Grace

If you're like me, you have high standards for yourself, but you should definitely NOT hold yourself to a standard of perfection! Perfection is IMPOSSIBLE to attain. I don't mean to be negative, but it's true. We're people-- we screw up!

I'm sure you've heard the word GRACE before--it's a pretty common word-- but do you know what it really MEANS? Here's the actual definition of grace...

Grace is all about LOVE, KINDNESS, FORGIVENESS, and BEAUTY--a pretty amazing word! It encompasses many of the best traits that you could have. Know the best example of grace? God himself! Part 2 of the definition of grace is about God! He showed us--the unlovable and unworthy-- love, kindness, forgiveness, and He showed us what true beauty is! Because of God's GRACE we can live freely and happily--I think that God's grace is worth more than all of the riches in the world!

Chris Tomlin's song, Your Grace in Enough, is such a great example of how wonderful God's GRACE really is! Grace is a great word to live by. So, swap your standard of perfection to a standard of GRACE!

When you start trying to hold yourself to that standard of grace, soon enough you will begin to GROW in grace! The more you think and act with love and kindness, the more grace you will have, and God will even shine through you--He is the creator of grace after all!

Go out into the world and GROW in GRACE. Show the world how wonderful FORGIVENESS, LOVE, KINDNESS, and GOD can be!!

Love

So many teenage girls have such a contorted view of love and romance--not to say that teenage girls are the only ones. In this day and age, a false portraying of love is everywhere you look. Many girls think that they have to change for a guy, and many guys think that the modern definition of sexy is all that's important in a girl. Well...

 

In my opinion, a true relationship is one that will last... 

 

 

and in which neither side has to change or compromise themselves. Compromise IS necessary in a relationship, but not in the way of giving up your purity. 

 



Never let anyone change who you are at heart. It's when you're heart is effected that you are truly changed--this goes for anything, not just romantic relationships. Lots of people rush into relationships-- because they feel unloved, or helpless if they aren't in a one. Many people will even change themselves JUST to get a boyfriend or girlfriend. That seems wrong to me.... and can lead to heartbreak.

 



 

This song, Not the One, by Zoegirl, serves as a great reminder that we shouldn't let ourselves be disrespected in a relationship, and that we need to focus on the most important relationship of all-- our relationship with CHRIST!

 





People often forget that before you can be someone else's, you must first understand who YOU are, and you must also understand WHOSE you are. No one should NEED  a relationship to feel beautiful or loved... we have GOD for that! He loves us more than any person ever can, and that is something truly WONDERFUL! I think we should all take a moment and go back to God's definition of love....

 

This doesn't apply to romantic relationships only... it applies to ANYONE and EVERYONE! My challenge to you is to really think about the true definition of love and try to apply it in your life--not just to a romantic interest, but to a friend or colleague. Go and SPREAD the love!

Follow

 Ever feel lost or confused? Like your life has spun out of control? Well, I have the answer. GOD. Turn your life over to God and let Him LEAD you-- He knows what he's doing! After all, God is.... 

 

 I'm sure you remember the Christmas story--God lead the wise men, and the Shepard to the RIGHT PLACE! He didn't lead them astray. God lead the Israelites to the promised land too! He can, and will do the same for you. He knows what He's doing, so if we trust in Him, He will show us which path to take.

 

God WILL reveal a path--even when it's hard to see.

 

 

We can ALWAYS rely on God, in any circumstance! He is ALWAYS there for us. In many cases, we try to live life our own way, and for ourselves. When we really should be living for HIM! Try giving God control of your life. FOLLOW what He tells you to do-- He will LEAD you in the right direction!  

 

This song, You Lead, by Jamie Grace illustrates this wonderfully:

 





Alive

Isn't God just WONDERFUL? Just look outside at the world around you, think about all the GOOD in your life and most importantly think about why and when you have been happiest. In my life and my opinion, I have always been happiest when I have God! He makes me feel ALIVE! Not only do I feel alive, but because I have accepted Jesus, I AM ALIVE in Christ!

