Who wrote Proverbs 31 anyway?!

Who can find a virtuous wife?

For her worth is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

So he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.

She seeks wool and flax,

And willingly works with her hands.

She is like the merchant ships,

She brings her food from afar.

She also rises while it is yet night,

And provides food for her household,

And a portion for her maidservants.

She considers a field and buys it;

From her profits she plants a vineyard.

She girds herself with strength,

And strengthens her arms.

She perceives that her merchandise is good,

And her lamp does not go out by night.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff,

And her hand holds the spindle.

She extends her hand to the poor,

Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of snow for her household,

For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

She makes tapestry for herself;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,

And supplies sashes for the merchants.

Strength and honor are her clothing;

She shall rejoice in time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

She watches over the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many daughters have done well,

But you excel them all.”

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands,

And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:10-31

Okay, is anyone else tired? I mean, unbelievable. Cliff Notes version - This woman gets up when it's still dark, works until crazy hours of the night, provides for her family, and LOOKS and FEELS good doing it! As women, we usually focus on the advice given to us in this passage...but before you accept advice, what do you normally do? You consider the source! I mean, if Drew Carey was giving you fashion advice, how seriously would you take him? So just for a second, let's look at how amazing God works through this passage looking at the verses leading up to this woman's advice.

This was an intense word given to King Lemuel by his MOTHER! (Prov 31:1). This God-breathed advice comes to the hearts of women straight from the heart of another woman. God knew and understood the need for women to influence one another; He created His daughters to be this way. Bottom line - He knew that while males can definately have a spiritual influence on us, only godly women can model how to be godly women.

Recent research conducted proved that the average woman speaks 20,000 words per day while men only speak around 7,000 words per day. (If you're like me, you're thinking, Just 20,000? WOW!) Bur...this fact could be detrimental or beneficial to the church, depending on how women are influenced. God knows His children’s specific weaknesses, and in love, He cautions about them in His Word. While He warns man against such things as being “double-tongued or addicted to much wine,” He cautions woman against becoming “malicious gossips” (1 Timothy 3:8;11, Tit 2:3). Most women of all ages can testify that this is a daily battle. Deborah Tannen, regarded as an expert in gender and linguistics, notes that women use gossip as a means of building relationships. By communicating something that she would not necessarily ever say out loud or in front of a large group, a woman discloses something personal, producing a closeness that women desire in relationships. BUT God instructs to not “associate with a gossip” (Proverbs 20:19). Therefore, we've got to hold one another accountable in temptations such as gossip. Also, by encouraging discussions on an intimate spiritual level can help eliminate gossip as a means of showing how much we trust one another.

So ladies, think before you speak. Make sure the words coming out of your mouth are encouraging and uplifting, just like this advice from a very godly woman.

P.S. Very soon, we're going to begin breaking down Proverbs 31 and look at the unique role God has created for us as godly women!

Satan's Favorite Hangout

Job 2:2

"The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."

Well, that's certainly a lovely thought. I don't know about you, but Satan is one of the last people in the world that I would want to run into. But the bottom line is - Satan's hanging out where you and I are, and he is trying to make us stumble. So does this mean that you're going to see this red guy walking around with horns and a pitchfork in the mall? Chances are, probably not. But Satan definately shows himself and tries to put you in situations where you will compromise your Christian testimony. Where are some places that you see Satan?

I would love to tell you that Satan is dumb. Unfortunately, he's not. He's pretty crafty and a lot smarter than I would like for him to be. Sometimes, it seems like He knows just where to get us. All of us struggle with certain sins, and it seems that Satan can always get us to give in these areas. Do you know situations that you would be likely to give in to temptation? Do you protect yourself from those situations? Let's look at some examples.

Let's say that you are totally into your boyfriend. He has been hinting that he would like to go a little further in your physical relationship than you are comfortable with. At first, you were firm with your convictions about your purity. But now that more time as passed, you are more comfortable with one another, and your feelings for him are growing, the temptations of going further physically are becoming harder to combat. Then, one day, he happens to come over when your parents are not home. Do you let your boyfriend come out and hang out (and give Satan a foothold on you), or do you go outside and hang out on your front porch in FULL view of your neighbors? You might even tell him to come back later. Don't put yourself in situations where you would be in danger of compromising your Christian standards.

What if you get invited to a party where there's alcohol? Would curiosity get the best of you, and would you take "just a sip?"

You walk up to a group of your friends at school, and they are saying extremely mean things about another girl in your grade. Do you join in on the gossip, or do you walk away? Taking it a step further, would you have the courage to ask them to stop?

These are all situations where Satan lies to you by whispering in your ear things like, "It's okay. It's just one time. No one is around, so no one will find out. You know if you speak up, your friends will make fun of you. Nobody's perfect. It's alright to mess up every once in a while. You're a teenager. You're supposed to experiment." DON'T FALL FOR IT. Do you realize who you are listening to if you give in to Satan's lies? The Bible refers to him with such terms as the devil, adversary, evil one, murderer, liar, thief, tempter, accuser of the brethren, prince of demons, and god of this world. He is in constant rebellion against God. Through his influence, Satan generates discord, deception, and disobedience among human beings. In Christ, Satan is already defeated, and his dominion and influence as god of this world will cease at Christ’s return. (Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:9; 1 Peter 5:8; John 8:44; Job 1:6-12; Zechariah 3:1-2; Revelation 12:10; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:1-3; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8)

Remember. We've read the end of the book. God wins, and Satan loses. You have nothing to be afraid of because the battle is as good as over. As long as you are a child of God, NO ONE and NOTHING can take you from Him.

Take that, Satan.

John 10:27-30

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

*NEW* Classes for Women

I love to laugh. I love things that make me laugh, I love to make others laugh - to me, laughter is one of the most beautiful sounds. I'm also a firm believer that God loves to laugh too - He has certainly done some things in my life that are worth laughing about! Praise the Lord that we serve a joyful God who loves to see His children laugh and enjoy life!

I came across this list of "continuing education" classes for women and couldn't help but laugh. Life is too short to take everything seriously, so have some fun with this list! I know there are at least 10 on here that I would be elgible for! (I've starred those for your enjoyment!)

* Silence, the Final Frontier: Where No Woman Has Gone Before

The Undiscovered Side of Banking: Making Deposits

* Parties: Going Without New Outfits

Man Management: Minor Household Chores Can Wait Till After The Game

Communication Skills I: Tears - The Last Resort, not the First.

* Communication Skills II: Thinking Before Speaking

Communication Skills III: Getting What you Want Without Nagging

Driving a Car Safely: A Skill You CAN Acquire

Telephone Skills: How to Hang Up

Introduction to Parking

* Advanced Parking: Backing Into a Space

Water Retention: Fact or Fat

Cooking I: Bringing Back Bacon, Eggs and Butter

* Cooking II: Bran and Tofu are Not for Human Consumption

Cooking III: How not to Inflict Your Diets on Other People

* Compliments: Accepting Them Gracefully

* Dancing: Why Men Don't Like To

* Classic Clothing: Wearing Outfits You Already Have

* Household Dust: A Harmless Natural Occurrence Only Women Notice

Integrating Your Laundry: Washing It All Together

* Oil and Gas: Your Car Needs Both

TV Remotes: For Men Only

Psalm 126:2-3

"Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad."

