Accepting God's Will, By Allison A.

Accepting God's Will

 By Allison A.

 I was really frustrated recently because there was something that I wanted to do, but I knew it would be sinful, and if I went through with it, I was afraid that God would punish me (which is a whole different topic!). I was just angry with God because this was something I really wanted to do, and it didn't seem that sinful, and I felt like God was holding me back. Later, though, I realized I could accept God's will and make the very best of it- I was able to see the good in His plan, while not having to bear the guilt if I went through with my own plan. I'm going to take us back to a scripture that we all probably know: 

 "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 

God's plan is there to help you; don't fight against Him. What you want isn't always what God wants; this can be frustrating, as I already explained. But just think about the consequences if you decided to sin instead of turning to God- you may feel guilty, regretful, etc. I realized that this isn't what I wanted, and it wasn't worth it. Sometimes we just need to let go of our own plans and desires and let God lead us.

Do Everything Without Complaining, By Allison A.

Do Everything Without Complaining

By Allison A.

"I'm tired."
"That girl is soo annoying."
"You're making beef stew for dinner? I hate that meal!"

Sound familiar? Complaining is something you hear all the time, and it comes in many forms. We often like to express how annoyed we are at the moment (if you're tired, hungry, etc.), but it really is not helpful for anyone to hear.

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation."
Philippians 2:14-15 (NIV)

This is the same scripture in the New Living Translation (NLT):
"Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people."

I remember hearing about complaining in a girl's Bible discussion. My youth group leader said that when you complain, you are complaining against God. He put everything and everyone in your life for a reason, and if you complain about your life, you are not recognizing everything that God has given you and that everything was meant to be. He made your life as it is because He has a plan for you, so complaining is basically being ungrateful. Complaining can also be hurtful to others. Talking negatively about how annoying that girl in your math class is is neither helpful for the people listening or uplifting to that girl. We may not even notice when we are complaining, but try to find areas in your life where you are prone to complain and change it to a more helpful comment: instead of complaining about what your mom is making for dinner, say "Thanks for making dinner, Mom! I appreciate it." Or instead of groaning about how tired you are at school, you could focus on using your remaining strength to finish your schoolwork! Just be on the lookout for complaining in your life, and you may feel a lot more positive about different situations!

Treasures in Heaven, By Allison A.

Treasures in Heaven

By Allison A.

Hi! I'm Allison. Today, I was buying a new phone, and I wanted an iPhone. It cost too much money, so I wasn't able to get one, but you know what? I didn't need it.

I know a lot of us value worldly things: technology, school work, celebrities, etc. I do. What about valuing others' opinions of us? This is something I need to work on, personally. We often get so worked up about what other people think that we forget about God's opinion - and that's whose opinion matters most. It can be easy to become distracted by celebrities, or too consumed with schoolwork. But it will all pass away.

"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:20.

Everything we store up on earth will not last, and it's not worth our time and energy! God's gift is so much greater. Cell phones, boyfriends, all A's in school, etc. will not fulfill us the way God can. Let God's love enter your life and let Him be your fulfillment. Real joy comes from God.

Pressures you face in school, and how to overcome them Allison A.

Pressures you face in school, and how to overcome them

Allison A.

There are going to be pressures almost anywhere you go, but my focus today is the pressures you face in school. School, as most of us know, is a very worldly place. Most people don't care about pleasing God. People often put others (and themselves) down. Here are some pressures that you may face in school:

1. The pressure to look pretty: So many people focus so much of their time on clothes and makeup! People often fall into immodest dressing because they just want to fit in. But at the end of the day, who do you want to please- God or people? Your outward appearance will fade- as Proverbs 31:30 says,

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised".

You have probably heard this scripture many times before, but don't just gloss right over it!? God is everlasting and He is worth devoting your life to. So worry about pleasing Him- not people.

