You should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. -- 1 Timothy 4: 12
What comes to mind when you think about a role model? Some would think of celebrities, actors, actresses, your pastor, a family friend, or overall just someone that others look up to. I mean I'm sure we all have someone in our life that we can honestly see as a role model. For some of us, this could even be your mom or dad. But have you ever really stopped to see what the word role model really means? Let's take a quick look at what a dictionary says a role model is.
Role Model- Noun: A person looked to by others as an example to be imitated.
A person looked to by other...as an example to others. Hmmm... go back up and read the Bible verse in 1 Timothy. You might find a few similarities with this definition and that Bible verse. God calls Christians to be role models in Christ to shine His light to others. I'm sure for most of you, this is not any new news. But I have a crazy idea for you, that you might want to spend some time thinking about this month.
Have you ever maybe thought that YOU could be setting an example for someone else?
Honestly, I don't think this question comes to mind very often. We know that our little sisters or brothers tend to look up to us. We know that we have other people we look up to. But have we ever really stopped to think that we are setting an example for someone else? I know for me, I really never thought about it. Maybe you're in the same boat too. Stop and think for a second. Do you go to church, or youth group? You are setting an example there. Walk into wal-mart? You're setting an example there too. Go to the local mall with your friends? More examples being set.
The thing is, we can set a good example, or a bad example. Of course, as Christians, we want to strive to set good examples everywhere we go that will shine all of the glory back on God. Sometimes it is easy to get trapped into the lie that we don't set an example for anyone. But believe it or not, you are setting an example to many, many people. You just might not know it yet, but you are. :) I wanted to take this post to encourage you today. We are all setting an example, but what kind of example are we setting? We want to strive to be setting a Godly example in everything we do. You never know who you just might be setting an example for.
In Him,
Angelica
Showing posts with label Angelica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Angelica. Show all posts
July 15, 2011
May 8, 2011
God Sighting Challenge Entries Part 2
Hello Readers!
As promised, here is Part 2 of the Challenge entries that we received last month. It is my home and prayer that they are an encouragement to you. If you would like to share how these entries made an impact in your life, please feel free to email us at passion@passionwebmag.com!
As promised, here is Part 2 of the Challenge entries that we received last month. It is my home and prayer that they are an encouragement to you. If you would like to share how these entries made an impact in your life, please feel free to email us at passion@passionwebmag.com!
Early this morning, just as I was about to leave to work, I looked to my left and saw a rainbow above my house. It was one of the biggest, brightest rainbows I have ever seen. Suddenly I was filled with a sense of awe. It's beauty was indescribable - I wanted to wake the whole neighborhood and show them this rainbow! As I left to work, the rainbow only seemed to get bigger and brighter. As I looked at its beauty, I felt in my heart like God was telling me that He keeps His promises. He will keep His promise to give me a hope and a bright future, if I trust Him. The rainbow was a reminder to me of God's unfailing love. - Hannah K.
I went to a Maundy Thursday service and I experienced Gods presence among everything that has happened. For me, this has been one of the craziest and hardest years I've went through. As I was praying, I was asking God for his guidance and comfort to get me through all the obstacles. For the past couple of months I've been crying and hurting a lot. When I opened my eyes, I saw the glow of a candle amongst the darkness. It was powerful and comforting because as I listened, I felt Gods presence. I knew then that God has never left me and even though there are times that really blind you, there is always that light to pick you back up. (I also heard this song and really sums what God has done for us on the cross. It's very touching as well as a beautiful song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aowdjLeaCYs) - Cathrina K.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aowdjLeaCYs) - Cathrina K.
“Well, last night, it started to thunder and lightning. And let me tell you, God went all out on THAT display of love! I felt that with every incredibly loud boom, and every stunningly bright light, God was saying, ‘I love you, and I'm putting on this huge show just to let you know!’” - Katherine
“ I hadn't been in the shower 5 minutes last night when the lights went out! I was so afraid. I couldn't see ANYTHING! I clung to the shower curtain thinking that the curtain would save me. I called out, but everyone else in the house had gone to sleep. I reached out, trying to grab something, anything in that awful dark. A minute went by, and then I prayed and relaxed knowing that God had everything under control. Suddenly the lights came back on. But not just in the bathroom, but in my mind also. Jesus Christ endured the dark for YOU! Just like the dark I experienced last night Christ endured the cross, a worse form of darkness. So today, whatever dark you may be experiencing; a loss, depression, or even just an empty feeling, know that Christ endured the worst kind of darkness for you. When you give him control in your life, the darkness will be gone replaced by the Son! “ - Rachel C.
