Making A Difference

Have you ever seen the movie Pollyanna?


It's the story of an orphaned girl who goes to live with her wealthy Aunt Polly in a stuck-up town full of pomp. While there her cheerfulness and "glad" outlook touch everyone, and people start changing their attitudes and becoming more glad about life in general. Pollyanna brings sunshine into their lives.


However, something happens and now the townspeople need to show Pollyanna how much she has done for them and how much they love her. They all arrive at her house to make her realize that.


You see, Pollyanna was touching lives by simply living her own; she was going about her daily business and was unconsciously making a difference.


I recently watched this movie and realized that this applies to us. As Christians, we are called to be a light in the world and to let our lights shine before men. In John 15:19 Jesus says that we do not belong to the world but that he has chosen us out of it.


My point?


We should be making a difference in the lives of the people around us. And it should eventually become second-nature to us. There are ways we can purposely touch lives, such as taking food to a sick person, helping with a ministry at church, or spending time with a sibling. There are also ways we can unconsciously show Christ: having good attitudes(oh, a tough one!), being an encouragement, giving a smile.


Jesus should be seen in every aspect of our lives, wherever we are, whatever we're doing. If someone sees you having patience in a situation instead of getting upset, that's not the way they would usually see people respond; there must be something different about you!


Take some time to think about some areas where you need to change in order to show Christ in your life. Do you need to have better attitudes? Are there ways you can be more encouraging to others? Perhaps for you there are certain places that need to be worked on. For example, can you maintain a pretty good attitude at school or with friends, then once you get home all that goes down the drain and you're complaining, grumpy, and altogether sour?


Once you pinpoint something, make an effort to change it for the better. Take action and determine to make a difference in this area. As you continue to practice touching lives and cultivating some good habits, showing Christ and making differences becomes natural. That's exactly what should happen.



~Princess Gloria

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 ~*~

Attitude--Part 2

Click HERE for Part 1.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Christ,

Princess Izori

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

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.

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~*~

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

Silent Night

What's your favorite Christmas song? I (Princess Melody) don't know if I could choose just one, but I would have to say that one of my favorites is Silent Night. Ever since I was little and watched "Mickey Mouse Christmas Sing-Along", this song has always held a special meaning for me. Something about "holy night" and "sleep in heavenly peace" always felt so Christmas-y. Just recently though, I thought about why it has such a pull. I realized that Silent Night is a very peaceful song ("all is calm, all is bright"). It occurred to me that, if you're anything like me, that that's just what we need during the Christmas Season, peace. Sometimes we just get so rushed decorating, shopping, baking, and wrapping that we forget why Christmas is a holiday.

One dark, bitter cold night in the tiny town of Bethlehem, a girl of about fifteen huddled in an old cave used as a stable. She held in her arms a baby boy, wrapped in a few dirty rags and covered with her own shawl. Her soon-to be husband, Joseph, was filling an animal's feed trough with hay so she would have somewhere to lay her firstborn Son. Cattle mooed, sheep baaed, and that donkey the girl had ridden here was braying still. This girl was Mary, and the baby she held was Jesus. She and Joseph, two people of immense courage and obedience, raised a baby that holds the reason we celebrate this season.

You see, the Christmas story is really just the beginning of the Easter story. Sometimes in the Christmas season, we need quite moments amid all the hustle and bustle to simply remember that. I like to sit by my lit up Christmas tree with the lights off, reading the Christmas story in the Bible, humming Christmas songs, or simply just thinking. The men who wrote Silent Night had the right idea. The night Jesus was born was silent and calm, and so should our Christmas season be. Where you go to find peace this holiday season is left to your discretion, but I challenge you to find a quiet place to remember this Christmas just why we are celebrating!

Princess Melody

A Christmas Challenge

'Tis the season to be jolly!

Here it is: the beginning of December, and before long, it'll be Christmas and we'll be saying, "What happened to this month?"

If you're like me, you haven't gone out and done your Christmas shopping yet. We all will probably make a trip to the mall or to some other store within the next couple weeks to make sure we're ready for Christmas. And, of course, there's all that food we need to buy for Christmas dinner, Christmas parties, and snacks in general. Don't want to run out of that! :)

Have you noticed how people don't call Christmas Christmas anymore? Over the past years the word has been taken out of the holiday so that this time of year is now called exactly what I just wrote: a holiday. If you buy something at the store and go to check it out you will receive your receipt and your change, and then the cashier will wish you "Happy holidays." Please understand that it is not wrong to use this phrase, but when it is used in place of Christmas all the time, people have succeeded in taking Christ out of the season, if you know what I mean.


