A Social Network Christmas

The Strong-Willed Woman

The strong-willed woman is a term that has been used for generations to describe a woman who is, in essence, an arrogant, stubborn woman who can't submit to her husband or even to God. If this has been your picture of a strong-willed woman I am going to challenge your thinking a bit as you read further.

I am a strong-willed woman. I have a strong will and firm convictions. I'm not afraid to speak my mind, and when I am committed to accomplishing a goal, I'll move heaven and earth to get the job done. I've gotten in trouble, more then once, for being too bossy and pushy, and I've unintentionally offended others with my actions. I believe that God has given me a strong-will. Although I didn't before. I really saw it as a weakness, something that God couldn't use, but I realized over time that there is a difference between a strong woman and a woman of strength. We can choose to use our God given personalities for His glory or ours. Strong will itself is not a negative trait; it only becomes negative when you use it in ways that do not honor God. God does require that we surrender our strong wills to Him. But what we get back is an amazing spirit of God that actually makes our strengths stronger. And it is only through God's grace can any strong-willed woman avoid the negative aspects of even our best traits.

So what is a Strong-Willed Woman? Lets take a look at a few excerpts from Cynthia Ulrich Tobias's book Redefining the Strong Willed Woman.

I have a deep desire to make a difference
I am not content to coast (I don't like to wait)
I am fiercely loyal
I need to be involved
I will not be ignored
I have no reverse gear
I tend to succeed (I never do something that doesn't promise success)
I am wholehearted in action (whatever I choose to do, I do with my whole heart)
I have diverse intrests
I have a strong desire to do right
I am willing to do what needs to be done

So what do you think? Do you possesses the qualities of a strong-willed woman? I know I have quite of few of these traits myself. It's amazing what God can do with a woman who has a strong will. A will to, get the job done, who wants to do what is right, is loyal, and wants to make a difference. The only thing we need to make sure we are so very careful about is when our strong wills are out of God's submission. This is something that we must die to each and everyday. Sometimes more then once a day.

Let's make a promise to one another right now. I am going to pray this prayer for you, will you pray this prayer for me?

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for our strong wills. Thank you for the beautiful strong-willed women that are all around the world, and the ones that read this blog. I pray that you strengthen them with compassion and love, to serve others and bring glory to Your name. I pray that everyday they will die to their plans and agenda's. That you will use them in many ways.
In your precious name, Amen.

What Legacy will I leave behind?

"David's fame spread through all lands, and the Lord made all the nations fear him."

1 Chronicles 14:17

What legacy will you leave behind for your family?

The Bible paints us a beautiful picture of the legacy that was left for us, through people like, David, Esther, Jesus and many more. We look at these people and the differences that they made to not only their families but ultimately the whole world. We get to see where they have been, follow in their examples and then and only then, we know where we are going.

Having the mindset that we can't do much to form the legacy that we leave behind, that we aren't that powerful to influence the people around us is a lie from the enemy. It is a lie that gets us nowhere but down. What an exciting thing to know that WE as christians, and women can help shape our futures to bring on abundance to those after us. Even at a young age we can begin to allow the work of the Lord to shape us, mold us, and form us into His likeness so we can be a light to the world. And it all starts at home.

Just recently I had the opportunity to see the newest movie in theaters: Courageous. All I could come away with was, "Wow" If you have not gotten a chance to see the movie, I highly encourage you to! The men in this movie realized the need to leave a God-breathed legacy for their wives, their children and ultimately the world around them. They took the ownership that the Lord had placed on them, in the family that He gave them, and the resources that He left for them to build up a strong legacy, one that will be passed down from generation to generation.

This message isn't just for the father in the home. It's for anyone who sees the need. It's for mothers, daughters, sons, husbands, wives..etc. As a young woman, you can give your family what they need most, to be a shining light through the darkness, a girl of peace and of hope.

"Change today and everyday to move in the direction of faith. Know what you believe and why you believe it. Learn to live up to the the name, "Follower of Christ", and the world won't soon forget you."

Revenge...is it really sweet?

It's interesting that this would be my devotion today. Not that I am looking for, or struggling with revenge but I think this is a topic that hits home for some girls, and guys. It can be hard to not take revenge when others treat you, well, not so nice. God's word says in Romans 12:17, "Don't repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody." and also verse 19, "Don't take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay." says the Lord. I don't know about you but I am sure, God's wrath is far more effective then mine.

