Puppy Love

This year my youngest son asked Santa Claus to bring him a puppy for Christmas. As you might recall from an earlier blog entry, we said goodbye to our dog Cayman this year. Well, my son loves dogs so much and really misses Cayman. He is longing for a puppy.

That got me to think about what make puppies so special? First of all, puppies have soft fur that's fun to touch. Puppies are playful. They protect us and each other. That's part of their instinct from days of old when they traveled in packs. Puppies are smart. But most of all, puppies love us unconditionally with an unparalleled obedience. Those qualities are what make us want a puppy for a pet and a friend. We can always rely on them to bring us joy and happiness.

I believe God gave us puppies so we might have more happiness on earth. The Bible tells us that God commanded Adam to "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Genesis 1:28 So our Heavenly Father gave us dominion over puppies, and that's why they are obedient to us in love. Dogs see us as their masters, much as God is our Master. We set rules and boundaries for our pets to keep them safe because we love them. Much the same God loves us and gives us guidelines to keep us safe.

We have much to learn from our faithful puppies. If only we would behave more like puppies our world could be a better place. For instance, what if we followed our loved ones everywhere wanting only to spend time with them? Better yet, what if we devoted our day to following and seeking God the way our puppies look for us? How about if we played more, gave more love, and enjoyed simple pleasures? What if we stopped getting too busy and instead took time to "be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10.

I am going to try to live life more like a puppy this holiday season. How about you?

The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Christmas season is my favorite time of year. There is something special about all the fun traditions. I enjoy wrapping gifts, baking cookies, spending time with family, sending Christmas cards, and all while listening to Christmas music. Music is very much a passion of mine, so carols play a big part in my Christmas season memories.

There is one Christmas carol that has not been a favorite of mine. Each time this particular carol would play on the radio, I'd roll my eyes and think "here we go again." It may in fact be the same carol that elicits similar feelings in you. Ever heard of "The twelve days of Christmas"? I always felt it was dull and droned on and on. That is until two days ago when I learned the history behind this carol. With the knowledge about what the carol really means, I have a new found appreciation for it. In fact, I believe it will never sound the same to me again. It will also bring tears of joy to my eyes as does "Silent Night" or "O Come, o come Emmanuel."

Here is the history:

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were
not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone
during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.
It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning
plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each
element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality
which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching,Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness,Faithfulness,
Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.

Mothers and Daughters

The bond between a Mother and Daughter can be a precious thing. I am blessed to have a wonderful daughter who loves me. I am also blessed to have an amazing Mother who taught me how to love by example. The Lord has been very good to me.

There are mothers and daughters with strained relationships who probably don't feel blessed. We live in a fallen world where life is not perfect. My prayer is that each mother and daughter might discover a deeper love.

Which category do you fit into? The first one where you have an amazing, close relationship with your mother? Or are you someone who could care less about being with your mom?

The Bible tells us we are called to love, even to love our enemies. We are also commanded to pray for our enemies. How is that going for you? Have you ever prayed for your enemies? If you have, you know it is really hard to stay mad at someone when you pray for them. Right?

Mothers are not perfect...we are human just like everyone. However, mothers do have life experience and a lot to teach you if you will listen. This week I challenge you to pray for your Mother and to do something nice for her. Chances are God might bless you with a daughter someday. What would you want her to do for you? How would you expect her to treat you? Think about it, pray about it, and then follow your heart.

Team Spirit

How many of you have attended a football game in your life? Probably a lot of you go to your high school football games on Friday nights. I recently went to a Friday night football game after many years of not attending. Remember, it's been a while since I was in high school! The very next day I had the opportunity to attend a football game at The University of Iowa.

The most outstanding thing I noticed was the excitement and energy of the fans. Those cheering were football parents, cheerleaders, alumni, students, and even young children. All spectators had the same thing in common. They love their team so much, it spills out with raised hands and raised voices.

