Get to the Other Side~ Haylie Gregory

So, I was trying this writing style and this is sort of what came out. I wrote this when I was just sick and tired of my hanging on to the past, but I gave it to God and I feel SO MUCH better :) It's called Get to the Other Side

Get to the Other Side

What does it take

To get to the other side?

Tell me what it takes!

I’ve tried so many times

To cross this bridge

To get over it

To move on

To go to something more pleasant

Than this.

What does it take?

 To get to the other side?

To leave

To take the first stride

To walk away

To say goodbye

To live a life

Where I will no longer cry

Over you.

Tell me, what does it take

To get to the other side?

Tell me what it takes!

I no longer want to ride this ride.

 

Did you know that Haylie worries about everything?!?!

My Testimony~ Heather Young

I was born and raised in a Christian home.  Early in life I accepted Jesus as my Savior.  I only listen to Christian radio stations, and have no urge whatsoever to do otherwise.  In addition, I have no desire to say cuss words.  If you would like to begin practicing those habits, pray that God would make you more like himself.  He works in my life every day, and I know he will do so in yours as well.  All you have to do is ask.

About a year ago, I was pondering whether or not I had trials.  Of course, in my small group at church, I would hear stories of what others were going through.  But, I felt different.  Instead of struggling to pray and have faith in God like everyone else around me, I had peace and did not feel like I was challenged with anything.  I talked to my small group leader, and she suggested praying to God and asking Him for a challenge.  Soon after, I spoke with my dad, and God gave me insight on why I felt like I wasn’t having trials.  He opened my eyes to ten things I had not seen before, ten ideas that helped me understand why I felt like I didn’t have trials.  I found verses that proved they were true, and now I would like to share them with you.

1.  Everyone has trials.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

1 Peter 4:12-13

Hardships are guaranteed in this life.  “Do not be surprised” when you suffer, but expect to be tested.  Moreover, “rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ.”  If you have joy in the fact that Christ has already suffered on your behalf, then that joy will continually encourage you throughout your journey.

2.  Everyone’s life is different, so not everyone experiences the same trials and things.

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Hebrews 13:20-21

God prepares us for what is to come.  Although these gifts may be the same as some others’, each and every person obediently pursuing God’s plan for their lives will be equipped “with everything good for doing [God’s] will.”  Also, God “works in us what is pleasing to him,” meaning he prepares us each n our own way for what he is going to let us experience.

3.  God has a special purpose and plan for everyone.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Jeremiah 29:11

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10

4.  My life reflects God’s grace and goodness toward people.

“How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.”

Psalm 31:19

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:6-9

I realized that my life displays God's mercy toward us, because he has given me great faith to stand strong when things seem difficult. 

5.  I may not feel like I have trials, but I do.

“…so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted.”

1 Thessalonians 3:3-4

“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

2 Timothy 3:12

6.  God doesn’t protect us from trials, he helps us through them.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

7.  The reason it’s hard for me to see my trials is because God helps me to get through them so they seem really small.

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.”

1 Corinthians 1:25

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

8.  And in reality, trials are extremely small compared to our great big God!

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.”

1 Corinthians 1:25

“Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

Isaiah 26:4

9.  Trials make us stronger, even if we don’t feel like they do.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

1 Peter 1:3-4

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Romans 5:3-4

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

James 1:2-4, 12

The song “Stronger” by Mandisa relates to this topic very well.

10.  God doesn’t let us go through anything we can’t handle.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13

A few days after a good small group discussion at church, my small group leader texted me and asked what I thought would be a good verse for us to memorize.  I found this verse, and the next week she brought cards that she had painted herself.  Having a verse put so artistically in front of me really helped me to remember it.  I recommend trying it.

I pray that my testimony has helped you to understand why you are having trials, how you should react to trials, or why you feel like you don’t have any trials!

The Big Girl's Survival Guide~ Freelance by Ariel Gaskill

For the young woman who likes to have a plan of action, this article was written with you in mind. 

Every little girl at one point or another has concocted a list of her dreams and aspirations in her head or in her journal.

