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

Falling in Love, Part 1

All the TV shows, movies, stories, and even some music have a love story in them. Boy meets girl, or girl sees guy and...well, you know the rest. So when were in a society revolving around "love", and one that is always trying to get us into a relationship, it's hard to focus on the One who should be our true love: Christ Jesus.

Do you ever hear a song, and one of its lyrics just speaks volumes to you? Well, that's what happened to me (Catherine) when I was listening to the song "By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue North. Verse 2 starts off with these lyrics:


Why are you looking for love?
Why are you searching, as if I'm not enough?
To where will you go, child?
To where will you run?
(to hear the whole song, click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J95rAr0gOFU )


Those two lines especially struck me. Why are we always looking for love? Why do people, no matter if they believe in Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior or not, always have that burning desire to be cherished and adored?
The answer is simply that Christ gave that feeling to us so that we would look for Him. He knows that the world can't satisfy that want for love, because He made it so that only He could fill that hole. That's why the culture is constantly trying to get you into a relationship or go the next step. It's trying to fit the wrong puzzle piece in the hole that only God can fill. You may think you're close to filling it up, but it will never fully be complete.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying it's wrong to love, or that we should only love God, and shun everyone else. That's not at all what I'm getting at. You see, God made the Church as a body, not as a single-cell. We were designed to work together as a community. What I am trying to say though is that God should be our first love. We must strive after Him constantly, because He is the only unblemished picture of what true love really is (see 1 John 4:7-8). He created love, and He created us. How can we even begin to honestly love someone, if we don't even know what genuine love looks like? It would be like trying to make just one puzzle in a whole bin with other mixed puzzle pieces without the box-top: no matter how hard you tried, it would never come out how the creator of the puzzle wanted it to look like.

So to find what real love is like, we must go to the Creator: Jesus Christ. But how can we start our journey to loving Him? You can't send Him cards, or talk to Him, or go out on a "date" with Him. Or can you?

In the second part of this post, I hope to show you some ways that will hopefully start pointing you in the direction.

Blessings,

Princess Catherine ~*~

Reflection

Picture with me, if you will, a beautiful, breath-taking mountain. It stretches high into the sky and is the most beautiful thing you could ever see! Its color is a glorious and clear blue, and the top sparkles in the sunlight.


Down below, at the foot of the mountain, there is a lake. It has been put in that particular spot for a reason: to reflect the mountain and its splendor. However, the lake is more like a swamp, with brown grasses and bare trees growing in it. The water is murky and dirty, and the bit that can be seen through the plant overgrowth has no way of reflecting anything. How can the lake fulfill its purpose? If only there was some way to remove the ugliness from it!



So it is with us and God.


God is like the beautiful mountain. His majesty and wonder are indescribable! He is so glorious and strong.


We are like the lake, meant to reflect His beauty and glory. This, though, is impossible for us to do on our own. We are full of sin, which dirties the water and produces tangled vines and tough grasses. There is no way that Jesus can be reflected in us.


But God, Who is rich in mercy, gives us the opportunity to be redeemed, to accept Him into our hearts and lives. Once we do that, He starts the long process of cutting away the debris and clearing out the water. Bit by bit, we lose our life-dominating sin a little at a time: disobedience, rebellion, mean words, ugly and improper thoughts, evil desires, lusts, jealousy, pride, selfishness, discontentment, and the list continues.

If we let Him, we will, little by little, begin to reflect Him, drawing more attention to our King than ourselves. As He clears the lake, it looks more like the mountain than a lake because the mountain is bigger than the lake and its reflection fills the entire area of water.


Becoming a beautiful, reflecting lake is a lifelong process. The Lord knows the amount of sin that we have in our lives and, in His compassion, deals with that sin little by little, one at a time. But we have to be willing to allow God to deal with us.


That doesn't mean that we will never return to a sin once it has been conquered through Christ. However, because we can approach the Throne of Grace with confidence we can be forgiven of the sin and given the ability to move on.

Is there something that Jesus might be pruning from your life right now? Something that you won't allow Him access to deal with? You can only be transformed into a beautiful lake, a radiant reflection of His glory, if you let Him be in control.


~Princess Gloria

Another Reason for Modesty

As Princess Catherine and Princess Izori have pointed out in their posts, modesty is important because it can help you be a witness for Christ and can even help to keep you safe from dangerous situations and unwanted attention. In this post I'd like to share with you yet another reason that modesty is important.


Modesty helps the guys around us to keep their minds pure.


