Falling in Love, Part 4

In this post I'm going to discuss the final two "tips" that I've discovered on my quest for loving Him more.

3. Go on a Date with Him

I wish I could have seen your face when you just read that! :) But, like before, I'm being honest to goodness serious.

I went to a Christian summer camp this past year, and one of the ladies talked about how a close friend of hers would always have her "dates" with Christ (I'll call her Amy). It wasn't easy. As the oldest, Amy had a lot of responsibilities. She lived in a small house with seven siblings (and when I say "small house" I mean small house), plus the daily chores were almost never ending. Still, she managed to sneak out into the only place where no one else would bother her: the outhouse (no, not a bathroom. An outhouse). It was smelly, leaky when raining, and cramped, but still it was important enough to her that Amy was willing to push aside the unpleasantness to go on her dates with her Prince. There she would just start talking to God, singing to Him, sharing her hopes and dreams with Him, and strengthening her relationship with Him. She would write Him letters, songs, and poems, or just caress flowers from the garden that He had "given" to her. How many of us would do the same? I pray God gives me that same urgent desire to be still and just enjoy His company. You don't have to go into your bathroom for it to be a "date", but just try and spend time with Him on a more personal level than "Hey God, how's it going?". His love for us is above that of any mortal, because He is immortal and omnipresent. He is love, He created love, and His love for us is so vast that even the oceans couldn't contain it!

Point of Grace, a singing group that I really enjoy listening to, captures this picture in a beautiful way. Their song "Love of Christ" describes the vastness and largeness of His adoration of us.

How long (how long)
How wide (how wide)
Is the love of Christ
How deep (how deep)
How high (how high)
Is the love of Christ

It would take ten thousand lifetimes
To comprehend, a love with no beginning
A love that knows no end

More than any heart could measure or ever hold
His love could fill the oceans
'Til they overflowed

Higher than the mountains
Deeper than the ocean
Farther than the reach of the sky
Wider than the heavens
Longer than forever
Greater is the love of Christ

So go on a date with your Prince. His schedule is very flexible! :)



4. Write Him Love Notes

When you're doing something for someone, it makes you closer to them. You've taken the time to prepare something for them, and you were probably thinking about them while preparing it. Writing Him songs, poems, letters, or little lines of random thoughts is a special and unique way to draw you closer to Him. Like I stated in my previous post (Falling in Love, Part 3), He has written you lots of love letters. Why not write Him some in return? It not only is spending time with Him, but it's spending time thinking about Him, and that is obeying His word (see Philippians 4:8)! :) It can be whatever you want, and it doesn't have to be literature. You could make Him a quilt, or paint a picture, or perhaps teach others about Him. Even if you don't write down your acts of service for Him, let your life be a living testimony of your growing adoration for your Prince Charming.

Hopefully these four tips will start you on one of the most amazing journeys of your life; it will definitely be the most rewarding!
If you seek after God by asking Him for the desire to fall in love with Him, He is more than willing- and able- to grant it. Also, if you read His love letters to you, it will give you a new appreciation and love for Him. It really is a mystery that He loves us! Go on a date with Him, and spend time with Him. Not only that, but since He has written love letters to you, write some back. However you want to will work. We're all "wired" different ways- He made us that way- so use what gifts He has given you.

For Him!

Princess Catherine ~*~

Falling in Love, Part 3

I promised that in this post I'd share some ways that I've found to discover what has been described as the most amazing journey you can take. I've come up with four ways, and in this post I will share two with you. :) 1. Ask You want to take the first footsteps onto this path? Just ask God to show you the way to go. He's been waiting, and He is more than able, and willing, to help you. Pray for a desire to become closer to Him, and pray that you will let Him become your Prince Charming. He's waiting. Are you ready?

2. Read His Love Notes

He's written you a letter.

No, I'm being serious. In fact, He has written full books to you! What do you think the Bible is, if not a letter from God to man? It contains romantic stories in it though. Think of Ruth and Boaz (see story in the book of Ruth). And what about the whole book devoted to a bride and her groom, the Songs of Solomon?

But we need to be reminded. Humans are forgetful. Think about the Israelites in the Old Testament, and how they continuously asked God to save them, complained, and then fell back into sin. Or recall what your biology definitions were, word for word. What about that Scripture verse you memorized a year back, and haven't kept up with? I could go on and on, but you know what I mean. So we, as humans, need to be reminded of what is in His love letters to us. I've heard an acronym for the Bible that I really liked: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. He's showing us through His word how to grow closer to Him, and how to have a walk that is deeper than our previous one. As Christians we should continuously grow (see 1 Corinthians 3). Think of it as the straight and narrow road. You're safer than on the broad and crooked, but the farther you walk along the straight and narrow, the better and better it becomes. Yes, you many still have trials, but you can face them with a new strength knowing He is your strength (Philippians 4:13). So read His love letter to you. It will plunge you on a new and exciting ride that brings you closer to Him, and more in love with your Prince of Peace. :)

For Him!

