HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Dear Readers,
We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! :) We will be praying for the safety of those traveling to visit family and/or friends for this holiday! Eat lots of turkey, and enjoy the time of rest! :) 



~Autumn, Caitlyn, Carissa, and Charis 
Ask any questions you may have at Girls Inspiring Girls.

Be Thankful For The Little Things

It's thanksgiving week! A week filled with fun, family, laughter and of course that amazing turkey! Carissa has posted before on being thankful (Thankfulness on a Cookie Sheet), but I wanted to take a moment during this special week to think about what it means to be thankful. 

When asked what we are thankful for, most of us would say "A warm home, a good family, solid friends, talented teachers," and so forth. Most of us, including myself, miss the little blessings that God sends us daily. Blessings such as a good parking spot, an extra quarter or two found at the bottom of a drawer, or even something as small as some cereal for breakfast in the morning. There are several verses about being thankful throughout the Bible.


Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ;
Ephesians 5:20 

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

O give thanks unto the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
Psalms 107:1


What are the seemingly minuscule blessings that God sends you daily? For me, the fact that there is warm coffee every morning when I wake up is a blessing. One of the many blessings that I often miss throughout my busy mornings. 

As we sit with family and friends at the dining room table on thanksgiving day, take a moment to be thankful for the little things. 

~Charis 

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Be Sure Of The Dream You Are Following

One of our friends, Lauren Rice, wrote an inspiring blog post. I got permission to post it here. Enjoy!:)

Jeremiah 29:8-10, “For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye caused to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD. For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.”

In this chapter of Jeremiah, the children of Israel are facing dark times. Because of their sin, God had allowed them to be taken captive by Babylon. Imagine how willing they were to accept the dreams and visions of false prophets who told them that they would be going home before they knew it. “Don’t get settled here, because we’re going home tomorrow,” they said. That was a sweet dream, but that was not God’s vision for His people. So God sent Jeremiah to write a letter to the people of Israel saying that God had other plans. “Build houses, plant gardens, get married and have kids,” God said through Jeremiah’s letter. “Because Babylon is your new home for the next 70 years!” Now that vision was a little different from the one the false prophets had promised the people!

Sometimes we are in the same spot as the people of Israel were in this chapter. As young people, we have big dreams. Yet, just as the people of Israel, we must make sure we know whose dreams they are before we act on them. Are they God’s dreams for our life or are they our own dreams only? Sometimes we have good dreams for our life–even spiritual ones. Maybe our dream is to be a missionary. The key to knowing the author of our dreams-whether they are being a missionary, an entrepreneur or a stay-at-home-mom-is full surrender to God and His will. Establishing a relationship with God is essential to knowing His dream for our life.

In the big, future things, God can answer our prayers by opening and closing doors of opportunity, and especially by using godly parents and authorities in our lives who direct and advise us. When faced with a strong desire that we’re not sure about, we should ask God about our dreams. “Dear God, I believe You’ve given me an ability in ______ area, and I want to use this for You. I surrender my life to You and desire to know Your will. Is this a part of Your plan? If not, please take this desire out of my heart and replace it with Your dream for my life. If this is a part of Your dream for my life, please show me how I can cultivate it and use it for you. Amen.” God will reveal His dream for us if we ask, because He wants us to know!

In the little, every-day things, God’s vision for our life is usually quite obvious. For instance, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1); “. . . whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12); “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33).

We must make sure the dreams we are following are not just “the dreams that ye have caused to be dreamed . . .”, but the dreams that God has given us. By doing what we know to be right today, and asking God about the future, we can always be in tune with God’s dream for our life. As Evangelist Wil Rice IV (my dad) once said, “Be sure of the dream you are following, then take a step.”
Let us glimpse God’s dream, and then go all out for it!

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The Power Of Prayer

Our church anniversary was fast approaching. We all wanted the event to come quickly, except for one little problem...no, it was a big problem.

 We had recently removed the out of date, unappealing floor tiles from our two hallways and main lobby and the new carpet was not in yet. It. Looked. Awful.

