The Bible talks a lot about trust, especially in the old testament. It talks about putting our trust in the Lord, not trusting a fool, consequences for placing trust in the wrong place, etc. And lately in my life I've been thinking about trust, especially trusting God when I don't know where he's leading me. I've recently had an experience that showed reward for trusting him. Let me tell you girls it's a fulfilling feeling when you reap the harvest of trusting God. I know sometimes it's hard to trust God with guys, you want to feel loved now! But I urge you girls, turn it over to God, he'll take care of it. Tonight I just wanted to give you a few verses about trust.
First of all, a warning. Remember Moses and Aaron and the Isrealites failure to trust God. "But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.'" -Numbers 20:12
And some encouragement. "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
I really like this last one because it's a verse you can pray. I find it very powerful to pray God's word. "in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me." -Psalm 25:2
Well that's all I've got for tonight. I just really hope that you will take this in and think about it, pray about it, and put it into action.
Love, Kat
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Short sweet and to the point! :)
I'm in Colorado on my senior trip and borrowing a computer from someone so this is going to be short, but I did want to connect with you girls really quick!
Be ready to give an account... You most likely have heard this before and if you are like me when you hear it your first think about your testimony... Right? Well, Ive come to realize lately that it can mean a little more than that. What about being ready to stand strong in your purity standards, being willing to say what you think is right and wrong, knowing how far you are willing to go, and not being embarrassed by your convictions? That is also what this means to me! I had the chance with a couple other leaders this past wed night to talk about purity with the girls in the youth group and once I began to share and made the statement that I had never kissed a guy they seemed shocked. I just graduated high school and i had NEVER kissed a guy?! I could have easily backed down and been like welllll... *stammering* you know i just kinda chose not to, but I'm sure it would be easy to and just go on and on downplaying it. When the truth is Ive fought very hard to not kiss a guy or let a guy kiss me and when asked about it I should be ready to give an answer!
When asked how far you are willing to go... what is your answer? Can I just be frankly honest here and i know I'm about to step on some toes... Just saying, "I'm not going to have sex until I'm married." is NOT an answer... It can be part of one, but that is one of those answers like I'm not really sure, but i have to say something. Girls... know how far and be willing to proclaim it!! There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of!
So here is my challenge to you... prepare for those questions! If you are living a pure life and one that is pleasing to God then you will without a doubt be asked about your standards. What will you tell them? It doesn't have to be a 30 minute answer....but it has to be from the heart and real.
Here is my normal answer (it varies some...all according to who is asking!)...just so you have an idea! Not saying mine is perfect by any means, but i can say that when i say it there is no reservation in me.
Person- So how far do you really think is "to far"?
Me- I kinda see it as a personal preference, but for me I choose to not kiss a guy until my wedding day!
Person- *shocked look* really....?
Me- Yeah! I know it sounds crazy, but i know that it is very easy for me to give into a guys wishes bc I'm a people pleaser, but if i know from the beginning that I'm not going to kiss him then it is easier to draw the line. I let the guy know from the beginning though... it sends some guys running, but others stay! ;) I also try to not put myself in a position with a guy where I would have to stop him. Not being alone, hanging with guys that sex isn't all they want, and just being honest from the beginning with them helps!
Person- What about "other" stuff though?
Me- Past that it is just pretty much whatever I wouldn't mind doing in front of God I will do with a guy... that pretty much means no real touching past holding hands, arms, or top of knees. Then as far as our words....nothing that i wouldn't say in front of my dad or his mom..... that stops alot! :)
Person- so are you against people kissing?
Me- oh no! Not at all. The thing is I know what my weaknesses are. So that is why I chose to draw the line where I did. For a strong willed girl who would have no problem saying STOP then I see no problem with kissing... it all has to do with the person though!
Person-ohhhh ok. Gotcha!
See, the point is to know where you stand, yet not seem degrading or demanding. I pray for each one of you as you think through this... it took me a while to get to where I was firm in my beliefs and it also took a few mistakes... but I pray that it doesn't take that for you!
Love,
JEN
Be ready to give an account... You most likely have heard this before and if you are like me when you hear it your first think about your testimony... Right? Well, Ive come to realize lately that it can mean a little more than that. What about being ready to stand strong in your purity standards, being willing to say what you think is right and wrong, knowing how far you are willing to go, and not being embarrassed by your convictions? That is also what this means to me! I had the chance with a couple other leaders this past wed night to talk about purity with the girls in the youth group and once I began to share and made the statement that I had never kissed a guy they seemed shocked. I just graduated high school and i had NEVER kissed a guy?! I could have easily backed down and been like welllll... *stammering* you know i just kinda chose not to, but I'm sure it would be easy to and just go on and on downplaying it. When the truth is Ive fought very hard to not kiss a guy or let a guy kiss me and when asked about it I should be ready to give an answer!