Princess Catherine ~*~

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 ~*~

Letting Him Hold the Door...

...even though you can.

Most of us don't have trouble opening doors by ourselves. You probably have never had to ask someone to help you open the library door, or help you heave that post office deposit box open. We can carry our things to the car by ourselves (even if we do have to make numerous trips), or lift our luggage without assistance. We girls have muscles, but if we don't let guys help us open doors for us, or carry our things, they loose something vital about being a gentlemen: practice.

As sisters in Christ, we are to allow guys to practice being gentlemen on us. Yes, sometimes it can be frustrating letting him hold that door for you, or taking the luggage you were going to help your relative with, but it's necessary for guys not only to feel helpful, but get used to becoming a blessing without constantly being told what to do. One time I wasn't feeling well, and I needed help getting things for my cold (blankets, juice, and such). I could have gotten up and taken the things myself, or I could ask my brother to help me. Taking the latter option, I allowed him to be a servant, and he helped me. You may laugh, or be skeptical, but it really is important for us to step aside and allow someone else to help us.

In our culture, we are constantly being told that the less you need people to help you, the stronger you are. Independence from anyone or anything is smiled upon, while anyone who asks for a hand is scorned or thought weak. Sadly, this is not how God created humans to be. We are to be the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12 and Eph. 4:12), and that means we are to work together, and rely upon one another. We are supposed to have each other's backs.

So even though you're capable of heaving that sliding glass door open, allow a brother in Christ to do it for you. Wouldn't you want your future husband to have the same practice? :)

Blessings,

Hope Chests for Your Husbands

If you recall how Princess Izori talked about these keepsakes in her post Hope Chests . In this post I am going give you some tips about what you can put in a special Hope Chest for your future husband.

First let's start with what are some of the things you have in your Hope Chest. Birthday cards? Encouraging Scriptures or uplifting poems? Pictures or notes? Maybe a precious Bible from when you were born.

You can take some of those things (not those exact things, but the same concept) and put them in the Hope Chest for your future husband. For example, instead of birthday cards to you, write letters to your husband. Put pictures of you as mementos you can later show him. Maybe a list of prayer requests you've had for him over the years. Any poems or stories you write to him or about him work too! Your favorite Scripture verses (yes, that's Scripture verses :) can be kept safely in the Hope Chest as well. If they are hand written, they will be even more special to him! Maybe you want to give him a picture you've painted, or a craft you've made for him. A Bible you've kept to give to him could go in there as well. :) Anything you wish. Maybe you want some recipes that he might like in there, or a special music box that plays a calming tune. Again, you can put whatever you want to give to him in there!

Hope Chests are just gifts that let you treasure your future spouse even more. It will be an encouragement each time you place an object in that chest, reminding you that you are waiting for only him. One thing I would like to say though; I wouldn't give away things in your Hope Chest for your future husband until he becomes your husband. Why? Because you are giving little pieces away to another person that you had planned only for your knight. Waiting to give all the gifts for him will make each one more treasured, just like your purity.

Blessings,

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!

Your Mom's Job

Moms have a really hard job--especially mine. With kids ranging from ages 13 to 2, my mother has a lot on her plate! Changing diapers, homeschooling us all, cooking our meals, cleaning...and did you know that she has to do them even when she's tired? It's a continuous cycle.

She may not feel like making dinner, but the whole family depends on her. If your mom suddenly decided that she wasn't going to cook the meals for a week, what would you do? Run around in a panic wondering if you'll starve?

Yeah, so would I.

Oftentimes, I feel pretty guilty. I might come home one summer from playing outside all day and find my mom slaving a way in a hot kitchen to prepare a meal. Do I even thank her for all of the hard work? She's been doing it all of my life, and now I've just come to realize how hard it is.

In my opinion, I think that Mother's Day should happen more than once a year.

But alas, it doesn't.

Seeing that it only happens once a year, I'm going to make it a very special occasion for my mother. Here are ten ways to bless your mom for Mother's Day! They range from super-easy to challenging in no specific order.

#1. Wash the meal-dishes. A very good thing, and fairly easy. Your mom will greatly appreciate it, seeing as it gives her a time to relax after the meal.

