It's finally Friday and I am so glad it's here. This has been our first week back to school and I am tired! Getting up at 5:30 am has exhausted me!
Typically on Friday, I try to keep my blog posts light and fun. It's the end of the week and I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with friends and family. My brain is tired and in need of some time off.
Have you started school yet? If not, I bet the day is coming soon. I remember having mixed feelings about going back to school. I was looking forward to seeing my friends, but I was not looking forward to the classes and homework! Have you picked out what you are wearing the first day? I used to fret over what in the world I'd wear that first day back. I still fret over what I'm going to wear to work! Why is that?
With school getting started, I bet you'll be making new friends. Or at least I hope so. As I close this post, I'm going to share 3 secrets from Every Teen Girl's Little Pink Book on Girlfriends by Cathy Bartel.
1. Be friendly.
2. Focus on others.
3. Do kink things without looking for credit.
And remember:
Be kind to yourself. God loves you and wants you to love yourself. Be kind to yourself, and be patient as you learn and grow. You're the one person you can never get away from. You will be a better friend to others when you learn to treat yourself right.
Have a great weekend! You are beautiful so tell yourself that often!
Sweet Blessings,
Melissa
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Thirsty Thursday
Hey Beautiful Girl and welcome to Thirsty Thursday!
On Thursdays I'll be posting about things you just can't live without. You know how you feel when you are just dying for something to drink? Your mouth is dry, your throat itches, and you begin to lose energy. You are thirsty and you need something to drink. If you go too long without water you begin to feel depleted. You need water. You need it to quench your thirst and you need it to live.
On Thursdays I'll write about topics, issues, and subjects that you are thirsty for. That you just have to have!
I'm starting at the top of the list. The #1 most important thing in your life that you just cannot live without. Oh you can try, but you aren't living your life to the fullest unless you have this. What is it? God.
Do you know that God loves you no matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter what you've done. You can't be too good for God and you can't be too bad for Him either. Other relationships in your life will come and go. Other relationships in your life will let you down. Not this one.
For a long time in my life I searched for love and acceptance through the people in my life. I was disappointed and let down over and over again. Here's my story. I've written about it in a devotion titled, "Love Me, The Heart of a Lost Teenage Girl Filled With Shame."
"Love Me: The Heart of a Lost Teenage Girl"
Psalm 119:76, “Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.” (NLT)
There was a teenage girl who seemed to have her life all together. She had many friends, excelled in school, was kind to others, and made her mom very proud. On the outside, this girl’s life seemed amazing. The inside revealed a much different story.
I am this girl. I know that looks can be deceiving.
When I was 7, a neighbor sexually molested me. When I was 8, I witnessed my grandfather falling out of his beloved rocking chair, the victim of a stroke. At age 10, my dad went on a business trip, and never returned. My parents were getting a divorce. My world seemed to get worse by the year. What would happen next?
Tired of my heartache and circumstances, I decided to ask Christ into my life - only to be disappointed. Why did I still feel guilty and dirty (sexual abuse), disappointed and scared (my grandfather’s stroke), unworthy and empty (my family was broken)? Was it too much to ask for someone to love me?
"Jesus, if you won’t fix my life, I’ll do it myself", I proclaimed.
I was able to satisfy the people in my life through my achievements, but on the inside I was a wreck. My heart was still empty and aching. The outer me didn’t seem to satisfy the longing in my heart, so I tried other, more destructive ways.
I gave into the temptation to feel loved and accepted by another person. While on an un-chaperoned beach trip, I crawled into bed with another searching-for-love soul. We were two people looking to feel complete – but looking in the wrong places. This was a friend of mine, someone who loved and cared about me. That made it okay, right?
I had dreamed of what my first time would be like. My plans had been to save myself for marriage. I had visions of my groom carrying me into our beautiful honeymoon suite and there two would become one. Instead of a honeymoon suite, I was in a run down motel room. Instead of my groom, I was with a lost high school boy. I cried. What had I just done?
