No One Like You

It's true. There is no other person in the world like you. No one else has your exact personality, shade of hair, color of eyes, and height all wrapped up in one the way you do. Everyone is different and unique.

I was recently reading a devotional by David Jeremiah that was talking about uniqueness and it mentioned how no snowflakes or fingerprints are alike. God specifically creates each one.

As I read, this phrase caught my attention:


"There has never been a person in history with the same combination of appearance, personality, natural talents, and spiritual gifts as you! And there never will be."



Reading this, I thought that since no one is, ever has been, or ever will be like us, only each one of us can make a particular difference to further God's kingdom. No one has done it yet, and no one will ever do it, because it waits especially for us.

Because we are all unique, we can't expect all our differences to be the same. Oh, yeah, I guess that's why they're called differences. Sometimes this is where the difficulties arise. We can easily see that girl who openly witnesses to others, or that person who can fly over the piano or play that guitar like nothing else, but when we don't have those accomplishments, it makes us feel inferior. In reality, those aren't things the Lord has determined for us to do. What would happen if no one cleaned the church bathrooms? Or if no one babysat the kids whose moms are in Bible study? What if everyone wanted to sing but there was no one working the tech to make the microphones and speakers work?

Every Christian's place and contribution to the the Kingdom is valuable. Though some are more visible than others, each one is special and important.

There is a difference somewhere that only you can make. What is it?





~Princess Gloria

Falling in Love, Part 2

I waited for You, today,
But You didn't show,
No, no, no...
I needed You, today,
So where did You go?
- "Never Alone" by Barlowgirl

You've waited. And waited. And waited. Still, you don't seem to find Him. You don't feel different, you don't act different, and you certainly don't look different (okay, maybe now you have a disappointed frown on your face). How can you try and get closer to God, when you can't see, touch, or physically hear Him? How can He become your True Love, if you don't ever experience Him in a real way?

I'm taking a Bible Study class in which we started discussing what you would do if you wanted to change someone. Would you...
a) Try to change their attitude first (feelings)
b) Try to change their behavior first (actions)

Pick one. Now think about it. Why did you chose that answer?

Okay, now that I've got you thinking (warm up exercise! :), I'll tell you which one has been proved more effective. If you picked b), you are correct. :) I know as humans we hope to change the attitude first, but if we get into a routine of behaviors (actions), the attitude will come along with it.

So why am I telling you this? It's the same thing with getting closer to God. We may feel despondent, hopeless, and sorta silly trying to fall in love with an invisible lover, but if we just try and wait for the right attitude, we may never accomplish anything. I mean, honestly, would you have done your math problems if you had to have the right attitude to do them? I doubt that biology paper would be written if your teacher had told you not to write it unless you had the positive attitude she was looking for. So first, we change our behaviors.

I will be the first one to tell you that I'm not perfect (okay, maybe my family will beat me too it ;). You have probably notice-d some: grammar, mistakes! in? (my posts") or seeen sum speling air-ers to. I haven't achieved my goal in falling in love with Him totally. I'm human, and I'm working on it. But after reading some wonderful Christian books by writers who have vastly more experience in this "subject" than I do, I've found a few "tips" that I think will help you change your behaviors- and hopefully your attitude- so that Jesus Christ isn't only your Best Friend Forever (literally :), but your Knight in Shining Armor and your Prince that gives you peace.

I'm signing out for now, but next post (I promise! :) I will have some "tips" for helping you change your behaviors towards Christ.

For Him!

Princess Catherine ~*~

P.S.

You know how I started this post with the lyrics of Barlowgirl's "Never Alone"? Well, it goes on to sing about how He will never, can never, leave or forsake us..because He loves us. He's holding up His end of the bargain (I mean, He died so that we could love Him!), now let's hold up ours.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8QubLxJI54

The Fruits of Favoritism

Have you ever been with a group of people, and two of them in particular were very good friends with one another? Half the time, they're laughing about inside jokes that only they 'get'. Maybe they'll gradually exclude the other people in the group from their conversation, or go off somewhere else. However, those two people would be shocked if you told them that they were being exclusive!

You probably remember how you felt--unhappy, lonely, and dis-valued. But are you a culprit of exclusiveness too?

Before I go on, I'll say that this applies to siblings. However, if you have one or no siblings, you can also apply this to friends, or even parents.