As a christian, I think we sometimes get into the mind set that now that I am a follower of Him, nothing bad will ever happen to me. On the contrary, we face many trails as a believer. The Lord even said that we would, but when we did He also told us how to deal with them.

He says in His word about trails and struggles and how they should be dealt with:

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trail, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer... Romans 12:12

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, know that suffering produces endurance... Roman 5:3

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything be prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be made know to God. Philippians 4:6

When trials come, don't take revenge...let go, and let God.

Courageous

From the makers of "Fireproof", "Facing the Giants", and "Flywheel" comes this new, fresh, and exciting movie entertainment about 4 loving fathers who decide its time to be more then just, "good dad's". They take it to the next level, and they have what it takes to be Courageous. This movie will have you on the edge of your seat, with a box of tissue and a new appreciation for those around you. Don't miss your chance to see this inspiring movie. Being Courageous starts here. It's worth watching....its worth living.

"Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. When tragedy strikes home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Protecting the streets is second nature. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That's courageous."

Church with a lower case "c"

Church.....I cringe when I hear this 6 letter word. I'm not talking about the body of Christ here, but the building. The man-made things of church. church with a lower case "c". Hundreds, if not thousands of books have been written about the very subject. Books like, "They like Jesus but not the church", "So you don't wanna go to church anymore". We can try to pretend that we haven't been hurt by those in the church...but we would be lying to ourselves. We can pretend that people aren't hurting but what good can that do? It breaks my heart to see Christians putting fellow Christians down. I am sometimes scared to tell people to go to church because I don't want them to have to deal with the hurt, sometimes the rejection, and even the disownment that people in the church seem to spread. In my own walk with God, I have been hurt by the church, and I have to wonder...how does this make God feel? It says in John 15:5:

"I am the Vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

So, if we are all branches that are connected to the Vine, wouldn't it seem odd when we attack each other? It's like we're hurting ourselves. That was never God's intention for the church. We are to be a body that uplifts one another, encourages, supports, prays for, and loves each other. Maybe we have forgot what it means to be "the church". Just maybe, we forgot what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Greater things are still to be done in this city...

As I sit here and think about the last two weeks that I have dedicated to Christ in Salt Lake City, Utah with Child Evangelism Fellowship, I am utterly amazed at the sovereignty of our Lord and His incredible power. For those of you who don’t know, I went on a short-term missions trip with CEF to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We had the privilege of partnering with a church in the Salt Lake City area to reach the children in their neighborhood, and what an amazing experience that was. We taught three, 5-Day Clubs (like a mini-VBS). I was with a team of four who were able to share the Good News to over 100 children in those five days. There were 29 churches that were a part of Good News Across America (GNAA) and we had over 85 clubs all over the Salt Lake City area. Out of those clubs, 2,000 children were reached! Praise the Lord.

What an awesome thing it is to be able to share the Word of God with a child. One young boy named Micah who went to our first club was about 11 years old. The host and the church had been praying for this boy and his family for over 6 years. On Wednesday night he accepted Christ in his bedroom and the next day told us that he did it. It was a wonderful thing to see a child’s life turned around for God. On Friday we had a rally, which was a time when we invited all the children to come as well as the family. We reviewed what we had learned at club that week, the songs, a few games, and then had an invitation for anyone to receive Jesus. After the rally was done, we asked if anyone wanted to come up and close in prayer. Micah raised his hand and came up. He prayed in front of over 50 parents. What a blessing that was to see. I got home the following day and received a text message from my team leader. He told me that Micah and his family were at church! It is great to see that the Lord is using CEF to bring His children back to Him.

I think the most exciting thing about the ministry that I am involved in with so many other people is that you never know who you touch. I can tell the Gospel message to hundreds of children and I don’t who the Holy Spirit speaks to, to receive it. One day I will know, I will be givin the privilege of meeting them face to face in Heaven, and that is an awesome thing.

I guess I will close with asking for prayer. Please be praying for not only the children of Utah but the churches that were involved, and the workers. Be praying for openness to the Gospel, for the churches to grow and to continue to go out in their neighborhoods and reach the children. Pray also for the CEF ministry in Wisconsin. That as my team and I go out and teach clubs these coming weeks that we effectively teach the children. That their hearts would be open to the message of salvation, and that the Spirit of God would come upon them.

