Female Role Models

From....



To her latest....



...........yeah.
I'm sorry, but this is the role model for girls around America today? This is the mindset we want girls to have about themselves? And about how to treat the people around you? How to treat the men?
So many girls look up to Miley Cyrus, they take her example. On clothes and hair and attitude. If she keeps acting this way, telling girls they can "go through guys like money" and be so crazy they "can't be tamed", girls will listen. And learn to act that way.

Just wondering....whatever happened to this following Role Model.....
" 10 [b]Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.

19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm[c] clothes.

22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.

28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise." Proverbs 31: 10-31

These women are out there, you just have to look for them. And they are wonderful role models. I'm thankful for every one of them in my life.
Here's some ladies worth mention....

Day with the Lord

Walking up the sidewalk, I have to keep talking, or else all I can focus on is the Clinic looming out in front of me. With some kind of....uneasy feeling always lingering around it. And the fear is already settled in my heart or mind. Greetings to friends as I arrive is always a relief and encouragement. Going through this experience with someone can only pull you closer together. No matter your denomination or age. I always hope there is some good news that I have somehow missed or not heard. But even if there isn't, there is always smiles and just simple talk about what the Lord is doing or what we hope and pray He will do.
I try to settle in, standing feels awkward. Like I'm all of a sudden seven feet tall. So I sit.
The sounds of traffic and shoes on the sidewalk break my concentration. The only way to keep myself focused is the constant music playing in my ears. Music that reflects what the Lord is doing in my life, or just praise for who He is.
Every car begins to seem threatening. My brain suddenly can not forget how much damage an SUV traveling at 40 MPH could do to my Mom, or Audra, or even me. How much anger does that person in their suburban feel towards this act for the Lord. How far would that driver go to make a stand for the pro-choice movement. I'm sitting on the curb, would they ever possibly think of crushing my foot to spite our conviction?

My Child, Do not fear, for the Lord is with you, even to the end of the age.

Not only do I think about the cars, but....what about the people? every scratchy boot coming up the sidewalk begins to sound ominous. Every high heel makes my heart stutter with fear.
What if they stop? What if they yell? What if they suddenly strike out? What if they want to argue?
What of this one God, are they going to condemn or encourage? Are they going to curse or offer a smile?
What if they don't know what we're doing? That would be better, right Lord? We could have complete peace to pray to You.
If I look casual maybe they'll assume I'm waiting for a ride to class.
If I seem impatient, will they assume I'm waiting for someone inside the hospital?
If they think I look heart broken will they assume it's just too painful for me to go in the hospital to see my ailing relative?
But then Lord, why am I here?
Is it for myself? To make myself feel better because I feel like I'm doing something. To stay in my comfort zone? To never cause anyone any inconvenience. Even if that inconvenience is brought on by someone standing for Christ.
Am I not there for the women? Who are experiencing pain. Or regret. Or fear.
Am I not there for the guys. who feel shame. Who feel trapped. Who feel like they'll never be able to make this up to the girl beside them.
Am I not there for the children? These precious babies that are gifts from you. Who are created by your hands. Who are unwanted or unloved. Who are degraded and depreciated.
Am I not there for the doctors and nurses who are lost Lord? Who have not heard Your truth. Or have withheld their heart from You. Who need healing and purpose and truth.

"For I have not given you a spirit of fear. But of power and love and of sound mind." If you are for Me daughter, who can be against you?

No Lord, let me represent You. Put me in situations Father that shove me out of my safe bubble.
Be the only thing everyone who passes can see.
Less of me, and ever more of You Jesus.

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. -Philippians 1:27-28

Becoming an Adult

18!!!
Apparently it's a big age. At least that's what I took away from my sister telling me every other day how "weird" it is for her to think about that her big sister is going to officially be an adult.
Can't say I feel any older....or at least I didn't till September turned out to be a month of reflection. All these things that seem like yesterday are becoming freakingly vivid in my mind. And it's kind of weird when I realize they are 5+ years back already. Of mistakes I've made, or falling away from Christ and being lovingly drawn back. Times of silliness and laughter and of sadness and loss. It's shown me that senior year is NOT going to be what I expected it to be. And life is not how I had it planned out. Of course doesn't life generally pan out that way when you think about it?

One of the big things I've been thinking on: When I was...well actually several times through middle school, I was told by adults in my life that there was a very SLIM possibility that I would keep the friends I had through middle/high school. I smiled politely as they said it, but the minute my back was turned I scoffed to myself. Ridiculous! I mean parents don't know what they're talking about right?
....Yeeeaaaah. Truth is, people grow up. As they grow up, they change, they mature (some more than others I'm sure). They grow at different speeds and in different ways. And also in middle school, it doesn't really matter THAT much if you have differing personalities. You're friends because you always have been! But as you grow older and your personalities grow more and more different, it becomes so much harder to stay friends when nothing about yourselves match up. People I was best friends with now feel I don't fit in their life. We grew apart. I think about them often and pray that they are happy and drawing close to God. They will always have a special place in my heart and there are many memories I will never be able to forget. And I still miss them dearly. I guess parents know some stuff after all.

