Ever made a Bad Choice? Me neither!

I wrote this article for a teen magazine but I think we can all learn something from it.

“Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tender-hearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.           1 Peter 3:8-9 (NLT)

How you react in situations says a lot about who you are and what makes you different from the rest of the crowd.

How do you react when your friend decides that you’re not so cool anymore? How do you react when that rumour going around about you is the furthest thing from the truth? How do you react when asked what you are doing Friday night and you reply, “Going to youth” and you get the “your one of those people” looks?

I have experienced and lived through each of those scenarios, and I didn’t always react in a way that portrayed who I was striving to be: a follower of Jesus Christ. In some cases I made the situation worse and in others I made myself look like a fool. But hey, that is a part of developing character and figuring out who God created us to be. Right?

I can admit that I didn’t always make the best choices and honestly, I don’t expect you to either. Sometimes wrong is how we get to right. There is always a learning curve. Don’t get me wrong, I am not giving you permission to go out and make stupid choices. (1 Cor. 10:23)

But if by some small chance, at some point in your life you make a bad choice, please know that it is okay. You need to understand that you must learn from your mistakes and continue to blossom into the awesome woman of God that you have been created to be!

1 Peter is a letter written by Peter, a disciple of Jesus Christ to Christians who were being persecuted and suffering because they chose to be followers of Jesus Christ. Through this letter Peter encouraged believers to live lives of integrity--to be examples of Jesus Christ.

In our North American society we do not see the persecution that Peter saw and experienced in his life. But at times we do suffer.

We can suffer by being mistreated by friends or acquaintances at school. By being different and choosing not to do what everyone else is doing. Or by being judged because of our “Christian” label.

How should we choose to react when these types of suffering enter our lives? Peter tells us not to retaliate with actions or words. Then look at what Peter instructs us to do when someone says something unkind to you. Pay them back with---- a blessing! WHAT!!! Are you serious?

If you have been on the receiving end of having unkind words thrown in your direction this could seem like an impossible task. A blessing is what they need and this is what scripture is instructing us to do and what God wants us to do.

When I was 16 I spent my summer working as kitchen staff at a camp. One evening while everyone at the camp was sleeping, we were robbed. They broke in the kitchen and stole whatever they could take out the window. Tons of food, my stereo I had left there that night, they threw the knives in the walls and just made a mess. It felt like such an invasion and a personal attack. We scrubbed the kitchen with bleach from top to bottom and it still felt dirty. It wasn’t until I gave up my anger and prayed for the people responsible for the break in that I could feel at peace and comfortable once again.

1 Peter 3:14-15 says, “But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.”

Have these verses written on your heart. Peter wrote these words about 2000 years ago so that when you or I struggle with feelings of suffering that these words were there to encourage, strengthen and give us hope. Suffering produces character; there is no one in the past, present or future like you. You are unique! Your character is unique! You have been created for a unique purpose!

Worship Christ with your life and if someone compliments you by asking, “What’s different about you?” Be prepared to share with them where your hope comes from.

To see how to do that let’s read what Peter has to say in verses 16 and 17, “But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!”

Thank you Peter! What an encouragement to live a good life!

Take time to apply it to your life: (grab your journal and spend a few minutes thinking about these questions) What do your reactions say about your character? Take time and evaluate what you can learn from good or bad choices that you have made? Do you know how unique you are? What Makes You Unique?

Motherhood

“It’s not enough to love our children; we must love motherhood!  It is only when we embrace motherhood that we enter into the joy of it and begin to experience the fullness and anointing of motherhood that God intends us to walk in.”

~Nancy Campbell

Abortion Survivor- Gianna Jessen

I have never seen these videos or heard this story until today.  Gianna has such a powerful message, I wanted to share it.  I hope you take the time to watch these videos.

A Search for God

Yesterday I wrote a review about a book that is trying to inspire mankind to be more open and honest with one another.

Then I came upon this: Drew’s Search for God

Drew’s website gives this description: After seven seasons as host of Canada's most listened to spiritual talk show, Drew Marshall announced to his listeners that he is no longer convinced there's a God. As far as we know, this would be the first time a host on a Christian station has openly admitted to a crisis of faith - at least publicly - and kept their job! So we invite you to join Drew on his search for an encounter with God.

You can visit the link above to read more about his search. 

I know Drew.  I have been interviewed by him and I also co-hosted his radio show the last time I was visiting Ontario.

When you visit his website at www.drewmarshall.ca you see a series of links across the top of the page of all the past events that he has done each fall.  Now his search for God “droogle” as he calls it has now been added to that list.

Yesterday on twitter I tweeted a link to the page about his search and I posed the question, “Is this a publicity stunt or truth?” 

To be honest I can not believe how much time I have spent analyzing this.  But what I have come to conclude is this:  Who cares?  Who cares if this is a publicity stunt or if Drew is honestly questioning the existence of God.  Who hasn’t?  Didn’t I just finish a book about being honest.  If we are being honest, (which for some reason seems to be the new trend on my blog.)  Why should Drew not publically admit the current state of his faith?  How many people struggle with the same thought and/or feeling.  Maybe through Drew’s public search via his radio show, he can help others that are sitting on the fence.

Doesn’t it say in Revelation not to be lukewarm?  Because why?  He (God) will spit you out of His mouth.  This is just me being honest here: But I think that it would be good if a few lukewarm Christians decided which way to live their lives.  One foot in Christ and the other foot in the world is not a way to live.