Lessons from an Unknown Servant Girl

It's a normal day, and you are at your house with your family. You and your sister are helping your mom with dinner while your dad and brothers work in the yard. Your country is at war, so supplies are tight, but your family does as much as possible to keep things positive. In the midst of cooking, two soldiers kick down your front door. You scream as they grab you. You reach for your mother, but it's too late. One of the soldiers already has you in his arms and out the door. You cry as you and your family are all taken separate ways....you are now a servant girl to a leader from your country's enemy... Weeks after you are taken, you discover that your master has a deadly disease. How would you react?





Well, I'm going to be really honest. If you're me, my first reaction is, "Serves you right! Take me away from my family, and see what happens to you!! Hope it hurts!" Yeah, I know... that's not the reaction you would expect from a Christian young woman. I hope that if I was genuinely put in that situation that I would behave like the girl that this very thing actually happened to did...but that would definately be my first reaction!



This whole story is recorded in II Kings 5:1-19. I'll tell you the condensed version. Like many of the other amazing women in the Bible, we don't know this young girl's name, but there are several things we do now. She was an young Israelite and was taken prisoner by the Syrians. She was ordered to be a servant girl to a man named Naaman. We are unsure if she was actually captured by him or if she was purchased for his household in a slave market. Either way is possible. Her actual job was to serve Naaman's wife, so she probably performed household chores, like cooking meals and cleaning, as well as bathing and dressing her mistress. From what we know about Naaman, he seemed like a decent enough guy. He was known as a great man and a brave warrior in his nation, and he was respected by his king. Then, he was struck with leprosy (a really gross contagious disease that can sometimes NEVER go away, that causes alterations in your skin and nerves, muscle weakness, deformities, and paralysis.)

So here's where the amazing part comes in. This servant girl remembered in Israel that there was a prophet who had healed men of leprosy in the name of God. II Kings 5:3 says, "She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." To cut a long story short, (but check out the whole thing on your own...it's an awesome story!) Naaman did go to the prophet, and he was healed of his leprosy. Not only that, but II Kings 5:15, Naaman even declares faith in God! He said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel." All because a teenage girl spoke up!

There is SO much we can learn from this young servant girl...so let's dig in.

She was compassionate. She was felt sorry that her master had leprosy and wanted him to be healed. Where she certainly had every reason to hate this man, she desires for him to be cured from his sickness. Instead of being consumed in her own heartache of being ripped from her family, she was concerned for someone else. When was the last time that you genuinely thought of someone else before looking out for yourself? This servant girl had nothing to gain from helping her master. I mean, it's not like she would be released back to her family if she gave him this information. But this man who had taken her away from her family mattered to her because she knew that Naaman mattered to God.

She was trustworthy. The mistress related what the girl had said to her husband, then "Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said.” (II Kings 5:4) You want to know the best way to be trustworthy to people? Be real. Be genuine. Be YOURSELF. People can spot fakeness from a mile away.

She had serious faith. Even though she was in a difficult circumstance herself, she still believed that God was going to take care of her. She also believed in the power of the prophet of God - that God could empower him to heal her master. As a servant, if she had wasted her master's time and money to go to a prophet who did not help him, her life could have been in danger. But she never doubted that God could and would heal Naaman.

Her boldness led to Naaman's salvation. Instead of being bitter about her circumstance, she was a blessing to Naaman and his family by offering him a way out of a deadly disease. After seeing a miracle of God, Naaman submitted himself to the Lord and is in heaven today because she had the courage to speak up! Being brave can be hard...but wouldn't it be worth it if someone came up to you in heaven and told you that they were there because YOU chose to be bold?

She took the opportunity God gave her. We never know when or how God might use us. But we do know that there are plenty of lost people out there who need Jesus. Look past your own circumstance and take every chance you get to share with those you come in contact with that Jesus is the answer to their problem.

"But I'm God's little princess....not his slave!"

VS.

Romans 6:16-18

"Do you not know that when you present yourself to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."

Hold on - wait a second. I really prefer to think of myself in a princess in God's kingdom instead of a pauper. So can we just stop all of this "slaves of righteousness" shannanigans right now? NO. We can't. It's important that we realize that WHY we're princesses. I am not a princess because of anything I did. I am simply a princess because of WHO my Father is. Therefore, I owe everything to Him. Let's dig a bit deeper and see what else we can find..

You have the choice to be a slave to sin. Think back to before you became a Christian. Maybe you were really young. Maybe you're still trying to figure out what being a Christian means. But think about this - before you are saved, you are enslaved to sin. Do you know what enslaved means? You're contained. You're doomed. You're held captive. For example, think about that girl you know at school who is in a really bad relationship with her boyfriend. Maybe he flirts with other girls in front of her, or is mean to her in front of other people. Maybe he is even physically abusive. But she can't leave because she "loves him." Sound familiar? That's the same hold that sin has on non-believers. Sin has nothing for you but pain and death. But you can't leave because you "love" it. You love drinking and partying with your friends. You love talking back to your parents. You love getting good grades...even if it means cheating on a test. But the bottom line is, you can't be enslaved to sin and God's princess - so you have a choice to make.

If you choose to accept a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you are obligated to be a slave of righteousness. Think back to our little picture of the trapped girl in the abusive relationship. Being a slave of righteousness has the same concept - except it means that we are unable to do the wrong thing without guilt. Romans 6:14 says, "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace." We are under God's grace...and under His authority. You know that little voice inside your head that starts talking when you're about to do something that you shouldn't do? That's God, your slavemaster talking. Once you accept Jesus as your Savior, you inherit this ability to know right from wrong. As His child, you should feel just as trapped to serve Him by behaving righteously as unbelievers feel bound in their sin.

Being a slave of righteousness has benefits. Okay, so we already talked about how sin leads to death. So what do we get if we are slaves of righteousness? Let's look at Romans 6:21-23 - "Therefore, what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? (He's talking about sin.) For the outcome of these things is death. (Told ya! Now pay attention, here's where it gets good!) But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome eternal life. (And just in case you missed it - He tells you one more time!) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Yes, I know that sanctification is a big word - but it means being made holy. Therefore, through the process of santification, we become more and more like Christ. Since He's perfect, I'd say that's a pretty good deal! Then, on top of that, instead of death, we get eternal life in heaven! All of the sudden, being a slave doesn't seem so bad.

Bottom line - you're a slave either way. I know you don't like to think of yourself as a slave - I don't either. But we aren't given a third option in Scripture. We are either enslaved to sin or enslaved to righteousness. Basically, you either let Satan be your slavemaster or you let God be your slavemaster. You choose.

Set some time aside today for you and your Slavemaster. Ask Him to help you to become more enslaved to His rightouesness everyday. Just remember - the more you are enslaved to God, the better princess you'll be.