Guys are wired differently than girls are, so when they see girls who are showing inappropriate parts of their bodies(i.e. cleavage, stomach, large part of their back, too much of their legs, etc.) by wearing tight, short, or low clothing, their minds go to places that they shouldn't venture into. They can easily start thinking impure thoughts, to the extreme.


Because God made us differently, we girls don't have as much of a problem with things like that, but that doesn't mean we don't have a responsibility to do what we can to help our future husbands and our brothers in Christ. If we will steer clear of immodest clothing and dress in an appropriate way that honors the Lord, it can make a difference. Instead of the guys being wrapped up in thinking about our bodies, they can see us and talk to us without being distracted.


It must be frustrating to them when they're trying to keep their minds pure to see a Christian girl, wearing revealing clothes, walking around not bothering to help them in this matter. Please realize I don't mean to point fingers or condemn, but this is the truth. I've seen many Christian girls dress immodestly(in my opinion) while they think what they're wearing is fine. This can distract guys and cause them to sin in thinking wrong thoughts.


Also, whenever you meet your future husband, wouldn't it be great if you two could have a relationship that was based more on Christ than on physical appearances? Wouldn't you like for him to like you and love you for who you are, not how you look? Why not start practicing to dress modestly now?


I'm not asking you to dress down, dress in a dumpy manner, or to not be fashionable, but please take a look at how you are dressing and what you are wearing. We don't want to be a hindrance to a guy's walk with the Lord. Let's help them out by being modest!



~Princess Gloria

The Above Reproach Rule, Number 2

I know that in December (December 20th to be exact) I said that I would do the Above Reproach Rules, but do to a number of factors, I haven't been able to write this post until now. If you've forgotten about the first Above Reproach Rule, please click here to refresh your memory.

2. The Two Eye Ball Rule

The second rule of three is a rule that was explained to me by Eric and Leslie Ludy (not personally, but in one of their books). It's called the "Two Eyeball Rule". Below is an extract from their book "Meet Mr. Smith", and it talks about the second rule.

During Eric’s single years, he lived by something that he referred to as the “the two
eyeball principle.” (I should add here that the entire League has gone on record in agreeing with me that this phrase is about as unromantic and awkward sounding as a foghorn.)
The two eyeball principle was based on a something that God taught Eric in college,
when he realized how differently he would act around girls if his future wife could see his words and actions. He began to live as if his future wife was watching him interact with the opposite gender at all times – as if her “two eyeballs” were upon him. (Why couldn’t it just be her “two eyes” that were upon him? I have yet to receive a good explanation for this!)
Eric began to ask himself the question, “If my future wife could see me now, how would
she feel about what I am doing or saying? Would she feel honored? Would she feel protected?
Or would she feel hurt and jealous?” Those simple questions began to revolutionize Eric’s
interaction with girls. He decided that someday, at his wedding, he wanted all the girls who had known him during his single years to come up to his future wife and say, “Eric has always
honored and respected you – even before you were in his life.”

See link for more: http://www.setapartlife.com/Meet_Mr_Smith_Bonus_files/Mr-Smith-Bonus-Content.pdf

This rule is one we can all apply, and its rewards are immense! You see, if you are faced with a decision that you don't know what to do, think about this; would I do it if my future husband were here?Now, I'm sorry I don't have a cute little phrase like WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) or FROG (Fully Rely On God), and I know that WIDIIMFHWH doesn't sound catchy enough. The closest I can get is "If he could see, would it embarrass me?", but that's beside the point. It doesn't matter how you remember it, the point is that you do remember it! How many of you would like guys to come up to your husband and say "(Your name) has always honored and respected you- even before you were a part of her life"? I know I would! And wouldn't you want to know that your future husband is doing the same for you? Again, I know I would!

I know it can be hard to apply this continually, but- with God's help- you can do it! Also, have accountability partners. They could be close girl friends, your sister, Mom, Dad, or even your brother. Before you laugh, consider this; your brother knows how you act normally towards boys (he is one!), so when you start doing something that is unnatural (like staring at a guy continually or sighing when he walks past), he knows. And the greatest thing is, he'll let you know (you can count on it)! Having people keep you accountable is important, and also keeps you on your guard (the less times brother says "Cut it out" the better, right? :)

When you apply these two Above Reproach Rules (Rule of Three and Two Eye Ball Rule), you not only are honoring your future spouse by your actions, but also honoring God and protecting yourself from unnecessary hurt and embarrassment.

Blessings,

List Your Requirements. . .

. . . and keep them there!


Do not give in to anyone who wants you to compromise on your requirements for your future husband! These will allow you to know what you're waiting for and not get seriously involved with a man who doesn't meet those requirements.


