"Don't Judge...Because You're Next."

Shattering the Walls That Keep us From Experiencing Love

"Judged not, for you too will be judged."

It is one of the most commonly quoted verses in all of Christianity and even goes far beyond the faith spectrum. There is no book or verse number with the quote, because it comes up all over the New Testament. But, I can tell you with 150% certainty that Jesus said it. He said it in Matthew 7, and also in Luke 6. The early church had its butt kicked a number of times over it too, because in several Paul's (and a good deal of the other guys said it in theirs too) letters to the churches there is a constant reminder that they should get along with everyone, accept Jew and Gentile, and mainly that they just shouldn't judge.

But as much as that verse is relevantly used, it's also irrelevantly abused.

In my generation, it's used as an excuse to do many bad things. Come on, you know the things I'm talking about. How often have you heard it said that "I'm saved by grace, so I can do whatever I want," or, "Well, your Jesus says not to judge. So don't judge me and live your OWN friggin'/**** life!" The common misconception here is that because Jesus says to work out your own problems before you pick at others, that equates to people who are actually ashamed of what they are doing underneath it all (whether they are in denial over it or not) saying that Christians have no right to tell them that the way they are living their lives is wrong.

So basically, it's often just a ploy used by unbelievers to justify their unbelief. (Even though the whole reason someone would cherish that verse would be because they believed it - leading to it being a complete irony anyway.)

Well, I have some words that might shock you here:

The most judgemental people in life are often the ones who constantly believe they're being judged.

They're often the ones who wall themselves off when others want to help them because they're so hardened by their experiences that they don't think (or want to think) that anyone could help them. They might be stuck in a hard place, so they decide they want to live by their own rules and don't like thinking that anyone else could have something to say about it. They're the ones constantly on the defense; the ones who feel the need to always defend themselves and the choices they've made in utter anger with the world even when they're standing in a quiet room and no one has said anything about them.  They're so used to the idea that the establishment (and the God of that establishment) is at war with their ideals that they automatically assume that they will be judged harshly.

Think about it. Say you are the hurting person in this scenario. You've been hurt by countless people, you've made mistakes, you've been cheated, lied to by people...etc. All of your life you've heard people go on and on about Jesus and morality and sin and death...and by now you've made so many of the decisions that those same people in your life would consider "wrong" that you're downright sick at any mention of it. Maybe you've been taken advantage of by a guy. Maybe you tend to enjoy drugs more than the speaker in your Elementary School D.A.R.E. program would have ever hoped you would. Even though your family has never really gone all Westboro on you with flaming speech and picket signs - the one, caring conversation they've ever tried to have with you about your problem offended you to your core. Why? Because deep down inside, you know that where you are now isn't it. But, you'd still rather justifying it than figure something else out. You'd rather have anything than the life that they have. So, you get defensive and fight back.

Your parents see that there's no use - so they give up their attempts to help you and watch you fade away sadly as they continue to plead on their knees. Or maybe it's the opposite scenario. Maybe your parents were never there. Maybe they let you go out and experiment with things - and maybe you got hurt. Since no one ever cared to stop you - you need someone to blame for your brokenness, so you blame the world and you blame God. All the while, you try to compensate for your pain by diving deeper into the darkness that you had fallen into before. When someone tries to help you, they will only be shunned away. You have heard that God is a father; someone filled with compassion and forgiveness. But, amongst all of your confusion - the feeling that stands out the most in your life right now is anger. Who else is there to blame but God? Besides, this whole "love" thing has never been for you anyway. Your bridges have been burned, and you decide to accept it with bitterness and turn to blame the entire world for what happens to you in life. So, you build a wall around yourself, prepare to be in a constant fight with your inner demons, and believe the whole world is out to get you because of it.

There are also the people who paint on happy faces and say "Jesus" on Sunday mornings - the ones that quote that same scripture whenever they see someone struggling - and yet underneath it all they still judge others with words that burn. They say "God bless you!" And they wish you well when they pull out of the church parking lot, but if someone insults them or something important to them they can respond with everything from a snarling glare to some choice words that go something along the lines of "How dare you insult me you *****! I am a ****ing gift from God! You're an ignorant ******!"

Put yourself in their shoes. Here you are, sitting in the pew on Sunday dressed in a pretty pastel pantsuit. Your grandmother sits next to you fanning herself with her church bulletin while wearing a large-brimmed hat. The thing is so big you could stuff a bowl of fruit in it. Everyone around you is dressed pretentiously, operating under the motto that "The Lord wants us to look our best." Somehow that motto makes sense to you even though Jesus was actually a homeless guy who didn't have much more than the cloak on his back. The pastor is getting into it, but you're not really sure what he's saying. You can only pick out a few words, namely "Jesus," "Sin" and "Hallelujah." Beyond that all you really notice is that he is bald and covered in sweat.

The organ suddenly strikes a tune and you're dismissed. Another family comes up to you and invites yours to an elegant lunch at a classy restaurant. Their daughter is very nice, though shallow. She often takes you shopping with her to buy prada handbags. At lunch you thank God for the $200 meal and express your thanks in tremendous, wordy blessings. Five minutes later you are sitting across from your friend discussing the ugliest looking guys at school and this new girl who seems incredibly trashy. As you gossip, something weird happens. I just got out of church, you think, isn't that kind of a place where people go not to be judged? Oh well, you're not a pastor. For crying out loud, church is just something everyone does around here. It's to be cool and classy and seen by your friends while you uphold tradition, right? No. But, this person doesn't accept the truth. They would rather believe those things and continue living the way that they do; making it a cultural fad that you do once a week over something that would actually involve giving up all of your selfish desires and handing them to the "big guy in the sky. "

Neither of these kinds of people have accepted God into their hearts - and both of them share something in that as different as they may seem; they are both in clear denial of the fact that Christ died for them.

How is that so? The person who is closed off is living as a runaway. They attempt to reject that Christ could love them, because in their hearts - although they may not ever express it - they don't feel that they are worthy of being loved. They think that they have a pitiful life here, but that it's all they can depend on because they don't feel worthy of anything else. The second person is someone who is also in denial. They paint on a smile and offer up a big heaping plate of southern hospitality when it involves others looking at their lives - but when it comes time to let God examine their lives, they run as well. Christianity is just a name to this person. Jesus is just a nice Easter/Christmas/Mother's Day story.

As you read this, you must think it's a flaming judgement to put these people into groups. But, it's not. Why? Because although I can see that there are clear wrongs within these types of attitudes, it doesn't change the fact that I'm about to tell you this: you and I are no different from these people. Not by a hair, smidgen, inch, kilo, or cup. In fact, you are that person. You are both of those people. We are born the same. Mankind is born with a tendency to do bad things. We stain ourselves with the things we do. I stain myself with the things I do. But we know that there is hope in Christ that we can be made new and experience what it is actually like to be loved.

Isaiah 1:18 says:

"'Come now, let us reason together,' says the LORD. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be made as white as snow. Though they are scarlet, they will become like wool.'"

Let me be clear: Jesus will not judge you in the way you think people will. And any TRUE Christian will know from HIS example that we are not to judge anyone by their past, where they were born or who they were born to, by the way they look or talk or the mistakes they've made.

