Get Your Glow On! - How To Get That Radiant Glow

Although my Grandmother is well into her 80's, I (along with many others) would describe her as “radiant.” She glows with an internal joy and pureness that is undeniable. But it's not because of good skin care. It is because of good Spirit care. I have countless memories of walking into her room and seeing her reading her Bible by the light of her floor lamp. If she wasn't reading her Bible, she was listening to a sermon on tape or watching a Christian film or show. There's nothing she enjoys more than her relationship with God. And it's evident when you look at her that she has walked and talked with her Saviour.  

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. - Exodus 34:33-35

 

The Bible tells us that Moses went up Mt. Sinai to speak to God on several occasions. He was the only one allowed to speak directly to God. He was in the presence of The Almighty God many times. And each time, the Bible says, he came down with the glory of God literally glowing from his face! He was so bright, that he had to put a covering over his face so he would not frighten the people. 

 

Psalm 34:5 says, “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”

 

Do you know what that means? Being in God’s presence makes us more attractive! If you want to radiate, if you want to shine like the stars, then get in the presence of God. Unlike the Israelites, you and I have total access to The Father, thanks to Jesus and His saving grace that created a bridge between us. So, get your glow on! All it takes is a little time in The Father’s presence. Devote as much time (if not more) to reading God's Word and praying as you would to your daily primping and skincare routine and I guarantee others will start to see a permeating glow that no beauty product could ever compare to.

The Definition and Design of Sex (why it's so much more than just a physical act)

Sex can be compared to fire. Fire is a good thing when it is properly used - it can warm you, it can create beautiful works of art like pottery and it can also light your path so that you can see where you are going. But when fire gets out of control it can be damaging and destructive.

Much like fire, sex is also a gift that when experienced the way it was intended - within the boundaries and commitment of marriage - it can be a wonderful thing. But when sex gets outside of its boundaries, it can be harmful and devastating.

Casual sex, friends with benefits, hook ups, flings, sexual experimentation….our culture has a very skewed perspective about sex. So let’s talk about the true definition of sex: Sex is a great gift designed by God for married people.  Sex was created for one man and one woman together forever, committed in a marriage relationship. Society has distorted the design for sex, but the truth is, when sex is enjoyed the way that it was intended to be enjoyed…within marriage…it retains its wholeness and can be enjoyed to the fullest.

The consequences of sex outside of marriage such as STDs and unplanned pregnancies are often talked about but what is less talked about, but is equally as impacting, is the emotional disconnect that happens when we have sex with someone other than our husband or wife. If we’re being honest, we recognize that each time we give ourselves sexually to someone who we are not married to, our emotional and spiritual well-being is affected. There is a pain we feel deep within ourselves when we reduce sex to a purely physical act. Sex is so much more than that. Sex is the fusion of two souls. So when we move from one sexual partner to the next, we have to first break away our soul that has been infused to that person through sex.

Think of it this way…when you have sex….you are being sewn or super glued together…but if you are not committed to that person…when you or your partner choose to walk away, you have to rip out the stitches and pull apart the flesh because sex is meant to bind you permanently. Is it any wonder then that casual sex causes some serious pain and scarring. Pain that we were never meant to experience because we were never meant to be separated, we were meant to stay connected for life. That is why when you have sex outside of its boundaries, it chips away at your soul and becomes more and more difficult to bond.Marriage was intended to protect us from pain not to keep us from pleasure. Sex within marriage is not meant to spoil our fun, but frees us to enjoy sex to the maximum.

The good news for anyone who has already experienced sex outside of marriage is that it is never too late to enjoy the fullness of sex. Healing is possible. You can’t go back and make a new beginning, but you can start today and create a new ending. Commitment to enjoying sex only within the protective walls of marriage is always possible. It’s a choice you can make today, no matter what happened yesterday. It’s a choice you won’t regret.

Heart to Heart: Displaced Devotion

I was listening to a webcast recently from Kyle Idleman and he talked about the subject of idols. (You know, all of those things that we make equal to or place above God?) And he shared a statement that sent shock waves through me. He said that we tend to take Christ off of the throne and put him on a loveseat with our idols. Think about that picture for a minute. We're talking about the King of Kings, the Creator of the Universe, the Almighty Savior who died for you and I. We've removed Him from His rightful throne and told him to share a couch with our sin. Or for some of us, we put that something or someone else in His place on the throne and don't even give Him a seat in our hearts at all.