What exactly do I mean about 'requirements'? I'm talking about certain points which you determine your future spouse must have in order for you to marry him.


But what if you don't have these standards yet?


My advice: make them now! In doing this you will know your standards when a time comes when you become interested in a guy or if one asks you out. Then you can consult your list and see whether or not that man matches your requirements. If not, there's no point in starting a serious relationship if you know that you couldn't marry him. That doesn't mean you could not or should not be friends with him; it's just advisable to go any farther than that.


What should you include in your requirements?


Some answers are obvious, while others completely depend on how you were brought up, your personality, what you see in others' marriages, etc. Here are some that would be good to include.



1-He must be a Christian. If you are a Christian, this should be a must. The Bible commands in 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 that we shouldn't be yoked with unbelievers. Plus this can be very hard and frustrating in a marriage relationship if you don't agree about the very thing that should be fundamental in your marriage. ( If you'd like to read more about this topic you can go to the Being Yoked post by myself, Princess Gloria) There's an addition to this, however: He must be a Christian who is showing fruit. Anyone can say they're a Christian, go to church, and all that, but the kind of Christian man that you should wait for should have fruit in his life of serving and loving the Lord. Here are a few examples to show you what I mean: (1) he leads a Bible study, (2) he actively serves at church, (3) the way he lives his life reflects that he is a follower of Christ and honoring the Lord.



2-He should have a high work ethic. In other words, he should be a hard worker, doing a job well. He isn't lazy(as in all the time) and does poor work; no, he works hard. This is important, because (1) then he will honor God by working hard, and (2) he will be able to provide for you.



3-He is committed to the permanents of marriage. This man should not go into marriage with the thought that he can get out of it in any way if it doesn't work. Hopefully, both of you will have been seeking the Lord's will in this and will know that you're supposed to marry. Marriage is hard and may not seem the way you or he thought it is, but you shouldn't think that divorce is an option.



4-Same Master, same mission. As in point #1, you both need to be Christians(have the same Master), but you all also need to have the same mission. If God calls you to be a medical missionary in Africa and the Lord calls this man to be a pastor in Asia, that obviously conflicts and won't work. The one the Lord has planned for you will have a similar mission in life.



5-He shares your value of purity in the pre- and post-wedding relationship. Purity doesn't stop once you're married; it is something to practice your entire life! This man needs to understand and agree with that. This doesn't mean that he(or you!) will not fail, but that you both realize that importance of it.(You can read more about this in Purity: Not Just a Now Thing by myself, Princess Gloria.)



There are several other requirements for your future husband, and some of them will differ from person to person, but some shouldn't. As I said when I started this post, don't compromise on your requirements! The Lord knows what you need and he will send you exactly whom you are waiting for, and they will match your standards. Carefully consider your list and see if there is a point which should actually be on your "Wants for my future husband" list. Some requirements may not actually be requirements, but only things you want him to have. Also pray over what should go on your standards list and what should go on the wants list; you may also be able to talk to your parents about what would be important to have as an requirement. But don't give in to anyone who wants you to go against the requirements you have set. The Lord will send someone who meets your standards perfectly; don't jump ahead of Him.



~Princess Gloria



P.S. I would like to point out that Princess Catherine also write a post about this topic in A List of Requirements. Check it out!

The Consequences of Immodesty

Pick any store, and you'll probably find the inevitable. In at least one area, there will be magazines. Magazines with pictures you would be absolutely shocked to find where any toddler can catch a glimpse of them. Magazines that portray immodesty as exciting and daring.

Have you ever envied the models? Just even momentarily? After all, they look so carefree and glamorous, and they make loose jeans and skirts seem really plain and boring.

However, keep this in mind. Not only is it disobeying God, (and making a fool of yourself), but immodesty can be bad in other ways.

First of all, they're just plain impractical. If you have ever tried to run in one of those impossibly tight skirts, you will get my point. What if you have to reach up high for something? Or bend down to pick something up? What if you get drawn into a fast-paced game of street soccer or a game of tag?

Second, being immodest can be outright dangerous. I won't go into details because this post shouldn't require a 'mature content' warning, but unsavory characters often go after women who are dressed immodestly. Drawing unwanted eyes is enormously dangerous.

And how else is immodesty bad?

As Christians, we are called to 'be in the world, not of it'. We are supposed to stand out, not go with the flow and dress in the tube shirts and tiny shorts. If someone saw us dressed revealingly, would they know we were Christians? If they already were aware of our faith, what would they think? Probably something along the lines of, 'Well, Christians aren't different from anyone else. As far as I can see, there's nothing special.'

That's not what we want people to think. We want them to think, 'Wow! They're different! I wonder why?'

