Day 28: Is it gossip or isn't it?

Today's reading — Proverbs 16

What do you do when others gossip? I mean really, tell me what you do by commenting below. It might help another girl! 

I hate gossip. But it hasn't always been that way. In fact, it took me a long, long time to recover from this addiction. That's right, gossip can be ADDICTING! 

And exhilerating. Because finding someone who is equally aggrevated by someone's sinful behavior is like winning a scratch-off lottery ticket. Once you start scratching, you just want to keep buying them. We Christians like to call this type of gossip "venting" and dismiss it as healthy. It's like therapy, you know! 

But check out Proverbs 16: 28....

A perverse woman stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. 

My daughter read me an American Girl story on this subject not long ago. One girl in a dance class thinks another has stolen her prized locket. She confronts a mutual friend, who tries to talk her friend into having a discussion rather than accusing the girl. In many instances, she gets sucked into the gossip and doesn't stand up for the girl. Even she is in doubt of the truth with all the lies and gossip swirling around. Eventually the girl has to move to a new school because the one girl doesn't stop making her life miserable. In the end, the girl who was the confidante realizes that she might have picked the wrong girl to befriend when the other girl finds the locket in the bottom of her dance bag. 

Sometimes it's hard to avoid gossip. Other times, it's hard to discern what is and isn't gossip. Is some second-hand information OK to share with a friend you are trying to protect? Perhaps rumors that a boy who professes to be a Christian is really looking to take advantage of girls? If you share that information with a friend is it gossiping? 

I think it's important that no matter when or how we speak, we carefully contemplate our words and question our own motives. Are we looking to stir up dissension? Do we know that's the consequence? How would you feel if you were the person on the other end? 

{praying for discernment}
Amy

Day 27: Ever want to reel in your words?

Today's reading — Proverbs 15

I grew up hearing "Think before you speak." I don't remember if it was my mom or dad or grandma, church or school, but this was a mantra spoken over me as I matured. 

I'm sure it helped curbed my tongue a time or two. But what probably made a bigger difference was screwing up. Sticking my foot in my mouth, which — incidentally — I still do from time to time. It was embarrassing and made me feel less of a person that I would say something rude, gossip about a friend or not think about a person's feelings before I spoke. That icky feeling made me not only more regretful but also more cautious in the future. 

God has a saying, too. It's a little more lengthy but way more introspective. 

Verse 28: The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. 

That's right, when we just say things without thought, we are prone to sinning, to gushing evil. When we pause to think about what we're about to say, when we really ponder the words our tongue is forming and contemplate their consequences, we are acting with righteousness. 

When we do it, when we weigh our words, there are no icky feelings. It's just one way you can live more joyfully! I don't know about you, but happiness is what my heart desires. 


{thinking before I speak}
Amy

Day 16: Is your cost addiction, peers, eating disorders? Will you empty your pockets of it today?

Today's reading — Proverbs 4

In the last year, I craved — no, I NEEDED — a closeness to God. I promised I would follow Him, be obedient to Him no matter what! And because I'm a skeptic and a doubter by nature, I've always needed so much extra reassurance. I'm like the stubborn, strong-willed, bratty, needy, hard-to-raise kid! LOL! 

I acknowledged it. And then I worked to overcome it by stepping into His presence. Often, I had to leave the house, the community where I live, the county so I could connect with God and focus on hearing His will for me. Yes, it was hard, hard work! It does not always come easy, even if you have a history of obedience. There are times His voice seems distant and unclear. 

But here, in Proverbs 4, He makes a promise that He will guide us in the ways of wisdom and make sure we don't stumble and that our walk will not be hampered. (verses 11-13) "Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life." 

Solomon writes that getting understanding and wisdom may cost us all we have (verse 7). Wow. That's lot, right? But our life is on the line, so is the cost too high? 

I think the cost is different for everyone. And "all we have" may not even be all the money in our pocket. Maybe the cost is giving up an addiction we cling to or a fear we can't turn over to God that's choking our faith. Or maybe the cost is giving up a friend or a group of friends because their influence is standing between you and God. 

What is the cost for you? Is it financial? Or is it your reputation? Will you not fit in with your peers if you seek God's wisdom? If that's what you invest in as the most important thing to you, than it will cost you indeed! What if the cost for you is recovering from an addiction — your phone, cutting, eating disorder, sex? Will you pay the price? 

Because the cost of not seeking wisdom is much higher. Death, destruction, violence, evil. 

It's clear from this chapter that we all have a choice to make. A path to travel on, a price to pay. Thanks be to God for the redemption that comes with the cost! If it were free, would it have any value? 

In verse 23, guard your heart above all for it is "the wellspring of life." 

How do we do all this? Fix our gazes straight ahead, verse 25; make level paths for our feet, verse 26; and DO NOT SWERVE, verse 27. 