I think that it is coded into our DNA to think about the future.

When we were younger we played “Mommy” with our baby dolls and coddled them with care as if they were real; and let our imaginations run wild as we painted a picture of what we wanted our wedding day to look like.

Even though some of us are still little girls at heart, now we are called to be “big girls,” little women if you will, and grace the working world with eloquent speech, class, and our undeniable charm. But first we need to be equipped to fill our own stilettos in a world still dominated by wingtips. How do we accomplish this? Inquiring minds want to know.

Jordan Christy, author of How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World suggests that every woman should have a “smart girl list.”  This is a list of attainable goals that we set for ourselves. The key is that we have to make a sincere effort to complete everything on our list.

“W

e need to be equipped to fill our own stilettos in a world still dominated by wingtips.”

Here is a practical, sure proof way to survive in the working world:

Ari’s Big Girl Survival Guide

1. A.S.A.P- Always Say A Prayer. A prayer that is engraved on my heart is Psalms 143: 8-12 which reads as follows, “Cause me to hear your loving-kindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, Oh Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto Thee to hide me.  Teach me to do my will; for thou art my God: Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me Oh Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am Thy servant.”
2. Confidence- It’s the best foundation
3. Humility- the perfect accessory to your character
4. A smile- a small accent that goes a long way (and with every outfit)
5. A little blush- to add a little something extra
6. Lip gloss- an essential
7. tool to complete the package
8. A comfortable second pair of shoes- stilettos are great for a while, but you always want to have  a back up
9. A concise and well-written résumé- your charm can get you in the door, but a good resume can land you the job!

No list will be the same; one may be an entire page, others may be a few bullet points.  No matter what our lists look like, all of our aspirations can be reached with good old-fashioned hard work and dedication. These two ingredients can make for a sweet-tasting life.

Copyright © 2012 by Ariel E. Gaskill

Chosen by God~ Nataleigh Robinson

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart 1 Samuel 16:7

I've always loved how God picked David, puny little David, to rule over the kingdom of Israel over his big strong brothers. Imagine with me Samuel and God walking down the line of boys together examining each of Jessie's sons. Samuel looks at each man sees the strong hands and arms and says "this guy would make a good king." But God shakes his head "No, he's no good I've seen his heart and he’s not fit to rule my kingdom." The process repeats itself until Samuel finally comes to the end of the line. This can't be right! he thinks somebody has to be king! Finally after a short conversation with Jessie, David enters the scene. He's a scrawny teenager who can't be much older than 16 or 17 but there's something in his eyes that causes Samuel to stop. Then he hears God's voice whispering in his ear. "He's the one Samuel, the one I've chosen."

Can you imagine that: The world looks at you and says "Oh she's nothing special just, she’ll never amount to anything, she’s just another face walking the halls to class." but when God looks at you He sees something amazing.  He looks at you and He calls you beautiful, He calls you smart, He calls you by name and He's chosen something AMAZING for you to do that's different than anybody else. 

There's never going to be another Nataleigh who has gone through the same things I have. God has chosen something different and special just for me that only I can accomplish. If I can't do it no one can. But that's the beauty of it: I can because God made the task just perfect for me. He gave me just the right amount of inner and outer beauty to help me accomplish the task.

God has something for you too. Yes even you. You may think but I'm not smart, I'm not pretty, I'm not brave, I'm not strong. Stop telling yourself that.  Those are lies straight from the Devil trying to convince you that you’re less than you should be. You have potential! Moses didn’t think that he was charismatic enough but God put him in charge of an entire nation, Paul considered himself a terrible sinner but God used him to build the Christian church, Mary was just a normal girl living in her village but God saw something special in her and chose her to be the mother of his son.

Hadassah probably never considered herself to be to be brave or smart or much of anything for that matter.  She was an orphan who had been raised by her cousin.  I’m sure she lived with a lot of fears that those who had killed her parents would kill her too.  I imagine she spent a lot of time trying to fade into the background.  But God saw something in her.  He saw not only an outer beauty (for no one could deny that she was beautiful) but an inner beauty as well. 

