5 Signs You Have the Right Attitude About Change

The new year is just around the corner—2016! I’m looking at this year, not sure what it’s going to hold, but definitely seeing some major changes that will come. Before I know it, we’ll be launching into the spring semester and all that that entails.

Change can feel good or bad. Most often, we don’t know what change will bring with it, if it will feel good or bad—and the uncertainty can be terrifying.

Last night, my sister and I were talking about change. We both know it’s coming. So how do we prepare for it? How do we be like the Proverbs 31 woman and “laugh at the future”? (Proverbs 31:25)

Here are 5 signs that you have the right attitude going into this new year.

1.     You’re not afraid.

You’re not afraid of the future because you know you can trust God. He has a perfect plan for you that is for your good and His glory (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28). Being afraid of change is a sign that you lack faith in God’s promises, God’s goodness, God’s sovereignty, and even His love for you.

“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace because he trusts in You.”

Isaiah 26:3

Yes, it’s normal and human to be afraid of change and the future, but if you think about it, it’s really silly that we ever are afraid because God is in control.

2.     You find your joy in Christ.

If your joy is rooted in Christ, no matter what circumstances come your way—no matter the trials—you will be able to be joyful even in the midst of change. 

It’s very easy to find our “joy” in our circumstances—but that’s not joy, That’s happiness. You can tell if you have true joy anchored in Jesus or just circumstantial happiness by if whether or not you can smile and praise Him even in the hard times.

Finding your joy in Christ means you can glorify Him when everything’s out of order and when everything’s in order. I love the lyrics in Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman.

You give and take away,

You give and take away,

My heart will choose to say,

Lord blessed be Your Name.

3.     Jesus is the center of your life.

If Jesus is at the center of your life, it doesn’t really matter what on earth happens, whether good or bad. If you get married and Jesus is at the center of your life, you will find your marriage far more fulfilling and lasting than if not. If your best friend gets in a car wreck, you know that Jesus will give you comfort and care for your hurting heart.

Jesus is all we need, so if we live like it and believe it, everything will stay in perspective.

4.     You’re busy with ministry.

You’re not sitting around the house crying for the upcoming change. You’re rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty serving God and serving people. 

When you’re busy with ministry, again, change will stay in perspective. Serving in ministry helps you see other people’s struggles and see the bigger picture, which leads to this next point.

5.     You’re focused on others and what they’re going through.

Are you the most important person in the world? Nope. In fact, we’re supposed to consider ourselves the least important person in the world. When we’re focused on others, we don’t have enough time to mope about our own problems and the scary changes we’re facing. We realize that other people are fighting battles worse than ours.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

Do you have the right attitude about change? Which points do you have down, and which ones do you need to work on? Share in the comments! 

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Too Many Failures?

-By Sunny Bodenhamer

“He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.”

Psalm 103:10-14

I used to think that God didn’t really understand. I used to feel like I was a burden to Him. A pain. I would pray about something I was struggling with, for strength to overcome it and forgiveness for that sin, and then before I knew it, I was doing it again. Then I would realize it, and think to myself, “God must hate me. I’ve failed so many times, He must have given up on me by now.”

Every time those thoughts entered my mind, I could feel the chasm grow between my Heavenly Father and my heart.

I knew that He loves me unconditionally, and that I wasn’t going to lose my salvation just by messing up—I knew He’s not that kind of God—but that was only head knowledge. I came to realize that I didn’t really believe it in my heart, in my soul, deep down where it really counted. I’d grown up in a Christian home with wonderful parents who had taught me those things all my life, but that wasn’t enough. I needed to take hold of my faith as my own, not just something passed down to me by my parents.

Looking back, I remember imagining God holding each one of my failures over my head, looking down from above, just waiting for me to fail again because He couldn’t wait to punish me even bigger this time. I imagined Him saying to Himself, “Look at all this she’s already done, and there she goes again! She’s really going to get it this time!”

But friends, that is a lie straight from the pit that Satan had been feeding me, and I listened! I had been doubting my Savior, who loves me so much He died for me on that cross!

1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”

I was not perfected in His love. I didn’t understand it. I feared punishment, and while yes, it’s true that God is just, and there are consequences to our sin, it doesn’t bring God pleasure to punish us. In fact, it hurts Him to see us make wrong choices and to suffer the consequences. He wants us to succeed, just like any loving father would desire their child to succeed in life.

