PUTTING YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS?

There are so many things going through my mind lately. It's difficult to be the one who created a ministry and then have to use and build upon the practical applications you have tried to encourage your team and your teens to apply to their own lives. In some ways I would liken my own children to Pastor's kids. They are watched very closely, they are expected to perform at a totally different level/standard than any other kid and when they make a mistake it has greater repercussions than other young people their age.

How does a parent be supportive of their child, allow them to grow up and learn to make their own decisions yet not give them "enough rope to hang themselves"?

I wish I could say that as a mom of four daughters I have answers for you all - but I don't. And the more I walk this road, the more I realize it's REALLY DIFFICULT.

I just wanted to put this out there for you girls so you can see just how tough it really is for your parents and maybe you could cut them some slack. Those of you who have parents that are actually involved in your lives - learn to appreciate this! It's not uncommon for parents to be so consumed with their jobs and themselves that they are not involved in their children's lives at all. So, of you come from a home where your mom and dad actually take time to talk to you and you think they're prying - THINK AGAIN and give them a little credit for taking time to be involved in your lives.

I guess the reason I have titled this "PUTTING YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS" is just the thought that so many of the young women I've worked with have committed to purity and desire to live a lifestyle that exemplifies purity but the first guy that comes along that they fall head over heels for everything is out the window. Don't jump in with both feet. Take some time...pray about things...forging ahead throwing caution to the wind is dangerous. If your parents are concerned and not to sure about the relationship, LISTEN TO THEM. They aren't doing this to make you miserable. They aren't saying things to undermine your love story. They are sincerely desiring to help guide you and direct you. All those things you thought about and talked about at the purity conferences or journaled during your quiet times...REREAD THEM! Take time to go over everything then "put your money where your mouth is" and stay within the parameters you set for yourself. God placed those on your heart for a reason and He wants what's best for you. He doesn't want you miserable. He wants you to be focused on Him.

My friend Kristie had this on her status: I think often when we are waiting prayerfully and desperately for an answer from the Lord, especially if the wait is long, it's easy to get more focused on the hope of the answer rather than the Answerer. HE is the prize. HE is always the prize.


The PRIZE...is it worth waiting for? worth working towards? DON'T SETTLE...Don't block those who truly love you out of your life just because they're not saying what you want to hear. They have your best interest at heart as well and God has placed them in your life for a reason!

Next time your mom or dad take a moment to share their concerns with you - don't shut them down, don't throw a tantrum, don't close them out. Take a deep breath and listen. Listen closely, openly and pray about it. Then formulate your response and talk it over with them.

He is the prize! He's ALWAYS the prize! For our focus to be on Him and not the moment will enable us to put our money where our mouth is and actually fulfill those commitments we have made to Him.

WHEN THINGS GET YOU DOWN

If there’s one thing I believe we all struggle with it’s the trials or difficulties that come with life. Sometimes it seems there’s no end to the trials we may be dealing with. They can be discouraging, they can bring despair and depression. But there is one thing I’ve found that has helped me significantly through my trials and that would be FOCUS. When I’m struggling in life and I feel myself spiraling downwards in self-pity or consumed with a trial rather than walking in joy, I have to adjust my focus.

This past Sunday, Turning Point, a Dr. David Jeremiah broadcast was all about trials. Entitled “What to do When the Heat’s Turned Up” – I found this very encouraging and wanted to share a few points from it:

Using James 1:1-12, his first point was:

CELEBRATE THE REASON BEHIND YOUR TRIALS
A trial could be financial strain, loss of job, death in family, relationship problems, health issues, job stress, or simply exhaustion. From the outset of James’ letter – he discusses some key words. The first word is WHEN. James 1:2 says, “Count it all joy WHEN (not IF!) you fall into many trials.”

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TRIALS. But we need to remember to respond to our trial from God’s perspective and realize it’s being used by God to produce something valuable in us.

The second word is COUNT or CONSIDER in the Greek this word means “think forward.” When you find yourself in the midst of trials take a moment and fast forward in your mind to what God is up to and REJOICE in what He’s going to do within and through you as you walk through this trial. Deal with it by seeing what God is up to.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

Jesus looked forward to the results of His sacrifice and found joy in it which gave Him the strength to finish out the journey.
 