The people God redeems are not angels. The saints were sinners. All of them. The most prominent figures in the bible were not perfect. Noah got drunk and cursed his family, yet God still called him "the best man living among the people of his time." (Not to mention saved his whole family from complete obliteration.) Abraham tried taking God's promise into his own hands and screwed up a good deal of his family life in the process. Rebekah was willing to favor one son over the other. Jacob was a deceiver. Moses had anger issues (leading him to smash the Ten Commandments and have to go all the way back up the mountain and ask God for copies.) Rahab was a prostitute. Ruth was an impovershied, childless widow who came from a land looked down upon by the Israelites. Esther was an orphan. David was an adulterer who made sure that the "other guy" died in battle so that he'd never find out about it. Solomon had an obvious problem with women and extravagance - not to mention, Solomon also evidently concluded through much of his writings that he thought life was pointless, useless, and meaningless (though there is a greater point to it than just that.)

Continuing:

Matthew was a tax-collector (basically an ancient IRS agent.) Peter had loyalty issues. Mary Magdalene was possessed, and had likely "gotten around" quite a lot before her walk with Jesus. John and James thought they were macho-men, had some ego issues and probably a whole lot of ADHD. Their mom somehow had the bright idea that Jesus should put her sons in charge of well, everything in existence. Zaccheus was short, and he was also an ancient IRS agent. Martha was a worrier. Lazurus was dead. Paul murdered hundreds of Christians. The list goes on and on and on. But, no matter who they were - God loved and used them all. Even those among the most hated of their day (like Matthew, Mary, and Zaccheus) were valued like jewels to God. And so are the beaten, used, and abused people of our own time.

As Christians, we have no right to judge someone who God is using. Jesus hung out with a band of misfits. He touched the untouchable, talked with those who were not allowed to speak for themselves. He took the people who sought him and made their lives new. Many of those people who were renewed became his disciples; but there's more to it than that. Even after they were made new by Jesus (in all of his perfection) they still struggled with judging others. For some reason, Nazarene Jesus had really bad customer service. Every time he went somewhere and did something miraculous; it seems that half of the time the disciples shooed everyone away beforehand. You'd think they would learn to just let Jesus be Jesus and heal who he wanted - but one after the other, when people came to them asking for serious healing they would just say "Go away."

Then Jesus would rebuke his customer service team, heal the person they had tried to trun away in love, then give his staff a good stern talking to (that they never really seemed to learn from.)

Though they were also sinners, they had their egos get in the way a lot. And we are a lot like that. Often times, we forget the simple truth that we're all born as sinners and that life has its own unique struggles for each person to face. It is said that once you dehumanize someone, it's easy to hurt them without feeling apprehension. Well, once you forget that you are human too and are on the same level as they are; it's easy to judge the other person.

But then what is judgement? Is judgement steering someone off of the wrong path? Is it telling someone in a mad rush to turn around because they're about to walk off of a cliff? NO! That's not judgement. That is wisdom. If someone is about to walk off of a cliff and you think that telling them "turn back! You're about to fall to your death! I'm SERIOUS!" is judgemental and that you shouldn't do it; I would ask you to seriously reevaluate what you call logic. Judgement is looking down on someone because of some defining quality that causes you to feel uneasy. Since we're all born looking each other straight in the face as equals (as hard as it might be to accept it) judgement can be defined as something that occurs when you decide to stop seeing a human being on your same level.

Now, there's a difference between seeing someone as a cherished, worthwhile human and accepting the bad things that they do as alright. In fact, loving someone because you see them the way that God sees them - as people who are valued - should make you want to reach out to them and tell them that there is a better way. Not that they are terrible or horrible or hell bound - but that you love them, and you know that they are made for better lives than the ones they are living; and that they can find that in the love of Christ.

Ironically enough, it is those people who have been judged and gone wayward that judge the most. And we've all been judged, and we have also passed judgement ourselves. The thought that someone is trashy and ugly is a judgement just as much as the idea that someone will hate you just because they "don't understand you." If you don't have Christ, you don't have forgiveness. You've been both of the people in the above examples. You've taken things for granted and been a fake. You've also been closed off from the love of others in a desperate attempt to justify the self-reliance that you blame on the "judgement" of other people. You have been that person, and I have been that person too.

If you can connect with any of those analogies at all, know that there is grace in Jesus. If you've been saved but are struggling, pray that God will give you the same eyes to see people that he has. Read about the life of Christ and take from his example how you are to treat others - because Jesus didn't hang out with people who were cool or liked. But he didn't care about those factors - he loved them. If you have been hurt by someone and are putting up a personal wall; know that the people who have hurt you are not the kind of people that true Christ followers are to be. There are Christians who are good, caring people who look with the same Christ-eyes that I mentioned earlier. In fact, all of us Christians are called to do that. Those who don't could either be struggling with their own insecurities or are just big fakes. If you have intense pain in your life that has caused you to build walls; seek God. What he will ask you to do may not be easy - he wants you to open your heart - but if you want your struggles to be overcome, ask him in. He will shatter them.

We're all human, and we've all got a lot to learn. But no matter who you are or what you've done or are going through; Christ cherishes you and made you unique and wonderful. Life isn't about going to church so that you can be "religious." It's about walking with Jesus Christ and letting him have you as his child! Open yourself to his love and give it a try. He wants your heart so that he can heal it - not harm it. But, it's not an easy road. You have to be willing to let him change you.  You can't keep on living in the meaningless, empty ways that you do. It can be hard to give up our idols, but when you trade something meaningless for true joy; it's like trading plastic party beads for a real pearl necklace. Sometimes what he want might seem scary - but in the end it is worth it. All you have to do is ask.

Summer Beauty Tips

Crazy DIY Spa Tips for the Summer!

Quick fixes and fun at-home spa treatments that seem crazy, but actually work.

First of all, I wanted to say that even though this is called "beauty tips," keep in mind through this whole thing that beauty is within. It cannot be found through expensive creams and hair care products, through looking older or younger or changing the size of your jeans or the color of your hair. The kind of things mentioned here will only "pamper" or "beautify" in a temporary way. Beauty isn't even the right word to use for it, though the English language really stinks at having a variety of words for things with multiple meanings; so that's why I decided to stick with this as the title.

The bible tells us in 1 Samuel 16:7b that: "The Lord doesn't look at the things that man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

In the New Testament, women who were new believers were specifically told to not take pride in elaborate braids and hairstyles, fancy clothes and jewelry that distract others from the main purpose of God living through them. That doesn't mean that it's sinful to dress up for a special occasion or bathe so that you can smell nice. But, we are told as girls of God that we are not to find our "beauty" in those kinds of things. They shouldn't make us who we are.

1 Peter 3:3-4 "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles or the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

These are good if you need a fun activity for a sleepover, a quick fix for a painful pimple or bruise or if want to experiment for fun with different ways to moisturize your skin or hair. These are "quick fixes." But, you should never find your happiness in a "quick fix." You can only find it in the pure, lasting joy that comes only from Jesus Christ.

These are like baking tips. And I'm pretty sure most of you know not to build your life on baking tips.

So, now that you've been warned; without further a-do I would like to present you with a few summer "beauty" tips that may seem a little unconventional but work really well if you're in need of help with a pesky pimple or simply want to dry your nail polish a little faster without using industrial-grade chemicals. And for the most part, you can find most of the necessary ingredients no further than your kitchen!

Spa parties. Practically the epiphany of all things female. And, who can deny that it's fun to put cucumbers on your face?

Hair

• Washing your hair in cranberry juice boosts shine and gives vibrant color to redheads.

• Avocado has been used as a conditioner by the native peoples of Central America for many centuries and still is widely used all over the world as a hair moisturizer today. Use it a couple times a month for strong, healthy, shiny hair.

