"Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus of you." 1Thessalonians 5:18 ESV
Let's dissect this verse shall we. Give thanks in ALL circumstances, really ALL of them? Give thanks when we are running late to work or school? Give thanks when the car want start or breaks down? Give thanks when my kid is crying and screaming so loud and constant that I want to pull my hair out? Give thanks when a friend betrays us? Give thanks when you don't make the dance team or the cheerleading squad? Really, I am supposed to give thanks during my worst moments? Yes, that is correct! You are probably like, that doesn't make sense what so ever!!! Why should I give "thanks" in the midst of negative situations? Here is the answer: In the midst of our worst there is a mercy in disguise; a blessing! You probably will not see it right then in there, but God allows trails to happen to each and everyone of us. I am not saying that God allows bad things to happen to us. It is usually us not listening and disobeying Him that allows these awful situations to occur. God does allow certain trials in our lives and certain situations not to happen and they are all for His will. God is not out to get us! He is here to protect us and guide us in His will.
It is so much easier to give "thanks" in wonderful circumstances and when things are going our way, but we have to remember that we should also give "thanks" during our trails as well. Even if we don't feel like it is appropriate; it is to God! I am going to leave you with a chorus from a song that I am hearing alot lately. It is from the song "Blessings" by Laura Story:
"What if our blessings come through raindrops? What if healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights is what it takes to know you're near; and what if trails of this life are mercies in disguise?"
Love in Christ,
Alicia
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Unique on Purpose!
The world is full of different types of people. All different shapes and sizes. I am thankful that every single person on this earth is unique! How boring would it be if we all had the same eye color, same hair color, and were all the same size and shape. B-O-R-I-N-G!! God made us all unique for a reason, right down to our fingerprints and the number of hairs on our head. Sometimes, we would rather be a carbon copy of another person that we think is prettier or more popular than we are. Especially women and girls! We love to try and change something that we don't like about ourselves. People also compete for attention. For example, it might be with friends, or a sibling; it could even be a certain group. It is our human nature to want to get noticed and want to be liked and loved!
I am going to tell you a little story about a woman named Leah. She was the daughter of Laban and had a younger sister named Rachel. Now, the bible tells us that Rachel was beautiful and had everything going for her. Leah was fair and had lazy eyes. Back then you could not make an appointment to go have your eyes checked, nor were there any glasses, so Leah had quite the time getting around. One day, Rachel was out at the family well when a boy named Jacob approached the well and quickly fell in love with Leah's younger sister. He wanted to marry Rachel and would work for her father for 7 years so he could marry her. Wow! Rachel must be some woman! Anyway, Rachel's father was a tricky, crooked man, so at the end of the 7 years he gave Leah to Jacob instead of Rachel. You are probably thinking well, how did he trick him? Jacob could clearly see that it was not Rachel he was marrying. Well, just like there were not any eye appointments or glasses; there also wasn't any electricity. So, it was dark when it came time for Jacob to take Rachel as his wife and when the sun rose the next day, Jacob was with Leah and not Rachel! Laban had tricked him! Jacob asked why this was done to him and Laban said it was not custom to give away the youngest daughter before the oldest. Laban said that he could marry Rachel too if he worked another 7 years for him. Jacob worked another 7 years and finally married Rachel. So, now Jacob has Leah and Rachel. Leah was always in competition with Rachel for Jacob's attention and affection. Jacob pushed Leah aside and I am sure that made Leah feel unwanted. Leah bore many sons for Jacob, and after every son, she thought surely this will make Jacob love me and want to be with me, but it didn't! Finally, Leah decided to praise God for the sons she had bore and realized that it was more important to know God loves you and cares for you than it is to make sure everyone else does. We can not control the way people feel about us. I am sure Leah struggled with jealousy. Leah decided not to let that bring her down. She decided to thank God for what she had and even though Rachel still had the outer beauty, Leah had the inner beauty that continued to grow with each praise to God.
Like, Leah you may also have rivals and compete with someone in your life. You should always remember that God made you who you are and that He did it on PURPOSE!
"God loves you because you're you. He sees and knows your heart and soul. Does he see Jesus in your life?" (Real Girls of the Bible by Mona Hodgson)
If you would like you can read Leah's story in it's entirety in the Bible starting with Genesis 29:4-35. Also in chapters 30, 31, 33, 35 and 49.