May 1, 2011
Stressed Out? Your Not Alone!
Do you ever just bring yourself to a point of being so stressed out, and so overwhelmed you just feel like doing nothing anymore because you have so much to do? I have felt that way in my life so many different times. We start to freak out saying, "I have 2 full days worth of homework to get done, school projects due this weekend, my best friend wants to talk, I'm going on vacation, how in the world will I have enough time to get all of this done?" So I doubt all those things are currently happening in your life right now. That would be a LOT! But I think you know what I am trying to say. Sometimes we just bring ourselves to this point of having so much to do, being so overwhelmed that we honestly just feel like shutting down.
In my personal opinion, we are doing this to ourselves. We naturally think about the BIG picture. This is how much I have to get done by tomorrow, the weekend, or even next month. What we should start doing though, is looking at the SMALL picture. The little things. Like the school work problem, for example, you have to days worth of homework to complete by Sunday? That's alright. Just take it slow. One subject at a time. Packing for vacation? Easy! One step at a time. I want you to do something with me. Think of a problem that you are struggling with right now. Weather it be lots of school work, finals coming up, vacation to pack for, or a stressful workload, I'm sure everyone has an idea of something in their life that is just getting to be too much! When you get that idea in your head,imagine Jesus standing right there with you. Helping you with that, guiding you as you get through that stressful situation. Feel a lot better now, right?
Sometimes life just sneaks up on us. We realize we have all this stuff to do and no time to get any of it done. I know that normally, this would be cause to freak out, but in reality, Jesus is right there with you. He is guiding you to get through it, whispering to you all along the way. So I just really wanted to encourage you that if you are feeling like everything is too stressful and overwhelming, go to God about it! Remember that he is right there with you to help encourage you through what you are going through, regardless of what that might be. If you want to talk to someone who understands that feeling of frantically being stressed out and overwhelmed, feel free to email me at angelicaspassion@aol.com.
In Him,
Angelica
In my personal opinion, we are doing this to ourselves. We naturally think about the BIG picture. This is how much I have to get done by tomorrow, the weekend, or even next month. What we should start doing though, is looking at the SMALL picture. The little things. Like the school work problem, for example, you have to days worth of homework to complete by Sunday? That's alright. Just take it slow. One subject at a time. Packing for vacation? Easy! One step at a time. I want you to do something with me. Think of a problem that you are struggling with right now. Weather it be lots of school work, finals coming up, vacation to pack for, or a stressful workload, I'm sure everyone has an idea of something in their life that is just getting to be too much! When you get that idea in your head,imagine Jesus standing right there with you. Helping you with that, guiding you as you get through that stressful situation. Feel a lot better now, right?
Sometimes life just sneaks up on us. We realize we have all this stuff to do and no time to get any of it done. I know that normally, this would be cause to freak out, but in reality, Jesus is right there with you. He is guiding you to get through it, whispering to you all along the way. So I just really wanted to encourage you that if you are feeling like everything is too stressful and overwhelming, go to God about it! Remember that he is right there with you to help encourage you through what you are going through, regardless of what that might be. If you want to talk to someone who understands that feeling of frantically being stressed out and overwhelmed, feel free to email me at angelicaspassion@aol.com.
In Him,
Angelica
God Sighting Challenge Entries Part 1
Hello Readers! (:
Here are some of the entries that we received in the God Sighting Challenge over the last 2 weeks. Over the next few weeks, expect to see more of the entries!
"Lately, I've been trying to figure out what direction I should take next career-wise. I am 19 (I will be 20 in May), and I have a passion for impacting the media and entertainment industries for Christ. However, I've felt for several years that God was directing me not to pursue those things I loved most, but to work in the medical field. Not wanting to be like a Jonah and disobey the commands He placed in my heart, I've been pursuing becoming a Registered Nurse, and became a Medication Aide at my work place (another small miracle that God worked out, but that's another story). Yet, I've always sensed this calling to the medical field to be temporary.
I can't say that I've gone without experiencing frustration while obeying God, but during this time of a confusing "ill-fit" between my natural gifting and the direction I've been heading, I've been waiting on God to show me what steps to take next and trying not to get discouraged at His unique methods of mapping out my life. I've continued to pursue something I don't particularly enjoy, and have been re-submitting to enter a local Registered Nursing program (it can take up to 2 years in California to get accepted into an R. N. program due to a teacher shortage).