A friend picked me up the next morning and we drove home. I don’t think I spoke the whole time. Growing inside of me were the bitter seeds of guilt, shame, disgust with myself, and the familiar emptiness.
After years of continuing to try to fill the emptiness in my heart with all the wrong things, I realized the truth. Jesus was there. He had been in my heart since the day I invited Him in. He was waiting and watching over me. I had to learn the hard way that He was the only One that could fill my heart completely.
I’m much older now. I’m far from perfect, but I’ve learned that there is nothing in this world that can satisfy the desires of my heart. Believe me, if it were available for purchase, I would’ve bought it. If it came from good looks and pretty clothes, I could’ve had that too. Or if it came from a human relationship, my heart would not hurt. But none of these things can do what Jesus does.
Do not be fooled by the promises of this world; believe the promises of God’s Word. You are His precious child. He loves you. He desires a relationship with you no matter what has happened to you or what you’ve done. Trust and give Him the chance to be the One who fills your heart with love.
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, I don’t even have to ask to You to love me, because You already do. Oh God, please remind me often of how much You love me and help me not to give into what the world is offering me to make me feel better. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
His Princess, Love Letters from Your King, by Sheri Rose Shepherd
Want More Love?, by Kathy Wierenga Buchanan
Think About It:
Have you given into temptation, even when you knew it was wrong?
Do you know that God can and will forgive you?
What makes you feel important?
Live It:
Visit Melissa’s blog this week for additional information and to leave a comment or ask her a question.
Power Verses:
Matthew 19:26, “Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’” (NLT)
1 Samuel 16:7b, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (NIV)
1 John 2:16-17, “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but from this world. And this world is fading away along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” (NLT)
© 2008 by Melissa Taylor. All rights reserved.
Remember that you are dearly loved by God. Allow Him to quench your thirst for whatever it is you are searching for. Build a relationship with Him and the other stuff will begin to fall into place.
Have a great day of Beautiful Blessings!
Love,
Melissa
On Thursdays I'll be posting about things you just can't live without. You know how you feel when you are just dying for something to drink? Your mouth is dry, your throat itches, and you begin to lose energy. You are thirsty and you need something to drink. If you go too long without water you begin to feel depleted. You need water. You need it to quench your thirst and you need it to live.
On Thursdays I'll write about topics, issues, and subjects that you are thirsty for. That you just have to have!
I'm starting at the top of the list. The #1 most important thing in your life that you just cannot live without. Oh you can try, but you aren't living your life to the fullest unless you have this. What is it? God.
Do you know that God loves you no matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter what you've done. You can't be too good for God and you can't be too bad for Him either. Other relationships in your life will come and go. Other relationships in your life will let you down. Not this one.
For a long time in my life I searched for love and acceptance through the people in my life. I was disappointed and let down over and over again. Here's my story. I've written about it in a devotion titled, "Love Me, The Heart of a Lost Teenage Girl Filled With Shame."
"Love Me: The Heart of a Lost Teenage Girl"
Psalm 119:76, “Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.” (NLT)
There was a teenage girl who seemed to have her life all together. She had many friends, excelled in school, was kind to others, and made her mom very proud. On the outside, this girl’s life seemed amazing. The inside revealed a much different story.
I am this girl. I know that looks can be deceiving.
When I was 7, a neighbor sexually molested me. When I was 8, I witnessed my grandfather falling out of his beloved rocking chair, the victim of a stroke. At age 10, my dad went on a business trip, and never returned. My parents were getting a divorce. My world seemed to get worse by the year. What would happen next?
Tired of my heartache and circumstances, I decided to ask Christ into my life - only to be disappointed. Why did I still feel guilty and dirty (sexual abuse), disappointed and scared (my grandfather’s stroke), unworthy and empty (my family was broken)? Was it too much to ask for someone to love me?
"Jesus, if you won’t fix my life, I’ll do it myself", I proclaimed.
I was able to satisfy the people in my life through my achievements, but on the inside I was a wreck. My heart was still empty and aching. The outer me didn’t seem to satisfy the longing in my heart, so I tried other, more destructive ways.
