A Challenge and Something to Think About

 "Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.  Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44

I recently read this passage in Mark. The story at-a-glance is that of a widow who gave a very sacrificial offering. This in itself is an amazing act of love to God. Jesus pointed her out to his disciples and not the rich who were giving large amounts.  Why did Jesus point her out instead of those giving large amounts? I believe that he did because of her very sacrificial offering. The passage says that many rich people were giving, but Jesus saw that she, in particular, was giving out of her poverty.

The thought then struck me, Jesus was pleased with her because she gave out of her poverty.

In the 21st century, when we think of poverty, we usually first think of economical poverty. Sometimes as I read passages in scripture regarding money, I can be tempted to think that I can not give out of poverty because I am not “poor.”

   

      Another thought then struck me, “What am I poor in?” Maybe not in finances, but maybe I am lacking in time and energy or maybe I do not want to get out of my comfort zone.

I believe that when we give out of our poverty, God is pleased as we saw in the story of the widow. Let me challenge you to think and pray about how you can give out of your poverty. It may not be comfortable or easy, but pleasing God can yield in great rewards.     

True Beauty

" Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." 1 Peter 3:3-4

“I have to be stick-thin, I have to be drop dead gorgeous, I have to have perfect hair, I have to have perfect skin, I have to have perfect curves. To get guys to like me, I  must wear tight, revealing clothing, and I must buy for the brand. “  All these are thoughts that threaten to pass through our minds.
    There are many emotions wrapped up in the “perfect” mentality. For example, “That model is perfect because she is modeling for Chanel,  she is  5’9, and only weighs ninety eight pounds – obviously she’s perfect.” “Perfection” should not be what we as girls are striving for! How we dress and how we look truly does not matter in the long run.
        Going to the mall (or any store that sells clothing) does nothing for my self esteem. The clothes and images scream that since I weigh more than the average teenage girl, I should not be shopping in the same sections as my sisters and friends. After strolling through a store or mall, it can be so easy to start comparing yourself to what is "acceptable" in the world’s standards. This can leave you feeling dejected and unhappy with yourself.
    The modern world is full of things trying to grab our attention: magazines, TV shows, and advertisements, just to mention a few.  The world has tried to paint a picture of what "perfection" should be.
    The truth is that we will never ever reach perfection without Christ, it is not attainable without Him. In all the history of the universe, there has only been one perfect person, Jesus. Jesus should be our model of perfection.  God loves us JUST THE WAY THAT WE ARE.  Until we accept that, we will continue to work for  perfection,  when we think we have attained it, we will still not be satisfied. When you know the truth that Jesus loves and accepts you, then and only then is when we can stop working towards shallow goals.
    Although the models in stores and magazines may appear to "have it all", if they are without Jesus, they have nothing.  True beauty is that which radiates from the heart. A girl who may not be in the most fashionable clothing, but who has Jesus, will be much more appealing because of the happiness which is in her.
We are worth SO much more than the media says!!! Nobody should be able to make us feel bad because we don't look like the world’s version of perfection. WE are ALL wonderfully made by God, and because of him, we can be beautiful on the inside and the outside! written by Kathryn and Emily


“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

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Thoughts on Books

Books are things that are used in typical every-day-life; we use them for both school and enjoyment. They are a source that we use all the time, therefore, it is crucial that we make sure that the ones that we read are clean and pure. “May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.” (Psalm 25:21)  Many books published today are filled with lies, language, sexual immorality, and perversions of everything that is good and Godly. It isn’t always easy to not read garbage. Temptations to sneak-a-peek into stories like that is hard, especially when someone you know reads and talks about them. But something we all need to know is that we have the strongest ally there is…Jesus. If you feel pulled by your friends or thoughts to fall into temptation, remember, me plus Jesus is always the majority. I believe that when you pray and ask for help to resist tempting thoughts, He’s on your side. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)  And when your mind is clean and you endure yet resist temptations, it makes your light shine that much brighter.
  Written by Ashley

Movie Review

                                        October Baby
 October Baby is a great newer movie.  Here is the story overview from Netflix.
“Stunned and angered by the truth of her birth, college freshman Hannah sets out on a spring break road trip with her best friend Jason and a band of misfits to discover who she is, where she came from and where she will go from here.”
 The movie is rated PG-13 mainly for the reference to abortion.  The movie is very clean for this day and age. The acting was very well done. The boy/girl interaction is pure and wholesome. The only negative elements are disobedience, abortion, and immature college behavior (which is relatively mild).
  I would recommend for mature 10 years old and up. My parents and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It is a great movie for family entertainment. See trailer below.
 