Today at work it was a slow day, and I had some time to read the Bible. I read verses about God's unfailing love, and how He keeps His promises and gives good things to those that love and obey Him. I prayed and asked God for some serious direction. I needed something blatant, something tangible, telling me what to do about this whole medical thing- did He want me to continue to pursue this, or not? Sometimes it helps to be specific in your requests to God. He may choose not to answer immediately, but He always gives results.
As I was just in the middle of this, one of my bosses came over to me. She had just finished her prayer time (one of the perks about my job is that it is a very God-centered environment). After starting up a conversation, she asked me about my career objectives. I have known her since I was 13, and her questions about what I want to become were routine, and my answers routine as well. I was going to become a nurse and travel. The answer did morph over time- it became a psych-nurse as I became interested in psychology, and a part-time psych nurse as I began to feel that God would not be calling me into a full-time medical position regardless of how long the position would last. Yet the answer remained nearly the same.
My boss asked me what my career objective was. I said something like do whatever God wants me to do wherever He wants me to go. She said that's a vocation. Fair enough! So she asked again. Yet this time, my answer did not come as easily as it had done in the past. I found myself saying that I wasn't sure, and in response, she told me that she didn't see me becoming a nurse, and that I don't seem to enjoy my job. She didn't say this in a mean or accusatory manner, but in a friendly and interested way. Her words did not injure me, but were a huge encouragement. My boss said that she had been watching my medication work, and though I do the best job I can and with a joyful attitude, I believe she noticed a distinction in my soul. While she didn't say as much, I realized it myself: my joy at work comes in spite of, not because of what I do. My work has commitment, but not passion- sort of a "going through the motions" feel. Like in a marriage between two people, a marriage of commitment but void of passion and enthusiasm may yield a strong bond, but hardly a quality one. This is like how we can be loyal to God and claim Him as the Creator of the universe without being truly passionate about Him. We can believe the Bible without being compelled to love Him. Similarily, I do well at my work, and am loyal to my good job, but this devotion doesn't spill over into enthusiasm.
I just don't get joy out of the medical work that I do the way others do that are called into the field permanently. Sometimes I have been jealous of this passion when I have seen it in others. I've tried to mimic it. I've tried to adopt it. I've tried everything, but it just doesn't stick. Don't misunderstand - I love to smile and to sing at work, and am a generally positive and optimistic person. Yet my work detracts from, rather than contributing to, this happiness.
I do not know what steps to take next in life, and I have recently been prayerfully asking God whether He still wants me to pursue becoming a nurse.
I realize that my calling into the medical field is temporary, I've just always been uncertain as to how temporary. When do I know that God is ready to steer me in another direction? Sometimes I hear His direction in His word, reminding me that He is faithful, as I did this afternoon. Other times, God can be more blatant, gently confirming His plans through others (such as the temporary nature of a calling into the medical field). While I still don't know exactly how God wants me to proceed in every area of my life, He has shown me that I don't have to fret or worry. He has it all under control.
What my boss said was not at all a criticism in the manner she spoke it, but instead, oddly enough, an encouragement. It was encouraging because I realized that God knows what He's doing. He will never abandon those whom He loves. He listens to our heartfelt prayers. When it seems that we are not hearing from Him and are confused about what step to take next, if we look hard enough, God will use things and people around us to show us where He wants us to go. I may never become a nurse, but I will trust God to make me what He wills in His own good time and His own unique ways.
To be truthful, more than half the time His ways of directing me seem bizarre or don't make sense. Yet in the big-picture, does it really matter how confused we may become by our circumstances? God has a bright future and a hope for us. He will lead us. Through the conversation I had with my boss and through spending time in His word, I was reminded of the hope found in Him, of Christ's unfailing love, and that I just have to trust that God will get me where He wants, nurse or not. I believe that God is at last starting to lead me away from being in the medical field. I don't understand it all, but I am thankful, grateful, and I know that God will continue to reveal His plans to me as I wait on Him. It comes down to the words of an old hymn: 'Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. '" ~ Hannah K.
"God sighting in Rome today! There are, sadly, many old women on the streets begging for money. Sometimes they spend hours, bent over the ground, hands raised upwards. On one corner, I saw a lady spent a few minutes with an old woman, sharing love and kindness, and just listening. I saw God today!" - Christina K.
"I work at a restaurant as a server. I know God wants me to do everything with as much gusto as if everything were for Him; so I try to apply this to everyone at work. Well, my manager called me into the office the other day to tell me that a customer I waited on loved my service so much that he called the main office (where the president of the company is) to compliment my service. Shortly after, a second manager told me that I had the potential to be manager over the whole restaurant.