Noah's Wife

You've heard the story in Sunday School a dozen times. In case you haven't, I can catch you up to speed pretty quickly. Turning to Genesis 6, we can see that God has gotten pretty frustrated with the people of the world because of their wicked ways. He decided to send a flood that would destroy the world. He decided to save a godly man, Noah, and his family, to re-populate the earth. So God told Noah to build an ark (a big boat) because it would rain for 40 days and 40 nights and everything that was not in the ark would be destroyed. At this point, it would be wise to note that it had never rained before. But Noah was faithful and spent the next years of his life constructing the ark exactly as God instructed. When the time came for the flood, Noah, his family, and two of every living creature got inside the ark and were saved from the rain. This was not your ordinary thunderstorm. It rained 40 days and 40 nights, but the earth remained flooded for 150 days, and they had to wait even LONGER for the water to drain and evaporate. Then, God promised never to destroy the earth again and marked his promise with the seal of the rainbow.

Sound familiar? Now, tell me what you know about Noah's wife. Done already? Thought so. She is mentioned 5 times in the story, but she is only identified as Noah's wife. However, I think there are many things that we can learn from her.

She was SPIRITUALLY strong. If she had been a wicked woman, God would have had her destroyed in the flood too! In the covenant that God made with Noah, (Genesis 9:1) God instructed Noah and his wife, as well as Noah's three sons and their wives, to "be fruitful and multiply." He wanted them to have children because God trusted that Noah and his wife would be godly examples and raise their children to serve Him. Think about that for a minute. If God wanted to start over with an entire human race, would He consider you worthy of raising the next generation? She had to have been pretty special.

She was a PHYSICALLY strong. We're not ever told in the Bible how old she was, but we have to assume that she was somewhere near Noah's age. We know that Noah was 500 when they had their three sons. Okay, in today's world of advanced technology and medical experts, women who become pregnant over the age of 30 are considered high risk. So giving birth at 500, she had to have been ULTRA high risk! But she was obviously strong enough to handle it. Plus, let's think about the time spent on the ark - she had her husband, three sons, and their wives to care for. Not to mention, she had to care for two of every living creature. This was NOT a Carnival Cruise ship. I'm sure the smell on the boat was less than pleasant, labor was hard, and seasickness was inevitable...but she did it.

She was a EMOTIONALLY strong. Going back to Noah's age - he was 500 when they had their three sons (Genesis 5:32), and he was 600 when he and his family got into the ark (Genesis 7:11). We don't know exactly how much time passed between these two verses in Scripture, but it is completely possible that it took Noah and his sons that one hundred years to construct a boat that would be big enough for their entire family as well as the animals. That's a major commitment, and it probably meant that she didn't get to spend much time with her husband. I know that if James is working a lot, whether it be his job or school, and I need some attention, I have NO PROBLEM letting him know it! But there's no record in the Bible that she ever uttered the first complaint.

She was MENTALLY strong. Let's get real here. However long the ark-building process lasted, she probably lost any friend she ever had. Let's say that you live in Death Valley, California. (This is the place that holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded.) You friend came up to you at school and said, "God told my boyfriend to build an igloo because it's going to snow for 40 days and 40 nights, and it's the only way we will survive." Would you think she was crazy? Chances are you would set your cell phone to go off with an alert ring if Caller ID showed it was her number, "forget" to invite her to things, and avoid her at all costs. This is the same reaction that Noah's wife probably got from her friends. They had never seen rain, and they didn't even know what it was. I'm sure she felt pretty alone during that time, but she trusted that God was in control.

She decided to be Noah's partner in the adventure. She could have left Noah. She could have listened to her friends who said that he was crazy and started her life over on her own. Her life could have been pretty normal for those one hundred years that Noah spent building the boat instead of the hard times that she endured alone. However, she would have seriously regretted not following God's plan when the rain started and she was destroyed with the rest of the human race. Decide right now to follow God's voice, no matter how insane his plan sounds. I've heard it said that we can only live life forward, but we can only understand life backward. Trust the One who can see the backward part of it already.

And this last one may not apply to you now...but it will someday. Never resent the time that your boyfriend/husband spends serving the Lord. James and I are extremely busy, so the little time that we have together is precious. We try to see each other between activities and studying for at least an hour each night, but somtimes it doesn't happen. James may have to prepare a lesson for the service that he teaches for college students, or he may have a prayer meeting with the staff at the church we attend. From the example of Noah's wife, we can learn that our significant others just might be a modern-day Noah - a GIANT of the Christian faith. There is no such thing as being overzealous for God. Count your blessings for a godly man when he chooses to submit himself wholly to God,

March Madness

It's finally the time of year when I can get excited about college basketball. I know, it's been going on for forever now, but THIS is when it gets fun...because I get to personally get in on the competition. By creating a bracket, I somehow get to share in the victory of the teams that I select to win. Now, I don't place bets with any money behind it, but bragging rights are always a little fun. :)





Now before you start thinking that I don't know anything about basketball, I want to remind you that I'm part of the Grits (Girls Raised In the South). There are a few things we take seriously, and sports is definately one of them. Deborah Ford has written a book (that no southern girl should be without) called The Grits Guide to Life. Jokingly, she has the chapter on sports right after the chapter on relgion, and the title of the chapter is, "Southern Religion, Part II." Check out a story from that chapter from Barbara Dooley, Georgia Grits, that will more than likely make you laugh...but might also make you think.





When you have a lot of children, and we had four, you get worn slap out. By the time the last baby arrives, you just let them do just about whatever they want. We had a rule that our first son, Daniel, could not go to the sidelines with his father, who was the head coach at the University of Georgia at the time, until he was ten years old. Our youngest son, Derek, got this chance a lot sooner.


When Derek was five, Georgia played our biggest in-state rival, Georgia Tech, in Atlanta on Thanksgiving night. We spent Thanksgiving without the coach, then drove to Atlanta for the game. When we got to the game, Derek immediately asked his father if he could sit on the sidelines. Feeling guilty about Thanksgiving, Vince compromised and told him that if we were beating Tech by a large score at the end of the third quarter he could get down on the sidelines. There were two rules: he could not get near the team, and he could not get near Dad! At family prayers, Derek prayed, "...and Jesus please let us be beating Tech by a big enough score that I can get to the sidelines."


At the end of the third quarter, the score was 42-0, and I thought that was a reasonable lead to take him down to the sidelines. By the time we got to the fence, Tech had scored and it was 42-7. By the time I got him over the fence, it was 42-14. By the time I got back to my seat, it was 42-21 and Derek Dooley was pulling on his dad's pants leg.


That night in the hotel, we put the children down in their room and turned out the lights. We went to our adjoining room and Vince turned out the light, I knew, womanly instinct, that something major was about to be said. I just laid there as still as I could, waiting. Finally, he said, "Barbara, the strangest thing happened tonight on the sideline. Tech had the ball going down the field to score and Derek was pulling on my pants leg. I pushed im away, anything to get him to turn loose of my pants leg. Finally, when Tech scored, I looked down and said, "Derek, what do you want?" I was ready for anything except for what he said. He looked up at me with his big brown eyes and said, "Daddy, don't worry about a thing. Jesus is just having a little fun."





