A Little Advice From Thumper the Rabbit

Oh how I love old Disney movies! The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin...you name it! Walt Disney had a way of capturing the hearts of both young and old, and he always found ways to sneak little words of wisdom into his creations.

One of my favorite sayings comes from Disney's Bambi: "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all."

Oh how this famous saying can easily be applied to each and every one of us, including myself. It seems like we are daily tempted with the opportunity to gossip and talk about others.

James 3:5 says, "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark."

Think to yourself for a moment...Have you ever had someone talk about you behind your back? How did it make you feel?
Or maybe you were on the other side of the fence...You and a group of your friends were sitting around discussing how Sarah's shoes didn't match or how Billy had a bad hair day. Many of us have been on both sides.

Our tongue has the power of both life and death.

James 3:10 says, "Out of the same mouth come praising and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."

So I have another challenge for you (and me, of course). Oh how I love a challenge! :)
For the next week (or longer), when you are tempted to give in to gossip, stop and pray. Let God take control of your conversations. If we have concerns about others, talk to God about them. I promise you that He is waiting and willing to listen. He will gladly give you the words of wisdom to build up others and glorify Him, instead of being involved with useless conversation.

"Do not let any wholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."-Ephesians 4:29

It's quite simple, my friends...THINK before you SPEAK!

Stay tuned...

B

Oh Be Careful Little Eyes What You See

I was watching a TV show the other day on ABC Family, and I found myself to be quite surprised at the material that was on this "family" show. I kept thinking, "They allow this on this channel??!" You know...this seems to be the case more and more frequently this day in time.

One of my favorite verses in Philippians says, "Finally, brothers and sisters, 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."

At the beginning of the New Year, I made a personal commitment to only listen to Christian music. Whether I'm in my car, getting ready for work, running, etc...Christian music would be playing for the next month. Needless to say, it is February 23rd, and I am still sticking to my challenge. My boyfriend laughs and says that my "30-day challenge" has turned into a "lifetime commitment." One thing I have learned is that we become exactly what we listen to, watch, and read.

God openly wants us to have our heart and mind fixed on Him. But the truth is, He wants more than that. He wants us to guard our mind against anything that destroys our dedication to Him. The music, movies, and magazines that we expose ourselves to either draw us closer to Him, or they cloud our minds with the things of this world. It's that simple!

It's just like the lyrics to that song we all learned in Sunday School as a young child: "Oh be careful little eyes what you see. Oh be careful little eyes what you see. For the Father up above is looking down with love, oh be careful little eyes what you see..."

Philippians 4:7 says, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

God promised us an abundant life if we fix our mind on what is true, pure, and right. So we are left with a simple choice today: We can live a life of influence for others to follow; or we can join the way of the world. Which will you choose??

Stay tuned...

B

Triumph Through Trials

You ever feel like you're going through something in life that no one could possibly understand? You feel as if the weight of the world is sitting on your chest, and there's no one to lift it off...

God says to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

I'm telling you, there is nothing like reading the book of James to completely remove you of your pride and make you realize just how much you are not in control!

Right now, I am in my 1st semester of grad school, and midterms are rapidly approaching. It seems like every professor wants a paper, a project, and an exam all due at the same time. (It's as if they plan it that way!) It can quickly become overwhelming on top of my 2 jobs.

What is it in your life? Is it financial struggles? The loss of a loved one? A broken marriage? Or is it simply a feeling of emptiness that leaves you desperately searching for "something more?"

God tells us to not only "consider it pure joy" when we face trials but to also never doubt if He is with us in the middle of whatever circumstance we may find ourselves in. The next verse in James says, "Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

God does not put us in a fire to sit back and watch us burn out. He is with us in the middle of life's hottest flames, wanting and willing to walk right by our side through every trial.

Mandisa is one of my favorite contemporary Christian artists, and I love the lyrics to her song, Stronger: "When the waves are taking you under, hold on just a little bit longer. He knows that this is gonna make you stronger!"

Give God the weight of your circumstances, and go to Him in prayer. He will take you directly to the cross where He will transform your trials into triumph!

Stay tuned...

B

Is Your Tank on Empty?

Lately as I sit down to write...nothing comes. It seems like I just end up staring at a blank sheet of paper. It's quite frustrating!