What is it that you treasure most? What do you get the most joy out of? What is it that you spend the majority of your time focused on?  Is it a relationship? Money? Your career? Sex? Food? A sports team? Your appearance? Success? Pleasure? Who or what are you looking towards to satisfy you? What is it in your own life that you are putting before God? What are you making more valuable than Him? We can all fill in the blank with something that we have chosen to be first in our lives instead of God. I know I can. I unfortunately have put many things above him lately. But when I take an honest look into my own life, I can clearly see where my priorities have been grievously displaced. I have been asking these other things to do for me, what only God can do for me. I gave control over to these other passions and turned my worship from God  towards these lesser substitutes expecting to be satisfied.


Truth is that none of these things we put before God can save us. None of them can truly satisfy us. And none of them even compare to His glory. There is nothing wrong with enjoying things like relationships, success, etc. but it is when we allow these things to take center stage - to be the main focus in our lives - that is when they become idols and therefor are a distraction from God. We start to worship the gift instead of the Giver. Instead of allowing these gifts to enhance a deeper devotion to the One who blessed us with them in the first place we worship the gifts instead of God who gave them to us. God also gave us free will to choose where we place our devotion. And it is a decision we all must make for ourselves.

Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. -Joshua 24:15

Heart to Heart: A Life Intended

Self-reflection is essential for personal growth. It is important for us to take an honest, introspective look at our own lives. Why? So that we can have a better understanding of our strengths and weaknesses as well as our purpose and goals. Too often we look to others as our comparison scale to see where we measure up, but it's really not fair to compare. Each of us are uniquely designed for an individual purpose and trying to fill another person's mold that we were not designed for is like a fish trying to climb a tree...we weren't created for that. The fact that we can't be like someone else doesn't make us more or less worthy, or talented, or desirable, it simply means we haven't embraced your ability to swim. We haven't acknowledged who we are and what we are capable of.

When we stop comparing ourselves to others and recognize our own natural, God-given purpose, then we will begin to live the fulfilling life that we were designed for...the life that God intended for us.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

-Jeremiah 29:11

Prayer For The Weary

Heavenly Father,

Your Word says "those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). Please renew my strength; help me to be patient and live for You without becoming weary; help me to stand for what is right, to walk boldly with fortified faith. Thank You for Your promises. Thank You for lifting me up and sustaining me.

In Jesus' holy name.

Amen.

10 Things I Would Tell My Teenage Self

If I could go back in time and tell my former, teenage self ten things to encourage and enlighten based upon what I know now through experience...that conversation would go a little something like this....





1.) All attention is not equal.  Wearing tiny skirts and low cut tops will attract attention...but it's not the attention you really want. People will turn their heads to look at a car wreck but it doesn't mean it's a good or positive thing to see. In the same way, dressing in revealing clothes may gain you attention but it doesn't give you what you really want...which is respect. Dressing modestly, on the other hand, is more like a shiny, polished, brand new car...attracting respect and awe. You choose how you want to represent yourself outwardly. Do you want to be the car wreck or the polished car?

2.) You are meant for so much more. What goes on inside those high school walls and within those high school days will not compare to the accomplishments and beautiful life that lay ahead of you. Don't get caught up in trends, popularity or peer pressure. They will fade, leave you feeling empty and can compromise your future.

3.) If you don't want anyone to find out, don't do it. If you feel the need to hide something, keep a secret or live in the shadows then chances are that something is not positive and could be potentially harmful to you or others. Live in the light.


4.) Sometimes your plans don't work out because God has better ones. God wants what is BEST for you. Seek His best even if that means His plan is not what you would have planned for yourself. It may take some time - maybe even years - for His full purpose to be revealed, but trust that He will never lead you wrong. Follow where He leads.

5.) Don't look back, you're not going that way. Everyone makes mistakes. Learn from them and move ahead.  Don't allow your past to hold you captive from pursuing a brighter future. It doesn't matter what you've done or where you've gone, all that matters is where you go from here.

6.) Smoking is NOT cool.  Your money, your health and your hygiene are literally going up in smoke. There is absolutely nothing beneficial about smoking. Don't waste your life on it.