Because every child needs Jesus,
Talyn

The Provers 31 Woman

We are all familiar with the famous chapter of the "Proverbs 31 Woman" and if you aren't, I highly encourage you to read it. This woman is superwoman. The writer describes her as a woman of noble character. Her worth is far more then rubies. She is clothed with strength and dignity. He also describes all the things she does, she cooks, she cleans, she sews, she gardens. She's like a one woman circus! Something I noticed toward the end of the chapter is when it says, "Many women do noble things but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." It wasn't the cooking and the cleaning that made this woman amazing, it was that she feared the Lord. Someone who wrote a commentary on fearing the Lord said this,

"The word for fear here means "reverential fear". It means that one must be serious about their relationship to God. People who "fear" the Lord are not anxious about their relationship to him , or afraid of Him, they take very seriously their relationship to Him."

Anyone can cook and clean but if takes more than that to fear the Lord.

My prayer is that you continue to fear the Lord. That your relationship with Him is not just something you push to the side when life gets busy. We all, at some point let life get so busy that we forget about what is really important.

Lord, continue to work on us. When life gets busy and our schedules get full, remind us what is important. That above all, YOU are number one. We thank you for your word and allowing us to hear it. Amen

What A Real Man Wants

"What if there isn't a guy out there who really wants a women of purity?"

This isn't a question we like to hear, because sadly, looking at the world today we already know the answer. Purity now a days isn't held to the esteem as it once was. We get into this mind set that guys like easy women and they wouldn't waste their time with someone who plays hard to get. It seems that most women who have committed themselves to purity, struggle with guys trying to lower their standards. We see this a lot in non-christian guys, but even most Christ professing men do not seem to fully appreciate a woman's desire to guard her heart and protect her purity. It becomes a constant struggle to stay committed to a walk of purity, and we start to question if it really is worth it. "What if guys really aren't looking for that kind of purity in a woman?" I think the thing we don't realize is that there are Christian young men out there that are asking the same question. "Are there girls out that really are committed to purity?" And they too ask if it is worth it.

Guys that are going after easy girls are just looking to feed their flesh. They aren't looking for true love, and they certainly are not worthy of your time and attention. A real man, the kind of man that a woman would want to spend her life with, is one who respects the precious gift that every girl possesses. Who will honor her like the valuable treasure that she is.

"A real man will not attempt to rip her precious pearl from its protective shell or persuade her with charm to give away her treasure prematurely. He will wait patiently until she willingly gives him the prize of her heart. A real man will cherish and care for that precious prize forever." And he will! A real man will cherish you because you are worth being cherished!" Leslie Ludy

If we had more real men out there that treated women that way God intended it to be, it wouldn't be so hard! But even if real men are hard to find, they do exist, and they are worth waiting for. I know that along this road to purity it isn't going to be easy but remember, a real man looks at your purity as beautiful. And one day, all the tears, all the hard ache, and waiting will be more then worth it. If marriage is part of God's plan for you, there is one real man who might be dreaming of a woman who is waiting patiently and faithfully for him right now.

"Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right." Song of Songs 2:7

So I hope that this helps in answering the question: "What if there isn't a guy out there who really wants a woman of purity?" The answer is YES! There are tons of guys who are looking for just that! And if you come across a guy who seems like he doesn't care remember, he is NOT worth your time and attention. Until God brings a real man into your life keep your eyes fixed on Him, because He will give you the desires of your heart!

Your sister in Christ

Is Your God Big? Mine Is!

As one of my subjects in school I am doing Bible Doctrines. Which is like a study about the Bible, christianaity, God..etc... And today we talked about Theology (the study of God, and the existence of God). It's a really interesting topic. I am going to share alittle bit about what it said...it blew my mind!

"In order of the universe, the sun is an ordinary, medium-sized star. Yet its energy and violence alomst defy imagination. It is a dense mass of glowing matter, a million times the volume of the earth, and in a permanent state of nuclear activity. Every second, 4 million tons of hydrogen are destroyed in explosions that start somewhere near the core, where the temp is about 55 million degrees Fahrenheit. More energy than man has used since the dawn of civilization is radiated by this normal star in a second. The earth's entire oil, coal, and wood reserves would fuel the sun's energy output to the earth alone for only a few days. Tongues of hyrogen flame lead from the sun's surface with the force of a billion hydrogen bombs. They are forced up by the enormous thermonuclear explosion at the core of the sun, where 564 million tons of hydrogen fuse each second to form helium"

"The heat of the sun is so great that a body of solid ice as large as our earth would be melted within two hours if the sun came closer to the earth, and if the earth itself would fall into the sun it would be completely vaporized in a matter of minutes. The distances between the earth and the sun is 93,000,000 miles. Astronomers have estimated that if this distance were increased to 120,000,000 miles instead, our planet would be a perpetual frozen Artic, and life on it would be impossible. If on the other hand, this distance were reduced to about 60,000,000 miles, the surface of the earth would be a glowing furnace, again making life on it impossible. But the wonder is that this ball of fire of incalculable heat is exactly 93,000,000 miles away, the exact distance to provide the earth with a balanced amount of heat and light to make life in all its form possible, and also to divide the earth into climatic zones to make variation to plant an animal life possible. Here again we see the perfect balance in nature. There is no rational explanation for this supreme engineering achievement without a supreme, intelligent, and master Builder."