I love that story! I can just picture it...priceless. But seriously, isn't that great wisdom from a 5 year old? No matter what is going on in your life, no matter what your circumstance, you can have faith because Jesus is on your team. Even if it seems like the other team keeps coming at you, He is still in control. Plus, remember that others are watching to see how you handle yourself in hard situations. Do you give in to temptation to act like the world, or do you make an effort to be different and behave like Christ?

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Think about that verse...and the advice from Derek Dooley. Don't let anything get in the way of following Jesus - no drama with your friends, no sin struggle, no family problem. You may not have all the answers to know how to win the game, but He does. So just pull on your Father's pants leg, pray, and let Him be in control. Then just wait for the inevitable highlight film...

P.S. The final four - you heard it here first....Kansas, Florida, Georgetown, and Memphis. Kansas takes it all.

"Oh...did I forget to tell you that? My bad..."

Judges 2:10

"All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel."

You're helping your parents do some chores on a Saturday, and they send you to the attic to look for some kind of storage box. You're rumaging around and peer inside a chest. There's a statue inside...no, wait a second. It's some kind of award. You dust it off to reveal the words, 1978 Grammy Awards - Female Artist of the Year and your mom's name. WHAT? How could she not have told you that?! You keep digging and discover a bunch of red, white, and blue campaign buttons. As you dig through newspapers, magazines, and photos, you also discover that your grandfather was President of the United States for 8 years! Confused, angry, and hurt, you barge downstairs to confront your red-carpet-walking mom and your dad, who flipping grew up in the White House, to demand why they have kept such amazing things from you...

Well, something similar to that actually happened in the Old Testament. Let me give you a Top 5 rundown of what happened to one generation that they failed to share with their kids...

1. God sent 10 plagues to warn Pharaoh to release the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt...and Pharaoh let them go...

2. ...Then when Pharaoh changed his mind and decided to send his army out to recapture the Israelites, Moses lifted his rod to part the Red Sea so they could escape...and not to mention, once God's people were safely across, he made the sea come back together to drown Pharaoh's men, chariots and all.

3. God gave them the 10 Commandments.

4. The Israelistes conquered the land of Canaan. The first major battle was in Jericho, which Joshua took by ordering his host to march around the city for seven days. On the seventh day, when they added shouting and blaring trumpets to their marching, the walls fell, and the Israelites then slaughtered "every living thing" inside Jericho.

5. Joshua made the sun stand still and the moon to stop - one of the most amazing miracles of the Old Testament. (Check it out in Joshua 10:12-13.)

WOW! I don't know about you, but those could have sure made some amazing bedtime stories! But in this verse in Judges, we see that these grandparents and parents DIDN'T share all of their amazing stories with their children. The kids grew up completely oblivious to the amazing things the Lord had done for their family. Do you realize how important it is for you to share your faith with your kids? Ummm, Michelle...I'm in HIGH SCHOOL. Having kids is pretty far from my mind. Well, first of all...good! But believe it or not, you are making decisions right now that will impact that decision. For example...

Have you decided that you will only date godly guys so if you marry him, you can raise children in a Christian home?

Are you getting practice sharing your faith right now so when your children ask you a spiritual question, you know the answer?

If your parents haven't shared anything about Christ with you, have you asked them about their relationship with God?

So, how can we make sure that we are leaving a God-filled legacy to our children? Luckily, generations following the Israelites got back on track, and Asaph gave us some advice in Psalms.

Psalm 78:4-8

We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments, and not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God."

1. Put your confidence in God. Trust Him no matter what. Remember that He knows best and that He has a good view from where He is. He can see the end of the race, and He knows how it will end. His way is better than yours.

2. Don't forget what God has done for you.

Have you ever taught anyone else how to do something? It's amazing. Whenever you teach someone else, you improve your own understanding. Don't just think about what God has done for you - continually remind yourself of His goodness by sharing what He does with others!

3. Keep His commandments. Rules keep you out of trouble. You don't want to be in trouble, especially not with God. Plus, as His child, you have a standard to live up to. Don't cause others to stumble because you're not willing to do the right thing.

4. Prepare your heart. It's not always easy to do the right thing or to put your trust completely in someone else. But if you prepare your heart for hardship and decide how who you will turn to in hard times, you've already conquered most of the situation.

5. Be faithful. Don't give up. Remember - we know who wins! Don't leave the winning team, even if it appears that you're down. The scoreboard AND how you play the game matters.

Airplanes, Eyebrow Tweezers, and Jesus

**Disclaimer - I completely understand the need for heightened security in our airports, and no matter how ridiculous, I am thankful that they go to such drastic measures to protect passengers. This story in NO WAY reflects my defiance against airport policies.**

I'm not willing to admit that I'm AFRAID of flying, but let's just say that I would rather be on the ground. However, moving to Texas with family back in Tennessee has turned my thoughts on "I'll fly if I have to go over an ocean" to "I'll get on a plane if I can avoid being in a car for sixteen hours!) So every time that I go visit my friends and family in Tennessee, I have to once again come to terms with the fact that I am about to get in a giant piece of metal that weighs a ton and is somehow going to fly in the air at incredible speed to deliver me like a Fed-Ex package. I flew home on Saturday, and the worst of the flight was over before I even boarded the plane! Allow me to explain...

So I'm on Spring Break and flying home to Tennessee - a little bitter that I am leaving the 90 degree weather of Texas, but way excited to see my family and friends in Knoxville. James' flight to preach a revival in North Dakota left 30 minutes before mine, so our friend Jerred took us to the airport together. So said good-bye to James (no tears with him looking), but the second he left, I cried. (At this point, I should tell you that I will avoid crying at all costs. Some people's tears are beautiful. I, on the other hand, was cursed with being an ugly crier. My nose stays red for days, my eyes puff up and look like something you would find on a Playstation game villian, and my sister claims I don't have the balance down between tears and noise.) So here I am trying to suck back these tears, while the rest of the Spring Break crowd at the airport is avoiding me like if they look at the girl who appears that her dog just died, their dog might die too.

I check my bag. which is a big pink suitcase that the angry woman behind the counter just LOVED as she rolled her eyes so much at me that I thought they might get stuck in the back of her head. After that, I headed to the massive lines of security. There were signs everywhere about all of their new regulations for liquids on carry-ons, including crazy things like lotion, lipgloss, and mascara. I dig through my purse to get all of my random hand sanitizers and chapsticks, all while juggling my laptop and my computer bag (since they have to run through the x-ray machine separately), my shoes (which have to go through the machine as well), my purse, and my bottled water. Oh, and remember that I look like death. Wet death. I'm sure this was a sight to all who were around.