CALCULATE THE JOY IN YOUR TRIALS
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face testing or trials of many kinds, because you that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3 PERSEVERANCE is also PATIENCE however, patience is not sitting back and letting things just happen, it’s doing what God has called us to do regardless of the circumstances. Do what we ought to do even though the expected result is not there. Trials produce within us durability and maturity. Without durability in trials believers can’t grow up.  “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.” James 1:4 How do we become mature? By going through stuff. God uses the irritations to grow us up in Him! This puts muscle in our spiritual being so we can say, “I know that I know that I know my God is enough in the midst of all things!” He is going to teach us durability and help us look at life through the lens of reality.

CALL UPON GOD’S RESOURCES IN YOUR TRIALS
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 Just go and ask him! He will give wisdom to us liberally without reproach.

God is good! (and the source of our wisdom) In James 1:17 it states, “every good and perfect gift comes from God.” He is the God of wisdom (Job 12:13, Job 28:23, Proverbs 2:6, Ephesians 1:17) He will help us figure it out and know what to do.

God is generous. James 1:5 – he gives to us liberally. God reaches down from heaven and stretches out to give us what we need.

God is gracious. James 1:5 – he gives without reproach. Ever had to go to God several times about the same thing? Have you apologized for it? God is never insulted by our coming to him over and over again with the needs of our heart! He is NEVER insulted and won’t scold us for coming. Don’t ever use the excuse, “I already asked once and hate to go back again.” God wants us to come back again. (I am personally guilty of this next point that Dr. Jeremiah makes…) The last person we ask about what we’re going through is the only person who can give any real insight into the issue – that’s God!! (I am really “good at” going to my husband, my daughters, my friends, my mentor, but my last stop had always been GOD – this practice continued in my life for several years until I realized what I was doing and began making a more concentrated effort to shift my focus and begin ASKING GOD FIRST!) Cut through all the lower layers and go straight to the top! God is willing and longing to help us. But, don’t come lacking in faith…don’t be double minded (James 1:8). Come to God as our ONLY option not ONE of our options. We need to concentrate and focus on what HE says and not what others have told us. Let the other stuff go.

CONSIDER YOUR REACTIONS TO YOUR TRIALS (James 1:9-10)
When we’re going through stuff we will discover that trials and testing even the playing field. They are the same for the rich as the poor. There’s no rich version of cancer or poor version – it hits everybody the same. When you’re going through trouble understand God is using this and may use it to exalt you. He loves to lift up the humble.

CONTEMPLATE THE REWARDS OF THE TRIALS
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of glory that God has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12 Trials are linked to our future to prepare us for what He wants to do for us. We must face our difficulties by honoring the Lord. 

God uses them to create spiritual pearls in our lives.

What is He up to in you? Ask Him what it is He wants you to learn and how he wants you to grow in the midst of all this! If you know Jesus, you know God is enough!

I’ve been dealing with some health trials in my life that tend to weigh heavy on my heart, but since moving to North Dakota it seems the intensity of other trials around me have become even greater than my health issues. I have had to adjust my focus on all fronts and God’s been reminding me time and time again to bring set them before Him.  It is not easy. It’s not fun. But…it is worth it!!! I have grown exponentially through it all and am LOOKING FORWARD to the lessons that are coming just around the corner.

So…with all that in mind…what is God up to in your life?!?!

WE GOT GAPS...

So, back in the day, when I was a lot younger, there were the ROCKY movies starring Sylvester Stallone. In the first movie Rocky meets the love of his life, Adrianne. When asked why he loved her so much Rocky's response is "She's got gaps and I got gaps, but together we got no more gaps." I used to think that was a rather profound observation, especially for Rocky and in some ways it is true - we all have gaps. It's Biblical in the fact the Bible states that the church is a body with Christ as the head. (Ephesians 5:23) And in Romans 12:4-5, "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, though in Christ, we as many, form one body..." each of us has a special function and are gifted differently and that gift should be used for His glory. So in other words our "gaps" are part of His plan for His people.

Where it becomes complicated is when our worldly concept of being complete takes over. I cannot tell you how many times I've heard a young woman say, "He completes me." The essence of this statement is true - we all have an innate desire to be complete because God placed that desire within us. The problem is, we aren't supposed to be looking to another person to complete us but rather we should be looking to God. Believe me, it took me a while to grasp this concept but it is something worth understanding.

