Weekly feature! - Thankfullness

When you pray, it is good to ask God for help with things such as grades or to heal your sick cousin, but you also need to thank God for the things he has given you. That is why I am making a list of the ten things I am most grateful for. I haven't thought about what I have in a while and I thought it would be a good idea to encourage you to do the same. A list like the one below will help you realize what you have and the things that God has given you.

Things I am thankful for.....

1.The opportunity to talk to God whenever

2. Friendship

3.A loving God

4. Ancient history

5. Pictures

6. Thanksgiving dinner

7. A free country

8. Missionaries

9. Hair ties

10. Lazy days

This is my list of random things I am thankful for. If you would like to share yours, leave it in the comments and I will put it in next weeks weekly feature. I am also thankful for readers! :)

Kaylee

A heart that submits

Hello girls! Sorry no weekly feature this week busy with homework and such. Let's get ready to learn how to have a heart that submits!

In this chapter, Elizabeth explains how we can learn about what the Bible tells us about the roles in our family. One of the ten commandments is to honor your mother and father. A young woman after God's own heart strives to fallow His ways. By doing this we would be obeying God's guidelines. The next question Elizabeth asks is "How do we honor our parents?" To honor means to talk politely to them and also to respect and love them. Even if we don't get along with our parents, we are still to honor them. Better understanding of other teachings will help you in your obedience. Did you know....

-Parents are commanded by God to teach their children?

-Parents are commanded by God to train their children?

-Parents are commanded by God to discipline and correct their children?

When parents discipline their children, it proves their love. Only a parent who truly loved their child would discipline them. The reason parents discipline is so that there is not a huge mess to clean up latter. Eli was a priest and had two sons. Eli didn't discipline his sons correctly and therefore, made a huge tangle in his and his sons' lives. His sons did bad thing such as stealing the meat for the offerings and using it as food. God judged them and predicted when they would die and sure enough, He was right. Next Elizabeth reminds us of scriptures that talk about how to love, honor and respect your parents.

-Ephesians 6:13

-Colossians 3:20

OK. So we know that we are supposed to honor our parents, but how? Well, here are some areas that you may need to clean up.

-Your attitude

Is your attitude Happy and positive or is it grumpy and irritable? Seriously, be honest! Mine isn't always as I wish it would be.

- Your room

Even though your room is were you sleep, you still have to be mindful that your room is a part of your parents house. You should respect them in their decisions of cleanliness, noise, guests, whatever.

The conclusion to this blog is that even though you sometimes don't agree with your parents and they sometimes make you mad or upset, you should still obey and respect them. This is another thing that I struggle with. Don't get me wrong,(I love my parents!) but sometimes I can get mad at them. I try to remember that God commands them to discipline me and that They do it out of love.

Kaylee

A heart that obeys

Come on girls! Let's get our Bibles and a pen out and let's get to it!

This next chapter is all about obedience. I know obeying God can be extremely tough, but God doesn't make us do anything impossible! Obeying is just one of the many things God intended us to do from the beginning. We were basically made to obey. The point of us living is to tell others about Jesus, right? And if we did so we would be obeying, right? Yes. so obey God obey your parents and obey your elders. Elizabeth goes on to tell us about Two Kinds Of Hearts. The two owners of these hearts were David and Saul. Some of the traits Elizabeth describes saul with were:

- Saul did things his way

-Saul's worshiped consisted of outward acts of service only

-Saul's heart was centered on Saul

They other heart belonged to David. Some of David's heart's traits are:

-David's heart was willing to obey

-David served God, not himself

-David was concerned on following God's will, not His

Both of these King's ruled Isreal. One better than the other(you can probably guess who, right?!). David ruled fairly and honestly AND he was in tune with God and His will. Saul was a unfair and untruthful King was only concerned for himself. There is a BIG difference! Read these verses about these rulers and their hearts. Think of what role God played in their lives.

-1 Samuel 13:14

-Acts 13:22

You can see here that David was a man after God's own heart and that Saul was not. More important than these hearts is YOUR heart. Is your heart like David's? Or is it like Saul's? The key to living a life of obedience is the heart. If your heart is not obedient, then you won't be either. Here are 5 guidelines to obedience.

1- Concentrate on doing what is right.

2-Cease doing what is wrong

3-Confess any wrong

4-Clear things up with others

5-Continue on as soon as possible

As you read these verses, see what they say about a life of obedience.

-James 1:5

-1 John 1:8-9

-Proverbs 28:13

-Phillipian 3:13-14

Ok. How did you like this chapter? I think this is one of the most important chapters in this book! Obedience is a hard thing and this book helps you control it. I loked the comparison between David and Saul. Ithink it really put perspective on a woman after God's own heart. This chapter is by far one of my most favorites, and I will try my hardest to live by it, and I hope you do the same as well.