When asked how far you are willing to go... what is your answer? Can I just be frankly honest here and i know I'm about to step on some toes... Just saying, "I'm not going to have sex until I'm married." is NOT an answer... It can be part of one, but that is one of those answers like I'm not really sure, but i have to say something. Girls... know how far and be willing to proclaim it!! There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of!
So here is my challenge to you... prepare for those questions! If you are living a pure life and one that is pleasing to God then you will without a doubt be asked about your standards. What will you tell them? It doesn't have to be a 30 minute answer....but it has to be from the heart and real.
Here is my normal answer (it varies some...all according to who is asking!)...just so you have an idea! Not saying mine is perfect by any means, but i can say that when i say it there is no reservation in me.
Person- So how far do you really think is "to far"?
Me- I kinda see it as a personal preference, but for me I choose to not kiss a guy until my wedding day!
Person- *shocked look* really....?
Me- Yeah! I know it sounds crazy, but i know that it is very easy for me to give into a guys wishes bc I'm a people pleaser, but if i know from the beginning that I'm not going to kiss him then it is easier to draw the line. I let the guy know from the beginning though... it sends some guys running, but others stay! ;) I also try to not put myself in a position with a guy where I would have to stop him. Not being alone, hanging with guys that sex isn't all they want, and just being honest from the beginning with them helps!
Person- What about "other" stuff though?
Me- Past that it is just pretty much whatever I wouldn't mind doing in front of God I will do with a guy... that pretty much means no real touching past holding hands, arms, or top of knees. Then as far as our words....nothing that i wouldn't say in front of my dad or his mom..... that stops alot! :)
Person- so are you against people kissing?
Me- oh no! Not at all. The thing is I know what my weaknesses are. So that is why I chose to draw the line where I did. For a strong willed girl who would have no problem saying STOP then I see no problem with kissing... it all has to do with the person though!
Person-ohhhh ok. Gotcha!
See, the point is to know where you stand, yet not seem degrading or demanding. I pray for each one of you as you think through this... it took me a while to get to where I was firm in my beliefs and it also took a few mistakes... but I pray that it doesn't take that for you!
Love,
JEN
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Thought Filled Thursday!
I'm not sure what tomorrow holds, but I am sure of who holds tomorrow! ~ Unknown
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Listening for once...
So this weekend has been a CRAZY weekend! I Graduated Thursday night. WOOHOO! Anyway, Friday night after work and 2 graduation parties I chaperoned a kids/ youth lock in. Then the next day i had a few more parties and Sunday came around to more Senior recognition and fun stuff! Here I am, late Sunday night and no blog post. My deepest apologies...
Anywho, with all that said... I learned something this weekend late in the night when there were tons of screaming kids... PRAY... Sounds easy doesn't it? This is just me so if it isn't something you do then you can just call me crazy... but i come into a situation where i do not know what to do (Normally this has to do with guys!) and I ask God, and ask God then i ask some more for Him to show me what to do, but then all of the sudden it turns for the bad. The guys isn't who you think he is, he likes another girl, decides its better to just be friends, or whatever the case may be! Why do we all of the sudden get mad??!! We beg God to show us His will yet when He does and it isn't what we want or hoped it would be we pitch a fit over it. It doesn't always seem that way, but that's the bottom line. What are we called to do? It is easy to do the first part and we are drilled to do it...what after that though? We are called to accept Gods answer...whether it is what we had in mind or not! Jeremiah 29:11 tells us how he has GOOD plans for us! We should have no problem trusting Him if we believe that is true!
So here is what I did, I asked God to mold me... I went outside so that I could think and pray some... I cried some, I argued with God some, then i just decided to sit....be still.... Have you ever done that before? If you are truly seeking God it is one of the best possible feelings EVER! Girls this is what Christianity is all about... it isn't a Sunday morning, wed night, and if you really want to look good Sunday night thing.... it is a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus Christ! How quick when something goes wrong or you get mad do you go run to a friend to get their support? For me, as soon as possible. How quick do you run to God though? Sometime quickly, but often not so fast... I call Him my best friend though... Hmmmmm... Get where God was hitting home? Run to Him all you who are weary and burdened .... He cares for you!!
This has been my heart over the past weekend. I hope it made as much sense to you as it did me! I pray that each one of you has a personal encounter with a Holy, perfect, loving, precious, amazing, and so many more things God! You will never and I do mean never be the same....