 





 

I absolutely adore this song! Doesn't it just make you want to get up and dance and sing? Well, it does for me! Besides, it talks about something that is SUPER important... the fact that because Jesus died for us, we can be truly ALIVE--It's amazing, isn't it? The fact that someone would love us that much just blows my mind! Then on top of all of that, God watches out for us, AND He fills us with JOY, LOVE, and PEACE.

 

 

If you aren't ALIVE in Jesus and you have nothing to live for, and no cause to work for, what's the point? Because God gives us the chance to come ALIVE, we should be more than thankful! He gives us a purpose and a plan. He will never leave us. God has shown me how truly PHENOMENAL life can be! And I just want to share it with the world!

 

I think that we should all take the time to thank God... after all, He gives us LOVE, JOY, A PURPOSE, and He makes us ALIVE! What could be greater than that?

 

Beauty from Pain

During this stressful time of year, we all face hard times. We all go through tribulation and pain, but luckily God brings BEAUTY from pain! Check out this song by BarlowGirl, Beauty from Pain.

I don't know about you, but God fills me with joy!! Because during trial and tribulation, He is always there AND He will make good come from the bad! You may think that you have absolutely nothing to offer to the world, but that's the WONDER of it all! God makes SOMETHING from NOTHING.

 Changing something rough and tough into something BEAUTIFUL can't be easy. It will take time and a whole lot of difficulties to make it through to the end result, but God is with us through it ALL.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a NEW creation; the old has gone and the NEW has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

 

If you have God in your life, you are and are becoming a NEW CREATION!! Your past has been put behind you and you can move on to newer and better things! You have to let God shape you, let Him make you NEW.

 

That isn't something easy, and it probably won't happen over night, but NEVER GIVE UP. 

 

 

YOU can do it! YOU can become NEW. YOU can move past all of your regrets. If you let God into your life and you put Him in control, YOU can become NEW, because God brings beauty from pain. 

Beauty

With s------ (I don't even want to say the word) starting, every teacher, high school, elementary and college student knows that this is a stressful time of year. With all of the homework to get done, assignments to grade, and lack of sleep (the last one is by far the worst), many of us forget that we need to make time for God. On top of that... He will help us through the STRESS!

 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.



 1 Peter 5:7

 

Give God your worries and your STRESS. He will take the anxiety away from you. If you are stressed out, spend some time with God!

 

Often times, when we get busy, we tend to ZIP through life. We could all use a little reminder to STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES! Enjoy the GLORY of God's creation! It truly is beautiful.

 



 

 

Never let yourself get so busy that you forget God or the BEAUTY of this world! This song, Starry Night by Chris August does a really great job of summing it up!

 

 

God is AWESOME and GLORIOUS and WONDERFUL! He puts BEAUTY everywhere around us! Why would we ignore that over a little STRESS? Be sure to make TIME for God.



 

Rise Up

I adore Dr. Seuss books. Do you know why? Because he has such good messages! He tells us to WORK HARD. To always be OPTIMISTIC. To NOT discriminate. Here is one of his wonderful quotes...



 

I think that Dr. Seuss REALLY knows what he's talking about! We live in a world of corruption and sin, with evil is at every turn. There are people out there dying of starvation and in wars. Not to mention thousands of homeless people and that's only the tip of the iceberg. That isn't going to change, UNLESS someone like you cares enough to do something about it!





It may seem like we are fighting a losing battle, but with enough determination and God on our side ANYTHING is possible! So NEVER GIVE UP! Keep working hard to accomplish a goal. HELP people. Fight the good fight. And RISE UP for God.

 

This song, from the Second Baptist Church and sung by Lauren Camey, is called Rise Up.



 

 

It amazes me how many people are dancing in this video! Plus, each and everyone of them donated a pair of shoes to the needy! This goes to show that you are NOT ALONE. There are thousands of Christians around the world--and I'm sure there are others in your area. If each of us would RISE UP, with our vast numbers, think about what we could do?