 “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so GREAT is His LOVINGKINDNESS toward those who fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west, SO FAR has He REMOVED our transgressions from us.

Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.”

Psalm 103:10-14

(emphasis added)

Did you get that? Do you see it? He knows we’re human, and we’re going to fail and disappoint Him, but He has compassion on us, because we are His children, and He loves us no matter what. My eyes are tearing up right now, just writing this. I am so overwhelmed when I take time to be still, to remember all He has done for me and how much He loves me.

I can’t help but think of the Casting Crowns song “East to West”:

“In the arms of Your mercy I find rest, cause You know just how far the east is from the west: from one scarred hand to the other…”

So remember today, you are loved more than you will ever know, no matter how many times you fail, no matter what you’ve done, don’t be afraid to come before the Lord again, and ask for forgiveness and a fresh start.

“He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a bulwark.”

Psalm 91:4

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and he delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.”

Psalm 37:23-24

(emphasis added)

Notice this verse says “when he falls,” not “if he falls.” He knows we aren’t perfect and He knows we never will be until we see Him face to face in heaven one day. He understands. He delights in you. You are His beloved child. Rest in Him; believe these truths. Don’t ever doubt His love, as Satan wants. He is holding your hand every step of the way. Believe that in your heart, not just your head. This is so important. The more you doubt and allow Satan’s lies to get in your head, the farther it will drive you away from your Heavenly Father, and that is the worst place to be.

“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord…”

Jeremiah 29:13-14a

Seek Him with all your heart and you will find Him. He wants to help you. Maybe it’s time you let Him, by believing He loves you unconditionally.

Sunny Bodenhamer is a Christian, homeschooled girl learning to be a light in this crazy, amazing life we’ve been given, reach for the stars, and believe that anything is possible through Jesus Christ. She believes that every day is a miracle full of second chances and beauty, if we stop and take the time to see it. She loves to write, crochet, drink coffee, and hopes to inspire and encourage through the written word.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your failures? What has God taught you through those times? Any stories or thoughts? Share in the comments!

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3 Ideas for Serving Jesus

By Taylor

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a vapor that appears for a little time, then vanishes.”

James 4:14

In my devotional this morning on Morning Glory’s Daily Devotional, I talked about how our lives are so short, and because of that we need to strive for Jesus all of our days. You may be wondering, “What are some ways I can do that?” Here are some ways that have really helped me glorify Christ in some things I do.

1) Volunteer.

Giving up my time to serve others and selflessly serving Jesus through them and shining His light to bring others to Christ.

2) Pray.

Seek God throughout His word and through communicating with Christ and ask Him for some ways that will allow the gifts He has given you to shine for Him. Pray to God and ask Him if He is calling you to become an active missionary in your hometown, or even another country!

3) Serve with Your Gifts.

For example, offer free babysitting for some young families at your church! I know from personal experience that this can be an amazing blessing to parents. What an amazing opportunity to serve Christ!

I hope these tips spark some ideas of your own for how you can serve Him through your gifts! Philippians 2:1-11 is a great scripture to find out some characteristics of Jesus.

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Hot Pumpkin Mug

                                Photocreds: Kathy from Healthy Happy Life

Submitted by Beth

Y'all know I love pumpkin. Who doesn't? What's funny though... is that without the spices pumpkin would not be... well, pumpkiny (if that's even a word.)

Here are two things you should know about me: I love coffee and pumpkin. A pumpkin spice latte is pretty amazing... but it's not like I'm always at a coffee shop and can get one. And at 9 o'clock at night I don't really need the caffeine.

Today I want to share with y'all my favorite alternative to a pumpkin, high-caffeine, coffee anything; so if you don't like coffee or try to avoid caffeine, you'll love this Hot Pumpkin Mug. Oh, it's so good.

On her blog Healthy Happy Life Kathy contrives this amazing pumpkin concoction. Enjoy, m'friends! Let me know how you like it. :)

Note: I find that the best milk for this recipe is Vanilla Soy milk with a teaspoon (if even) of Agave Nectar instead of a teaspoon of maple syrup.