• Egg whites are also well-known conditioners for the hair and were used back in the day to wash hair too (yes, I know it sounds crazy. Using eggs to wash your hair.) Egg whites are also said to be good for the face as well. If you want to use them in your hair, apply the egg whites liberally throughout your hair and let it set for about 15-20 minutes or longer. Then rinse it out with COLD water (or else you'll wake up and find scrambled eggs in your hair the next morning.)

• Coconut milk is a nourishing conditioner for those who have medium-thick to thick hair. People with thinner hair can use it as well, but be careful not to use too much. Also try a product with coconut oil (or the real deal) if you have naturally curly or wavy hair.

• Mayonnaise is a good hair mask. Smear it all throughout your hair, clip it in place at the top of your head (if your hair is long) and secure it in place with a shower cap or saran wrap. Leave it in for 30 minutes to an hour. (It's also a good treatment to suffocate lice. Though, to do that you have to leave it in for at least 4 hours.) 

• Lemon juice and tea work well for oily hair. It is harsh enough to take out the oil but won't wreck the PH balance of your scalp. (Yes, your scalp DOES have a PH balance.)

• You can also use lemons to give yourself blond highlights (never tried it - but apparently it works according to my once-hairstylist mom and the McDonald's frozen lemonade AD campaign)

• If you find yourself battling with frizzy, untame hair - rinse it in unflavored club soda (seltzer water.)

• When towel-drying your hair, it works best to use a microfiber towel made specifically for your hair (got mine for $1 at Dollar Tree) or even a cotton T-shirt. Using traditional, coarse towels can make hair frizzy. If you use microfiber or a t-shirt, it can give your hair a natural shine! But, if you must use a regular towel, never ever rub it around your scalp to dry it. This will cause it to become frizz city!

• If you want your hair to be less frizzy, it's still okay to grab the blow-dryer. Just don't nuke it with heat until it's dry. Turn it on the low setting, or dry it on the cold setting if you have one. It's alright to use heat to style your hair - but a cool setting will make it shinier and healthier and healthy in the long run!

• It is well known that washing your hair in cold water makes it shinier. But, warm water should be part of the process too. Rinsing your head in warm water before shampooing opens up the hair follicles and makes it easier for your shampoo to do its job and remove all of the dirt and grime in your hair. Follow up afterwards by rinsing the conditioner from your hair with cool or cold water. This causes the hair follicles to close and "seal in" the moisture of the conditioner. Rinsing out your conditioner with cold water makes your hair shinier, more easily styled, and less frizzy.

• Have a fly-away? You don't need fly away cream or gel. It sounds crazy, but it's a tip I learned from my cousin when I was really little and has been working every since: LOTION. Yes, that's right. Lotion. Use a small amount of lotion (the dime to quarter size amount you would use to moisturize your feet or hands, depending on how much hair you have and how thick the lotion is, of course) and rub it between your hands. Run your hands AROUND (not on) your hair. Take your hands and run them up and down the length of your hair from about a half-inch away from the actual thing. That way it's not actually touching your hair and won't cause it to become greasy, but will still do its job by smoothing out frizzy strands and flatten cow-licks.

• Most store-bought shampoos contain harsh sulfates (ammonium laureth, ammonium lauryl, etc.) Sulfates are surfactants that are used to make the soap lather once it hits your scalp. They can actually be good if you're trying to strip your hair - but using them on a regular basis like most of us do can cause hair to be dried out, weaker, frizzier, and generally damaged. It's a good idea to invest in a not-so-expensive sulfate-free shampoo. I use the Coconut Milk line from Organix (because I'm pretty much obsessed with the smell of coconuts) and it works great! Pantene and Aveeno also have their own sulfate-free lines now. If you must continue to use your regular shampoo, it's a good idea to take a break from it every once in a while and condition-wash your hair (washing your hair with conditioner just as you would with shampoo) or to replenish the moisture with a hair mask. Below is a recipe for a hair mask that will help nourish your hair, and you can find many of the ingredients in your home!

Hair Mask Recipe for Strength and Shine: For shiny, healthy hair you can make a homemade hair mask with avocados, egg whites, olive oil/coconut oil, coconut milk and honey. The main ingredients that you will need are avocados and egg whites. The rest are optional but will further boost your shine! The amounts depend on how much hair you have. I have very long hair, so I normally use two avocados and that will be the amount I put in the recipe. You can add or take away however much you need:

2 avocados

1 can of coconut milk

1 or 2 egg whites

1 tbsp of olive oil or coconut oil (you can use both, but split the amounts in half.)

1 tbsp of honey

Shower cap (if none, a hair towel or t-shirt you don't mind getting dirty will do.)

Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl until they are well blended together except for the coconut milk. Try to get as many lumps out of the avocado as you can (they make a big mess in the shower) but don't stress it if there's still some left over after stirring. Add as much of the can of coconut milk as you feel you need, just make sure that the mix remains of a thick enough consistency to spread it onto your hair like butter. Stir again until the coconut milk is mixed well with the rest of the mask. Then, ready the batter and step into the shower. You can lightly shampoo and/or condition your hair if you like. Once you're ready, turn off the shower (or at least step out of the way) and liberally coat the mask over your hair from the roots to the ends. Then, do whatever is necessary to make sure that your hair stays in place (long hair can be secured in a plastic clip) and place your shower cap or hair towel over your head. Leave it on for at least 30-45 minutes, then rinse it out, preferably with cold water and a mild shampoo if necessary.

Skin

• Putting ice to an area of your body that has just gotten bumped or hit will prevent it from turning into a nasty bruise. Usually it will lessen the size and cause it to heal more quickly, other times it will prevent a bruise from forming all together. The science behind it all lies in the chemistry of what hot and cold do. Cold causes things to constrict, and hot causes things to expand and relax. That's why the doctor tells you to ice a sprain, it helps to constrict things underneath your skin and make swelling go down. BUT, in order for this to work on your bruises, you must ice the injured area immediately within a few minutes of getting hit.

• Toilet seat covers make good oil-blotters in times of emergency. Sure it sounds weird, but you might thank me later.

• Sticking your face in a bowl of ice water shrinks pores and helps remove oil from your face. It's also said to brighten your complexion.

• Eye drops can make an excellent spot treatment if you wake up with a new pimple. They reduce redness and help the painful swelling that some pimples present to go down. Simply apply the over-the-counter eye drops to the inflamed area (A.K.A. smear it on your pimple) and then take an ice cube and apply it to the area for a few moments.

• Putting on petroleum jelly after shaving your legs can provide intense moisturizing. Personally I find this works better than a lot of other lotions I've tried, and it's super cheap and simple to do. It's also good for hangnails and calluses (a piece of info I can thank the lady at the local nail salon for telling me when she became appalled at my various hangnails.) Just make sure that you're not sensitive to petroleum jelly before you put it on, because many people have allergies to that and other petroleum-based skincare products.

• Mixing a small amount of sugar with just a smidgen of honey and even some olive oil makes a great lip-exfoliator. Lip exfoliator? Yes, lip exfoliator. Take a bit of this mixture and apply it to your lips like a lip-balm, then rub them together to exfoliate off the dead skin. This is an awesome thing to do when you have really chapped lips. And, it's 100% edible. (Gasp! That's why after I eat sour-patch kids my lips feel so soft! ;D)

• You can use egg whites as a face mask to tighten your pores and firm your skin. Bonus: If you use 2 egg whites and 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt (either regular or Greek) you will have a wonderful, soothing face mask!