The last time you went to church, did you stand up and cheer for Jesus? I'm guessing the answer to that is probably "no". If you are like me, I grew up in a church more concerned with being quiet and somber than joyful. My husband loves to say, "the spirit is willing, but the hands are Lutheran." However, during both games the thought occurred to me that this was what Heaven will be like. We will be surrounded by millions of fans praising God and cheering with all our hearts. As the marching band came on the field, I was reminded of King David. The Bible tells how King David returned to Jerusalem with the ark of the covenant with great joy:

"So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet." 2 Samuel 6:12-15

We could learn a lot from King David, and a lot from football games. Expressing our joy for God and the gift of salvation He gives us should be from our hearts. If we can let our hearts express our joy freely for our team, and for team spirit, why not for Jesus as well? Think about that the next time you go to a football game. And why not quietly say to Jesus, "my heart cheers for you" during the joy of the game. I know you will make Him smile.

Letting people down

"I'm afraid of letting people down."

What is it about being afraid of disappointing others that makes us afraid? As Christians, we accept the fact we are imperfect and need Jesus to save us. Jesus died on the cross to cover our sins. No matter how hard we try, we are going to make mistakes. Part of our life this side of Heaven guarantees there will be times when we will let people down.

Letting people down, or disappointing others, is going to happen to you at some time in your life. That is reality. It really hurts when we let down someone we really care about. For instance, when I let my husband down, or do something to disappoint him, my heart breaks. He is so important to me. I respect him so much, and respect his opinion that when I disappoint him I feel awful.

Our society places high expectations on perfection. That is because our society is secular, so it expects perfection at all times. We are supposed to be perfect, first place, never make a mistake, etc. Of course that is unreasonable. We know that. But it's hard to remember when we are emotional about letting someone down.

Let's look to the Bible for comfort. God never changes. He is our strong tower, our fortress. The Bible says He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Take comfort in that. It also reminds us that God is always with us to carry us through our difficult times. He never cuts out when the going gets tough.

Psalm 46:1-2, 10-11 says, "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear...Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge."

God is "A very present help in trouble" and the word present reminds us He is with us in every moment. All you have to do is cry out to Jesus and ask Him to heal and help you. He will bring you peace, and before you know it you will feel better.

Will you pray with me?

Lord, You are a very present help in time of need. You raise our spirits and heal us. Praise to You for never changing! We know You are the same today as You were before the creation of our universe. Help us when we disappoint people. Remind us we are human and You forgive our mistakes. Please refresh our hearts and let us feel Your love today and every day. It's in Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen.

What are you afraid of?

There is no doubt that this world can be a scary place. What are you afraid of? I believe it is harder to be a teen woman in today's world than it was when I was a teenager. Life is so much more complicated now.

Did you know the command, "Do not be afraid" or "fear not" appear more often in the Bible than any other command? God, our creator, knows we become afraid so easily in this dark world. He tells us many times not to fear. The emotion of fear, we are told, is not from God. Fear comes from the unknown, the unseen, and is something the evil one uses to paralyze us.

So again I ask, what are you afraid of? I am starting a teen women's ministry at my church. It would be so helpful if you could send me the things that frighten you. It's a poll of sorts, so I can begin to learn more about what this world throws at you.

Keep checking this blog for more thoughts and encouragement. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Girls like shoes

What is it that makes girls like shoes? Does it have something to do with Cinderella and that fact that she found happiness through a shoe? We view them as important symbols of who we are, not just as protection for our feet. In our country, we have shoes made specifically for every occasion. There are running shoes, tennis shoes, cross trainers, sandals, high heel shoes, snow boots, slippers, etc. We have a shoe for each need, sometimes even for each outfit. I'm not a shoe fanatic, but I confess I do have some shoes I bought to go with one outfit in my closet. I have shoes that probably haven't been worn in years.

My daughter already has a similar fascination with shoes. She is now in a women's size 6 shoe and is drooling over the day when she can wear and borrow my shoes. I'm secretly hoping she passes my size and ends up with larger feet so my shoes will still be mine. That's just terrible, isn't it? See how much value a woman will place on her shoes?

That brings me to my thought for the day. Do you realize that there are hundreds of thousands of people on this planet with no shoes? That's right, not one pair to put on their feet. Children of God walk on this Earth completely bare foot each day of their life. I don't tell you this to make you feel guilty. I just want you to put your own life in perspective. Our culture makes perspective very difficult. We live in a consumer society, so advertisers work hard to make us feel inadequate. All you have to do is turn on the TV and in seconds commercials will convince you that you are a loser unless you buy their product.

Take a few minutes to check out the shoes in your closet today...do it right now! How many pairs of shoes do you have? How many children would those shoes serve today?

