YOU CAN SERVE IN YOUR HOME
You can help your older and/or younger sibblings with their chores. You can assist your mom at the grocery store (such as putting things in the cart onto the up on the converbelt, putting the bagged idems in the cart, loading the idems in the car, and unloading the idems from the car), or help your dad with some things around the house! There are pleanty of ways to help out! What would work best for your family?
Friday, July 17, 2009
Ways to Serve, Idea 1
The last post I (Catherine) did was about ways to serve. Here is the first idea!
YOU CAN SERVE IN YOUR CHURCH
What do you like helping with?
Is it making crafts?
Is it telling stories and/or acting them out?
Is it helping with the babies or toddlers?
Or maybe it is helping with the older children.
Perhaps you have a heart for the 4, 5, 0r 6 year olds.
It could be other things as well such as getting together a snack, helping with music, serving in VBS (Vacation Bible School), the options are almost limitless!
Ways to Serve
We have discussed not just sitting around for our Prince Charming or Knight in Shining Armor, but what should we do while waiting?
OK, first off, there is a difference between waiting and sitting around. If you noticed the "labels" at the bottom of each post, I posted the label "While waiting" not "While sitting around".
Sitting around means doing nothing, just sitting. When you are sitting, you aren't moving, at least, you're not going anywhere.
Waiting does not mean that you just sit there, it means that you wait.
Have you ever waited for someone special at the airport, bus stop, or train station? Well, don't you move around? What I mean is, don't you do something while you are waiting? You probably don't just sit there pout because they aren't coming right that second. You know they are coming and you are excited!
I know it's not the exact same thing as when you are waiting for your Prince or Knight, but you get the general gist of what I'm saying (or should I say "you get the general gist of what I'm typing" because I'm not really saying. Sorry, just had to point that out :).
So, back to While Waiting. How can we not just sit around? How can we wait with a purpose? You know how I talk about serving The King? Serving Him is a great way to help other people and do something when we are waiting other than just sitting around. Instead of growing bored, we are growing into useful and thoughtful ladies that will one day become a wife!
So what are some ways to serve The King of Kings?
Good Question.
The next few blogs posts will give you the answers!
Keep Blooming!
Princess Catherine
OK, first off, there is a difference between waiting and sitting around. If you noticed the "labels" at the bottom of each post, I posted the label "While waiting" not "While sitting around".
Sitting around means doing nothing, just sitting. When you are sitting, you aren't moving, at least, you're not going anywhere.
Waiting does not mean that you just sit there, it means that you wait.
Have you ever waited for someone special at the airport, bus stop, or train station? Well, don't you move around? What I mean is, don't you do something while you are waiting? You probably don't just sit there pout because they aren't coming right that second. You know they are coming and you are excited!
I know it's not the exact same thing as when you are waiting for your Prince or Knight, but you get the general gist of what I'm saying (or should I say "you get the general gist of what I'm typing" because I'm not really saying. Sorry, just had to point that out :).
So, back to While Waiting. How can we not just sit around? How can we wait with a purpose? You know how I talk about serving The King? Serving Him is a great way to help other people and do something when we are waiting other than just sitting around. Instead of growing bored, we are growing into useful and thoughtful ladies that will one day become a wife!
So what are some ways to serve The King of Kings?
Good Question.
The next few blogs posts will give you the answers!
Keep Blooming!
Princess Catherine
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Proverbs 31: Part I, Trustworthy
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:10-12
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:10-12
Proverbs 31 is a very good passage to memorize; it describes how to recognize a good wife. It says in the passage above that a good wife is 'worth far more than rubies'. Rubies are very valuable and precious, yet a noble wife is much more rare and valuable then them. It also says that her husband has full confidence in her, and lacks nothing of value. Apparently, a good wife is trustworthy, and her husband doesn't lose anything because of her foolishness.
A trustworthy woman would be trusted to go out shopping and not to come back with expensive, useless stuff. Her husband could trust her to use good judgement financially ( see verses 14-19 and other parts of Proverbs 31. I'll do a post on those later) and to always be faithful to him. How much good would a wife do if she isn't faithful, and instead brings trouble upon her husband? Not much.
A good way to practice being trustworthy is to prove that your wise. Use your money wisely, and also be a good friend, not a fair weather one. Then when you do get married, it'll be a lot easier.
More later, I have chores to do!
In Christ,
Princess Izori
A trustworthy woman would be trusted to go out shopping and not to come back with expensive, useless stuff. Her husband could trust her to use good judgement financially ( see verses 14-19 and other parts of Proverbs 31. I'll do a post on those later) and to always be faithful to him. How much good would a wife do if she isn't faithful, and instead brings trouble upon her husband? Not much.