7.) Stand for what is right...even if you stand alone. You can't please everyone. It's a fact of life. You can try to be popular in the eyes of others by simply going along with the crowd, but if you want to be a woman of character - one that can be truly admired - then there are times when you are going to have to choose boldness and risk criticism in order to do the right thing. But if your heart is in the right place, you will never be standing alone. Christ stands with you. Do not shy from who you truly are because of fear of abandonment or negative opinions from others. Don't lower to the world, raise toward heaven. God is easier to please than people are.

8.) Love can wait to give, lust can't wait to get. Having a sexual relationship outside of marriage is fundamentally a relationship for the present without any or little concern for the future of the relationship. This type of relationship is not total, but rather limited. Your future husband is waiting for you. He's been praying for you since he was nine-years-old. Trust me, he's worth waiting for.

9.) Singleness is NOT a curse. Being single is not some form of misfortune that you think you must get through before life can really begin. Enjoy that time to really discover who you are, what kind of contributions you can offer to this world that go beyond companionship. Give yourself time to grow into the woman God has created you to be and when love does come along (because it will) you will be able to share an already fulfilling life with that person. Think of it this way...if you were to write down a resume to give to your future husband what would you want to put on it? Use this time to build the qualities and skills that will shape you into a great wife..not a perfect wife, but one that strives to be a Proverbs 31 Woman. Look at singleness as training in faithfulness. Embrace this season in your life.

10.) You are enough. The world we live in is broken and throughout your  life you will hear all kinds of lies that tell you that you are not enough.  You are not thin enough. Your legs are not long enough.  Your clothes are not stylish enough.  Your chest is not big enough. You are not smart enough. You are not wealthy enough. You are not valuable enough. There is a beauty industry, a fashion industry, a television industry, along with all sorts of social groups and people that are trying to convince bright young women: your worth does not measure up. You must have the clarity and common sense to know that none of that is true. 


Don't let society and the things of this world influence you or trigger insecurities that will lead to you lowering your standards to less than God's best. You were created for a purpose. You have innate value. You are loved more than you could ever comprehend. There has never been, and there will never be another you. That's what makes you epic...makes you beautiful. You have unique contributions to offer the world and everyone will lose out if you are too fearful to share them. Fully embrace your uniqueness because you're the only one who can.

You are beautiful.  You are valuable.  You are enough.

What would YOU tell your former self if you could go back in time?

Heart To Heart: Draw From His Power

There are words in your Bible which have so much power in them that they're more effective than any therapy. God can illuminate a Scripture that goes back into the past and heals your wounds, gives you direction in the middle of despair, and provides hope for the future. Satan will try to fill your mind with so much junk that you don't have an appetite for God's Word. That's because he knows Scriptures unmask him, and release the potential lying dormant within you. Before Jeremiah rose to national prominence as a prophet, God told him two things: (1) "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (Jer 1:5 NIV). Your parents didn't get the first look at you, God did. Nothing about you surprises Him. In spite of what you've been through, He hasn't changed His mind about who you are or what you're destined to become. (2) "Before you were born I set you apart" (v. 5 NIV) You say, I've always felt different." That's because you are. Celebrate it! Stop looking for acceptance where you don't belong. You're on a mission for God; that's why the enemy has tried so hard to take you out. Once you understand that, your struggle will begin to make sense. As you study God's Word you'll begin to experience the mind-renewing, life-changing power He's deposited within you. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." So start drawing on that power today [1].



[1]. www.wordforyou.com

50 Fun & Cheap Date Ideas

Valentine's Day is not far away so here are 50 fun and inexpensive date ideas. These are not only great ideas, but great reminders that there are SO many ways we can express how much we love and care for someone without getting physically involved.

 Also, Valentine's Day is about celebrating love and is not just for romantic relationships. Many of these are designed for group dates so you don't have to have a significant other to enjoy these activities. Get a group of your friends together and have some fun!

How are YOU going to spend Valentine's Day this year?