Wow!!!! How awesome is that! And to think that SO many people doubt that there is a God...it really is mind blowing..the rest of the chapter talked about the design of the animal kingdom and the design of the human body(which would take to much space) its beyond amazing.

Now, I'm not just talking about those who doubt that there is a God. But those that doubt God. Whether its a dating situation, a life problem..whatever. We christians seem to doubt that God is big enough. I know that we won't admit that we think that way but we do. If God can make the sun so perfectly made..if he can tell a spider how to make a web...or how our eyes are supossed to see...or how far the ocean goes...the list goes on and on...if God the Creator of EVERYTHING we see can do all that...he can help you through your stuggles.

If you haven't praised God for what he has done not only in your life but in others...I encourage you to now! The Bible says...."Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and enter His courts with Praise!"

Be Blessed

A Real Woman....

A real woman ..…

is glad she’s a woman and rejoices in her femininity, expressing it through her attitude, appearance and bearing. (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

…does not compete for equality with men or chafe at God’s design for male and female, but delights in and understands the importance of her calling to complement man’s role. (1 Timothy 2:11-12, Ephesians 5:22-24)…

values the cultivation of her mind and diligently seeks after wisdom and knowledge. (Proverbs 22:17-21, 2:2-6)

…realizes her imperative need to allow the Holy Spirit to control her emotions and expressions of them. (James 1:19-20)…

..does not wallow in self-pity or make a habit of voicing complaints, but radiates cheerfulness and joy. (Proverbs 15:15, Proverbs 17:22)A real woman . . .

…appreciates her father’s protection, and respects and submits to his authority. In so doing, she is preparing herself to exercise the Biblical role in her relationship with a possible future husband. (Ephesians 5:33-6:3, 1 Peter 3:1-2)

…is trustworthy and gains the respect of those around her. (Proverbs 31:11)

…restrains herself from listening to, or participating in gossip, but instead speaks with wisdom and discretion. (Proverbs 11:12-13, 22, 20:19, 3:11)

…encourages and builds up those around her instead of criticizing and tearing them down. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Ephesians 4:29)

…does not have a nagging, contentious or manipulative manner in which she deals with others. (Judges 16:16, Proverbs 21:9, 19, 26:21)

…is not boisterous or loud in her speech or actions but is characterized by a gentle and quiet spirit. (Proverbs 9:13, 1 Peter 3:4)A real woman . .

.…portrays chastity, modesty and reverence in her manner, and wears the ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is her true beauty. (1 Peter 3:3-4, Titus 2:4-5)

…is not offended by respect shown her through gentlemanly courtesies (opening doors, etc.) but cultivates the differences between the sexes that make her worthy of this deference. (1 Peter 3:7, Mark 10:6)

…seeks to make God her number one desire and the Lover of her soul, knowing that only He can fully satisfy. (Psalm 73:25, Psalm 63:1)

…uses her years of singleness to seek and serve God without distraction, and is content to leave the details of her future to Him. (Psalm 73:25, Philippians 4:11)

A real woman . . .…does not relate to members of the opposite sex in a flirtatious or forward manner, but instead saves all her passion for her future husband. (Thessalonians 4:3-8, Proverbs 6:25, 1 Corinthians 7:1)

…holds her virginity before marriage sacred and will not compromise it for anything. (This one goes for guys too)(1 Timothy 5:22)

Makes you think? Do you think this is an easy task? Which one do you struggle with? Which one do you feel the Lord has helped you follow?

Who Determines Your Worth?