A good way to practice being trustworthy is to prove that your wise. Use your money wisely, and also be a good friend, not a fair weather one. Then when you do get married, it'll be a lot easier.
More later, I have chores to do!
In Christ,
Princess Izori
Do Hard Things
Did the title catch your attention?
Well, this is the title of a book written by the twin younger brothers of Joshua Harris (he is the author of the best selling book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye"), and the title is just the same as the title of this blog;"Do Hard Things". Also on the cover are the words "A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations.", which, when I carry the book around to read while waiting for doctor appointments, always seems to catch peoples' attention and interest.
What does this have to do with anything?
I (Princess Catherine) went to a conference held by Alex and Brett. It was AMAZING! They spoke up on stage (in front of more than 300 people) without seeming fazed at all! They had some incredible points and some ideas that made you ponder (in a good way) what they said. The first section that they were talking about was mostly things in their book (Do Hard Things), but the other four sections (including a section in which their father, Greg Harris, spoke) brought up other points not included in the book. I liked this because it was not just reading the book outloud.
Here are my notes from the confrence!
Well, this is the title of a book written by the twin younger brothers of Joshua Harris (he is the author of the best selling book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye"), and the title is just the same as the title of this blog;"Do Hard Things". Also on the cover are the words "A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations.", which, when I carry the book around to read while waiting for doctor appointments, always seems to catch peoples' attention and interest.
What does this have to do with anything?
I (Princess Catherine) went to a conference held by Alex and Brett. It was AMAZING! They spoke up on stage (in front of more than 300 people) without seeming fazed at all! They had some incredible points and some ideas that made you ponder (in a good way) what they said. The first section that they were talking about was mostly things in their book (Do Hard Things), but the other four sections (including a section in which their father, Greg Harris, spoke) brought up other points not included in the book. I liked this because it was not just reading the book outloud.
Here are my notes from the confrence!
The Myth of Adolescence
Adolescence- “to grow up” or “growing up”
“The most we are expected to do as young people is the least we should be expecting of young people. The ceiling is where the floor should be.”-Alex Harris, twin brother of Brett Harris, both authors of the book “Do Hard Things”.
“The Apostle Paul did not write ‘When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But then I became a teenager and I looked like an adult, I sounded like an adult, but I still acted like a child.’ He wrote, ‘When I was a child I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” (1 Corinthians 13:11, NIV) -Alex Harris
“We are not challenging you to be like the young people 100 years ago, but we are challenging you to break out of the mold of low expectations and do “hard” things.” -Alex Harris
Five Kinds of Hard (as found in their book, “Do Hard Things”)
1. Things that go beyond your comfort zone
2. Things that go beyond what is expected or required
3. Things that are too big to accomplish alone
4. Things that don’t earn an immediate payoff
5. Things that challenge the cultural norm
Brett Harris’s Talk (June 20th, 2009)
“Our challenges have grown, but we have grown with our challenges.” – Brett Harris, twin brother of Alex Harris, author of the book “Do Hard Things”.
“It seems that the older we get, we define our challenges by the level of difficulty, but when we were younger, we tried to complete our task(s)/challenge(s) even if we failed more than once before.” –Brett
“Have you really reached your limit or has it gotten too hard for you so you quit? God is not glorified when we limit ourselves to things that come easily to us.” – Brett
Q. How does growth happen?
A. By testing and exerting ourselves.
How Do We Do Hard Things?
1. It Would Look Like Trampling Sin in Our Lives
"The flesh wants to do easy things, like get angry. Anger is wrong and easy. Being self-controlled is right, but difficult.” – Brett Harris
2. Battling Discouragement and Complacency·
Discouragement limits our ability to want to do hard things.