• Rub a lemon wedge over your face if you want to brighten your complexion. Just make sure not to over-do it, otherwise it will result in irritation

• This long-time remedy of chicken-pox and poison ivy irritation is also very good for your skin. Taking an oatmeal bath soothes things like those mentioned above, and helps with dry skin and sunburn. It will nourish it and make your skin come out softer. Also: If you mix one serving of plain, (though it's alright if it's the store-bought instant kind; it will be a bit sticky but it's not impossible) cooked oatmeal with a small amount of milk - enough to nourish the skin but not so that it looses its thick consistency - you can wear it as a face mask for 10 minutes to moisturize and exfoliate your skin.

• Mixing brown sugar (and a bit of regular sugar is alright too if you want to mix it in) and a bit of olive or grape seed oil makes a fantastic scrub for the skin. I used to make this scrub all of the time and put it in jars to give as gifts to my parents. If you want, you can add coffee grounds. These are another great exfoliant that when added to your mix can make it go a longer way than just using the sugar. You also can use honey for added moisture, and just a dash of vanilla extract will give it a serious coffee-shop smell.

• Cat litter is apparently made of the same clay stuff as $200 spa facials. Just make sure that you get all natural, unscented...and most importantly unused cat litter. And look for "100% natural clay" or "sodium betonite clay" on the label. Those kinds are made from clay that is dried into small pellets that I suppose would turn back to their original, clay-ish (there's no adjective to describe it) form when wet. Take a couple of cups of the stuff and wet it, then put it on your face. (This has to be one of the most outlandish seeming ones on the list, but I told you that even though some of these were crazy that they worked. About.com doesn't lie. Well, alright, it might be; but if this mask is everything it's supposed to be...I think I might try it.)

• Taking a bath with Epsom salt will help make your skin soft and also helps to provide you with your daily magnesium intake! Yup, that's right! The magnesium in the salt will absorb through your skin. You know what they say, "if you wouldn't put it in your mouth, don't put it on your skin!" Although, most of us cheat and put a bunch of garbage on our skin anyway. Like cat litter.

• Green or black tea bags can be just as good for dark circles and puffy bags under the eyes (if not better than) cucumber wedges when made damp and frozen/chilled before placed over the eyes

• A mashed banana and a squirt of honey is an excellent facial moisturizer. Just don't forget to wash it off after a few minutes (because it will be obvious that you're wearing a banana if you don't.)

• Olive oil makes a great eye make-up remover! So does baby oil (which is mainly mineral oil.) NEVER apply it to your whole face, and NEVER leave it on if you use it anywhere other than your eyes. There's a 90% chance that it will result in a breakout if you do. But, it still works great for stubborn mascara.

• Rubbing alcohol is a good treatment for occasional pimples if you only get pimples occasionally/have less severe acne. Just remember to apply it directly to the pimple and with discretion, otherwise you could dry out other areas of your face (thanks to Katie for the tip.)

• Washing your face twice a day is good for some people, but will cause other people to have skin that is over-dry. If you wash your face twice a day, consider using a more mild soap for the morning (unless you have severe acne or your dermatologist/doctor says otherwise) and a more potent one for the evening if your acne is moderate. Or you could just use a mild soap in general. It all just depends on your skin. If your acne bothers you, make sure you see a doctor. Many primary care physicians and even a lot of pediatricians treat acne now with medication, so it's certainly something worth looking into.

• Use sunscreen! Please use sunscreen! Changing your skin by tanning will do nothing for your health. Some unprotected sun exposure is actually said to be good for your vitamin D intake, but only up to about 15 minutes a day and certainly not during the hottest part of the day or on the hottest day of the summer. They say that after 5 sunburns your risk of skin cancer goes up drastically. I'm not doctor, but I would advise that since it's summer and the sun is high in the sky; WEAR SUNSCREEN! And reapply often to prevent a burn, especially if your sunscreen is of a low SPF or is not water-resistant or sweat proof and you have been sweating. It's also a good idea to wear chap stick with sunscreen in it, because your lips can and will get painfully burned if exposed to the sun!

Coffee & Cocoa Facial Mask Recipe (For all Types of Skin): Thanks to About.com, I found this awesome recipe for a skin mask for any type of skin from oily to dry. If you have super dry skin you can substitute the dairy for an oil of some kind, and if you have oily skin you can add lemon juice to gently reduce the amount of oil in your skin.

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp. finely ground espresso or coffee beans (The author says that they use their own grinder, but already ground coffee and even instant coffee work too.)

4 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder (Your basic Hershey's is perfect here!)

8 Tbsp. of dairy product. Choose whole milk, heavy cream, yogurt (must be unflavored!) almond milk or coconut milk. Use less dairy if you like a thicker paste. Substitutions are allowed: Try an egg instead of dairy if you are an egg mask lover, or substitute oils, such as olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil or almond oil if you have dehydrated skin. If using oils, halve the amount or it will be too runny.

2 Tbsp. honey (if you have dry skin) or lemon juice (if you have oily skin)

Grind your coffee/espresso beans into finely chopped grounds that will easily form a paste but will NOT scratch you up (that's never good.) Mix the coffee grounds and cocoa powder in a bowl, then add the dairy product slowly until a smooth paste forms and continue until it is of the thickness that you like. Stir in the honey (the author suggests warm honey) and then apply the finished mask to a clean face and neck. Let the mask dry, then a few minutes later gently begin to pat it off with a wet wash cloth and splash your face with warm water if necessary (be careful NEVER to scrub it off as the grounds could scratch your face.) Store leftovers in the fridge.

For this face mask recipe and many more you can go to:

http://beauty.about.com/od/homemadefacemaskrecipes/r/Coffee-And-Cocoa-Facial-Mask-For-All-Face-Types.htm 

Nails

• Did you know that dipping your nails in cold water 30-45 seconds or more after they've been painted helps them to dry faster? The colder the water, the faster they harden. So, the next time you polish your nails keep a bowl of ice water with you for a quick dry! Works best if you keep your fingers dipped in the water for about 20-30 seconds, or until they are hard enough.

• Dipping your nails in vinegar works similarly to the cold water, though it can be done in conjunction with the first for a very sturdy, quick dry. Vinegar helps the polish to adhere to your nail better. Try dipping your nails into the ice water first, and then into the vinegar and back into the ice water again. This worked well for me.

• If your nails are free of any polish, you can make them look clean and fresh by using baking soda and a lemon wedge for a bright, white look at the tops.

• Did you know that if you wait for your nails to dry and dip them in rubbing alcohol, you can transfer the ink of a newspaper or magazine clipping on to your nail? This is the technique used to make the popular "newspaper nails," nail art design.

To do the "newsprint nails" design: paint on a coat that is a light color. I mean, VERY light. You can do either white or light grey, or another of your choice - just be warned that dark colors will cause the "print" to not show up very well. Wait about 10 minutes for it to dry, because transferring the ink while it is still gunky will result in the polish being smeared off. Then once your nails are fully dry, take a clipping of either a magazine or a newspaper that has clearly seen, bold print. (Something that I like to do is print out bible verses and transfer them onto my nails as the design!) Soak the clippings in rubbing alcohol and/or dip your nails into rubbing alcohol also. Then take the clippings - print side down - and FIRMLY press them to each of your nails for about 30 seconds each (or as long as it takes to transfer the ink) and swiftly but carefully pull each strip off afterwards. The ink should now be transferred to your nails for a "newspaper" effect. Wait a few minutes for that to dry, then finish it off with a clear top coat to prevent smudging, smearing, and to give it a really shiny effect when dry.

