Which Wolf Will You Feed?

  Hi Everyone!

  If you've been following my blog, you can see that I changed it up just a little. I have lables at the top for categorized posts and have updated my profile. All things for the better. And that's how life is. I'm about to start a new season of life, and so are a lot of my friends. All things for the better. That's life. You are in one season for a time, but rarely forever. In every season of your life, there will be some good. Find the good and enhance it.

 There is an old Cherokee legend that says this: 

There is a great battle going on inside each of us between two wolves. One wolf is Evil. He is anger, jealousy, hate, sorrow, self-pity, arrogance, lies, superiority, etc. The second is Good. He is joy, peace, light, goodness, hope, love, grace, mercy, etc.

Which one will win?

The one you feed. 

  Think about it. You will be either taken by Evil, or by Good. Choose today. It can't wait. 

God Bless!

Teen for the Lord




Monday
Mom's the Word - Good Morning Monday
No Rules

About Me

Hi, my name is Emily. I am 18 and I'm a Christian. I live with my mom and dad. I have three siblings; Matthew, Michael, and Amy. The mission of this blog is to prove that you can dress inexpensively and modestly in an attractive way. But more importantly, to share the gospel. I hope I encourage you as I write. So, join me as I go about being a Teen for the Lord.






Monday
Mom's the Word - Good Morning Monday

Thrift Store Faith

 Hi everyone!  

A few weeks ago I heard a sermon about Thrift Store Faith. What is that? 

 A lot of people have purchased second hand faith from their parents. They just call themselves  Christians, going to church just because that's what they have always done. There is no personal commitment. 

 So how do we avoid it? 

 1# Discover it.

  You have to want it. To seek it out. And ask yourself if you really are a Christian or are you just going off what people have told you in the past. Is it real? Once you have decided this you're ready for the next step.

  2# Own it.

  When you buy something second hand, you don't take care of it half as well as if they had bought it second hand or borrowed. They don't clean it or take special care of it. Many people have done that with God, going to church and calling themselves because their parents were Christians and they haven't done anything that terrible. That's a good way to get God to say, "I never knew you." That's the point. To know Him. You have to have your own relationship with God. And you have to own that relationship. Take care of it. Scrub and scrub at the dirty spots and polish it until it reflects His light. 

  3# Live it.

  Now you have live it out. Listen to His words in your Bible and your spirit. Do things just to make Him smile. Obey Him when He gives you a mission, no matter how minuscule or magnificent. He will only give you what you can handle, so don't stress it. If you're going through a really rough spot, guess what? Your almighty Father is recognizing your strength. Count it all joy when you have trials. The testing of your faith produces patience. Let patience have it's perfect work so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (Paraphrased from James 1:2-4. One of my favorite versus!) This rough spot is to strengthen you in your faith and bring you into Shalom. Nothing lacking, nothing missing, nothing broken. 

  So do you have a real personal relationship with God? 

  Or do you have Thrift store faith? 

  Or no faith?

  If you already truly love our Father, I'm truly am glad. If you don't, I am smiling as I type just thinking about this opportunity for you to meet Him. Can I help you, please? If you'll allow me to introduce you, I am sure your life will change dramatically. And it will be a beautiful thing to behold! Are you ready? Say this out loud to your Father who loves you more than life itself. That's why He died for you. Love.

  

  God,

  I know that I have hurt you in the past when I sinned against you. I want to have a sincere relationship with You from now on. I want to love You and to feel Your incredible love for me. 

  I believe your Son died on the cross to pay for my sins. I believe He rose again to defeat Death. 

  I repent of my sins against You. Please forgive me. Change my heart and let me see things through Your eyes.

  Thank You!

  Amen

  If you just said that sincerely to our Father, then welcome to the family! 

 Here's the next steps: If you don't have a Bible, get one. If you don't have a home church find one. 

 If you left church because you were hurt of offended remember, people hurt you because of their own brokenness. Just because one church hurt you, it does not mean you will only get hurt at the next one. 

 God bless you and guide you!

 Happy Easter everyone!

