By: Guest Blogger- Noel MaldonadoAs a Christian, you may be looking for practical ways to help deepen your faith and relationship with God. While there are countless options out there, one that stands out is overnight retreats. Here's how they can help you become responsible, mature, and draw closer to God. Accepting ResponsibilityA great way to help Christians better understand responsibility is by sending them on overnight retreats. When you stay away from home and are forced to fend for yourself, you learn how much work goes into everyday tasks. Also, if you make a mistake, you’ll know how to take on responsibility. This is because you’re able to see the consequences of your actions more clearly. It’s also an opportunity for you to be independent and make choices without the pressure of home life. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it." Going on an overnight retreat was a great opportunity for me to learn how to take care of myself and be responsible. Emotion ControlA retreat is a place where you can learn useful coping methods to help with daily life or even anxiety. Through games and activities, you can learn things such as anger management for when things aren't going well for you. When you go back home, you’ll likely have a new sense of confidence and self-awareness that will help you cope with everyday life. I know that emotions can be overwhelming, and it's challenging to deal with them. However, a retreat is an ideal place to help children learn coping mechanisms to help them deal with everyday life's challenges. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The retreat provided a space for me to be still and connect with God on a deeper level. It was truly amazing! By taking the time to reflect on my emotions and how they were affecting me, I was able to gain a better understanding of myself and how to cope with difficult situations. Spiritual LifeWhen Christians spend time away from the distractions of their daily lives, they can focus on what matters most: their relationship with God. With the help of a Christian staff, you can spend some time in prayer and meditation. This can develop a stronger sense of faith in yourself and a deeper understanding of what it means to be a Christian. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." By being surrounded by other Christians who were also seeking to grow in their faith, I was able to receive encouragement, support, and wisdom from those around me. Community and FellowshipLastly, the retreat taught me the importance of community and fellowship. By being surrounded by other Christians who were also seeking to grow in their faith, I was able to receive encouragement, support, and wisdom from those around me. Through group activities, I was able to connect with others on a deeper level and build lasting friendships. Matthew 18:20 says, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." By coming together as a community of believers, we were able to experience the presence of God in a powerful way. This was a reminder to me of the importance of fellowship and community in my spiritual journey. ConclusionIn conclusion, overnight retreats can be an excellent opportunity for young children to grow and
mature. They can help children learn responsibility, emotional control, and spiritual growth. They also provide an opportunity for young children to make new friends, experience adventure, and have fun. I have experienced the benefits of attending overnight retreats. They have helped me grow in my faith and allowed me to meet new people and have fun. I would encourage all parents to consider sending their children to overnight retreats to experience these benefits themselves. Lastly, as Christians, we are called to grow and mature in our faith continually. Hebrews 6:1-2 says, "Therefore, let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment." Attending an overnight retreat can be one step towards growing and maturing in our faith.
0 Comments
By: Chris V One question I've been asked by several girls this past month is, "How can I stay healthy during 2022?". This is such a good question, and I've had so many points, it was hard to write a blog post on! So, I have compiled several of my favorite tips to stay spiritually, physically, and mentally healthy below! (Also, if you have any of your own points, feel free to post them in the comments section below! I'd love to hear them. :) Tip #1: Take at least 15-30 Minutes a Day to Read Your Bible As Christians, we NEED to be spending time with God every day. We're told in 2 Peter 3:18, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...". We do this by digging into God's Word every day, reading it, meditating on it, and praying about it. It's an essential part of growing closer to and in faith in Christ. Your quiet time doesn't need to be hours long either: I normally try to aim for 15-30 minutes. Now, you may be saying, "Wait, I don't have 15-30 minutes to spend reading God's Word each day- I'm a busy girl!" I can assure you, that yes, you probably do have at least fifteen minutes to read your Bible. If you are really tight on time, you might have to cut something out of your day- like scrolling through social media or watching that one extra episode of your favorite show. Trust me, it's definitely worth it! Stuck on where to start reading? The Bible is a big book, God's letter to us! One of my favorite ways to study it is to read one or two chapters from the Old and New Testament, then journal out how what I read relates to Christ and write out any verses that stick out to me. You can also find Bible studies to go through! Some of my favorites are by Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth, Dannah Gresh, and Bethany Beal and Kristen Clark. Tip #2: Take At least 15-30 Minutes A Day To Move Your Body That's right! Moving your body is such a good way to get blood flowing and keep it in shape! Our body is not our own, it is a gift from and made by God (Psalm 139:14) where His Spirit dwells (1 Cor. 16:19). Shouldn't we be good stewards of our bodies like everything else God gives us? (And, like in Tip #1, we ALL have an extra 15-30 minutes a day.) If you're stuck on where to start and are struggling to figure out how to move your body at least fifteen minutes daily, try some of the tips below!