Why don't we do something about it? I don't mean that we should be calling our senators and asking them to pass a bill stating that everyone must use the phrase "Merry Christmas" and that "Happy holidays" is strictly forbidden. I'm asking 'Why don't we stand out a bit from what everyone else is saying?'


So here's my challenge to you and to myself: As we're out and about this Christmas season, maybe at a store or restaurant, and someone says "Happy holidays!" PLEASE DON'T PUNCH THEM IN THE NOSE!!!! :) That would not be a good way of sharing the love of Christ! However, why don't we just say (politely, of course) right back to them,"And a merry Christmas to you, too!" You know what? People probably wouldn't get upset if we were to say that. My mom has started to reply to people that way and no one has gotten angry or defensive about it. In fact, they probably don't even care, and who knows? Maybe it will stand out to someone, or maybe it will simply be something that no one notices.

I know that this will be a bit difficult for me, because it is so much easier to reply "The same to you!" and be on our way, than it is to take the time to wish people a merry Christmas. I know also that sometimes we(I) might forget, or might be too scared, but why not stand out a bit this Christmas? Why not be a little different from the world?

" If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I(Jesus) have chosen you out of the world." ~John 15:19a

~Princess Gloria

A Post By Princess Emily

Dear Readers,

Before you start to read the post below, I would like to thank Princess Emily for doing this for us. If you would like to have us publish anything for you, please leave it as a comment, and I (Princess Catherine) will see when would it would be best to publish it.

Princess Catherine ~*~

“What?!” I burst out, shocked and horrified. The voice on the other end of my cell phone said the same words again. “I have a new girlfriend.”
I got angry, and so I shouted “Well, who needs you anyway? Jerk!” And I slammed my thumb down on the button that ended the call. That call ended my relationship with my first boyfriend.

I felt numb, empty. Who would I think about when I was day dreaming? Why would I care about what I wore if I didn’t have anyone to notice it? What would I do in my spare time if I wasn’t checking my e-mail or texting him? When would I get my life back?

I decided the answer was to date someone else in my high school. A guy that I didn’t really know well, but he seemed OK. Strong, pretty good looking, and laughing at everything (and anything) I said. Then I realized that my heart wasn’t in this relationship and he was too carefree (I wanted someone to say that everyone that was against me were jerks and sympathize with me), and so I made a choice to break up with him. Although I wasn’t hurt like the first time I broke up, it still felt like I was hollow inside.
Then I agreed to date another boy in my school. He was handsome, funny, and a good athlete. What more could I ask for? Well, you might not know the answer, but I do. I wanted love. He was too busy with other things to even check my text messages I sent him, and so I got more and more desperate to try and contact him and get his attention. I grew more and more worried about what he thought about my clothes, make-up, hair styles, and other things that just weren’t very important. I realized that I was only his “girlfriend” by name. Then he broke up with me (and put me on his spam list because I e-mailed him too much), and that was it.
When he broke up with me, I broke inside. My heart became broken. I knew I couldn’t go through another boyfriend if all they did to me was hurt me. They never abused me physically, but when they broke up with me, I was devastated. They don’t call it “breaking up” for no reason.

I ran to my room and slammed my door while locking myself in and other people out. I turned off my cell phone, unplugged my laptop, and sat hunched up on my bed, crying. My parents tried to come in, but I just said I was fine and would come down later. Or other times I would (I’m not proud of it now) yell at them, angry at them for something I had brought upon myself.
No wonder the teenage years are so tough! I thought. I won’t be able to last through another boyfriend, but if I don’t date, everyone else will think I’m some weirdo!
Then the question came to my mind “What should I do now?”

A note was thrust under my door in an envelope titled “To Emily”. I ignored it for about two minutes, then I became curious. Who sent it to me? I didn’t recognize the handwriting. Filled with interest, I grabbed the note and tore it open.

