Coffee Shop~ by Rachel Allen

People have done something special for you, right? Maybe they've given you an amazing gift. Maybe they took you out for lunch. Or maybe they just helped you through a difficult time. But didn't you want to do something in return? Didn't you feel like saying "Thank you" just wasn't enough?

Now imagine: You're walking down a busy city street, and you're crossing the traffic-jammed avenue. Imagine that you're not paying attention. Imagine that somebody, someone you didn't know, maybe someone you've never seen before in your life, jumps in front of a speeding taxi cab to keep you from getting hit. And imagine that the person died. How would you feel? What could you do for them? For their friends? For their family?

Now imagine that it's a few months later, or just a few days, or maybe even a few years, you're walking down the street. You've moved on with your life, but you've never forgotten the stranger that saved your life. Imagine that you go to your favorite coffee shop, a little family place on the corner, just like you do every day. Imagine that you go to get your usual, and all of a sudden, you see the stranger that gave his life for yours. (I know what you're thinking: "But he's DEAD." "Last time I saw him, he was six feet under." "But... but... but... but..." But once you get PAST all of that...) What do you say? What could you possibly do for the man that paid the ultimate price for you? Now, I know what you wouldn't do. I KNOW that you are not going to walk out of the coffee shop and move on. You wouldn't just forget about him and go on with your life without a second thought. You wouldn't leave behind the perfect opportunity to properly thank the man that sacrificed himself for you. But you couldn't just walk up to him and say, "Hey, weren't you that guy that ducked in front of that cab? Yeah, sorry about that. That probably hurt, right? So, thanks. See you around, okay?" You couldn't just buy him coffee and leave it at that. The only words that might even come close to doing justice might be, "Thank you for saving my bloody LIFE and for SACRIFICING YOURSELF and for PAYING THE ULTIMATE PRICE for a complete stranger that you've never even seen before and suffering for them when you didn't even know their name and for allowing that stranger to keep their life by giving yours. Because, yes, that stranger was me." And that's STILLnot enough. You beg them, "Take me, use me. Whatever you need, whatever you want, ask of me. Your word is my command."

And somehow, no matter how impossible it may seem, it's still not enough. It will NEVERbe enough, because the stranger that lived was you, and the stranger that saved your life by giving theirs was Jesus Christ.

So, what are you doing? Are you serving him whole-heartedly? Or are you buying him coffee? Are you begging him to take you and use you for good? Or are you passing up the perfect opportunity to sacrifice yourself to the PerfectSacrifice, the Son of God, the Savior? Think about. And don't walk out of the coffee shop.

Did you know that Rachel absolutely LOVES messenger bags?!

Photograph Property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photograph taken by Tara Willinger.

Shy? I Know the Feeling~ By Hogan Stevens

For as long as I can remember, I have always been painfully shy. When I was much younger, if any of my parents’ friends tried to talk to me, I would hide behind my mom or dad’s legs and refuse to speak one word. I’m sure some people were a little confused by this behavior, but I couldn’t help it; I was--and still am--naturally bashful. Now I’m nearly seventeen and I’m coming to realize that I can no longer refuse to talk to people even though I’m so terribly shy. And I guess I’m too big to be hiding behind my parents anymore. Snap.

Around family, or at least my closest family, I can talk and joke without worrying about being self-conscious. But when I’m around a lot of people I don’t know all that well, especially teenagers, I clam up, unable to think of a way to get myself out there.

Do you have the same problem?

If so, you’ll know that, for shy people, school is one of the worst things invented. There are all these people around you talking and laughing with one another like it’s the easiest thing in the world, and then there’s you--the quiet, composed girl that isn’t sure how to go about making friends.

And you know what’s weird? I’ve been told a few times that people take me as being stuck up and intimidating, since I don’t really talk to anyone. It’s funny to me, because I definitely do not think that I am in any way better than anyone. I’m just naturally quiet! So, after hearing this a while back, I decided to make myself more approachable. I’m still working on it but I’m already seeing improvements.

One thing that really makes a difference is a smile. Yes, that might sound a little cliché, but it’s so true. By just smiling at someone, you make them feel more relaxed and welcome with you. It makes it that much easier to ease the tension and help you get out of your shell. I actually started working at this little restaurant a couple of months ago, and I’ve made it a goal of mine to smile at everyone I see come in. And it really pays off. I have lots of customers that seem genuinely happy whenever they see that I’m waiting on them.