I will admit, it can take some practice...I know it took me a lot of trial and error (and even now it only works for me about 80% of the time.) Even if it smudges or doesn't transfer well at first - don't give up! And, a tip: Make sure that you're using new, completely unexpired rubbing alcohol. I've made the mistake of using some old antiseptic before, and the ink didn't transfer at all.



Great Books for God Girls!

10 Books That can Change a Chick's Life!

In this day and age, the media throws a lot of messages in our faces (as I've mentioned before) in the form of TV, movies, and also in the form of print. I cannot count how many girls I know who are bookworms! I am somewhat of a bookworm myself. So often, we're looking for just the right book to read - but end up settling on something that might be less than wholesome because it has good reviews, accolades, is popular or has a "good story despite all that 'other stuff.'"

Well, have no fear! There are lots of great books out there for Christian gals like you and me. I've compiled a list of a few great books that have personally impacted my life, and they will no doubt impact yours as well! You can simply Google most of these or look them up on Amazon if you're interested in buying it. Some of them are fiction, and others are non-fiction; in any case, if you're looking for a good read or a great gift for a bookworm-friend - take a look at this list!

#10. Pure: A 90-Day Devotional for the Body, Mind and Spirit by Rebecca St. James

 

This devotional is utterly packed with relevant and deep heart-stirring devotions that will inspire you to dedicate your life to God and wait for your future husband. Of course, I'm not exactly a "devoted," devotional-reader (I almost always find it near impossible to keep up reading the same devotional every day at the exact same time for more than three days.) But, I still read through the devotions in a more all-at-once sense. Either way you choose to go with it, this book amazing!

As a lot of you probably know, artist Rebecca St. James dedicated much of her young life and career to promoting purity. Her ministry as a young adult caused many young girls to be inspired and turn their hearts and minds to Christ. Now she is happily married, and a true testament to what a wonderful gift it is to save our hearts for the right person by waiting! This book reflects that passionate attitude no less!

#9. Email from God for Teens by Claire and Curt Cloninger

This was one of the first books that I read as a Christian, and it truly allowed me to see my worth in the eyes of God. It's not exactly a devotional, but if you want to make it a part of a devotion time the short passages make great ones. If you're looking for something uplifting that will remind you of God's plan for your life and his love for you as HIS prized possession and child - this is a wonderful read. It's like reading a novel full of love notes from God with scripture to go along with it!

#8. The Carter House Girls Series by Melody Carlson

See? I'm not just talking about apologetics books and devotional diaries here. The Carter House Girls Series is a great read for any teen girl who is looking for a dramatic series that they can get into that doesn't have the garbage that a lot of other YA fiction has. The main character DJ is a sporty, down-to-earth teenager struggling to find herself after her mother's death. As a newly orphaned teenager she finds herself living with her rich, supermodel grandmother in Connecticut who opens up her home as a boarding house to five girls who vary in personality.  DJ must learn to live alongside Taylor, Kriti, and Eliza - three girls whose wealthy pasts make them strikingly similar to her grandmother herself; and Casey and Rhiannon, the two girls who come form less-than wealthy families and are staying as her grandmother's "charity cases."

If you've been looking for a Christian alternative to books like The Clique or Gossip Girl, you're in luck. These books have the same level of drama as a show on The CW, but through masterful storytelling these characters each embark on a journey of faith towards Christ. It does touch on heavy topics as the main message of faith is told in the series through characters that come from broken home lives. Due to the heavy nature of some of the topics touched on I would recommend that girls read these books who are 13+.

#7. Brio Girls (Focus on the Family)

This one isn't actually a YA novel, but I'm including it for any younger readers who are looking for something to satisfy their "tween" appetite. Anyone remember the Brio Girls books or magazine? If you do, you're awesome! The magazine is no longer in publication, but when I was a younger preteen (now they call them "tweens" I suppose) they impacted me in a huge way. A long time ago, there was a series of books that came out aimed at preteens with a God message at their heart. They're by several different authors and about several different characters, but all in the same series and were published under Focus on the Family. If you want a good description about what they're specifically about, I honestly can't give you that detailed of an explanation because all of the books are about a different character. Think of it as the Christian Babysitter's Club. Only, there's no babysitting. At least, I'm pretty sure that there's not ;)

Seeing that these are more geared towards preteens, I'm not recommending it for people who are above and beyond the "tween" age. If you are or know a younger tween who is looking for a great read, by all means let them know about this series! I can assure that they are written with God's word in mind and will leave a lasting mark on their hearts.

#6. Diary of a Teenage Girl by Melody Carlson

This is one that I'm guessing you've probably heard of. If not, that's okay! I know I've included another series by Melody Carlson, but these books here have touched many lives and I just had to include them. I've actually not read the whole series, but I remember reading at least 3/4ths of the first book a very long time ago before getting distracted and moving on to something else. (Yes, I do have attention-span issues.) I've heard so many people rave about how good these books are, and I do have to agree that Melody Carlson is a great author. Diary of a Teenage girl basically is what the title says it is. And, it certainly doesn't lack depth. The series Caitlin O'Connor  through her High School years and through her life all the way up until she gets married. As we read through Caitlin's struggles and her journey of faith, girls can identify with her as a person and see her struggles and triumphs reflected in our own walks of faith. Definitely something worth checking out!

#5. The Christy Miller Series by Robin Jones Gunn or pretty much anything by Robin Jones Gunn.

My word, if there's any series that every young girl should read it is this one. It was one of the things in my early walk with Christ that influenced me the very most to make the decision to remain pure and it really ignited my flame for Christ. Sure, I guess some people could call it just "another cheesy Christian novel," but I don't think so; and neither do several thousand other young women all over the Internet who say the same thing. If you are between the ages of 12-112, read it! Honestly, I think the best time to start them is around 13-15, but just about any age in the preteens-teens will do. The first novels hit on all of the issues that a High School girl might face in her family, friends, and school as a Christian.

As Christy walks with Christ in the series, she learns lessons about her family, faith and purity. And as cheesy as it sounds; when reading it as a teenager you'll be able to relate to the main character as she goes through similar trials and triumphs that you are right now. If you come across a difficulty in your first job, have a bickering family member, or are beginning to tackle your fear of driving - Christy will tackle those fears with you. And as for the romance aspect - there's a lot of it. From book one to the very last, you will fall in love with the same character that she does ;)

In the first books of the series, Christy goes through all of the typical adolescent drama - but in later novels (such as those in the College Years) heavier topics such as the romance in her young adult life are explored. More than anything else though, these books are a wonderful Christian love story.

Let me put it this way: if you read it, you'll be praying for your "Todd" in no time ;)

Also: If you fall in love with these books, you'll certainly enjoy other spin-offs in the series such as The Sierra Jensen Series and the Katie Weldon books. She also writes some great fiction for older adults and even some wonderful nonfiction such as Praying for your Future Husband (a book that I've personally been looking forward to reading for a long time!)

#4. The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

Alright, I admit that most of you were half-expecting that this one would show up on the list. Even though, it's not a fluffy chick novel it's definitely something that every Christian should read at one point in their life or another. Personally, it gave me historical basis for the story of Christ and reaffirmed my belief in my faith. This is a great read if you're looking to witness to someone, if you're a logically minded person looking for answer, or if you're just someone wanting to reaffirm what they believe.

 Also: If you want another great apologetics book by Lee Strobel that will give reason to not only believe in the historical Christ but also give evidence as to why Christianity would the the legitimate answer to the question of faith, you may enjoy The Case for Faith.

