So, my Sunday School teacher recently challenged the whole class, and I figured I would pass it on.
The Challenge, if you choose to accept it: You must go a week, yes a whole week, without listening to secular music.
When I first heard the challenge my first thoughts were, “No way! That will be so boring!”
After all, I listen to music practically 24/7, while I am writing, studying, cleaning, etc. What was I going to do if I had to listen to only Christian music?
But I decided to try it. I when and made a whole playlist of my favorite Christian artists, and even a few I don’t normally listen to, and I noticed a difference! I felt happier, I wasn’t focusing on worldly things all day, my heart and mind were focused on God. It was an amazing feeling!
I didn’t make it the entire week, but I still am trying. I listen to mostly Christian music now, with the exception of a few Secular, as opposed to the opposite two weeks ago.
So, will you accept the challenge?
If you aren’t sure who to listen to here is a list of some of my personal favorites. (They all have very different sounds, just a warning)
Lecrae, Britt Nicole, Chris Tomlin, Anthem Lights, TobyMac, Newsboys, for King and Country, Colton Dixon, Tenth Avenue North, Brandon Heath, and Capital Kings.
Comment if you accept! 🙂
Hey everyone!
I apologize for being such a slacker, and not posting for so long. Life has been crazy! I will try to post at least once a month from now on, if not more.
Also, I have started a Twitter account, that you can feel to follow me at! My username is @NorthEastTeen1
God bless! 🙂
Tis the Season! But what is the season for?
Christmas: It is quite possibly the biggest holiday in the world, or at least in the U.S. Last year alone, consumers spent more than $471.5 billion! But what is the Christmas season about? Where does the holiday come from? Some of you may know, some of you may have no idea.
Christmas is the celebration of Jesus, hence the name CHRISTmas.
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Thousands of years ago, a savior was born, a savior for the whole world! In the little town of Bethlehem, a baby was born, among the animals, and placed in a manger. That baby was Jesus, and he was born to die, for us.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
If you told me all about your sorrows
I’d tell you about a cure
If you told me you can’t fight the battle
There’s a Baby Boy who won the war
The war was won by a Baby Boy
Alleluia, we can sing it
Alleluia, Heaven’s ringing
Alleluia!
Endless hope and relentless joy started with a Baby Boy
Oh, before that silent night
No Savior and no Jesus Christ
The world cried out so desperately
And the Baby Boy was the reply,
Yes, Heaven’s reply was a baby boy
Alleluia, we can sing it
Alleluia, Heaven’s ringing
Alleluia!
Endless hope and relentless joy started with a Baby Boy
See, the King is coming down
And He’s here without a crown
The Baby Boy without a bed
Giving life back to the dead
And hear the angels shout it out
As the people come and bow.
Unexpected majesty
Alleluia, what a King
Alleluia, we can sing it
Alleluia, Heaven’s ringing
Alleluia!
Endless hope and relentless joy started with a Baby Boy
Alleluia, we can sing it!
Alleluia, yeah, Heaven’s ringing!
Alleluia!
Endless hope and relentless joy started with a Baby Boy
Love
It’s not a very big word, but it has some pretty big effects.
While on my missions trip in Ecuador I was able to see just how big of an effect love can have on someone. While in Ecuador I worked in an orphanage, we were building an edition to a dormitory there. The children all spoke Spanish, I don’t think any of them really knew any English. Communicating was pretty hard at first, even frustrating at times. The kids were so cute, you just wanted to be able to communicate! 🙂 I noticed through the week though, the members of the team (including myself) learned to communicate without speaking. A pat on the shoulder, a hug, a smile….LOVE.
We were able to “communicate” through love! That’s all you needed to have a relationship with the kids, all they needed and wanted to know was that you loved and cared about them.
The word Love is mentioned 310 times in the Bible!
John 15:9-17 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
1 Corinthians 13:4–8a
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
You are not going to want to love the bully at school, the “friend” that ignores you and excludes you. But God never said it would be easy. You have the opportunity to be a light in a world full of darkness. So love like Jesus and make a difference 🙂
Missions have been on my mind a lot lately, but that may have something to do with me leaving to go on a Missions Trip to Ecuador on Friday. 🙂
Getting ready to leave has really got me thinking about missions and being a light. The VERY reason we were put onto this earth in the first place was so that we could be lights to the lost and help to lead them to Christ. If everyone was meant to be saved there would be no need for us to be here at all. But the hard truth is that not everyone going to Heaven. God already knows who is going to spend Eternity with Him. Everyone has the oppertuinty to be saved, but sadly, countless people will reject that offer, and spend eternity separated from Him.
We are called to be lights for Him, to shine for all to see, to be proud of our faith, to never hide it.
Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Luke 24:47 “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
At school, at the mall, the park, everywhere we go we have an opportunity to be a witness. It isn’t always easy to stand up for your faith, to stick out a bit. But that’s exactly what we should be doing! We are called to be IN the world, not OF the world. Meaning that we shouldn’t be sucked into the world, become obsessed with clothes, celebrities, and worldly possessions. We need to be focused on God, and stocking up heavenly treasures.
This is easier said then done. I know, its just sooo easy to get sucked in! Having the coolest/cutest clothes, the latest technology, the most friends, sometimes you can totally lose focus! But that is when you need to bring all back into focus. There are several ways that help me put everything back into focus. Reading my bible, my favorite devotional, singing praises, even looking out the window at God’s creation, anything to help me focus on Him.
One thing that gives me a serious jolt however is simply thinking of heaven, and what it will be like. For me I’m amazed just by that fact that I can’t even IMAGINE heaven! Think of it! Never truly dying, and spending the rest of eternity with God. Its is an incredible thought!
Throughout everyday we need to focus our thoughts on God and glorifying Him! We are to be a City on a Hill. A city on a hill truly cannot be hidden, it shines brightly for all to see, a perfect example of how we are to show God’s light in our lives.
❤
So I was reading an article on Happiness today… A christian article. They talked about ways to be happy. It got me thinking though, what is true happiness? There are many things that can help you be happy, but is it true and complete happiness? Having positive friends, eating right and exercising helps, but they won’t grant you true happiness! (This is something I struggle with too 😉 )
True happiness can really only be achieved through God. Praying, reading His Word, working on your relationship with Him, that is how you find happiness and joy. I have always noticed that when I am working on my relationship with Him I am happier, kinder to my siblings, more respectful to my parents, and I can feel the Holy Spirit helping to “guide” me!
This is something I struggle with though, if you’re like me you may put off your “God Time” till later in the day, and by the time later comes around you’ve forgotten! One thing I’ve noticed though, when you make time to read God’s Word it is awesome. He always finds a way through the Word to tell you exactly what you need to hear for the day. 🙂
So here’s a challenge, for you and me… try to spend at least the same amount of time reading God’s Word today, as you take to get yourself ready. Makeup, hair etc.
I promise that it will change your attitude and make you TRULY happy. That doesn’t mean it will all be rainbows and butterflies, He never said it was easy, but… He DID say He would never leave you and that you can have JOY. In other words… TRUE HAPPINESS. ❤ ❤
Hey!
This is my blog, True Princesses. I thought I’d create this blog to help and to talk/meet other Christian girls going through the same things I am. I hope that this will be a place that you can go for help and encouragement.
I’ve never blogged before so forgive me if my first few posts are rough 🙂 I promise I’ll get better!
Ladies of the Lord <3 