Hot Pumpkin Mug, Spiced

vegan, serves 1

1 cup non-dairy milk (soy or almond works best)

1 1/2-2 Tbsp pure pumpkin puree, unsweetened (I used organic/canned/BPA-free liner can)

1/4 tsp ginger powder

1/4 tsp cinnamon

pinch of salt

2-3 drops vanilla extract (or a few pinches of real vanilla bean pod seeds for an extra special flavor)

1 tsp maple syrup, grade B

For extra spiced, add:

2 dashes cayenne

1 pinch fine black pepper

1-2 pinches of nutmeg

Try this sometime and let me know what you think in the comment section!

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Pumpkin Cake

Submitted by Beth

So with Thanksgiving less than a week away (happy squeal), grocery lists are being made, food ideas tossed around, pie requests coerced, etc. One of my most favorite flavors is...Haha...You'll never guess: pumpkin.

I haven't met a person who doesn't like pumpkin... well, pumpkin everything. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin cake... Oh! Y'all. Pumpkin cake is incredible. I'm so thankful my birthday is in the fall; hence, I had the excuse of asking my mom to bake me a pumpkin cake. Oh, goodness. This thing is delectable to say the least. On her blog Cooking Classy Jacelyn shares this lovely and absolutely delicious cake creation.

I have a feeling my relatives will love this Thanksgiving treat. Doesn't that cake look sublime? (I feel like I need to say that in an English accent. Aaaaand... I just did. Try it.)

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Lord, Thank You for this Trial Because...

Lord, Thank You for this Trial Because…

by Anonymous

…this trial reminds me of how dependent I am on You.

…this trial is a test of my faith and will reveal my faith for what it is.

…this trial will give me opportunities for ministry I may have missed.

…this trial is driving me to spend more time in prayer.

…this trial is an opportunity for You to display Your glory in my life.

…this trial reminds me that Earth is not my home.

…this trial is making me a stronger person.

…this trial will make me more aware of my blessings.

…this trial tests my ability to “rejoice in all things.”

…this trial is bringing me fresh wisdom and perspective.

…this trial is revealing sin that was otherwise hidden.

…this trial is humbling me.

…this trial is teaching me patience.

…others are learning and benefiting from witnessing my trial.

…this trial sheds new light upon Your Word as I study it.

…You have promised that it will work for good in my life.

…this trial is teaching me to hate sin more completely.

…I can worship you in my unique sufferings.

…this trial forces me to ask myself, “Is Jesus enough?”


How do you respond when trials come? Do you thank God for them? Any stories? Share in the comments!

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When You're Not Strong Enough

I was sitting alone in my room. Thinking. Then those thoughts turned to quiet whispers. Then, to tears.

I had to face it.

I wasn’t strong enough.

I was weak.

I felt the weight of my failures, my weaknesses, and my sins drowning me in self-pity.

Then I just couldn’t hold it in any longer. I couldn’t pretend that I had everything worked out. I couldn’t keep lying to myself that I was strong enough to handle my life and my struggles on my own.

That night, someone sent me a devotional for Morning Glory’s Daily Devotional for the next day. I was going to proof it and draft it to be sent out. I pulled it up and my eyes fell on this verse.

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

My tears came harder. I read those words over and over again, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness,” and then, “for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

If that wasn’t enough, I got an email talking about God being strong in our weakness. And then, the next chapter I was supposed to read in my Bible was 2 Corinthians 12. I guess that STILL wasn’t enough, because then, awaiting me in my Blogger feed was an article posted on The Rebelution called, “I Am Weak (And That’s My Greatest Strength).”

Sisters, I am weak and so are you. There will be times in your life when you will reach the end of yourself. Times when you will be faced with this fact.

I. Am. Weak.

But listen, it’s okay to be weak, because our strength can’t come from us and isn’t supposed to come from us. It comes from our gracious Lord and Savior.

When you realize your limitations and discover how weak you are and when you surrender that weakness to God, then you can become the effective tool that God created you to be. When you stop trying to be strong in your own strength, THEN God can use you to fulfill the works He has for you (Ephesians 2:10). God doesn’t just use us despite our weakness, but even He uses us through our weakness.

I am weak. You are weak. And that is good. Our strength is in Christ.

When have you seen your own weakness and Christ’s strength? Do you have any stories or thoughts to share? Feel free to leave a comment! 

