Looking Up

 

    I can't believe how long it has been since my last, real post! Although, in my defense, the events since then have been quite unexpected (in a very good way), and mixed with going back to school and work, have put a bit of a strain on my time. However, I am having a beautiful snow (ice?) day today, and am enjoying all of this extra time to not only meditate on and pray over Scripture, but share about it too!

    I have also been seeking to start my scripture memorization back up in the last couple of weeks, and this morning the verse I was meditating on was Psalm 34:1- I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

    I read an excellent devotional on this verse a few days ago, and was challenged about the praise-or lack thereof- in my life. The question posed to my heart was "How can I praise God, if I don't truly know Him and how worthy he is of it?" Any praise that stems from my own efforts, will fall so very short of the praise that my Savior deserves.

   And then I wondered, "How can I know and praise Him, if my gaze is so intensely focused on myself and my shortcomings, that I cannot see His beauty and grace?"

   It was as I was praying about this, that God brought to mind some verses in Colossians that I would never have connected on my own.

If then you were raised with Christ, 

seek those things which are above, 

where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on things above, 

not on things on the earth.

For you died, and you life is hidden with Christ

in God.

-Colossians 3:1-3

   

   I am dead... Me, myself, and my flesh, are all dead! My life is no longer about this world, and about my sin- although that is a struggle I will have until heaven- but it is now about 'things which are above'. I have been poking around the ashes of my old self for too long, hoping and waiting for life to spring from them, when the fact is, that Christ is now my life! And because Christ holds and hides my life, I must look to Him to truly and fully live! 

   There is so much to praise and thank Him for when I at last look up, that I feel a bit like repeating the Psalmist: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

                   

So Long, Insecurity ~ A Book Review

"So Long, Insecurity" is the teen version of Beth Moore's popular book for adult women. It is printed in a magazine style, that keeps each chapter short, sweet, and to the point.

The Pros:
    I'm going to start off by admitting that I had very low expectations for this book. I have read magazine style studies before, and found them to be shallow and fluffy, especially when they started to talk about insecurity, which is the theme of this particular study. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not the case. Each chapter, though short, is filled with scripture, practical tips, fun quizzes, great discussion questions, and very little "fluff".

The Cons:
   The chapters were quite short. There were several times that I thought the author could have gone deeper into a topic that she was discussing and skipped some of the "fun stuff".

In Conclusion:
   I think that this would be a great  book to use in an environment where this book could be used as a springboard for discussion and further study, such as a Sunday School class, or mother-daughter study.

P.S.- For those that have Twitter or Instagram accounts, you can follow Tyndale Teens on each of these for extra encouragement!

*I received this book free from Tyndale House for my honest opinion.

Devos for Teen Girls ~ Book Review

   "Devos for Teen Girls" is a one year devotional book geared toward girls and the daily problems that we face. It is written by Dannah Gresh and Suzy Weibel, two Christian authors and speakers, with a heart for teen girls.

The Pros:
   This book is full of great spiritual truths for many different topics that girls encounter every day, including some pretty hot topics such as: tattoos, sexuality, and marriage in today's culture. Each days devotional, contains a Bible verse, a very short lesson, and then an Action Step to help you practically apply what you learned. It is a quick, easy read, but doesn't sacrifice Truth.

The Cons:
   I really can't think of anything I didn't like about this book. Though I will say that because of the mature themes covered, I can only recommend it for older teens.

In Conclusion:
   "Devos for Teen Girls" would make a wonderful addition to any girls daily devotions!


*I received this book free from Tyndale House for my honest opinion.