A New Beginning~ Rachel Melillo

I love starting new journals. Something about the fresh, never-been-tainted pages hits me and gives me an extra dose of joy. To me, the start of a new journal is a new beginning—it's God's reminder to me that His grace and mercies are new each morning. When I flip a page, it's clean and fresh; it's a new beginning.

As I page through my old journals, I note the variety of colors and emotion painted on the pages—tear drops smearing ink, sketches and doodles, brightly colored pens scripting the word “Yay!!!!!!!” in large capital letters. On my present journals, many of the same emotions are written in the used pages, but on the next page there's always a fresh start. A perfectly white, clean page.

Our lives aren't pretty. I've had my fair-share of disappointments and heartache. But at the beginning of the day, I've got to acknowledge that there's nothing that I can do about yesterday. I can't change the past. In Philippians 3, Paul offers the advice, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” There's nothing we can do about yesterday; it's over. Today is all we can change, and what we do today can change what happens tomorrow.

We've just entered a New Year. It's another new beginning. And with new beginnings comes the opportunity to make resolutions. This year, I'm going to base my New Year's resolution off Philippians 3:13-14 (quoted above). This year, I'm going to make my resolution to focus on what's going to happen today, not dwelling on what happened yesterday.

Did you know that Rachel's favorite time of the day is sunrise because it reminds her of God's new mercies?!

15 Winter Date Ideas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Arts and crafts are always something fun and silly to do together. Your man might not be the most creative out there but making paper snowflakes or any other craft will bring out his playful/creative side!

 

2. I don’t know one guy who doesn’t like to go sledding at least once every year! This date is cheap and easy, all you need is snow, a hill and a sled. Now GO!

 

3. Visit a book store! Go to a book store together and pick out a book together that you both would like to read together. My boyfriend and I enjoy picking out couple’s devotionals and reading them together. It’s a great way to straighten any relationship.

 

4. Volunteer at an animal shelter once a week. Most people are huge animal lovers, so unless you or your date has an allergy to animals this would be a fun and free date idea!

 

5. Movie night with family is a safe date to do in the Winter. Find the nearest Redbox and buy a good comedy or drama along with a bag of popcorn. This is a great way for you and your date to get to know the others family.

 

6. Have a game night, take that game of Scrabble or Apples to Apples and play together or with family and friends. Game nights help to learn more about each other and make great memories to go alone with it.

 

7. Make dinner together. My boyfriend and I always find this one fun. You can cook something out of the old family cookbook or make up your own recipe!

 

8. Make fireplace s’mores! If either one of you has a real fireplace light it up and cook some s’mores!

 

9. Who doesn’t enjoy a trip to the mall!?

 

10. Ice skating is a great way to learn to trust each other a little more. If you’re like me and have never been ice skating and your boyfriend does this date could make for a good learning experience for you!

 

11. Have a video game tournament with him. Nothing will touch his heart more than plopping down on the couch next to him and challenging him to a game Call of Duty!

 

12. Bowling is also another way to challenge your man’s skills!

 

13. Museums a fun way to spend the day together. You can learn together and play together depending on what museum you visit!

 

14. Build a snowman! If you get snow in the winter like I do there’s nothing like going outside, being creative and making a snowman. Use food coloring or spray paint and give old Frosty some color. Visit a GoodWill or other thrift store and buy Frosty a hat and coat. Have fun with it! Paint him your favorite Football team’s colors or paint a bunch of different things on him.

 

15. Go see a sports game. This may be a bit on the pricey side, but nothing beats a local basketball (Sadly not this year) or football game!

 

Whatever you do this year remember to keep it safe and have fun with everything you do. Don’t take things too seriously, if something doesn’t work out the way you planned it make the best out of it. The messed up dates are normally the ones that make for the greatest memories!

 

 

Did you know that Haley loves all animals?!

 

Kindness and Goodness~ Renee Arnold

So far we have covered love, joy, peace and patience. This month we will look at three virtues that are often overlooked in our culture.

Kindness and goodness are sort of the same thing in our language. They both mean considering others first and doing nice things for people. Just look at the bullying epidemic in our country. Kindness may seem like a kindergarten level topic, but evidently there are a lot of people that never listened during kindergarten. Kindness is sometimes easier than being rude. Flashing a smile to someone in need instead of following them around and insulting them. Other times it is difficult, like when your friends are teasing or gossiping about someone and you know it's wrong. In every situation kindness and goodness are the right way to go.

Another virtue lost yet treasured by our society is faithfulness. There are so many cheating scandals and adulteresses in our world. Individuals not happy with who they're with and so they go out looking for someone better. The bible calls us to be faithful to our spouse, friends, boyfriends and family. Of course that doesn't mean you stick around if you're in a destructive situation. There are always situations where the right choice is to leave.

Did you know that Renee has extremely messy handwriting?!
Did you know that Lauren owns a pair of bright pink jeans?!

Photograph property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photograph taken by Lauren Jaji.

Stewarship Part 1~ Heather Young

Stewardship: the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving.

“Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”

Titus 1:7-9

All Christians are stewards. Being a steward, or guard, requires much responsibility – especially when the person you are supervising for is God. What exactly are we to be responsible for? Money? Ourselves? Others?

Answer: All of the above.

· Money

Jesus spoke about money more than almost any other subject. He knew that money both hurts and helps us. Actually, money can be quite a good thing, if generously given and not consumed greedily. In order to handle money accountably, one should follow these three S’s:

1. Spend wisely.

2. Save much.

3. Share cautiously, yet abundantly.

The first two S’s are pretty self-explanatory, so I am just going to expand on the third one. If you have ever ridden or driven past many street corners, you have probably noticed people standing there with signs asking for help, whether it be money, food, or gas. Many passers-by have trouble discerning if they are really in need of resources besides drugs or alcohol. My parents and I only give them money if we feel like the Lord is leading us to do so. Usually we only hand out granola bars, to be on the safe side. When you do feel like God is leading you to supply for a need, don’t hesitate! Being careful of whom you give money to doesn’t mean you are not a generous person, it just means that you are a good steward of the money God has given you!

“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?”

Luke 16:9-11

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.”

Proverbs 3:9

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

Proverbs 11:25

Do with your money what you feel God wants you to do with it. Honoring God with our wealth not only means giving to Him, but also giving to others. And not just sharing our money – giving of ourselves, as well. Next month, I will reveal how to sacrificially give of our time and resources. Brace yourself for Part 2!

Did you know that Heather was content knowing that stars were just dazzling dots in the sky, until her science teacher ruined it for her?!

Did you know that Cassie loves taking pictures of random things?!

Photographs property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photograph taken by Cassie Oscar.