Now this wouldn't normally be a huge deal, but since it was Anniversary Sunday, we expected to have many newcomers at that Sunday morning service. A totally demolished front entryway would not be a very good first impression to these visitors.

We, as a church, went into "last resort mode"--prayer. (Which, may I add, should be first resort mode.:)) Practically everyone in the church (including the children) was praying that we would get this carpet in before this anniversary.

In spite of what the carpet company said was "not possible," the carpet was finished the day before our big event and the church looked awesome!

You may look at this instance and think "It's only carpet. It's no big deal." But we looked at it as proof to those praying kids that God DOES answer us. Praise God prayer works!

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not. 
Jeremiah 33:3

~Caitlyn

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What Time I Am Afraid

When I was younger, I had the fear of being alone. I don't know why, but I was terrified that if I were left alone, I would open the door and find myself floating in space with nothing but the room I was in. As I got older, it was more of a fear that the rapture would come and everyone I knew and loved would leave me.

I had gotten saved at five years old, but I could only remember certain parts. The fact that I couldn't remember everything scared me. One night when I was about eight years old, I got out of bed and told my mom that I was really scared. I remember that she asked me a question: "Are you doubting your salvation?"

Instead of answering, I pretended like I hadn't heard her. I didn't want to admit that I was.

On October 7, 2010 when I was ten, I went upstairs again and talked to my mom. This time, I placed all of my trust in Jesus Christ. I finally believed that He could and would take all of my sins away. I didn't have to be afraid anymore, because Someone would always be with me.

One of my favorite verses is Joshua 1:9:

Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.

Titus 1:3 says:

...which God, that cannot lie,...

As you can see in the verse above, God can't lie. That means that everything He has promised us is true. We can completely believe promises such as I will never leave you, I will forgive you, and I will be faithful. 

Jesus talked about fear a lot. In fact, fear was usually coupled with faith. In Luke 8:50, He tells Jairus not to fear, but believe (have faith) and his daughter would live.

I thought I knew a lot about having faith. I mean, Faith is my middle name! (Yes, it really is:)) But when I was afraid, I was depending wholly on myself. 

The only way to get rid of fear is to replace it with faith and trust completely in God.

Because I'm a Christian, I have two choices: I can continue being afraid, or I can give it to God and walk by faith.

I saw a picture once that said "I will claim the promises of God." I want to continue to claim His promises for myself and place my trust in God instead of my own feelings.

What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. 
Psalm 56:3

~Carissa De Leon

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A Season Of Opportunity

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. These major holidays seem to be all bundled up in one food filled clump. When you think of these holidays, what words come to mind?  Some of the first words that I think of include things like family, friends, fun, food and frantic. During the excitement of the holiday shopping, cooking and planning, we tend to forget about the most important word of all: Father.

Not our earthly father, but our heavenly father, the Creator. Although we should be telling others about Jesus all of the time, this season gives us the perfect opportunity to tell others about the God that created the earth and everything in it. 

Often, we get so caught up in the business of the season that we let our opportunities pass us by without a second thought. We have places to shop, things to do, and food to cook. But what does our Father say?

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mark 16:15

This should be our motto all the time. 

Many people are afraid to tell people about Christ. Their minds are focused on the What If's rather than God's Promises.  

What if I don't say the right thing? 

There is no right or wrong to telling people about Christ. The only rule you need to follow is preach the gospel. (Mark 16:5, Above) There are so many plans to help lead someone to Christ, but there is one simple plan that everyone can do without studying; share your testimony. Tell people how you came to find your Lord and Savior. Tell them verses that have helped you in your Christian journey. 

What if they don't get saved? 

Not every person you talk to is going to be saved right away. The main thing to remember is that you at least planted a seed. If you don't plant seeds, there definitely won't be a harvest. 
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him].
Psalm 126:6 

What if they laugh at me? 
The Bible never says that being a Christian is easy. 

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

II Timothy 3:12 

God Promises...