#2. Offer to make a meal. Bonus: make it a healthy, good-tasting meal! Dinner is a great meal, seeing as there are so many options. Maybe you could do shrimp, pasta, with Alfredo sauce, and a simple salad. Or homemade macaroni and cheese with green beans. Or you could enlist your dad to grill salmon and vegetable kabobs while you make mango margaritas and fruit cocktail! This could be moderate or hard, depending on what you embark to make.

#3. Make her a sweet card. Put a poem in it! Draw a picture! Get the message across that you're truly thankful for you mother! This is, like, the easiest thing to do.

#4. Buy her flowers. Traditional and sweet, it's very easy. The only bad thing is that flowers don't last for long. And artificial flowers aren't really the same.

#5. Clean the house. Depending on the state of your house, this could be very easy or very hard (lol, in my house this would be the hardest thing to do! :). Even just a general picking-up can make your house look bigger and cleaner. This makes moms very happy.

#6. Make a dessert. It goes hand in hand with making a meal, and it can be pretty easy. Just a cake, or rice-crispies, even yogurt with berries!

#7. Watch your siblings, or even *gasp* change a diaper! Yeah. Diapers=not so cool. But it really helps! Your mom probably hates changing diapers as much as you do! Of course, this doesn't really count if you don't have siblings watching/diaper age.

#8. Do a few extra chores. This is kind of re-stating a lot of the previous ones, but it's still worth mentioning. Once again, easy to hard.

#9. Put on a skit for her entertainment. Enlist your siblings or even your dad for this one! Make a script, gather props, dress up in wacky clothes, and break a leg! Or, you could get your friends into it and invite their mothers over, too!

#10. Give her a big hug and a thank you. Original, easy, and probably the best.

All of these might surprise your mom, and make her very happy! And a bonus with it: doing these will train you for the day when you find yourself a mom.

HAPPY (early) MOTHER'S DAY!

Princess Izori

There's Still Time. . .

. . . but not for long!

Jesus will return to earth and it could be at anytime, whether next minute, tomorrow, or in 50 years. We have to be ready. As I write this post I am assuming that you readers are Christians. While that may not be true I just wanted you all to know where I am coming from, because this assumption will affect this post.

As Christians, we must be ready to leave the earth and go to heaven. We can't waste our time while important work is left to be done. What kind of work? Laboring in a harvest field.

A WHAT?????

Yes, you heard me right; perhaps a look at a Scripture would be helpful.

"Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'"---Matthew 9:37-38, NIV

This is an allegory(a representation of one thing by another). When Jesus speaks of "the harvest" he is talking about all the people in the world who do not know him. "The workers" are Christians who tell those people about Jesus.

As Christians, we are called to be telling others about Jesus and His wonderful gift of salvation. How can we go about doing that? Well, in each of our lives there are most likely two camps of people to share Christ with: (1)those we know(or know of) and (2)those whom we've never seen, met, talked to, or heard about.


How can we minister to the first group?

~Pray for them. Prayer, or talking with God, is powerful. Although God knows our hearts and what or who we are burdened for, He loves to hear us talk to Him. He wants us to pour out our hearts to Him. Even if you don't see immediate results in the life of the person you're praying for, don't give up; sometimes it takes years for something to happen, but do not be discouraged. Keep praying.

~Invite them to something. This one depends on the situation. You may be praying for someone who lives far away, or someone you have no contact with anymore. However, you might be praying for a neighbor or someone who goes to your school or who does a certain activity with you. If so you may be able to invite them to an event at your church. It doesn't necessarily need to be Sunday School or church service; maybe it's a sports league at your church, or Vacation Bible School. How about a get-together/potluck your church is hosting? Depending on the person it doesn't have to be at church. Once my siblings and I hosted a game night with some friends and invited a neighbor. We didn't say anything about God; we were just building a relationship. Sometimes just starting as friends is best.

~You might send them cards(or emails, or the like). I share my birthday with someone whose salvation I'm praying for, so for the past couple of years I've sent them a birthday card, just a simple note. It's basically the only contact I have with this person, which makes the cards more important. And it's really not that hard. The note doesn't have to be long; just let them know that you're thinking of them.



What about the second group? Those whom you don't know at all?

~Show them through your actions. You may never talk to people, but they can watch you and see what you do, like what your attitudes are, how you treat your parents, siblings, and others, what you say, how you act, etc. As the old saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words."