#3. Jesus Freaks: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus by DC Talk & Voice of the Martyrs

Jesus Freaks has to be one of the most influential books in my testimony apart from the Bible itself. I know I've raved about all of these a million times, but this book is awesome. Man or woman, girl or guy - every Christian who wants to know the true meaning of being a Christian in a hostile world needs to read this book. It is sad, but riveting and awe-inspiring. It is one of those books that makes you want to stand up and well...do something.

One of the very special things that this book has been in my walk was a means for the girls in our youth group to come together the first time. Right after my friend Katie took me to her youth group for the very first time (check out the first blog for my testimony) we were talking about the sacrifices that a Christian has to make in their walks with Christ. I mentioned that I had checked out Jesus Freaks from the library and talked about one of the stories I had read about a Christian who had died for their faith.

Our middle school obsession was of course the song "Jesus Freak;" to which we would always crank up the volume on our stereo and head bang for 4 and a half minutes.

So, upon hearing this, her response was literally:

"There's a book?!?!?! We have to start a bible study and read it together!"

So we did, and almost every girl from our youth group came. It was the first time we all came together, and one of our friends that had been coming to church with us was impacted in a great way and eventually became a Christian as a result.

This book is literally heartbreaking, but it is a book that compels you to act on your faith and stand strong whatever the consequence.

#2. Authentic Beauty: The Shaping of a Set-Apart Young Woman by Leslie Ludy

This book is probably one of the top ones I will always recommend that teen girls read before they go into High School. When I read it, I made the decision to not only remain abstinent for my future husband but to live my life in a pure way. All of the stories in the book point towards Jesus becoming that Prince Charming in our lives that every girl has always wanted. It teaches girls to seek the Lord earnestly and follow his plan and uphold his standards for their lives so that they may be the beautiful, royal women that they were created to be. The words are a true inspiration and motivation to be a girl of God! It's a wonderful read for all girl bible studies, for your own devotional time, or just something to read in your personal time.

Personally, I think it's a great read for girls before they enter into High School. I read it the summer before my 8th grade year, and it equipped me with tools I could use to stay strong in Christ through that year and on through High School. There are some heavier topics, so it might not be appropriate for gals who haven't yet been exposed to the pressures of being a teenager or entering into High School.

IF YOU ARE FEMALE, READ THIS BOOK!

Also: Take the time to visit the official website of the ministry the author has for young women. There's an online magazine specifically for you! www.setapartgirl.com


And now...for the one you've all been waiting for....

#1. The Holy Bible

Let the cheesiness of me making the Bible #1 on this list ensue. Just kidding, I'm not ashamed! And neither should you be! Let's face it, of all the books in the world there will never be anything like cracking open God's word. It is the guide to our lives and the tool for our survival in this crazy world as Christians. So, curl up with a nice cup of tea or lemonade, open up the Word and soak it in like a sponge! Always remember to let your life be led by the words of this book above all others so that your lives can be beacons of Christ's wonderful light!


 

When choosing things that you read, watch, and listen to; always keep this in mind:


"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." Philippians 4:8

Fairytale Endings

Once Upon a Time...

God Made us to be Warrior Princesses

Alright, so it might not be in the same family as entertainment like Fireproof or Facing the Giants, but I just have to blurb about it! A show that I and many of my girlies at church adore is ABC's Once Upon a Time.  Even before it came on, we were wildly excited to see our favorite childhood stories come to life. Ever since the debut, my friends and I have been hooked!

It's a show full of twists and turns in the plots of the stories that we already feel we know so well. A lot of them are also twists that feel very modern (I'm underlining for emphasis in case you haven't noticed.) Since the very eve of Once's success, there's no doubt that television and movie studios in Hollywood have jumped on the fairytale bandwagon so that they can appeal to this very lucrative and growing cultural obsession.

Notice that I didn't say new. It's not a new fad. Fairytales have been part of our culture and many others for centuries. When you look at the older ones and then at others from all around the globe, one can't help but wonder how they could all follow a similar storyline. There's usually some hopeless person or a princess in peril, and then through all of the trials that a seemingly unbreakable curse can present good triumphs in the end (usually through a shiny knight riding on a white horse.)

Though, lately I've been seeing less and less of the white horse outcome. Most of the time good still triumphs, but there have even been a few modern retellings in which the outcome is simply dark. It makes me wonder what's happened to the hope we used to see in the overcoming good of these stories! It seems that even in the tales that little girls know so well, modern retellings sometimes portray the complete opposite message that they originally did.

Nowadays, I see more messages being thrown at us that look like this:

"Chivalry is dead. Don't expect a white horse romance."

"Expecting that you'll find a Prince Charming is naive and impossible."

"Waiting for the right person is silly, because there aren't any guys like the one you want."

"Marriage is just a silly status. You should try things out beforehand."

"It's every man and woman for himself now. You're nothing special, so learn to take care of yourself."

The list goes on...and on...and on!

It's not that nontraditional twists on fairytale endings are bad - that's actually not what I'm getting at here. I actually love seeing a princess whose character is three-dimensional over one who's just a damsel in distress and in turn is seemingly flatter than cardboard. There's nothing wrong with changing up the ending to Cinderella or Snow White so that the princess ends up saving the day. There's also nothing wrong with making your prince and princess fight side-by-side as equals the way that Prince and Snow do in their fairytale world in Once:

(See? Don't they just look so happy? Like two peas in a pod. Now...to resolve the issue of whatever that big purple cloud does...)

As a little girl, you learn tales like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty and look to their triumphing good with a childlike splendour. It's widely said that the magic in these types of tales is one of the things that causes us to grow and have the ability to grasp hope in what we cannot see. I know that when I was little, I looked at the Disney Princesses in complete adoration. Not because I worshipped them, but because I wanted to be a princess. There was this desire inside of me, and inside of every little girl; to become a princess just like they were.

Anyone read the classic, A Little Princess? How about seeing the movie? I remember reading it a long time ago, and I still own the movie. If I recall right, in the movie Sarah makes a very good point in saying this to her abusive headmaster when she was faced with adversity. Even though she was thought an orphan, subjected to life living as an outcast and dressed in rags; she was able to jubilantly tell the woman that she was worth something.

"I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young. They're still princesses. All of us. Didn't your father ever tell you that? Didn't he?"

Hear that? All girls are princesses! And it's no lie that all of us were born to become royalty. But, how can that be? Simple answer: we belong to God! The King of Kings sacrificed himself to make you clean, and he gave himself so that you could become royalty. You are a child of the Most High, and you were uniquely crafted in his image to do wonderful things:

"I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full and well." Psalm 139:14

And, if you haven't already seen that it's the verse at the top of the page; 1 Peter 2:9 tells us that we are not only made for great things - but we're also chosen to be a royal priesthood:

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may call praises of him who called you out of darkness and into wonderful light."

Okay, so you get it now. "Alright, we're royalty. But what does that have to do with my Prince Charming?" I can hear you asking it now. Don't worry, we're getting there.

So, if we're all princes and princesses, what does that mean for you? Does it mean that one day you'll need to be rescued by your future husband on a white horse? Actually...no. "Then what does this have to do with Prince Charming?" You're still baffled, I know.

Well, let's go back for a moment. Think of how Prince and Snow are portrayed on Once Upon a Time. I know it sounds crazy and completely irrelevant to Christianity in any context - but just do it. If you're a crazy follower of the series like me or any of my friends, you'll remember that in every one of the "Snow White + Prince Charming" episodes, the two are always seeking after each other.