Because of her outer beauty she was noticed by the king of her land and ended up becoming queen and because of her inner beauty she was able to find the courage within herself to stand up for her people who were sentenced to death.  This women, whose name had been changed to Esther opened herself to be used by God and it saved the life of the Jewish people.

God gave you just the right amount of smarts, beauty, courage and strength to accomplish the task he has for YOU! Some people may still be smarter or stronger or braver or prettier than you are but that's because God has something different for them than he does for you and their going to need to be smarter or stronger or braver or more beautiful.

Hadassah probably never considered herself to be to be brave or smart or much of anything for that matter.  She was an orphan who had been raised by her cousin.  I’m sure she lived with a lot of fears that those who had killed her parents would kill her too.  I imagine she spent a lot of time trying to fade into the background.  But God saw something in her.  He saw not only an outer beauty (for no one could deny that she was beautiful) but an inner beauty as well. 

Because of her outer beauty she was noticed by the king of her land and ended up becoming queen and because of her inner beauty she was able to find the courage within herself to stand up for her people who were sentenced to death.  This woman, whose name had been changed to Esther opened herself to be used by God and it saved the life of the Jewish people.

It’s time we stop comparing ourselves to those around us and start comparing ourselves to God's perfect plan. Find out what He wants you to be and strive to become that.  Because trust me there’s nothing better in this life than walking in the path God wants you to walk.  And there is nothing worse than stepping off that path and going our own way.

Did you know that Nataleigh's favorite TV show is Once Upon a Time?!

Quickly Fading~ Hogan Stevens

Our lives here on earth are as passing as a thought. We are here one moment and then gone the next, passing away like leaves in autumn. To God, the time we spend here below is just a blink in eternity. To Him, time has no limits.

 

"Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever...No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them." (Ecc. 1:4, 11 NIV)

 

There are so many people in this world we live in, so many lives stretched across the centuries...So many lives lost from day to day. With all of the chaos, all of the confusion, one can't help but sometimes wonder if there is anyone out there that really cares. Is there? Is there truly someone that cares for each individual, who knows each and every person on this earth by name and loves them?

 

Yes, there is. And His name is God. His name is Jesus. Abba, Jehovah, Elohim, Yahweh. In all of His splendor and grace, He cares. He listens.

 

I know it may sometimes seem like God does not have the time to listen to each and every one of His children here on earth. I mean, there are billions of people, so many that it is sort of hard to think that the Lord truly sees and cares for each and every person. Sometimes, you may find yourself thinking that you are too insignificant for God to care about you. "God is only concerned about important people...Why would He want me, when I'm just....me? I don't do anything special; I'm not strong enough, not smart enough..."

 

David was a shepherd boy.

 

Moses was a murderer.

 

Ruth was simply a widow.

 

Saul persecuted God's people.

 

Throughout the Bible, God has demonstrated His love for each and every person. It doesn't matter who you are, just as long as you love God and want to serve Him. David? He slew a giant that no one else dared approach, and later became a great king beloved by the Lord. Moses was chosen by God to lead the Jews out of captivity. That widow Ruth wasn't overlooked, either. Ever trusting in God, she found a new husband--and life. And Saul? Even though he continually persecuted Christians after Jesus' ascension, as soon as God called to him he turned from his terrible ways and became one of the best missionaries in recorded history!

Believe me, God has a plan for you. However short this life is, however insignificant you think you are...the Lord still loves you, and He wants you to lead a fruitful, faith-filled life. It may not be the easiest life. You will encounter storms along the way and you might even forget again that God is always right there beside you. It may be hard to see His hand in your life, but always remember this: You are a princess of the king! You are His, and He is yours! He is the Good Shepherd, the loving master, and He will never--never--leave you in this world alone to deal with life yourself.

 

Never.

 

 

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jer. 29:11 NLT)

 

Just as a good father watches over his children most lovingly, God will never abandon you. To Him, you are worth it all.