Remember that the next time you catch a glimpse of a celebrity in typical 'star' clothing. Immodesty isn't what it's cracked up to be...at all.

In Christ,

Princess Izori

What If People Ask About Waiting?

Fifteen-year-old Sarah had just returned from a fantastic teen girls’ conference that had been held at her church and she was pumped. One of the last speakers had addressed the issue of purity and had stressed the importance of it, especially in the world now when purity had gone downhill. “Girls, and I suppose guys too, though we’re not talking about them right now, try to get as close to the “Not Pure” line as they possibly can without going over it,” said the speaker. “This is not God’s plan in purity. He wants us to be pure not only in our bodies, but in our hearts and minds as well. He wants us to exhibit purity in every situation, every relationship, and every thought, word, and action. He wants us to show purity in every single area of our lives. Is this difficult? Absolutely! But do we have to do it on our own? No. God will help us on this; we just need to ask him. Let me say one more thing: this will not happen all at once. It will take time, and sometimes I still struggle with this concept, because we want to wake up one morning and find that we’ve suddenly mastered purity. You will fall; I will fall, but we need to make sure that we get back up and try again.” That night, Sarah had signed a purity pledge, stating that she promised to remain pure for her future husband, and she was terribly excited about what she’d determined to do. For a few days, things went smoothly, but a couple of weeks later, a thought hit her, and it bothered her for days before she decided to talk with her mom about it.

“What if people ask about waiting or about why I’m waiting?” she wailed. “What would I say? People will think that I’m a geek! I mean, how many people nowadays wait for their future husband? Some of the girls at school are always talking about what boys they’re going out with now, and who dumped who, and I just know that they’ll ask me someday about who I’m dating. What will I say?”

Have you ever felt like this? In a world where guy/girl relationships are so prominent, someone who’s waiting for their future spouse is a bit harder to find. They’re definitely there, but not always easy to see. Now suppose you’ve decided, or even made a pledge, to stay pure for your husband, but you’re hoping, hoping, hoping that no one will talk to you about it because you have the same fears as Sarah: “What would I say?” “People would think I’m a geek!” Here are some thoughts:

1) Be prepared. This one is a bit hard (for me, too!) because it means taking the time to think about what you’ll say and do before this happens and to plan for it. It’s hard to sit down and do that when we don’t really see that situation happening to us, or when we think we’ll be able to deal with it right then and there.


2) Who cares? This can be hard also because we care about what people think of us. We want people to think good things about us and to like us, and if we say that we’re waiting, people may think that we’re weird, perhaps even too weird to hang out with! But I would encourage you to stand up for the fact that you’re waiting, though it may get hard. If people think you’re weird, that’s their problem, not yours, since you are honoring God in waiting for your future husband.


3) In standing up for what you believe it right, you may encourage someone else to do the same. There could possibly be someone who has been too shy or scared or self-conscious to stand up for waiting. If they realize that you stand up for it, you may help give them the courage to do the same, and through it all you may gain a new friend. Am I saying that there are people like that in every crowd and in every situation? Not necessarily, but there could be. Even if there aren’t, I would still encourage you to stay strong for your beliefs.


4) Pray. Ask God to help give you the words to say, and then to have the courage to say it. Ask Him to help you stand strong, no matter what! Ask Him to use you as a blessing and/or encouragement to someone as you stand.

I hope that this is helpful to you, and remember, if you are God’s princess, this is what he says to you:

“’Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5b-6, NIV)

~Princess Gloria

Purity: Not Just a Now Thing

"I can't wait 'til I get married! Then I'll be done with this purity thing!"

We sometimes think of purity this way, don't we? That we can be done with it once we get married. But purity isn't just a now thing. Is it important to try to be pure now? Absolutely! But we shouldn't stop being pure once we get married. Purity is a life-long struggle; yes, I DO mean struggle! It's hard to be pure because doing so is so much against what we instinctively want to do!
But purity is not something we do now, then we get married and can drop it! Even after we're married we need to continue to be pure, in every area of life. We should be honoring God through our actions, our thoughts, and our words. Will we fail? Probably so. But can we be forgiven? Yes! We will need to get up and try again, but God will forgive us; we just need to ask for it.

Perhaps you're reading this and thinking, "But I'm not married yet! How does this apply to me now?" In a sense, it doesn't. This is simply a post bringing to your attention the fact that purity doesn't end with marriage. Concentrate on staying pure now, and when you get married (if you get married), you can then continue to walk in purity.

~Princess Gloria

What is Lady-Like?