I gave into the temptation to feel loved and accepted by another person. While on an un-chaperoned beach trip, I crawled into bed with another searching-for-love soul. We were two people looking to feel complete – but looking in the wrong places. This was a friend of mine, someone who loved and cared about me. That made it okay, right?
I had dreamed of what my first time would be like. My plans had been to save myself for marriage. I had visions of my groom carrying me into our beautiful honeymoon suite and there two would become one. Instead of a honeymoon suite, I was in a run down motel room. Instead of my groom, I was with a lost high school boy. I cried. What had I just done?
A friend picked me up the next morning and we drove home. I don’t think I spoke the whole time. Growing inside of me were the bitter seeds of guilt, shame, disgust with myself, and the familiar emptiness.
After years of continuing to try to fill the emptiness in my heart with all the wrong things, I realized the truth. Jesus was there. He had been in my heart since the day I invited Him in. He was waiting and watching over me. I had to learn the hard way that He was the only One that could fill my heart completely.
I’m much older now. I’m far from perfect, but I’ve learned that there is nothing in this world that can satisfy the desires of my heart. Believe me, if it were available for purchase, I would’ve bought it. If it came from good looks and pretty clothes, I could’ve had that too. Or if it came from a human relationship, my heart would not hurt. But none of these things can do what Jesus does.
Do not be fooled by the promises of this world; believe the promises of God’s Word. You are His precious child. He loves you. He desires a relationship with you no matter what has happened to you or what you’ve done. Trust and give Him the chance to be the One who fills your heart with love.
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, I don’t even have to ask to You to love me, because You already do. Oh God, please remind me often of how much You love me and help me not to give into what the world is offering me to make me feel better. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
His Princess, Love Letters from Your King, by Sheri Rose Shepherd
Want More Love?, by Kathy Wierenga Buchanan
Think About It:
Have you given into temptation, even when you knew it was wrong?
Do you know that God can and will forgive you?
What makes you feel important?
Live It:
Visit Melissa’s blog this week for additional information and to leave a comment or ask her a question.
Power Verses:
Matthew 19:26, “Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’” (NLT)
1 Samuel 16:7b, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (NIV)
1 John 2:16-17, “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but from this world. And this world is fading away along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” (NLT)
© 2008 by Melissa Taylor. All rights reserved.
Remember that you are dearly loved by God. Allow Him to quench your thirst for whatever it is you are searching for. Build a relationship with Him and the other stuff will begin to fall into place.
Have a great day of Beautiful Blessings!
Love,
Melissa
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
It's Workout Wednesday!
And my back is injured! Now how am I supposed to workout if my back hurts so darn bad?
I'm training for a half marathon that I'm running in December. I've never run this far before. I also put on quite a few extra pounds over the past year. I needed something new and exciting to motivate me, so I decided to sign up and run a race. This has forced me to exercise because I have to train so I'll be ready. Otherwise, I will not finish or even come close!
Let me just say, exercise is not something I'm crazy about however, once I get started, I really do kind of like it. And I feel so much better when I'm done. My mood improves, my skin tone is better, and the health benefits are great! Not to mention I look better:)
If you aren't used to exercising, why not consider making a new commitment and start. Just start simple. And if you already do exercise, please share what keeps you motivated and what kind of exercise you do.
I usually either walk, run, or go to the gym. I always have my iPod with me. I love to listen to my favorite music when I workout. I often bring my dog if I'm walking. I try to make it fun.
God made us. He gave us our bodies and wow are they amazing. We are capable of doing so many things. However, if we neglect to care for them, they will not function as well as they were designed. And the better we care for them, the better they work and the longer we live with our good health.
So, as I write to encourage you to workout, I am having to take a few days off. My back hurts and cannot exercise or I would injure myself even more. That's not good!