* It is currently available to Stream through Netflix.
Written by Kathryn

Book Review

The book, The Bronze Bow, is a great read. I was assigned to read it last year and loved it! I was not too excited to read it at first glance, but sticking with it proved to be a great decision. The summary from Amazon.com describes the book very well:
“He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. –from the Song of David (2 Samuel 22:35)
The Bronze Bow, written by Elizabeth George Speare (author of The Witch of Blackbird Pond) won the Newbery Medal in 1962. This gripping, action-packed novel tells the story of eighteen-year-old Daniel bar Jamin—a fierce, hotheaded young man bent on revenging his father’s death by forcing the Romans from his land of Israel. Daniel’s palpable hatred for Romans wanes only when he starts to hear the gentle lessons of the traveling carpenter, Jesus of Nazareth. A fast-paced, suspenseful, vividly wrought tale of friendship, loyalty, the idea of home, community . . . and ultimately, as Jesus says to Daniel on page 224: “Can’t you see, Daniel, it is hate that is the enemy? Not men. Hate does not die with killing. It only springs up a hundredfold. The only thing stronger than hate is love.” A powerful, relevant read in turbulent times.”

For those who love an easy-to-read historical-fiction story this book is for you. It combines the life of Jesus and the history of that era with an interesting storyline that has you invested in the lives of the characters the entire book. I would highly recommend  that The Bronze Bow be added to your “fun book” reading list!
 Written by Kathryn

School

Do you feel the pressure to make good grades?  Do you struggle to pace yourself and stay organized?

 We sure do!  We find ourselves juggling a social life, family time, sports, and other activities.

We are both home schooled, which means that our moms and dads are our primary teachers. We know that every home-school schedule is different, and that of a public or private schooled student is extremely different.  I think all would agree that time management is very important!


Here are some tips on how to make your school week less stressful:

* Find your most productive time of the day and work steadily during that time. For me, my most productive time is in the morning, so I try to capitalize on that time. Usually waiting until the end of the day to do your hardest subjects is not a good idea.

*Talk with your parents about the week. If you know that one day in particular is going to be busy, plan ahead. You may need to double up the days before so that you do not fall behind. (From experience, it is best to do extra on days when you don't have a lot to do. This way, on days when you are extremely busy you won't fall far behind.)

* Write out your schedule on a calendar or in a planner. This can be beneficial to you and your family. When I started High School, my parents invested in a large dry erase wall calendar. This has helped with logging workouts, volunteer work, and extra curricular things. If you do not have the wall space or cash, think about a small planner (Target is a good place to look) or smaller dry erase board so that you can have things laid out a week or two in advance.  written by Kathryn and Emily