~Pray for them. Believe it or not, you can pray for them. Occasionally I see someone and start praying for them, even though I don't know them! You may not ever think of them again, and that's nothing to feel guilty about; God doesn't expect you to, but who knows? One prayer could be an amazing thing!

~You could ask them straight out! This may partly depend on your personality. I know someone who asks people directly whether or not they know Jesus. For me personally, this is not the way I prefer to witness to others. However, God may be calling to that or maybe that works well for you.



Some of these things are definitely harder than others, but sharing Christ is extremely important! It really is a matter of life and death--for eternity! In some cases there's not anything to do except pray; in others it might be good to invite them to something. Ask God to show you what to do and when the time is right. Maybe you need to simply pray for someone now but later will be called to have more contact with them. I don't know. Just follow what God says; His timing is perfect.




From one harvest laborer to another,



~Princess Gloria




"'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'"---Acts 1:8, NIV


P.S. If you have any questions or would like to share a way you witness, or even share a testimony, please feel free to leave comments.

God Gives You All The Time You Need...

..and not a second more.

Have you ever felt rushed? Oh, wow, that's an obvious question. I would be completely shocked (and very envious! :) if you haven't. You see, I'm an aspiring author, home schooled student, musician/composer that plays two instruments and sings, I'm the script-writer for a movie, a secretary in 4-H, gardener, poet, photographer, avid reader, blogger, archer/shooter, horseback rider, and a plethora of other things.

You probably have a lot of things on your plate, too. Maybe you have a lot of chores, or you have a huge pile of homework. And have you ever been too busy to read your Bible or pray?

Ditto. I've been there and done that. Listen to my excuse : 'But I don't have enough time!'

Actually, I do. And you do, too. God is the Lord and Giver of Time, and he knows our every need!

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, O Lord.
Psalm 139:1-4

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for my sheep.
John 10:14-15

He gives us as much time as we need to accomplish what he wants us to accomplish. So when you 'don't have time', you're either not doing what God wants or you're not being efficient. Here are some questions you can ask to discern what's wrong:

1. Are you spending too much time, say, on the computer? *glances around guiltily* Uh...I am. I like to think that I'm above the technology wave that our world's going through, but I'm not. Lol. Anyway, are you stretching out a task too much? Does math take so long...because you're doodling in your book?

2. Are you avoiding or rushing through tasks? Because if you don't do them now, you get to do them later! Oh man, have I ever figured that out.

3. Are you doing it for God's glory? Whatever you are doing--writing the next great theology book...or taking out the trash--do if for the Lord and you are serving him. Isn't that cool how you can glorify God by taking care of the trash just as much as making a huge mark on history?

4. Do you have a complaining attitude? Seriously, take the word of a lass with 13 years of bitter experience on bad attitudes. If you have a good attitude it's so much easier to do your work. If you think, "Wow! All these dishes in the sink means that we've been blessed with lots of food!" instead of, "Awww man! Look at this huge pile of dishes! I have to do all of these?", you and your family will enjoy it a lot more.

When I was writing this down on a piece of paper, I kind of looked at it and thought, "You know, I have both problems." And I do. Avoiding work or doing it sloppily goes hand in hand with bad attitude, and bad attitude automatically means that you're not doing it for God's glory.

Now, here are some ways to solve the time problem:

1. Do everything for God's glory--efficiently and with care and diligence.

2. Try getting up earlier. A time when you're the only one up might mean distraction-free prayer/Bible time, or math without siblings throwing pillows at you.

3. Relax while working. It's kind of a paradox, actually, but what I mean is you could knit or do an easy chore or school assignment while taking a break from something else.

4. Be open for a schedule change. If you go to school, you probably won't be able to do this as much. However, because I'm home schooled I have the flexibility to decide for myself whether or not it would be more efficient to fit in piano where Grammar originally was so I can practice more before naps (where our piano is positioned in our house, it's too loud to play during my younger siblings' nap times). Or if your mind has gotten worn out from one subject, move on to something totally different. Of course, you can do this with your homework, all you who go to school.

5. Multi-Task. I really like to drink coffee. It's like an everyday treat, and so sometimes I just sit at the kitchen table for ten minutes, drinking it. However, it saves time to do it with my math. Reciting my memory verses while I'm unloading the dishwasher is also handy. However, make sure that multi-tasking doesn't mean that you're doing sloppy jobs because your concentration is spread out.

There you go! Wow, this sure helped me to type this all up. Now maybe I can ask myself with a free conscience if I'm following Question #1! ;)

In Christ,

Princess Izori

The Above Reproach Rules

No, this doesn't have to do with any math, science, or language rule.