I'm walking through security, and surprise, nothing goes off. I turn around to get my stuff, and start gathering my belongings and put my shoe on. They kept one shoe because it triggered something, so now I was a one-shoe freak. They gave it back to me 5 minutes later after a full examination to find nothing abnornal with the Nike tennis shoe. Another surprise. Then, one of the guys in security grabs my bottled water from my hand. "Didn't you see the sign? You can't take this on the plane!" I tried to explain that I was going to drink it before I got on board. I mean, I was an hour and a half early, but he had the bottle out of my hands and into the trashcan before I could protest. Then he instructed the guy on the other side to search my purse. I hand over my purse, just ready to get this whole process over with, and the guy already thinks the girl with the threatening shoe and bottled water is the devil, and gives me a glare to make sure I know he thinks so.

Then...it happened. He found the most horrible weapon in my purse to justify their feelings of animosity toward me. AN EYEBROW TWEEZER! AAAAAAHHHHHH!!! They figured me out. I was going to hijack the plane. Just me and my eyebrow tweezer. So then my sarcastic sense of humor sets in, and I begin laughing out loud as I picure me and my tweezers taking over the plane. "Everybody back up! I've got a two-inch pair of tweezers here, and I'm not afraid to use them!" or "Take this plane to the beach instead, or I'll pluck your eyebrows within an inch of your life!" I'm not sure, but at 5'4" and 108 lbs., I'm pretty sure the pilot could take me.

Anyway, after donating my eyebrow tweezers to that bin of "hazardous weapons" that also included scissors from a pocket-size sewing kit, nose-hair trimmers, and a nail file, I finally made it to Starbucks and my gate. There was something comforting about my Grande Non-fat Sugar-free Cinnamon Dulce Latte to ease my stress of the morning. As I sat down, (with both shoes on) I realized that everything was going to be okay. Though a part of me wanted to be with James as he preaches this week, I knew Jesus was going to be with him and he was going to be fine. While I really would prefer to stay on the ground where it won't hurt too much if gravity decides to do a little test run to make sure it still works, Jesus was going to be there with me. After commissioning us to share the gospel with the world before ascending into the heaven, he promised, "And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (That's lo, not LOW, so that means, I'm still covered in an airplane!")

So be encouraged today, knowing that Jesus is with you, no matter where you are or what your circumstance, whether that be protecting you from tweezer terrorists on an airplane, lounging on the beach, or preaching a revival in North Dakota. :)

The Tattoo Trend You'll Never See

Picture this with me. It's night. You pull into the gas station to fill up your tank before taking off for dinner and a movie night with the girls. All of the sudden, you hear a loud noise as a long-haired guy on a motercycle pulls into the lane next to you. Not gonna lie - he's kinda big, you're kinda small. He's kinda scary, and you're pretty scared. He takes off his helmet to reveal that in addition to being bigger than you, his hair is also longer. He takes off his jacket to reveal a huge tattoo. Through your sunglasses, you peer a little closer to find that the tattoo has a huge heart and proclaims, "I LOVE MOM." Somehow, that pit in your stomach seems to ease a little bit. But should it?

Luke 14:26 - "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple."

Okay, let me go ahead and tell you that I know what's going through your head. Okay, Miss Seminary...check your copy of the Bible, assuming that you have one, for the Ten Commandments. I'm pretty sure that I'm supposed to honor my parents - that includes loving them! Yeah, yeah, yeah - you're right! Exodus 20:12 - it's right there. Okay, and what about Ephesians 6:1-2 which says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise) so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the Earth." Now, all of you out there who's parents have instructed you to hate them, raise your hand. Yeah, I didn't think so. So what in the world does Jesus mean when he says that if we want to be his disciple we have to hate our parents and other family? Okay, I understand that too. So give me a chance to explain myself before you think I've totally lost it...

We are to love God MORE than our earthly family. This verse examines our love for our family in comparison to our love for God. Our love for God is to be so strong that it makes our love for our family seem like hate. Matthew 6:33 tells us to "seek FIRST his kingdom and his righteousness." Your first priority and first love should belong to Jesus Christ, and all other things should be dim in comparison. Think about how much you love your parents - and then think about how your love for God should overshadow that love so much that it appears that you don't even love them at all. Later in Matthew (10:37-38 to be specific), Jesus claims, "He who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." So your parents should love God more than they love you too!

You should not DECREASE your love for your parents, but INCREASE your love for God. You are absolutely supposed to love your parents. (If you ever wonder just how much love, respect, and obedience you owe to your parents, read through the book of Proverbs. Example - Proverbs 15:5 calls a child who rejects his father's discipline a fool, but one who obeys is sensible.) But do you know what Jesus said when the Pharisees asked him what the greatest commandment was? Without pausing, Jesus quickly responded in Matthew 22:37-38, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment."

If you put anything in your life before God, you are not a true disciple of His. Disciples are to believe the Bible, trust in Him for salvation, let the Holy Spirit work through them, and walk as Jesus did. That's a pretty tough job description. Luke 14:33 says we cannot be His disciples if we do not give up all of our own posessions. You cannot put anything in your life before God - not people, not things, not ANYTHING.

That's tough stuff, but guess what? THAT'S TOUGH. You don't have to like it. But it's what the Bible says. If you believe the Bible is truth, then you'll do what it says, whether you like it or not! I mean, I don't like Math. But if you tell me, "Michelle, 2 plus 2 equals 4", I'm not going to look at you and say, "No way!" Just because I don't like it, that doesn't mean the basic facts of math aren't true.

So let's recap. Love your parents, but love God more. Put him above everything and everyone. So don't rush out and get that "I hate Mom" tattoo. Oh, and 2+2=4. :)

10 Verses You Will Never Find Cross-Stitched in Your Grandma's Living Room

With the Lord's prayer, we touched a little bit on passages of Scripture that most people have heard. You can find Scripture anywhere - and most of the time, people don't even know where it comes from! For example, you remember being taught "the golden rule" of treating others the way you wish to be treated? Check out Matthew 7:12 - "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Or have you ever seen a lovely rock displayed in a home's flowerbed inscribed with the last part of Joshua 24:15? "But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” But I think my personal favorite are the cross-stitchings of verses that grandmothers love to have displayed around the house, similar to the one in the right-hand corner. (FYI - I'm not slamming on your granny...just stating a fact!) These are usually verses that are pretty, frequently about love. You know, verses like I Corinthians 13:13 "But now, faith, hope, love abide these three; but the greatest of these is love," and Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Now, there's certainly nothing wrongwith these verses. But why do we put them on display? They're comforting. They're encouraging. But what about the passages in Scripture that are less talked about because maybe they're a little harder to handle or a little more difficult to understand? Does that make them any less true? Of course not. Over the next few posts, we're going to examine several verses that I'm going to bet you never find cross-stitched in your grandma's living room...or anyone else's for that matter!

1) Luke 14:26 - "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple."

2) Judges 2:10 - "All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. "

3) Romans 6:16-18 - "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."

4) Job 2:2 - "The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."

5) I Corinthians 15:33 - "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

6) Jude 1:5 - "But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe."

7) II Corinthians 11:13-15 - "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works."

