Do you find yourself daydreaming as you skip down the road? Sometimes, do you think it’s hard to concentrate on your schoolwork, chores, or what someone else is talking to you about? Then this might be a character trait that you need to sit up and pay attention to!
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It’s Hard Being Dysfunctional
Unless you’re just way mature and ahead of the game, you, too, are dysfunctional. Now don’t get upset with me for calling you dysfunctional. I know you think that you’re different or the exception to the rule (or that I was just uniquely strange as a teenager). The word dysfunction simply means “unable to function normally as a result of disease or impairment.” The disease is sin and the impairment is immaturity; two things teens (and we all) suffer from.
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Who Am I?
Think about the days you spend as a single person. You work hard, have big dreams and desires, and often imagine your future life. It’s a time of “finding out who you are.” Many a single struggles in this area of not knowing who they are, or being OK with who they are. Perhaps it’s due to failures, complacency, unthankfulness, or discontentment. You can discover who you are and God’s perfect plan for your life.
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Thoughts on Thankfulness
I know it’s only October 1st, but believe it or not, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. In less than eight weeks from now, we’ll be gathering with family and friends around a carved turkey, and partaking of a yummy meal, and if you’re anything like me, scrambling at the last minute to use this wonderful holiday as a teaching opportunity! Why not take the whole autumn season to highlight thankfulness, rather than just reserve it for the last week of November?
Hospitality
When I was a little girl I always looked forward to times of “hospitality.” That usually meant that we were having “company” over to our house for dinner! Maybe some family or friends were coming, or perhaps we invited a new family from church or a visiting missionary family. Regardless of who would show up on our doorstep, I enjoyed those special times because it meant people in our house, a yummy dinner AND dessert, and often some other children to play with! My sister and I eagerly helped my mother cook and clean in preparation for our guests. This is a good example of learning the character quality of hospitality.
What Makes a Difference?
Think of someone you know who grew up in a Christian home then once they turned 18 headed deep into the world. I personally have known several people, both guys and girls, who have done just this. They grew up hearing the same Biblical principles, memorizing the same Bible verses, and often had godly parents who were actively involved in the church. Why, then, at the first chance do they choose everything opposite of what they have been taught?
Mommy Obedience
I was reading through the 112th Psalm recently and came across these words in verses 1 and 2…
“Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed.”
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Good Gifts
Our daughter, Gracie, “inherited” this little purse from a friend, and she loves it. Dearly. In fact, I think she might have taken it to bed with her on the night that she received it. Gracie and the purse are inseparable.
Friendship Benefits
Have you ever thought seriously about how important friends are to you and how greatly they impact your life? There is so much more to friends than liking the same styles or foods, playing the same sports, or even being the same age.
Giving – A Matter of the Heart
In the Old Testament, Moses taught the children of Israel to acknowledge that everything they had come from God by giving at least a tenth of it back to Him. Tithing was an act of worship as well as obedience.
Desire
Remember how you desired a treat from the ice cream truck when you were a child? It seemed that there could be nothing better on a long, warm summer evening that partaking of a dainty from that musical truck! Your heart longed for it. You could almost taste the sweet ice cream as the truck rumbled past.
Money Myths
We all have deep-rooted attitudes about money, many of which rob us of happiness and peace of mind. What’s worse is many of these assumptions are myths!
Forgiveness
Here is a character quality that should be developed very early in the life of a little princess. That is because people are going to hurt you or wrong you often. I’m sure you have already experienced some of that in your young life. When someone says or does something unkind to you, you may have the tendency to want to do the same back to them or maybe you decide to reject them and pretend that they don’t exist.
Celebrate Small Things
The children of Israel stood on the border of it. The Promised Land. Their Promised Land. They place that they had longed to see for many years. Not just a place to see- but to possess and enjoy! A place in which to dwell and flourish! Their hearts must have soared with expectation of all that the Lord was going to do as He “handed them” this new land!
5 Things Every Young Lady Should Strive to Be
1. Joyful
“…he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15b
Life is full of ups and downs. It can be unpredictable at times and even feel like things are out of control. It is at those times we must exercise the joy of the Lord. So, what is the joy of the Lord? It is being thankful and content is the circumstances of life. The opposite of joyfulness is frustration. Frustration sets in when we become unthankful and self-centered. A lack of joy can easily turn into bitterness. We have much to be thankful for—don’t forget the daily blessings of God and become a sour, unhappy young lady. Joyfulness, especially in a women, is attractive as well as an inspiration to others.
My Little Man
As the mother of a son, I’m beginning to accustom myself to looking at the back of him. He begs me to rollerblade with him. Which generally means we start out side-by-side, hand-in-hand. And invariably, he blades ahead. Normally, not too far ahead of me. But clearly in front and not beside.
Legacy of a Single Woman
We all want to make a lasting difference with our lives. But there are times when singles can think their life doesn’t amount to much and that if they never marry, their existence on this earth will just be a blip on the screen of history!
Consider Your Calling
Marriage is a wonderful gift from God but it cannot take God’s place. Here are a few things to consider and ask yourself at this critical point in your life: Do you feel that marriage will bring meaning, direction, and security to your life; would it take away feelings of failure, inadequacy and loneliness? Do you say to yourself, “If only I could find a husband then I’d be happy?”
Success for Mom
Do you want to be a successful mom? Of course, you do! Who doesn’t, right? If you’ve been a mom for any length of time, I’m sure you have experienced days, like I have, that felt anything but successful. You know the ones… the kids were up at the crack of dawn. Before your feet hit the floor, someone or something had already caused a catastrophe. You swept Cheerios from under the highchair at least five times, changed a dozen diapers, consoled a teething baby, tried to rock to sleep a little one who had no intention of taking a nap, and then watched the clock waiting for daddy to come home, only to find that he had an unexpected meeting that would detain him later than normal.
Eight Reasons to Strength Train
Life can get busy. Have you ever thought about adding a strength training routine into your life? I’m not talking about digging out your dad or brother’s dumbbells and try bench pressing 50 pounds. I’m talking about strength training your spirit – the part of you that is connected to Almighty God. You say you want to be a strong, effective Christian during your single years—how do you plan on doing that? Try adding strength training to your morning routine.