Tip #3: Eat Healthier, Balanced Meals We all know that bag of chips and a Twix bar don't count as lunch and are horrible for our bodies. But, this is something I commonly see teenage and collage-aged girls wolf down before they are off to their next activity. Like stated in Tip #2, our bodies are created by God and are a temple to His Spirit, which should be the main motivation behind taking care of your body. Think of it this way: gasoline cars can only take gasoline as fuel, not diesel. If you've ever put diesel in a gasoline car, you'll know it causes a huge disaster and the car will not run properly. It's the same way with our bodies: when we fuel our bodies with junk food (e.g., pizza, oreos, energy drinks) we're setting our bodies up to not run properly. This most likely will leave us tired and a hormonal mess! Instead, choose to eat healthier options and try to eat a healthy source of fat, carbs, protein, and TONS of veggies with every meal. Stuck on what to make? Need some healthy recipes? Check out the websites below! Tip #4: Take Time To Pray This is the one I struggle with the most, yet it's so crucial in your walk with God. We need to take time to pray every day though out the day. God loves to hear from His children! For me, I always struggle with two things: remembering to pray and trying to figure out what to pray about! If you struggle with remembering to pray, figure out times of the day where you can add prayer into your daily routine. I like to pray before meals, after my devotion time, and right before I go to bed. Struggling with what to pray about? You can pray about anything! You can tell God about how your day is going, something you are struggling with, and/or lift any prayer requests to Him. I always feel so much closer to God when I pray though out my day! Tip #5: Take a Break! We're busy people. It's a part of our culture! But oftentimes, we get too busy. We need a break to relax and de-stress. God created the Sabbath- a day of rest (Genesis 1)- so we could rest. (Also, God rested too, after six days of creating the universe and everything in it in Genesis 1!) This may mean saying no to going places or hanging out with different friends. It may mean taking on less hours at work so you can take Sunday off so you can rest, not just go to church. We need to rest, and when we do, we feel so much better and can think and function more productively! We can also spend more time with God, taking an hour or two away from everything (yes, your phone too!) and digging into and meditating on God's Word and praying to Him. This is something I personally like to do outside, in His created nature. I always feel so much closer and centered on Him during and afterward, and it refreshes your spirit! Note: Neither I nor A Message for Christian Girls is paid or sponsored by the resources listed above. I hope y'all enjoyed these five tips, and I'd love to hear from you! What is one of the five tips you are going to try? What tips do you have on how to stay healthy this new year? Let me know in the comments below! By: Chris V It's that time of year again... and we know what that means! Yep, you guessed it! A NEW December Bible Reading Plan! During the Christmas season, we tend to get very busy with holiday activities like doing advent, wrapping presents, and going to see Christmas lights. Sometimes, we even get so busy we forget to spend time with God in our daily devotions. (I'm definitely guilty of this!) This is why we created a free Bible reading plan available to download below. Each day, there is one chapter from the Bible to read for every single day of the month. This plan is meant to prepare our hearts for this Christmas season and to think about the real reason for Christmas: so Jesus could come to this earth to die a brutal death in order to take God's wrath for our sin so we could be saved in Him. Ready to get started? Download the free PDF plan to print out below! We'd love to hear from you! What's your favorite part of the Christmas season AND how are you going to fit the December Bible Reading Plan into your holiday schedule? Let us know in the comments below! By: Chris V Okay, I know there hasn't been anything new in a LONG time... but that's all about to change! We're back (and just in time for the holiday season too!), and with new content just for you! Personally, I've been really busy with school and work. On top of that, I had no idea what to write or make new podcast episodes on. So, I ending up hitting pause on A Message for Christian Girls for a few months. After some prayer and encouragement from others around me, I'm going to hit unpause and start releasing more content! What's New? I'm excited to announce that over the next several months. I'm going to [try] to release a series of blog posts on evangelism, at least one per month. One of the top questions I get from other girls today is, "How do I evangelize to others?" That's such a good yet super big question! I'm going to break it down into smaller posts, going over why, as Christians, we should evangelize to others and how we do that, especially when we interact with different people who we have a different relationship with every single day! On top of the evangelism blog posts, I'm going to try to get more guest blog posts onto the blog! Now, some of you may be wondering, "Chris, what if I'd like to submit a guest post for the blog?" If God has put it on your heart to write a blog post about a certain topic, that's amazing! Currently, there are no guest blog post guidelines (another one of my