Talk about God in the works! And I didn't think I was doing anything special -- just serving Him." - Christine E.
Here are some of the entries that we received in the God Sighting Challenge over the last 2 weeks. Over the next few weeks, expect to see more of the entries!
"Lately, I've been trying to figure out what direction I should take next career-wise. I am 19 (I will be 20 in May), and I have a passion for impacting the media and entertainment industries for Christ. However, I've felt for several years that God was directing me not to pursue those things I loved most, but to work in the medical field. Not wanting to be like a Jonah and disobey the commands He placed in my heart, I've been pursuing becoming a Registered Nurse, and became a Medication Aide at my work place (another small miracle that God worked out, but that's another story). Yet, I've always sensed this calling to the medical field to be temporary.
I can't say that I've gone without experiencing frustration while obeying God, but during this time of a confusing "ill-fit" between my natural gifting and the direction I've been heading, I've been waiting on God to show me what steps to take next and trying not to get discouraged at His unique methods of mapping out my life. I've continued to pursue something I don't particularly enjoy, and have been re-submitting to enter a local Registered Nursing program (it can take up to 2 years in California to get accepted into an R. N. program due to a teacher shortage).
Today at work it was a slow day, and I had some time to read the Bible. I read verses about God's unfailing love, and how He keeps His promises and gives good things to those that love and obey Him. I prayed and asked God for some serious direction. I needed something blatant, something tangible, telling me what to do about this whole medical thing- did He want me to continue to pursue this, or not? Sometimes it helps to be specific in your requests to God. He may choose not to answer immediately, but He always gives results.
As I was just in the middle of this, one of my bosses came over to me. She had just finished her prayer time (one of the perks about my job is that it is a very God-centered environment). After starting up a conversation, she asked me about my career objectives. I have known her since I was 13, and her questions about what I want to become were routine, and my answers routine as well. I was going to become a nurse and travel. The answer did morph over time- it became a psych-nurse as I became interested in psychology, and a part-time psych nurse as I began to feel that God would not be calling me into a full-time medical position regardless of how long the position would last. Yet the answer remained nearly the same.
My boss asked me what my career objective was. I said something like do whatever God wants me to do wherever He wants me to go. She said that's a vocation. Fair enough! So she asked again. Yet this time, my answer did not come as easily as it had done in the past. I found myself saying that I wasn't sure, and in response, she told me that she didn't see me becoming a nurse, and that I don't seem to enjoy my job. She didn't say this in a mean or accusatory manner, but in a friendly and interested way. Her words did not injure me, but were a huge encouragement. My boss said that she had been watching my medication work, and though I do the best job I can and with a joyful attitude, I believe she noticed a distinction in my soul. While she didn't say as much, I realized it myself: my joy at work comes in spite of, not because of what I do. My work has commitment, but not passion- sort of a "going through the motions" feel. Like in a marriage between two people, a marriage of commitment but void of passion and enthusiasm may yield a strong bond, but hardly a quality one. This is like how we can be loyal to God and claim Him as the Creator of the universe without being truly passionate about Him. We can believe the Bible without being compelled to love Him. Similarily, I do well at my work, and am loyal to my good job, but this devotion doesn't spill over into enthusiasm.
I just don't get joy out of the medical work that I do the way others do that are called into the field permanently. Sometimes I have been jealous of this passion when I have seen it in others. I've tried to mimic it. I've tried to adopt it. I've tried everything, but it just doesn't stick. Don't misunderstand - I love to smile and to sing at work, and am a generally positive and optimistic person. Yet my work detracts from, rather than contributing to, this happiness.
I do not know what steps to take next in life, and I have recently been prayerfully asking God whether He still wants me to pursue becoming a nurse.
I realize that my calling into the medical field is temporary, I've just always been uncertain as to how temporary. When do I know that God is ready to steer me in another direction? Sometimes I hear His direction in His word, reminding me that He is faithful, as I did this afternoon. Other times, God can be more blatant, gently confirming His plans through others (such as the temporary nature of a calling into the medical field). While I still don't know exactly how God wants me to proceed in every area of my life, He has shown me that I don't have to fret or worry. He has it all under control.