"The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. The people will curse him who withholds grain, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it." Proverbs 11:25-26 NKJV

God calls us to be generous souls in a soul hungry world. We have so much in The United States of America. Please stop to think about the responsibility we also have to help God's Children around the world. Ask Jesus how you can help. Maybe you can donate some gently used shoes and/or clothing to a local shelter in need? Perhaps you could volunteer to help with a mission through your church? Why not show kindness to someone you see each day that needs a smile to brighten their day?

Will you pray with me?
Dear Lord, you are so good and your goodness never fails. Thank you for all the ways you bless me each day. Jesus, I want to help those who need the basic essentials for survival. You have given me more than I need. Now please help me to give back to help others around the world. Show me what I may do to serve you, and grow in my heart a spirit of contentment for what I already have. This I pray in your precious name, amen.

This week when you put on a pair of shoes, please pause and say a prayer for the children without shoes on their feet. You can make a difference in this world! Shine your light for the world to see, a world so desperate for light in the darkness.

Daily Prayer Habits

Do you have a best friend? What is one of the things you love doing with her? Is it important to talk with your friend more than once a week? What if you didn't talk to her at all? How long do you think that friendship would last?

Jesus is not only your Savior, but He wants to be in a relationship with you. Can your relationship with Jesus grow and deepen without talking to Him? Probably not. That is the basic element of prayer. It's a time for you to talk to Jesus, and trust me it makes Him very happy.

Jesus, the son of God, prayed on a regular basis. The Bible tells us, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." (Mark 1:35 NIV ) Jesus also taught His disciples to pray and gave them The Lords Prayer that we still say today. In Luke 11:9-10 Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to those who knock, the door will be opened."

Think back on the last 24 hours. How many times did you call your best friend to talk? How many times did you send her a text message? I love to text my best friend. And I confess, I do it a lot during the day. It's a quick, fun way to keep in touch with her and share funny stories that come up during the day. How many times did you talk to God in the past 24 hours? Do you think you can make some time for Him?

It can be as simple as asking, "Lord teach me to pray. Jesus, show me how to talk to you. Give me a heart for communicating with you." In fact, you may talk to Jesus all day long without really knowing it. He wants your heart; be honest with Jesus just as you are honest with your friends.

So, let me ask you...what did you pray for today? I prayed for you this morning. I asked God to protect you, and lift you up with His amazing love. Make time for God each day. He wants to hear from you, and promises to open the door to you when you pray.

Also, remember God gave you two ears and one mouth. You've probably heard that before from your parents or your teachers. ;-) It's true, so take time to listen for God's voice in your heart. Turn off your music, find a quiet place, and listen to Him...He likes to whisper in your heart so pat attention.

Finally, please post your comments about this site. It's meant to serve you, so any feedback, questions, issues you deal with, etc. are greatly appreciated.

Debut of His Princess

Welcome to "His Kingdom Princess", a blog for all young women searching for God's truth in their life. God called me to create this blog as an inspiration and support for teenage women everywhere.

"He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4

That is one of my favorite Bible verses! God, in your heart, is greater than the enemy who is in the world. God is bigger than anything the world throws my way. That is true for you as well!

The world attempts to define who you are, but the world is gravely mistaken. God created each woman with a purpose, and you are His masterpiece. The Bible tells the truth about who you are, what God promises you, and that the world lies to you.

I am passionate about encouraging young women in our society who are being thrown to the lions these days. The media, television, My Space, etc. tell our daughters to be promiscuous, wild, crass, and selfish. God created women to be led by the Fruit of the Spirit; love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Does that sound like it lines up with what message they get from our culture? Not at all.

God first called me to minister to teen women last spring. My own daughter came to me in tears when she was supposed to go to sleep. She expressed deep fears about the world, her safety in it, and what her future had in store for her. The Holy Spirit gave me the scripture verses that calmed her fears. The Bible tells us we do not need to fear, because all things are possible with God.

This blog is a safe haven for you to study God's word, share your concerns, and encourage other teen women to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us we are heirs in God's kingdom. You are God's Princess, adopted into His kingdom, and He is all you need. Let Jesus into your heart, and He will take care of you forever.

Share this blog with your friends, and get the word out. We are His Princesses, and we are standing up to the world!