8) Isaiah 47:10 - "For you have trusted in your wickedness; You have said, ‘No one sees me’; Your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; And you have said in your heart, ‘ I am, and there is no one else besides me.’"

9) Matthew 10:33-34, "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword."

10) I Timothy 2:11-12 - "Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence."

Can you believe those things are in the Bible? I mean, according to this, I'm supposed to hate my parents while dodging Satan who is apparently hanging out on Earth? Hopefully, he'll run into Jesus' sword. But you just make sure that you sit there and be quiet about it. I mean, HELLO! These verses are NOT cool. But they're true. Buckle your seatbelt, sisters. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

What do you mean God wants me to suffer?

II Timothy 2:1-6 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. Yet, it is also one of the hardest to follow. I mean, when I get to heaven, I'm not sure how long it's going to take for me to ask Paul every question that I have for him. I'm pretty sure that he was a runner, so I'm thinking that we can run a little ultra-marathon on the streets of gold, and that might begin to cover Round 1 of my interview. When I need to be encouraged, I find myself turning to one of Paul's letters. When I need to be reminded why I'm a Christian, I am drawn to his writings. However, most of the time when I read the text that came from his pen, I end up challenged and humbled. There are many lessons to learn from Paul's words here... let's break it down one piece at a time and see what we find.

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

1. Your strength comes from Christ. So did Paul's. I mean, think about how brave he had to be. How many times was he thrown in prison? How often was he persecuted? Yet, he continued teaching and preaching with boldness. He wasn't a quiet Christian. With courage, he proclaimed the gospel wherever he went. That kind of strength can't be found in our weak flesh. Yet Paul never boasted about his bravery. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." He knew where his strength came from. Do you?

"The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses..."

2. Make your Christianity contageious. Many people followed Paul...why? I mean, he traveled from town to town, had no home, no shower, no bed...are you following me? He was probably dirty and most likely smelled. Why would he have a huge crowd hanging on to his every word? Because people saw something that they didn't have, and they wanted it. Live your life in a way that is different so people will desire to "catch" your relationship with Christ.

"...entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

3. You should be mentoring and teaching others. And no, you are not too young to do so. In Paul's first letter to Timothy, he writes, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity; show yourself an example of those who believe." You are never too young to make an impact for Christ. You remember the disciple John - the one that Jesus entrusted his mother to when he was dying on the cross? According to historial records, he was a teenager when he was an apostle. Jesus trusted him enough to ask him to take care of his mother after his death. He might give you a huge responsibility too!

"Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus."

4. Difficult times come as a package deal with the gift of salvation. Yes, it seems even princesses get punished. Hebrews 12:7 says, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" God uses hard times as teachable moments. I know there were times when my earthly father knew that I was not doing the right thing. Sometimes, he intervened, and at other times, he let me learn the hard way. My daddy learned this approach from God. He uses difficult situations to discipline us, just like a loving parent.

"No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier."

5. If you get caught up in the things of this world, you will miss chances to please God. Think about those soldiers that stand outside palaces - you know, the ones that aren't allowed to move. I promise, they risk being fired if they blink too much! When they are on duty, they cannot be distracted by anything (even when obnoxious tourists try to do anything they can to make them laugh - not that I would know!) Christians are the same way. We cannot be distracted by the things of this world. We are to concetrate on carrying out the commands given to us by Christ.

"Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules."

6. In the Christian life, winning revolves around obedience. God blesses those who obey him. Also, keep in mind that we will not always be rewarded on this earth. So when you think that you are being obedient and God is not blessing you, be patient. Your eternal reward is waiting for you. This can be hard, especially when it can seem that others around you are disobedient and appear to have everything. But don't give up. When others slip, be obedient. You will never regret it, and you will win in the end.

"The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receieve his share of the crops."

7. Often, things don't happen as they "ought" to. Be prepared to take the back seat. I'm the first to admit that I love the spotlight. Who doesn't? Applause. Approval. Acceptance. I don't think anyone could honestly admit that those things don't mean something to them. But it's easy for your acts of service to be overlooked. Sometimes, people get used to them. They may even learn to expect you to go above the beyond - and many times, take you for granted. But do not let yourself be discouraged and cling to the truth in Colossians 3:23-24. "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."

Jesus' Advice on Prayer

There are those passages in Scripture that are widely known - in fact, some are so well known that even non-Christians can quote them without batting an eye. The Lord's Prayer is one of those passages. It's quoted in movies (think about every sports movie locker room scene before the big game), memorized by children, said in unison in churches...you get the point. Sometimes, I like to look at what is mentioned before and after these frequently quoted passages in Scripture because we tend to look over them. Yesterday's thought ended with Matthew 6:5-8, the verses leading up to the Lord's Prayer. Scroll down to yesterday's post and read that version first. Then, here is that same passage from a different translation...then we'll look at what the advice we can pull out from Jesus Himself.

"And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need."

Prayer isn't about getting the spotlight. It's about intimate fellowship with God. Think about those late night conversations that you have with your best friend at a sleepover. Chances are, you wouldn't want those broadcast to the world. That is how you should view your prayer life. Prayer is a way to come before God - no hide and seek, no masks - just you as you are before your Savior. Look back to the version we read yesterday where it speaks of how the hypocrites who pray with the intention of attention "have their reward in full." This means their reward for being "prayer warriors" was given by man. What does it say about the man who prays in private? He gets his reward from God! Let's stop a minute to think about this. Would you rather have an ordinary person or a King show up with a present at your house? Umm...I'm gonna go with King on this one. Rewards of this world are meaningless - they break, they go out of style, whatever. God's rewards are eternal - they never end they continue to grow.

Don't pray on autopilot. Communicate the words of your heart to God. Sure the "God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food. Amen!" prayer is fine when you're three, but have you really moved past that? Do you find yourself saying the same things over and over to God? "I'm sorry for my sins." "Thank you for everything you've given me." "Be with me in all that I do today." "Help me on my test." "Make that really cute guy in Algebra talk to me again." Wow, that's deep. (Sorry, sarcasm is my spiritual gag gift.) So what can you say instead? Let's just take that whole sin apology and look at the difference that you can make. What about, "Father, I'm sorry that I gossiped today. Forgive me, and give me strength to ask for her forgiveness as well. Lord, I ask that you would not let me be tempted to gossip in the future. Keep me pure of mind, mouth, and heart." Is that a little more meaningful to God than, "I'm sorry for my sins." Be genuine, and don't short-change the One who gave up everything for You.

You can't fool Him - God knows your sins, needs, wants, hopes, fears, desires, etc. before you even tell Him. Other than because it's the right thing to do, what is the number one reason for being completely real before God? HE KNOWS ANYWAY! You can't keep secrets from God. He sees everything, knows everything, hears everything...it's pointless to try and act like you're something you're not. So don't put up a front. Don't act like everything is fine when it's not. Don't pretend like you haven't done anything wrong when you've sinned. Don't try to be tough when you need help. That's why He's there - He is the Ultimate Helper, Best Friend, Listener, King, and Daddy. Now that's a package deal.