...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5 

God Promises...

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

John 15:7,8

God Promises....
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
Romans 8:28

As we saw above, Jesus commands us to go and tell people the way to Heaven. Are we obeying this simple command? Are we sharing God's love with others? 

~Charis 

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Cleaning Out The Spiritual Closet

My closet at home would normally be considered a pretty big closet, but when you think about the fact that there are three teenage girls sharing it, it doesn't seem quite so big anymore. It's never a good thing when you don't have enough room for your clothes. When that happens, I know I desperately needed to reorganize and throw some stuff away.

At a summer camp that I went to, I realized that there were so many idols in my life that there wasn't any room for God. I'm not talking about a gigantic gold statue of some dead guy. The kind of idol I'm talking about is anything in my life that I put ahead of God. 

For me personally, my iPod was one of the things in my life that I was putting before God. It was the first thing I saw when I woke up, and the last thing I saw before I fell asleep. I was filling my life up with texting, friends, and games rather than focusing on the things of God. It was all I thought about. I was so busy with my own "important" stuff that I didn't have time for God. Instead of spending time doing devotions in the morning, I usually would convince myself to do it later. It wasn't just hurting my relationship with God, but it was also in the way of other things like school and family. To be truthful, I was wasting my time.

As a Christian, my goal is to glorify God and to keep a good testimony as a part of His family. When people see me, they should see Christ. My life may have seemed godly on the outside, but my heart was filled up with things that didn't really matter. I realized that I was just following the motions of being a Christian instead of making a decision in my heart that I would put nothing before Christ. 

It is my prayer that instead of being filled with the things of this world, my heart will stay focused on one thing only; my Father in Heaven. 





~Autumn De Leon 


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The Battle

I recently finished a book series. After finishing this series, I felt an actual sense of relief. Not because I didn't like the series, on the contrary --  I had been so thoroughly engrossed in the books that every failure, success, and trial that the hero went through seemed almost to me as if it was really happening. When after all their struggle, pain, loss and suffering, they finally reached their goal and stopped the villain, I felt relieved that they no longer had to suffer for the present. But alas, it was just a book. That kind of stuff doesn't really happen...right?

Wrong! We live in our own story and we fight our own battles against the greatest villain ever known. Sometimes he sends a curve ball our way and disrupts our work in ways that you can't even imagine until you are deep in the throes and all seems hopeless.

Yet, just as we have the greatest enemy in the world that fights against us, we have the greatest ally known to man that fights for us! We cannot fight this battle alone. No one can. In Christ ALONE my hope is found. He defeats the enemy for us! 

When all the struggle is over, we can look back at all the failures, successes, and trials and know that they hold no power over us. We can feel relief. 

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I Corinthians 10:13

-Caitlyn Dillhoff

My Winter Photo Dump

It's snowing in Ohio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 My brother Stephen and I

My sister Serenity's snowman

 My Sister Charity

I love winter!!!

Happy Monday! 

~Autumn 

Thankfulness On A Cookie Sheet

Have you ever been in a situation where a person says: "We're going to go around the table and name three things each that we are thankful for"?

We've probably all been there.

My personal response is usually:

1. "Wait, we are???? And did you say three things?? That's way too many."
2. #mindblank 
3. Hope that I'm last so I can steal ideas from everyone else.

Why is it so hard for us to be thankful? Don't go around making a list, but how many times do you hear other people complaining? Would it be easier for you to make a list of things you aren't thankful for rather than a list of things that you are thankful for? 

Most of us would say no, but if you're honest, it probably applies.

Last Sunday in our teen girl's Sunday School class, we were given the assignment to fill a piece of paper with things for which we are thankful. Our teacher said that anything goes. 

Her example was that she was thankful for floors (aka: something you stand on that is not a chair). Because without floors, where would you be? Answer: outside on the cold, hard, wet ground. And if you're already outside on the cold, hard, wet ground, then you would be floating in space or something.

<deep voice> "We interrupt this Thankful post to show you how to make your own cool wall decoration!!" 