 Teen for the Lord 


No Rules

Stepping Forward

Saturday is my 18th birthday. I am in my senior year of high school, and I don't know for sure what I want to do! I have lots of interests but I haven't had any "ah-ha" moments about my divine calling in life. 

Guess what!

  I'm not worried!

 I'm not freaking out about what I'm going to do next. But I was last semester. So what happened?

 I took a step forward.

When you are stuck in a rut, you have to take a step forward. 

For me, it was as simple as signing up for dual enrollment classes with our community college. It wasn't a huge step, but I finally felt like I was getting somewhere. I was making progress in a tangible way. 

That's what God taught me over the summer.

Take the next step. 

Don't spend your time worrying about the far, distant future. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Worrying about it will only get you stuck deeper in your rut. 

Take the next step, what ever that may be. 

It may be cooking dinner. Changing a diaper. Potty training. High school. College. 

WHATEVER IT IS!

All you are asked to do is take a step every day and depend on God to keep you in the right path. 

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE STUCK IN YOUR RUT ANYMORE!

     If you feel stuck... 

Take a running step forward!

God Bless!

Emily

Eleven Things About Me

Eleven questions:

 1.  What has been your greatest blogging challenge?

      Finding time to write and subject matter.

 2.  What's your favorite indulgence just for you?

      An entire day curled up with hot cocoa and an intriguing book.

 3.  Which blog post are you most proud of and why? 

       I really like Woman: The Mighty Warrior . It shows the power that God created us with yet we are made to be delicate and beautiful. 

 4.  Who has inspired you most in your life? 

       I'm not sure. I've always been a bit of a loner. But my mom has always been a support and my youth leader, Karissa, has helped me through a lot of stuff. 

 5.  What's your favorite book?

      At the moment, either the Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen or The Berinfell Prophecies (a book series). I highly recommend both.

 6.  Would you rather spend the day at the beach or junking at a flea market?

      At the beach. I've never been.

 7.  What's your favorite flower?

       Yellow roses tipped with pink.

 8.  Assuming it was nice weather, would you rather go for a hike or stay indoors  

      with a good book?

        Depends on my mood although I tend toward being a book worm couch potato.

 9.  What is your biggest priority for 2016?

       Finishing 12th grade.

10.  What 5 things would top your gratitude list?

       Grace. My family. My friends. My church. Salvation. 

11.  Are you more likely to spend on a vacation or home improvements? 

        Vacation.

        

Pretty Thrifty: A Thought on Thoughts

My brother photo bombed Amy and I while eating a block of smoked cheese.

My little "professional photographer" Amy.

Dress (thrift store): $3.00

Leggings: $4.00

Boots (garage sale): $2.00

Necklace (bought on a gift card so not counting!)

Total: $9.00

I recently had a revelation about bad thoughts. It's pretty basic, but it really helps give a physical picture of the growth of sin. First you have to think of bad thoughts as sticky plaque. 

Okay, okay, stay with me!

~smile~

  When we have an evil thought, and we allow it to stick and stick, it will become a cavity in our minds and hearts. Thankfully, we can go to the Dentist and get a filling from the Holy Spirit and the Word; or you can allow it to get deeper, and keep feeding the thoughts and allowing them to stick. When it  starts to really hurt, you'll go get it looked at. Do you know what the Dentist will tell you? ROOT CANAL!!! We all love those! But because we didn't brush our heart with the word everyday, and floss with the Holy Spirit, those sticky thoughts have corrupted our minds and it's going to be painful to uproot it and heal. 

  Weird, huh? But very true. 

 2 Corinthians 10:4-6

" 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

  Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.

  God bless you all!

  Emily

Pretty Thrifty: More about me!

Here's some fun facts about me:
1. I'm super competitive.
2. I like horseback riding.
3. I freak out if I can't touch the bottom of the creek easily. Who knows what's down there!
4. I feel the same way about the ocean.

5. I've never gone to public school.
6. My hair is more than 2 ft long.

7. I enjoy anatomy.
8. I want to do missions.
9. My hair has never been dyed.
10. I have lived in Missouri for most of my life.
11. I've listened to "Adventures in Odyssey" most of my life.
12. My dog likes to eat grapes.
13. I really like "Pirates of the Caribbean".