What my boss said was not at all a criticism in the manner she spoke it, but instead, oddly enough, an encouragement. It was encouraging because I realized that God knows what He's doing. He will never abandon those whom He loves. He listens to our heartfelt prayers. When it seems that we are not hearing from Him and are confused about what step to take next, if we look hard enough, God will use things and people around us to show us where He wants us to go. I may never become a nurse, but I will trust God to make me what He wills in His own good time and His own unique ways.
To be truthful, more than half the time His ways of directing me seem bizarre or don't make sense. Yet in the big-picture, does it really matter how confused we may become by our circumstances? God has a bright future and a hope for us. He will lead us. Through the conversation I had with my boss and through spending time in His word, I was reminded of the hope found in Him, of Christ's unfailing love, and that I just have to trust that God will get me where He wants, nurse or not. I believe that God is at last starting to lead me away from being in the medical field. I don't understand it all, but I am thankful, grateful, and I know that God will continue to reveal His plans to me as I wait on Him. It comes down to the words of an old hymn: 'Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. '" ~ Hannah K.
"God sighting in Rome today! There are, sadly, many old women on the streets begging for money. Sometimes they spend hours, bent over the ground, hands raised upwards. On one corner, I saw a lady spent a few minutes with an old woman, sharing love and kindness, and just listening. I saw God today!" - Christina K.
"I work at a restaurant as a server. I know God wants me to do everything with as much gusto as if everything were for Him; so I try to apply this to everyone at work. Well, my manager called me into the office the other day to tell me that a customer I waited on loved my service so much that he called the main office (where the president of the company is) to compliment my service. Shortly after, a second manager told me that I had the potential to be manager over the whole restaurant.
Talk about God in the works! And I didn't think I was doing anything special -- just serving Him." - Christine E.
April 20, 2011
Anyone Seen A God Sighting? (:
Hey everyone! I sent this email out to the subscribers earlier tonight and decided to post it here too so you all can read it. (:
Hi girls! (:
I hope you all are having an amazing week! I wanted to let you girls know about a mini challenge that is going to go on, starting today. It's called God Sightings. I know how easy it is to get caught up with the busy things in life. Working on school work, having a job, keeping up with your friends, and doing any extra volunteer work can take a lot of time out of your day, and even week! So I created this challenge to challenge you girls to find the little things in life. The small little things like a butterfly flying past, or the beautiful sunset. Just something small that speaks to you and it is so easy to see that it's just God. Because girls, the thing is that God loves you so much that he does little things for you each and every day. Think about this for a second. God loves you so much that his own son was put on the cross to die, just for YOU! Just for YOU! Amazing, huh? So if he loves you that much, don't you think he gives you little gifts through the day to remind you how much he loves you? (:
So here is what you do. You try to find a few things throughout your day that are from God. It can be something small, or something big, but just something that is so encouraging and tells you that God is right there with you helping you out. Then when you find a few things, or even lots of things, send them to me at passion@passionwebmag.com. At the end of the month I will compile ALL of the entries sent in and email them to you. They will also be posted here on the blog. The point of this is to find the little things that remind you that God is always there for you, then in return they will be shared with everyone else and you can encourage them too! Awesome right? (: So this challenge starts today. Have fun with it, and be creative. You never know what you could find!
In Him,
Angelica- Assistant Editor/Blog Contributor
Hi girls! (:
I hope you all are having an amazing week! I wanted to let you girls know about a mini challenge that is going to go on, starting today. It's called God Sightings. I know how easy it is to get caught up with the busy things in life. Working on school work, having a job, keeping up with your friends, and doing any extra volunteer work can take a lot of time out of your day, and even week! So I created this challenge to challenge you girls to find the little things in life. The small little things like a butterfly flying past, or the beautiful sunset. Just something small that speaks to you and it is so easy to see that it's just God. Because girls, the thing is that God loves you so much that he does little things for you each and every day. Think about this for a second. God loves you so much that his own son was put on the cross to die, just for YOU! Just for YOU! Amazing, huh? So if he loves you that much, don't you think he gives you little gifts through the day to remind you how much he loves you? (:
So here is what you do. You try to find a few things throughout your day that are from God. It can be something small, or something big, but just something that is so encouraging and tells you that God is right there with you helping you out. Then when you find a few things, or even lots of things, send them to me at passion@passionwebmag.com. At the end of the month I will compile ALL of the entries sent in and email them to you. They will also be posted here on the blog. The point of this is to find the little things that remind you that God is always there for you, then in return they will be shared with everyone else and you can encourage them too! Awesome right? (: So this challenge starts today. Have fun with it, and be creative. You never know what you could find!