Another thing. When I was younger, what I liked and how I acted depended heavily upon my friends. The music and movies I liked. How I approached others and how I responded to others. The clothes I thought were cute. Where I wanted to be or what I wanted to do. But the older I get, the more of myself I discover. I realize that sounds rather lame and I usually laugh at those commercials for movies that speak of "finding yourself". But in a way, it's true. I've learned not to rely on others likes or opinions to form my own. God gave me a brain for a reason. Plus how boring would it be to be like everyone else? I mean sure, it's likely that someone, someday is going to find me....odd or different. But if they have a problem with me while I'm striving to be the person God wants me to be, then I personally don't feel like caring if they like me. I hope that doesn't sound too mean ha.

I've also come to be more thankful for the family I've been blessed with and the friends I have in my life who care about me. People that genuinely love me...even when I'm being odd ;). They are a true blessing and comfort to me, and I hope every one of them knows how special they are in my life. For I fear I have not done a good enough job displaying that.

So anyway! I am thankful to God for my life and for revealing himself to me! There's no greater treasure than that of the Love of the Father. And I pray that I will learn more about Him everyday of my soon-to-be-adult life. And I'm extremely exited for the year ahead.

Poem <3

Lost

Lost and forgotten, how did I get to this place?
Confused and stumbling, I just seemed to fall into this dark abyss.
Tossing and Turning, trying to find an escape.
But DARK fingers claw at me,
continually bringing me back to this emptiness.
Every day, living only for my pleasures and desires.
But if I'm meant to live for this, why am I always searching for more?
I'm always climbing, but to what am I reaching towards?
Drowning, Lost, searching but never finding.
But then a light pierces, what is that beautiful shining?
I squint but I stare.
Why would I ever look away?
I reach towards the light, but hesitate again.
But , NO, there's that voice again in my mind.
Taunting and pulling me back to the black.
Back to the nothingness I live in.
But then, a new voice breaks through.
A faint, gentle whisper.
But where is it coming from?
I'm searching again, desperately seeking every part of me for the source of the loving hushed voice.
The voice in my head starts screaming, speaking evils against the voice I seek for so earnestly.
The screaming begins to falter as I focus on the whisper.
It speaks to my heart, to the deepest part of me.
It speaks of saving grace,
Of Unfaltering Love,
Of a FATHER who waits with open arms,
Of a Saviour who gave His everything just to live with and know me.
I fall to my knees and raise up humble hands.
For so long I've been LOST and searching.
But now...
I have been Found, Embraced.
The searching is Finished.
And I have been carried Home.

God's calling ME to missions??

I have had a true relationship with Christ since the summer of 2007. I can honestly tell you that from then up until...well a few weeks ago I have been TERRIFIED of verbal witnessing. The thought of it got my heart racing, caused my face to go all red, and I inevitably began popping my fingers.

But there was no denying that my heart did flip in my chest whenever I heard certain missionary recounts. Specifically those stories coming from missionaries devoted to China. Don't ask me "Why China?". Because I can tell you, I have not even the beginning to an idea as to why that is. All I know is every time missions based in China are mentioned, all of my heart and mind listens intently. I feel a, (for lack of a better word) a pull to China. Or just Asia in general. And I have to assume it can only be God given.

But I kept stubbornly telling myself that it must be a coincidence.
God didn't wire me for missions! There are better people out there to spread Jesus' gospel. Bold people, outgoing people who can go up to anyone and make great conversation. Someone who's always patient and understanding and all you can see in them is the person of Christ.

I, on the other hand, am the farthest from BOLD that you can get. I am content to sit by myself and observe when I am in a room of all new people. It takes at least 4 or 5 conversations with me before I'm close to being myself. I often forget to try to be understanding and I'm still daily working on the "reflecting Christ" part. He CAN'T call me.

Not surprisingly I'm wrong, and apparently HE CAN! For the first time in my life, I desire to learn how to help spread His saving Gospel. I yearn to get to comfort people in countries where they suffer for their relationship with Christ. To work with orphans who have never had the chance to discover they have a heavenly Father who loves them. To be able to see a light in people's eyes when they hear someone has already saved them from a life filled with addiction, greed and brokenness.
I've been discovering how conceded I've been. Selfishly putting my everyday comfort above the ETERNAL SALVATION of the people around me.

The more I pray that His will be revealed, the more I long to be immersed in His mission.
My most encouraging revelation lately:
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began," 2 Timothy 1:7-9
It's not of my own power that I share His gospel, it's of the power of God. The power of His spirit that lives in me. He's given us a Holy Calling, but he didn't leave us to face this daunting task alone, He gave us a Spirit of Power, Love, and Sound Mind to help us through every trial and temptation. He's surrounding and guiding me everyday.

My Father will never cease to amaze me.

