Restoring All Things Girls

Psalm 63:3-5 Amplified Bible (AMP) Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

Q. I heard my 15-year-old  daughter  calling her friend a b*tch. She says she's just kidding. Is this a new thing for girls? A.  The reason teens believe words like "b*tch" don't mean anything is because kids  hear  them so often they seem normal. But just because something's common doesn't make it right. So I'd say to your daughter, "I get that you think I'm overreacting, but there's something you need to know. Historically, that word is used to silence a woman who is perceived to be too adamant about her opinions and rights. I doubt that you believe women should be shut down for demanding respect. Now that you know, I'm asking you to be a strong woman by taking responsibility for the words you say. That is what powerful women of character do." Originally published in the October 2008 issue of Family Circle  magazine . Bravo Mom!  Thank God for mothers who actually take the time to teach and instruct their children.  I have n...

“Abraham entered into what God was doing for Him, and that was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on His own.” Romans 4:3 MSG Heroine   Heroine; “A female hero or heroine: superwoman, champion, conqueror, star, protagonist, lead, and brave woman. A woman noted for courage and daring action.”*   You have been targeted by the enemy simply because you have the potential to be a hero. You are an anointed daughter of the Most High God, the Creator of Heaven and earth and of all things seen and unseen. This makes you a potential threat to the enemy.   We don’t have to figure out our hero qualifications and then try out for the role. It is already ours! But the most crucial step in becoming a hero is that we grant God the permission to have His way in us. Living in a way of complete surrender to Him will enable Him to use us to the fullest! Never doubt that you are part of the story of your day. You have been commissi...

Miley Cyrus’ antics on Sunday night at the  MTV Video Music Awards  has brought about a variety of repercussion from many sources. The media and Hollywood elite have expressed mixed views. The bottom line is that this matter has propelled her onto the front pages. Was this simply a publicity stunt or her way of finally separating herself from her  Hannah Montana  days of innocence? Regardless of her intention, the question we must ask is: Should the church respond, and if so, how? How would Jesus have dealt with her and what does God think about this? When Jesus walked the earth, he used this type of opportunity to show God’s character and nature. We the church usually respond in a judgmental manner, further expressing ourselves as less relevant. Is this an opportunity for us to explain God’s love and His goodness to our children? We no longer live in a day where we can just tell our children, “It’s wrong, and she’s going to hell.” This ignorant Phariseeistic...

This fall kids across the country are heading back to school. But 14-year-old Thessalonika Arzu-Embry is the exception. She’s preparing to graduate—from college. Like most 14-year-old girls, Thessalonika likes to have fun. She enjoys skating in her Great Lakes neighborhood as well as playing tennis. Yet, while most girls her age are entering their freshman year of high school, complete with discussions about boys and all the latest fashions, Thessalonika has been focused on more important matters. She has been attending college since she was 11. “It’s similar to any environment but this environment was full of learning, a learning experience for me,” she told CBN News. “I looked forward to it.” An Early Passion for Learning Thessalonika’s mother, Wonder Embry, said she noticed her daughter’s exceptional gift and passion for learning while home schooling her. “I started reading to her my college books and she understood college material at 6 years old, 8 years old,” she sa...

As first reported by the  Tampa Bay Times , the  Pinellas School District  is refusing to allow cheerleaders at a number of its schools from wearing their uniforms during the school day. According to upset parents,  it was decided that the uniforms were against the district's dress code  because the sleeveless tops and short skirts that are universally identified with school cheerleaders are deemed "too vulgar." Countryside cheerleader Jenna Fraser in her uniform that is banned during the school day — Doug Fraser photo According to Clearwater ( Fl. )  Countryside High Principal Gary Schlereth , allowing the cheerleaders to wear their uniforms  maintains a double standard for other students who might then feel it was acceptable to wear shorter skirts than they are allowed. "A parent looks at their son or daughter getting 'dress coded' for wearing something short," Schlereth told the Times. "Then they look at the cheerleading uniform an...

Psalm 1 (King James Version) Blessed   is the   man   that   walketh   not in the   counsel   of the   ungodly,   nor   standeth   in the   way   of sinners,   nor   sitteth   in the   seat   of the   scornful .   But his   delight   is in the   law   of the   LORD;   and in his   law   doth he   meditate   day   and   night.   And he shall be like a   tree   planted   by the   rivers   of   water, that bringeth   forth   his   fruit   in his   season;   his   leaf   also shall not   wither ;   and whatsoever he   doeth shall   prosper .   The   ungodly   are not so: but are like the   chaff   which the   wind   driveth   away .   Therefore the   ungodly   shall not  ...