Kaylee

Weekly feature!!! Awesome Blogs!!

I know and fallow some different blogs. I would like to share them with you. They are inspirational and also very entertaining sometimes. These are a few:

SmellingCoffee.blogspot.com

jules-alife.blogspot.com

SeekGodwithme.blogspot.com

chelled.blogspot.com

These blogs are all from women of faith. I am sure they would love it if you fallowed them. They inspire me to be the best christian I can be, and I hope they do the same to you!

Peace-Love-Prayer

Kaylee

A heart committed to prayer part 2

Hey girls! This week I will briefly go through the chapter and then we will have a discussion. If you have a question or an answer to my question, just leave a comment. That way everyone can talk about the same things. At the end of this chapter, I will ask questions and say what I thought certain part meant to me. Thanks for supporting me! I really do appreciate it! And feel free to tell your friends about this site!

OK You know the drill! Lets get set for this portion of an amazing book!

Let's talk a little bit about Mary. Mary had an excellent prayer life. Mary had a really deep relationship with God. We can learn a lot about prayer by reading Luke 1:46-55. This is what is called as"The song of Mary". Take time to read these verse this week and improve you prayer life with God. Having greater purity means becoming more like Jesus Christ.Elizabeth next explains how she had a terrible habit of gossiping. She found that praying and asking for forgiveness helped. She still struggles, though, with gossiping, but who doesn't from time to time? Read the following verses. Note what they say about relationships and how you can pray accordingly.

-Parents Ephesians 6:13
-Friends 1 Corinthians 15:33
-Boyfriends 1 Corinthians 7:34
-Enemies Luke 6:27-28

I really liked the story of the girl whose teacher made her pray for the person she disliked most and to random acts of kindness for her/him. Here are some easy ways to get started on your commitment to pray.
1. Start a prayer log to record your requests and responses .

2. Set aside tome each day to spend in prayer with the Lord.

3. Pray always and in all places, enjoying God's presence with you were ever you go.

4.Pray faithfully for all your relationships.

5. Take seriously the power and privilege of prayer.


OK. How was that? I really liked this chapter! Sorry I got this out late! I have been so busy lately. What was your favorite part of this chapter? how do you feel about taking time every day and praying? How do feel about praying for your enemies? This is definitely something I struggle with. I only pray for the good relationships in my life and forget to pray for the not-so-good ones. I have tried my hardest to pray every morning. It's hard to try to focus your head on prayer when you busy getting ready for school. How do you like this new format? another new thing I am doing is every Monday I am going to change the quote at the top. If you have any suggestions, just comment. Thanks for reading!

Kaylee

Weekly Feature - Amazing Gifts!

Have you ever struggled getting that one person the "best gift ever"? I know I have. Here are some original ideas for gifts to your friends, family, and even teachers.

- A pair of cute earphones and an Itunes gift card
OK not everyone would like this gift, but if you give it to just the right person, they will greatly appreciate it.

- A prayer journal
This is an easy gift to customize. You can pick a journal that has the persons favorite color, sport, animal, Bible verse, anything! You can also get a plain one and decorate it with photos or stickers!

- An alphabet basket (or bucket)
This one is one of my faves. OK so you get a large basket or bucket and put items that your recipient would like each starting with a letter from the alphabet. Make sure you only have on item per letter. Here are some examples: A- aromatherapy oil B- bath salts C- cocoa beans. Have fun with it!

- A CD or a play list with all their favorite songs
This idea works best if you give it to them on their birthday. Then you can put the number of songs the same number they are turning. If it's your grandma that's turning 65, this idea would be a little overwhelming to make.

- A handmade glasses case
These are super fun to make. All you have to do is take two rectangles of a fun printed fabric and sew them together. make sure it's big enough to fit their glasses! Add a zipper or a tie to keep it shut.

-A fleece blanket
Get two yards worth of printed and solid fleece. Cut into two pieces. Cut slit in the sit about three inches deep and cut out the corners on both pieces. Tie together Tada! A cozy fleece blanket!

Hope this gave you some ideas! Now you won't ever give a lousy present ever again!!

Kaylee Anne

A Heart Commited to Prayer

Hey Friends! Grab your Book, Bible, and pen and let's get started!



I wish I knew how old you are. Why? Because I made a very important choice in relation to becoming a woman after God's own heart when I was 38 years old, and I pray that you are way ahead of me in making such a decision! I am glad you are much younger than I was, and I hope you're much further in your spiritual growth than I was at the time. Anyway, I made a significant choice on my tenth spiritual birthday. On that day I was having my quiet time, my time alone with God. After spending some time thanking Him for for His son and His salvation, I dared to put my thoughts forward. I prayed, "Lord, what do You see missing from my Christian life? What needs attention as I begin a new decade with You?"