Favoritism is a form of exclusiveness. Among siblings it's a common thing. Usually one of the children (in the case of our family...*guilty face*...it's the oldest) will show more attachment to one sibling and not the other. It's easy, too. They might be the closest in age, are interested in the same things, or do much of the same activities.

It gets to a point where they have almost a line of communication that only they can access--a little sign with the hand, a look, a nod of the head, etc. Eventually, the two will start showing favors to one another by maybe turning the other way when something is wrong, or automatically blaming the sibling they don't favor in fights.

Of course, the two think they're doing great because they're getting along with a sibling...or that is, one of them.

In reality, they're hurting their other siblings and causing strife. Jealously, bitterness, and detachment are the fruits of favoritism. Just look at the story of Joseph.

His father favored Joseph more than his brothers, and for that he got sold to Egypt. Of course, God was working in this for good, but that's no excuse. Yes, God can produce good out of our evil, but that doesn't mean we should do it. The nation of Egypt was saved from devastating starvation, but Jacob suffered for years with a family torn apart by the fruits of favoritism.

It's really easy to overlook favoritism if you're doing it yourself (realize that this is the voice of bitter experience...). Here's a few hints to look for:

1. You find yourself automatically siding with one sibling and against the other in a fight, even if you have a nagging feeling that it's unfair.

2. You spend more time with one sibling than another.

3. Your tone of voice towards one sibling is mostly gentle, but you find yourself speaking toward another judgmentally.

4. You get angry when your parents 'excuse' bad behavior with one sibling (although you feel like they're being merciful and loving when they do the same to another)

5. You and one sibling tend to 'gang up' on another sibling during disputes.

I've said that I am speaking from my own experience. Yes, it's true. I'm coming to realize more and more that one sibling in particular is excluded from what another sibling and I do. One reason is that the sibling I favor is more my age, and we tend to like the same movies and do many activities together. The sibling I don't favor is a lot different from me, and our ages are further apart. The warning hints that I listed above are the ones that I found when I searched my actions.

Now, here are some helping tips:

1. First off, don't stop favoring the sibling you were. If you just shift your favor to another sibling, then you still have the same problem. Favor your brothers and sisters, but favor them equally!

2. Find a special time you can spend with your unfavored sibling. Once again, continue to spend time with the sibling you favor, but try to equally include your other sibling. Have a tea party with both of them, or set up a little Bible study. Help them gain a skill, or gently encourage them in their schoolwork.

3. Always look at both sides of an argument between your two siblings. Support the side that is right, not the side of the person that you show more favors to.

4. The 'both sides' hint goes for when your parents deal with the siblings.

5. Don't gang up on either sibling. If you and one sibling have a secret communication system, why don't you include your other sibling in it, or give them a wink or a nod from time to time too.

Favoritism can tear a family apart. It happened to Joseph's family. Don't let it happen to yours.

In Christ,

Princess Izori

All the Time You Need

I'm sure that if I asked any one of you, "Have you ever been short on time?", you would look at me like that was a really obvious question. Everyone is short on time! We all have jobs, chores, schoolwork, and other responsibilities, and we only have a matter of hours to do them before we have to begin all over again the next day.

But have you used that as an excuse not to read your Bible or pray? Have you been shoving God aside so that you can get everything else accomplished? I am speaking from personal experience as I tell you girls (and guys!) this. It's hard to admit for me, but it's a convicting truth: I, as well as a lot of other people, don't have the Lord as our highest priority.

Is it true that we simply don't have enough time to fit earthly responsibilities and God into one day?

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me"
John 10:14

"for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed."
1 Samuel 2:3b

The Lord knows us, His children, and he has given us all the time we need to accomplish what he wants...but not a second more. If you don't have time to do the most important thing--worship your Creator and Savior--then you are either not doing what he wants, or not being efficient with the time you have.

But what if everything you do is a necessity, and there's no way you can eliminate things to make way for God? First of all, the Lord is the number one necessity. Everything is a waste if you don't do it for Him.

Secondly, are you sure all you are doing is so important? It may be high on the priority list in your mind, but is it in the mind of God? After I realized I was having a time problem, I examined my actions and found that most of my time I squandered away in non-important things. Here are a few major trouble-shooting questions I asked my self.

1. Am I spending too much time on the computer? There's a really cute website that has hilarious captioned pictures of cats that I've found. Although a lot of the pictures are really funny, I find that whenever I'm on the computer, I automatically check that site to see if there's anything new to laugh at. It wastes a surprising amount of time.