1. Catch a movie
2. Go Ice Skating
3. Indoor Golf
4. Go skiiing
5. Hiking or nature walks
6. Go to a sporting event like a football or basketball game
7. Have a game night (video, computer or board games)
8. Karaoke (at an all ages karaoke club or start your own)
9. Horseback riding
10. ATV riding (check out places that offer rentals)
11. Volunteer at a local animal shelter or at some other non-profit group (giving is so rewarding!)
12. Have a group dinner (either go out to a restaurant or have a potluck-style/picnic meal together
13. Bowling
14. Music concert or go to the local theater and see a play
15. Photo adventures (grab your friends and a camera and have fun capturing moments around town)
16. Compete at Ping Pong
17. Laser Tag
18. Visit an art or science museum
19. Check out your local Planetarium
20. Card games
21. Visit a nearby landmark (and bring your camera!)
22. Go to a local nursing home (elderly people are full of stories and love visitors - you will feel good and have lots to talk about)
23. Do a service project. (there are lots of opportunities to serve that give you an opportunity to see what kind of person your date is at heart.)
24. Go to a thrift store and create characters with clothing and props you find there...this can turn into a hilarious good time!
25. Create comedy or theater skits together (video tape them if you like)
26. Have a bonfire
27. Go for a bike ride
28. Play a sport you both enjoy, like basketball or volleyball
29. Go rock climbing (head to an indoor rock climbing gym)
30. Browse the bookstore or visit the local library (talk about your favourite and least favourite reads)
31. Take a creative class together (cooking, pottery, dance, martial arts etc. explore something new you might all enjoy)
32. Go to local yard sales/flea markets and see what treasures you can find
33. Indulge at a local coffee shop (talk over iced coffee at your favourite café. often coffee shops even have live music to enjoy)
34. Go out for ICE CREAM! Not only is it a sweet treat, but it allows for sweet conversations too so you can get to really know each other better.
35. Meet up for breakfast at your favourite morning restaurant
36. Be a tourist in your own city (including taking cheesy pictures of each other!)
37. Visit your local zoo or petting farm
38. Go kart racing
39. Go roller skating (or indoor ice skating)
40. Learn a foreign language together
41. Take a road trip (it doesn't have to be far, but explore a new town or city)
42. Spend the day at an amusement park
43. Go to a local fair or carnival together
44. Start a book club where you all read and discuss a new book each week or month
45. Go to church together. Most churches have a youth group that plan great group events where you can meet new people and you can both grow spiritually together.
46. Have a pizza party. Where there's food you'll always have company!
47. Go for a walk in a park or even around your own neighborhood
48. Geocaching is a high tech version of hide and seek. (read a full description of what Geocaching is HERE)
49. Share and listen to your favourite music together
50. Start a band or learn a musical instrument together

Heart to Heart: Self Worth & Social Pressures

Women are being fed a very toxic script from society and from the media about who they are "supposed" to be. Women of all ages are ingesting the idea that they are only as valuable as they are sexually desirable. There is prime importance placed on our sexuality so it is no surprise that girls and women are acting out in sexual ways in order to attract attention and to validate their self worth. Whether it's dressing in "sexy" clothing or becoming sexually involved with guys outside of marriage.

This script about worth based on our sexuality really limits what it means to be a woman and to be a human being. It compartmentalizes females as just a collection of body parts and nothing more. But the truth is women are SO much MORE than that. Our value doesn't come from how sexually desirable or attractive we are. Our worth comes from the fact that we are unique, one-of-a-kind individuals created with great potential and purpose and who have been designed and are desired by our Creator.

We no longer have to seek approval, or attention from people because the knowledge that God loves us because of our intrinsic value and not our external attributes frees us from that need of social acceptance. The One who matters most (Jesus Christ), believes that WE (you and I) matter most, so the opinion of others (society, boyfriends, etc.) matters not. Once we understand that and accept that as truth then we can begin to free ourselves from social pressures.

Heart to Heart: Modesty Matters

Check out my latest video on why modesty matters!

Heart To Heart: Live 31

"I would rather have a Proverbs 31 Woman than a Victoria's Secret Model."

This is a movement started by one young man declaring that he would rather be with a woman who lives for God and loves the Lord than a woman who lives for society's approval and who loves the superficial. He's not the only one. There are other Godly men out there who are also seeking to love and encourage women of faith and virtue. Because they know the truth, which is that there is nothing more beautiful than a woman with a righteous heart who puts Christ first.



