A Verse To Start Your Mornings!!

I've been going through a great Bible study lately, and one of the verses that I read this morning popped out and made me think of you.


Psalm 143:8 


"Let me hear of Your unfailing love to me in the morning, for I am trusting You.  Show me where to walk, for I have come to You in prayer."


With only a few more weeks of summer left and the school year rapidly approaching, I was thinking of how you girls will get up each morning to face another day at school...and that is not always easy.


I know you all face so much competition, comparison, pressure, stress, and other issues daily.  For some of you it is easier than others; and for some it is a daily struggle just to try to keep up and survive the day.


So when I read this verse that said, "Let me hear of Your unfailing love in the morning, for I am trusting You" I thought of you girls, and how each morning before you get up for school to face the day, you can remember God's love will never fail you and that you can trust Him.


And when I read, "Show me where to walk, for I have come to You in prayer"  I thought of how if you seek God in prayer daily, He will guide you throughout your days as you face life as a teenager.


There is a lot of comfort in this verse for me, and I hope you find comfort in it as well.  Maybe you could write it on an index card and post it on your mirror or in your locker so you will see it each morning before school and know you are loved with unfailing love, and you have a God whom you can trust and whom you can come to in prayer to guide each step you take.


Because remembering those beautiful truths is the perfect way to start each morning!

When You're a Celebrity...

I have had a ton of things on my mind to share with you girls lately...and have been almost overwhelmed to know where to start!


One thing that keeps coming to mind and concerning me is the ever-growing obsession with celebrities in our culture.  It's been bad for awhile, and it seems to be getting worse. 


I am not against celebrities - many of them are incredibly talented, well educated, strikingly beautiful, well dressed, and some do great things for honorable charities.  I understand why people admire them.


But...sadly, some of the celebrities that I see teenagers (and adults) not just admiring, but even obsessing over, are not who I would consider great role models.  Many are completely lacking in morals; many have serious and sad addictions and are in and out of rehab; most have severe relationship troubles; a lot put material things over their family and other important things; many are so self-obsessed they can no longer handle reality; and lots of them waste their fame and fortune on ridiculous, self-destructive things.


The Brad Paisley song "Celebrity" is hilarious, but it is also very true to life.  For most celebrities, it's "adios reality" and they do "act just like a fool."  


I honestly find it all sad.  And I feel for celebrities in this culture as they are constantly stalked by paparazzi, have little to no privacy, and are so elevated that it is beyond difficult for them to remain grounded and keep a sense of reality.  I often hurt for them when I see gossip slathered across the covers of magazines as I know they are real people with very real hurts....and very big cover-ups to hide their pain.


Here's the bottom line.  Be careful who you idolize.  Be careful who you obsess over.  Be careful who you look to as a role model.  Some of the people you think have it all together are virtually falling apart.  Life is more than desperate attempts for physical perfection and the pursuit of fame and fortune.


There is so much more to life!  And you might find a terrific role model in a mom, grandmother, coach, teacher, older sister, cancer survivor, youth leader, or good friend.


So while understandably you might admire certain qualities in the celebrities you see, find someone personal and honorable to imitate.  Seek inner beauty first, and strength of heart, mind, soul, and character.  Those are the important, real aspects of life. Those are the traits that will make you a "genuine girl."


Keep in mind that when you're a celebrity, things are not always as they seem.


And if anyone has a terrific role model in their life that they would like to share about, let me know!  I'd love to hear about the wonderful women you are looking up to!


Much love,


Jennifer

You Are More

This morning I was listening to the new Tenth Avenue North cd...if you are not familiar with this band, you really should check them out.  Incredible music with awesome lyrics.   You may know their famous song "Love Is Here" that really put them on the charts.


Anyway, there is a song "You Are More" on their new album that made me think of you girls...it was written by Jason Ingram and Mike Donehey.  I want to share the lyrics with you, and encourage you to download this song and listen to it so you can imprint these words on your heart.  The lyrics are as follows...

"There's a girl in the corner with tear stains on her eyes

From the places she's wandered and the shame she can't hide

She says, "How did I get here?I'm not who I once was.

And I'm crippled by the fearThat I've fallen too far to love"

But don't you know who you are, What's been done for you?Yeah don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made, You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, You are more than the problems you create, You've been remade. 

Well she tries to believe it that she's been given new life

But she can't shake the feelingThat it's not true tonight

She knows all the answers and she's rehearsed all the lines

And so she'll try to do better, but then she's too weak to try

But don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made, You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, You are more than the problems you create, You've been remade. 

'Cause this is not about what you've done, But what's been done for you.This is not about where you've been, But where your brokenness brings you to.

This is not about what you feel, But what He felt to forgive you, And what He felt to make you loved. 

You are more than the choices that you've made, You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, You are more than the problems you create, You've been remade. 

You've been remade."

This song reminded me of two verses from the Bible...


I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.


II Corinthians 5:17 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!



Genuine Girl, if you believe in Jesus you have indeed been remade!  You are forgiven.  And like this song says, you are more than your past mistakes because Christ makes all things new.


Keep your head up sweetie...


Jennifer

How To Really Be In Style...

I love fashion.  I love clothes.  I love digging through sale and clearance racks and finding good deals on pieces to expand my wardrobe.  I love combining new items with pieces of clothing I've had for years to come up with new outfits.  I love coming up with modest and tasteful versions of trends (and totally believe you girls can do this too with some commitment and creativity). I love changing an outfit up with different accessories.  Fashion is fun, and fits my creative, likes-change-and-variety personality.  


I treated myself to an In Style magazine the other day...as much as I love cooking and fashion magazines, I try to resist always picking them up to save a few dollars on my grocery bill.  But it had been awhile since I had bought one and this issue had the 150 Best Beauty Buys, which is always a good consumer read.  