Prayer Wimp vs. Prayer Warrior

I've never been one to be at a loss for words. All of those quotes like, "she can talk to a brick wall..and probably get it to talk back" have been said to me. I try to make friends wherever I go, whether that be the barista at Starbucks or the girl who rings up my bill at Target. For me, I think it's fun to talk to total and complete strangers.

That being said, would you find it funny that I used to have a problem communicating with God? I mean, here I am chatting it up with the guy who's making my X-tra Hot Grande Non-fat Sugar-Free Cinnamon Dulce Latte (which some might deem the ultimate "diva drink") and I don't know what to say to the One to knows me better and loves me more than anyone. You do the math - it doesn't make sense, no matter how you cut it.

But it's true! I mean, what can I say to Him that He doesn't already know? Isn't he too busy with things that really matter to spend time listening to me go on about my life? Is there a time that's more convenient for Him? Do I need to make an appointment? Does he understand little words, or do I have to use big ones? These were all things that were very confusing to me. I was undoubtably a prayer wimp - infact, I may have even been the best prayer wimp. (Not that it's anything to brag about, but when you're as ridiculously competitive as I am, if you're going to be bad at something, in some warped way, it's better to be worse than everyone else.)
But I'm NOT a wimp, so I refused to let my prayer life label me as one. So I began asking prayer warriors for their advice. Mostly, I got some kind of response that resembled, "I just pray." Okay, so that's like Mariah Carey saying, "I just sing." That doesn't help me any! So throughout my spiritual journey, I've realized a few differences between prayer wimps and prayer warriors. We're going to spend the next few days focusing on our conversations with God.

Prayer WIMPS are spontaneous with their prayers, while Prayer WARRIORS are intentional in their prayer life. Choose a specific place to pray away from distractions so you can concentrate. Text message alerts and TV shows will ruin your conversation before it even starts. I've also found it helpful to pray at the same time every day. Make it part of your regular routine so it will becomes habit. Write it into your schedule and then treat it just like you would schedule lunch with a friend.

Prayer WIMPS pray under their breath or in their minds, while Prayer WARRIORS pray out loud. I can do quick prayers throughout my day in silence, but for extended periods of time, it's an all-expense paid trip to dreamland. When we pray out loud, we have to form intelligent sentences, and we are able to concentrate more on what we're praying about.

Prayer WIMPS pray for whatever requests they can remember, while Prayer WARRIORS have a list of prayer concerns in front of them so they can address everything to our Daddy. I had two closets in my room growing up. Well, okay, so one was a closet and the other one was a storage space that my parents just didn't need to use, so I adopted it as a second closet. But instead of putting my things in there, I kept all of my Bibles, my devotional books, pens and paper, a Sharpie, and lots of pillows and blankets. This was the place I went to pray and study His Word, away from all of the distractions. Because this closet was "mine," I decided to keep track of all of my prayer requests by writing them on the wall. When God would answer the prayer, I would scribble a date next to the request with the Sharpie. It was amazing to be able to go in that closet and look to see how faithful God had been in answering my prayers! (Note, the answer was not always yes, but He always answered!) Find a way that works for you to journal your prayer life so you can remember God's faithfulness and remember the things that you need to bring before Him.

Prayer WIMPS make "I'm too busy" excuses for not spending time in prayer, while Prayer WARIIORS redeem time for praying out of unused corners of their schedule. Instead of picking up your cell phone or screaming about traffic when you drive, spend that time talking with the Lord. (Contrary to popular belief, your eyes DON'T have to be shut while praying.) I already told you that I combine my running time with my prayer - and some of my best times with the Lord have been when I was pounding the pavement. I Thessalonians 5:17 teaches us to "pray without ceasing."

Prayer WIMPS only bring forth their requests, while Prayer WARRIORS make time to praise Him. thank Him, and meditate on Scripture. Don't let your prayers be consumed with "Do this" and "Give me." Reflect on what God has revealed to you in Scripture, and thank Him for what He is doing in your life. Don't ever miss the chance to praise Him for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do. (We're going to check out the prayer that Jesus taught the disciples to pray in Matthew 6 in detail tomorrow, but you can go ahead and look on your own.)

Prayer WIMPS are petrified at the thought of letting someone else in on their conversations with God, while Prayer Warriors know the strength that can come from praying with someone else. Granted, there are some prayers that can only be between you and God, but there will also be times when praying with another believer can make a huge impact. Plus, if you commit to meet with someone else on a regular basis to prayer, the accountability can help build consistency in your own prayer life. In Matthew 18:20 , Jesus says, "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

Prayer WIMPS pray for comfort, while Prayer WARRIORS pray for challenge. How many times have you heard the words, "God, be with me in all that I do today." It's habit, right? Well, it's time for a change. When was the last time you asked God to give you an opportunity to share the gospel or to take you out of your comfort zone? Paul wrote in Colossians 4:3, "meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains." He's already in jail for preaching, and He's asking for me! Wow. If that doesn't humble you...

Prayer WIMPS only pray for their friends, while Prayer WARRIORS also pray for their enemies. And no, this does not include the prayer that they will fall off the face of the Earth or that their dad will be transferred to work at his company site in Siberia. Luke 6:28 says, "Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Prayer WIMPS simply ask for forgiveness for sin, while Prayer WARRIORS ask to be delivered from all evil and temptation. I remember a friend I had in middle school. She would always "accidentally" tell someone things that I told her in confidence...but every time, she was SO sorry! (Forgive my sarcasm.) I know the Bible teaches to forgive, so I did, but I learned my lesson! After a few slips of her tongue and her apologies afterward, I didn't tell her anything that I didn't want the whole school to know. Do you think it's the same way with the sin we seem to always fall into with God? Do you think he ever gets disappointed with our countless apologies and longs for us to do something to fix the problem? II Corinthians 13:7 teaches, "Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified."

Prayer WIMPS are vague in their prayers, while Prayer WARRIORS are specific. If you were God, how would you answer the prayer request, "Bless all of the missionaries." Don't generalize God. Realize that He is a BIG God and can accomplish any task. You're not going to be too specific for Him - he knows every person and every situation that you will pray for BETTER than you do!

So there are a few guidelines for you as I am struggling to become a prayer warrior myself. Tomorrow, we're going to look at this in more detail, but go ahead and ask God to reveal something to you through His teaching in this passage. Many of you probably memorized the Lord's prayer as a child, so while we will look at that, I want you to examine Jesus' instruction that precedes the Lord's prayer.

Matthew 6:5-8

"When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

The R.O.A.D. to God

When I first started having a quiet time, I wasn't sure exactly what I supposed to do. I mean, I knew it should involve me and God spending some time alone, probably reading something in the Bible, and praying. But what should I read in that big book?! And how much? Then, my youth pastor shared with us a R.O.A.D. map for our quiet time, and it radically changed my Christian walk. So I wanted to share it with YOU - here it goes!