goals is to get some up for you guys in the next few months!), but if you are interested in sending one in, check out our contact page here. Next, let's talk about the new blog post suggestion form. Do you have a Christian topic you would like to read about on the blog? A question you're struggling with, whether it's about God, faith, or lies? Send it in and we'll try to write a post on it! Finally, blog posts are going to be released early in the week, either on Monday or Tuesday, to kick off your week with encouragement. What about the podcast? I love recording podcasts for you guys, and love hearing how they impact you and your walk with Christ! Currently, I'm struggling with finding podcast topics. I would like the episodes to be relevant to what my amazing listeners are struggling with or have questions about. This is why I made a podcast topic submission form, which you can fill out here. Another thing I am hoping to do with the podcast is to get more guests on the show! I love having amazing Christian guests on the show to talk about things they have learned and what to share with you teen and college girls out there! Finally, I'd like to do a Q/A on the podcast in the next few months, where you send in various questions for me to answer, whether they're questions about faith, life, or even me! Be on the lookout for the blog post with the Q/A form over the next few months! I'm so excited to hit unpause on A Message for Christian Girls, and I hope you are too! I hope these posts and podcast episodes continue to encourage you in your walk with Christ!
By: Guest Blogger~ Church NotesHey guys! A Message for Christian Girls is partnering with an *amazing* app called Church Notes, an app designed to help you take notes during church and devotions in a distraction-free environment. Check out the article below to learn more! - Chris V Make it easier to stay focused on the Gospel by using Church Notes. No more toting a clunky Bible and notebook, and no more multiple, stressful, and time-consuming apps. Introducing Church Notes, a Bible Note-Taking app that lets you take detailed notes whilst listening to a sermon and complete your Daily Devotions. Church Notes makes it easier for Christians to celebrate the Gospel every day by having a convenient, easy, and all-in-one app for sermon and devotional note-taking. Church Notes includes English Standard Version, and more to come, to help understand God’s word more. Beta testers are pleased with Church Notes: “Beautifully designed, distraction-free and incredibly easy to use.”“...A PHENOMENAL BIBLE NOTE TAKING APP...” What can the app do? Create detailed Sermon & Devotional notes. Auto-Verse makes it easy to type in a verse and then insert it into your note by simply tapping the space button. Church Notes features are forever expanding and evolving. We are proud to offer our Beta version and allow Christians to test out the potential Church Notes has. We are excited for what God has in the future of Church Notes and to see this project turn into reality. Head to Church Notes website to download this app on IOS & Android. Want to learn more about Church Notes? Check out the Church Notes website here. By: Chris V Podcasts have become a mainstream thing to listen to in today's society. There's tons of them out there! Because of that, though, it can be hard to find solid Christian podcasts that preach an accurate picture of the gospel (sorry Joel Osteen). Fortunately, there are some good Christian podcasts out there that do preach the right gospel and biblical ways of living. Here are four of my favorites: 1. Relatable With Allie Beth STuckey
2. Revive Our Hearts (With NAncy DeMoss Wolgemuth)
3. Ask Pastor John (With Tony Reinke and John Piper)
4. The Girl Defined Show (With Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal)
What Are You Listening To? Those are my top four favorite Christian podcasts! I highly encourage you to check out all four of them. I also want to encourage you to think about the Christian podcasts you're currently listening to. Like I said earlier, there are tons of "Christian" podcasts that don't actually preach the gospel. Evaluate what you're listening to:
Speaking of solid Christian podcasts, A Message for Christian Girls has a podcast! If you haven't got a chance to listen to it yet, you can check it out here. I'd love to hear from you! What are some of your favorite Christian podcasts to listen to? Let me know in the comments below! By: Chris V I'll be the first to admit that I struggle with rest and the concept of resting. Maybe you do to! Today's culture is all "GO, GO, GO!", with technology constantly ringing, dinging, pining... you get the idea. It's exhausting and oftentimes we struggle to take the time to rest when there's a growing to-do list. However, the Bible makes it clear that rest should be in a Christian's life, as seen below. (Also, if you're struggling with rest, there's several ideas to incorporate rest into your life below!) What Does the bible say about rest? Rest is mentioned a ton in the Bible! The first mention we see of rest is in Genesis 2:2, which says, "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work". Even God rested! He also tells us that He will give us rest (Exodus 33:14, Matthew 11:28-30). We also see commands to rest throughout the Bible:
Ways to Rest Struggling to find ways to rest throughout your week and in your day-to-day life? Check out some ideas below:
I'd love to hear from you! What are ways you can rest in your daily life? Let me know in the comments below!