The beauty in being complete in Christ is it takes the pressure off our spouse (whether married or someday-to-be married.) It is not God's intention for your husband to complete you. "God saved you by His grace when you believed...we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:8&10

Our accomplishments IN CHRIST can be multiplied by a spouse that compliments our gifts and talents. If we are determined that the man we marry should complete us we are looking for something that will never be and when we are married we will be disappointed by his shortcomings.

So, yes, "we got gaps" and that's okay! God made us that way. But if we focus on our Creator and trust in Him to complete us, we will not be hung up on finding a guy who will. This is why it's so important to deepen our relationship with Christ and KNOW HIM. For HE will make you complete and fill in those gaps!

Loving Yourself

I don't think there's a single girl in the world who does not compare themselves to other girls. As a matter of fact - there's not a single woman who doesn't compare herself to other women! It's true!! This is something we just don't grow out of!

I don't know why we are this way, but we are. For me I've had to work hard to stop comparing myself to others and simply weigh my life, my beauty, everything about me with the Truth in God's Word. Though I've made a conscious effort to look to Him for my beauty and my worth, I still struggle. It don't think this will ever go away and I have to work at it daily. I have a very dear friend who has been challenged in this area of life in a far different way than anything I have experienced.

Rather than tell you about her myself I thought I'd post a video she shared about her life and the things God has shown her about loving the skin she's in.  I would love to hear if you have struggled in this area and what you've done to maintain a healthy outlook on your self-image.

Have a fabulous day ladies!!

Rachel's Story

Begin with the End in Mind

One thing that I always wanted to remind the girls about when it comes to purity and relationships is the idea that for every action there's a reaction. The one thing most young people struggle with is the idea that there's life beyond high school and that the decisions they make today will affect their future. If you're not thinking about tomorrow you are likely living in the realm of failing to plan. Basically the saying "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail" might just be your motto/lifestyle.

I would challenge you to adopt a new mindset, "begin with the end in mind."
So fast forward through your life...when you have your daughter sitting in the family room with you and she asks you about how you did things when you were young and dating. Did you wait to have sex until you were married? What's an STD and why didn't you tell me you had one? These questions and more can be tough to answer and cause a great chasm of pain between you and your child. Is it worth it? Wouldn't it be more satisfying to be able to sit down with them and share the love story you allowed God to take part in?

I didn't do things right, I have had the tough conversations. I have had to be real and transparent. I have spent many hours in prayer trying to understand what God would have me do in my situation. And I tell you this, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. No, my desire would be to spare you the pain, shame, and guilt and see you Begin with the End in Mind.

Ask God to give you a vision for your future and see what He reveals. His plan for our lives is far greater than anything we could ever ask or imagine. Trust Him to have your best interest in mind. Who knows He may even use your love story to influence other young women to desire the "road less traveled" for their future as well.

Remember, "Begin with the End in Mind!!!"

THE HEART OF THE MATTER

When I first felt led to teach about purity and had a longing to share my message with my daughters, I felt the Lord whispered a very important message to me. You see, I asked Him HOW I could reach young teens with this message and He impressed upon me that I needed to reach their hearts. I had no idea how I was to do that but I knew it would require me to be completely transparent about my past. This was uncharacteristic of most people, but most especially Christians. To put it bluntly - I was to "air my dirty laundry" for all to see. A scary prospect for one who found out very early on in my Christian walk (at the age of 28) that sadly, many Christians seemed to kick each other when they were down. But this is where my purity pursuit began.

As I dug deeper I realized that there's more to purity than just saying NO to sex. There were deeper implications that not only was it a physical issue but it was a heart and a head issue as well. Our minds are powerful motivators controlling our actions in ways we would never imagine and allowing the things around us to influence us deeply. This was about the time I discovered the "WHATEVER" verse.