For those women who wish to be a Proverbs 31 model - one who models the character of faithfulness and virtue - here are seven principles that will help guide you on your walk.

Ladies, don't let society and the things of this world influence you or trigger insecurities that will lead to you lowering your standards to less than God's best. Instead, strive to be a Proverbs 31 woman, a woman who is loved, admired and praised for her HEART. A woman who is truly beautiful in God's sight and in the sight of good, God-seeking men. Physical beauty fades over time, but true beauty - which is virtue - is timeless.

Guys, be someone a Proverbs 31 woman would want to serve, love and respect so that she can be set free to live it out! You have more power to inspire us than you realize. Don't just look for us, help us to get there! In living by God's standards you will empower us to do the same.

Heart to Heart: Sharing God's Grace

Are you selfish with grace?


Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? —Luke 6:41


It is so easy to see when other people are screwing up. We could sit there all day and point out flaws in other people's actions, especially those of other Christians. However, that isn't what God wants from us. I love that Jesus, the only perfect person to ever walk the face of the earth didn't do that. He could have. He is the only one who has ever had the right to cast stones, yet instead, He gave His life for us, so that we could be forgiven. But we don't offer grace like that. We are certainly happy to receive God's grace. We are thankful that He is so gracious towards us, but then we sit there and look down on others. We judge them because we don't think that they dress the right way, or talk the right way. We stick our noses up at others because we don't think that they are as good as we are, or worthy of our attention. I don't know about you, but I am certainly thankful that Jesus didn't treat us that way.

Unlike Jesus, who was perfect in every way, we are sinners. We sin every single day in some way or another. 1 John 1 says that if we say we have not sinned we make Christ out to be a liar, and if we say that there is no sin in us we deceive ourselves. We sin; all of us, each and every one of us sin. But instead of working through our own salvation, we focus on the sins of others. It may make us feel a whole lot better, but it isn't what God wants from us. He doesn't want us to hoard His grace all to ourselves, but to show that same grace to others. Jesus didn't die for our sins alone, but for the sins of the world. That includes the lady at church who frequently gossips about others. That includes the sins of your best friend, even if they are sins against you. It includes the sins of our parents, of our peers, teachers, and family.

Reflection:
Do you offer the same grace to others as God has offered to you? Or are you busy casting stones and worrying about others sins instead of your own?

Application:
Every time you catch yourself judging someone, compliment them on something that they do well. Even if it is someone clear across the room, walk over and compliment them. If it is someone who you aren't with, pick up a phone and call them just to tell them something nice.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I am so selfish with your grace! Please forgive me. I have been casting stones and pointing out their flaws instead of working on my own shortcomings. Help me to encourage others, even in my thoughts. Help me to focus on my own sins, and grow closer to you. My walk with you is the only one that I have control over, so help me to focus my thoughts on sharing your grace, and growing in my love for you. In the name of your Son I pray. Amen.



Written by Heather Hart

Jewelry Box: One In A Million

Inspired by the beautiful, talented and wise, Priscilla Shirer, I wanted to start a new series here on the blog. Jewelry Box posts will consist of treasures for the soul...words of wisdom shared by fellow believers who help us to grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Whereas my Heart to Heart blog posts share more of my own experiences and encouragement, this series will focus more on the gifts and knowledge of others. There are so many Godly women (and men) who can teach and inspire and I want to make this a community of Christ-seeking people. To uplift one another through God's Word and grace.

So here is a brief video from Priscilla Shirer talking about her book: One In A Million. She is the author of several books, a great speaker, wife, mother and Christ follower. Be sure to check out her website at www.goingbeyond.com to learn more about her and her ministry.

Heart to Heart: Know Your Worth

"We need to teach our daughters to distinguish between a man who flatters her, and a man who compliments her.
A man who spends money on her, and a man who invests in her.
A man who views her as property, and a man who views her properly.
A man who lusts after her, and a man who loves her.
A man who believes he is God's gift to women, and a man who remembers a woman was God's gift to man.
... And then teach our sons to be that kind of a man."

Heart to Heart: Spiritual Vitamins

 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  
-Colossians 4:2


Just as taking vitamins daily is important to your body in order to stay healthy, so is taking vitamins to help your spiritual body.