On the top was the address “Psalm 18:6” and on the bottom “Psalm 34:17” Then it read as follows:

“Emily,

Don’t know why, but I feel like I should pray for you. It’s OK to cry, but remember that God will wipe your tears. Pray for yourself; it’s not wrong! Pray for guidance about what to do next (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Your friend,

Megan”

Megan? My “friend” at school who does that Bible Study thing at recess? I laughed and walked over to put it on my bookshelf in the drawer with all my other letters (OK, it was really my junk drawer), then I opened the drawer to toss the letter in and stopped. There, sitting in my junk drawer, sat the Bible Megan and her friend, Jenny, gave to me one day at school. I had never opened it, I’ll admit. Then I felt compelled to open it. If Megan spent her time to write and send me a note (even a weird note at that), I should at least figure out what Psalm was and what the numbers 18, 6, 34, and 17 meant. So I looked at the “table of contents” and looked for the chapter Psalm. It turns out that “Psalm” was not a chapter, but a book, one of the 66 books in the Bible. And the numbers were not random. When it said “Psalm 18:6” it meant the book Psalm, the chapter 18, and the verse 6. I was amazed at how organized everything was. And I was comforted by the words I found in those pages. I had felt so empty after my break ups, but King David in Psalm 23:5 it says “…My cup overflows.” I wanted something, and in Psalm 23:1 it says “…I shall not want.” It was all about me, me, me, me, and (yep) me. What would I do, why would I care, when would I get my life back. I was (and still am sometimes, but God helps me) selfish, but now I know that in Philippians (chapter 2 verse 3), it says “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;”

So, God has brought my life back, even after my boyfriends (I had more than three, I just picked the “main” three). It was tough, and it will be for you too. But remember Megan’s words of encouragement “It’s OK to cry, but remember that God will wipe your tears. Pray for yourself; it’s not wrong! Pray for guidance about what to do next (Proverbs 3:5-6)”

Proverbs 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 make your paths straight.”

Psalm 18:6
“In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears.”

Psalm 34:17
“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.”

Now, I can proudly say that I am no longer just Emily, a common, hopeless person, but now I am Princess Emily, daughter of the King of Kings. And I can boast of this because Galatians 6:14 “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Princess Emily, daughter of The King of Kings

Why Does This Happen?

I've wondered it before, and I'm sure you did too.


How come we, striving to be pure and make a good difference in the world, seem to attract "knights" that are......less than up to our List of Requirements?
Why are we attracting "knights" that are not what we would ever consider our Prince Charming? Is that a bad thing?


I struggled with this for a while, because I thought I was not being a good witness about purity. Why was I not standing out? Was it because I wasn't being a good witness for purity? Did I just look like the other girls who don't know what purity is, or worse, don't care what purity is and what it stands for?


As Anonymous put it, "These questions seemed to haunt me, until I decided to do something I should have before. I asked. Simple, really and now that I think back on it, I know I should have done it before." I (Catherine) asked my mom, and this was her answer to me:


"You know how you are like a flower?" asked my mother.
"Yes." I replied.
"Well, the boys see that and are attracted to it."
"But why am I attracting 'hornets'?"
"Because....Think of it this way. You are a flower, right? A white rose, correct?"
I nod.
"Then imagine in the summer time. You know those Japanese Beetles? They are attracted to flowers to, but the flowers don't want them around because they tear at their precious pedals and ruin them. But Japanese Beetles do have a place somewhere, but it's not on the rose. It's sort of like that."


My mom's point was not that boys are little beetles that we can squish or call the exterminator to get rid of. Not at all! Being a mother of three boys, she knows that is not the case!


Her point was that boys are, until the age of 21 or so and then they are not boys but men, are like the beetles in the way that they cling, nibble, then fly away. They are pests that cling to us, or we cling to them, and they nibble our pedals, and we could be nibbling at theirs. We should not be concerned when a boy that you know is not your Prince Charming comes up to you because he sees your beautiful pedals are and wants to "touch" them, but he is not allowed to. Perhaps you would understand it better this way.......


So, boys are by no means bad, and you shouldn't be scared or question your purity. Not at all! You should just be careful about how far you let them get. And I wouldn't advise you letting them get past your "thorns". ;)

Princess Catherine ~*~

Question 6: How Will You Meet Someone? Aren't You Limited?

Answers for "How Will You Meet Someone?"


Again, these answers will vary with the person you are talking to. And if you have any other ideas, please comment and (with your permission, of course), we'll add it to this "journal" entry.


You Could Gently......
"*" 1. Explain to them that when it's time to meet your future husband, God will arrange it. All you have to do is wait!
2. Tell them that it's not the girls job to go find the boy, it's the boy's job to go find the girl.
3. Say that meeting someone is not a priority right now


Or You Could.........
4. Ask them how long they think dating has been around for (remember, dating has only been around for sixty years at the most)



Answers for the question "Aren't You Limited?"

