Independent Beauty Challenge Day #12

Today has been a pretty good day. Church was really good this morning and the Pastor's message was great. Plus, we've got about 3inches of snow here, and it's still falling!

Once I got home from church, it was a "change into sweat pants and t-shirt because I'm not going anywhere for the rest of the day" kinda day :) Which was fine with me. But I learned some cool stuff in the last chapter of Hebrews.

Hebrews 13:5-6 says "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not fear; what can man do to me?' " Something that I struggle with a lot is being content. In this world we live in, it's all about being successful and making money. And so many tragedies have been caused by people who are full of selfishness and greed. But you see, Jesus is enough. He provides, He protects... I don't need anything else. He is all I need. Nothing in this world satisfies me. No amount of money can fill the space that God specifically made to be filled with Himself.

God is my helper. So why am I concerned with how I'm going to make it in this big world? I don't have to be scared of the future because I won't be experiencing it without Jesus Christ by my side. No matter what happens to me, to my life, I have the best thing I could ever ask for. I have Love. I have Truth. I have Christ!

Psalm 107:9 "For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things."

Psalm 90:14 "Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."

Independent Beauty Challenge Day #11

Today was alright. My audition was okay. We'll see how it really went when they get back to me next month. Thanks for those who were praying. I definitely needed it :)

In my On Year Devos, it's been talking about when the government was giving a bunch of lighthouses away to the public since we didn't need them due to GPS and stuff. It sounded like a really cool thing to get in on for most people, but in order to receive a lighthouse, you had to keep it open as a tourist attraction. A lot of money goes into fixing up a lighthouse and getting it ready for lots of people to come visit. So even though it sounded like a cool thing, only the people who were seriously dedicated actually got one of these lighthouses.

That kind of relates to being a Christian. Lots of people want to go to Heaven, but not many are willing to give Jesus their lives completely. 1 John 2:4-6 says "Whoever says 'I know Him' but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked." Acknowledging that Jesus lived and died for our sins doesn't save us. I mean, even Satan believes in Jesus. God wants our hearts, our love, and our lives!

Susie Shellenberger challenged me when she wrote "Think about yourself for a moment. Are you into Christianity for the 'stuff'? The feeling-good emotions of being in a youth group, the fun of attending church camp, the activities with your friends at church? Or are you a Christian because you love Christ and realize all He's done for you? In gratitude to Him, you will want to live a life that's pleasing to your heavenly Father."

1 John 2:15-17 "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

   

Independent Beauty Challenge Day #10

Today has been a pretty good day. School went really well, even though it really wore me out. Still freaking out about this audition tomorrow, so please be praying :)

I know this will be kinda short since I need to get as much sleep as possible, but in my devotions today, I read the first few chapters in Hebrews. Some verses that really stood out to me were from chapter one verses 10-12 "And, 'You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.' ". I just love reading stories from the Old Testament about all these amazing things God did; battles He fought for the Israelites, how He provided for everything they needed. And to know that I serve that same powerful God today is pretty remarkable. The same God that parted the Red Sea is the same God that I'm crazy about. The same God who helped David defeat Goliath is the same God that is there to help me too. Few things never change in this life, and Jesus is one of them. And I'm so thankful that He is always there being that faithful constant when it seems like my life is like a roller coaster.

Psalm 36:5 "Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds."

Independent Beauty Challenge Day #9

Today was pretty good. I had choir this morning and then just came home and did homework the rest of the afternoon. I worked on my two songs and resume for my audition this Saturday, which I'm SUPER nervous about. Prayers appreciated :)

I'm pretty sure lots of girls have been self conscious about their size at some point in their life. I've never had a real problem with my weight and I usually take advantage of my high metabolism but over the holidays, I definitely gained a little bit of weight... and was NOT happy about it. I tried working out and eating better, but had a hard time sticking to it. So my frustration with my lack of discipline combined with jealousy of seriously skinny girls, caused me to be unsatisfied with my own body. I don't really know why, but part of it might have been seeing girls with smaller waists than mine trying to diet and calling themselves fat. If they were literally skinnier than me, and thought they were fat, then that must mean I'm seriously overweight. But I'm done with believing that stuff. So what if I'm not just skin and bones? So what if I order a burger over a salad? I like the way I look and I'm tired of feeling like I'm not skinny enough.

You know, I was having a hard time figuring out what to write about on here. But before this challenge, I had looked up what the Bible had to say about beauty. I had found and bookmarked an article on the Focus On The Family website called What The Bible Says About Beauty And Appearance (check it out here: I am said article. Click me. ). I was just looking back at it now to see what other passages they pulled to relate to this topic. Granted, it's an article to moms to talk to their daughters about, but it has some great points.

1 Timothy 4:8 "for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Here's what the article had to say about this verse: 

"What it means: Exercising and staying in shape is a good thing, but God expects us to stay in shape spiritually by reading our Bibles, praying, and going to church on a regular basis. In other words, there will be plenty of people who put their time and effort into staying in shape but who are out of shape spiritually. If they don't know Jesus Christ, their perfect bodies won't get them through the gates of heaven. "

In my One Year Devos For Teens 2 by Susie Shellenberger, it's still on the topic of loving when it's tough. But something that caught my eye was this, "Love and spiritual growth go together. It's impossible to become a mature, strong Christian without learning how to love as Jesus does." According to dictionary.com, godliness (like in 1 Timothy 4:8) means "conforming to the laws and wishes of God". So according to John 15:9-12 ("As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.") God's wishes are for us to love others. So by loving others, we're displaying godliness. By displaying godliness, we live out 1 Timothy 4:8. We become spiritually fit, which is so much more important and rewarding than just being in shape physically.