Vitamin P:  Prayer  -- Have you prayed today?  Have you taken the time to pause and talk to God today?  Invited Him into your life and to your heart?  Have you told Him your fears, your desires, your joys, and your struggles?
Vitamin T:  Thankfulness -- Be thankful for this day, for your family, your friends, your health, your education, your church and all of life's blessings!
Vitamin W: The Word  -- Have you gotten into God's Word today?  It has everything you need to give you power and authority in your life.
Vitamin F: Fellowship  -- Fellowship with others who believe in Jesus is an amazing thing.  Find people who uplift you, encourage you, stretch you and keep you accountable.


Reflection:  
Have you taken your spiritual vitamins today?
Application Step: 
Make it part of your daily diet to pray, be thankful, read God's Word and associate with fellow Believers. It will keep you spiritually healthy and healthy as a whole.
Prayer: 
Dear God, I know that there are things missing from my everyday life. Help me get my daily dose of you and your Word.  Help me to be more thankful and to fellowship with other Christians more.  Help me find a group of people that I can spend time with that will strengthen me in my faith and help me to become all that I can be, for you. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.

Inspired by Erin Offermann

5 Tips For Making The Most Of Your High School Experience

We all approach back to school time with different attitudes. Some of us are anxious and terrified, others are anxious and excited. The best attitude to have whether this is your first year at a new school or not is a positive one. If you go in with a positive attitude you are more likely to have a positive experience. Instead of entering the year with a sense of dread and despair, go into the experience with reasonable expectations and a set of positive goals. Here are a few things to consider as you start the new school year that will help you to make the most of your experience.

1.) Stay True To Yourself.
Know what your standards and convictions are and stay true to them. Pressures are all around us and can often be more intense within the school setting. We all have this longing for acceptance and desire to be popular or well-liked but don't compromise your morals or your goals in order to please others. Each time you give in to pressure and do something you don't really want to do and you know is not truly in your best interest (whether it be drugs, sex, or cheating on an exam) you are settling for second best. The truth is you are EPIC and deserve an EPIC future. Don't blow future opportunities because you gave in to unwanted pressures. It may help you to write a list of goals and expectations for yourself and keep this list in your locker or backpack or somewhere you can easily return to it so you can frequently remind yourself of your bright future and ask yourself what choices will help you reach your goals as well as what choices will negatively effect your goals.


2.) Choose Your Friends Carefully.
Good friends promote good choices and bad company corrupts good morals. Having good, sound friends will help you stay strong in your convictions and assist you in reaching your goals by reinforcing healthy choices and good decisions. We choose who we surround ourselves with. Surround yourself with friends who will strengthen and encourage you to live a healthy lifestyle and who keep your best interest in mind. Keep in mind that good friends aren't always the popular people.


3.) Avoid Serious Relationships
If you are in high school, realize that few meet their future spouse during those years. You have plenty of time; there is no need to get into an intense relationship now. Most people find their spouses in college (or later) and do not get married until after graduation. The best foundation for any relationship is friendship. Start things off with a long, healthy friendship. After time, it should be clear if both of you desire the commitment of a relationship. There's no need to rush into it. Use this time to also decide if you're even ready to be in a relationship that could lead to marriage. Use your high school years to enjoy time with your friends and learn about yourself as an individual. Save serious relationships for when you are more prepared to support a spouse and family should it progress to that.


4.) Get Involved.
Boredom is the number one reason we lose our self control and get involved in negative activities. Keep  yourself occupied with good friends, service work, sports, healthy hobbies, and other positive interests. The less idle time you have, the less likely you will be involved in destructive activities. Find something beneficial that you enjoy doing and will keep you on the right track towards your goals.


5. Have Fun!
High school is the stepping stone into adulthood. It's meant to be a time where you learn the necessary skills and knowledge to be a successful adult so that after graduation you will be more prepared for the independence and responsibility that comes with adulthood. But it's also a time where you can enjoy certain freedoms that come with being a teenager. It's important to study hard and get good grades but it's also valuable to build good relationships with your fellow classmates, make memories that you will treasure for years to come and relish in the fact that at this stage in your life your responsibilities are minimal so enjoy that simplicity. Have fun!