“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord...” Colossians 3:23

UNRAVELING THE WEB

50 MILLION ABORTIONS SINCE ROE VS. WADE... LET THAT SINK IN FOR A MINUTE.  THE WORLD HAS BEEN DEPRIVED OF SO MANY PRECIOUS LIVES! WHEN WILL IT END? PEOPLE MOuRN AND THE WORLD IS SHOCKED WHEN 5 AND 6 YEAR OLDS DIE IN SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, BUT WHO MOURNS FOR THE OTHER MILLIONS OF CHILDREN BEING BRUTALLY MURDERED EVERY SINGLE DAY? HOW MANY PRECIOUS CHILDREN HAVE TO DIE? THERE ARE COUNTLESS STORIES THAT WILL NEVER BE TOLD. COUNTLESS LIVES THAT WILL NEVER BE KNOWN, AND FOR WHAT?  SO SELFISH MOTHERS AND FATHERS CAN LIVE THEIR PERFECT, WRINKLE- FREE LIVES?
            THIS IS SO VERY, VERY WRONG. THE GROUND IS CRYING OUT AS LIFE AFTER LIFE IS BURIED IN ITS DEPTHS. THE FOUNDERS OF OUR NATION THAT WAS BUILT ON BIBLICAL TRUTHS ARE PROBABLY ROLLING IN THEIR GRAVES. I WOULD HATE TO SEE THE LOOK OF PURE HORROR ON THEIR FACES IF THEY COULD SEE WHAT OUR NATION HAS COME TO. IS IT WORTH IT? HAVE BABIES REALLY BEEN REDUCED TO NOTHING MORE THAN FETUSES AND USELESS MOUNDS OF LIFELESS TISSUE? WHOLE GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN ALMOST WIPED OFF THE FACE OF THIS EARTH DUE TO ABORTIONS, AND BIRTH CONTROL. NO ONE HAS A RIGHT TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THESE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE LIVED OR DIED. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LIVE THE LIVES THEY WERE MEANT TO LIVE, NOT HAVE THEIR LIVES CRUELLY TAKEN FROM THEM!  WHAT DID OUR FOREFATHERS FIGHT AND DIE FOR?? I DON’T THINK IT WAS SO HELPLESS, INNOCENT BABIES COULD BE VACUUMED OUT OF THEIR MOTHERS’ WOMBS. ~ Written by emily

A Biblical View on Marriage

“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
Genesis 2:24
Marriage is a God ordained thing. He knew  back in the Garden of Eden that man needed a helpmate. God then created Eve, a woman.

    God is omniscient, which means that He is all knowing, God knew that one man and one woman was (and still is) the best thing for us as humans. Men and women were created differently, but they are the perfect fit for each other. Nature echos this principle. Just as opposite poles of a magnet attract, so man and woman are naturally attracted to one another.

The world today is trying to twist marriage into a something that is unnatural. We currently see this in the news as various states in our nation are voting to redefine marriage from a man and a woman to same-gender unions.  We also are exposed to this kind of thinking in many popular sitcoms.  I believe that if God wanted things to be done differently, He would have done so from the beginning. Since God made marriage a union between one man and one woman, I believe that we should strive to keep it that way.  It is for our own good!  Men with men and women with women is a perversion of God’s design. It is not natural! It is not right! I have plenty of  friends that are girls that I love like sisters! That kind of love is perfectly fine and natural!  Girls and boys that think they love members of their same gender so much that they have to be couples are not following God's way!  It is sick and wrong! I hate that my siblings see people and have to ask, “Why does that guy talk like a girl?” or,  “Why are those two girls holding hands?”  I shudder to think that it may get even worse for my future children.

This is a disturbing thing that pop-culture has decided to try to make allowable. I do not agree with people who choose to act against the Bible, but I do choose to love the sinner, not the sin. The "sinners" are not necessarily bad people; they are just deeply confused.

We as a nation should not tread lightly on a subject of such importance. Romans 1 is such a saddening reminder that if we do not glorify God as God and are not thankful, we are turned over to our sinful desires. Sexual immorality is a form of being turned over to our sinful desires; therefore, we should not voluntarily participate or approve of it. America is leaning dangerously close to a Sodom and Gomorrah lifestyle, and we all know what happened to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah! (Genesis 19)

America is falling down around us; it is frightening but true!  Praise be to God who is a loving and forgiving God. We as Christians should set the example for others by loving sinners, but not excusing sinful lifestyles. God is forgiving, but is also  just. I believe that going against God's wishes will certainly yield grave consequences.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17

We can find true deliverance from any temptation we are faced with through Jesus. If you have struggled with something like this, do not feel condemned. Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost. In Him, we find true freedom and forgiveness from any sin we face.
Written by Kathryn and Emily