One more thing...as I write about physical exercise, let me just remind you that the most important part of your body that you can care for is your heart. Real beauty does not come from how you look or what you do, it comes from what you keep hidden in your heart. So, as we focus to stay healthy on the outside, remember not to neglect the inside. Stay close to God and he will stay close to you. (James 4:8)
Blessings Beautiful Girls,
Melissa
***If you haven't voted in the poll (in the sidebar to the right), please vote. And get your friends to vote. I want to hear from you! Thanks!
I'm training for a half marathon that I'm running in December. I've never run this far before. I also put on quite a few extra pounds over the past year. I needed something new and exciting to motivate me, so I decided to sign up and run a race. This has forced me to exercise because I have to train so I'll be ready. Otherwise, I will not finish or even come close!
Let me just say, exercise is not something I'm crazy about however, once I get started, I really do kind of like it. And I feel so much better when I'm done. My mood improves, my skin tone is better, and the health benefits are great! Not to mention I look better:)
If you aren't used to exercising, why not consider making a new commitment and start. Just start simple. And if you already do exercise, please share what keeps you motivated and what kind of exercise you do.
I usually either walk, run, or go to the gym. I always have my iPod with me. I love to listen to my favorite music when I workout. I often bring my dog if I'm walking. I try to make it fun.
God made us. He gave us our bodies and wow are they amazing. We are capable of doing so many things. However, if we neglect to care for them, they will not function as well as they were designed. And the better we care for them, the better they work and the longer we live with our good health.
So, as I write to encourage you to workout, I am having to take a few days off. My back hurts and cannot exercise or I would injure myself even more. That's not good!
One more thing...as I write about physical exercise, let me just remind you that the most important part of your body that you can care for is your heart. Real beauty does not come from how you look or what you do, it comes from what you keep hidden in your heart. So, as we focus to stay healthy on the outside, remember not to neglect the inside. Stay close to God and he will stay close to you. (James 4:8)
Blessings Beautiful Girls,
Melissa
***If you haven't voted in the poll (in the sidebar to the right), please vote. And get your friends to vote. I want to hear from you! Thanks!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Beautiful Girl, You Are Loved
Hey there and welcome! This is the first post of my new blog, Beautiful Girl. This blog was created as a place of encouragement for teen girls. When you visit, it is my sincere prayer that you will be inspired, encouraged, empowered, and filled with confidence to live your life with purpose, for Jesus.
I'm not a teen girl. I'm much older. Because of that you may think that this blog is not for you. Hold it! I was once a teen. I look back on my teen years with mixed emotions....I was confused by the circumstances of my life. I was a girl who was allowing the events of my childhood to take hold of me and therefore I lived with secret fear, shame, and worthlessness. I didn't want anyone to know that though, so I covered it up. And covered it well, most of the time. My grades were near perfect. I was involved in lots of activities. I made awesome friends.
I also made some horrendous mistakes. I didn't follow God's ways, I tried to do it all my way. If you read the devotion on the Radical Revolution site, you already know that. It didn't have to be that way.
I have children: 3 boys (2 are teens) and 1 girl (she's 7). They are my inspiration for this blog. I know how hard it is to grow up today. I know what it feels like to want to be beautiful. I also know how to be beautiful and it has nothing to do with your physical appearance. If you haven't read the devotion from today, go check it out now: http://www.radrevolution.blogspot.com/ .
You can search for love in many places. A few of them may feel real good ... for a while. But unless that love comes from God, then it can be lost and is only temporary. Don't be like me and give into the lie that you can earn love or take off your clothes for love. Don't give into the lie that because of your past you are worthless and done. Don't give into the lie that anything you've done determines your true identity. You are not what you've done. You are who God made you. You are a child of God. You are royalty. You are so important. You have purpose. You are not supposed to live in shame, blame, regret, or fear. You are loved.
A few things you will find here:
1. Acceptance. It doesn't matter how others feel about you, God loves you just for you. You don't have to do anything to be accepted by Him. Well, here you are accepted too. Just as you are.
2. Information. I hope to bring you some awesome and fun facts. About all sorts of things. Life, boys, fitness, music, fashion, food, school, friendship, and family. I also hope you'll share information here too!