Heart to Heart: ♡ Labels ♡

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -Ephesians 2:10

Do you have designer labels in your closet?  Do you have to wear Juicy Couture or Louis Vuitton to fit in and be accepted by the crowd?  Do you put more emphasis on the designer labels in your closet than the designer labels you have on your life? Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with having nice things or designer brands. It's when we start defining ourselves by these labels that we lose sight of who we are and our value.  


God created you.  He "broke the mold with you" as people like to say.  There has not, is not, and never will be anyone just like you.  God gave you fingerprints like no one else has.  He gave you DNA like no one else has.  He created a unique smile just for you and He has a specifically designed purpose entirely for you.  Doesn't that make you feel special?


Those designer clothes make you "think" you feel and look special, but don't forget about the labels God put on you.....extraordinary, loved, paid for, worthy and unique. Designer labels are costly, but "THE Designer's labels" are priceless.


Reflection: 
Do you care more about the labels in your closet or the labels on your life?
Application:
Make a list of all the things God says about you (His designer labels) and hang it near your closet for you to frequently see.
Prayer:
Dear God, so many times I just want to fit in and belong.  I want to be popular.  Help me to realize that designer clothes and labels are superficial, and really don't mean anything compared to the design you created me with and the labels you put on me.  Clothe me with your labels. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

*click to enlarge image*

Find these t-shirts and more at JCLU's online store HERE

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Source:  Erin Offermann

Heart to Heart: Life is Like Cake

Sometimes we wonder, ‘What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?'Here is a wonderful explanation my Mom shared with me! A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing one of her classes, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.' 'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers. 'Yuck' says her daughter. 'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!' 'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?' 'Mom, those are all nasty!' To which the mother replies: 'Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! ' God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful! God is crazy about you! He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.  Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe and He chose your heart.

Try to remember this when life doesn't seem to go the way you think it should. I’m sure most of us can look back at a time that was really tough and in the midst of it we didn’t understand why it was happening but then later in our lives we realize those tough experiences served a positive purpose somehow in the end. We have to wait for the cake to bake before we can experience its goodness. Just as we have to wait on the Lord to experience His goodness.

Heart to Heart: ♡ Confidence ♡

This is just a short video on the subject of self-confidence. Be sure to check out more videos like this on the Heart Over Heels YouTube Channel HERE.

Heart to Heart: Bullying & Word Wounds

A dear friend of mine describes bullying just as the name implies, “like a bull charging for our self-esteem”.  I don’t think she could have come up with a more accurate definition. That is exactly how the victim of bullying feels….under attack where the damages can be devastating. 

Verbal and emotional abuse can leave the victim wounded and sometimes scarred for life. The bruises and cuts caused by our words may not be visible to the eye but the pain is real and can be felt deeply. Emotional pain can be just as damaging as physical pain. Word wounds often take longer — sometimes a lifetime — to heal. One person's divisive, dysfunctional behaviour can permeate an entire soul like a cancer. Think about that next time before you speak and ask yourself: “Could my words be cancerous?”

To the abusers:  Speaking wrongly or cruelly of others is a very dishonest and malicious way of praising yourself. Bringing others down in order to bring yourself up only brings you down in the end. Self-glory, especially at the expense of others, is distasteful and undesirable.  So if you’re looking for admiration or approval in some way then tormenting others is not the way to achieve your goal. It only makes you less likeable. You don’t have to be mean to be remembered or prove a point. Be an encourager rather than an intimidator.

To the victims: Know who you are and what you are capable of.  Believe in yourself and have faith in your abilities. When you find security in the fact that you are valuable simply because you are a capable, one-of-a-kind individual full of potential then you are less likely to fall victim to the verbal and emotional abuse of bullies. Don’t help the Devil do his job…don’t trash your confidence by allowing someone to manipulate you or make you believe false statements. When the enemy starts to whisper lies into your ear, speak truth to your heart. You know what is true and what isn’t….be the strong, capable person that you were created to be, not the false character others are trying to make you out to be. Don’t let what someone else says distract you from your goals. Don’t invest any energy into the false attacks from others. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Also, don’t be afraid to seek help in the battles you may face. We weren’t meant to go through life alone. We have ALL been mistreated, hurt and misunderstood, so you are never alone in this. Find someone who will be your source of encouragement along the way and you be a source of encouragement to others.