Language

 God wants us to honor him with what we say. People do not realize that what they say can turn people to or against them. I know that in this day and age it is “cool” or “normal” to say ugly words.  If we conform to the world we will say them too. God does NOT like this.  Ephesians 4:29 says, “No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear it.”  Wow-- this verse totally sums up what I believe.  You want people to be brought closer to Jesus when they hear you speak.  There are certain people that I do not like being around because when I hear them speak I feel “yucky” inside. There is a fine line of not being snooty by thinking, “hey they say bad or curse words so I  am too good to be around them.” With that mentality, good luck trying to win people for Christ.  Instead, like 1st Timothy 4:12 says, “set the example” and set it with humility.
Written by Kathryn

Self Harm

    Fear. Insecurity. Anger. Stress. All of these are factors that can lead to self harm.  Self harm can be done in many ways including verbally and by using objects to inflict wounds on the body.
    People can try to hide their fear, anger, and pain in many ways. Instead of talking to someone who is trusted, people choose to inflict pain on themselves. The thought behind it is that it dulls the emotional pain, and gives people something to concentrate on. The pain might feel good for a while, but then people are left with scars, and the emotional pain is still there - in fact it often is worsened. Self harm is serious and should not be taken lightly, AT ALL!
    Self harmers are some of the best “hiders” in the world. They can try to internalize every little thing. When asked what's wrong, "Nothing" or "I am fine", are common answers. Self harmers usually try to make it look like a common injury that could easily have been an accident. We, as believers, need to be observant if signs arise. We want to help people before it is too late.
    Many self harmers finally reach a point when they have to tell someone. Or someone finds out. The relief is great, but it is hard to promise to never do it again.
    Thankfully, we serve a loving and powerful God. With him, all things are possible. Even Christians can give into self harm at times. It is like a disease that you have to fight.There can also be a deep fear that people will look at you differently when they find out what you have done to yourself. God loves us, and he is the only place where we can find true healing and comfort. Until we find him, we are desperate.
    Once we are in God, we need to believe in him, He is faithful and forgives. In Christ, we are still going to face temptation, but not one that we are unable to face. Written by Kathryn and Emily

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Hi Everyone!
My name is Savannah. I am the guest writer today for Upstream. I would like to address the issue I will refer to as "Big Buts." Now, before you start laughing, let me explain. Everyone has buts. Some are big, some are small. Our "buts" keep us from having a wholesome and fulfilled relationship with God.

Do you have a big but? A gigantic one? Several buts? Everyone we know has a big but. More often than not, its the thing that gets in the way of living life for Jesus. Let me explain. See if you can recognize some of these buts.

   But I have to work more.
   But my favorite TV show is on.
    But talking to God is boring.
      But I'm tired.
     But the kids have something going on.
     But God understands, right?
     But I'm in the middle of tweeting, texting or facebooking.
    But I talked to God at church last Sunday.
     But its such a beautiful day.
    But I'm just not in the mood.
   But I need a vacation.
   But I don't understand.
  But I post scriptures all the time, that counts right?

 But I don't have enough time.

See? Everything can interfere with a life spent living for God if you let it. My solution? Make God first priority, and the "buts" will disappear! It will be like weight loss for our soul. So, ask yourself. How big is your but?
Lets shrink our spiritual "buts" together!

                            "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age," Titus 12:11-12

Sweet and Single

This Valentine's Day like all the ones that have come before in my relatively short life I am single - In the eyes of the world. Unlike many 16 year old girls I am completely devoid of a boyfriend this Valentine’s Day. Some would feel sorry for me, some would wonder why. I am more than happy to be alone (in the boyfriend department) this Valentine’s day because I know that I have the greatest valentine of all, one who loves me so unconditionally and completely I don't know why I would ever want  or need anything else. I am only human though and I can't wait for the day when I am married to the greatest man on earth (other than my Dad and Grandpa.) I am really thankful for both of these men in my life, and I am so blessed and loved by both of them. I am also thankful for my sisters (You know who you are ;)) that will be spending this Valentine’s Day sweet and single with me. :) :)  (Even though we won’t all be together.) ~ Written by Emily <3