 

For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD. (Psalm 117:2)

Did you know that Hogan once shattered her right wrist while roller skating?!
Did you know that Abby hopes to fly a small plane one day?!

Photographs property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photograph taken by Abby Whear.

With All My Heart: Waiting for the Man God Has for Me~ Hogan Stevens

Just the other day, I was talking with my father, telling him that if the time ever comes when a boy shows interest in me that I would like to be courted. I've had this dream for quite some time now, and whenever I voice it, many people give me skeptical looks or make a scoffing remark. Not everyone understands my desire to have and to give my heart to just one man in my life. I've even had some tell me, "Well, good luck with that" as if I am delusional in thinking that there are any decent young men left in this world that would share my beliefs.

When I told this to my dad, his simple response was enough to give me more hope in believing my future husband is out there, waiting just for me.

"There are lots of guys out there that feel the same as you, Hogan. Don't worry."

He said this with such confidence that I knew it must be true. Just looking at my kind, loving father I know that there are still men out there that are capable of giving that special, one of a kind love that I wish for my future. They are out there, girls; we just have to be patient and trust that God will bring them to us in His time.

Of course, there are many boys out there who see dating as an opportunity to get with as many girls as they can, to see just who they can sway with their charms and claim as their own. I know that may sound a little harsh, but it's true, and I am sorry for that.

Just as equally, there are girls out there who want to be with as many guys as possible just because it is "cool" or expected by their peers. They are willing to give their heart to any boy that gives them the time of day, and they are sometimes willing to even do whatever he wants just to please him for fear that he will leave if she refuses.

And then when that boy loses interest, her heart breaks...and she tries to find another that could be her Prince Charming, that could be "the One".

Nowadays, society deems such dating acceptable. Boy meets girl. Boy flirts with girl, asks her on a date. Before you know it, they're an item doing everything together, acting as though they are head over heels in love--when they are actually just acting upon infatuation, not love. And relationships based purely on simply a crush or lust is a relationship that will not last.

But there is another way.

Instead of going out with whomever you please and setting yourself up for disappointment when you realize you do not know a person as well as you thought, you can choose to go about the whole dating thing cautiously.

For me, I make it clear to others that I have standards. I am not just some girl that can be taken by whoever takes a fancy to me. No, I stay low under the radar, not going anywhere near dating. To me, the term for dating has been corrupted. To nearly everyone now, dating is simply a game, a way to pass the time. A way to lose your heart.

You see, by going from guy to guy, having your heart broken and in turn breaking hearts, a girl gives a piece of her own heart away to every guy she goes out with. And years from now, when she is married and with children she may come to a rough spot in her life and look back on those years she spent dating all of those boys...and she might long for another man that is not her husband.

I don't think any girl wants that, right? You must guard your heart most diligently, protect and keep it for that one man that God has chosen for you. Love is something sacred and precious and not to be given lightly.

That is why, with all of my heart, I would love to be courted.

Perhaps you have not heard of courting, so I will try to explain it as best I can--though I might not have all the details a hundred percent accurate. In my mind, courting goes something like this: A girl and boy become friends, nothing more. They get to know each other as any friend would and they develop a bond accordingly. And then over time, they might both acknowledge that they have feelings for one another and that they might be ready for a serious relationship. It is then that the boy might ask if he could start courting the girl to see if they would be compatible for a romantic relationship. By courting her, he would take her out to public places (most likely accompanied by friends or family members) and they would try to see if they would make a good couple. Everything would be taken slowly; they might not even choose to kiss--or even hold hands--until they were engaged or even married. They would pray about it, of course, asking God if it was His will they were together. Courting is not something that is taken lightly. The boy and girl would be thinking of this relationship in terms of the future, to see if they would do well as a married couple.

Obviously, this is greatly varied from how dating is perceived by most teens and even adults. Of course, I am not saying that everyone who chooses to date is going about it in the wrong way, but I believe that courting is so much safer. Safer for you. For him. For your hearts. Because when you take your relationships as seriously as that, it is much more difficult for you to lose your heart to someone that you barely know and who could not be the one for you.