Many people have very mixed feelings on what exactly lady-like means. Some feel that being lady-like is being scared of mice and mud, fainting at the mere suggestion of danger, and in other words, being a wimp. So they never want to be like a lady. Instead, they act all tough and try to be like a boy.

A true lady is not at all like that.

Think of all the pilgrim ladies--they were true woman, and they certainly weren't scared of danger! They were traveling across an ocean, far from the land they had known, into a country filled with who-knew-what, to keep their children free to worship God.

A lady isn't a wimp, rather, she is very courageous. She supports her husband and raises her children in a world that isn't all pretty. She is ready with a gun or a sword when someone is out to hurt her family, and she doesn't shrink at having to be brave. One doesn't have to act all tough to be lady-like.

What would you rather be, tough--or courageous?

In Christ,

Princess Izori

This is Really Cool!

Today, I (Catherine)(~*~) discovered something that I think will make some of you smile with me because you know only the King of Kings could have done this, and others will be like "What is she talking about?" To those who are confused at this at first, please stick around (A.K.A. keep reading this post ;) and I'll explain it to you!

"I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys."

Guess where this is found (no peaking down at the bottom of the post ;)?
Can you guess? No? Since I know the suspense is killing you ;), I'll tell you where I found this cool quote (and no, it's not from a quote website). It's from Song of Solomon.

Song of Solomon? You mean that little read/little known about book in the Bible?
Yep. That's the one. The one about King Solomon, the wisest man that was and will ever be alive (notice I said man. This does not include Jesus, because He is/was also God) and his bride, whose name is not mentioned.
This is a book I usually skip reading, or I just skim though it. Most people don't worry about memorizing Song of Solomon, I mean, what is the use of quoting a love song that was written 2,000+ years ago? But God prompted me to read Song of Solomon, the little read/little know about book and guess what happened?

I was reading the Bible in Church and I opened to Song of Solomon, 2:1

"I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys."

This is a verse of the bride speaking to her husband (King Solomon). What does this verse have to do with anything? Well, for those observant ones, you've noticed this already, but for those who are still clueless (I was for a while too), look at it this way.....

"I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys."

See anything now? Yes! Rose, lily, and valley! Now for some of you, you might be wondering why the "lily" is in there. Lilies are white, correct? And does White Rose Valley ring a bell? ;)

See? Isn't that cool?! Now I know you might be thinking I'm nuts and being a little exaggerator about this, but I think it is really cool! I created this blog before I even knew about this verse, and look at this!

Note: Don't be surprised if you see Song of Solomon 2:1 somewhere else on the blog........

Princess Catherine WhiteRose ~*~

P.S.

I did the ~*~ on the post's title because I didn't want to type "Princess Catherine" on the title. It's just for short. Sorry if there was confusion!

Princess Catherine ~*~

What Do You Do If Someone Has A Crush On You?

There's been a lot of talk on 'What do you do if you have a crush on someone', so now I think I'll post about what if someone has a crush on you.

But first, let's see how much you know about this already.

1). What should you do to get over a crush?
-pray.
-post their picture in your bedroom to remember them ever and always.

2). Is a crush harmful?
-yes.
-not at all. Crushes are merely practicing for when you will really fall in love.

If you said that both of the first ones were the right choice, you were right. If you said that the second answers were the right ones, then much to learn, you still have. For brush-up, go look at:

More on How Crushes Crush

and

Do Crushes Crush? And How do I get Over One.

And now on to what you do if someone has a crush on you.

1). Pray. Very important and the first step for absolutely everything.

2). Read your Bible. It has good suggestions on stuff like this (such as, 'do not be unequally yoked).

3). Talk to someone else who has more experience with stuff like this (like an older lady in the church, or your mom, or even your dad) and ask them how to deal with it. My very wise brother suggested this one. And it's a good suggestion, too! (He's looking over my shoulder as I type this, and he let out a squeak of protest as I typed the above words. Obviously he doesn't want to be famous on this blog =).

4). Don't let the person have any reason to believe you feel the same for them. That would just encourage them.

There are many more suggestions out there. If any readers have stuff to add, feel free to comment!

In Christ,

Princess Izori

More on How Crushes Crush

More on crushes...

Crushes are usually very temporary. They can last for a few hours to a year, but rarely go over that. Crushes are not true love; they're just considered 'puppy love'.

But are crushes harmful?

Most people would say no. After all, it's just puppy love.

Actually, crushes can be very harmful if you are not old enough to be considering 'knights' (a future husband). First of all, people are going to have several 'crushes' in their teenage years. If you take each one seriously and believe that the person you have a crush on will be your knight, when your feelings for him change, or his feelings for you change, your heart will be damaged by the time you've gone through a few of these. And once damage is done, it's hard to undo it.