14. I like the color fuchsia.
15. I like Mexican food, but nothing very spicy.
16. I love to quote movies, books, audio dramas, skits, etc. with my brother and sister.
17. I've never had a cup of coffee.
18. I didn't get my driver's license until I was seventeen.
19. I really hate sewing with a pattern. It takes too long!
20. If I were a fictional creature, I would be an elf.

  Well, now you know twenty things about me! What is something interesting about you? Comment below!
   Emily

 Outfit One Total Estimate: $3.00
 Outfit Two Total Estimate: $6.50
 Outfit Three Total Estimate: $4.00

Pretty Thrifty: Loving Him Even Before You Meet!

©2015 Amy Lane Photography

Cardigan (I don't know where I got it! oops!)
Skirt: $4.00
Shoes:$4.00
Jewelry (given to me)
Total: $8.00

   Have you or did you think a lot about yourr future husband when you were a young? I know I do. I dream of what I want. I try really hard not to say,"He has to be so tall, this ethnicity, his hair has to be this color, etc..." .

Think about that...

Isn't that a way of putting God in a box? What if  he doesn't look anything like what you think you want? 

I'm not saying that if you really like a eye color, hair color or a certain weight that it's wrong. I first made  a list of what I wanted about three and a half years ago. I've made four or five, I think, and they have had some of the same things, but some things, especially what I want him to look like, have changed a lot.

I think one of the best ways I've heard it explained was by my former youth leader, Karissa. She used to say that, basically, you can make a list, but God will change your heart to love the man that He has for you.
For example, she would never have thought she would marry a man with a goatee, mohawk, and tattoo. But he was the man God had for her, and she loves him totally. 

You simply have to let your list be flexible to God's plans.

Sounds like our entire journey with Him, right?  ~Ha, Ha~

So, go ahead, make a list! List what you think you want. List his characteristics, too. (That's what I've found to be the most consistent in my lists.) 

Pray for him. Make a little journal writing prayers or letters to him. 

It may seem silly, but if you are nurturing that love for your husband even before you meet and marry him, I believe that love will be all the stronger. 

May God work in each and every one of your lives to bring you the right man or nurture the love that He has already brought you. 

God Bless,

Emily

Teen for the Lord

~~~~~

 May I suggest?

A Quick & Cheap Lunch
~~~~~

This article is featured in issue #136 of
The Christian Home Magazine.

Pretty Thrifty: And I Quote...

Jewelry (all given to me): $0.00

Jacket (thrift store): $4.00

Jeans (thrift store): $6.00

Shoes (thrift store): $4.00

Total: $14.00

(But I only bought the jeans. Everything else was given to me!)

Okay, this post is a little late. Sorry!

I keep a quote book with some of my favorite quotes, and I want to share a couple with you.

♥

"We all write a story with our lives... Some write stories of epic proportions... some filled with nonsense and wasted opportunities. Once their story is done, they will scramble for an eraser, but there is none... Write well, for you only have one story."

Olivia Brock, No more Wasted years 

 A great book about staying home vs. going to college.

♥

" Do you remember when you asked me what you do if the spark goes out between two people?"

"Yes..,"

" The answer is... you don't let it."

Dudley and Julia, The Preacher's Wife

♥

"Is a moment of earthly pleasure worth breaking my Father's heart over?"

Emily

♥

"Losing someone you love is like putting a part of your heart on the shelf not to be viewed 'til a later date. When you lose two someones, anger and despair take over. When you lose your family or your people, your heart becomes hollow. It's like you lose yourself. I guess it's because your whole existence was defined by the pieces of your heart that have been placed on that shelf one by one... and no one can seem to put them back together. It's a puzzle really."

Emily 

♥

"No cause is lost, if there is but one fool left to fight for it."

Will

At Worlds End, Pirates of the Caribbean

♥

Well, that's just a few of my faves.

Hope you enjoyed them!

Emily

Please do not reprint my personal quotes. Thanks!

