The world is currently all a buzz about Miley Cyrus and the choices she is making right now. Miley is attempting to ditch her girl-next-door, sweet reputation and make people take her as a serious adult musician. People are having a hard time accepting the new Miley.
Miley made her way into many hearts by being a nice daddy girl who just wanted to be normal. I don't know about you, but I find nothing normal about licking a dirty sledge hammer! As of late, Miley seems more concerned with showing her body, then being sweet.
I get it, she wants to transition out of teenager into adult. She wants to continue to make music, but to appeal to other generations, not just screaming girls. As we grow older, we have to find a way to transition ourselves into the next chapter of our lives. Luckily, most of us do not have to do it in the public eye, but we all have transitions.
Change can be difficult for some people. We all go through change. We change school buildings, move away for college, start an adult life, those are all changes and transitions we must handle. God knows that we will go through changes. He tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."
The bible verse continues on to list all the things:
"a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace."
Those are a lot of different changes that can happen and God says there will be a time for all of them!
So as you are going through different transitions in your life, I hope that you take them more gracefully than Miley Cyrus, and I hope you understand that now is the time for this transition and soon it will be time for another transition. If you need help with your transitions, please never hesitate to ask for help. God Bless.
~Dueces Jennifer
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
Somebody Cares...
I was thinking back to my high school years the other day, and was remembering how much I felt like an outcast. I didn't feel as if I was accepted by my peers, I always seemed to be crushing on the guys who had no interest in me. I look back and realize how alone I felt. It didn't help that I was not athletic, and I really was not thin. I feel as if I was a social outcast. People only tolerated me, because murder is illegal.
Now, I know you think that I am going to extreme there, but really I felt like everyone hated me. I tried so hard to be liked that I even did my classmates homework. (Yes I know that I shouldn't have, but hey at least they were talking to me then!)
I was not involved in a church youth group. I didn't really belong to any clubs. I was a cheerleader, but that was so I wouldn't have to take PE. I was really into theater, but theater in my little high school is nothing like theater is here in Fremont. If I was going to be honest, I don't know that anyone I went to high school with was quite as excited about theater as I was. The only time I really saw the people I went to school with, was as school. I didn't engage in social functions very often, and when I did I felt very out of place.
I look back to this time, and I feel blessed that I made it out alive! Seriously, I didn't take to cutting myself, I wasn't classified emo. I was just there, and I felt like nobody cared.
Now that I am older, I realize that that assumption was wrong. I had great teachers, and a few friends. Somebody other than my family did care. I also realize that even though I had no relationship with God, he cared!
John 3:16 tells us that "for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son." I am a parent now, and I don't know that I love someone enough to give up my child! That is a crazy amount of love! God was there when I was in high school feeling lonely. He was loving me, even though I wasn't even acknowledging he was there.
There are teenagers out there who feel like no one understands, no one cares, and that they are alone. These people need to understand first of all, God is there! Secondly, there is someone who cares: YOU JUST HAVE TO FIND THAT PERSON! The person who cares is not necessarily going to be wearing a sign that says: "Hey! I care about you!" There are always youth group leaders, teachers, coaches, parents, friends, or other adults that care.
I urge everyone to make sure they know who cares so that, when needed, you can reach out and get help with anything when needed. Whether it be to just hang out, or to talk; find that person. People need people, believe someone cares!
Dueces! ~Jennifer
Now, I know you think that I am going to extreme there, but really I felt like everyone hated me. I tried so hard to be liked that I even did my classmates homework. (Yes I know that I shouldn't have, but hey at least they were talking to me then!)
I was not involved in a church youth group. I didn't really belong to any clubs. I was a cheerleader, but that was so I wouldn't have to take PE. I was really into theater, but theater in my little high school is nothing like theater is here in Fremont. If I was going to be honest, I don't know that anyone I went to high school with was quite as excited about theater as I was. The only time I really saw the people I went to school with, was as school. I didn't engage in social functions very often, and when I did I felt very out of place.
I look back to this time, and I feel blessed that I made it out alive! Seriously, I didn't take to cutting myself, I wasn't classified emo. I was just there, and I felt like nobody cared.
Now that I am older, I realize that that assumption was wrong. I had great teachers, and a few friends. Somebody other than my family did care. I also realize that even though I had no relationship with God, he cared!