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5 Tips to Seeing God as Your Friend

--By Audra Salmans

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

John 15:15

I don't know about y'all, but I have a hard time thinking of God as my friend. There's just something about me referring the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, as my friend that I just can't wrap my mind around. But it says right here in John that He wants to be our friend. Here are five strategies I've used to help me know God as Master and Friend. 

1. Talk to Him

Whenever something happens to me, even if it's not something particularly exciting, I am normally dying to tell my best friend. Talk to Him about more than just your problems. Bring it all to Him because He wants to know! Tell Him the funny stories, the aggravating moments, the things you can't wait to do tomorrow! Tell God everything you would tell your friends. He cares about us and He loves to hear us talk! 

2. Listen to Him

Just like when you tell your friend all your woes and she gives you all the advice she can, God not only listens, but He responds. His Spirit is always with believers, guiding, reminding, prompting, and illuminating. He is sufficient for every situation, like when that one kid is pestering you in class, or that new girl that would love to hang out with you at school. Sometimes we forget that He wants to answer our prayers!

3. DO with Him

Do you have certain things that you ALWAYS do with your friend? Maybe you take walks around your neighborhood, maybe you skip rocks at a pond, maybe you listen to music in a certain place that no one else knows about. God wants to DO with you. I want to laugh more with God. That's pretty much the thing I love most about my best friend: she can make me laugh when I think I'd rather mope. If I can laugh with her I can laugh with my Heavenly Father! After all, He knows all my funny stories and embarrassing moments even better than she does! Set aside a certain time to DO with Him. Go on a walk with God and laugh like it's just the two of you! :)

4. Read the Word

When you see a text from your best friend, what do you do? Open it like it will evaporate if you don't read it fast, or leave it and promise yourself you'll get to it later? Of course you read it! We can think of Bible verses in the same way. He wrote the Scriptures for you—are you going to leave them there to read later? He may have something very important to tell you right at that moment. When you feel down He may remind you of Lamentations 3:22-23; when you feel alone He has given you Hebrews 13:5; and when you just don't know where to turn anymore, He wrote Psalm 46:10. He has sent us these verses knowing that we will need them. Use the tools He has given us. 

5. Strive to Become Like Him

The only way you can be best friends with anyone is if you share common interests. God's ways are entirely holy and good. We need to become more like Him, and loving others is an easy place to start. John 15:12 says, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” He has loved us in spite of our faults. In response to this amazing love, let’s strive to become more like Him in our thoughts and our actions. 

God is good! He wants to be our friend! If we can choose Him over the ways of this world, He will provide all we crave: The Love of a Friend.

Do you think of God as your Friend? What ways do you want to grow in this area? Share in the comments!

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Come As You Are

The guilt was heavy. The voices in my head cried over and over, “Hypocrite! Hypocrite!”

I had been struggling. I felt like I couldn’t win. I felt like, no matter how hard I fought, I always lost. I felt like I couldn’t get a grip on my emotions.

The worst thing?

I didn’t want to kill my sin.

I didn’t want to fight. I didn’t want to win.

It just felt so good.

As I’ve said before, all the practical tips in the world don’t help unless you have a heart to fight. I kept thinking, “I’ll get a handle on my emotions and then I’ll come to God and He can do the rest.” I had concluded that I should come to God as soon as I decided I didn’t want to continue this way.

Do you see the problem with this? After days…weeks…months, I made a discovery when we sang this song in church.

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and power.

I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.

Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.

Let not conscience make you linger,
Not of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.

Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy, Joseph Hart

The whole song stood out to me, but I emphasized the lines that particularly slammed me in the face. And then it made me think of the song, Come As You Are.

Come out of sadness
From wherever you've been
Come broken hearted
Let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You're not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

There's hope for the hopeless
And all those who've strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There's rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't cure

There's joy for the morning
Oh sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal

Come as You Are, David Crowder

It was one of those "Oooooh" moments. One of those moments that, despite how weak and powerless I felt, I just needed to come to Jesus. 

I got to spend about an hour in my Bible and in prayer the next afternoon and I'll tell you that it was sooooooooooo refreshing. I want Jesus to always be first place in my life. Nothing is worth more than Jesus. God created us to be fully satisfied in Him and anything less will let us down.

Ladies, we can’t wait until we think we have it sorted out. We have to come now. We have to come and surrender to Jesus everything—even if we don’t want to.

