Pushing the Limits

How far is too far?


“Can Christian teens listen to secular music?” “I like to dance, is that alright?” “Is it really lying if it’s just a little lie?” “What’s wrong with the way I dress? “Can Christian teens date?” “I have a boyfriend, can we kiss?” “How far is too far?” “What is acceptable for me to do as a Christian teen and not lead a totally boring life???”

Today’s Christian teens and teens in general have a whole lot of questions that they are seeking answers to. They want a list of absolute dos and don’ts to guide their lives by. Many of the questions that they ask are really a matter of opinion or personal belief system. There are no places in the Bible that list specifically every concern that you may have. However we all have that still inner voice called our conscience that lets us know when we are doing something wrong.

There are many questions that I have been asked by Christian teens which I have no simple answer for. I’ve also found that usually those doing the asking already have what they think the answer should be in mind and simply want someone to agree with them and give them license to do what they really want to do. However this is not what Christianity is about. Christianity isn’t about how much you can get away with doing and still be considered a Christian. Christianity is about living a life that pleases your heavenly father.

So to Christian teens and teens in general I say, don’t try to push limits to see what all you can legally or morally get away with as a teenager. Ask your heavenly father to help you to mold your life after his will. I love the way the Living Bible translates this verse in Romans.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (The Living Bible)

Remember, the adults in your life may not have all of the answers that you are seeking but in time as you grow more in your faith you will begin to learn more and more what God expects of you and what is His will for your life.

GT December 07

Slow Down

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Are you quick to speak?

Have you ever read Joyce Meyers book, “Me and My Big Mouth”? That described me perfectly when I was younger.

Because I’m well aware of my penchant to “let go” when I’m angry I try to always take a moment before I react no matter what the provocation. However, although I’m more in control of my temper that doesn’t always work and there are times when I say something that really hurts someone’s feelings. Yes, that person may have done or said something that made me angry but that is no excuse for responding in an angry and hurtful manner. The apostle James tells us,

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, James 1:19

I’ve found out several things the hard way before I learned to control my tongue,

1. It is so easy to let go with angry words but apologizing isn’t easy at all (not for me anyway).

2. Even after you apologize it takes a while for bruised feelings to be healed after being wounded by angry words.

3. Sometimes it’s easier to just let it go without responding in anger even if you are the wronged party. (I’ve found that when I do this I usually have an opportunity at another time to let the person know how I felt)

Over the years I prayed and asked God to put a guard on my mouth that I’d always think before I speak and not react with angry words. Thankfully I’m not as quick to speak anymore. If I get angry enough I can still say some pretty hurtful things but I seldom get that angry. I know that as a Christian one of the quickest way to mar my testimony is to react in anger without stopping to think and that is the last thing I want to do.

because our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:20

Uniquely His

Did you know that you are one of a kind? You are a unique individual designed by God himself? Before he even formed you in your mother’s womb he had you future planned. Everything about you, from the smallest birth mark to each and every hair on your head he thought about and designed unique to you. If that isn’t love I don’t know what is. I love how this Psalms puts it:

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed. Psalms 139:13-16 (NLT)

Sometimes we have a negative self-image based on how others see us and the way we think about ourselves, our achievements, appearances etc. However none of us is perfect. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately many times we focus so much on our areas of weakness that they dominate our view of ourselves. Sometimes it makes us afraid to try new things because we are so sure that we are going to fail.

One thing I want to do in this year is work harder on my areas of personal strengths that I may become better and also try a few new things and maybe discover some hidden talents within myself (A girl can dream right?).
In fact lets all show God our appreciation for loving us so much that he took the time to make each of us unique and special by making an effort to see ourselves the way our creator sees us. We are the apple of his eyes, he delights in us, he loves us and he wants us to succeed in life.

4 The LORD gave me this message:
5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.
Before you were born I set you apart
and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5(NLT)

Buried Treasure

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Practicing Thankfulness (Grouchy Lainie)

I know that my Thankful Thursday post is a little unusual but please do keep reading.