Well, the other day I was filling up my car with gas and all of a sudden it hit me! It's like God spoke to my heart right in that parking lot. He said, "Just as you have to refuel your car to be able to go, you also have to refuel yourself with My word to be able to share." Ummm...WOW!

So I started thinking, and I  realized what little time I have been spending reading my Bible lately. I even tried to justify myself at first by saying, "God, I go to church every Sunday and I listen to worship music almost all of the time." But the truth is, spending quality time in the word of God is necessary to fully refuel ourselves. The Bible says that "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

The more time we spend with Him, the more we will long for more of Him. Listen to the lyrics of the song in this video:

"And I, I'm desperate for You. And I, I'm lost without You."--How amazing would it be for each of us to be so desperate to receive God's word?!
So I leave a simple thought with you today...is your tank on empty? I challenge you, as well as myself, to make a conscious effort to spend time daily refueling ourselves with the power of God's word!

 "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
-2 Timothy 3:16-17


I'm predicting some pretty awesome results!

Stay tuned...

B

We Were Made to be COURAGEOUS

I watched the movie Courageous for the first time a couple weeks ago, and for those of you who haven't seen it...it's a must see movie for sure! It was so inspiring to see such men of courage striving to serve the Lord.

We often hear the word courage. What does it really mean? Webster defines courage as "the ability to do something that frightens you; strength in the face of pain or grief."
I can't help but think of The Wizard of Oz and the cowardly lion who wished for the courage to be able to stand up to anything he came up against in the forest.

As Christians, God often tests our faith which requires us to have courage--and sometimes lots of it. Maybe He is calling you to do something right now, and instead of putting your trust in Him you are second guessing His judgement. Maybe it is something as simple as changing your major. Maybe God's calling you to move to a different location or even to join the mission field. Change is always a little scary, and it is almost never easy.

Deuteronomy 31:16 says, "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them! The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you."

When doubt may arise, remember that God is strong enough to handly any situation, and He wants what is best for you. He stayed by Noah as the ark was being built; He rescued Daniel from the lion's den; He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego during their test of faith; and He will protect you just the same.

I challenge you from this point forward to no longer second guess what God is calling you to do. Take courage and walk in His strength, not your own. For every test of faith that arises, face it head-on--"armed with the sword of the Spirit, the belt of truth, the armor of righteousness, and the shield of faith!"

Stay strong in prayer and watch you COURAGE become CONTAGEOUS!

Stay tuned...

B

Let's Talk About LOVE

LOVE--it's that 4 letter word that makes us girls feel all "mushy" inside. We spend years dreaming about the very moment our prince charming will sweep us off our feet and we'll live happily ever after!

Now let me tell you, I have had my fair share of relationships. I've had the good, the bad, and the one's I'd rather pretend never existed. I'm certain you can all relate. I am blessed to be able to say that I have HAPPILY been dating my very best friend for the past 2 years, and he treats me daily like a fairytale princess.

Ahhh...the fairytale...We read about it, sing about it, create thousands of movies about it, and even designate an entire day that is dedicated strictly to LOVE.
Incase you didn't know, I consider myself to be a hopeless romantic. I could watch Disney's Cinderella over and over again, and it should come as no surprise that Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays. I love Valentine's Day candy, especially the little heart shaped sweetarts. It's fun to dig through a bag and read all the cute little saying on them. My favorite saying is the one that reads, "You are MINE!"

"You are mine"...makes me think of the verse in Ephesians that says, "For we are God's masterpiece, He created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the things He planned for us long ago."
Wow! We are God's masterpiece; we are His! No boyfriend of ours could ever love us like our Heavenly Father does. He is the Lover of our soul, and He wants to meet our every need.

Ephesians 3:19 says, "May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God."

It's hard for me to wrap my mind around someone who loved us so much that He stretched out His arms and died for us. We are His creation, and He will FOREVER be commited to us. He won't lie or cheat, and He will NEVER let us down!

Now this is one amazing love story! Happy Valentine's Day!

Stay tuned...

B

Patiently...I Will WAIT

Do you remember when you were just a child & you wanted something? It didn't matter where you were or who you were with. You wanted it & you wanted it right then!