Most crushes aren't even 'puppy love', they're just a feeling you get that you mistake for love. And when you believe that someone you have a crush on will be your knight, then you are damaging him. There are millions of young men out there, and only one will be your 'knight'. So there's one in a million chance that this guy that you just met yesterday is going to be your husband. Treat him like some other young lady's knight, because there's a very good chance that's what he is!

I hope this helps, Anonymous.

In Christ,

Princess Izori

P.S. If anyone checks the box labeled 'Confusing' under posts, please comment on how it was confusing and the other princesses and I will try to explain it more clearly. Commenters, if you think you have any helpful input, feel free to tell that, too.

Stand Up, Stand Out

Do you feel like you need to fit in or you will be thought of as (or called) "weird" or "strange"?

Do you feel like you are going "against the flow", or is fitting in the most important to you?

Are you afraid of sticking up for what you believe in?

Many of you will say "no" to most of the questions, but is it really true?
Would you decide to go and greet the new person at school (or Sunday school), even though your friends or acquaintances think that new person is weird or strange?
Would you rather fit in or decide not to go to that movie (even though you want to see it) because you know it just doesn't have any redeeming qualities and doesn't agree with what you believe?
Are you afraid to stand up for your faith, even if it is defending it against one of your friends?

Deep down, you more than likely will say "yes" to one of these questions. Good. You've realized it.
But now what?


When the title read "Standing Out" it didn't mean starting a new fashion of hair-dos.. I (Catherine) meant you should stand out in a way that will not fade when the next or hair-do (or anything else) comes along. I mean standing out like a bright light in darkness. I mean standing out as a white rose in a valley of thorns. I mean living a pure life in thought, in speech, and in choices.
So how can I do that?

Before I answer that question, let me talk (or should I say "type"?) about "Stand(ing) Up". That means defending what you believe in. Defending your family members from the hurtful words your peers are saying (peers just means "friends" or "companions").

But how can I defend my faith?
NOTE: I am a Christian, so these answers will be directed at my beliefs.

1. Study it!
The more you know about Christianity, the more you will be prepared when someone challenges you about it!
2. Talk to GOD!
Talk to The King of Kings and ask Him to help you in your situation. Ask Him to give you the right words and the courage to stand up to the person (or persons).
3. Memorize Scripture!
Remember in the post "How Do I Get A Pure Heart?" how I talked about the 3 reasons (there are more, I just named the main reasons) memorizing scripture is so important? Here is a forth reason, it helps you defend Bible Believing Religions!


So, here are just some ways to defend your faith! If you have any others, please leave a comment! :)


But how can I stand out from the rest of the crowd who think purity is un-attainable and/or unless?


1. Stand Up for What You Believe
Most people now a days fit in and crumble from the "ocean's waves" that take the form of peer pressure or back down when challenged about their beliefs. DON'T. This is different and you are sure to get people wondering why you are not backing down for what you believe. This will be a good witnessing tool AND, you may have people that believe the same things you do stand up beside you. They just needed a "push" to help them. You are the rallying point and many you are strong! But if they don't come to you at first or in public, that's OK. They know you are there and you won't crumble! :)


2. Live What You Believe
If is said I hated chocolate, but right after that (or the next day) I walk in to the kitchen and grab a Hersheys chocolate bar, would you believe that I didn't like chocolate? No! My words might have said one thing, but my actions implied another, right? If you have read Princess Izori's post about Actions Speak Louder than Words, you know what I am talking about (if you haven't read that post, I would suggest it! It's good! :) People won't think you are authentic, you're real and you really, believe what you are saying. If you say "Don't watch impure movies!" but then go and see one yourself, that's not setting an example.
Some people call themselves Christians, but their is no change in your life. Remember how I said that Jesus comes in and cleans your heart? Well, if those people that say they are Christians but don't have any change in their life, don't you think something is wrong?
Here is a great song that illustrates what I'm talking (typing) about:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sqo8gue0s4&feature=related


Hope it helps you!


3. Have GOD Guide You Every Step of the Way


Before you say something, pray. Before you do something, pray. When you get scared, pray. When you are happy, pray. Pray, pray, pray, pray! This is a GREAT WAY for God to help you!!!! I know people get kinda scared or tensed up sometimes when they hear the word "pray" or "prayer", but all prayer means is talking to God. Don't be scared of the word!
When you build relationships with your friends, you have to talk to them, right? Same with Him.
To know Him more, you must talk to Him, and the way we do that is by praying!


So how can I pray?


