Can you Find God in Your Day?~ Freelance by Ariel Gaskill

The school year has finally ended and now we have nothing but time on our hands. Most of us plan to have a fun-filled summer making memories with friends and family, going to the beach, catching up on some much-needed sleep, reading for fun and enjoying countless other activities that will pack the glorious months that await us.  In the midst of the anticipation of finally relaxing after a long academic year, it is important to remember that we still need to make good use of our time.  Maybe it was difficult to read a few verses of scripture during a hectic school week or to take a few minutes on the weekends to talk to God with no distractions, waiting in silence to hear His voice and for Him to minister to our spirits. Well it is not too late!

Exodus 20:5 reads, “For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.”  Now that we have more time on our hands, let us challenge ourselves to give some of it back to Him.  More than anything else, the Lord desires to have a relationship with us.  He created us for that purpose; but in order to have a strong relationship we have to communicate.  Our God is so awesome, because He is always speaking; the question is, are we listening?  

We learn a vital lesson through the life of Elijah the prophet in I Kings 19:11-12.  The scripture reads, “And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire, a still small voice.” We serve a God who holds the entire world in the palm of His hand, a God that never sleeps, a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever; yet, as big as He is, He can speak to us and give us His full and undivided attention.  His voice does not have to be booming for us to hear it; we just have to listen closely.  I can feel the Lord’s presence throughout my day.  On days when the warm rays of the sun beam on my skin, I think of it as God smiling down on me.  I imagine the soft breezes that brush against my cheeks and make the trees dance as whispers from Him that say, “I love you;” and, whenever I see a butterfly fluttering past me, it reminds me of how important I am to Him, because He took the time to remember that butterflies make me smile. 

God is everywhere at once, just waiting for us to seek after Him.  Like Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  This summer, let us challenge ourselves to find God somewhere in our day, and apply this scripture to our lives, because I suspect that we will discover that God is and always will be our greatest delight.

Copyright ©2012 by Ariel E. Gaskill

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

Trust, Struggle, Leap, Fall?~ Rebecca Howe

Imagine yourself standing on the ledge of a high level bridge. Who is going to catch you if you fall? Will there even be anybody down below willing to? You’re trying so hard o keep your balance, but your weight is working against you. As your foot comes off the ledge you panic to steady yourself in time. When you get a glimpse at what is underneath you, what do you see? Are there hands reaching up at you, trying to pull you under when you were doing so well? You have to fight to keep them away. You’re having a difficult time focusing. So many different problems are tearing away at you. You feel life someone is burning your happiness. As each new worry passes by, it’s like a new cut or bruise appears on your pale skin. Some leave scars, but you have to find a way to erase them all. Everyday life and problems used to come so easy, now it seems like a burden to you. This burden is something that you have to carry atop your small chest while it crushes you. Where did the simplicity go?

Remember you’re on that bridge, teetering back and forth. Glancing down you can feel the sweat streaming down your check, meeting them half way are tears. The tears consist of fear, stress, doubt and wonder. You can see your family and friends, some willing to catch you if they have to, while other passersby aren’t even aware of their needed support. They can see the bridge, but they their eyes skim right over you in your struggle. Then you see the One, staring into your eyes. They know everything and will comfort you. They have been ready and waiting for you to realize you need their help, and no one else’s.

As you see a dark shadow approach you from behind, you know you have two choices. You can either let it push you down, letting your already weak body scrape, stumble and fall through the never ending despair. The journey would be long and painful, and you have no choice of whose hands you would land in. Your other option is to commit to the One who has been patiently standing by for you to leap back into their arms. They want to be able to hold you tight, and make you clean again.

When the shadow closes in on you, you have to squeeze your eyes shut to block out the true horror and reality of the situation you have fallen into. You can go back to your old ways that always brought you down, or you can restore your life. The two possibilities are different in every way. Your eyes open up as you feel the shadow loosening your grip as you hang onto the ledge. You are now sure of how you want this to end and have accepted it.

About the Author

Hello, I'm Becca and my favorite animal is a dinosaur :D

I hope you read these pieces and get something out of them, if not that's okay too

Christmas Without You~ Lauren K

Two left that day.
Two bells rang, and my angels flew away.

It's almost Christmas night, but, unlike you,
my heart can't take flight.

It won't be the same without you here.
I'll remember you, and somehow make you appear.

You're celebrating in your own way now;
I'll see you again—
just not right now.

Well, I must go and find some Christmas cheer.
But don't worry, I'll find it when I remember you so clear.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author!

Lauren is a teen girl living for the Lord! She loves turtle lattes, traveling, and watching info-mercials! She loves watching Disney movies and singing Christmas songs all year long. Through all of her life experiences (good and bad), God has never left her side, and she believes that nothing is too big for God! She wants to become a psychologist one day but is excited to see what other plans God has in store for her life!

God's Friendship Road~ Jackeline Osborne

Friendship is a chain of gold

Shaped in God’s all perfect mold.

Each link a smile, a laugh, a tear

A grip of the hand, a word of cheer.

Steadfast as the ages roll.

Bending chooser soul to soul

No matter how far or heavy the load.

Sweet is the journey on God’s friendship road.

'Demons'~ A Freelance Poem by Lauren Kuechenmeister

Fighting demons one-by-one,
But really the battle’s just begun.

Look in the mirror, and what do I see?
Everything I wish I could change about me.

Flip through the channels on the TV,
And see everything I feel I should be.

Turning pages in magazines filled with flawless faces,
And knowing I can’t put my feet in their places.

I’ll fix everything I can about me,
But who is it I’ll turn out to be?

Rules upon rules with no exceptions,
Then I’m only asking for their rejection.

I’ll start by changing just one thing,
After that, the changing will be never-ending.

Never enough-more and more;
But who is it I’m changing for?

Don’t do it for those who say you need it most,
Because, then, you’ll become one of their earthly hosts.

Do it for you if it’s in God’s plan,
Because His is the only plan that has love to make it stand.

So you’re fighting demons one-by-one.

Step aside!

Because my God’s already won.

About the Author!
Lauren is a teen girl living for the Lord! She loves turtle lattes, traveling, and watching info-mercials!  She loves watching Disney movies and singing Christmas songs all year long. Through all of her life experiences (good and bad), God has never left her side, and she believes that nothing is too big for God!  She wants to become a psychologist one day but is excited to see what other plans God has in store for her life!

"He is There"~ A Freelance Poem by Purple Lilac

When your alone
...He is there
When there is no where to go
...He is there
When your crying silent tears
...He is the one who hears
When you feel like there is no hope
...He is there
When you afraid
...He is there
When you need to say a small prayer
...He is the one who hears

Throughout all of life's hardships
...He is there
to carry you
to listen to you
to protect you
to love you

-Purple Lilac