By: Chris V I've heard tons of people say that being healthy sometimes doesn't matter as a Christian. We're in Christ and that's all that matters, right? I beg to differ. While it's most important to remember Jesus's sacrifice on the cross for us and our sins, to become sanctified through Christ in our daily lives, and glorify and serve Him with our lives, it's also important to take care of the bodies He made for us. Why? Check out the three points below. Your Body: God's Creation Your body is God's creation. In Psalm 139:14, we read "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." God created you, a person who was fearfully AND wonderfully made by the King of the Universe! His creation praises Him and screams His glory. Taking care of His creation (your body) brings glory to Him! Your Body: a Temple to God In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, it says, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." What does this mean? As Christians, the Holy Spirit (God, which is a part of the trinity) is with us and in us, helping us grow in Christ. Our bodies are a temple (a place where someone or something is worshiped) to God. We need to take care of our bodies because they're a place of worship to God! Your Body: Bringing Glory to God As seen through the two previous points, the main reason we should take care of our bodies is to bring glory to God. When we take care of our bodies with a healthy lifestyle with the right mindset, we bring glory to God. First Corinthians 10:31 says, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." When we take care of our bodies for God, we do it for His glory! As Christians, is there any other reason better than that? How can I live a healthy lifestyle? The first thing that needs to be done when choosing to live a healthy lifestyle is to cultivate the right mindset. What is the right mindset? Choosing to live a healthy lifestyle not because of you and your body, but because you want to glorify Christ. Again, we're told in 1 Corinthians 10:31 to do all things for the glory of God. The same thing applies to health and living a healthy lifestyle: do it for the glory of God! So, what are a couple of ways we can start to live a healthy lifestyle? Here are two ways:
Want to learn more about cultivating a healthy lifestyle through a Christian perspective? Check out a podcast episode I did a few months ago with my friend Kara on health here! Also, be sure to check out her Instagram page, @kandtheway, here for more healthy living tips from a Christian perspective! I'd love to hear from you! What are some ways you can start living a healthy lifestyle today? Let me know in the comments below! By: JuliannaDear Father, The clock is ticking on my school year, and May is right around the corner. In some ways, it feels like it can’t come soon enough. School is hard and I’m tired. But I’m also nervous. May also means the end of the structured routine of high school and an endless world of possibilities in which I somehow have to find my place. Almost every day, I get asked that same old question: “What are you going to do?” I know people are only being kind, but they expect every graduate like me to have the rest of our lives planned out! (Or at least our college and degree plan). A lot of my friends have nice-sounding answers like “I’m going to Baylor to study communications and plan to be a journalist” or at least, “I’m working in the family business.” But I know most of those friends will probably change their plans if they’re anything like me. Lord, in a sense, I want to carry this weight instead of being apathetic. I don’t want to waste my life or make a wrong decision that would impact my ability to serve you. That’s probably my greatest fear: what if I choose the wrong option and miss out on your plan for me? I wish the New Testament had more detailed plans for grads like me, but I’m left with a lot of wondering … and prayer … and the need to follow the Spirit, which I know is better anyway. Despite my fear, I know it isn’t possible to make the wrong decision so long as I am seeking to faithfully serve you. Of course, your Word does give some specific directions to women. I know in Titus 2 you want me to develop a heart for the home, to recognize that I can start loving my future husband and children right now in the way that I learn to faithfully serve my own family. Help me use these years after high school to nurture a love for children and to fight the lie that serving at home doesn’t count as ministry. Whether you call me to go to college or work or ministry at church or the countless other options, may I never be ashamed of the role you have given me as a woman. I’m also reminded that the season before I’m married, if that’s God’s will, is a unique time of being able to be “anxious about the things of the Lord” to “be holy in both body and spirit.” You’ve given me more energy and undistracted time to serve you than I may ever have again in my life. Lord, help me not to waste this season but give my all to serve you. Lord, I pray you would help me nurture a heart for women. Whether I’m married or single, one of my primary callings as a woman is to encourage and be encouraged by women (Titus 2:2). I’m encouraged to know I have a place in the Great Commission calling to teach all that Christ has commanded. My role as a woman in that calling is crucial because some of those commands are specific to women and require women’s discipleship! Help me love the younger girls in my life, as well as my siblings, and seek to live in a way that points them to Christ. I’m also thankful for my parents and other godly older women in my life who can help direct me. I pray you’d give me the humility and courage to approach them, ask questions, and glean from their wisdom. Give them the willingness to invest in my life and confirm the giftings and calling you are giving to me. I’m so often blind to my own weaknesses and even strengths; help me lean into my parents and mentors to gain wisdom. Lord, wherever you call me, whatever the challenges or joys, disappointments or blessings, I want to be able to pray what Moses prayed: “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, “I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight …And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here” (Ex. 33:12-15). Lord, you have promised that your presence will be with me. My desire is simply that, wherever you take me, whatever work or school or location you call me, you would go with me. I hold to your promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). Amen. Some resources for high schoolers/grads:
This blog post originally appears on Julianna's blog Whole Hearted. You can find the original post here. (Reposted with permission.) I'd love to hear from you! What's one way you can apply Julianna's blog post on graduating in your life? What's something you're praying to God about in your transitioning stages of life? Tell me in the comments below!