It's worth it, Mighty Strong Girls, to pay a price for the path of righteousness! I pray you will not stumble! If you do, remember ours is a God of second chances. Don't look back, to the left or to the right, but get right back on the path and recommit yourself! You can do it!  

{Hugs}

Amy 

Day 13: Girls, GET WISDOM!

Today's reading — Proverbs 1

Before diving into this reading, did you know that King David's son Solomon wrote Proverbs? It's quite fitting, since when God asked him what he wanted, Solomon — who could have asked for riches, incomparable wealth, success, power or fame — begged for wisdom. 

Did you know wisdom is mentioned 365 times in the Bible? One mention for every day of the year. Girls, GET WISDOM! When you have wisdom, you will feel rich beyond compare. You will experiences success and have the power of God behind all you do! GET WISDOM! 

Start today by reading and highlighting as you go in Proverbs.  As you read and find something particularly helpful, grab a Post-It Note and write it out. Stick it on your bathroom or bedroom mirror. 

Are you ready, Mighty Strong Girls? We are going after it — wisdom! Woot-woot! 

Check out verse 7. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." 

Okay, so you might be thinking what does "fear" mean. Fear may be a negative word in your vocabulary. But it's not a bad or negative thing. Fear is respect, yearning to know better, to understand, to put things in proper perspective and order. Which is why the second half of the verse says fools despise wisdom and discipline. Those are concepts that are wrapped up in "fear." 

You might think of boiling down this concept into the once-popular acronym WWJD (What would Jesus do?). Put God first. Think of Him always. Fear Him. Respect Him. That kind of discipline yields wisdom. 

Take this to the next level and fear your parents, from verses 8-9. 

Then through verse 19, take heed of the lies and tricks meant to deceive you and tempt you into sinning. From this, my favorite part is the idea that you "rush into sin." Don't swiftly follow along with the pack. Stop. Listen. 

So I said we need to GET WISDOM. What does God say about this? He tells us starting in verse 20 through the end that wisdom is ours for the taking. She is calling for us. How easy is this? Wisdom is right there, and God wants us to seize her! 

But the hard-to-swallow truth is that it doesn't matter because most of us are simple and fools. Often, we miss out on wisdom even though it's right in front of us! God is stretching out His hand, His wisdom — He's waving it in front of us and we reject Him! Then what happens? Disaster, clarity, storms, whirlwinds, distress and trouble. 

Sound familiar? It sure does to me. 

There's hope, though, Mighty Strong Girls. At any moment, no matter how many times we've rejected God's hand of grace before, we can GRAB IT! 

And get this. When we do, He offers us safety. We will "be at ease, without fear of harm." (verse 33)

GET WISDOM! 

{Hugs}

Amy 

Our God doesn't make mistakes

by Morgan

There are certain things in life you can't escape, and there are certain problems in life you can't run away from, but there is one certain thing in life that keeps you going.

It's not a cell phone, or an idol you worship; however, it's a loving God who endures forever. A God who no one can compare to and a God who doesn't make mistakes.

There are tons of people in this world who idolize money, fame, beauty and appearance. We all have appearances. Appearances are what someone looks like on the outside and not necessarily what they look like on the inside. Most humans think their outside appearance and what the world classifies them as is the most important thing. I used to look in the mirror and say to myself "Why can't I be beautiful, and have the perfect body and the perfect lifestyle?" I sometimes still look in the mirror and wonder why I feel so ugly on both the inside and the outside. 

But, I've realized something. "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair the and wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the invading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." - 1 Peter 3:3-4

Two years ago, I was a mess. I looked at myself as a girl who would never fit in. A person who would have to go to extremes to feel important to the ones around me...especially my peers. I found myself in a sticky situation on a couple snow days we had back in 2010. I made myself drink and drink and drink until I was finally in. I could finally be considered a cool high schooler who people wanted to hang out with. Not only did I drink, but I made decisions I wouldn't have made if I lived in the same body I live in now. I let my parents down, let myself down and let my God down.

As I am now sitting through another snow day, I lay back and wonder. I wonder what I would be doing right now if I didn't get that text to attend Christ in Youth. I wonder what I would be doing if I didn't find that friend who stuck by my side no matter the time or day. And I wonder what I would be doing if I didn't have such a powerful, loving God who couldn't watch me go another day without being hurt and hurting myself. All the thoughts I used to have are now thoughts I rarely have. All the time I wasted on getting approval from society, was all the time I wasted not ministering to one of my friends or family members.

The great thing about God is that He doesn't let us fall. He sees what society and magazines have done and how much of an impact they have on teenagers like myself. God sees that you are hurting and He can't bear it any longer. Run to his arms, because it's not too late, nor will it ever be. You're beautiful and wonderfully made. God WILL continue to use you even if you think the path you have taken won't be accepted. If I have learned one thing these past couple years, its that there's always a Savior to guide the way. "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. " - Acts 3:16.

Don't go one more day. Turn to Him, and He will make your paths straight.