Complacency- being satisfied with what you have/are and won’t exert themselves·
“Don’t do what’s hard for other people, do things that are hard for you.” – Brett
3. Doing More Than What’s Required
It is so easy to expect our parents, friends, elders, and/or pastors to equip us for life.”– Brett
4. Getting Over Our Fear of Failure
“Nothing will hold you back more than the fear of falling when trying to Do Hard Things.” – Brett Harris
“It’s ok if we fail while trying to do hard things as long as we learn from our experiences. I grow stronger, even though I fail.” – Brett
5. Doing Small Things·
“It’s ok to do small, every day things. Doing a hard thing doesn’t have to be big.”- Brett
6. You Best Life
“Not ‘your easiest life’ but ‘your best life’.” – Brett Harris
Talk By Alex Harris (June 20th, 2009)
The Power of Companionship
1. Not Just Alone
Companions have a huge influence on you
2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."·
“We are made to work with one another.” –Alex Harris·
Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
2. Not Just with Peers
1 Corinthians 15
Ephesians 1:1-6
3. Nor Just with People
Proverbs 13:20 (ESV)
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”·
“The books you read, the TV you watch, the computer games we play, exc. are companions. We don’t think of these things as companions and that is why they are shaping us without us realizing it.” – Alex Harris·
Give thought to those non-human companions
Another Talk by Brett Harris (June 20th, 2009)
7 Practical Encouragements:
1. I (Meaning Brett) Encourage You to have Heroes·
Examples: “This is the type of husband/wife I want someday” or “This is the type of mother/father I want to be like someday.”
2. Make Friends with Dead People (Authors)·
“I know this sounds weird but hang with me…..” – Brett Harris·
Read History biographies about people and Christian authors’ books
3. Take Advantage of What “The Rebelution” is Doing
Use the material available:
“Do Hard Things” the book
4. Find the Secret Rebelutionaries
Find them and encourage them!
5. Seek Out Godly Individuals in Your Life
Ask Them "If you were my age, what books would you recommend?
What do you want me to know?
What would you want to tell your younger self?"
6. God is the Ultimate Companion!
To know HIM More:
Read HIS word, the Bible
Talk to HIM by praying
Remember HIS ways are not our ways
7. Change Something!
Things aren’t going to be perfect
It doesn’t have to be a big change!
“Storms will come, but don’t be despaired!” – Brett·
“If you always do what you’ve always done, nothing will change; no matter how you feel right now.” – Brett
Remember, Change Something!
Keep Blooming,
Princess Catherine WhiteRose
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Contentment
Being content is a major part of a good marriage, and learning to count your blessings is good for every circumstance. If your mom asks you to fold laundry when you really wanted to read that book you just got, you can either pout and frown while you do your chore, making it miserable for yourself and everyone around you, or you can do it with a cheerful smile and everything will go so much quicker. Believe me, I am not perfect, and this is one of my hardest issues. But it really works!
I highly dislike to do a number of things, including my chores. I have tried being grumpy, and it only prolongs the process, makes me careless, makes me miserable, and then I start thinking bad things about mom. 'Why is she ordering me around? She doesn't have school work, she doesn't write books, she doesn't have a zillion and three other things to do...all she does is sit on the couch eating bonbons all day!" And it gets worse.
However, if I'm cheerful, I can see more easily how I'm blessed more then I can imagine. I guess I'd better be thankful for dirty dishes to load into the dishwasher, because that means we have food to dirty them. And these weeds really aren't that bad, imagine how good the tomatoes will taste when they're ripe! My whole day lightens up when I'm being cheerful and acting like a proper young maiden.
Contentment is a lesson we should all learn (me especially) before we marry our prince. Because not all of us will be blessed with a castle to live in. Maybe some of us will be blessed with a little straw hut, or with no home at all. Being grumpy and discontent will cause us to miss out on the little things that make straw huts or the life of a nomad precious, like spending time with your prince, or watching a sunset. Instead, you'll be thinking how much better it would be to have a working dishwasher, or an actual garden with something other then weeds in it. If you grumble at having to change yet another of Mary's diapers or having to drop what your doing to give Johnny yet another push on the swing, you won't bother to ponder their importance. What if Johnny or Mary died? There'll be no more swings or dirty diapers. And if they don't die, there will come a time when they will be grown and out of the house. Then you'll remember all the missed opportunities to train Mary to be a princess and Johnny to be a prince--because you were to busy complaining.
Opportunities to practice being content:
While doing chores. Smile and be pleasant, think of all the benefits of chores. Laundry? Well, be thankful you have clothing. Have to watch a younger sibling? Be thankful that you have a younger sibling to watch.
While in hard situations. Always count your blessings, but especially in hard situations. If you lost a loved one, instead of blaming God and asking him why, praise God for all the good times you had with them.
In everthing. Does this need further explanation? In everything give praise to God, not just when the going's good.
Remember, princesses are not always bathed in luxury. Think of Snow White, cheerfully doing housework for the dwarves in the woods. Or Aurora, being raised as a peasant-girl. The Disney movies may show them blissfully picking roses among the woods or making gooseberry pies, but their lives were much harder then that! Or all the real life princesses, such as Pocohantas and Elizabeth I, Esther, and many more. Pocohantas put her life on the line and was kidnapped, Elizabeth was kept under guard by her sister who hated her, and Esther had to keep her identity secret, and later had to confront the king to save her people. Did they complain of their hard lot and do nothing?