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8

I looked at those words "true...honorable...right...pure...lovely...repute (aka reputation)...excellence...worthy of praise" and then at the instruction in the verse, "DWELL on these things." Dwell, think about, ponder. I began to consider what I was "pondering or dwelling" on. I love to read but everything I read was a love story where there was a dashing debonair man who did and said all the right things. He was romantic, he sounded dreamy and he knew and anticipated every need of the woman in the book. Those stories would play in my mind and cause my heart to be discontent when my husband didn't act like the guys I read about. So what about single girls waiting for "Mr Right"? If they read these books they have no idea that men don't measure up to these figments of our imaginations! That's where the reality of the heart came out clearly for me. The heart can be exceedingly wicked and deceitful. We are man, not God. We are not perfect, we are not sinless. I'm not trying to heap guilt on anyone here, I just want us to be careful what we read, what movies and tv shows we watch and how we let them affect us. Keep it real ladies! It's SO important. Keep your heart pure by pouring into it the things of God. Build each other up. Encourage one another. Remind each other on a regular basis that purity is a Holy pursuit. It is the transforming of our minds and hearts and not just saying NO to sex before marriage.

And just so you know...we all make mistakes. I'm not here to condemn anyone if they've been involved physically or emotionally. Believe me, I've been there, done that. I'm here to tell you there is a better way and you can achieve it even if you've done things you regret. I have some exciting news for anyone who feels guilt ridden or judged by other Christians in the area of purity. God is a forgiving God. His mercies are new EVERY morning!

So, I challenge you to take some time to evaluate your life. What do you spend most of your time doing? Facebook? Pinterest? What books are you into? Twilight? Hunger Games? When's the last time you opened your Bible and poured over it with as much passion as you would your favorite video game or texting some guy? Ask God to help you see if these things are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, excellent, worthy of praise - put all of it to the Philippians 4:8 test and see where it comes out. Then, take action and start transforming your heart and mind for Christ. Because what's in the heart pours forth into our every day lives and that's really the HEART OF THE MATTER!

KEEPING IT RELEVANT

I've been praying about where to start with this blog. I have so many things I want to share but I am having a difficult time breaking things down into bite-size blogs. 

Are there any topics you all would like to have me hit on right now? Things that may be going on in your lives that you would like me to talk/blog about? 

I look forward to hearing from you!

Yuki

PRACTICE vs. HABIT

I believe as Christians we are constantly at risk of becoming complacent. Just as many churches perform liturgies - there comes a point where what they do and say is habitual and a person no longer thinks about what they're saying but rather they are going through the motions. Even in life where we have routines, once again, we come to a place of just going through the motions.

In the pursuit of purity, sanctification, devotion to God - all of these things - we must strive to be intentional about our pursuits. A life of purity doesn't just happen. Sanctification means to be "set apart". In life it's natural to be more about fitting in or blending in. Nobody wants to stand out or be set apart. But this is what God has called us to.

12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. (Titus 2:12-14 NLT)

"...for you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. God's very own possession. As a result you can show others the goodness of God for he called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)

So what's the difference between a HABIT and PRACTICE? Well, let's look at the definitions first.

HABIT: an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary. 2. customary practice or use. 3. a particular practice, custom, or usage. 4. a dominant or regular disposition or tendency; prevailing character or quality. 5. an addiction.

PRACTICE: habitual or customary performance; operation. 2. habit; custom. 3. repeated performance or systematic exercise for the purpose of acquiring skill or proficiency. 4. condition arrived at by experience or exercise. 5. the action or process of performing or doing something.

As shown above habit and practice can be somewhat interchangeable. However, I believe there are some distinguishing factors where both are concerned. For one, a habit becomes almost involuntary. I used to think this was a good thing, but lately God has convicted me in this. You see, it's a habit for our family to pray before our meals but growing up we always said the same prayer every time. Well, we would just recite it and I never took the time to even think about the words or remember that its GOD we were thanking for the food and not just something we were saying. When this becomes a dominant or regular disposition then we become stuck in going through the motions never realizing we have become sucked into this habit.

As you can see with practice there is the possibility of something becoming habitual, but there is a distinct difference here, when practicing there's systematic exercise in order to acquire a skill or to become proficient at something. The practice is the condition arrived at by experience or exercise. The thing about experiences is that they teach us deep truths and sanctify us. Exercise is something a person has to do intentionally. When a person exercises their body they are intentionally trying to develop their muscles and train them. It is a disciplined action. When you practice something, you are being intentional, you are focused. When you are doing something out of habit you are not focused, you are, once again, "going through the motions."

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV)

May you practice the presence of God in your life, may you be sanctified in Him and may you worship Him acceptably with reverence and awe!

Sanctification Begins...