The same day I was going to try to carve out some time to sit in my green chair with my new mag, I was spending a few minutes with God when I came across this verse... Colossians 3:12 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."


I don't think God minds at all if we enjoy fashion or beauty or other fun things.  In fact, in the year before He used Queen Esther to save the Jewish nation, she received a year (yes, a year) of beauty treatments.  I've never even been to the spa for a full day, let alone a year!  The ultimate, virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 was described to be "clothed in fine linen and purple" - in other words, along with all her other amazing qualities, she was a well-dressed woman.


However, I do know that God wants us to care more about our character than our appearance.  I do know His desire is for us to first look like Him and reflect the beauty of His character. 


I still enjoyed my In Style magazine, like always.  But while getting fun fashion ideas, I also meditated on five words that I want to describe my character and that I want to put on before putting on my cute outfits...compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  


Hoping and praying that you girls will add these five things to your wardrobe as well!


Because I Believe In You,
Jennifer

Everybody Needs A Little Help Sometimes...

The other morning after breakfast I was doing Pre-K work with my daughter at the kitchen table.  My son was watching Cars (his favorite movie) and playing with blocks.  All of a sudden I heard a muffled cry and went into the family room to find my son like this...evidently he thought it would be fun to put the block container on his head, but it got stuck in too awkward of a position for him to get it off by himself!

It only took me a second to pull it off, but I snapped a photo first because it was such a picture of us sometimes.  We are innocently living our lives when we try something we probably shouldn't, and before we know it we are stuck.  We need some help before a small problem turns into something dangerous, but unlike my little boy, sometimes we don't cry out for it.  We keep secrets and bottle up feelings, and don't share the fear we are facing as we become overwhelmed by situations we didn't see coming when we first made that small choice to try something we shouldn't have.

As soon as I heard my son cry, I went to see what was wrong.  I immediately helped fix the situation, comforted him, and then warned him not to do that again because it could be dangerous.  I both helped and warned him because I LOVE HIM.

Sweet girl, God loves you.  And so do people in your life who care for your well being, such as your parents, teachers, youth group leaders, etc.  If you find yourself stuck, don't remain silent.  Ask for the help you need to be set free.  Don't live in bondage because you were afraid to ask.

Remember, everybody needs a little help sometimes.

Lovingly, Jennifer

"Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise."   Proverbs 19:20, The Bible

You Are Loved, You Are Accepted...

I've lived and listened and learned long enough now to know that behind every tough exterior, every can't hurt me attitude, every underachiever, every overachiever, every pretty smile, every perfect makeup job, and every heart and soul lies a deep rooted need for love and acceptance.

It doesn't matter if she drives the prettiest car from the prettiest house and family in town, or if she walks in an old pair of shoes from a run down shack that makes her ashamed, every girl I've encountered desires love and acceptance.

These needs are genuine, legitimate, and universal.  You need love and acceptance, and so do I.  

Sadly, many girls I encounter haven't found it yet, and continue their search down paths that bring them anything but the wholeness they are looking for.  Many have been so broken down they no longer think it is to be found.  For some girls, this hopelessness is written all over their faces; for others, it is carefully hidden behind MAC foundation and lipgloss.  

If you, my dear girl, are in the many who feel like every time you thought you'd found love and acceptance you were hurt and disillusioned, I have good news for you....

You are loved.  You are accepted.  Maybe not by everyone in your life by whom you wish you were, but by the ONE THAT MATTERS MOST.  

Jesus.

"This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down his life for us."  I John 3:16a

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."  Ephesians 3:17b-19

My heart tonight longs for the broken and hurting to know they can be whole and restored by the love of Jesus.  My desire is that those who feel like outcasts or strangers can find acceptance in this love.

My prayer is that with me, you could understand and sing the lyrics "I'm forgiven, because You were forsaken.  I'm accepted - You were condemned.  I'm alive and well, Your spirit lives within me, because You died and rose again.  Amazing love, how can it be?  That you my King would die for me.  Amazing love, I know it's true. And it's my joy to honor you, in all I do, I honor you." (Billy J. Foote)

Sleep well tonight, Genuine Girl, knowing no matter what today held you are truly loved and accepted.  Dream sweet as you rest in this gentle truth.

Reminder in the Trees....

Sometimes on the blah days or bad days, we need a little reminder that we are loved.


I know some of you reading this may not feel very loved sometimes.  Life can make you feel that way.


To me, when I think of the ultimate picture of love, I think of the cross. The place where Jesus took nails and beatings and mockery and hatred and a cruel death for our sins so we wouldn't have to endure such a horrible thing.  The place where we can find forgiveness and hope.  The place where broken souls find redemption and healing.


John 15:13 "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  Jesus did exactly this...the cross was the most powerful display of love possible.

John 3:16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."  The painful sacrifice of God's son Jesus on the cross was motivated out of love for the world and can guarantee us everlasting life in Heaven.

Yes, when we are feeling unloved, it only takes a simple glance at the cross to be reminded that we are loved, loved so much that someone (Jesus, God's only son) gave His life for us.

A woman in our church had been telling me about a natural phenomenon that happens this time of year, around Easter, which is the holiday where we reflect on the cross where Jesus died, and the fact that he didn't stay dead but rose from the grave and is now alive in Heaven preparing a beautiful place for us.  She said that in the spring, near Easter, on the top of each branch in her pine trees something special would appear...

A cross. Crosses literally cover the trees like ornaments.

As my little girl and I gazed into the sky earlier today, marveling at this beautiful display of God's grace in creation, I was reminded that because of the cross, I can rest assured that I am most beautifully and sacrificially loved.

And so, sweet genuine girl, are you.  You are loved.