In the original Disney cartoon, it was somewhat of a one way street. The Prince has been searching for her valiantly far and wide while Snow is in hiding. There's no evil in that, of course. In fact, it can be seen as an example of how Christ's love for us is far reaching and seeks us out even when we feel we are furthest from it. And on a human level, men should step up and adopt that Christlike attitude. Chivalry is not dead, and it shouldn't be! Men should step up and fight for the women that they love! Girls, settle for nothing less than a man who truly honors you as Christ does!

Though, back to what I was saying: my main point here is that a woman should not sit idly either. We are called as his daughters to pray for that one person and wait for them. And, we are to seek God's will for all of our relationships! I know this is hard news to hear for some, but there are girls (and guys!) who may not be meant to be with someone else at all. That's not a death sentence, either. Paul of Tarsus was pretty happy just knowing that he would have a future marriage alongside of all of his brethren to our Lord Jesus Christ.

That doesn't mean that you should spend your whole adolescence worrying that you're doing wrong dating or courting someone because you might or might not be one of those people. Jesus says not to worry, because the Lord is in control! As his servants, we have to accept that and trust that he knows what is best for our lives, and we must uphold the standards that he has given us! We are to live as if we are expecting Jesus to arrive at our door at any moment, and in doing that we can know in our hearts that we are doing the right thing as "ladies in waiting," for our future spouses.

Simple English answer: Worship Jesus, and NO SETTLING!

The Once characters are very unique in the sense that they both realize that they need each other and are willing to fight for each other whatever the cost. Neither of them settled. They waited for each other and even though there were trials, there was a happy ending. In the real world, Regina (similar to how sin gives us an illusion of what we should do and be) has them under her spell, attempting to make them believe that they should settle for less than each other and preventing them from being who they were created to be.

That is exactly what the world does to us today! Satan has us under the illusion that we should settle for less than God wants, and that we should lower our standards to be "happy." But lowering our standards to less than what God calls for will never bring a lasting joy. Not in the area of our friendships, not in the area of our family lives, in our future marriages or in our faith.

We all know how fairytales end. And just like every other classic, even Regina's illusion can't keep the prince and the princess apart. It's a lot like that for us. Right now, we are fighting against the curse of sin that has swept over our world. We know that Christ's sacrifice for us means that the battle has already been won - and in the end, Christ will triumph. It is said in his word that nothing can separate us from his love. And when Christ comes back for his church, we won't be idle either.

We're actually not even supposed to be idle now (gasp! Big shocker, I know.) The Bible tells us in so many different places that we are not only his bride, but we are also the warriors of his truth. Every man and woman who knows the truth of God's word is tasked with the mission of carrying it into battle. Just like modern tales tend to give their endings a modern twist with a warrior-princess saving the day, all of the people in God's kingdom are called to fight the good battle.

If you're a girl and you have a passion for God's word you're not called to sit as a damsel in distress. Embracing godly femininity is not sitting helplessly as a damsel in distress. Sure, there's things that women are made to do that guys typically aren't. I won't get into that now. But if anyone tries to tell you that as a young Christian woman that you are not meant to do what God has called you to do because of the fact that you are female; they are wrong. Being a godly woman should never be something that limits what you can achieve through Christ.

If you accept the cause of Christ, it says in Ephesians 6:13-15 that we are to arm ourselves with the armor of God. He will make the weak strong, and he will give knowledge to those who had none. The battle is treacherous, but it will be one that we'll continue to fight with truth until the day of Christ's return.

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." Ephesians 6:13-15

In other words, when you enter into the battle, God will make you look a lot like this:

I know, right? Totally awesome.

So, I guess in reading this your mind might be whirling. That's okay. Mine is too. And I also just proved to myself that God's plan has the ultimate fairytale ending; but it won't play out like the typical tale. I'm not perfect at all - and neither are you! But somehow, the most important Prince Charming in the universe has caught sight of us and extended his invitation to become part of his kingdom. I've been seeking him, and you've been seeking him (even if you don't think that you have.) Accept the invitation, and become part of his eternal reign. By embracing his love, becoming godly women, and following where he leads we will fight on his side as warrior princesses. There will always be times when we fall short and feel we can't go on. But our Prince Charming will always pick us back up again. 

We will fight for his truth, and HE has already won the battle!

But what about that white horse?

Alright, I'll tell you now.

Your husband is not on the white horse. It might be a white horse, but not the white horse.

He can emulate the rider of the white horse (and he'd better) but he is not the rider on the white horse.

The rider is perfect and just, and will sweep you off your feet. When he wins the battle, we will celebrate and end this tale with a new beginning. His church will join him in marriage as his glorious bride.

Still haven't guessed yet?

Jesus will be the one on the white horse.

"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war." Revelation 19:11

Girls, never settle for anything less than the man God intends for you. That man won't be perfect, but he will be someone who seeks after Christ and aims to follow him with all of his heart. If there's one word that describes what you should be looking for, it's this:

Christlike.

If you enjoyed this blog, check out this lighthearted video from the makers of Once Upon a Time. If you're familiar with the series, it will probably make you laugh! Remember, don't settle for anything less than your perfect match ;)

Adventures in Faith

God's Not Boring

An Introduction and Personal Testimony

Well, here we go! This is the 3rd time I've tried to start this post today. Let's hope it works out!

I've tried this blogging thing before, but it didn't really take off all too well. After one or two posts, things felt stagnant and I didn't really see the point in going on to be one of those trendy "bloggers" that the world is constantly buzzing about. At first, I really didn't have much to go on beyond a few party ideas that turned out to be a dead end when turning them into something I could blog about.

Beforehand, I just wanted to start a blog for the sake of starting one. Since I didn't have much reason for it beyond that, things were cast aside quickly. But over the last few months, things have certainly changed in my life! There is still something new to learn every day! And recently, I've had my heartstrings tugged about something that has led me to try again at this idea of starting a blog.

The Internet is a sea of opinions and information that people my age must sift through almost every day. Today, there are a ton of famous men and women, politicians, websites, magazines, and other types of media outlets out there sending one hundred different messages to us. More than ever before, teens use the web and allow what they consume to shape their ideas. Especially for young girls who are becoming women, it's hard to understand everything that God wants us to be with so many mixed messages.

It's also apparent that there are numerous websites and magazines targeting teen girls as their main audience that shouldn't (i.e. Cosmopolitan.) I'm sick of searching Google for hair tips or party ideas and coming across a site with the "100 Hair Tips You Need To Know," along with a massive advertisement for the magazine's latest article regarding...er, stuff...at the top of the page.

So, without further ado, I am presenting to you this blog as a means to share things with you girls (and guys, if you want to read!) from a Christian perspective. Here I will be writing insights of scripture, giving encouragement, talking about my walk with Christ and other things that have impacted myself as well as others.

But, I won't just be writing things about current issues and such. I'm hoping to also make this a place where girls can read about cute crafts, recipes, party ideas, and yes - even beauty & spa tips (from the Christian standpoint, and with emphasis on inner beauty of course!) Why? Because when a girl wants to look for creative ideas for her spa party, she shouldn't have to look through Cosmo. Enough said.

Alright, so it might not seem like anything drastically new in the Christian community; but I at least hope that you'll enjoy reading it. I don't even know if this blog will end up working out at all, but right now I at least hope that it is something that can uplift you where you are today!