This is a question frequently asked, but the answer is quite simple! Just talk to Him! It doesn't have to be out loud (He can hear your thoughts!), it doesn't have to be eloquent, it just has to be from your heart! You don't have to say things in a specific order, just talk to Him like you would talk to anyone else on earth (that you like ;). When I talk (pray) to Him, I am comforted, secure, loved, encouraged, filled with peace, and my problem(s) don't seem so big anymore.
I mean, God is bigger than any of my problems, your problems, and all the problems in the whole world put together!




Keep Blooming and Stand Up!


Princess Catherine

Sandcastles

It's been a rather long time since I (Izori) wrote! One week I was at the beach, now I'm an assistant teacher in VBS, and well, I have a busy life.

While at the beach, my brother and I always build at least one sandcastle. When we build one close to the ocean, a wave always comes and catches it, and no matter how many barriers and moats we put around it, it's always claimed by the sea sooner or later.

On the other hand, when we try building our sandcastle far away from the ocean, the waves can't get it. Our castle stays safe, and we don't have to worry about it being broken down by the waves.

The sandcastle is a lot like your heart. If you stay away from temptation, you will stay pure, and no waves will break your walls. However, if you put yourselves in temptations way (like listening to music you know is impure, or agreeing to at least sit outside a theater that's showing a movie with impure content) you will get broken down by the waves. Even if you say, "Oh, I can just cover my eyes at the bad parts, and only watch the good parts," or in more allegorical context, "I can just build a few more barriers and then the ocean can't touch me!" your purity will still be damaged!

There is always a way out of temptation. One of the most common is: don't agree to get near it in the first place.

In Christ,

Princess Izori

How Do I Get A Pure Heart?

Just like the question "Why Do I Need A Pure Heart?" was answered in a (well, actually 7 different) post(s), I (Catherine) am going to talk about how you get and keep a pure heart.

In the blog post "What is a Pure Heart", I put this:

HOW CAN I GET A PURE HEART?

Remember at the question before this (Do I have a pure heart?), I said "Not at first"? I never said it was not attainable!

But how can you get a pure heart? How can you make it clean?

Remember what a pure heart is? It involves holiness, right?
Well, so what is holiness? Holiness means belonging to The King of Kings. Some call Him Jesus.
To get a pure heart you must have holiness.

Then I continued to talk about holiness and other things (click here for the whole entry).
You asked the question (or, rather, I asked the question for you), How do I get a pure heart?
Did you know that someone in the Bible (King David) asked that same question?

The first part of Psalm 119:9 says:

"How can a young man keep his way pure?"

Before we go on, please let me tell you something. Just because it says "How can a young man keep his way pure" instead of "How can a young lady keep her way pure" doesn't mean that it excludes us young ladies. No. First, this Psalm was written by King David, who was obviously a boy (man). He would write it from a man's point of view. Second, women were not thought of the same way as men. They were thought of as little more than servants. They were basically servants that had children and came from wealthy families. So David would not have written "how can a young lady keep her ways pure" simply because he was writing to the men/boys, not the woman/girls. None of this dismisses us from the question or the answer.

The second part of Psalm 119:9 says:

"By keeping it according to Your word."

The "Your" in there is Jesus, the King of Kings. So we are to keep The King's word.

What is His word?

Good question. Here's the answer.

The Bible. The Bible is His word.

So how do we keep the Bible?

Another good question. (you're just full of good questions :)

In order to keep the Bible, you have to know it. Let's compare it to sports. What happens if you decided to play a sport, let's say, basketball. There are rules in basketball, right (if you say no, you need to have a talk ;)? You have to memorize them so that you don't have to break them, right? If you say no, think of this. If you don't know the rules, then you'll break them (if unwittingly) and you'll get a penalty. Also, if someone is trying to make-up a rule and say it was in the rule book all along, what could you do? If you knew the rules, then you could say "umm, sorry but what you're saying is not in the rule book.".

We need to know the Bible in a similar way. Still not convinced? Here are 3 good reasons why we should memorize the Scriptures in the Bible

1. The Bible's Scriptures Keep Us From Sin

Jesus is pure. Jesus is pure because He invented purity. The way to stay pure is to stay close to the One Who Is Pure. When you fall into sin, the Scriptures will help you out of your sin.

In Matthew 4:1-11 it reads:

NOTE: pink words were added in by me (Catherine)

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

2 And after He had fasted (fasted means that He didn't eat anything) forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.