This article was published in issue #137 of 

The Christian Home Magazine.

~~~~~

Relax! PrettyThrifty

Blouse: $3

Skirt(given to me): $0

Shoes(given to me):$0 

Bracelets(given to me):$0

Total: $3

Trust God. That's what everyone tells you. He's got everything under control. But sometimes our life seems so out of control, how could anyone have it under control? That is the point when you have to decide to not try to be in control. Just be you and God will take care of the rest. Someone posted on Facebook, "You can't please everybody. You're not a pizza." It's so true. We also have to accept that we won't always be able to please ourselves. The best we can do is the best we can do. But beating ourselves up over unaccomplished tasks won't get them done. "Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it." (L.M. Montgomery) So take another step tomorrow. You can't fully know how the decisions you make today will shape your tomorrow. You can make decisions with wisdom, but even then you won't be able to please everyone. Even God doesn't please everyone. So stop trying to be perfect. You are never going to be. Breathe. Do something that you enjoy, just because you want to do it. Relax.

Remember what Mary Poppins says,

" In every chore that must be done, there is an element of fun. Find the fun, and SNAP!!! The job's a game! And every task you undertake becomes a piece of cake, a lark, a spree, it's very clear to see...

that a spoon full of sugar...."

Okay, you can finish the song yourself.

Photography by Amy Lane Photography.

Have a good week!
God Bless!
Emily

Featured in issue #134 of The Christian Home Magazine.

Grab My Button!

Hey Everybody! Amy made me a blog button! It's so cool! You can grab my button on the side bar of my blog. Thanks!

Emily

Pinned it! Did it!

  Hey everyone! Recently my mom told me about a sale on Flexi-clips. Now I really like my Flexi's! They are wonderful!

My first Flexi-clip . It's a size M. But obviously not quite big enough for my hair!
~smile~
I think I need a Mega for a full bun!

 So I checked out the site. I was looking at their hair sticks, which I have been wanting to try out, but I didn't see any that I really liked. So, I thought, if I'm going to spend this much on hair sticks, I should get something I like, right? I headed to Etsy. Again, a few caught my eye that I pinned, but nothing I wanted to buy. Then I thought, what if I just made some? I went outside, found a stick and spent the rest of the evening whittling. When I had the shape I wanted, I whittled a hole through the top, and strung it with beads. This is what I ended up with.

It's great! Pretty Thrifty... don't you think? ~smile~

 The lesson from this? Do with what you got, where you are!

God Bless!

Emily

The Last Winter Pretty Thrifty... I think.

I do live in Missouri! Funky weather here!
Here's the next Pretty Thrifty!

Scarf: $1.00
Sweater (clearance Wal-mart): $3.00
Jeans: $7.00
Boots (garage sale): $1.00
Total: $12.00

I did not like how this looked on me the day we took these pictures.
But my sister is awesome and
has made me feel beautiful!
Thanks, my little cheer leader!
I love you!

Thanks, Amy, for the amazing photography!

Wednesday-   Wholehearted Wednesdays -  So Much at Home   - Prayer Girls - Wow Us Wednesday- Raising Homemakers - A Wise Woman Builds Her Home - A Little R & R - Coffee and Conversation  Thursday  Home and Garden Thursday - I Choose Joy - Hearts for Home Thursdays - All Things Thursday-  Share Your Cup Thursday 

Pretty Thrifty and Rainy Days

  It's rainy day. The trees and flowers are budding, slowly changing the colors of the world from the dull browns and grays of winter to the vibrant colors of spring. The sound of raindrops on the window panes sing me to sleep. The thunder and lighting accompany them, forming the percussion and brass of a natural orchestra.

  Long ago, I was taught to love the rain and to embrace the deep rumble of a distant roll of thunder. To love the privilege of being privy to God's personal light shows.

  I love this time of the year. ~smile~

  On days like this, I want to curl up with a good book and read for hours. Or work on a craft while watching a good movie. A hot bowl of soup finishes off a wonderful day. 

Earrings: $0.00

Necklace: $0.00

T-shirt: $3.00?

Skirt:$4.00

Flip-flops: $0.50

$7.50

  What do you do on rainy days? If you don't like them much, ask God to start showing you the rainbows in the cloudy skies. You'll start seeing them in the sky, and maybe, in your life.