In Him,
Angelica- Assistant Editor/Blog Contributor
April 14, 2011
Take The First Step!
Hey girls! (:
Today I found this song called Walk on the Water by Britt Nicole and decided to share it with you. It's an awesome song so I would encourage you to check it out. I also want to encourage you girls. I know that sometimes we can be afraid to take that big step out in faith, even when we feel that God is calling us to something bigger and better then we ever even had planned. Sometimes though, we really just have to take that first step into the unknown and see what God has in store. Sure, it might be scary at first. But God tells us that he will never ever leave us or forsake you. If you feel like God is doing something in your life and calling you to something bigger and better... go for it. You will be glad you did. (:
"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me." Psalms 139:7-10
"For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." Isaiah 41:13
In Him,
Angelica
Today I found this song called Walk on the Water by Britt Nicole and decided to share it with you. It's an awesome song so I would encourage you to check it out. I also want to encourage you girls. I know that sometimes we can be afraid to take that big step out in faith, even when we feel that God is calling us to something bigger and better then we ever even had planned. Sometimes though, we really just have to take that first step into the unknown and see what God has in store. Sure, it might be scary at first. But God tells us that he will never ever leave us or forsake you. If you feel like God is doing something in your life and calling you to something bigger and better... go for it. You will be glad you did. (:
"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me." Psalms 139:7-10
"For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." Isaiah 41:13
In Him,
Angelica
April 1, 2011
Dealing With Pride
Did you know that God says Pride is the biggest sin? God hates pride more then any of the other sins mentioned in the Bible. Before we go into this in more detail, I think it would be good to list the deffinitions on pride and humble.
Pride: A sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect.
Humble: Marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant
"The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished."- Proverbs 16:5
So why does God hate pride so much? Well personally, I think it is because once we get prideful and full of ourselves, do you know what huge mistake we make? We loose sight of God's will for us. We fall further and further away from God and his plan for us. This does not make God happy at all. He loves us so much that he wants us to be hunble and not proud. He says that if we are humble, then we will recieve gifts in heaven.
So by now we have figured out a few things. God hates pride because it takes us away from his grace and love. And God will reward those who are humble with gifts in heaven. So now what do we do if we are being effected by pride? We don't want to continue in these ways of sin, so how do we stop? Here are some steps to give you some idea's on hw to get rid of pride.
Identify It: If you don't identify pride for being pride, you can't do anything to change. Ask God to show you if you are currently being effected by pride in your life.
Ask for Forgiveness: Once you identify that you are struggling with pride you need to repent and ask for forgivness.
More on: After you have asked for forgivness, that's it! You can move on with life knowing that the creator of the universe has taken the weight of your sin on himself.
I hope this gives you some idea's on how to deal with pride. Pride is a hard thing to deal with but remember that God loves you and is willing to help you deal with pride, or any of the other sins that you might be struggling with. take these requests and concerns to him, and he will lovingly take them from you. (:
Your Sister in Christ,
Angelica (:
Pride: A sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect.
Humble: Marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant
"The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished."- Proverbs 16:5
So why does God hate pride so much? Well personally, I think it is because once we get prideful and full of ourselves, do you know what huge mistake we make? We loose sight of God's will for us. We fall further and further away from God and his plan for us. This does not make God happy at all. He loves us so much that he wants us to be hunble and not proud. He says that if we are humble, then we will recieve gifts in heaven.
So by now we have figured out a few things. God hates pride because it takes us away from his grace and love. And God will reward those who are humble with gifts in heaven. So now what do we do if we are being effected by pride? We don't want to continue in these ways of sin, so how do we stop? Here are some steps to give you some idea's on hw to get rid of pride.
Identify It: If you don't identify pride for being pride, you can't do anything to change. Ask God to show you if you are currently being effected by pride in your life.
Ask for Forgiveness: Once you identify that you are struggling with pride you need to repent and ask for forgivness.
More on: After you have asked for forgivness, that's it! You can move on with life knowing that the creator of the universe has taken the weight of your sin on himself.