Next Elizabeth is talking about how God helped her see that her prayer life was not as it should be. She would pray for only a few days and then begin to think about other things. On her tenth spiritual birthday she wrote the fallowing commitment:



I dedicate and purpose to spend the next ten years (Lord willing) developing a meaningful prayer life.



BLESSING #1: A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

When you and I spend regular, daily, unhurried time in prayer with God, we experience a deeper relationship with Him. And grow spiritually in a multitude of ways . Here are just a few examples.



Prayer increases faith

Prayer provides a place to unload burdens

Prayer teaches us that God is always near

Prayer trains us not to panic

FROM GOD'S WORD TO YOUR HEART

When we pray we can learn many things about God. Elizabeth then tells us that there are many verses in the Bible That talk about having a rich relationship with Him through prayer. She tells us these truths to action concerning our lives. Look up the fallowing verses in your Bible:

-Luke 18:1
-1 Peter 5:7
-Psalms 46:1-2
-Psalms 121:1-2
-Jeremiah 33:3

Thanks for taking time to look at the verses above. I hope these scriptures gave you a better idea of what I've been saying about the blessing of a deeper relationship with God through prayer. We are indeed blessed to enjoy the privilege of prayer, of conversing with almighty God. May your heart be encouraged to pray.

Couldn't have said it better myself! I really loved this weeks lesson. It has encouraged me to have a daily quiet time with the Lord and to strive to have a better prayer life. I have had unhurried, uninstructed quiet times for two days know and I hope to continue for a long time. I pray that this lesson touches your heart and encourages you to pray. Feel free to use the quiet times calendar now. It really helps!

Peace, Love, and Prayer!
Kaylee

A heart that loves God's Word

Thanks for reading my blog! Grab a your book, your Bible, and a pen and let's get started!

I can still remember the my husband, Jim, and I planted 13 ivy vines in our backyard with the hopes that these baby plants would one day grow strong enough to cover our bare and oh-so-ugly(!) cement block walls. well three months later, my dream was coming true.... except for one of the ivy plants. It was absolutely dead! So Jim and I went to work. He purchased a replacement plant, got out his shovel, bent over the dead vine, and to his surprise, it slipped right out of the ground. In a glance Jim could see what was wrong. This plant had failed to grow because it had no roots! Although the plant had enjoyed all the right conditions above ground, something was missing beneath the surface of the soil. It didn't have the root system that is vital for drawing the needed nourishment and moisture from the soil.

This is a perfect example for us. we all want the grow in the lord, but if we don't have a healthy rootsystem our relationship will die. Our hearts desire:
to flourish.........................not fail
to thrive............................not die
to blossom.........................not wither
We should thrive to have a strong rootsystem deep in the Lord, and the Bible.

ROOTS ARE UNSEEN
Where is a thriving rootsystem grown? We know the answer, don't we? It's grown underground. So I want to challenge you to disappear from the public scene for a period of time each day. I want to encourage you to drop out of your friends' sight for a portion of your day. I want to invite you to withdraw from the distractions of TV and the Internet for a time of solitude. Why? So you can tend to your secret life, your hidden life, the life you enjoy with God. When you and i are faithful to do this one thing each day every day, wow!, what a difference it makes.
Christians often thing life is made up of people. Actually, the less time you spend with people, spending in quiet time, the more you have effect on people.

ROOTS ARE FOR TAKING IN
When we do the time to study God's word an pray, we receive and taking in. this is the time to give God what He wants and take what He wants to give. It replenishes you and readies you for the day.

ROOTS ARE FOR STORAGE
Roots serve as a reservoir of what we need. As we stop to (like Mary in the previous chapter) and regularly send down into our roots into God's word, into His springs of living water, we begin to collect His life-giving water. Then what happens?

The Bible makes a "reservoir" of hope ans strength in God. So that when things get hard, we won't give up. Another thing that God's reservoir gives us; when bad things come our way, we can draw strength from our reservoir whenever we need it. How cool is that!

ROOTS ARE FOR SUPPORT
Here's another reason to make sure you spend time in God's Word. Without a well developed rootsystem, you and I can become top heavy. "Top heavy" is a vivid term used to describe a plant that has lots of leafy, heavy foliage above ground, but nothing to support it from underneath. In other words, there are only a few scanty roots, but not enough to hold it up. So, when times get tough (and remember, they will!) and the winds of adversity begin to blow (and they will), we topple. You see, without a network of strong roots, we have to be staked up, propped up, tied up, and straightened up... until another wind comes along and we go over again!
If we want to be strong in the Lord, we have to have a strong rootsystem.