Before I post anything else, I would first like to take the opportunity share my testimony with you and let you know a little about myself. I hope that if you're going through a rough time in your faith that you'll take the time to read this:

My name is Keely. I'm a singer and artist whose life lately has been filled with unfathomable twists and turns in God's direction on this journey. Ever since I was able to articulate I've been singing, and from the moment I first became a Christian I knew I was meant to use my talent to serve the Lord. I've been singing on the Worship Team at my home church for about a year and a half now, and recently I've even had the joy and privilege to be able to sing "God Bless America" before a crowd of 30,000 at Celebrate Freedom 22! Though, my life hasn't always been like this.

I became a Christian in November of 2007. I was raised in a Christian home and grew up constantly going to church, but I never really understood what the Gospel meant on a personal level. Believe it or not, Christian music bored me to death at the time; worship music especially. It all just felt like the "same lyrics" and the "same songs" played over and over again. And, it was partially true. After hearing the same Michael W. Smith song at church every Sunday and then again on the radio every other day of the week; who could blame me?

But, the problem went much deeper than that. Worship is so much more than just singing a few songs with catchy lyrics. Though, I couldn't see that. Around the time I became a preteen, I had closed myself off from what genuine Christianity really looked like and shunned all of the living examples of it; all because I didn't want to see that faith was more than words.

The secular world had presented me with the lie that their fleeting games and fame was what I needed for a life filled with adventure and fun. Church, on the other hand; was monotony to me. Compared to what Cosmo Girl and J-14 had planned for me, letting God take control of my life seemed to be a complete bore.

But then, I went to the concert. The tickets were a gift from my uncle. I believe the story is that they both asked in an attempt to get me into Christian music instead of what I was currently listening to. Both of them were very worried about how I would turn out at the time because I was having a really rough time in school and didn't have any true friends I could confide in. I begged and pleaded that they would take me to see Hannah Montana instead - but I ended up agreeing and going with them. After all, it was my 12th birthday. As much as I must have pouted that day, I didn't want to spend it alone.

When I went, something changed. The night is really a blur, but I know that when I went I saw a passion in the artists that the bands I was currently emulating lacked even in their most energy-packed moments. It was nothing I had ever seen before - and I wanted it. God used that moment to change me in a way that only he can.

Barlowgirl was one of the first acts, and I had never before heard about or seen young women with such a dedication to purity or with so much utter joy that came from it. I saw the true strength in the people as role models, recognizing for the first time that their joy came from the strength they had found in Christ. Then it came time for TobyMac to come on, and his band was full of so much energy and excitement along with their declaration of Christ that I realized my preconceived notions about tonight had been dead wrong.

Jesus music was not boring.

The Holy Spirit was alive in the place, and I remember feeling like God was so close to me I could reach out and touch him. And somehow, I did. There was no instantaneous rush to any altar. I actually don't remember exactly when I finally decided, because I didn't exactly kneel anywhere and say the sinner's prayer. All I know is that after we went home I found myself up late that night reevaluating who I was and in turn asking God to make my life real. I had seen who he was, and I wanted that. I wanted all of him! And in the following few days, it would be as if a massive gap in my heart was being filled as I realized I had found what I was looking for.

In those few days afterwards, I also experienced this seemingly unending excitement and over pouring of bubbly feelings. I guess you could say it was a spiritual high, though it wasn't quite that just-got-home-from-church-camp feeling. I became a completely new person in every sense of the word. Thanksgiving break coincided with it all, so I had a full week where I couldn't stop feeding myself more of the Gospel. I consumed my bible like a buffet. Suddenly, all I wanted to listen to was the very genre I thought I hated. I became crazily on fire for God and wanted to witness to all of the people in my life who didn't know him. I suddenly wanted to go to church as much as I could.

But then I returned to school, and the spiritual high of reaching my mountain top began toning itself down as I lost my footing and began descending towards a spiritual low. This was when I would be faced with the real decisions about my faith. My friends realized I was different when I came back for those short weeks before Christmas break would ensue. I was now a "crazy bible basher" to them. They laughed at me and teased me now because I took a stand for purity. People scoffed at me for reading my bible at lunch. I realized then that I didn't really have a friend in those people, which hurt a lot. It didn't take away their ridiculing, either. But, as much as I felt the pain of scorn - it didn't keep me from telling people about my new found joy.

And now that I had a friend in God, I had a longing to find someone else at school who was a strong Christian too. All year long, I'd been hanging out with people who were either so-so Christians (i.e. people who went to church on Sunday but were the same kids at school whose mouths you were convinced had been surgically replaced with one from a sailor) or people who didn't like the idea of anyone having faith at all. So, I prayed for a friend. I prayed for a strong, Christian friend who would last. Someone who would want to be part of this with me. I prayed, and so did my parents.

 Little did I know, God had bigger plans; for there was someone else praying for the same thing.

During one of the rehearsals for our school play right after I had "turned around," I decided to pull out my Walkman phone and begin listening to one of the songs I had downloaded from my TobyMac CD. No one else around me knew the song. In fact, a few people thought it was lame. But one of the girls playing another character in my same family of sparkly blue ghosts came up to me with a smile on her face.

"Hey, I know that song!" She told me, "We played it at church camp last summer."

Her name was Katie. We ended up talking and becoming friends. I was happy to know that there was another Christian there with me. And only a few weeks later, on our opening night I would find Katie - rattled with nerves - and ask her if we could pray before the show. And we did. All that year and part of the next, we continued to do that before every play, concert, or recital that we were in together. In the darkest of my times at that school, God would always seem to bring her into the hallway at the times I needed to be reminded of his plan for me the most.

There were things I struggled with that year, but the Lord helped me to overcome them. There did come to be a point in my 7th grade year that things became simply too much to handle, and my parents made the decision to homeschool me. I still didn't have my friend's phone number, email address, or anything of the sort. I assumed that unless there was something miraculous, after I left school that day I would loose contact with her forever. But right then - as my parents and I walked down a deserted hallway to get my the last of teacher's signatures on my exit slip - I said a prayer in my head.

And right from around the hallway came Katie.

Since then I've grown a lot. I'm nearly 17 now, and I've had to hand my life over to God in more ways than I'd originally bargained for; but that's okay. It's all been for the better. I've had to hand over many of my previous idols to him for shredding as well - but that's something I will talk about on a later day. I'm far from perfect, but now I'm using my talents for his glory.

And, I still talk and pray with Katie. I could have never guessed what kind of sisterhood I was in for. She took me to her church and introduced me to her friends and her youth group. That church is now my home church, and those friends are now my very best friends. My parents now go to church there too! I've learned what it truly looks like when a young person is on fire for Christ, and I've also learned that it is not a boring ride. And now Katie and I still sing together - we sing for the Lord! We've been on numerous adventures in this faith, and I know that they will continue. It may not always be easy - but I know that because I found God, I found my home.

So, that's my story. What does that mean for you? Well, I just wanted to say that if you're struggling in your faith right now there is hope. There was a point in my life when I felt I had absolutely no other Christians in my life outside of my own family that I could talk to. Keep on praying, because the God of all Creation hears you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

And if you are still searching to fill that void you feel inside - seek after God. Don't seek after the things in this world that will pass away just because you were told about it in some sparkly magazine. If you've already gone through the motions, that doesn't mean that Christianity has failed you. Seek after Christ. You'll find what you're looking for. If you want acceptance, open your heart and he will help you find your true home.

And if you're young, especially if you're a younger girl - stand strong! You were made for wonderful things. The trials of this life are tough, but they are temporary! As cliché  as it sounds, God has better things in store for you. Things might not be a constant stream of puppies and unicorns, but know that God loves you and desires to use you for his purpose! (And I promise that his purpose is a very good one, even if it's not what you think he has in store!)

"'For I know the plans I have for you;' says the LORD. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11