God is faithful, even when I'm not. He loves me with an everlasting, unchanging love that will not waver despite my wayward heart. One of my friends said something on this topic that has stuck with me. He said that God's love for us isn't based on us, but Him. God loves us because it is His nature to love. God loves us because He is love (which doesn't make sense to us). That gives me so much comfort when I sin and when I run from God. I know that His love for me won't change because it's not based on me.

Don't we serve an incredible God? Some days, I'm just blown away by who He is and what He's done for me--and I don't even fully understand everything! In fact, I can barely scratch the surface of the vast ocean of God's love. 

So remember, come as you are. Whatever you’re struggling with. No matter how weak you feel. No matter if you think you have the solution or not. Don’t wait until you think you have it under control. Don’t wait until you think you’ve got a handle on things. Come now. Come as you are. Broken, sinful, and empty.

If we wait, we will never come. So we must come to God now and ask Him to help us through our struggles.

Come as you are.

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Marshmallow Party Dip

By Liza Grace

I LOVE this stuff! Its totally addictive, fast, easy, and of course, SCRUMPTIOUS!!! You can make it in basically any setting and it goes with EVERY fruit!! Even bananas!! You can dip gram crackers in it, along with grapes, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries (my personal favorite!). I LOVE THIS DIP!! AND YOU WILL TOO!! XD

Ingredients

Servings: 8      

Yield: 1 bowl                                                                                                                 

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

• 1 (15 ounce) jar marshmallow cream

• fresh fruit

Directions

1. Blend cream cheese and Marshmallow Cream with hand mixer until combined.

2. Goes well with assorted fresh fruit and graham cracker sticks and anything, as I established earlier--and that includes your finger.

ENJOY THIS!!!! And share it with friends and family (and leave a comment about how it went for you!)!! God bless y'all!!

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September Resources for Young Ladies

Today we are going to take a brief break from our ongoing series, “10 Tips for Beating a Crush,” for our September Resource for Girls!

The Chase

From the back of the book:

Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky couldn't have dreamed a better love story for themselves had it been scripted by a bestselling novelist like Kelsey's mom, Karen Kingsbury. In fact, if you asked them, Kyle and Kelsey would name God as the author of their story. And they're glad they trusted him to write it for them.

Unfortunately, too many girls hoping for their own happily-ever-after have taken matters into their own hands, chasing after boys when they should be chasing after God. And that inevitably leads to heartache, low self-esteem, and poor choices as girls give in to pressure from media and peers to look and act a certain way to attract guys.

Kyle and Kelsey want girls to know that it's never too late to trust God with their love lives, that wherever they are, there's always hope for the future. Through their own story and the stories of others who long for love, they show girls how to put God first, how to value and protect their purity, how to deal with loneliness and bullying, and how to see themselves as God does--a one-in-a-million girl who deserves no less than God's best.

My thoughts:

I enjoyed reading The Chase a lot. It is a small, quick read but it’s completely packed with potent stories, great advice, and very insightful information about guys!

Though I’m not one to cry in books/movies, one of the stories did move me to tears about how a girl responded with incredible faith and trust to the death of her father.

I love how The Chase emphasized waiting for the right one and not settling for anything less than the best.

I am very appreciative of the honesty and bluntness that characterizes both Kyle and Kelsey’s writing. There isn’t any beating around the bush. They are both to the point and don’t waste time or words. Especially since I do not have time during the semester to devote to tons of reading, I loved how they say what they needed to say and then end the book.

The things I learned about Christian guys were very encouraging. I love hearing about how Christian guys both appreciate and admire modesty. It gives me more resolve in my commitment to both dressing and acting modestly and above reproach.

I also love the chapter on letting the guy lead the relationship. A lot of times, we ladies like to grab the steering wheel and lead the relationship. However, Kyle talks about how much he loved being able to do the pursuing. He loved how Kelsey let him lead and he says that leading their relationship was what changed him from a boy into a man.

Finally, another chapter I loved was “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.” I already knew that guys needed respect, but it definitely made me wonder how much I built up the guys around me. Do I tear them down or do I make them feel important? This especially applies to my brothers and dad. It made me ask myself if I belittled them or encouraged them. Loving the guys around me as brothers means building them up and respecting them.