John 3:16 tells us that "for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son." I am a parent now, and I don't know that I love someone enough to give up my child! That is a crazy amount of love! God was there when I was in high school feeling lonely. He was loving me, even though I wasn't even acknowledging he was there.
There are teenagers out there who feel like no one understands, no one cares, and that they are alone. These people need to understand first of all, God is there! Secondly, there is someone who cares: YOU JUST HAVE TO FIND THAT PERSON! The person who cares is not necessarily going to be wearing a sign that says: "Hey! I care about you!" There are always youth group leaders, teachers, coaches, parents, friends, or other adults that care.
I urge everyone to make sure they know who cares so that, when needed, you can reach out and get help with anything when needed. Whether it be to just hang out, or to talk; find that person. People need people, believe someone cares!
Dueces! ~Jennifer
Friday, August 30, 2013
To Fear or Not to Fear....
Most people are afraid of something... As a little kid, we tend to have no fear. We will climb to the top of furniture without the fear of falling, we will race on our bikes without the fear of an accident, we will jump off of the stairs without the fear of breaking a bone, and we will walk up to new kids on the playground and be their friends without the fear of being rejected or judge. Then something happens as we grow up, we begin to be afraid of falling, having an accident, breaking a bone, or being judged. All of a sudden we want to be cool, calm, collected, and accepted by our peers.
I have noticed that the fear of being accepted is what keeps a lot of teenagers from church or Christ. All of a sudden it isn't seen as cool to be a youth group attendee, or to live a life that Christ wants us to. Teenagers will start to follow their friends in deciding what to do and not necessarily the bible.
The bible tells us to not focus on fear but to focus on what is real and true. Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."
What?! To not thing about the things that frighten us?! I know personally I struggle with this. It is easy to get caught up in the negative, or focus on what is bad. The scripture tells us that we should not focus on fear!
Right now there is a lot of focusing on the negative in Fremont. We have had a terrible summer for this community. The after effects of this summer have lead individuals to fear driving, to fear death, to fear talking to certain people. It has also lead to lifestyle changes. While we mourn loss of life, we also need to focus on the good that came from those young men.
There are friends of these young men, who have changed what they do because they do not want memories to come back to them. I ask do you think your departed friends would want you stay away from something you enjoyed because you don't want to remember them? Because you are afraid something will be said about the accident?
There are so many people who are trying to figure out how to live life now with the loss of these men. It will be a struggle, and it will be painful for years to come. I ask you though, are you going to let the fear of conversations or memories keep you from your life? Are you going to choose to not remember your friends in a positive way? If you keep fearing everyday life how will you ever live?
The scripture tells us to focus on the noble, right, lovely, and pure. So Christ is telling us to continue to live, but to remember all the good times we had with our departed friends. When you avoid life because of this accident, you are actually focusing on the accident, not your friends life.
So this is one time you can overcome fear, reach out and ask for help if you need a little push to overcome fear. Remember you will cry, because you miss them and that is okay. What is not okay is stop living your life. You do your friend's memories no good by not living.
Dueces! ~Jennifer
I have noticed that the fear of being accepted is what keeps a lot of teenagers from church or Christ. All of a sudden it isn't seen as cool to be a youth group attendee, or to live a life that Christ wants us to. Teenagers will start to follow their friends in deciding what to do and not necessarily the bible.
The bible tells us to not focus on fear but to focus on what is real and true. Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."
What?! To not thing about the things that frighten us?! I know personally I struggle with this. It is easy to get caught up in the negative, or focus on what is bad. The scripture tells us that we should not focus on fear!
Right now there is a lot of focusing on the negative in Fremont. We have had a terrible summer for this community. The after effects of this summer have lead individuals to fear driving, to fear death, to fear talking to certain people. It has also lead to lifestyle changes. While we mourn loss of life, we also need to focus on the good that came from those young men.
There are friends of these young men, who have changed what they do because they do not want memories to come back to them. I ask do you think your departed friends would want you stay away from something you enjoyed because you don't want to remember them? Because you are afraid something will be said about the accident?