Love in Christ,
Alicia
I am going to tell you a little story about a woman named Leah. She was the daughter of Laban and had a younger sister named Rachel. Now, the bible tells us that Rachel was beautiful and had everything going for her. Leah was fair and had lazy eyes. Back then you could not make an appointment to go have your eyes checked, nor were there any glasses, so Leah had quite the time getting around. One day, Rachel was out at the family well when a boy named Jacob approached the well and quickly fell in love with Leah's younger sister. He wanted to marry Rachel and would work for her father for 7 years so he could marry her. Wow! Rachel must be some woman! Anyway, Rachel's father was a tricky, crooked man, so at the end of the 7 years he gave Leah to Jacob instead of Rachel. You are probably thinking well, how did he trick him? Jacob could clearly see that it was not Rachel he was marrying. Well, just like there were not any eye appointments or glasses; there also wasn't any electricity. So, it was dark when it came time for Jacob to take Rachel as his wife and when the sun rose the next day, Jacob was with Leah and not Rachel! Laban had tricked him! Jacob asked why this was done to him and Laban said it was not custom to give away the youngest daughter before the oldest. Laban said that he could marry Rachel too if he worked another 7 years for him. Jacob worked another 7 years and finally married Rachel. So, now Jacob has Leah and Rachel. Leah was always in competition with Rachel for Jacob's attention and affection. Jacob pushed Leah aside and I am sure that made Leah feel unwanted. Leah bore many sons for Jacob, and after every son, she thought surely this will make Jacob love me and want to be with me, but it didn't! Finally, Leah decided to praise God for the sons she had bore and realized that it was more important to know God loves you and cares for you than it is to make sure everyone else does. We can not control the way people feel about us. I am sure Leah struggled with jealousy. Leah decided not to let that bring her down. She decided to thank God for what she had and even though Rachel still had the outer beauty, Leah had the inner beauty that continued to grow with each praise to God.
Like, Leah you may also have rivals and compete with someone in your life. You should always remember that God made you who you are and that He did it on PURPOSE!
"God loves you because you're you. He sees and knows your heart and soul. Does he see Jesus in your life?" (Real Girls of the Bible by Mona Hodgson)
If you would like you can read Leah's story in it's entirety in the Bible starting with Genesis 29:4-35. Also in chapters 30, 31, 33, 35 and 49.
Love in Christ,
Alicia
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Ultimate Brainwashing
MONEY, Sex, MODELS, Clothes, CARS, Violence and everything in between!! These are topics that we see everyday, everywhere. I know that newspapers, radio and advertisements make up the media, but I want to talk about what I think is the Ultimate Brainwash: TELEVISION! (I am going to throw in this disclaimer now; No I do not think TV is all bad and Yes I do watch TV. I am not here to criticize anyone, just share my own thoughts on how TV has gone from classy to trashy.)
Gone are the days of the classics like Leave it to Beaver, The Walton's, The Cosby Show and more. Yes, you can still probably find reruns of some of these shows on Nick at Nite, but you will no longer find wholesome shows on prime time television. Most shows now are either reality shows or sitcoms that are focused on sex, violence and money. In the past, shows like these would not come on until after 8, but now they are all the time! The commercials are just down right awful today! I usually end up muting the commercials or getting up to do something else, because I just can't believe what they use to try and sale their products!
This is what I get from the commercials and some of the television shows: SEX SALES and MONEY TALKS! Wow! How sad that world has to use sex to sale a product. Some of these products are simple, like M&Ms or Shampoo! I mean really, its candy! Candy can sell itself without having to add sex appeal to it and I don't think using a certain shampoo is going to make you become sexy and have people flock to you. Some of the TV shows have gotten pretty gross and tacky. Lets, take Greys Anatomy for example; when it first aired it was focused on the hospital and the drama was about the hospital and the doctors trying to save lives, but now it seems it is all about sex,cheating and lying with a little bit of life saving thrown in. I used to watch Greys Anatomy, but when it started becoming pointless and basically a big sex show, I stopped watching it.(Once again, this is just my opinion. You are not evil for watching Greys if you do.) There are so many more shows out there that have spiraled into trash and it is so hard to find something worth watching today!
My family doesn't watch a whole lot of TV, we try to limit it as best we can. When we do watch it, we usually watch game shows or talent shows. We also watch alot of Nick Jr. and PBS, because we have a 3 year old and he loves Thomas, Elmo, and Dora. Even some of the kid's shows are just down right ugly and rude! I think today's TV is the ultimate brainwash, because it portrays all the wrong images and ideas. It is sad that the media thinks that the only way to sell a product or provide entertainment is through sex, money and violence.
Philippians 4:8 says: "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies." (The Message Bible)
God wants us to fill our minds with pure and pleasant thoughts and meditate on those thoughts instead of the worldly ones that are thrown at us everyday. Let God and his Word become your ultimate brainwash instead of the media of this world!!