With care,
JEN
Anywho, with all that said... I learned something this weekend late in the night when there were tons of screaming kids... PRAY... Sounds easy doesn't it? This is just me so if it isn't something you do then you can just call me crazy... but i come into a situation where i do not know what to do (Normally this has to do with guys!) and I ask God, and ask God then i ask some more for Him to show me what to do, but then all of the sudden it turns for the bad. The guys isn't who you think he is, he likes another girl, decides its better to just be friends, or whatever the case may be! Why do we all of the sudden get mad??!! We beg God to show us His will yet when He does and it isn't what we want or hoped it would be we pitch a fit over it. It doesn't always seem that way, but that's the bottom line. What are we called to do? It is easy to do the first part and we are drilled to do it...what after that though? We are called to accept Gods answer...whether it is what we had in mind or not! Jeremiah 29:11 tells us how he has GOOD plans for us! We should have no problem trusting Him if we believe that is true!
So here is what I did, I asked God to mold me... I went outside so that I could think and pray some... I cried some, I argued with God some, then i just decided to sit....be still.... Have you ever done that before? If you are truly seeking God it is one of the best possible feelings EVER! Girls this is what Christianity is all about... it isn't a Sunday morning, wed night, and if you really want to look good Sunday night thing.... it is a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus Christ! How quick when something goes wrong or you get mad do you go run to a friend to get their support? For me, as soon as possible. How quick do you run to God though? Sometime quickly, but often not so fast... I call Him my best friend though... Hmmmmm... Get where God was hitting home? Run to Him all you who are weary and burdened .... He cares for you!!
This has been my heart over the past weekend. I hope it made as much sense to you as it did me! I pray that each one of you has a personal encounter with a Holy, perfect, loving, precious, amazing, and so many more things God! You will never and I do mean never be the same....
With care,
JEN
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Word-Filled Wednesday!
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Confidence Under Scrutiny
Ever been asked those awkward purity questions? It's anything from, "Why don't you have a boyfriend?" to "why aren't you ever alone with a boy?" and it's extremely uncomfortable. While usually I receive the lesser of the awkward questions, regarding if i have a boyfriend or not, why i don't have one, etc. it is still something I face a lot. How do you answer them? Why do they always make us feel insecure? That's kinda what I want to talk about tonight.
First off, how do you answer them? Sometimes it's tricky, depending on the person you are talking to. Sometimes you have to answer a guy differently than you would a girl. You always need to be aware of who that person is and where they are coming from. Whatever I do, I always try to be honest with the person, and careful not to seem judgemental. I mean, would I want someone shoving their purity standards down my throat if I don't agree with them? Be very respectful of people who ask these questions, your respect could make a bigger impact than the overall answer of the question.
But there is a whole other side to this subject. The way we tend to feel insecure while answering these questions. I refuse to believe that I am the only one who struggles with what people think of me from time to time. I find I have to keep that in check more when I'm being grilled about my beliefs. When asked these questions, I feel like people are sizing me up, and labelling me. I feel like they are looking at me and thinking, this girl is psycho to live like that. And honestly, I have to ask myself "why do I care?" I mean, I am a sold out Jesus Freak and I am not ashamed of that in the least. So why do I care that someone is asking me questions just so they can label me? God did not give me a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power. I'm looking at a door of opportunity to share my faith like a door to a torture chamber. Girls, we can't be ashamed of the decision we've made. Following God's will is the most rewarding thing we could ever do. Don't be ashamed of who you are! Keep going strong! TTYL!
First off, how do you answer them? Sometimes it's tricky, depending on the person you are talking to. Sometimes you have to answer a guy differently than you would a girl. You always need to be aware of who that person is and where they are coming from. Whatever I do, I always try to be honest with the person, and careful not to seem judgemental. I mean, would I want someone shoving their purity standards down my throat if I don't agree with them? Be very respectful of people who ask these questions, your respect could make a bigger impact than the overall answer of the question.
But there is a whole other side to this subject. The way we tend to feel insecure while answering these questions. I refuse to believe that I am the only one who struggles with what people think of me from time to time. I find I have to keep that in check more when I'm being grilled about my beliefs. When asked these questions, I feel like people are sizing me up, and labelling me. I feel like they are looking at me and thinking, this girl is psycho to live like that. And honestly, I have to ask myself "why do I care?" I mean, I am a sold out Jesus Freak and I am not ashamed of that in the least. So why do I care that someone is asking me questions just so they can label me? God did not give me a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power. I'm looking at a door of opportunity to share my faith like a door to a torture chamber. Girls, we can't be ashamed of the decision we've made. Following God's will is the most rewarding thing we could ever do. Don't be ashamed of who you are! Keep going strong! TTYL!
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