What a mouth full – especially when you have experienced pain and suffering. Words said, words remembered, past failures and disappointments play on in your mind like a broken record. At times it can rob you of peace, self esteem and joy. God's word tells us to count it all joy – the good, the bad and the ugly - All of it – As I learned to count my failures and pain as joy, it released a freedom in me to walk in newness. Not that the memory of such things are gone, but the power it held over me no longer controls my life. I am free to live new beginnings and to enjoy all the good things God has for me. Arriving to this place has been a process and it certainly didn’t happen overnight. At times I still struggle, but I remind myself that it is a day to day walk of faith and trust. Let me encourage you to never give up because God is always at work in us to help in our efforts to counting it all joy.  James 1:2-4  New International Version (NIV) Consider it pure ...

Mylie Cyrus performance at the VMA's shocked millions of viewers.  There were multiple news articles, twitter all a buzz and facebook blowing up with comments.  Why is everyone so shocked by her performance? This same nonsense takes place every year. This is why I stopped watching the VMA's years ago because of its negative images, raunchy performances, and bad behavior of its performers language included.  Madonna, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Lil Kim and many others have performed in like manner, raunchy and seductive.  Now the next generation of young women are coming along and are willing to follow down the same degenerate path as did there predecessors. Trashing Miley Cyrus is not the answer because she is a product of Hollywood with its blurred lines mentality, lack of morals and restraint. I'm not excusing Mylie in anyway, because she is accountable for her choices and actions. Why is Miley so quick to shed her adolescent persona?  She is a beautiful and ta...

Psalm 24:3-5 New International Version (NIV) Who may ascend the mountain   of the   Lord ? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands   and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol  or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing   from the   Lord   and vindication   from God their Savior.            

Thank God for hope or many of us would never get out of bed. I believe hope serves as a vehicle to keep you going and faith is the gas. Even if your situation appears completely hopeless, don’t give up.  The bible says,  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.   For by it the elders obtained a good report” (Hebrews 11:1-2). Hope is not a thing you can taste, feel or see.   It’s about believing when nothing is visible or tangible.   It may mean waiting, God moves in times and seasons. His ways are not our ways. God has an appointed time for everything in your life, so trust Him and rest on His promises.

You don't have to take your style cues from the world or legalistic saints. Here's how to make fashion sense. DO: Wear fashionable, modest clothing. The Bible doesn't say you have to look like a prude. DON'T: Wear form-fitting, tight clothes. By doing so you cause others to take their eyes off God to look at you. DO: Wear clothes that complement your body type. Look for clothing stores that carry styles with your figure in mind. DON'T: Expose flesh that should be reserved for your mate's eyes only. This means covering cleavage so you aren't tempting someone of the opposite sex. Don't let your underwear peek out of pants or tops. DO: Wear clothes that represent your God-given sense of personal style. DON'T: Let people convince you that it's wrong to wear certain colors. Remember, God made the rainbow! DO: Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you select clothing that honors Him. DON'T: Allow a church's or denomination'...

Proverbs 3:5-6 King James Version (KJV) Trust in the  Lord  with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

For 20 years, Mr. and Mrs. Wen wanted to have a baby. They tried everything their doctor suggested, but were never able to conceive. “I was so sad—especially when I saw other parents with their children,” remembers Mrs. Wen. “But my husband and I prayed about it for a long time and decided that maybe God had a different plan for us.” Then one day Mr. Wen heard crying coming from a box on the side of the road. As he got closer, he could see that someone had abandoned a baby. When he looked inside the box, he knew why. The baby girl had a cleft lip. Mr. Wen took her home and named her Jia Lin which means “Beautiful Jade.” The Wens wondered if this was God’s answer to their prayers. “I fell in love with Jia Lin the minute I saw her,” says Mr. Wen. “And I knew that if my wife and I did not take care of her, she would die. We did not have any idea what to do about Jia Lin’s cleft lip, but we were going try our best to save her.” The Wens found out that the surgery their da...

I have read the book of Acts several times and each time I have read it, I became more aware of the significance of the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  The early church depended on the Holy Spirit to daily lead and guide them.  As I pondered this  I realized that I must repent for not acknowledging the importance of the daily necessity of the Holy Spirit in my life.  The Holy Spirit is real and He has a voice. The Holy Spirit leads and guides into all truth, John 16:13. It disturbs me what I see taking place in the church today. Especially when we have so great a POWER to use and we neglect to embrace Him, the Holy Spirit.  I am tired of pimps in the pulpit.  I'm tired of celebrity preachers and their lavish life styles of the rich and famous.  I'm tired of lukewarm sermons and sermons void of the truth of God's word.  I'm tired of the church being operated as a business instead of a house of prayer.  Discipleship has been replaced w...