So Drew, I could tell you a bunch of “stuff” but instead watch the last video from when you went blind and listen to your words.  May you find what you are looking for in your search and may your honesty start a trend of us Christians being honest with one another and ourselves about the state of our hearts and faith.

A Woman Inspired Conference- Get Revived!

I would like to promote this online conference for women.  It is great!  I spoke at the last conference and really enjoyed myself!  I had the privilege of listening to most of the speakers during the week and it was a learning and growing experience.

The next conference is : Get Revived
March 15-19, 2010

This conference is all about giving you a spiritual dose of adrenaline because we all need it sometimes. Maybe you are concerned about your calling or perhaps you are afraid to begin walking toward what God has for you. Maybe your faith has taken a nose dive and you need to be pointed back in the direction of our Lord, Jesus. Or, it could be that you just need someone to tell you that it is okay that you failed but you need to get back up! It happens to all of us.

This event’s speaker line-up is phenomenal. These are some great women of God, humble enough to serve and strong enough to stand up and proclaim His word to all who are in need of hearing it. This conference is for any woman in need of revival in her spirit.

What you can expect for only $12.95:

• Live sessions, entirely online, with some of the Christian community’s most popular speakers and authors.
• Free access to download and save the MP3’s from all the sessions, as well as all the handouts, chat logs, and/or presentations.
• Participation in real-time question and answer sessions with all of your favorite speakers.
• Lots of downloadable swag as well as entries to win some great prizes!
• The opportunity to make some new life-long friends and experience some fun and fellowship.

I already have my ticket!  Click here to go get yours and I will see you there!

always give thanks

Last night while I was praying I began to think about all the people in my life that are struggling through difficult times. As each person came to mind I began to think about how we are all on a journey and we are all learning something but why does it have to hurt so much sometimes.

Then 1 Thessalonians 5:18 came to mind, “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

That’s a tough one. Where on earth can we find the silver lining in some of life’s issues that are overwhelming right now. That a pretty tall order, if you ask me.

As I thought about it more I began to realize that if we spend our time focusing on the negative where does that leave us? It keeps us in this pit of self-pity and we are helping no one especially ourselves. When we focus on being thankful for the good in the situation then we can move on and become a stronger person for it.

Of course none of this is easy but I can see the wisdom in Paul’s advice. What does being an example of Christ look like? A bunch of Christian going around complaining about their problems, or a bunch of Christians over-coming their problems and becoming stronger in character.

If you are struggling with something today, write down five things that you are thankful about in this situation. Go ahead give it a try, what do you have to lose?

Check out this video while you are making your list.

Praise you in this Storm

What is your heart saying?

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

This scripture was written thousands of years ago, and it is the same as today. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. When the Bible refers to heart, it means the inner self, who you are deep down. So let’s say you did a good act toward someone else, on the outside it appears very noble, but on the inside you were thinking that if you do this good deed you may get something for yourself in return. Well, God looks at the heart and he knows the truth. Check out: 1 Chronicles 28:9, Proverbs 27:19

Have you ever heard of the phrase you are what you eat? Well, it applies to more than just what you eat.

Garbage in, garbage out. What that means is that whatever you take in visually, audibly, physically will become a part of your heart, the person you are that you are displaying for all to see.

Matthew 12:34-37 “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Your words and your actions reveal your hearts attitude- are you acting or are you for real?

When I was involved in the Modeling industry I was taught that before I left the house each day to look in the mirror and see if I am representing myself appropriately as a model. As a Christian we need to look at ourselves before God and make sure that our hearts are pure before Him.

Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Something to brighten your day

Take a moment to laugh! It's funny!

By our LOVE!

I have no idea how some people can write in their blogs every day. I feel like I just wrote and it has already been over a week. I guess I should aim for a weekly blog, I think I would be able to attain that.

Anyway, on to today's topic. The phrase, "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes, they will know we are Christians by our love" has been going through my head a lot lately. So I decided to write about it so I can work through it. First of all, who is "they"? It could be referring to non-Christians or as some would like to call them "pre-Christians". Or maybe "they" are anyone we come into contact with on a daily basis. So that makes we wonder, do people I come into contact with know that I am a Christian? Did the very patient lady at Superstore today know that I am a Christian? Should I have preached to her, so that she would know? Of course not! What does that lyric say again, by our love? How did I show Christ's love to her today? Good question.

As I ran around town today doing the final preparations for my soon-to-be 5 year old daughters' birthday with both girls in tow, how did I share/show God's love for the people I came into contact with? I don't think I did very well today. Actually, to say I blew it would probably be good way to describe my behaviour today. Which I am thankful that I am now recognizing and I can try to do better tomorrow as we travel to the wave pool for the birthday party.

I am the role model of this for my girls. Well, my husband is as well, but since we have two girls, it will be more from me. So what did I teach my daughters today about showing Christ's love for people? Not very much! Thank God, I have tomorrow. We have to make a conscious effort of how we are going to choose to behave and what we want to represent, or who we want to represent.

When I was in the modelling industry we were told that before we ever left the house to look in the mirror and evaluate if we were representing ourselves and our agency appropriately as models. Now when I wake up in the morning and I am looking at my reflection in the mirror I think I need to be asking a better question. “Am I going to choose to represent Christ today?” When I come into contact with “they” will “they” know that I am a Christian by my love? I hope and pray that tomorrow will be a better day!