made to God. Count your blessings. The book of Colossians has several verses that speak about this (1:12, 2:7, 3:15, 4:2). There is so much that we can thank God for. Look around you (your health, friends/family, praising God for an answer to previous prayers, just being able to be His child, sending Jesus to die on the cross for YOU, and what about the prize of heaven).

S: Supplication: Here is where you give Him your requests. Maybe it is about yourself, your family, your community, your church, the nation, those who aren't Christians, people who are sick that you want to lift up.

How do we put this all together? How do you start? Here are some steps that may help you out.

• Set a time that you want to pray: It doesn't have to be an exact time but make time for God on a daily basis. It might be waking up earlier before school. What a better way to start your day then to spend time with God!
• Make a place to pray. Find you a great spot in your house and make it yours!
• Use a prayer journal or a list. I bought a cute little notebook that has two different sections. I use one section to jot down notes as I am studying God's word and the other section is my "prayer list." I even write down notes or put a check mark when I see that He has answered a prayer about someone or something. There you go--back to THANKSGIVING!

Here are some verses that I really want you to look at over the week:

PRAY:

• ALWAYS Eph 6:18
• IN EVERYTHING Philippians 4:6
• EARNESTLY (serious in intention, purpose, or effort) Colossians 4:2
• BE VIGILANT ( ever awake and alert) Colossians 4:2
• WITHOUT CEASING or WITH PERSISTENCE (persevere) I Thess 5:17, Luke 11:5-9
• WITH CONFIDENCE Hebrews 4:13, Eph 3:11-12
• FERVENTLY (having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm)James 5:16, Acts 12:5, Rom 15:30

God has given this amazing tool! Use it!

Shield

There was a time in the seventh grade that I had an "enemy." She would have her older 8th grade friends wait for me almost on a daily basis threatening to beat me up as I walked from the cafeteria back into the school after lunch. I remember being so scared and nervous about what they might do to me. Fortunately, I had a great group of friends who would form a circle around me and walk me back to school unharmed. That group formed a SHIELD....Now, we all weren't the "strongest" group and probably would have been beaten pretty badly if a fight would have happened, but I felt SAFE and those bullies never laid a hand on me.

You know, David went up against an enemy just like me. If you read 1 Samuel 17 (I strongly advise you to do that), you will see that David went up against a giant! David knew he had a shield protecting him. In verse 37 he states, "The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." WHAT FAITH HE HAD IN GOD! David went on the field not armored with warrior's weapons but with 5 small stones and a slingshot. Is that all David took with him? NO! He knew that God would provide a shield for him. Did he? YES!

Verses 49-51: Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. Sop David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, ,and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

WOW! Is God your shield? Everyday we are faced with temptation. I recently read in a book that the devil has over 27 names in the New Testament. Does that not scare you? That sure doesn't sit well with me. We are up against an enemy who is always lurking over our shoulder. Jesus even calls him the wicked one (Matthew 13:19), the enemy (Matthew 13:39), Beelzebub (Mark 3:22), strong one Luke 11:22), murderer (John 8:44), father of lies (John 8:44), and prince of this world (John 12:31).

You might find Satan in:

• A movie or television show you are watching. If it has inappropriate scenes turn it off or leave! I strongly recommend you "researching" a movie before going to it. There are websites out there that tell you what all is in a movie in theaters. Check it out and protect yourself!


• A conversation with your friends! Paul warns us to not have "foolish talking or course jesting" in Ephesians 5:4. Once a conversation goes down the wrong path such as gossiping or using inappropriate language or jokes, it is really hard to bring it back to the straight and narrow.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:18 to take the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. How do you do that? Study! Spend time in His Word! PRAY!

I want to challenge you to read Ephesians 6:10-20 (Putting on the Whole Armor of God) everyday this week. What great scriptures we can put in our heart as we face our enemy every second of every day. Let God be your SHIED!

Welcome!

This site has been set up for encouragement for YOU! I will post some short thoughts each week on the blog. You can sign up on the right hand side of the blog to receive updates through your email each time I make a new posting. I recommend that you do that! It's FREE and easy. Type in your email address and press enter. In your inbox you will receive a message in which you will have to verify your email account by clicking on the link...that is all you have to do. Then, each time I make a posting it will come to your email address in your inbox.

I hope that this blog is encouragement to you. It is hard living as a teenager in today's society. I love Hebrews 12:1-2 which is the reason for the blog address and title. My Bible has a subtitle named "The Race of Faith" above it. How true is that! Run your race with endurance and who are you looking at??? JESUS--the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.