Love in Christ,
Alicia
Gone are the days of the classics like Leave it to Beaver, The Walton's, The Cosby Show and more. Yes, you can still probably find reruns of some of these shows on Nick at Nite, but you will no longer find wholesome shows on prime time television. Most shows now are either reality shows or sitcoms that are focused on sex, violence and money. In the past, shows like these would not come on until after 8, but now they are all the time! The commercials are just down right awful today! I usually end up muting the commercials or getting up to do something else, because I just can't believe what they use to try and sale their products!
This is what I get from the commercials and some of the television shows: SEX SALES and MONEY TALKS! Wow! How sad that world has to use sex to sale a product. Some of these products are simple, like M&Ms or Shampoo! I mean really, its candy! Candy can sell itself without having to add sex appeal to it and I don't think using a certain shampoo is going to make you become sexy and have people flock to you. Some of the TV shows have gotten pretty gross and tacky. Lets, take Greys Anatomy for example; when it first aired it was focused on the hospital and the drama was about the hospital and the doctors trying to save lives, but now it seems it is all about sex,cheating and lying with a little bit of life saving thrown in. I used to watch Greys Anatomy, but when it started becoming pointless and basically a big sex show, I stopped watching it.(Once again, this is just my opinion. You are not evil for watching Greys if you do.) There are so many more shows out there that have spiraled into trash and it is so hard to find something worth watching today!
My family doesn't watch a whole lot of TV, we try to limit it as best we can. When we do watch it, we usually watch game shows or talent shows. We also watch alot of Nick Jr. and PBS, because we have a 3 year old and he loves Thomas, Elmo, and Dora. Even some of the kid's shows are just down right ugly and rude! I think today's TV is the ultimate brainwash, because it portrays all the wrong images and ideas. It is sad that the media thinks that the only way to sell a product or provide entertainment is through sex, money and violence.
Philippians 4:8 says: "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies." (The Message Bible)
God wants us to fill our minds with pure and pleasant thoughts and meditate on those thoughts instead of the worldly ones that are thrown at us everyday. Let God and his Word become your ultimate brainwash instead of the media of this world!!
Love in Christ,
Alicia
Monday, June 20, 2011
God Possible
It is amazing to think of all the things God can do! The Bible is written proof of that! I took my son to Seaworld this past Saturday and even though I had been before; I was able to look at it a little differently than when I was a kid. While my son was "wowed" by the big animals, I was "wowed" by how amazing God is! It amazed me that a 1200 lb killer whale could jump so high out of the water in such a perfect arch and land gracefully back in the water(as gracefully as a giant whale can). Or the sea lion that glided through the water with such grace and speed with ease! God created these animals to do these exact things and each has a purpose as to why they can arch so perfectly or why they can speed through the water. I saw seaworld in a whole new way, which allowed me to reflect on my own life's journey and how God has made so many things possible in my little world that I just don't deserve.
God makes everything possible according to His will!! There are so many things in my life that he has made possible that I can't even count them! Some things are big and some are small but they all add up to His will for me! There has been times where money was so tight, that I thought how are we going to make it to the next check, when there are bills to be paid and groceries to be bought, but God made it possible for us to make it to the next paycheck and still be able to pay the bills and buy groceries. God will always provide for us, but you have to have faith and believe in Him.
The bible has so many stories about God and all the things He made possible!! Page after page, book after book tells us of women being barren, but God making it possible for them to bare a child, God sparing lives when there didn't seem like there was a way, and most of all Jesus dying on the cross for all of our sins past, present and future and then raising from the grave so we could have eternal life!!! GOD POSSIBLE!!!!!
God has made so many things possible for me in my life and he can do the same for you! You just have to let go and let God! You have to have faith and believe in Him. God is someone that you want to have on your side at all times! He will never leave you nor forsake you! With God ALL things are possible!
Isn't it amazing to know ALL things are Possible with God! That is great reassurance!
Love in Christ,
Alicia
God makes everything possible according to His will!! There are so many things in my life that he has made possible that I can't even count them! Some things are big and some are small but they all add up to His will for me! There has been times where money was so tight, that I thought how are we going to make it to the next check, when there are bills to be paid and groceries to be bought, but God made it possible for us to make it to the next paycheck and still be able to pay the bills and buy groceries. God will always provide for us, but you have to have faith and believe in Him.
The bible has so many stories about God and all the things He made possible!! Page after page, book after book tells us of women being barren, but God making it possible for them to bare a child, God sparing lives when there didn't seem like there was a way, and most of all Jesus dying on the cross for all of our sins past, present and future and then raising from the grave so we could have eternal life!!! GOD POSSIBLE!!!!!