“Hi Lainie,” Dawn said cheerfully as she caught up with her best friend for their daily walk to school.

“What are you so happy about?” Elaine replied grumpily.

“Uh oh, someone got up on the wrong side of the bed,” Dawn teased. “Girl, the new school term just started so you can’t be stressed out already.”

“I just didn’t feel like getting out of bed today. What are you so happy about?”

“Nothing specific, I’m just practicing being thankful and happy.”

“Really?”

“Uh hmm, Last year a blog I visit had a weekly post called Thankful Thursday. Other bloggers linked up every Thursday and listed what they were thankful for.”

“Did you join in?” Elaine asked.

“Nope, you know me, I hate making lists. But reading some of the posts inspired me so much I decided this year I would like to try to focus more on the things I’m thankful for. So, I’m just practicing being thankful every day.”

“Sound’s interesting,” Elaine said.

“Sure seems like you can use that today,” Dawn teased. "How about we make a pact to help each other be more thankful this year?”

“Sure” Elaine said.

“Whenever one of us forgets to be thankful the other says, T squared or TT.”
“T squared?” Elaine said questioningly.

“Thankful Thursday or if it’s not Thursday, Thankful Today,” Dawn replied.

“I like that,” Elaine said giggling, “sort of like a secret code.”

“Uh hmm,” Dawn said then continued, “Lainie…”

“Yeah?”

“T squared”

“Hey no fair,” Lainie said laughing. “You didn’t say we were starting right now. But anyway Dawn, I’m thankful for having a friend like you, who sticks with me even when I’m in a grouchy mood.”

See that wasn’t so hard Dawn said, and I’m thankful for a friend like you too.”
The two girls continued walking, laughing and talking the entire way.

My List…

I'm thankful the the gift of life in a brand new year.

I’m thankful for real life friends and blogging friends like Iris, Denise & Lynn who encouraged me and made me smile when I wasn’t in a smiling mood last year. Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment on my very sporadic posts.

I'm also thankful for all of the bloggers who put up Thankful Thursday lists, thanks for inspiring others to find something to be thankful about.

For more Thankful Thursday visit Lynn

Daily Dose Award

Thank you Jen, over at My 3 boys and I for this lovely award like award. Since I’m the worst at regular updates this award is indeed a pleasant surprise.

This award originated from Xandra and she wrote:
So here’s to all the blogs that you’ve discovered that you can’t possibly live without. They make you laugh, cry, think and feel connected every time you read a post. They give you a thrill as you see them loading into your browser and you get an equally satisfying thrill when you see that they have commented on your blog.

Here's a few blogs I enjoy visiting whenever I'm online.

Laced With Grace- This blog ministered to me long before I became a part of the writing team. I love reading the different life experiences, trials and triumphs of the ladies who write and comment there and actually visiting their blogs. I always come away feeling inspired. (So if you're in anyway connected to LWG, this goes to you)

Pray for Ian - I found this blog almost a year ago and was inspired by the faith of the family and friends of Ian, a young man who was seriously injured in a car accident. Visit if you have time and pray for Ian.

Girls, God and the Good Life - A lovely group blog for teens and twenty-somethings, I don't fit the age bracket but I enjoy reading anyway, lol.

The Last First

Today is officially the last first day in 2008 (does that even make sense?). After today, (the first Monday) it’s just a recycle of days and if we allow ourselves the excitement of “firsts” will began to wane and the days will begin to become routine. Don’t let it.

This year let’s be determined to find the good in every day and every situation. Most of us usually enter the New Year with great expectancy and eagerness, however as the days, weeks and months pass and life does not happen the way we planned we sometimes get disappointed. As a result, we simply start wishing that time would go faster so we can get past a certain phase and “begin” again. However, each new day brings its own unique problems and challenges. As much as we may wish for tomorrow there’s no guarantee that tomorrow will be any better unless we decide that we are going to make the best of today.

So for the rest of this year let’s decide to make the most of each day that God allows us to see. Let’s seize the day and rejoice in the God of our salvation. I’m sure we’ll have a better year because of it.