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Purity

Imagine a beautiful, delicate, ornate box that is locked up tight. It sits on your shelf in a place of honor for all to see.  It has never been opened and you know better than to let anyone touch it. This box is worth more than all of the gold and jewels on the planet – it’s your purity. You have been given this gift to give to ONE man one day. You don’t know when but you are OK with that. You know that this gift isn't meant for just any guy. It is meant for the most amazing man in the world. The one that reminds you of your Dad, the boy that will cherish you, the one that will love you so much that he will put his desires to the back burner to protect your purity. You know that this gift can’t be opened early or it will turn tarnished and rusty, it will no longer be shiny and new. The box is for you to give to your husband when you get married. He has a box similar to yours, would you want it to be tarnished and rusted?? It was meant for you, you saved yourself for him and then the box you get in return is so tarnished you can’t tell what it should be... How would that make you feel?? Angry? Hurt? If you wouldn't want the tarnished box, then don’t think your husband wants that either. Save yourself. You are worth more than gold; don’t give yourself away before it’s the right time. If you think you cant wait YOU CAN, and he can too! ~ Written by Emily

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED COURTING RATHER THAN DATING??

  What is courting? To me and my family courting means a relationship with someone where the final goal is marriage. Things are conducted in a group format with parental supervision.  Dating just for the fun of it is not in my agenda. I want to live life full of fun, not with baggage that can come from unnecessary relationships. Here are some pros to courting, and cons to dating.

Pros to Courting:
*Marriage is the goal
*Family monitored with parental involvement which equals  less chance of temptation
*Group setting
*You get to see how the other person acts around their family and friends
*Purity is a standard
*You get to know each others families
*You get to know people in a nonthreatening environment
*Chances of getting your heart broken are lessened
*It is not an all consuming relationship
*You really get to know the person on a deeper level
*Your parents are aware of what is going on and you get to have their advice
*You are chaperoned which helps with temptation. If you wouldn't do it in front of your siblings, parents, or friends you probably shouldn't be doing it at all.
*There is not an "act" going on( ie. trying to impress), you get to know people "in real life"
*It is more fun to hang out in a group setting (ie. with a bunch of friends watching a movie or playing games)
*If you are not interested you have an easy way out of any deep relationship, thus not hurting others or yourself
*You are less emotionally involved.

Cons to Dating:
* You are more emotionally involved, which makes it more likely for deeper disappointments and hurt
*Because dating is usually a one-on-one thing it can lead to temptation
*Typical dating standards do not make purity a high priority
*Expectations are shifted from getting to know one another to a premature love relationship
*You don't necessarily get to know the other persons family and friends
*Parental supervision is not as prominent
*You may not be getting to know the person for who they really are because of the "status quo" of dating expectations
*A protective buffer exists when family and friends are involved. However, with dating you are  more likely to give away too much too soon.  If you don't end up getting married, you then have baggage that you take into the next relationship.
    God designed marriage, and it is a great thing. We are not saying that dating is necessarily wrong, but the way that our current culture does it is not always honoring to God. You can make dating "ok", but you both have to be willing to do the work and stay pure. Or you can take the easier purity route by courting others, which usually yields a more productive ending. Over all courting begins with the  express purpose of heading towards marriage.    We do not have the desire to give away our hearts and purity solely for the enjoyment or normality of dating. We want to save ourselves for the person that we marry, and we feel that for us, courting the is best option for that.
Written by Kathryn and Emily

Modest Summer Clothing Idea

I am a runner, and running shorts are well, short.  I do not necessarily want to wear basketball shorts to a Cross Country meet, but I also do not want to expose myself.  My parents do not like our shorts to be much higher than our thighs. One great thing that I have discovered is Under Armour-like compression shorts to wear under the shorter shorts.  With these I can still wear running shorts and I can honor my parent’s modesty expectations. This way my standard of coverage is met in a comfortable and contemporary way.              

See that the black is the compression shorts under the blue- running shorts.
Written by Kathryn

Thoughts on Modes

Likewise [I desire] that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control,... but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works (1 Timothy 2:9-10).