I must admit that I have been acting a little childish lately. I am 22 years old & a current grad student, yet I can hardly stand the fact that I'm not married or that I don't have a steady career. Don't judge! I know I can't be the only woman who gets a little anxious from time to time, so I'm hoping you can relate.

After consistantly praying for patience & understanding, God has recently opened my eyes to realize that His timing is perfect! How awesome is that?!

As anxious & eager women, we tend to want to run ahead of God before His plans are complete. I have realized that relying on my own strength will only let me down & the dreams that God has planned for me are far greater than anything I can dream on my own. This brings me great peace knowing that God knows & wants what is truly best for me and my life!

Isaiah 40:31 says, "but those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run & not grow weary, they will walk & not faint."

It is often difficult for me to remain patient, especially because I feel a desperate need to always plan ahead. But relying on the promise that I will run farther & soar higher with God's timing...I think I will choose to wait. What about you??

Stay tuned...

B

Run to WIN

As some of you may know, I have recently picked up running as a new hobby. Call me crazy, but I am filled with such peace when I run, & it has become something very special in my life. I began training about 4 months prior to my 1st half-marathon, & I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment when I crossed the finish line.

As I got to thinking, I realized that our daily life as a Christian is a lot like running a marathon. One of my favorite Bible verses comes from Hebrews 12:1-2. It says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders & the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer & perfector of faith."

Look at the first part of this scripture: "Let us throw off everything that hinders."
When shopping for my race outfit, I was certain it had to be perfect. It needed to be lightweight & just the right material so I wouldn't be slowed down. In our life, we sometimes carry certain weights & burdens that slow us down as we run our Christian race. If we seek God's face, His grace will lighten our step & allow us to run at our full potential.

The next part says to "run with perseverance."
To persevere means to endure. Training to run the 13.1 miles of rolling hills wasn't easy. It involved hard work, dedication, & determination. I often faced setbacks such as a swollen ankle, a sore knee, & fatigue. We also face setbacks in life's race. We may come up against an obstacle that causes us to stumble & fall, but we must trust that God will be there to pick us up again.

The last part of the scripture says, "let us fix our eyes on Jesus."
There were quite a few times during my race where it would have been easy for me to give up. Through perseverance, I kept my eyes on the prize--the finish line. The prize of our life's race is not a trophy or a medal. It is not the satisfaction of hearing an applause or receiving recognition. The prize of our life's race is the Lord Jesus Christ. Our eyes must be fixed on Him for the entire length of our race--from beginning to end.

1 Corinthians 9:24 says, "Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win."

The Christian race is long & difficult. It will often bring many trials & tests. But if we make it our daily goal to run with God as our "pace partner," He will surely lead us to the finish line...even if He has to carry us there.

Stay tuned...

B

Radiating His Beauty

Tonight is the annual Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet pageant. As I am preparing to sit in the audience as a former Miss Lady of the Bracelet, I am reminiscing on all of the wonderful memories I made during my reigning year. Pageantry was once a very important part of my life. As I now look back, I can recall the countless hours spent seeking to perfect my outward appearance. The hair...the make-up...the wardrobe...all important factors when preparing for a pageant. I am certain that the competing contestants tonight have dedicated the same amount of time to be able to show off their best physical self as well.

Wouldn't it be awesome if we spent that much time perfecting our inward appearance? How much time do we spend daily grooming ourselves compared to the amount of time spent in the word of God? Galations 1:10 tells us, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of God."

Now do not get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy reading about and experimenting with the latest fashion trends, hairstyles, and make-up tricks. As women, when we doll ourselves up on the outside, more importantly, we should turn to the One who specializes in internal makeovers. The Bible tells us in Proverbs, "Charm can be deceiving and beauty fades away, but a woman who honors the Lord deserves to be praised."


As women of God, our tongue should bring Him praise, our wardrobe reveal His Spirit, our feet follow the path that He has planned for us, and our heart filled with humility and compassion. For when we seek to clothe ourselves in His light and truth, our beauty will truly radiate for we will be a reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Stay tuned...

B

Let's Get Started...

I am at such a transition point in my life! I have recently graduated from Northwestern State University, am in the first few weeks of my graduate study, and have just began a new job. God is daily showering me with blessings and new opportunities! I feel as if I should share my thoughts and experiences along the way as I embark on this new and exciting (yet sometimes overwhelming) chapter of my life!

Stay tuned...

B