God has made so many things possible for me in my life and he can do the same for you! You just have to let go and let God! You have to have faith and believe in Him. God is someone that you want to have on your side at all times! He will never leave you nor forsake you! With God ALL things are possible!
Isn't it amazing to know ALL things are Possible with God! That is great reassurance!
Love in Christ,
Alicia
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Ladybug Bow Drive
Be The Girl Ministries is teaming up with Bow Chic and donating bows to the little girls at Children's Medical Center in Plano.
The Story: There is a family that has a little boy who is 3 and a little girl who just turned 1. The family unfortunately spends a lot of time in the hospital because their son was born with a defective heart and has other multiple issues. The parents get to know alot of the other families that spend time at the hospital, so they all become like a family.
The parents of the little boy have always donated something to the children's hospital in "lieu" of gifts for his birthday. So, when their little girl turned 1, they decided to have a bow drive. Her daughter loves bows and is always wearing them, so it seemed fitting. Many children that are sick in the hospital just a need a little something to make them feel better.
Once, BTGM read about this, we knew we had to help out! Bow Chic is a little business that is expanding its inventory everyday, but she mostly makes bows and cute bows at that! So, if you would like to donate your bows or if you would like Bow Chic to make one to donate, just email BTGM and we will be glad to get you the information on where to send the bows.
The bows don't have to be anything fancy, any bow will do. This is just a little something to brighten a little girl's day who is stuck in the hospital.
You can leave a message on this blog post or you can email us at BTGMinistry@yahoo.com or leave us a message on facebook.
Thank you and God Bless
The Story: There is a family that has a little boy who is 3 and a little girl who just turned 1. The family unfortunately spends a lot of time in the hospital because their son was born with a defective heart and has other multiple issues. The parents get to know alot of the other families that spend time at the hospital, so they all become like a family.
The parents of the little boy have always donated something to the children's hospital in "lieu" of gifts for his birthday. So, when their little girl turned 1, they decided to have a bow drive. Her daughter loves bows and is always wearing them, so it seemed fitting. Many children that are sick in the hospital just a need a little something to make them feel better.
Once, BTGM read about this, we knew we had to help out! Bow Chic is a little business that is expanding its inventory everyday, but she mostly makes bows and cute bows at that! So, if you would like to donate your bows or if you would like Bow Chic to make one to donate, just email BTGM and we will be glad to get you the information on where to send the bows.
The bows don't have to be anything fancy, any bow will do. This is just a little something to brighten a little girl's day who is stuck in the hospital.
You can leave a message on this blog post or you can email us at BTGMinistry@yahoo.com or leave us a message on facebook.
Thank you and God Bless
Monday, June 6, 2011
Eve and Temptation
Eve is a REAL woman of the bible! She also was the first woman to fall into temptation. In Genesis, chapter 3 we read about how Eve was tempted by satan to take a bite of the forbidden fruit. Satan made the fruit on that tree look so tasty and inviting that Eve could not pass it up. At first, Eve stood her ground and told satan that she was not allowed by God to eat from that tree, but with satan's fancy talk and deceitfulness, she fell right into the arms of temptation. Taking just one bite of the fruit caused her eyes to open to where she was able to acknowledge between good and evil. See, before her tasty bite of the forbidden fruit, Eve had no concept of the difference between good and evil. One bite of temptation changed all that!!
We have all fallen into temptation just like Eve. It probably wasn't with a piece of fruit, but maybe listening to the wrong people or hanging out with the wrong crowd. Different situations can make it easier for us to fall into temptation. Everyone has been tempted one way or another. It is much easier to do or go the wrong way, when it looks so inviting and comfortable.
After Eve disobeyed God, she hid behind a tree. God knew what she had done and asked why she was behind the tree. Eve and Adam(her husband) said that they heard God's voice and hid behind the tree because they were ashamed of being naked. God said,"who told you were naked, did you eat from the forbidden tree?"
Eve had to live with the consequences of her disobedience, but God still provided for her needs. Like Eve, we are sometimes tempted to want things and relationships that aren't good for us. God wants us to listen to Him and trust His love for us. When we do fall into temptation and make the wrong choice, it is nice to know that we can go to God and confess our sins to Him and accept His gracious forgiveness.
Eve's Fun Facts: Real Girls of the Bible by Mona Hodgson
Eve was the first woman
She was the first woman to walk with God.
the first wife.
the first person to disobey God and sin.
the first woman to receive God's grace.
the first woman to sew a piece of clothing.
the first woman to give birth to a child.
the first mother to lose a child.
You can read all about Eve in the Bible in the book of Genesis, starting with chapter 2.