You also need to be able to be friendly. I know you may be thinking, “But I’m nice!” and I’m sure you’re right! But as quiet people, we often get mistaken for being unfriendly and uninterested. But there’s an easy solution for that. Just make sure that people can tell you’re interested in what they have to say. If someone says, “Hey! How are you?” while you’re walking from one class to the next, respond with, “I’m great! How are you?”. A smile helps too (Nope, I’m not going to let go of that!). Don’t simply mutter, “Good” and keep on walking. Always make sure to acknowledge the other person so that they feel appreciated.

I’m sure some of this just sounds like common sense, but believe me: This is sometimes hard to do, especially if you’re not used to being social. I know I wasn’t ever the talkative, bubbly girl in school. I mostly kept to myself because I was afraid to talk to anyone.

In middle school, the thought of starting a conversation myself would have made me a mess of nerves. I’ll let you in on a secret, though: It still does. But I choose to not let it bother me, because I know my fear is irrational. I mean, come on, who’s going to judge you if you try to break the ice by saying, “Sure is hot outside today, isn’t it?”. Granted, you had probably better say that when it is hot outside, else I’m sure some people would look at you funny.

You see, I’m actually home schooled now. This is my fourth year, and I absolutely love it. Most people we meet tend to ask how I stay socialized but, really, I have more friends than I did when I went to public school. And that probably has something to do with the fact that I’ve started trying to become a little more outgoing, to show everyone that I actually can talk and that I love to joke around. I’m still working on being talkative, though. This is probably evidenced by the fact that I had someone ask me the other day, “Why don’t you ever talk?”. Yeah. Sort of a shocker for me, because I thought I’d been doing so much better at the conversing thing. I guess it’s a work in progress.

I’m not telling you to try to become someone you’re not, of course. If you’re naturally quiet and reserved like me, then don’t think you have to be some bubbly, loud girl so you can make friends. That’s not the way to go. Just be yourself. I promise, it works! Show others your kindness. Let them see that you have Jesus inside you by being that lovely, interesting girl that He created.

And that’s the thing: He created you just the way you are. Don’t be afraid to show that person to others; you are truly beautiful and you shouldn’t have to worry about what others think of you.

So, for all you shy girls, I wish you good luck! I hope the new year starts out well for you and that you start to discover how to truly become yourself around others. I know I’ll be working on it!

Did you know that Hogan is a master of falling down the stairs? Just asked her bruised loegs!!

Photographers property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photographer taken by Alyssa Dannettel.

Jesus Thinks You're Beautiful~ By Renee Arnold

We've probably all heard at some point in our lives that God thinks we're beautiful and valuable, but maybe you don't truly believe it in your heart. Here are some bible verses that will help you in your journey to find inner beauty through Jesus Christ and his word!

1 Peter 3:3-4 Do not let your adorning be external- the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a women who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Song of Solomon 4:7 You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.

2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

1 Samuel 16:7 God does not view things the way men do. People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Rest in the peace and knowledge that Jesus thinks you're beautiful, even on your worst hair day or your make-up doesn't turn out quite right.He knows your heart, trust in he fact that he thinks you're worth more then rubies and diamonds and he will forever cherishes his relationship with you.

To all our beautiful readers,

Renee Arnold <3

Did you know that Renee has a recurring dream about an alligator?

Did you know that Jess LOVES the different American accents?!

Sorting Through the Issues~ Abby Massung

Once upon a time, it wasn’t really a choice most people had to face. These days, however, it seems like it’s about as common of an option as what clothes you want to wear. Unfortunately, being homosexual is rising in popularity because being that way is becoming a statement to stand out among teens. This topic is an especially difficult one for Christian teens. Homosexuality is wrong, but how are we to treat them? Should we shun them, should we talk to them? I hope this article will help you with these confusing questions.

A Brief Glance at Some Questions…

  A common belief gaining more and more popularity is that homosexuality isn’t a choice. Many homosexuals are now declaring they were born that way. The truth? It goes against nature to be homosexual (note that God calls it unnatural). Although one might argue that man is now born sinful so they could be born homosexual, it is my personal belief this isn’t the case. Besides, even if a man (or woman) is born inclined to that, they must learn to control wrong impulses just as we all must.