Independent Beauty Challenge Day #8

Today has been a really great day. I'm thankful that Jesus has given me grace to help me understand Pre-Calculus and given me a youth group that always leaves me smiling afterwards :)

The hair wasn't working right so I just pinned it all back, but I think it looks cute. Another insecurity would probably be my hair (on occasion). Back in middle school I went through this whole phase of wanting to change practically everything about it, so I highlighted it, dyed it, and permed it, all to find out I love my hair the way it is. I love the color and even though sometimes I wish it were easier to curl, I like having it straight. This insecurity I've gotten over, but it was a big deal to me a few years ago.

In my daily devotions, it talked about us loving people everyday, not just on Valentine's day. And not just the people we like and who like us, but those people who are harder to love. I feel like us girls can be quick to judge other people based on their looks. I mean, we all have first impressions, but we shouldn't always go by them. 1 Samuel 16:7 says "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.' " Physical appearance makes no difference to God and it shouldn't make a difference to us either.

I will admit though, even if it's not based on looks, there are people in my life who are harder for me to love. But Jesus calls us to love them. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing for others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" (Matthew 5:43-44, 46-47). We are called to love the unlovable, and Jesus perfectly demonstrates how it's done. I mean, He loves me... so obviously He's pretty good at this kinda stuff. But just reading through the Gospels, you see the kind of people He hung out with; who He reached out to.

In my book called The One Year Devos for Teens 2 by Susie Shellenberger on the devotional for February 15th she says "How will the world know we're Christians? If we tote our new leather-bound Bibles? (Not hardly.) If we wear a cool gold-plated cross around our neck? (Even Madonna has been known to do that!) If we quote Scripture? (Satan did that.) They will know we are Christians by our love." But something else that stood out to me was when Susie pointed out "They'll know we are Christians NOT by our love for God." I mean, when you think about it, it's easy to love God. Because He loves me and sent His Son to die for me and is always there for me. "Instead, others will know we are Christians by our love for each other." That's the tough part, but remember, Christ hasn't called us to anything He hasn't done and won't call us to do it without being there to help.

John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."

Independent Beauty Challenge Day #7

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I had such an amazing day! So amazing, that I'm not even gonna try to talk about an insecurity of mine because I just don't care about them at all right now :D

I'm just overwhelmed right now with all the blessings God has given me. I have such great friends and family that truly love me, and I thank God everyday for them. So all of you out there who have been such a great encouragement and blessing to me, thank you! Take these verses from Philemon as ones from me to you that say "I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints.... For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love..." (verse 5 and 7a).

But even more than that, Christ's love is the ultimate unconditional love. He loves me enough to put all of you in my life. I don't know why, but I am so thankful He did! My sister has put up a Bible verse everyday this month leading up to today that talks about love. I'm going to list them all here and I hope that you will take the time to read them (I'm sure you've heard most of them before) and really just sit in awe of the immense love that God has for each and every one of us.

Mark 12:30 "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."

Romans 5:8 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Psalm 63:3 "Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you."

1 John 3:1a "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God..."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." 

Romans 8:38-39 "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."

Jeremiah 31:3b "...I have loved you with an everlasting love..."

Isaiah 54:10 " 'For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed.' says the Lord, who has compassion on you."

John 15:12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

Lamentations 3:22a "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;"

1 Corinthians 13:13 "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses."

So whether or not you're spending Valentine's Day with a special someone or celebrating Singles Awareness Day, Jesus loves you. He really, truly, and faithfully loves you! How amazing is that?!

Independent Beauty Challenge Day #6

Today was probably 10x better than yesterday. I expected to have a day like that though, where I was questioning and regretting the challenge; doubting whether or not this would change anything. But I feel a lot better and I'm not giving up. It might be hard, but I'm determined to firmly set my hope in Christ so that days like yesterday can be avoided.

 

Anyways, I guess I wasn't in the mood to talk about something I don't like about myself yesterday but I'll give you one today since I'm feeling better. I always feel like my eyes are kinda squinty when I smile so I always try to open them wider when a picture is being taken. I've learned to like the color of my eyes, (I used to think they were super boring, not ones you'd remember) but I still feel like I look weird in pictures because my eyes are almost shut. 

Jesus is good. Kinda amazing actually. I read through 1st and 2nd Thessalonians today and got something pretty cool out of both books. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." We are asked to do two things in this verse, 1) let God sanctify us completely and 2) keep our spirit, soul, and body blameless until Christ comes back. I'd say those are some pretty tough expectations to meet. Pretty impossible actually, at least, on our own. But then there's this wonderful promise in verse 24, "He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it." God is faithful. He doesn't just tell us "Be pure." "Be righteous." "Be holy." and leave us to figure it out. God will help us to do anything He has called us to do. Philippians 1:6 says "And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." All of this work, this sometimes painful process of sanctification, isn't a never-ending battle. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. God is gonna finish what He started and even though it's an impossible goal in this lifetime, Christ WILL make me holy.

And until that day comes, there's another promise in 2 Thessalonians 3:3 that says, "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." So while I'm here on earth, God's going to be there for me. When I'm struggling with these lies that Satan has been telling me, God's going to be there. All I have to do is give it to Him, tell Him I need Him. Because I do need Him. I can't fight these lies by myself. You saw it yesterday.... that was me failing to trust a God who is the definition of trustworthy. And I'm trying really hard to make it a habit; to really trust God, not only with the big things, but with the little everyday things as well. It's hard, but I know God can handle this stuff so much better than I can.

"O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in You!" Psalm 84:12