2. Am I avoiding or sloppily rushing through my tasks? Getting it done poorly but quickly only means that you'll have to do it again. It's a short cut that is really longer.

3. Is what I'm doing the most important thing? Am I missing out on something even more crucial?

4. Is everything that I'm doing absolutely important and pleasing to the Lord, but I feel really rushed?

And here is how I fixed them:

1. Take an internet break for a couple days. I took one just recently, and I was amazed at how I got used to not spending time on the computer.

2. In everything you do, do it for the Lord. Try memorizing Bible verses about a thankful heart/good attitude when doing an unpleasant, menial chore like folding laundry. Always be cheerful and willing to help others. Also, don't procrastinate!

3. Carefully evaluate all that you're doing. Could you be doing something else that really needs to be done?

4. Consider a schedule change. This is a lot easier if you're home schooled, but even people who go to school can still mix around their chores and homework. Try getting up earlier to have quiet time with God. However, I wouldn't suggest staying up later to have it unless there's no other option.

I hope this helps anyone who has been struggling with the same issues as me!

In Christ,

Princess Izori

Attitude--Part 2

Click HERE for Part 1.

Attitude. We all have it. Sometimes, it can get pretty nasty. I think attitude is a combination of pride, selfishness, and ungratefulness. It comes from anything--we could be going through a spiritually rocky time, we could be tired from a late night, or we could simply have a headache like Ruth did in our story. When we have attitude, we are only thinking of one person: ourselves. We also blame it on other people.

It's amazing what we humans can disproportion to fit into our own theory. Did mom tell me to do the laundry while I tried to read an exciting book? She doesn't care about my relaxation at all! What a selfish person!

Or could it be possible that mom is concerned about getting the clothes clean so that the whole family will run smoother? Even though it's my fault that I'm not doing my job, I'm seeing it as mom is provoking me out of cruelty. Sounds twisted?

Guess what. This selfish, prideful attitude doesn't only effect you; it effects everyone around you.

God created the family for a high purpose--to serve Him. The family is one of the best weapons for combating Satan. But how can we carry out this plan if even one of us is grumbling on the couch, thinking selfish thoughts? Even with one piece missing, a machine can't work. One bolt gone--and everything falls apart.

Compare that to your attitude. If you are whiny, do other people tend to follow your example? What about if you're gracious and considerate? Does everything run better?

Remember, when you have a bad attitude, you're doing Satan a favor. In our story (click on the link at the very top of this post to view it) Ruth's retaliation to a whining sister eventually lead to a family meltdown.

Maybe the problem isn't with you. What if it's not you, but a sibling, who has the attitude issue. In that case, remember the 'log vs. speck' rule. Are you having a holier-than-thou attitude toward your sibling? Do you have a log in your eye, so to speak? You are in charge of your attitude. If you respond in gentleness to your sibling, they will follow your example eventually.

Remember, above all, our attitudes and responses to situations should show people that we belong to the Lord Jesus!

In Christ,

Princess Izori

Learning Through Disappointment

NOTE: This was a post that appeared on my other blog, Just Passing By.

A day ago, I was really excited. Can ya guess why? I was going to be an extra in a new movie that will be coming out! I was so excited, especially since it was about a Christian soccer player. Soccer is, like, MY hobby besides all the other stuff, and I absolutely LOVE it. And it's always been my secret dream to be an actress. I'm horribly un-photogenic and I'm not convinced I can act (not to mention I'm kinda shy) but it's my secret goal. So when I found out about this, I was over-the-top excited. I was convinced this was the answer to my prayers, and it would lead me into being an actress!

But, like so many things, this conclusion was not to be.

It so happened that on all the dates of filming we had stuff going on. There was no way we could do it. I was so disappointed.

No, disappointed doesn't really grasp it. I was devastated. It's everything I imagined what having your dream trampled on would feel like. Yes, I'm really melodramatic, I know. But still, I was really, really looking forward to it.

And then, after crying a little and wondering if God was trying to torture me, I got to thinking.

You know what, maybe God doesn't want me to start as an extra. Maybe he wants me to start my acting career as the star of the show. ;)

Maybe he has a different plan in mind, one that will be sooooo much better than the one I was hoping for.

Hey, maybe he doesn't want me to be an actress at all.

Maybe he knows more than I do about the consequences of being famous--the media watching your every move, all the temptations a star goes through, the loneliness.