  God bless you all!

  Emily

Tuesday Roses of Inspiration
Thursday  Home and Garden Thursday - I Choose Joy - All Things Thursday -  Share Your Cup Thursday    

I am that I am

Who is moving on the waters?

Who is holding up the moon?

Who is peeling back the darkness?

With the burning light of noon?

Who is standing on the mountains?

Who is on the earth below?

Who is bigger than the heavens and the lover of my soul?

Creator God, He is Yahweh

The Great I am, He is Yahweh

The Lord of All, He is Yahweh

Rose of Sharon, He is Yahweh

The Righteous Son, He is Yahweh

The Three-in-one, He is Yahweh

Who is He that makes me happy?

Who is He that gives me peace?

Who is He that brings me comfort?

And turns the bitter into sweet?

Who is stirring up my passion?

Who is rising up in me?

Who is filling up my hunger, with everything I need?

Creator God, He is Yahweh

The Great I am, He is Yahweh

The Lord of All, He is Yahweh

Rose of Sharon, He is Yahweh

The Righteous Son, He is Yahweh

The Three-in-one, He is Yahweh

Even when we are ready to quit... His word still says "I am, that I am".

Just a reminder.
 Emily

Love Suffers for a Long Time....

1 Corinthians 13:4 says,
"Love suffers long and is kind."

 I don't think that those two aspects of love were written together by chance. Love, true love, will endure rejection, hate, deceit, and injustice for a long time. But I don't think that means it takes it lying down. No, to suffer long, you have to fight to stay alive. How does love fight? "It is kind." You know the phrase, "We'll kill them with kindness"? As Christians, we are called to Guerrilla Love Fair. Okay, now some of you are looking at the screen with a puzzled look on your face. Let me explain.
  I have been listening to an audio recording of the book Guerrilla Lovers. I won't go into any depth, but if you would like to read it, click on the title to learn more. The basis of the book focuses not on condemning people for their faults but loving them despite their faults... just like Jesus. They call it "Guerrilla Love Fair". By secretly ambushing them with random acts of kindness, you batter them not with condemning words, but with God's love. Get the picture?
  You see, the people who make us suffer the most are the ones who need God's kindness the most, but not just people you know. There are millions of people who are in need of God's love. Whether they know it or not, His love is still suffering for them, and you may be just the person to tell them. We may not know what people are going through, but they still need to know that God's love is suffering long for them and with them.
  Now, you probably have thought of a couple of people who need to be killed with kindness as you have been reading this. Your mission? Ask your Commanding Officer. He knows exactly how this covert operation is supposed to go down. So get your walkie-talkie and tune it into to 777 Heaven and listen carefully. He's always eager to engage in Guerrilla Love Fair. Trust me, I'm preaching to the choir.
  God bless y'all!
  Emily
  Teen for the Lord




Shared:
Tuesday
Roses of Inspiration - Tuesdays with a Twist 
Friday
Home Sweet Home 

It's a Wonderful Life

     Happy New Year everyone!
     Sunday evening we rented Maleficent. It was really good! The movie tells the story of Maleficent and is an epic story of of forgiveness and redemption. It was quite remarkable how it portrayed actual hatred, hurt, and forgiveness in life. It was really enjoyable and I liked it better than the original Disney that I remember. Mind you I haven't seen it in years!
     After that, we watched It's a Wonderful Life. Being older than when I saw it last, I watched it with new eyes. It's a deep movie. It really makes you think about what you've done or want to do with your life. It makes you wonder if you are making a difference.
     At the very end of the movie, George receives a book from Clarence, his guardian angel. In the front it says this, "No man is a failure who has friends." If there is anyone in this world that you call a friend or calls you a friend, then you are making a difference. You are changing their lives. You have worth and value. Don't waste it. Go and love people. That is your mission. Don't get preachy to people. Love them into the kingdom.

Courtesy Google Image

God bless you guys!
Teen for the Lord


Shared:
Wednesday-  
Wholehearted Wednesdays - So Much at Home  - A Little R & R