We as girls want to dress in a way that pleases God. In a  way that does not cause others around us to sin.
Men are very visual; the way we dress truly does affect them. As their sisters in Christ, we should respect their feelings when it comes to how we adorn our bodies.
I want to encourage others around me to grow in their faith, I cannot control other people's actions, but I can control mine.
I want the way I dress to honor God and the men in my life. Even if it means that the really cute, super fashionable, short dress I love stays at the store. I want my guy friends to feel comfortable being around me. I don't want them to feel the need to look everywhere in the room but at me while we talk.
If a simple action like dressing modestly can help encourage others in their pursuit of Jesus, I want to do it. We know that men are visual, and can be tempted with the way that we dress. I want to create an environment that is conducive to the furthering of the gospel and not to the temptations of the world.
The way we dress says something to the world and the people around us. If we are dressing like we want attention, thats what we will get, but it won't always be from the right kind of people. Guys notice when well dressed (and covered) women enter the room.
Making good and simple choices in the way that we dress can be an easy solution. Ask your dad or older brother how they feel about the way that you are dressed. Ask them honestly if your outfit is in any way immodest to them. If it is, ask them how to make it modest. God has provided us with our dad as a safe person to ask these questions.  It may be frustrating or embarrassing if they do not approve of your outfit, but it is much better to have them tell you than to expose yourself to those who do not have your best interests in mind.

Written by Emily and Kathryn

Modest Swimsuit Idea

Modest Swimsuit Idea

Summer is coming, with summer comes swimming, and with swimming comes the hardship of finding a modest swim suit.  As Christians, we should be setting the example for others in what we do, including the way that we dress.  It can be hard to find swimwear that is honoring to God, and that is also “in style”.  Here is one way that we have tried to make swim wear decent and comfortable.

*Most stores sell sporting shorts that have a liner in them. The shorts dry fairly quickly and they also are very comfortable.

*For swimsuit tops, we use full-length sport tank tops that come up high enough and that are also lined inside. If the tank top is too low for your modesty standard, they sell sport-type bras that go great underneath. The sport tank top is made of similar swimsuit material so it dries easily and looks like what most others are wearing.

 We have used this method of swimwear for two years now, and we love it. With this method, we are able to meet our modesty standards in a functional, contemporary, and comfortable way. written by Kathryn

Thankfulness

Thankfulness

Being thankful is something that can easily be underestimated.  Many children and teenagers have a sense of entitlement that often leads to not being thankful for what they are given. If you go back to the Bible, there are a lot of examples of not being thankful and the consequences that can follow.

Romans 1 talks about when God turned the people over to their sinful desires because they did not glorify God as God and WERE NOT THANKFUL. This is a humbling fact.

In our culture, it has become all too common to not express even the slightest forms of gratitude.  We should not tread lightly on not being thankful. God has blessed us abundantly.  What do we have that we should not be thankful for? Expressing thankfulness is becoming a lost art.

As believers, we should be so full of joy and thankfulness because of what Jesus has done for us on the Cross. What a great opportunity to share the love of Jesus by something as “simple” as being thankful!

It is so impressive when (especially) a young person expresses gratitude. Let us challenge you reach higher than the culture’s standards of gratitude. Next time you are at a restaurant or store, say thank you to the the worker. It may not seem like much, but you could have a positive influence on someone for Christ!

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:21

You Set the Example

YOU Set the example

    Uncommon, different, above average. These are all words that I want to describe me.  Average is so overrated, normal is sub-par, and common is a cop-out.  I want to be someone that people see and say, “wow that is an above average, high quality, kind, hardworking, and respectful girl.” Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”  Transformed: to change in form, appearance, nature etc. (dictionary definition) God knows that this world is filled with junk, He does not want us to conform=to act in accord with prevailing custom or to be similar. (dictionary definition)  Basically, He does not want us to, “ fit in” because,“fitting in” would mean putting up with the bad stuff of this world.  If being, “cool” in the eyes of the world means saying curse or crude words, having a boyfriend, not honoring your parents, not giving your best effort,  teasing others, being a hot-head, not wanting to pray in public, or being ugly to siblings, then I want NO part in it!  Let’s explore more in depth what the Bible says about these things.
1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one despise you in your youth, instead you should set the example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity."  
   Written by Kathryn