There are so many people who are trying to figure out how to live life now with the loss of these men. It will be a struggle, and it will be painful for years to come. I ask you though, are you going to let the fear of conversations or memories keep you from your life? Are you going to choose to not remember your friends in a positive way? If you keep fearing everyday life how will you ever live?
The scripture tells us to focus on the noble, right, lovely, and pure. So Christ is telling us to continue to live, but to remember all the good times we had with our departed friends. When you avoid life because of this accident, you are actually focusing on the accident, not your friends life.
So this is one time you can overcome fear, reach out and ask for help if you need a little push to overcome fear. Remember you will cry, because you miss them and that is okay. What is not okay is stop living your life. You do your friend's memories no good by not living.
Dueces! ~Jennifer
Friday, August 23, 2013
Back to school
School has started here for the surrounding school districts, and I am in awe of how teenagers can juggle so many different commitments. I thought that juggling work, ministry, and a family was difficult; but students these days juggle so much more. Students not only have their school work, but then there are after school activities. Some have a job, and almost all of them have their responsibilities at home. It is very easy for students to get caught up in the whirlwind of school that they lose sight of themselves and of Christ.
Most students want to fit in at school. They want to have friends and have different social engagements to add to their already very full calendars. I admit it makes school a lot easier if you have a large circle of friends to lean on. While students lean on their friends, they are also influenced by their friends. In an effort to fit in, choices can be made that will take the student further from Christ and themselves.
I have seen good kids make poor choices. I have also seen good kids make good choices, but I want to focus on the poor choices. I have made poor choices throughout my life. I look back on some of the situations I put myself in, and I shudder. What was I thinking? Why would I do that? How did I manage to get out of that? I know that hindsight is 20/20 and it is so much easier to say "I shouldn't have done that" than it is to say "I am not going to do that." Everyone has had moments where they get caught up in the moment and just go with the flow. Then BOOM the next thing you know you are looking at consequences of a poor choice. It happens to everyone!
Unless you find yourself on a game show or in a life or death situation, there is always some time to think before making a decision. Always try to answer the following questions:
1. Does this activity or plan please God or sadden him?
We know that we are all saved by God's grace, but is what you are planning do going to cheapen that grace?
2. Does this activity or plan honor God, or is it something to draw attention to yourself?
We know that we are supposed to put others before ourselves, so is this all about you?
3. Does this activity or plan please your parents or grieve them?
Really think about what would happen if your parents knew you were going to go through with this plan. Would you be in trouble?
4. Does this activity or plan show that you love God or that you love the world?
As Christians we should be living our beliefs not just saying them.
Keeping Christ in the center of all our lives is the goal. No one is perfect and everyone will make mistakes, just slow down and think before you decide what to do. Remember Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "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."
Dueces ~Jennifer
Most students want to fit in at school. They want to have friends and have different social engagements to add to their already very full calendars. I admit it makes school a lot easier if you have a large circle of friends to lean on. While students lean on their friends, they are also influenced by their friends. In an effort to fit in, choices can be made that will take the student further from Christ and themselves.
I have seen good kids make poor choices. I have also seen good kids make good choices, but I want to focus on the poor choices. I have made poor choices throughout my life. I look back on some of the situations I put myself in, and I shudder. What was I thinking? Why would I do that? How did I manage to get out of that? I know that hindsight is 20/20 and it is so much easier to say "I shouldn't have done that" than it is to say "I am not going to do that." Everyone has had moments where they get caught up in the moment and just go with the flow. Then BOOM the next thing you know you are looking at consequences of a poor choice. It happens to everyone!
Unless you find yourself on a game show or in a life or death situation, there is always some time to think before making a decision. Always try to answer the following questions:
1. Does this activity or plan please God or sadden him?
We know that we are all saved by God's grace, but is what you are planning do going to cheapen that grace?
2. Does this activity or plan honor God, or is it something to draw attention to yourself?
We know that we are supposed to put others before ourselves, so is this all about you?
3. Does this activity or plan please your parents or grieve them?
Really think about what would happen if your parents knew you were going to go through with this plan. Would you be in trouble?
4. Does this activity or plan show that you love God or that you love the world?
As Christians we should be living our beliefs not just saying them.
Keeping Christ in the center of all our lives is the goal. No one is perfect and everyone will make mistakes, just slow down and think before you decide what to do. Remember Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "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."
Dueces ~Jennifer
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