3. The Bible. This is the greatest Book of all. Everything you need you will find here, but sometimes it seems overwhelming or even boring. It may seem outdated or a book for preachers, parents, teachers, or older people, but the Bible is the best guide for your life, no matter what stage of life you are in. I know it's hard to follow everything in the Bible. That's okay. The Bible is the manual for this blog.
4. Themes. I love themes. There will be 4 posts per week:
Marvelous Monday- something of value will be posted
Workout Wednesday- fitness and health related
Thirsty Thursday- what you can't live without
Fun Friday- light and fun
5. Real. No masks here. There's no need for them. I will be open and honest and I hope you will be too. Nothing is off limits! You can ask anything and I may even post about certain subjects that will shock you!
I hope you like the blog. If you have comments or suggestions, let me know!!! Email me anytime at: Melissa@MelissaTaylor.org. I value your input, good and bad! I want this to be a blog that encourages and helps. I hope it is.
Let me hear from you please! What are you looking for? What do you need? What questions do you have? What are you interested in? Tell me and I'll do my best to find it!
Thanks for tuning in today! Bless your heart:)
Love,
Melissa
I'm not a teen girl. I'm much older. Because of that you may think that this blog is not for you. Hold it! I was once a teen. I look back on my teen years with mixed emotions....I was confused by the circumstances of my life. I was a girl who was allowing the events of my childhood to take hold of me and therefore I lived with secret fear, shame, and worthlessness. I didn't want anyone to know that though, so I covered it up. And covered it well, most of the time. My grades were near perfect. I was involved in lots of activities. I made awesome friends.
I also made some horrendous mistakes. I didn't follow God's ways, I tried to do it all my way. If you read the devotion on the Radical Revolution site, you already know that. It didn't have to be that way.
I have children: 3 boys (2 are teens) and 1 girl (she's 7). They are my inspiration for this blog. I know how hard it is to grow up today. I know what it feels like to want to be beautiful. I also know how to be beautiful and it has nothing to do with your physical appearance. If you haven't read the devotion from today, go check it out now: http://www.radrevolution.blogspot.com/ .
You can search for love in many places. A few of them may feel real good ... for a while. But unless that love comes from God, then it can be lost and is only temporary. Don't be like me and give into the lie that you can earn love or take off your clothes for love. Don't give into the lie that because of your past you are worthless and done. Don't give into the lie that anything you've done determines your true identity. You are not what you've done. You are who God made you. You are a child of God. You are royalty. You are so important. You have purpose. You are not supposed to live in shame, blame, regret, or fear. You are loved.
A few things you will find here:
1. Acceptance. It doesn't matter how others feel about you, God loves you just for you. You don't have to do anything to be accepted by Him. Well, here you are accepted too. Just as you are.
2. Information. I hope to bring you some awesome and fun facts. About all sorts of things. Life, boys, fitness, music, fashion, food, school, friendship, and family. I also hope you'll share information here too!
3. The Bible. This is the greatest Book of all. Everything you need you will find here, but sometimes it seems overwhelming or even boring. It may seem outdated or a book for preachers, parents, teachers, or older people, but the Bible is the best guide for your life, no matter what stage of life you are in. I know it's hard to follow everything in the Bible. That's okay. The Bible is the manual for this blog.
4. Themes. I love themes. There will be 4 posts per week:
Marvelous Monday- something of value will be posted
Workout Wednesday- fitness and health related
Thirsty Thursday- what you can't live without
Fun Friday- light and fun
5. Real. No masks here. There's no need for them. I will be open and honest and I hope you will be too. Nothing is off limits! You can ask anything and I may even post about certain subjects that will shock you!
I hope you like the blog. If you have comments or suggestions, let me know!!! Email me anytime at: Melissa@MelissaTaylor.org. I value your input, good and bad! I want this to be a blog that encourages and helps. I hope it is.
Let me hear from you please! What are you looking for? What do you need? What questions do you have? What are you interested in? Tell me and I'll do my best to find it!
Thanks for tuning in today! Bless your heart:)
Love,
Melissa
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