FROM GOD'S WORD TO YOUR HEART
Let's pause know and read the verses below. Several describe the characteristics of a plant-or in our case, a woman- whose heart is rooted in God's word. As you read, be thinking about several things that stand out in your mind and heart from these picturesque verses and the stamina portrayed in each.

Psalms 1:1-3
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Isaiah 58:11
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

YES, BUT HOW?
Now, how does a woman draw nearer to God's heart? How can you and i put ourselves in a position where God Can grow each of us into a woman of remarkable endurance?

1. Develop the habit of drawing near to God - Notice the habits of these men of remarkable endurance. Think about what you can learn from each of them.
Abraham-Genesis 19:27
David-Psalm 5:3
Jesus-Mark 1:35

2.Design a personal time for drawing near to God - If you're like most busy women-young or old- your time with the Lord could use a little work. So let's set about to design a better time.

When? Did you notice that the three men above had a time when they met with God? As you review your daily life and look into your heart, what would be the best time for you? Or put another way, when would you like it to be?

Were? And did you notice that each of these people of God had a place for meeting with God? Do you have a place? If not, were would you like your place to be?

3. Detail your daily progress - One picture is truly worth a thousand words! So I am asking you to do what I do. Start today to use the chart in the back of your book, "Quiet Times Calender" to keep track of your all-important devotional life.

Thanks again for reading this GIANT blog! Sorry I got it out so late. I hope it spoke to you as much as it did to me. I am thinking about adding my own Bible studys to this blog. Keep a lookout for more details! Love you!
Kaylee

A heart devoted to God

This is the first chapter from A young Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George. Grab your book, a Bible, and a pen and let's get started!

Have you ever felt nervous...fidgety..on edge...cranky? Sort of like your life was falling apart and you were losing control? And even though you knew it and you didn't want to act the way you were, you kept on stomping through the day, lashing out at anybody and everybody who crossed you path-your parents,your brother or sister, your friends, a salesperson?
Well, my friend, you are not alone! This happened to a woman in the Bible-a woman just like you and me-who got too worked up. In fact, she was a wreck! Her name is Martha, and Martha was a friend of Jesus.

Martha got stressed out over serving and working for Jesus, without stopping to enjoy and worship Him. When Martha got caught up in the preparations for having Jesus over, she got over worked and lashed out on her sister, Mary, and even Jesus!

Looking at the Bible's account and what it tells us about both Martha and Mary will answer all of our questions. Read it below. It's what I call "the tale of two sisters." And while your reading, notice what Jesus said was wrong in Martha's heart. Notice, too, the words the Bible-and Jesus-uses to describe Martha's conduct. And don't fail to catch how Mary is described and what good things Jesus has to say about her.
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, they came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38 - 42).


WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE?

As we learn from these two sisters, we mustn't miss the fact that both of them loved Jesus (see verses 38-39). Both loved our Lord, and both served Him. But in this scene there was a great difference in their behaviors, which revealed something about what was going on in their hearts at the time.

Mary took time to listen to Jesus and put serving him on hold. Mary demonstrated a Heart Devoted to God by listening to him. This reminds us that we should take time to listen and pray to God, and not only serve Him.

YES, BUT HOW?
I know you want to be a woman after God's own heart, too just like Mary was. So how can you move in that direction? Consider these three tried and true ways.

1. CHOOSE TO SPEND TIME WITH GOD - Here's how one woman after God's own heart put it: "I don't want to be robbed of even one of God's riches by not taking time to let Him invade my life. By not listening to what He is telling me. By allowing the routine, pressing matters of my minutes to bankrupt me of time for the most exciting, most fulfilling relationship in my life."

2. CHOOSE GOD'S WAYS AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY



3. COMMIT YOURSELF TO GOD DAILY


4. CULTIVATE A HOT HEART - God has a few things to say to us in Revelation 3:15-16 about our heart condition.

I encourage you to take time every day to devote yourself to God. I hope you buy this book. If you do, you can use the quite times calendar, Heart Response devotionals, and more. I pray that you will strive to have a heart devoted to God!

Kaylee

Introduction

Hey Girl! This semester we will be doing A Young Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George. This is one of my favorite Bible Studys ever. I hope you are ready to do this study with me! You can buy the book at Lifway Christian stores for $11. I encourage you to buy the book because then you can do the devotionals and other features. I will be praying for you that you chose to devote your heart to God this semester and keep it that way the rest of your life! If you have any prayer requests or questions, just leave them in the comments box. I really hope you will grow in your walk with Christ through this study and learn to let your light shine!!

Your Friend and sister-in-Christ,

Kaylee