These rules are now a part of my(Catherine's) life, or, at least, I try to keep them to the best of my ability. But sometimes it gets hard when I'm excited and forget, or just aren't thinking about them and forget. So here are some rules, and they are.....


The Above Reproach Rules! :)

In all, there are probably more above reproach rules in the world, but I'm going to talk about two of them. But before I start, I want to give you the definition of the word "reproach".

According to dictionary.com, "reproach" is "to find fault with (a person, group, etc.); blame".

Now I don't know about you, but I don't want to be found fault with or blamed. So staying above reproach sounds like a good thing.

I will do the second Above Reproach Rule in this next post, but, without further to do, here is the first Above Reproach Rule:

1. The Rule of Three

This is the rule that is simple to understand and keeps you above reproach (imagine that! ;). But this rule, when not used to it, can see rather "overly cautious" or "not needed". What do you do in this Above Reproach Rule? It's simple; you always have a third person with you and a guy, so you and a guy are never alone together.

So you need to always be with a third person when there are guys and girls in a group. No sneaking off with some boy or being in a room alone with him. When there are guys and girls in a group (say, a school event), you always want to have a third person there with you and him.

This might be confusing, so do you gals mind if I, in my examples, give the people in examples names? May I use the name "Bob" for a boy and "Beth" for a girl name?
Thanks! :)

Here's an example:
Bob and Beth are both at a school event. Beth knows about the Rule of Three, and she always has her friend Britney stay with her so she isn't ever alone with Bob or any other boy. This way, no one can talk about her and Bob or her and another boy. The evening is fun and both Bob and Beth can enjoy themselves without having to worry about anyone mistakenly believing that they consider anyone at the party more than their friend because Britney (and a couple of other friends) is (are) always with them. And the other good thing was they could be around each other, and other members of the other gender, without being awkward because they are alone together.


Now let's pretend that Beth doesn't follow the Rule of Three......


Bob and Beth are both at a school event. Beth doesn't follow the Rule of Three, so she goes into different rooms alone with Bob. Britney, her friend, starts circulating rumors about the two "love birds", but Beth and Bob aren't even friends. The people at the event are whispering and giggling about the two of them, and Bob goes home thoroughly confused while Beth is in tears because of the "terrible mistake".


I understand that this is more of an "extreme" situation, but the point is the same.
This rule- the Rule of Three- is logical; think about it. The more you are with a boy alone, the more people will talk (both boys and girls). The less you are with a boy alone, the less people will talk. In fact, it probably won't even cross their mind.

So, to stay out of the gossip and mean glares, hurting words, etc. I would strongly recommend this Rule of Three.

Here's another good thing about the Rule of Three; it works even when you are married.
No, let me rephrase that; it is the most important when you are married.

Think about it for a second (or maybe a minute ;). If one of your parents saw their spouse in a room alone with another person of the opposite gender, would they be fine with that?
Here's another example:
Let's say that someone found the President sitting and talking in a room alone with some woman. We'd all know about it. Media would make it some dramatic event, the First Lady would be furious either at her husband or the media, and the President would then have a "bad face" just because he was talking to some lady! That all could have been avoided with one rule; The Rule of Three.

Now, I understand that sometimes it can't be helped, but to the best of your ability, obey the Rule of Three!

So if you don't remember anything else, remember this quick little tip to keep this rule in your head: stay in groups of three when in mixed company!

Blessings,

Princess Catherine ~*~

What Should I Do While Waiting?

“Come on Rebekah, why do you have to be so old-fashioned? It’s not like anyone really cares anymore.” Rebekah shifted her head scarf to shield her eyes from the bright desert sun, turning away from Leah, the girl who lived down the street.
“Look, I’ve told you before, Leah. I want to follow God’s plan for my life because the husband he brings me will be way better than whoever I would get acting worldly.” Leah snorted in disapproval and tossed her head.
“Whatever. Have fun dreaming.” She said arrogantly, turning sharply around and walking away. Rebekah was left feeling depressed and doubtful. What she had said sounded good, but was it really true?
“Am I waiting for someone who doesn’t exist?” She wondered, turning sadly and walking home.

Rebekah probably had a lot of the same problems you do. She probably knew people who had much loser morals than she did; she might have even had friends that were already married. Sometimes she probably questioned what she believed and stood for. But, through it all, Rebekah stayed faithful and pure, following God’s plan for her life. We don’t know all of what Rebekah did during those years, I wish we did. However, we do know that when God brought her once-in-a-lifetime chance along, she was found much more attractive that the other girls simply because she had maintained her purity. The only thing is, the devil has a way of planting seeds in our brain that we don’t want. Seeds of doubt. Seeds that grow up to tell us that what we’re waiting for doesn’t exist. One way to keep doubts from maturing is to not just sit around thinking and wondering about them. That brings us to the main question. What should I do while waiting? Let’s pick up my story where we left off and see what Rebekah did.