Here are some Scripture verses on contentment:
Philippians 4:10-13
Hebrews 13:5
I Timothy 6:6-8
There are so many more!
In Christ,
Princess Izori
I highly dislike to do a number of things, including my chores. I have tried being grumpy, and it only prolongs the process, makes me careless, makes me miserable, and then I start thinking bad things about mom. 'Why is she ordering me around? She doesn't have school work, she doesn't write books, she doesn't have a zillion and three other things to do...all she does is sit on the couch eating bonbons all day!" And it gets worse.
However, if I'm cheerful, I can see more easily how I'm blessed more then I can imagine. I guess I'd better be thankful for dirty dishes to load into the dishwasher, because that means we have food to dirty them. And these weeds really aren't that bad, imagine how good the tomatoes will taste when they're ripe! My whole day lightens up when I'm being cheerful and acting like a proper young maiden.
Contentment is a lesson we should all learn (me especially) before we marry our prince. Because not all of us will be blessed with a castle to live in. Maybe some of us will be blessed with a little straw hut, or with no home at all. Being grumpy and discontent will cause us to miss out on the little things that make straw huts or the life of a nomad precious, like spending time with your prince, or watching a sunset. Instead, you'll be thinking how much better it would be to have a working dishwasher, or an actual garden with something other then weeds in it. If you grumble at having to change yet another of Mary's diapers or having to drop what your doing to give Johnny yet another push on the swing, you won't bother to ponder their importance. What if Johnny or Mary died? There'll be no more swings or dirty diapers. And if they don't die, there will come a time when they will be grown and out of the house. Then you'll remember all the missed opportunities to train Mary to be a princess and Johnny to be a prince--because you were to busy complaining.
Opportunities to practice being content:
While doing chores. Smile and be pleasant, think of all the benefits of chores. Laundry? Well, be thankful you have clothing. Have to watch a younger sibling? Be thankful that you have a younger sibling to watch.
While in hard situations. Always count your blessings, but especially in hard situations. If you lost a loved one, instead of blaming God and asking him why, praise God for all the good times you had with them.
In everthing. Does this need further explanation? In everything give praise to God, not just when the going's good.
Remember, princesses are not always bathed in luxury. Think of Snow White, cheerfully doing housework for the dwarves in the woods. Or Aurora, being raised as a peasant-girl. The Disney movies may show them blissfully picking roses among the woods or making gooseberry pies, but their lives were much harder then that! Or all the real life princesses, such as Pocohantas and Elizabeth I, Esther, and many more. Pocohantas put her life on the line and was kidnapped, Elizabeth was kept under guard by her sister who hated her, and Esther had to keep her identity secret, and later had to confront the king to save her people. Did they complain of their hard lot and do nothing?
Here are some Scripture verses on contentment:
Philippians 4:10-13
Hebrews 13:5
I Timothy 6:6-8
There are so many more!
In Christ,
Princess Izori
Answers to the Spiritual Questions Teenagers Ask
"Answers to the Spiritual Questions Teenagers Ask"
by Gwendolyn Michell Diaz
*****
"Answers to the Spiritual Questions Teenagers Ask" is a great book written by Gwendolyn Michell Diaz. I would strongly recommend that you read it!
Here are some things about the author: (this information is found in the book)
Gwendolyn Michell Diaz is a mother of four sons. Her husband works in Search Ministries, a ministry that helps answer questions that "had bothered me (Gwendolyn) most of my growing-up life". (this quote can be found in the introduction of her book "Answers to the Spiritual Questions Teenagers Ask")
I really like this book! It addresses questions that we might have but are afraid to ask or have asked and the people we do ask don't have the answers.
In this book, Mrs. Diaz answers the questions: (these are found in the Contents)
1. Why Should I Read This Book?
2. Can you Prove to Me That There is a God?
3. If there is a God, Why Does He Allow So Much Suffering?
4. How Do We Know that The Bible is a Reliable Source?
5. Did the Miracles in the Bible Really Happen?
6. Isn't it Narrow-Minded to Say That Jesus is the Only Way to God?
7. What About Those Who Have Never Heard About Jesus?
8. Isn't Christianity Just a Psychological Crutch?
9. Is There Really a Hell? What about Heaven?
10. What Does it Mean to Believe?
11. Can I Be Sure I'm Going to Heaven?
She answers these with points that are easy to understand and reseniable. I would strongly recommend reading this book!
Keep Blooming!
Princess Catherine WhiteRose
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