Restoring All Things Girls

Christian Contemporary music star Natalie Grant was nominated for two Grammy's. Grant was up for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance for “Alive (Mary Magdelene),” a song she wrote with her husband Bernie Helms, and Best Christian Music Song for the chart-topping “Hurricane.” The couple went to the Grammys proud to represent gospel music. Little did they know when they arrived at the Los Angeles Staples Center that they’d be going to church. To warm up the congregation and open the service, Beyoncé twerked her ample bethonged derriere to the delight of millions. After that, Natalie and Bernie were subjected to Mrs. Carter sitting astride a chair in, shall we say, an extremely come-hither position. Next the high-powered billionaire, Jay-Z ,and his bodacious bride left little to imagination about what goes on in their boudoir when nobody’s looking. From there, Natalie got to see pop star Katy Perry, who used to sing about Jesus. However, since crossi...

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth - Revelation 3:10 KJV

"I can't believe how physical these girls are with my son. And they text him day and night and call his cell phone late at night. We are really at a loss as to how handle these girls." My husband and I run the Parents of Teens small group in our church. One of the conversations our group has had is with frustrated parents of teen boys. They are struggling with how to handle aggressive teen girls- a problem they never anticipated.  The problem is real. More girls initiate contact with boys and push for sexual activity. They are encouraged to be aggressive by pop culture. And many boys are growing up without male leadership in their homes, confused about their identities and unsure how they are supposed to treat girls who come on to them.  So be proactive with your sons and talk to them about ways to handle aggressive girls. Train your sons in proper ways to treat a girl and discuss protocols and expectations of texting, late night calls and physical li...

OK, ladies, this one is for you. As Gen Xers, we’ve grown up to believe we can have and do it all. We learned if we just try hard enough or want it bad enough, we can accomplish anything. As young girls we were told to be assertive and independent, to show our power. And the young men? Well, they were trained to let us. For example, when I had my son, I discovered I had a much easier time letting my husband be my husband than letting him be my son’s dad. As the mother, I spent the most time with our son and pretty much figured I knew what was best for him. I wanted things done my way, and I wasn’t afraid to tell my husband which way that was! Even though “mom in charge” seems natural, I’ve learned by experience that the control we think we want is actually a conflict of interest. When it came to raising our three kids, I thought I knew best. But after a while, I resented my husband for not taking more of a stand and leaving all the work to me. Have you ever felt that way? ...

Lord, teach me your ways, and I will live and obey your truths. Help me make worshipping your name the most important thing in my life. Psalm 86:11

One of the hardest thing for a child to do is wait.  They often say they can't wait for Christmas to be here, or they can't wait for summertime.  Well I'm here to tell you that not much changes as we become adults.  Waiting in the doctor's office or waiting on results from aggressive testing can be one of the most uncomfortable places to be.  The sooner we get done, the better ... or so we think.  Immediate is not always best.  The scripture tells us that something is birthed out of waiting.  You see patience is not just waiting, but it's waiting with an attitude of submission.  The product of every prayer and waiting is patience.  James 1:4 says, "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing".  According to what we've just read, patience works something in us and out of us.   The word, "w ork " means "the effectual result" in it's translation.  What comes to mind is how I use t...

It’s Picture Day at school today. So my daughter and I took some extra time in fixing her hair this morning. As I straightened the mountain of curly locks on her head I asked her about the devotional she read the night before. Recently we’ve made devotion time part of our kids’ bedtime routine. For a long time we’ve given them a certain amount of ‘read’ time before lights out each night. It’s been a great way for them to relax and wind down before bed. The morning time has never been great for devotion time. My kids aren’t the easiest people to peel out of bed in the morning so time for Bible reading simply isn’t in the cards. My 10-year old daughter is going through a devotional created for preteens. Last night’s devotional was based out of Psalm 139:13-17. I love this scripture. And I love how God’s timing is so perfect. On the cusp of school picture day… the day we are more aware of WHAT we wear, HOW we look and how photogenic we are. A day we tend to size ourselves up a...

Ruth was the lady who clung to her destiny. She inherited a family by marriage. The family line was no ordinary one for out of it came Jesus (Matthew 1:5). Ruth was born a Moabite (or Gentile) yet her faithfulness led her to a greater inheritance. She clung unto that which was good. Neither circumstances nor things past were able to hinder her from laying hold of that which was more precious. Ruth's life is a picture of the born-again Christian. We are born again by faith. We all have to make a choice to walk with God. Do you cherish what you have inherited in Christ more than the world and all it has to offer? The story of Ruth is one of godly character. The decisions we make in life are decided by our character. A godly character will take you far. Ruth was firmly committed to what she believed was right. Her thoughts and actions were dictated by her commitment and character. One decision she made changed her whole destiny. The same is true of the decisions we make ...

Funny Story...I was talking to God about dating - I said, "Lord, why is it so easy for some women to find a man.  I know people who are in a relationship today, and the next day they are with somebody else.  The same thing go for married people, I don't understand it.  In the church world, I noticed the trend is to put your spouse away privately, then emerge with a new one in a few months.  No explanation given...Act as if nothing has happen...Business as usual, I don't under stand it".  A few minutes went by and these are the words I heard: Matthew 7:13-14,NIV 13  “Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.   14  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. So ladies, don't settle for men on the wide road, they come a dime a dozen. If you want God's best wait on Him.  It may mean not dating for a while, bu...

Happiness is a choice           Joy is unexplainable                    And                              Love is the condition of one’s heart                                                                             What condition is your heart in today?             ...

The New Year is finally here and with it brings the hope of new beginnings. The word “Hope” seems to be the buzz word this year.   Person after person I speak to seem to echo the expectancy or desire for something good to happen to them on a personal level.   Hope is a good thing and without it, most people would probably give up.   Giving up is something I am not willing to do and I hope it’s the same for you.  “ Because of the   Lord ’s great love   we are not consumed,   for his compassions never fail.   They are new every morning;   great is your faithfulness, Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV”.   Each day on Gods great earth is another opportunity for you to live your life and do something special.   God has placed great things in you, some known   and some yet to be discovered.   Recently, I saw the movie, “The Book Thief”.   It is excellent.   It is amazing how the worst of times can bring out th...