Rebekah sighed as she continued on her way to the spring, holding a clay jar on her shoulder. That was where she had been going when she met Leah on the road and gotten into a conversation. Though it was early evening, the sun was still hot. As Rebekah got closer to the spring outside of town, she noticed a strange sight. An entire caravan of camels loaded with all kinds of beautiful things from far away places were kneeling down by the spring to rest. A man only slightly younger than her father was making sure each of them knelt down before he himself sat next to the well. He watched Leah and the other girls from Rebekah’s town draw water for a second, then closed his eyes and folded his hands in front of him as though praying. Rebekah stepped quieter, not wanting to disturb him. Before he finished praying, she had reached the well and lowered her jar down. She lifted it out and began to walk away just as the man opened his eyes. Suddenly the man got up and hurried after her. Rebekah stopped, wondering what he wanted.
“Please,” He said, “give me a little water from your jar.” Rebekah, who had always been taught to help weary travelers, quickly lowered the jar off her shoulder, politely saying,
“Of course.” After he had taken a drink, Rebekah thought quickly and decided to go the extra mile.
“I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.” Quickly emptying her jar into the camel’s trough, she ran back to the well to draw more. Without saying a word, the man watched her closely.

Now, this may not seem like such a big deal. Water the camels? You see, there is more to this than there appears. The man had ten camels, and one camel is only done drinking when he has had around 70 gallons of water! Can you imagine how many times Rebekah would have had to fill that jar to give each camel 70 gallons? Just to add something else to the mix, if you’ll notice she was running the whole time. Wow! So, what did Rebekah do while waiting? She helped others, doing what God wanted her to. It is also interesting to note that Rebekah helped the man without any hesitation. What an example! What would it look like if we were that willing to serve God every day of our single (and married) lives even if it meant helping a stranger or watering ten camels with 70 gallons of water each? Sorry, I’m a slight bit off topic.

The point is, Rebekah gives us a perfect example of what to do while waiting. We should follow God’s plan for our life and work for Him in all ways possible. We should show others that, (unlike some teenage girls) we have decided in our hearts to wait on God’s timing by serving Him in the process. Rebekah loved God and showed it. I think we should do the same, even when it’s sometimes hard. It will always bring rewards in the end! Do you want to see Rebekah’s reward? Just watch.

Finally, as Rebekah finished, the man spoke to her.
“Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” he asked.

Rebekah felt glad she knew her family history, and also glad they had a spare room.
“I am the daughter of Bethuel and the granddaughter of Nahor. We have plenty of room for you.”

The man seemed excited and followed her. It was only later that Rebekah found out that this man was the servant of Abraham, her grandfather’s brother. Abraham’s son Isaac was not married, and the servant had come here, to Abraham’s home town, to find a wife for him. He had prayed to God and God had brought Rebekah. He wanted to bring her back with him to where Abraham lived. Rebekah was overjoyed when her father and brother said yes.
“Rebekah!” Rebekah looked up to hear her mother’s voice. It was the next day since the servant had arrived, and Rebekah, somewhat alarmed, wondered if he was already ready to leave. When she arrived, she found the servant of Abraham, her mother, and her brother standing outside the house.
“This man wants you to leave with him now.” Her mother explained, tears standing in her eyes.

“We have decided to ask you if you will go now or stay a few more days.” Rebekah hesitated.

She would really miss her family, and she might not ever see them again. Then again, this whole encounter had to be God’s blessing on her life, and she wasn’t sure it would be wise to wait before following His plan. With a deep breath, she made her decision.
“I will go.”

Rebekah had a chance to follow God’s plan, and she took it. The best thing about this story is, it’s true! The somewhat longer biblical version can be found in Genesis 24. Next time you wonder what you should do while waiting, remember Rebekah. Get out and serve God!

Princess Melody~*~

Question #6: How Long Should You Wait?

How long should you wait? A year? 20 years?

The answer is, either until he comes or until the world ends.

The only one who knows exactly how long you will wait is God. And since we don’t know, we wait until our waiting is rewarded and Prince Charming comes.