Perhaps God knows that being famous will turn me into, say, Miley Cyrus (no offense, Miley fans, but to me she's the worst I could ever get). After all, I've never been famous before.

Or perhaps God wants me to work on something else more important in my life first, such as being a better sister to my lil' siblings, especially one in particular. If I'm faithful with a little, I could be trusted with much.

But who can grasp God's mind? It's so above us, and I'm really thankful for that. God will do what's best for me, even if I don't think it's good at the time.

So, even while I'm working through all of this, I'm getting more grateful. Our pastor preached on Sunday about Jacob wrestling with the Angel of the Lord, and how the Angel merely touched Jacob to dislocate his hip, making Jacob to limp for the rest of his life. It caused him to lean on the Lord solely for his protection.

Sometimes, a limp can be one of the best thing God gives us. It teaches, corrects, and humbles, and in the end we should be happy he gave us this 'limp'.

So, while I'm waiting to make my famous debut as an actress (lol), I'll work hard on being a better daughter and sister. It's even better than being a star, after all.

In Christ,

Princess Izori

P.S. This movie that I'm talking about is For the Glory. I know two people who will be having some big roles in it (I also know some other extras). It'll be really weird watching the movie and saying, "Hey! We know him!" Lol. Oh, yes, and it's a professional movie. Just in case you were wondering. =)

Attitude--Part 1(Our Story)

Inside the house was nearly as dark as outside. The humid, low clouds reflected the storm that was brewing in the household that June afternoon. It had all started with four year old Leah...

"Mo-o-o-o-o-m!!"

The garage door slammed open, and then closed forcefully. Leah--with a tear-stained, swollen face and stringy blond hair damp with sweat--came flying into the kitchen. She stopped at the sight of her sixteen year old sister.

"Where's mom?" she whined. "Ruth, where's mom?"

Achingly, Ruth held her head in her hands. With the sudden hot and humid weather they had been experiencing, she had a terrible headache and wasn't feeling well at all. "You need to adjust your tone before I tell anything to you, young lady!" she said tersely.

Leah burst into tears as stomped her foot. "B-but Esther and her friends are having a Popsicle, and I want one t-too!"

Ruth's brown eyes narrowed as her sister's chaos sent a fresh burst of pain through her head. "Stop thinking of yourself!" she shouted. "Mom's sewing upstairs, so why'd you have to scream at me?"

Leah gave a fresh sob and sprinted up the stairs. Ruth moaned as she watched her go. Next thing she'll do is wake up Baby Jonathan from his nap!

Giggles and girlish voices from the garage broke Ruth from her thoughts. The peace and quiet, already cracked by Leah, shattered completely as ten year old Esther and her two friends swung open the garage door.

"Hey, Ruth!" Esther said brightly. "Can you ask mom if Monica and Leslie can--"

"No!" Ruth snapped. "I won't, and you can't anyway."

Monica and Leslie, Esther's friends, exchanged glances and then the former leaned forward to whisper to Esther. With her sensitive migraine, Ruth heard everything clearly.

"Hey, Esther, maybe we should leave your sister alone for a little."

But Esther had immediately flared up at Ruth's tone. "Well, excuse me, Miss Grump!" she sparked. "I--"

None of the girls had noticed Mom coming down into the kitchen. Leah had found her re-doing the sleeve to her new dress for the fifth time, and then the sewing machine had become un-threaded. That, combined with Leah's selfish behavior, had pushed even patient Mom to the limit. The pettish argument of her two oldest daughters served as the boiling point. Even then, she didn't burst yet.

"Hi, Monica and Leslie," Mom said with a strained smile. "Esther needs to go inside now. Goodbye!"

Only when the door had closed behind the two girls did Mom turn to her children.

"What is all this about?" she thundered. "Esther, couldn't you have got your sister a Popsicle?"

"She was whiny! She didn't even say please! She..." Esther trailed off when she realized that Mom wasn't paying attention to her.

"Ruth, Leah tells me that you yelled at her. Explain!"

Ruth felt like bursting into tears. "Leah came in whining and sniveling, and then she stomped her foot at me and I have a migraine and I can't find the ibuprofen!" Her voice broke into a wail.

"Can't I have a moment's peace to sew?"

"But I want a Popsicle!"

"Why can't I play?"

"This isn't helping my headache!"

And then, to top it all, Baby Jonathan started crying.
--------------------------------------------------------------

This post is continued in Part 2.

In Christ,

Princess Izori