Eighteen years ago today I embarked on the most amazing journey life could ever hold. On this day I discovered there was a better way to live life rather than “on my own”. I was not a nice person. I lied, cheated, stole, tore others down to build myself up. I was climbing the corporate ladder and didn’t care that I was sacrificing my family in the process. At that time I had been married 5 years to a wonderful and incredibly patient and understanding man. I was the mother of three beautiful girls ages 8, 2 and 9 months. But I didn’t see how much they needed or wanted me to be a wife and mother. I was completely self-consumed. When I look back at the path I was on, I shudder to think where I would be today. My life would be very different today were it not for His saving grace!

I’m not perfect by any means, but I firmly believe that my life has been greatly enriched and beautifully blessed because 18 years ago I began walking this journey of life hand-in-hand with my two best friends – Jesus and Daryl. From the moment I opened my heart to Him I clung to this verse: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. I like the New Living Translation of this verse: “At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, an new life has begun!” (vv. 16-17)

I had made a lot of mistakes in my “old life” and I have made many mistakes since, but somehow He has taken my shortcomings and transformed them into beautiful disasters.

Ephesians sums up my life perfectly:

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin just like the rest of the world obeying the devil – the commander of the powers of the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved! God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2

“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.  So stop telling lies…tell the truth…don’t sin by letting anger control you…if you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead use your hands for good hard work, and give generously…don’t use foul or abusive language, let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember HE HAS IDENTIFIED YOU AS HIS OWN, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:21-31)

I was all the things referenced above. I was consumed by the things of this world and it filled my heart, mind, and actions. Thankfully God saw fit to turn those things around. He literally cleaned house and started fresh. Unfortunately I wasn’t always open to the house cleaning He was doing and it has taken a great number of years to get where I am today. I am fully aware of the fact that I will not be perfected in Christ until I am in His presence. That my willful spirit and blatant disobedience will be a constant challenge and tempt me to do things I know I shouldn’t do. I accept this about myself but I don’t live content in it. I am constantly striving to be more like Christ every day. It is a moment-by-moment decision I choose to make. I desire to “imitate God in everything [I] do.” I desire to “live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.” I try to remember to be thankful and live in the light of His love. I pray that “this light within [me] produces only what is good and right and true.”

It’s been a fantastic journey so far. I am extremely blessed to have a Godly husband and a beautiful family. J I glory in the knowledge that with each rising sun I have another day to live for Him. 

Purely Speaking

I am a mother of four of the most amazing and beautiful women you'll ever meet! I'm not saying this because I am biased. I am saying this because it is totally true! My daughter's are Godly women who desire to serve God and live their lives to His glory.

I am also the wife to the most understanding, supportive, and loving man a woman can be blessed with. He has supported me through all my crazy notions and startups (i.e. Plugged Into Jesus, the LIGHT youth group, the R.O.C. praise team, the Misfits Drama Team and the most amazing undertaking, Sanctify Ministries) with everything he has. His technical prowess has enabled me to be successful in achieving a great deal in a short amount of time. Those same gifts and talents have been passed on to his daughters who have also supported me through thick and thin.

About two years ago, the Lord allowed me to be "struck down" with some major debilitating health issues. I struggled to maintain my crazy life of working a full-time job, running a full-time ministry and still placing my family and most especially my God first. It took thousands of dollars of tests and no conclusive answers and hours of couch time forced upon me by what doctors chose to diagnose as Fibromyalgia, that prepared me for where I am today. Currently living with my husband and three of my daughters on the largest Indian reservation in North Dakota in a thousand square foot, two bedroom, one bath house. I'm back to work full-time for an oil company in the remote obscure parts of North Dakota and refocusing my life on the things that are important. Namely my God and my family.

However, in the midst of all of this I cannot seem to shake the sense that I am supposed to write. About what? I believe I am supposed to sit down and share all that I have learned the past fifteen years in ministry to young people. How they wish their parents would have talked to them the way my husband and I talked to them. How they struggle with living a pure lifestyle because nobody has ever explained in greater detail the "HOW" aside from don't do it, or the "WHY."

That's what this blog is about. Teaching parents and young people what it means to live a "sanctified" (aka "set apart") devoted life and how important it is to start it out by PURELY SPEAKING with each other.

I hope you find these past experiences, stories, book reviews, quotes, devotionals, etc. an encouragement as we walk this journey of Sanctified Devotion together!