Look at this scenario I made up about a woman named Lisa:

Lisa has been waiting faithfully for Prince Charming, and she just turned thirty. All her other friends have gotten married almost a decade ago, and she’s starting to wonder “What’s happening? Did I do something wrong? I mean, I’m thirty and I still haven’t gotten married yet!”

As I said before, we don’t know when exactly your husband will finally come. For your best friend it could be at age nineteen. For you, it could be at age thirty. But don’t be worried! God is in control, and even though you might not be able to see it now, his plan is so much better than the ones we think up.

But just for debate, let’s look at what might happen if Lisa doesn’t wait any more.

After her thirtieth birthday, Lisa gives up. Anxious to end her singleness, she marries the next man she meets that looks like he might pass for a Christian. After all, he goes to church! He might have some other things that aren’t quite so good…but she can’t be picky!

Well, then it turns out that this guy wasn’t a Christian after all. Five years later, Lisa gets a divorce.

What happened to Lisa could have a great possibility of happening to you if you go your own way instead of waiting for God’s greater plan to finally un-roll.

Now, let’s look at what might happen if Lisa did wait.

It took a while, but finally Lisa meets a godly man who truly loves her. He too has been searching for years to find a wife, and after courting, they get married. Twenty years later, their marriage is still strong and God-honoring.

And that, fellow princesses, will hopefully be the happy ending to your story as well as to our fictional character, Lisa’s.

I seem to be getting a little into Princess Alicia's subject (Why wait? What are the benefits?), so I might as well move on from what will happen if you don’t wait!

Some people won’t get married. Even though God plans for many people to get married, there are some people who are called to single ministry. Think of Paul, an apostle who wrote a huge chunk of the New Testament! (He was helped by a married couple, Aquila and Pricilla, just for your information!)

But the majority of Christians are called to get married—and do great things, too. An example is Esther, who used her marriage to the king to save her people. Not to mention all the others, such as Adam and Eve, Boaz and Ruth, and Isaac and Rebekah.

Just to name a few.

Ladies, don't give your heart away to the first knight who comes questing for it just because you're afraid that you'll become an old maid if you don't grab at the first chance. It's always worth it to wait for the right guy.

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

Why Wait? What Are the Benefits?

By now you have probably figured out waiting will not be easy, so why wait? I mean, really what’s the point? I (Princess Alicia) used to ask that question a lot. So I decided to tell ya’ll about some of the benefits that I thought of.

Imagine on your wedding day, you’re walking down the aisle and you’re in the prettiest white wedding gown. I used to wonder why most brides wear white. Well, the reason brides wear white is because white is the color of purity. How would it feel to go down the aisle knowing you really are pure? How would it feel to take that vow, knowing that you saved yourself for your groom and you didn’t give your heart away, but you waited for God to put the person He wanted in your life?
Not only would that feel great, but it would guarantee you a great marriage! How can I say that?

Well, if you really waited for God to put the person He wanted in your life then your happily ever after ending awaits you. (Yes! I did just say a happily ever after ending :) God arranges marriages. Genesis 2:18 says this “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.’” So you see, God knew from the very beginning that it wasn’t good for us to be alone! God will make someone who is right for you, when the time is right. Did you notice I said when the time is right? Many people get married to the “right” person just at the wrong time. And because of lack of maturity on one or both parts, the marriage fails.

So how do I know when I am ready for marriage? You don’t, but God does.

But what happens if I don’t wait on God? Well, it is possible you will have a good marriage. I know people who are not even Christians who have good marriages.
But God doesn’t want you to have good marriage; He wants you to have the best marriage!
God wants to give you His best, but you have to wait on Him. If you try things your way instead of God’s, then you are not going to get “the best” that God had in mind for you. Isaiah 40:18 says “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!”

When I said that if you wait on God than your happily ever after ending awaits you, I wasn’t kidding! Happily Ever After endings are just make-believe, right? No, actually they do exist, but they are just uncommon. When I say you can have a Happily Ever After ending I don’t mean nothing will go wrong or things will always go perfectly and that you won’t have any problems, the Bible clearly says in this world things are not always go how we want them to.
Happily Ever After Endings are in fact not “endings” at all. They are actually beginnings.
I see a Happily Ever After Beginning as a new phase of your life where God can now work through you and your husband, together. We cannot write our Happily Ever After Beginning only God can. This is why we need to wait on Him.