By: Chris V It's been two month into the new year! If you're like me, chances are you have already put together a mile-long reading list. Maybe it's even your New Year's resolution to spend less time on technology and/or read more books! This post it going to talk about four Christian books that I have read throughout the past year, and these books are absolutely MUSTS to your 2021 reading list. Real quick before we get started: I just want to remind you that you don't have to spend a lot of money on books. You can look for books at the library, at Goodwill, and on secondhand book sites like Thriftbooks. Save your money! Okay, here's for books that NEED to be on your 2021 reading list! 1. Girl Defined by Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird I absolutely love this book! Kristen and Bethany discuss what it looks like to live your life in biblical womanhood. This is something that is sometimes hard to identify when we look to our culture (which, by the way, tends to shame and do the exact opposite of what the Bible says)to identify how to live in womanhood! Kristen and Bethany paint a clear picture using passages from the Bible that help identify what God-honoring, biblical womanhood looks like. Please add this book to your reading list! 2. Jesus Over Everything By Lisa Whittle I'm going to be honest here: sometimes, it's hard to hand Jesus the keys to your life and trust in Him to drive it. (I should know- I've struggled so much with the sin of trying to control my life instead of living it the way God want me to!) This book was very eye-opening for me because it helped me identify different areas of my life- areas I've never even thought about!- where I was sinfully taking control of my life instead of trusting God and letting him be in control. 3. you're not enough (and that's okay) by Allie Beth Stuckey This book is a book where you definitely need to buckle your seat-belt before you start reading. Allie Beth Stuckey tackles the topic of self-love in our culture, and gives different myths (a.k.a. lies) that the self- love culture may tell you. Like Jesus Over Everything, this book was also very eyeopening. I realized there were several lies I was believing (ex: I'm entitled to what I want and desire in my life) that snuck into my life; lies that were labeled "normal" and typical for a teen girl. DON'T FALL FOR THAT! This book is such a good read, I have no idea what else to say about it other than READ IT!!! 4. You Can Trust God to Write Your Story by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Robert Wolgemuth This book is such an encouragement after seeing all the sin and chaos in our world constantly. In You Can Trust God to Write Your Story, Nancy Demoss and Robert Wolgemuth share real life stories in different circumstances, and even shared a few stories from the Bible. What do these stories throughout the book have in common? They all share the same message: you can trust God and His providence in your life every single day in every single circumstance. After pulling out of a year like 2020 and heading into a future of unknown waters, this is definitely a book to read in 2021! A Gospel- Centered Message A few weeks ago, I was talking to a friend of mine about solid Christian books. One thing that stuck out to me about the conversation was that she was sad to see so many "Christian" books in stores that preach things that weren't Christ-centered: the prosperity gospel, positive thinking, self love, you name it! I think one of my absolute favorite things about the four books listed above is that they are all gospel-centered. They all clearly preach what Christ has done for us on the cross, what it means to turn your life over to Christ and become a Christian, and learning how to grow closer to Christ in your daily walk with him. I highly encourage you to take the time to read the four books above. Who knows? They may be a huge encouragement in your daily walk with Christ!
I'd love to hear from you! What are some of your favorite Christian books to read? Tell me in the comments below! |
AuthorsChris V Archives
March 2023
Categories
All
|