We each got a regular dollar store cookie sheet and transferred the things we were thankful for from our paper to the cookie sheet. And if you use different colored markers, it looks really cool.:)

Because Thanksgiving is coming, we tend to think about being thankful more often in this time of year. But shouldn't we be thankful all of the time? The Bible mentions the word “thankful” or other forms of the word 139 times. So it must be pretty important. 

In everything gives thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 
1 Thessalonians 5:18

See that word "everything"? That means everything; including good things and bad. 

I put my Thankful Chart where I'll see it every day. It's just a good reminder of what I'm thankful for and also to be thankful everyday. 

Of course, the best thing to be thankful for is that Jesus came and humbled Himself to die for our sins! 

~Carissa De Leon

Beauty Isn't Makeup

This outfit makes me look so fat! Does my hair look okay? I wish I could find an outfit to go with these shoes. Why isn't my makeup cooperating? I guarantee that every girl has said at least one of these things at some point in time. 

Although it is important to have a good testimony in the way we dress and present ourselves, it is imperative that we aren't always focusing on our outward appearance. Once caught in that trap, it's very difficult to get out. 

Many girls, including myself, are focused on how stylish or un-stylish we are, how good at doing hair we are, or how amazing our makeup looks. We get so caught up in the outward that we forget about the heart. I think the main reason for this is that we crave other people’s approval. It is so important to us to be accepted in today’s society that we focus on what we can do that is noticeable. 

All in all, it’s a matter of pride. We care more about what people think than we care about what God thinks. We can’t handle the fact that people might not notice us if we focus on our inner beauty. For example, if I made a spiritual decision, someone wouldn't walk up and say “Oh, your heart looks beautiful today.” That would just be weird. Because of this, we spend hours trying to look perfect. We are completely ignoring the reason we were put on earth, to give glory and honor to God. How much time do you spend a day choosing an outfit, putting makeup on, and doing your hair? How much time do you spend getting spiritually ready for a day? I saw these questions in a devotional book and was completely convicted.

Rather than spending long periods of time trying to make ourselves look perfect, we should be spending all day every day allowing God to shape us into His image. 

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

I Samuel 16:7

~Charis Smith

Hope Or Hope?

           

         I recently got my driver's permit. After getting the permit, I was required to watch several testimonial videos of car accidents involving teens. There was one girl in particular who suffered a terrible accident which broke almost every bone from her waist down. She had multiple surgeries and her left foot was amputated. Of course I felt bad for her because of her injuries, but what made me most upset was the end of the testimony when it said something like, "She is still undergoing many surgeries as a result of the accident. Sarah is making the best of her situation. I internally thought, "Wow. She doesn't have any hope." 

       The Scripture very clearly defines hope as a confident expectation in Christ. Not a "I hope everything works out." My confident expectation is that I have a place in heaven with the One who saved me and gave me eternal life and ultimately peace! 

    

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. 

Hebrews 6:19

       

     

      She's making the best of her situation. That's all. She doesn't have the knowledge of a personal loving God, who promises to never leave her or forsake her. She doesn't know that God has a perfect and special plan for her life. She doesn't understand that He died and took her place on the cross so that she could go to Heaven one day and be a part of His family. All she can do is make the best of her situation.

 I do have hope. I can know that even when life seems completely messed up that God is right there.
For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.

Psalm 71:5

        When everything is going wrong, even when I feel alone, God is with me. I have someone that I can always trust to be there for me when I cry out for help. Just because I put my complete trust in God does not mean that I’m perfect and all my problems are automatically solved, but putting my complete trust in God and knowing what He does is best is much better than trying to make life work out in my own strength.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Psalms 18:6

        This makes me want to shout to everyone from the highest place that God exists and what He did on the cross because I'm quite sure that I would have gone crazy by now if I didn't have God. Thankfully, I do have Christ living in me. One man, who was fully God, came to earth just for me...now that puts it in a different perspective.

~Autumn De Leon