Trust God; He knows what He is doing! Psalm 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” God knows what’s best and He has a GREAT plan for you! The biggest benefit for waiting on God is Him being able to use you! God wants to use us, but in order for Him to do so, we must learn to wait on HIM.
God knows what’s in your heart. He knows your desires, hopes, and dreams. Even if no one else does, God knows. Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
You see, it’s all in His time, and He knows things we don’t (like what’s really best for us.) Don’t try to do things your way. And like I’ve said (like 10 times already!) God doesn’t want what is just good for us; He wants the best for us! He loves us and if you find it hard to wait, then pray! Ask Him to help you to wait and be contentment. And God will not only come through for you, but He will reward you for waiting on Him. Psalms 27:14 (I love Psalms!) “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Princess Alicia

What, or Who, Am I Waiting For?

To address this question directly, you are waiting for God’s best.

You’re waiting for the guy that will respect you, your purity, and your parents (big thing). You’re holding out for the guy that will respect , love, care, be gentle, honor , and be loyal to you.

If you marry someone that isn’t God’s best, it doesn’t mean you couldn’t have a good marriage, but you could have missed out on the joy and love filled one that He wanted to give you. It’s like Princess Alicia said, God doesn’t want you to have a good marriage; He wants you to have the best marriage. I know it’s hard to wait with all the handsome guys strutting around like peacocks, but we have to wait; it’s God’s plan for us. So beware you don’t fall into temptation. Set up boundaries to guard yourself. Don’t throw a piece of your heart to just anyone who gives you some attention. Save it for prince Charming and God’s best.

But is it okay to have friends that are boys?

Yes, but strictly friends. I’ve read about some Godly people doing the “two eyes”. It’s pretending that your future husband is looking at how you act from across the room. For example; say you’re somewhere and you’re trying to attract a handsome guy’s gaze (who’s probably thinking, “Who is that crazy person?”), planning to as soon as he looks at you to turn away and giggle with your friends.

If your future spouse was watching you, would he approve of you flirting with someone else? No!

Something I try to do is think of them as brothers in Christ, and I ask myself this question; would I flirt with my real brother? No!

So, who are you waiting for?

As we discussed, it’s for God’s best. And believe me, God’s best isn’t second best; it’s better than any “first” best thing we could even think up! Here is a Scripture verse that might come in handy when you are tempted to give up waiting:

1 Corinthians 10:3 (NIV)

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

So again, wait for God’s best!

God bless,

Princess Sapphire

Nick Names

Do you have a nickname?

I (Catherine) am not talking about those rude nicknames that people give you, but I mean a name that is special to you and the people (or person) that call you that nickname is (are) special to you as well.
Even if you don't have a nick name, please continue reading this post, for this is not talking about personal nick names, but of our Prince Charming.

Some people like thinking of their future husband, but for me I like to write letters to him and pray for him. But sometimes I don't like just praying
"Dear Jesus, I pray that my future husband- whose name I don't know- will continue to grow in Your word and in Your ways."
If you are like me, you would rather pray and "give" him a name, or, rather, a nickname.


Now, be aware that just like a nick name, this is not his real name, but rather a name you use to pray for him, write letters to him, and so on. It makes him more real, and then it makes it easier to wait for him.


Remember, when "picking" a nickname for your Prince Charming, keep in mind a couple of things;
1. When you pick a name (say, Bob for example) and you meet a boy named Bob, you might feel "weird" around him
2. When you pick a name and you meet a boy named Bob, you might start day dreaming
3. When you pick a common name, numbers 1 and 2 become more likely
4. If your friends know about the nickname, and they know you know a guy that has the same name as the nickname for your Prince Charming, you might be teased by them

So, there are pros and cons, but overall, I think the pros outweigh the cons. But, it's all up to you! :)

Princess Catherine ~*~

What Would Happen?

What Would Happen?

What would happen,

If the whole world decided to wait,

And not date?

Or, at least, not date until old enough,

To get married to their Special One,

And take it seriously,

Instead of having fun?

What would happen if they didn't give their heart away,

Until they were sure they'd say "I Do."

To the other person on the alter some day?

What would happen if people stopped texting,

And not pay attention as much to what they've heard?

And instead worked on their grades,

And try to obey God, and His Holy Word?

What would happen if the world took dating seriously,

Worked on their grades and studied their Bible?

And didn't date/court until they were ready,

And White Roses were becoming stronger than their rival?

Their rival is not again the people of the world,
For the Bible tells us so,

But against ourselves,

You may be thinking "How is that so?"

You see, we fight against ourselves,

We fight against temptation, greed,

Want, hate, frustration, anger,

Lies, pain, suffering, and doubt,

But somehow we get out,

We get out of the snares of our enemy,

With the help of The King of Kings,

And shine out like a White Rose among thorns and briers.

So what would happen?
I don't know,

But that's where you come in to play.....