"What's the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail-even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries." ~Matthew 10:39-31, THE MESSAGE

"One of the things I had to confront in my life was the issue of perfectionism. When are you are a perfectionist, you tend either to push yourself all the time to be better or to go into failure mode and give up, believing that you'll never succeed. My tendency was to live with a sense that God was disappointed in me-that I was not good enough. Through study and prayer and time alone with Him, the Lord assured me that I am loved and secure. I know that I'm His princess, accepted and cherished. Because many people spend much of their time trying to please others, they're uncomfortable in their own skin and don't know who they are. Unfortunately, they derive their sense of worth from what they do or don't do for others. It's all based on a false and conditional love. We can get so wrapped up in our selfishness that we can't see beyond ourselves to find our worth in God-who we are in Him." ~Rebecca St. James (Pure)

This is something that I have been dealing with for a long time in my life. I look to mere humans, my friends to find my value. I look to some of my guy friends for my value. "If he would just say that I am pretty, or smart, I'll be feel loved". Sadly that is an act of selfishness. And I see that now. That when you look to humans to find your worth you end up feeling empty in the end. There is a God sized hole that only God can fill. So here is my challenge to you.....

"How much time do you spend in the morning thinking about how others will perceive you based on what you look like each day? How could you spend some of that time comtemplating your worth in God's eyes? Look in the mirror and realize how precious you are to Him."

Dear Lord,
We thank you for loving us with an unconditional love. God we pray that you will fill us up with your love, and compassion. God show us how much we are worth. Help us not to look to our friends for our worth. Lord, I thank you for this opportunity I have to share my heart with girls through this blog. I know I am not alone. And I pray that we can hold each other accountable for our actions. I pray that these girls can find good christian friends that will lift them up and encourage them to be ALL they can be for You. Thank you again for loving us....loving me. Keep speaking to us. Give us a passion to seek you more then we ever have before. In Jesus Name,
Amen

Amazing Love

Shaping Men Into Princes

"God's sacred intent for us goes far beyond just saving sex until marriage, wearing one-piece swimsuits instead of skimpy string bikinis, or idolizing Christian bands instead of secular ones. It is not just making sure we tack on some Christian morality to our self-indulgent lives. His sacred intent for you and for me is nothing short of absolute abandonment to Jesus Christ, entire separation from the pollution of the world, and ardent worship of our King with every breath we take." ~Leslie Ludy

When we allow Christ to rule over every part of our being we become the beautiful, and radiant woman that every Godly guy dreams about. It's hard to believe that there are guys out there who really are Christ-built Warrior Poets, but they are out there. I know that there are guys out there losing the belief that there are Christ-consumed young woman out there as well. It's time to show the world that girls like that DO exist!

Warrior Poets are longing for the radiance of a set-apart young woman. A girl who is not afraid to stand up for the principals of God. Who above all else, strives to live her life the way Christ would want her to. And is willing to be labeled a prude, uptight, and stiff because of what she believes in.

Here are some practical ways to start shaping the men in your life to be the Warrior Poets that God created them to be (borrowed from Leslie Ludy, Answering the Guy Questions).

Hold Out for God's Best

"There are lots of Christian guys out there-guys who profess Christ but allow self to reign and rule their lives"

Many young woman lower their standards, mostly out of desperation. Thinking that if they don't grab a guy now, they will end up alone. That is NOT putting your faith and trust in God's plan for you. It becomes a manipulation to try to make a romance happen. And that is not faith. If you settle for less then a man who is fully yielded to Christ you are settling for less then God's best for you. Keeping your standards high honors God.

Let Him Win Your Heart

"Most of us are so eager for a guy's approval that we carelessly throw ourselves at anything male that looks our way. Among today's love-hungry women, a man doesn't have to work very hard to win a woman's heart."

Christ did an amazing thing on the cross when he gave up His life for you. Don't cheapen what He has done by throwing your heart to guys one after another. God designed men to pursue woman, so let them! You just trust God and His perfect and wonderful plan for you.

Don't Be in a Hurry

"So many young woman I talk to feel that the moment a guy shows interest in them, they are in an urgent situation and need to make a quick decision."

How much faith can you have in your God, if this is your mentality? If God desires a relationship to happen, you don't need to be the one to rush or feel pressured into opening the door to a guy. When a guy shows interest, spend a good amount of time in prayer. I don't just mean a day or two I mean diligent, persistent prayer. Look into what God's plan is for you before you jump into any kind of relationship.

Recruit the Help of a Protector

"In the olden days, a man would have to go to a woman's father and receive his permission even to "come calling" on her. In other words, he couldn't spend time getting to know her without getting the okay from her "protector"."

Culture has changed so much that this is not even relevant in our day in age. The concept though of having a protector in your life is so important. It's an issue of placing value on the priceless treasure of your heart. When you allow your parents (or other godly leaders) to serve in position of protection over you, you agree that your heart is a gift and should not be taken lightly. A guy can prove he is worthy of you by honoring the people of authority over you. If you are on your own, that shouldn't stop you from having a protector. A pastor, an elder of the church that will look out for your best interest.