Feeling Comfortable in Your Skin

A new year, new thoughts, new ambitions. Since my tweener years the message of being comfortable in my own skin has been prominent. I remember once thinking that there was no way that I would ever feel uncomfortable being me. But as I grew older I realized that that can present itself it different ways. I had myself convinced that I am confident in who I was because I never lied about who I was, I just was myself. Problem is I rarely put myself in a situation where I meet people that don't already know the real me. I am sad to say that I often let the fact of my being uncomfortable or shy or reserved (whatever you want to call it), I let that stop me from joining in on activities or doing things that I actually thought sounded fun. I try to convince myself that the reason I don't end up doing these things is because I don't feel good or I just don't want to do them. When the truth is, if I'm not feeling good it's probably because my spastic nerves made me nauseated. And I probably DO WANT to do it, I just am afraid to actually put myself out there.
So why so uncomfortable? I think I've known a long time WHY I feel that way, but I just wanted to deny it because, hey, I was comfortable in my skin.
The reason for the uncomfortable-ness is....I care much too much about what other people think of me. My mind is always thinking "Oh well what would that person think if I did that" and "how is that going to look to other people". What I can't quite understand is WHY am I so worried about it? Am I really THAT full of myself. Ummm. Yeah! Duh! I'm a sinful human being, it's hard to grasp the enormity of God, so I focus on what I can grasp, this world and humanity...well not that I understand all humans but you get my point! So!! In light of this revelation, I've decided perhaps it's time to be a grown up. It's my choice whether or not I focus on God's opinion, and His is really the only approval I should be seeking. So leaning not on my own understanding but on my glorious magnificent creator, I'm determined to draw closer to him, live for him alone, and learn not to depend on the opinions of other sinful humans to make me feel important. And my first giant step in that direction is being actively involved in standing for His Glory and Righteousness on the subject of the fight against abortion.
Abortion is something I am very passionate about. And I've let my worries about people's opinions stop me from fully standing up against it. In my mind, abortion is an atrocity very much equal to Hitler's Holocaust. It's disgusting and despicable to me that we value human life so little that we go so far as to say that a child in the the womb is not actually a full human child yet. I do not understand how anyone can have this thought and take it seriously. I understand that they are sometimes trying circumstances in which these babies come into the world, but just because a woman is inconvenienced is no argument for ending a human life. 40 Days for life is an organization that my mother came across last year. Last fall my mother, my sister and I all got involved. This is their mission statement:

40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion in America.

The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion in America.
(Copyright © 2009 40 Days for Life)

I like that this is a peaceful organization that is focused on prayer to our creator about this issue. I feel one of the greatest things this nation can do against abortion is pray to God for forgiveness for this sin that is so often committed in America. God is in control, he has authority over what's going to happen. In this campaign, the boulder branch of it, which is what we are involved in, stands outside an abortion clinic in Boulder (our hope is 24 hours a day) in constant prayer. I think a lot of people have forgotten the great power and importance of our personal prayer to God, and I'm very proud to be involved in a group so devoted to speaking to God about this very important issue. I would ask that you be in prayer for this organization and everyone involved. That the glory of God be represented by those involved. And if it's not too much to ask, I'd really love you to pray for me also, that I can depend on God's strength and the Holy Spirit that is always with me to stand unashamedly for His glory. That I remember God's will and opinion is all I should care about.
This is an awesome video, and I love the way this girl puts everything. If only more people would share this 12-year-old's passion.



"Even though you can't see them or hear them at all, a person's a person, no matter how small."
Love that quote. And as many of you know, we have more evidence of life than Horton the elephant did. We have technology that enables us not only to see a 3D image of the baby in the womb, but also gives us a chance to hear it's beating heart.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Ok, so I'm a slacker with the whole blog thing!! I seem to not be able to think of anything, especially when I directly try to think of something to blog on!
Ok, so obviously this blog is going to be dedicated to Thanksgiving! So I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving, remembering to thank God for everyone and everything you love!
Thank you heavenly father, for the loving, amazing earthly family you've placed me in the middle of.
Thank you my best friend, for the friends I share so much of my life with.
Thank you Lord, for the gorgeous mountains, burning gold wheat fields that sway in the so-often-seen wind in Kansas, for the beautiful moonlit ocean in Florida.
Thank you God, for the time you've given me to play video games with my little brothers, getting to know them and being "in their zone".
Thank you Lord, for the spiritual leaders you have placed and continue to keep in my life so that I may be challenged and strengthened in my faith in you.
Thank you God, for a mother who listens to my every thought, worry and complaint.
Thank you Lord, for a father who cares about his family so much that he would work diligently everyday just to keep us happy.
Thank you God, for a country where we might celebrate and worship you freely.
Thank you Lord, for Freedom and Liberty.
Thank you God for a sister to sing off key with to our favorite songs.
Thank you God for love, peace and joy.
Thank you Lord, for grandparents who love and spoil me :-)
Thank you God for every little child I get the chance to love, encourage and guide.
Thank you Lord, for music that brings your glorious righteous person to the front of our minds.
Thank you God, for a roof over our heads and food on our table daily.
Thank you Lord, for hearing me out whenever I turn to you.
Thank you God, for your love letter to us.
Thank you Lord for your unconditional love.
Thank you God, for sending your only son, to die for fallen man that we might one day live in heaven with you forever.
Thank you Lord, for giving every one of us the chance to have a personal relationship with you.


Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!