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!

The Proper Woman, By Megan H.

The Proper Woman

By Megan H.

What Is the Proper Woman? How should she act? How should she dress? What should her responsibility be in the house? I have thought a lot on these questions lately. When you are younger you simply go about doing as you are told, as the fifth commandment says:

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."
Ephesians 5:24

Then when you become, lets say, 13-14 you are given more privileges. As time goes on and you get to the age 14-15 you feel stuck. Should I be acting older or not? Then once you reach the 15-16 you start wanting to act older, being more independent, looking more mature, which is where I am right now. So, I have been looking/searching the Bible for the Proper woman , and I wanted to share with you what I found. First lets look at what Solomon wrote in Proverbs. Proverbs is a very good book on wisdom, but it also talks about what a woman's responsibilities should be.

"Every wise woman buildeth her house: But the foolish plucketh it down with her hands."
Proverbs 14:1

"The heart of her husband doth safely trust her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a potion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." Proverbs 31: 11-31

I do realize times have changed alot. There are things now that have supposedly made life easier. when all it has really done is, how do I put it, made people lazier.

"Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth, and thy want as an armed man." Proverbs 6: 10-11

Learn new things. Learn to weave rugs/blankets, sew, knit, crochet, etc. These things may save you money later on. You can also sell the things you have made.

"She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard."
Proverbs 31:16

Virtuous Young Ladies - Part 2, By Trish M.

Virtuous Young Ladies - Part 2

By Trish M.

Beautiful Ladies! What's up?

Oh I've missed you guys! Guess what? My mum's baby is due this month and it's a girl. How exciting. Well enough about me - how are you? I hope you are blessed! Okay so this is part 2 of the Virtuous Young Ladies Series.
If you haven't read the first part, this is a 10 piece series on 10 qualities I think all Proverbs 31 women of Valour should have. The first attribute is Faith. The 2nd trait is LOVE. Let me begin with John 13:34-15. "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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Girls, we need love. The world needs love. Have you ever been sitting with your friends and the conversation has turned into a gossip session about other girls? Yeah, stop right there. Stop. That's not love. Love is when you encourage each other. As Christians, God wants us to encourage and lift others up, not put them down. We are the chosen people, so, come on, let's act like it. I have heard so many stories in 2012 of girls (I speak of girls because this series is for girls) committing suicide and other horrible things like self-harm because they were bullied, and this bullying is usually verbal bullying that causes emotional and psychological trauma, from other girls. If we loved each other then we wouldn't hurt and judge each other so much.

I understand that judging is part of human nature. As soon as you see someone, your instinct is to judge what they are wearing, if you think they are pretty or not, the way they talk, etc. But the word of God says "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." That's in the book of 1st John 4 , verses 7-21. So instead of noticing how much you don't like the shirt that girl is wearing, why don't you notice and tell her "how pretty her eyes are." This will not only potentially make you amazing, lifelong friends but you will be fulfilling God's commands.

God wants us to love each other, so what better reasons do we need? The best part about displaying love is that you are also displaying a fruit of the spirit. In the Bible, in Galatians 5:22, the word of the Lord says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness." Notice how the first fruit of the spirit is love. Once you display love, it's an automatic that you're going to be joyful, at peace, patient, kind, good and faithful because you love. Another reason to love is because we as Christians are trying to be like Jesus. Jesus loved everybody and showed His love by dying for us ALL. Let's pace ourselves though, probably no need to die for anybody, but we do need to have that kind of love. The love that will die for others.

So how do we show love?

Let's be really practical and literal. We can show love by: Helping others! If you see somebody who needs help and it is appropriate to help, then just help. Another way we can love is by encouraging others! Instead of discouraging and disempowering people, lets encourage and empower people. As mentioned before, another way is to compliment people. I try to compliment at least 1 person a day because making people smile and feel good about themselves is great but we must do this genuinely. Yet another way we can show love is by being generous. This doesn't mean you have to give thousands of money to charities. You could be generous by buying something for your mum instead of those cute shoes you wanted. I'm just saying!

Anyways Ladies, please stay beautiful. I love you all!

Virtuous Young Ladies, By Trish M.

Virtuous Young Ladies

By Trish M.

Hello girls! I am so sorry for not posting recently but with school, exams and assignments. So I’m starting a 10 part series of articles called “Virtuous young Ladies.” This will be 10 things that I think that we as young women in the lord should try to reflect in our day to day lives.

This whole series is based on Proverbs 31. I want to encourage you all to aim to be Proverbs 31 women of valour. Valour means bravery. Before continuing please read Proverbs 31:10.

I would like to invite all ladies to serve God in every aspect of your lives. The first aspect is faith. The Bible says that a Virtuous Woman serves God with all of her heart, mind, and soul. She seeks His will for her life and follows His ways. In Matthew 22:31, Jesus replied: “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind.” This means that we have to put our trust in God.

As ladies of valour, we have to not be easily discouraged when things go wrong but continue to praise, worship and love our God. If we look back in our lives, we can truly see all the things He has done for us, so why should we stop loving just because something has gone wrong? Always remember, God has a bigger plan for you; He sees the bigger picture. We have to live by faith and not by sight.

The word of God says in John 14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God and believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.” So why should you worry about anything when Jesus clearly instructed you to not let your heart be troubled? Let God do His job.

Let's have faith in the Lord. Your job is fast and sincerely pray to God and He will do the rest. Our faith is what determines our blessings. If you believe, then surely God will hear and answer your prayers but all in goood time.

All right ladies, that’s all for the number 1.