2. The pressure to act like someone you're not: The phrase "be yourself" is so cliché and often unhelpful. But please don't fall into the trap of acting like someone you aren't! I am often a rather quiet person, and in a world where loud, outgoing people are often more valued, I wanted to be more like that. Although I can naturally be a bit louder and funny when around the right people, I wanted to be someone I wasn't- and when I tried to be out of my own personality, it just didn't feel natural! God gave you the personality type that you are- whether you are quiet, more outgoing, or somewhere on between, don't try to change that! If God didn't want you to have that personality type, He wouldn't have created you that way!

3. The pressure to get good grades: We all know people that are very smart in school. Maybe you do excel in school, and that's great! I get good grades, but sometimes I want more. For example, almost all of my friends are taking AP U.S. History, while I am taking honors. Of course, honors is very good! But when I first found out that all my friends were taking a higher class than me, I felt a little left out. But I am glad that I am in honors because AP is a lot of work! You weren't meant to be someone else- try to set your own goals to reach. If you are so focused on getting as good of a grade as another person, you aren't acknowledging the strengths that God gave you. Maybe you aren't great in school, but you are good at sports, encouraging others- you name it! Of course, do your best in school, but acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses and don't overwork yourself!
I hope this was helpful! God bless!

Is your heart in it? By Allison A.

Is your heart in it?

By Allison A.

There have been many times when I've read the Bible because I felt like I had to, or like I should. Usually when I'm done reading for the day, I make a goal for myself based on what I have just read. Maybe it's "control your tongue" or "have faith in God". Whatever the case, I usually go on with my day and forget my goal. If I had really cared about fulfilling this goal, I would have tried harder to let it not be forgotten. The difference is that my heart wasn't in it. Sometimes, this is what we lack. We don't always have the heart to take the next step, to let God lead us to where He wants us to be. You have to step out of your comfort zone sometimes!

I'm not saying this is easy. I go to a church camp every year, where I attend lessons about how to improve in my walk with God. I take notes and make goals at camp, but when it's all over, I don't usually change the things that I was going to change in my character. It's because my heart wasn't in these goals. I often come up with these goals without a plan to actually fulfill them, but what good does that do?

Colossians 3:23-24 reads, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Don't let yourself walk aimlessly throughout life! When you work with all your heart, then you're getting somewhere. Once your heart is in it, let God lead you into the next chapter of your life.

Admiring God's Creation, By Allison A.

Admiring God's Creation

By Allison A.

Hey girls! The way I thought of my devotional today was by looking at my calendar. On it is a picture of a beautiful ocean sunset. This is God's creation! I remember hearing once that God could have made the world ugly. There could have been no flowers, no​ waterfalls, no​ clouds, etc. But He didn't do that! Some people really connect to God through His creation, which is a reason why He gave us a beautiful earth! God didn't just create nature, but He also created us. I know this seems obvious, but think about it. The human body is such an amazing, intricate system, and it was all created by who? GOD! Girls, we aren't coincidentally made this way, and the earth doesn't look beautiful by accident. Next time you look around outside, think, "My Creator created this!" Really notice all the elaborate leaves, the gorgeous flowers, and the birds' songs.
As Nehemiah 9:6 says, " You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." A lot of times, we take creation for granted. You probably see trees and grass everyday, for example, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't admire them! See the world in a different perspective, and this will give you an opportunity to appreciate God more. See creation as a privilege that God has given to you!

Friendships in the Church By Allison A.

Friendships in the Church

By Allison A.

Hi everyone! I am going to talk about friendships today. You probably have friends at school, at a sport, etc. But having friends in the church is very important because they can help you grow in your faith. These types of friends are the ones who challenge you to be a better person and to make changes in your character.

An example of this in the Bible is with David and Nathan in 1 Samuel 12:1-13. Nathan pretty much explains to David that he had been sinful, and in verse 13, and David admits, "I have sinned against the LORD." We should all have friends that will tell us what we need to hear, even if we don't like it. If we have open minds and are humble, then we can work on changing, turning from our sin!

Also, we can do the reverse: help friends with their own sin. For example, if you see them gossiping, you could quietly tell them that that is not what Jesus would do. Remember that the point is not to be like "gotcha!" if you see them in sin; no one is perfect, after all. The point is to help them with their sin and relationship with God. If we build up relationships like this, we can grow spiritually!