I hope this gives you some idea's on how to deal with pride. Pride is a hard thing to deal with but remember that God loves you and is willing to help you deal with pride, or any of the other sins that you might be struggling with. take these requests and concerns to him, and he will lovingly take them from you. (:
Your Sister in Christ,
Angelica (:
March 2, 2011
Trusting The King of Kings
Hi girls,
I am going to be honest with you guys. A struggle I have been going through these past few weeks, and possibly even months, has been trusting in God. I tend to want to take control of my own life, as many of us tend to do, and not let God run the show. I think this boils down to a trust issue. We sit back and go, "Uh God? I don't know if you can handle this problem...it's kinda big after all..." So we decide to take the problem on ourselves. Instead of handing our problems over to the Creator of the Universe, we decide to take the problem into our own hands. Do you want to guess what happens when we do that? We fail. Every time. The truth is girls, we can not tackle these life difficulties and problems by ourselves! God is calling out to you. He wants to take these problems and give us peace, rest, comfort and love. But girls, he can NOT take our problems for us unless we give them to him. I am going to repeat this again. God can not take our problems for us and give us peace, love, comfort and joy...unless we GIVE THEM to HIM!
I know you might be thinking. "Okay, Okay...this sounds great. But don't you know it's hard to give up something to God?" Yes, girls. I know. Honestly, I am still fighting to try to give up certain things to God. I think some things are easier then others. It really all depends on you. But spend time praying about it. I have found the more I have gotten to know who Jesus was, the more and more I give up things to him. It all goes back to that trust thing again. Think about it. When you meet someone for the first time are you going to sit down and tell them every little bit of your life, and even more....trust them with difficult problems and situations in your life? No! This is because we want to make sure we can trust them first. But it all takes time to get to know someone, God included. So girls, take some time getting to know God, your amazing father. Trust him to be able to handle these problems you give him. He cares and loves you more then you can ever imagine. All we need to do is trust him. Remember he is the King of Kings, no problem is too big or to small. He wants to hear them all.
Girl Talk: What is one thing you have trouble giving up to God?
I am going to be honest with you guys. A struggle I have been going through these past few weeks, and possibly even months, has been trusting in God. I tend to want to take control of my own life, as many of us tend to do, and not let God run the show. I think this boils down to a trust issue. We sit back and go, "Uh God? I don't know if you can handle this problem...it's kinda big after all..." So we decide to take the problem on ourselves. Instead of handing our problems over to the Creator of the Universe, we decide to take the problem into our own hands. Do you want to guess what happens when we do that? We fail. Every time. The truth is girls, we can not tackle these life difficulties and problems by ourselves! God is calling out to you. He wants to take these problems and give us peace, rest, comfort and love. But girls, he can NOT take our problems for us unless we give them to him. I am going to repeat this again. God can not take our problems for us and give us peace, love, comfort and joy...unless we GIVE THEM to HIM!
I know you might be thinking. "Okay, Okay...this sounds great. But don't you know it's hard to give up something to God?" Yes, girls. I know. Honestly, I am still fighting to try to give up certain things to God. I think some things are easier then others. It really all depends on you. But spend time praying about it. I have found the more I have gotten to know who Jesus was, the more and more I give up things to him. It all goes back to that trust thing again. Think about it. When you meet someone for the first time are you going to sit down and tell them every little bit of your life, and even more....trust them with difficult problems and situations in your life? No! This is because we want to make sure we can trust them first. But it all takes time to get to know someone, God included. So girls, take some time getting to know God, your amazing father. Trust him to be able to handle these problems you give him. He cares and loves you more then you can ever imagine. All we need to do is trust him. Remember he is the King of Kings, no problem is too big or to small. He wants to hear them all.
Girl Talk: What is one thing you have trouble giving up to God?
February 2, 2011
Finding The Right Youth Group
Hi girls!
God has placed an interesting topic on my heart recently that I felt I should share with you. Youth group. Not every teen goes to a youth group and I personally don't think that you have to go to youth group to be a follower of God. Not at all. But what about those of you who are searching for a youth group? How do you find one that fits you?
Truthfully, I think it all depends on the person. It all depends on YOU! But it also depends on where God leads you. I must not be making much sense, but what I'm trying to say is choosing a youth group depends on two things, in my opinion anyway. Where God leads you, and your personal preferences.
You might be thinking, what kind of personal preferences? I mean things like the size of the group, the youth leader, how serious the group is, and that kind of thing. Personally, I enjoy smaller groups where I can speak my mind, and a very focused group with not many distractions. But everyone is different.
The other thing is where God leads you, and this is the most important. This comes before your friends, your preferences, or anything else. He can lead us to our right youth group in many ways, and just like your preferences, everyone is different here as well. I would advise you to try different youth groups out and listen for anything from God. You need to trust God, and he will take care of you.
Truthfully, I think it all depends on the person. It all depends on YOU! But it also depends on where God leads you. I must not be making much sense, but what I'm trying to say is choosing a youth group depends on two things, in my opinion anyway. Where God leads you, and your personal preferences.