Never let others tell you that your beliefs are a waste or that you should stop trying so hard to go by God's standards. Because He already has your story planned out..you just have to be willing to give all of your trust to Him, to give Him your whole heart for protection until you find that man that He has for you. And when you find him, if he truly loves you he will listen to your beliefs and not try to force you into something you are not comfortable with.

Someday, I hope to marry the man that loves me unconditionally and that loves God even more. I want to be able to tell him that I waited for God to bring him to me and that I saved myself and my heart--my whole heart--just for him. It's possible, believe me. Even if you have already dated others and maybe even given parts of yourself away, it is never too late to ask your Heavenly Father to guide you in the right direction when it comes to finding the right one for you. God cares--He truly does--and He will never lead you wrong.

All it takes is faith, trust...and a little patience.

Did you know that Hogan wishes she had a '73 Corvette StringRay?!

Did you know that Jess's favorite season is summer?!

Photograph property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photograph taken by Jess Mc

Suddenly~ Rachel Melillo

Suddenly. So many times, life changes in a moment. In the Bible, people would be living their lives—their ordinary every day lives—when suddenly God did something. And it was amazing.

When I think of all the extraordinary and some devastating things in the Bible, I see events like the hosts of heavenly angels coming out to see the shepherds, Jesus healing people, the hand writing on the wall. That night that Jesus was born, the shepherds were just doing their job, tending their sheep as always. Then suddenly, a host of angels appeared to them and they fell on their faces. Suddenly, God changed their lives. When Jesus healed people, it wasn't a preplanned event, but he saw a need and a faithful, believing heart, and he healed them. Suddenly, Jesus changed their lives. The king was having a banquet when suddenly, God came down and wrote on the wall. Suddenly, that king was never the same.

How could God suddenly work in your life? How many times do we miss God's sudden blessings because we're focusing on the negative parts of life or the things that aren't going how we want them to? What would happen if we looked for the God's sudden blessings and life changing events in our lives? Let's live suddenly, sisters. :)

Did you know that Rachel wants to publish 3 books before she's 25?! She's already published one! Click here to check it out!

Letting God's Plan Be the only Plan~ A Spiritual Article by Rachel Melillo

I’m a planner.  I want to know what I’m going to do and when.  I’ve known what college I want to attend, what kind of a guy I’m going to marry, how many kids I’m going to have, and what I want my career to be.  That’s just who I am, and I’ve never really had any problems with it, until now.

Recently, I got a rejection notice from the college I’ve wanted to go to since I was fourteen.  I applied early decision and they said now; that they would reconsider me for regular admission.  I got this news and I fell apart. All my plans, all my dreams, were gone for the moment.  I had backups, but they were mostly for show, and I didn’t really want to go there.  My immediate future got thrown into the unknown, and I’m going crazy. 

During the month I’ve been waiting for this letter, my mind has been plagued with “what ifs”.  Those “what ifs” have now become reality, and that, my friends, was NOT in my plans.  I went through shock, major disappointment, and anger.  I took my dog for a walk and just vented at God, telling Him all the things that should happen in my life, and halfway through that walk, I realized what I was doing. 

I was telling God what to do.  Note to everyone reading this: telling God what to do isn’t a good idea.  My mind immediately flips to Job and how he and his friends were talking about how life was supposed to work, and what God says is “Don’t tell me what to do.  I know more than you, idiot,” except God was extremely more eloquent. 

Life is full of change and disappointment. God’s the only one that knows the outcome of our lives and our actions.  He’s the only one that needs a plan for us, because He knows what’s best and He’s in control.   I have no idea what He’s got planned for me, but for now, I’ve simply got to live by faith and trust that God knows what’s best.  Are you willing to do the same?

For this new year, what’s something that you need to give to God?  What’s something that you’ve been holding on to, not willing to realize that by holding onto that. You may be keeping yourself from fully experiencing a life dedicated to living for Christ?  It’s not easy, but ask Him to help you let go, and if you’d like any of us to pray for you, please email us and let us know.  I wish you the best of blessings.