  If you’re thinking the choices of others to be homosexual doesn’t affect us, think again! A good example of this can be found in the TV series Supernatural. Dean and Sam Winchester are brothers who travel around the country fighting demons and monsters. They have no home besides their car, so they frequently stay in motels, and more than once the owners of the hotels have suspected the brothers are truly a homosexual couple looking for a room for the night. This isn’t fiction guys, this is reality. It used to be perfectly acceptable for a couple of girls or a couple of guys to travel together and share rooms and etc., but those days are quickly disappearing thanks to the question of homosexuality. Just as suspicion surrounds men and women, suspicion surrounds women and women or men and men. Now, for a pair of girls to share an apartment together and not be dating guys looks bad (trust me, my older sister got in this position). Whether anyone will admit it or not, homosexuals have affected the rest of us.

Close to Home…

  A couple of years ago, I was attending classes set up especially for home school kids, most of which were Christians. So when I saw my closest friend’s Myspace page announcing she was a lesbian, I was floored. After all, this same girl had chosen to read a series of Bible verses for her reading in speech class (where we’d met). How could that very same girl turn around and declare herself to be a lesbian? It didn’t make any sense.

  Followed closely on the heels of that discovery was learning that another close friend had decided she was bi. Now this didn’t throw me off quite as much since she was from a family of atheists and leaned towards more masculine styles. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder how my seemingly normal friends could end up deciding they were anything but straight. I remained their friends, but it was hard to really know how to act about the whole thing when there never seemed to be any middle-ground according to anything I was hearing. We all fell out of touch after some time, but the question still remained. What was the right reaction to this issue?

  I finally started to really think about this several months ago when I became interested in a guy, only to find out he was gay. He was a really nice guy from what I could tell. He didn’t overact being gay in public like so many do, and he had a huge bright smile for everyone.

   

  What the Bible Says…

  Ok, first, let’s start in Genesis. You know, where God laid out the foundation of how things were meant to be. After explain how Eve came into being and God brought her to Adam, Adam declares how together they were one and calls her woman. After that, this statement is made:

  “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and they will become flesh.” ~Genesis 2:24

  Note that God doesn’t make a guy and a girl for Adam and says “Now pick which one you’d rather have.” No. Instead, He created a perfect match for Adam to have for a partner, and in doing so, laid down the foundation of a Biblical marriage for His creations.

  Next we will head over to Leviticus for a moment. The entire 18^th chapter of this book goes into great detail about what is not acceptable in the area of sexual relations. Among this list God gave the Israelites was this:

  “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” ~Leviticus 18:22

  So even back in the beginnings of the Old Testament God proclaimed choosing to be a homosexual was wrong. So what does the New Testament have to say about it?

  “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received within themselves the due penalty for their perversion.” ~Romans 1: 26-27

  (note: I would strongly recommend reading Romans 1:18-32. It explains how these people came to such a low point of immorality. Interestingly enough, it sounds like it perfectly describes America today).

  This makes it perfectly clear that even after God’s covenant with Israel was complete, He still saw homosexuality as being perverse and unnatural.

So What Do You DO?

  Be careful you don’t judge others for being a homosexual. The Bible is filled with warnings about judging others. The reality is, we’re no better than they are. Sin is sin. Our own personal sins maybe be different, but to God, they’re all equally wrong and in need of repentance and forgiveness.

  This doesn’t mean however, that we ought to accept them into our churches as equal Christians (though if they are interested in attending we shouldn’t discourage them as long as they aren’t preforming indecent acts within the church). If you have friends declaring themselves to be Christians and homosexual in the same breath, you need to point out the contradiction to them kindly yet firmly.

 

  “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage –with great patience and careful instruction.” ~2 Timothy 4:2

  “So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” ~Luke 17:3

  “But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, and idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not eat.” ~1 Corinthians 5:9-11

  This doesn’t necessarily mean to completely shun them, but it does mean you ought to maintain your distance and try to win them back over to the faith. Although you don’t need to preach to them every day about how wrong they are to be thinking they can be homosexual and Christian, you do need to make it clear to them that it goes against the Bible and try to help them see that whenever an opportune moment presents itself or you feel called to.

  For those who aren’t professing themselves to be Christians, we should attempt to lovingly point them in the right direction. As is obvious to anyone paying attention to what’s going on with this issue in our country, yelling at them and being cruel doesn’t help anything. Besides that, it’s unbiblical. Of course, sitting back and accepting is equally wrong.

 “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these things but also approve of those who practice them.” ~Romans 1: 32

    “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked man from among you.’” ~1 Corinthians 5:12-13

   In the end, we can witness to them, pray for them, and try to bring them to God. We also need to pray for ourselves, that we do not come to accept the sin of the world as something that is okay. Guard your heart. Guard your soul. Guard your Mind.

Did you know that Abby plays both piano and guitar?!