You might be thinking, what kind of personal preferences? I mean things like the size of the group, the youth leader, how serious the group is, and that kind of thing. Personally, I enjoy smaller groups where I can speak my mind, and a very focused group with not many distractions. But everyone is different.
The other thing is where God leads you, and this is the most important. This comes before your friends, your preferences, or anything else. He can lead us to our right youth group in many ways, and just like your preferences, everyone is different here as well. I would advise you to try different youth groups out and listen for anything from God. You need to trust God, and he will take care of you.
Psalm 9:10
10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.Eventually a time will come that God will show you the youth group that you are supposed to be in. Look around, and try out different youth groups. God can show you the youth group that is meant for you in so many different ways. All you have to do is listen. Listening to God can take time but is so worth it in the end. And as just a side note, I want to encourage you that your youth group that God has chosen for you, does not have to be the same youth group your friends go to. It is an awesome experience to be able to learn about God with close friends, but as I have been learning, sometimes God has other plans. :) So stay strong and trust in God! The Bible says he will never leave you or forsake you. (Psalm 9:10) I hope you girls all have an amazing month! :) God Bless!
January 5, 2011
Looking Back
Hi girls,
Sitting here in the 2011 year it really is hard to believe that time has gone by oh so fast! It almost seems like yesterday that school was just starting and I was taking baby steps closer and closer to being in the 9th grade. Well now the first semester is over and I am starting the second! Sometimes I can get really discouraged, and I think we all have our moments. Have you ever stopped to look back wondering why you are doing what you are or how you even got to where you are today? I sure have, and have been doing a lot of that this year in 2011. Although it's only been a few days since the year started, looking back I can see just how much God did in my life. One of the biggest things he did in 2010 was have me find the Passion Mag. That was a blessing to me in more then one area! :) He allowed my love of writing to grow as well. I just wanted to encourage you. I know life as a teenage girl can be hard, and frustrating at times. But taking the time to look back on some of the things that God has done for you in the past year is a great way to start the year off feeling refreshed and encouraged!
Girl Talk: What has God done in your life this past year?
In His Love,
Angelica
Sitting here in the 2011 year it really is hard to believe that time has gone by oh so fast! It almost seems like yesterday that school was just starting and I was taking baby steps closer and closer to being in the 9th grade. Well now the first semester is over and I am starting the second! Sometimes I can get really discouraged, and I think we all have our moments. Have you ever stopped to look back wondering why you are doing what you are or how you even got to where you are today? I sure have, and have been doing a lot of that this year in 2011. Although it's only been a few days since the year started, looking back I can see just how much God did in my life. One of the biggest things he did in 2010 was have me find the Passion Mag. That was a blessing to me in more then one area! :) He allowed my love of writing to grow as well. I just wanted to encourage you. I know life as a teenage girl can be hard, and frustrating at times. But taking the time to look back on some of the things that God has done for you in the past year is a great way to start the year off feeling refreshed and encouraged!
Girl Talk: What has God done in your life this past year?
In His Love,
Angelica
December 3, 2010
Sisters of Encouragement
Have you ever seen one of those people who encourage everyone they meet? They usually are really outgoing, super sweet, and ready to do anything to help at a moment's notice. Their lives look all together. We look at them and wonder, Why can’t we be that way too? Why do they get to have everything all together and we have to be the ones suffering? It can be frustrating at times, I know.
Pushing all of our feelings of envy aside, we need to stop and realize that these people are not all together. Although they look like everything is going great, it is not always that way at all. As sisters of Christ, we should always be encouraging to one another, and to others. The next time you see someone who looks like they are having a bad day, stop and ask them what’s up. Be there for them, and encourage them. So remember, the next time you see someone who is hurting, afraid, or even really encouraging…stop and ask them what you can do for them, how you can pray for them, or if they just want to talk. This holiday season, remember to encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ.
In His Love,
Angelica
Pushing all of our feelings of envy aside, we need to stop and realize that these people are not all together. Although they look like everything is going great, it is not always that way at all. As sisters of Christ, we should always be encouraging to one another, and to others. The next time you see someone who looks like they are having a bad day, stop and ask them what’s up. Be there for them, and encourage them. So remember, the next time you see someone who is hurting, afraid, or even really encouraging…stop and ask them what you can do for them, how you can pray for them, or if they just want to talk. This holiday season, remember to encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ.
In His Love,
Angelica
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