Sexual content:

There is a chapter about staying pure until marriage. However, everything is discreet and there is no defiling content.

What I didn’t like:

My biggest problem was the translations/paraphrases of the Bible that are used. The translations I use are the ones that stick closest to the actual Greek and Hebrew text. The translations/paraphrases they use were the New Living Translation, The Message, and The Voice—none of which I rely on as good translations.

While I agree whole-heartedly that we should wait for the guy God has for us and not settle for anything less, I did not fully agree with their reason. They keep saying that we deserve better. As a pastor’s daughter, I’m a bit of a stickler about theology. Technically speaking, we don’t deserve anything but death. I believe we should wait for the right one and not settle for less because God wants to give us more than mediocrity. He has molded each of us for a certain young man because He loves to shower us with blessings. God is willing and He desires to give us more, so why should we settle for less?

The last thing is not very big. I had the impression the book was going to be more about chasing God. However, I felt like it was more about not chasing guys. I came away with the question, “So what do I do now?” when I finished The Chase.

Final thoughts:

If you think that you’re chasing guys, then The Chase is for you. The Kupeckys’ love story is inspiring. They contrast each of their past mistakes in relationships with the perfect romance God had written for them.

I do want to let you know that The Chase does not talk much about how to use your single years to your best advantage. It talks about not chasing guys and trusting God to bring the right guy into your life at the right time. For books about not wasting your single years, I would encourage you to check out the posts, July Resources for Young Ladies and August Resources for Young Ladies.

I highly encourage you to read this book and then share in the comments what you learned!

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August Resources for Young Ladies

Even though it’s the first of September, I’m still going to post August’s Resource for Girls!

Today’s resource is a ministry started by Brett and Alex Harris called The Rebelution: A Rebellion Against Low Expectations.

 I’ve mentioned The Rebelution before here on Morning Glory, but I’d like to encourage you to both pick up their book, Do Hard Things, and follow their site. Both are extremely helpful, practical, and motivating.

Do Hard Things was what killed my idea of having “fun teen years.” I credit Do Hard Things as being one of the major foundations built in my early junior high years that encouraged me to start Morning Glory. Without Do Hard Things, I doubt I would have known that I had potential as a teenager.

Do Hard Things, as well as their blog, shows you that you can rise above low expectations and change the world. As teenagers, we can do big things, too.

Do Hard Things was a best-seller…and it was written by eighteen-year-olds. Visit their site and you will find dozens of stories of other teenagers who are making an impact.

Are you done wasting your teen years? Are you ready to do something? Then check out The Rebelution and read Do Hard Things. You will be changed. And you won’t regret it.

Have you read Do Hard Things? Do you follow The Rebelution? If so, how have they changed your life? If not, do you plan on checking them out?

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Peanut Butter & Nutella Cookies

Photo courtesy http://ericasweettooth.com/2011/10/peanut-butter-nutella-swirl-cookies.html

By Liza Grace

Okay y’all, I’m pretty sure I found the most awesomest recipe in uh…the UNIVERSE. I guess that gives away the fact that it has Nutella in it. (Because obviously only the BESTEST things in life have Nutella involved) It is DELICIOUS and it involves (as I just said) Nutella and peanut butter.

Here is my new FAVORITE cookie recipe!!!

Peanut Butter & Nutella Cookies

Ingredients

·          1 cup butter (2 sticks) room temperature

·          ⅔ cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy - I like crunchy)

·          1 cup sugar

·          1 cup brown sugar

·          2 eggs

·          2 tsp vanilla

·          2⅔ cup flour

·          2 tsp baking soda

·          1 tsp salt

·          heaping ⅓ cup Nutella

Instructions

1.  Cream butter, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla together until smooth.

2. Combine flour, baking soda and salt and add to butter mixture.

3. Add Nutella in dollops over the top of the dough.

4. Use a butter knife to swirl the Nutella through the dough.  Do not over mix.

5. Chill the dough in fridge for 15 minutes before spooning onto cookie sheet to firm the Nutella.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  Bake until slightly brown at edges.

7. Let cool a few minutes on cookie sheet before transferring.

Photo courtesy http://ericasweettooth.com/2011/10/peanut-butter-nutella-swirl-cookies.html

ENJOY!!!!!!! And leave a comment letting me know how this turned out for you!!

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