I love how Leslie ends her chapter about shaping men into princes...

"Following the narrow path of Christ-built femininity truly is hero work. It means choosing to live selflessly and sacrificially in order to help shape men into princes God created them to be. Remember that God has not called you to walk this path in your own strength. If you submit your femininity fully to Him, He will give you everything you need to become radiant, vibrant, heroic example of His nature."

Girl's Best Friend

To the best dog I have ever known...I just want to say that I love you. I will miss you. You were the best and most stubborn dog that I have ever had. Sometimes we don't know why God brings things into our life to only..take them away, but sometimes it is what is best. I honestly don't know what to write. I feel like someone punched me in the stomach and knocked all the wind out of me. I feel like part of me is missing. The furry, tail-wagging part. We grew up together. He taught me responsibility and love. He really WAS a man's best friend. or in my case...a girl's best friend. The little fur-ball lived a good life. A good 16 years. He will always be in my heart..I can close my eyes and see him. Thank you Lord for the years that we had him. Please take good care of him...he is just alittle guy. He doesn't take up too much space and he never sheds. He is a good boy.

Because Every Child Needs Jesus

Dear friends and loved ones,

I'm very excited to be starting my 5th year as a Summer Missionary for CEF, Child Evangelism Fellowship. CEF has been around since 1937 and is reaching children worldwide. I will be attending CYIA (Christian Youth In Action) in June for a two week training on how to teach and reach children. I am happy to be going as a 5th year student. Also, I will be bringing on some new teens to reach children in the Wisconsin area.

In addition to going to CYIA this summer I will be heading to Salt Lake City, Utah for Good News Across America (GNAA) This is my first year doing this and I will beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to minister outside of WI. GNAA is a two week missions trip, where people from all over the USA come together and build up the area. Planting 5-day clubs (like a mini VBS) and Good News Clubs (like 5-day clubs but during the school year) wherever we can.

I have a lot of work to do before summer hits. I will be raising support for my missions trips. I am leaning on the Lord for all my support. And looking to people like you, to support a missionary to do the work that you, yourself can't do. My amount to raise is between $1,500 and $2, 000 to cover my training, meals, lodging, material and travel. Any contribution would be more then helpful. Prayer is also another way to help support me. I need prayer for safe travels as well as making sure I stay focused on what my task is: Reaching the children.

Thank you all for being so supportive in helping reach these children for Christ!

Because every child needs Jesus,

Talyn

The Art of Faithfulness

One thing I seem to question alot is, how do I love my future spouse even before we ever meet. So I have gathered as much information as I can on this very topic. Most of my quotes come from Eric and Leslie Ludy, and from their book, "When God Writes Your Love Story" (I recommend).

As a teenage girl, trying to live my life as Christ would want me to live, I find myself stuck in this paradigm that I can live my own life and not worry about how my future husband would feel about my relationships with other guys.

It says in: Proverbs 31:12 "She [the wife of godly character] does him [her husband] good and not evil all the days of her life."

If you think about it, she does him good ALL the days of your life. Let's see how we can apply this to OUR lives. Ready, Set, GO!

I know how hard it can be to give God the pen and let HIM write your love story. For a very long time I had trouble trusting God. It's not easy to offer up such a valuable area of your life. But I can tell you when you do, He gives you so much more then you can imagine. He gave me hope. That He was preparing someone special just for me. Someone who is a perfect match, but I have to trust Him. We all can get caught in the trap of wanting our own way. And it is very easy to take the pen away from Him, even AFTER you have given it to Him. I remember when I gave the pen of my love life to the Creator of Love. And then it was like the minute I could I took it back. Things didn't seem right when I had the pen. It wasn't supposed to feel right.

I started thinking that if God's plan and purpose for me was marriage, that the person I would one day marry was most likely somewhere on this earth. And at this very moment he was doing something. He is....alive. Have you ever thought of that? Just ponder it for a second. Don't you wonder what he or she is doing? I know I do..all the time! My mind sometimes wanders and I think, what if...he is with a girl?! You can imagine my reaction to thinking this! "What gives this girl the right to be with MY man?!!" Then I can hear God say, "Talyn, you desire purity in your husband, right?" "Of course I do!" I responded back. "Just think Talyn. If you desire purity in your husband, how much more do you think he desires purity...in you?"