We have all fallen into temptation just like Eve. It probably wasn't with a piece of fruit, but maybe listening to the wrong people or hanging out with the wrong crowd. Different situations can make it easier for us to fall into temptation. Everyone has been tempted one way or another. It is much easier to do or go the wrong way, when it looks so inviting and comfortable.
After Eve disobeyed God, she hid behind a tree. God knew what she had done and asked why she was behind the tree. Eve and Adam(her husband) said that they heard God's voice and hid behind the tree because they were ashamed of being naked. God said,"who told you were naked, did you eat from the forbidden tree?"
Eve had to live with the consequences of her disobedience, but God still provided for her needs. Like Eve, we are sometimes tempted to want things and relationships that aren't good for us. God wants us to listen to Him and trust His love for us. When we do fall into temptation and make the wrong choice, it is nice to know that we can go to God and confess our sins to Him and accept His gracious forgiveness.
Eve's Fun Facts: Real Girls of the Bible by Mona Hodgson
Eve was the first woman
She was the first woman to walk with God.
the first wife.
the first person to disobey God and sin.
the first woman to receive God's grace.
the first woman to sew a piece of clothing.
the first woman to give birth to a child.
the first mother to lose a child.
You can read all about Eve in the Bible in the book of Genesis, starting with chapter 2.
Friday, June 3, 2011
HOT! HOT! HOT!
I do not know where all the readers of this blog live, but I live in Texas and it is so very HOT down here! Now that summer has started and the temperature outside makes you melt, I thought I would touch on the subject of modesty again. I know that we talked about this a few blogs ago, but just want to remind you that you don't have to let it all show to get some one's attention.
It is hard to find summer clothes that are not too revealing! Let's face it, it is the way of the world right now, and you can not go into any store without revealing clothes being everywhere. I was just in Old Navy the other day and could not believe what I was seeing. It is really sad, that the world has this view about women and that the only way to get attention is to show some flesh. I realize that it is summer and therefore tank tops and shorts will be the first choice, but you can still dress for the weather and not show everyone what God gave you.
What matters is whats on the inside! I know you are rolling your eyes right about now, and thinking I know! I know! I have heard this a million times, but it is true! Your personality and actions speak far louder that any mini skirt or revealing bathing suit. It is true that guys are attracted to the outward appearance before even getting your name, but I know that once they get to know you and your personality they will be looking more on the inside than the out. A true gentlemen will like you for what you are on the inside and not what you wear on the outside. Guys do care about the inner beauty of a lady, even though most of the time it doesn't seem like it. You should not take away from your personality by making your outward appearance more desirable! You should focus on making what's on the inside more desirable, because it is so very pleasing to God! In the long run guys search for someone with inner beauty more than they search for someone with outer beauty.
1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "What matters is not your outer appearance-the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes-but you inner disposition." (The Message Bible)
What is on the inside is what God looks at and what makes God pleased with us. It is not how we look on the outside. So, the next time you go to pick out an outfit ask yourself this question,"Does this outfit take away from what counts-my inner beauty?" Inner Beauty is more important than outer beauty.
Love in Christ,
Alicia
BTGM
It is hard to find summer clothes that are not too revealing! Let's face it, it is the way of the world right now, and you can not go into any store without revealing clothes being everywhere. I was just in Old Navy the other day and could not believe what I was seeing. It is really sad, that the world has this view about women and that the only way to get attention is to show some flesh. I realize that it is summer and therefore tank tops and shorts will be the first choice, but you can still dress for the weather and not show everyone what God gave you.
What matters is whats on the inside! I know you are rolling your eyes right about now, and thinking I know! I know! I have heard this a million times, but it is true! Your personality and actions speak far louder that any mini skirt or revealing bathing suit. It is true that guys are attracted to the outward appearance before even getting your name, but I know that once they get to know you and your personality they will be looking more on the inside than the out. A true gentlemen will like you for what you are on the inside and not what you wear on the outside. Guys do care about the inner beauty of a lady, even though most of the time it doesn't seem like it. You should not take away from your personality by making your outward appearance more desirable! You should focus on making what's on the inside more desirable, because it is so very pleasing to God! In the long run guys search for someone with inner beauty more than they search for someone with outer beauty.
1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "What matters is not your outer appearance-the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes-but you inner disposition." (The Message Bible)
What is on the inside is what God looks at and what makes God pleased with us. It is not how we look on the outside. So, the next time you go to pick out an outfit ask yourself this question,"Does this outfit take away from what counts-my inner beauty?" Inner Beauty is more important than outer beauty.
Love in Christ,
Alicia
BTGM
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