Take 15-30 minutes of your time each day when you are most alert and awake. (I'll tell you how I do mine later.) Some people are the most awake in the morning, and others don't wake up until halfway through second period. :) But DO remember that the further along you get in your day, there's more danger of "getting too busy." Don't let anything get in the way and cheat you out of your time with God. Before you begin, ask God to clear your mind and reveal something to you as you read the Bible.

1. READ
Read through a book of the Bible. Pay attention to the details. When and where is this happening? Who is involved in the story? Who is talking? What is being said? What is the reaction of those involved? Why do you think this was written? To whom was it written?
2. OBSERVE
As you read, ask yourself, what do you think God is saying here? Does it match other areas of Scripture? What promises are here for me to know and understand? How do I see myself in this story? What character can I relate to? Write down any verses that come to mind and your thoughts.
3. ATTITUDE
Examine your own heart. What is God trying to say to me? Why did he bring this piece of scripture to me now? How am I impacted by the revelation expressed in this passage? Talk to the Lord about what you have read. Ask Him, what are You asking of me? How does my life need to change?
4. DIRECTION

Scripture is designed for transformation, not just information. Ask God to reveal to you how your life should be different now that you know this particular truth. Then, share what you have learned with a friend to encourage them and ask them to hold you accountable to what you have learned!

Now, notice that prayer was never a specific step within this. That's because you should pray throughout your quiet time! This is a CONVERSATION between you and God. When you've finished reading and journaling your thoughts, ask God for His power to act on His truth. Thank Him for all He has done in your life, and praise Him for who He is. Ask for His forgiveness where you need it. Talk to Him about your needs and concerns, as well as the problems you know others are facing. Pray for the friends you have who don't know Him as their Savior. Talk to Him like you would talk to your best friend or your dad - that's who He is!

Over the years, I've tried various ways of applying this - in the morning, at night, in the afternoon, whenever I felt like it...and I've learned the best way that works for me. Unless this is the first post that you've read of mine, you know that I'm a runner. You've probably also figured out that I don't exactly have a problem talking. My problem with prayer is that I tend to spend too much time talking and not near enough time listening. So one day, I decided that I would pray as I ran. After about four miles, I was pretty winded and couldn't talk anymore...so I stopped. But here's the amazing part - God started talking! When I actually gave Him a chance to speak, HE DID! So now, I get up every morning (I won't tell you how early - it's crazy. I beat the roosters!) and read a passage of Scripture. After I've made sure that I understand what I've read, I take off running. I pray about everything going on in my life and about what I read earlier that day. Then, I shut up about 4 miles in and let God talk to me for the rest of my run. When I get back from my jog with God, I journal about what God has revealed to me. There is a point that comes where I have to get in the shower and get ready for work/class, but I always carry a notebook with me so I can continue writing as God reveals things to me throughout the day.

All of this to say is find what works best for you! I doubt there are many theologians that would tell you that the only way to pray is with your tennis shoes on, but that is what works best for me! Find something that is uniquely you and God...and stick with it!

Psalm 25

1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
2 in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.
4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;
5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11 For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD ? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.
13 He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.
14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.
18 Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.
19 See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

The Sword of the Spirit

Ephesians 6:17b - "...and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."



Okay, so by this point, you may think that I'm completely crazy. I mean, belts - okay. Necklace? I'm with you. But for real, a SWORD? I mean, I've seen those in the war movies that [insert some male in your life's name here] makes me watch, and I'm not thinking that's going to fit in my capris. But this is talking about the Holy Spirit's sword - God's Word - The Bible. I started thinking about why they would refer to it as a sword and here's what God gave to me...

A sword is dangerous if you don't know how to use it properly. Stop for a minute and try to picture me with a sword. I would hurt myself with that thing WAY before I would be able to protect myself from someone attacking me! Why? Because I've never taken the time to learn how to use one. I don't even know the proper way to hold it, let alone swing (Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's not even the right word....but oh well!) it! So in order for me to be able to defend myself, I would have to spend time practicing every day. Go back to Pirates of the Carribean when Captain Jack Sparrow (the only man that I am completely fine with wearing eyeliner) and William Turner engage in their first sword fight. They have both been trained since they were children, and they practice every day! If you stop to think about it, you take time to do the things that are really important each day. What if one day you were just hanging out at your house with your parents and you didn't even acknowledge their presence? You would probably hurt their feelings. But how many days do we do that to God? We go about our daily routine and business, without even acknowleding the one who has given us everything. But the truth is, we need to be spending time in the Word daily so we can get to know Him. Remember how we talked about how God even knows how many hairs are on your head? Well, if He knows that much about you, don't you think you should try to get to know Him more? Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden Your Word in my heart, so I might not sin against You." Carry your sword, girls. Hide His Word in your heart that you will know how to use it when trouble comes - and not sin against your Daddy.

A sword is carried so you don't go into battle alone. Once you become God's child, he Holy Spirit comes by your side. And how about Jesus? Romans 8:34 tells us, "It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." Let's put that in words that we might better understand. When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He took a seat on the throne to the right of God. When you mess up, Jesus is right there to say, "Forgive her, Father. She's mine." When you ask God to do something, Jesus is whispering in God's ear, "Come on, Dad. Hook her up. She's mine. I died for her." When you obey, Jesus is right there being, tugging on God's royal robe, exclaming, "Check her out! Dad, did you see that? I'm so proud - SHE'S MINE!" With salvation, you get your own holy posse. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Don't be intimidated by anything. God is right there holding your hand, and He's not going anywhere.

A sword is your weapon for battle. The Word of God is the best weapon you could ever ask for. Why? Because He knows everything! And we don't. For example, I remember the first time I saw My Best Friend's Wedding. I just wanted to know who was going to get the guy in the end, Julia Roberts or Cameron Diaz. Unfortunately, I was in the movie theater, so I didn't have control over it - I just had to wait it out. (If I had been watching on DVD, I more than likely would have watched the last scene and THEN gone back to watch the movie.) I like to know how things end so I can know whether to expect a happy ending or a sad ending. I do the same thing when I read fiction books. Sometimes, I want to know what's going to happen SO BAD that I will skip to the last chapter so I can be assured that everything will turns out the way I want it to! We can do the same thing with the Bible. If you've read Revelation, you know the end of the story. Revelation 18:10 proclaims, "And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." We don't have to fight spiritual warfare FOR victory - He already won! We fight FROM Victory Himself! Revelation 5:13 speaks of Christ and says, "And every living thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under te earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."

So there you have it. Your outfit it complete. Copy and paste this next part into a blank document and hang this prayer on your closet door and pray it as you get dressed every morning...

Good morning, Daddy. Thank you for the rest You provided for me last night to prepare me for today. You are amazing, and I am so thankful that I get to spend everyday of my life with You. God, allow me to reveal Your truth today and to be a genuine follower of You in all that I do. Help me to be righteous in my actions. Give me peace and courage to share You with those that I come in contact with. Protect me from Satan, and do not let me act in a way that wouldn't please You. Help me to remember that I belong to you and that I am your princess. Help me to learn more about you, and walk with me today. Guide me and guard me. I love you. Amen.