April 17, 2012

Stubborn and Strong...

As a young girl I was energetic, talkative, creative, and some may say very confident. As I got older I found myself discouraged in confidence, less likely to dance around, and more likely to listen then be the first to speak. Times changed and situations made my life what it is today but there are two characteristics that never were taken from me and that was my stubbornness and my strength that made me what I am.

Yesterday while I was looking at the overview of how many people have been looking at my page I was brought to a page of the ways that people found my blog. One of the google searches that was used was "having sex with an apostolic girl". Of course because of the words "apostolic girl" they were given my blog as one of the results. I pray they found out quick that they won't be getting what they thought as this strong and stubborn girl isn't weak.

I have had people tell me that putting my name on my blog was not wise. In fact some told me that I shouldn't just because there are weird people out there but I'm to stubborn to let someone stop me from voicing my beliefs and giving encouragement to those young girls who have found themselves in the same boat as me. Those young girls who have lost their energetic, fun loving self in the mist of trying to be the "ideal" girl and help them understand like I had to that they can get back what they feel was stolen and still be the godly girls/women they are called to be.

In a recent article a columnist wrote about how young girls are no longer little girls anymore. How society and the media have came together to destroy the energetic, talkative, creative, and confident young girls. The kind of girls who would sing a song about a turnip in the onion patch, dance with flaying arms and legs resembling a kick boxer more then a dancer, and drive a car that was made out of their closet as they closed the door and drove to the store with their teddy bear in the front seat with them. What happened to our young girls?

We now have girls who dance with hips that move in ways that they do not understand why, dress with shirts that are so low that when they play they fall down and show their chests that haven't developed yet, they wear real make up to school, and listen to songs like "shake it for me girl... shake it for me".

As I sit here writing I find myself wanting more then ever to stand up for what is right and voice my opinion regarding what makes a woman a woman. Have we lost so much of the passed that we can't see that searches like "having sex with an apostolic girl" are only a result of our not training our young girls how to be young girls. Teaching them to be stubborn and strong for the beliefs they  have and the things they stand for. Stealing them of their innocence and truly making them into sex objects so that they feel their only true value is that which comes from a man.

Being a woman is a beautiful thing and in God's way can be beautiful when a man is attracted by the things that make a woman truly a woman. We have been made in the likeness of God to glorify Him in the beauty of His holiness. We have been made as fine gems as we grow closer to Him and shine in the virtue of the godly temples He designed us to be. Young girls will only be young girls if we show them what being a woman really is. Think about it....

Growing up the image of a woman that was portrayed was that which was pure. Our examples where mothers who desired for their girls to be girls and even more so they dresses us to be just that. Easter dresses were of flowers and frills with white gloves, shiny shoes, and hats. This was my time... when I grew up!

What was portrayed to me was that of a mother and a loving wife. Because my grandpa had a farm which I loved I desired to be a farmers wife and live off the land. That was the image to me of a good woman so what did I pretend. I pretended to be a farmers wife, with a baby, that cooked, baked, and cleaned while my husband did chores.

I'm praying today for all the young woman, mothers, and girls who are either examples or growing up. It is time for statements like "having sex with an apostolic girl" to make us stand strong for the things that are right and not just make us afraid and say well that is the sign of the end times. It is time for our young women to stand strong in the church and say I want young girls to know that they can keep their purity, innocence, and childhood.


April 16, 2012

What's next...

In our lives we get to a place where we wonder... what's next? Our faith is expanded as we trust in the mighty hand of God and know that He will take care of us but still we wonder what's next. I was moved by a statement made by Brother Richard Wittmeier during a Q&A of Launch Your Ministry at our Youth Convention this winter. He said "I am getting to a place in my life where I am looking to retire which will be a big change in my life but it doesn't mean that my ministry is over... it just means it will change. In ministry our work is always changing and will never get to a place where we feel like we have arrived".

Of course that was not word for word but what he was saying came down to the last statement, "in ministry our work is always changing no matter what age we are. We will never get to a place where we feel we arrived". There will always be a time in our lives when we feel like... what's next? Not in a way of always look to the future but knowing that in everything there is a season.

The word says " To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time to war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3

No matter where we are in our lives we will be at a place where we can say... What next? A place when we look to the sky and can truthfully say in our hearts... God what do you want from me?

Recently in my life I've been brought some very difficult decisions ones that truly only God can direct me in. I know that no matter what is next that God will help me through it and help me put away my own fleshly desires to be in the right season at the right time. Sometimes getting to a place where I don't get what I want is a good thing which brings to me the importance of fasting in my life. Not always will I get what I desire and not always is it good for me to get it.

I share this with you today in deep conviction. Is my life truly a testimony of what God can do and will do or is it a testimony of what God could have done and didn't do? My prayer today is this... life comes our way and situations make it change with time. Dream, dreams and make plans but don't allow yourself to feel like you failed when God sends you on a different path.

Don't fear the season of your life nor the path that God is taking you on. I truly can say that no matter what the season and no matter what is next it is all worth it. There is a reason for everything in your life and sometimes it is a matter of you just enjoying what is the here and now.

Not Every Sorry...

 The other day I saw a post on Instagram that was so powerful to me. The picture said "Not every sorry... should be responded with a &q...