You Could Gently........
"*" 1. Explain them that being limited is not bad, in fact, it makes it easier to choose a future spouse because you have put limitations on them.
2. Say that limitations aren't always bad.
3. Tell them "Yes.", but that they aren't as much limitations as they are rules for your safety

Or You Could........
4. Ask why they say that
5. Just say "Yes."


Being limited is considered bad in our society, but with this, it is a good thing. Imagine trying to find the right guy without knowing your requirements (they don't have to be written down to count, but I would recommend it!)!


Keep Blooming!


Princess Catherine ~*~

Question 5: Aren't You Lonely?

Answers

You Could Gently..........
"*" 1. Tell them that with God, you are never alone, therefore, how could you be lonely?
2. Explain that having a physical person around you isn't always the best (especially for those who like having their quiet time) (like me!)
3. Say that with a boyfriend, you might not be lonely, but you might not ever have the time to be alone.


Or You Could..........
4. Ask them why they say that


One person pointed out that you could say "I don't have a chance to be lonely because people keep coming up to me and asking me questions!", but personally, I don't think that's a good witnessing answer. So use that as a last resort! :)


Keep Blooming!


Princess Catherine ~*~

Question 3: Why Don't You Date?

Answers:


This is a time that you get to share your beliefs about dating. I wouldn't waiste it!


You Could Gently.........
1. Explain that you would rather court
"*" 2. Give them some reasons from our posts Is Dating Dangerous? Part 1 and
Is Dating Dangerous? Part 2 (you could say something like "With dating, you could easily give some of your heart away" or "With dating you could easily break-up and start dating someone else in the same day, and that's not good practice for marriage."
3. Simply Say "Because dating isn't right for me. I court."


Or You Could Say.......
4. Because I don't want to (but then they might ask "why"?)


There are more good responses than these, but these are just some to help you. Oh, and by the way, I recommend you tell them Answer 2! :)


Keep Blooming!


Princess Catherine ~*~

The Prince That All Wait For

Have you ever thought about when you grow up? Have you ever wondered what your saving yourself for? I (Melody) mean, some girls may never get married, and if you happen to be like that, then what's the point of saving your purity? Say that saving yourself for your husband is like saving a chocolate bar for someone you expect is coming. Suppose that person never comes? Then what? If there is no one to save your purity for, than what is the point of saving it? Fortunately, there is a very good reason. Even if your prince charming never comes, someone eternally greater waits for you. Revelation 19:7 says: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give HIM glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and HIS bride has made herself ready," So you see, even if the prince you wait for hear on earth never comes, your Prince in Heaven waits for you. So even if you you think that there is no reason to be pure now, there is, because you, as a Christian and part of the church, are the bride of Christ.

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

Actions Speak Louder than Words

In this culture, I (Izori) know from experience how hard it is to be a real princess when everyone else is not. I think everyone at one time has had an experience where they are looked on as being out of fashion and unpopular because they act differently from an impure culture.

Even when I was eight and nine years old, I have had people ask me, "Why do you wear a dress?" as if dresses were something to be looked down on. At those times, it's really hard to remember that being popular and cool in the world's eyes is not really important.

And there are some times when dresses, skirts, and modest clothing can be more practical than skimpy, tight-fitting clothing. How easy do you think it is to run in skintight jeans, or bend over in a cleavage showing shirt?

Being pure and dressing modestly effects others around you, like Princess Catherine has said in previous posts. If there is a pure minded young man standing on the sidewalk, and a girl in immodest clothing flounces by, the man's mind will be blemished. Acting pure will rub off on your friends when you are around them, and you will also get a very good reputation by acting responsible, mature, and honorable, not frivolous and loose.

All of this--acting and dressing modestly--witnesses amazingly. Actions definitely speak louder than words, and you would be surprised how much they speak. People tend to notice when you go against the norm of today.

My mom baked a whole bunch of bread one day, so much that we had to give some away. One of our neighbors, who baby-sits for several other moms, was talking to one of her clients when my brother and I walked up with a loaf of bread. Because our neighbor and the lady who she was talking to were deep in conversation, we waited until they noticed us, instead of shouting over them to get their attention.

After we handed our neighbor the bread, her client remarked, "My, you're such patient children! My kids would never wait for us to stop talking like that!"

My brother and I hadn't even realized we had done something spectacular! We had just been trained to wait like that, and we hadn't given it a thought that we did. I am still amazed that we made such an impression on our neighbors client.

Does anyone else have a case when their actions spoke louder than their words?

In Christ,

Princess Izori