3 And the tempter (Satan, the Devil) came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.' (all CAPS means that it was quoted from the Old Testament)"
5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,
6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,
'HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU';
and
'ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP,
SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'" 7 Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'"
8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;
9 and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me."
10 Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'"
11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

Jesus Himself used the Scriptures to defeat the king of lies (Satan). He set the example that we should memorize the Scriptures that we will be able to stand up to temptation and stand firm in what we believe. Did you notice something else? Satan used the Scriptures too. That means he knows the Bible too! We have to be on our guard! And another thing, we must memorize Scripture because we won't always have a Bible on hand, so we must have a Bible in our heart.

2. Memorizing Scripture Allows Us to Seek HIS Heart

King David was praised and is well known for being a man after God's own heart. Did you know that King David was also Israel's greatest king? He was the only one known as a man after God's own heart, and he was Israel's greatest king. Does this just happen to be a coincidence? No. David searched and strove to be more like God, and God blessed him for it. HE will also bless us if we try to be more like HIM.

3. Memorizing Scripture Helps Us Pray

Have you ever had someone repeat your words? Or when you are trying to get your little baby brother/sister to say "daddy" (or "mommy") after you, aren't you so excited when they finally say "daddy" (or "mommy")? It makes you feel happy and glad that they were listening and paying attention to you. You can add Scripture to prayer. Just like when you feel happy that someone is paying attention to your words, Jesus is happy that you are listening (reading) HIS word, the Bible. Did you know that the 150 Psalms in the Bible touch every emotion? (All of the following Scriptures are from the NIV version of the Bible)

Psalm 3 and 10 is a cry of David. He is crying out the The LORD because "many rise against me" (Psalm 3:1)

Psalm 7 is David talking about The LORD being his refuge from his enemies.

Psalm 8, 9, and 18 is David praising The LORD joyfully.

Psalm 12 is David calling out to The LORD because "the faithful have vanished from among men."

Psalm 51 is David begging The LORD to forgive him of his sin(s).

Psalm 23 (a famous Psalm) is David talking about how The LORD is his shepherd and he is the sheep. Shepherds protects their sheep, just like The LORD protects HIS children.\

Psalm 27 is of David asking who he should be afraid of because "The LORD is my light and my salvation".

Psalm 35 is of David asking The LORD to come and destroy his enemies.

These are just a few of the emotions found in the Psalms. See if you can look up some yourself.

HINT: Bible gateway (see Recommended Websites) is a good place to look if you don't have a Bible available.

Keep Blooming!

Princess Catherine

Why Do I Need A Pure Heart?, Reason 7

7. A Pure Heart Effects Your Future Husband (in a good way)

If you have a pure heart, you have "all of the cake" to give to your future husband. This is more desirable than a half eaten cake! What happens if I give you your favorite flavor of candy bar, but then when you open it you see there is only half. I tried to make it pretty on the outside, but it's not the same as a full candy bar, right? Well, keeping your heart pure is a way to "guard your candy bar" or "guard your cake".

Why Do I Need A Pure Heart?, Reason 6

6. Because A Pure Heart Effects Your Life (in a good way)

A pure heart can keep you out of hurtful situations, help you from hurting others, lets you please the King of Kings, helps you protect your family as well as yourself, and can help your friends too! These are all good reasons to have a pure heart, right? Well, all these things will effect your life, but in a much better way then an impure heart would effect your life.

Why Do I Need A Pure Heart?, Reasons 4 & 5

Reasons 4 and 5 go hand and hand, so I (Catherine) am going to post them together.

4. Because A Pure Heart Helps Your Family

This reason is the same as number 2.
Your actions effect those around you. In this case it is your family. It could hurt them too.
You need to be careful about your influence on your younger siblings; you have more influence over them than you know. And don't use the excuse that since your older siblings are (obviously) older that you don't have to set an example.
1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV) states clearly:
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in faith, and in purity."
Notice that it says don't let anyone look down on you. It doesn't say "Don't let everyone except your older siblings look down on you because you are young." And look at that! It even says to set an example in purity too! This passage is pretty clear on this point!

5. Because A Pure Heart Can Effect Your Friends (in a good way)

Have you ever heard it said that the friends you hang out with effect you? Well, you effect your friends too! If you have a pure heart, they will see it and who wants a dirty, impure heart when they can have a pure, clean one? Especially since they see that their friend has it. They start to become curious as to what it is and then they start to want it too.

Why Do I Need A Pure Heart, Reason 3

3. Because A Pure Heart Pleases The King of Kings

Matthew 5:8 says this:
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

If God didn't want people to have pure hearts, He wouldn't bless those who stay pure.

Also the ones who stay pure will see Him. If you don't like something, you don't want to see it. So God is again telling us that He wishes fervently that we have pure hearts.