Romans 10:9 (NIV)
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

PCC Day Camp 2008 starts tomorrow!! Will you be there?

Leave me a comment with something you learned!

Are you a young woman between the ages of 12 and 17? Do you have a desire to impact your generation and future generations for Christ through speaking, writing, or simply by setting an example for those whom God has placed within your sphere of influence? If this speaks to your heart, then the Next Generation track of our annual She Speaks Conference was designed especially for you!

Proverbs 31 Ministries is offering a number of full scholarships to the conference for young women who submit winning devotions similar to those you have seen on this blog site. Contest ends Friday, May 2, 2008.

For more information about this contest, please contact Kristen@proverbs31.org.

Conference Information:

She Speaks: Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Annual Speakers’ and Writers’ Conference

She Influences…The Next Generation Track
(Living with Purpose: A Radical Revolution)
June 20-22, 2008
Concord, North Carolina
$275

Gain the confidence you need to make a difference within your own sphere of influence!

The Next Generation Track will equip you with skills that will enable you to answer God’s call on your life to impact others through speaking, writing, or simply setting an example for His kingdom. For more information or to register for this life-changing conference, visit us at www.shespeaksconference.com or call 877-P31-HOME.

Guest Speakers Include:
T. Suzanne Eller * Rebecca Ingram Powell * Jordan Helou Eichler

Guest Worship Leaders Include:
Lindsey Kane * Danya Powell

DON’T MISS IT!

Will I be reading your devotion next?…

I love you. That is who I am and I never change. I didn’t decide to love you at some point in your life. I didn’t come to love you after you were born, or even the minute you were conceived. I loved you always. Since the beginning of everything. I don’t love you despite your sin, I loved you before sin existed, and I can’t change that. I loved you before there was evil. I am love.

It brought me a whole new perspective on unconditional love and just how much God loves me. I am truly blessed to have a friend who would care so much that she would share something so deeply personal with me. I have thought about that so many times over the past several months and am very greatful for the reminder that God loves me…no matter what.

You’re all I want
You’re all I need
You’re everything
Everything
You’re all I want
You’re all I need
You’re everything
Everything

Can you really sing that? Is God really EVERYTHING to you? What would it take for you to be able to sing that song and truly mean the words? …think about it

One of my best friends got her first “real” job. (I call it that because she is graduating from college this semester and got a full-time job in her field of study.) I was so cool to be praying for her and with her about her interview and then hearing her excitement when she called to tell me she got the job. It was really great to just spend some time thanking God for the way he answered our prayers!

One of my favorite passages from the Bible is the “Love” chapter from 1 Corinthians 13. I remember being challenged to memorize it for an English class in my public high school in the 1980’s. Even secular scholars have no doubt that this piece of literature is a beautiful work, flowing in its rhythm and captivating in its cadence. It is actually relatively easy to memorize. However, living out the words is a whole different story!

Let’s pick up the passage in verses 4-8….

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

How would you describe your love for others? Are you a patient soul or do you drum your fingers and tap your toes while you stew and sigh not-so-patiently? Is it hard to bring you to a point of anger or does flying off the handle come much too naturally? Do you keep score with those who have wronged you, ready to dredge up the past and become “historical” to make your point? Do you boast? Got a case of the green envies? Ever been rude to someone? How will we ever learn to love the way this passage urges us to?

Here’s an idea to help to flesh this out in real life. Make a copy of the love chapter on your computer. However, wherever the word love is used (or its pronoun ‘it’ ) leave a blank. Then try over the next week or so to be able to write your name in the blank when you have a chance to exhibit this quality in real life. Were you patient at the doctor’s office today and, instead of grumbling while sitting in the waiting room, you quietly thanked God for the extra time and then used it to pray for others? Write your name on the “________ is patient” line. Did you and another family member get into a heated discussion and you were tempted to bring up a wrong from the past but, with great restraint, held your tongue? Bravo! Write your name on the “________ keeps no record of wrongs” line. Were you kind to the grumpy cashier instead of being rude right back? Get out that pen and write away!

Be assured that if you take this challenge, God will give you lots of opportunities to practice displaying these wonderful characteristics of love. And you can count on others noticing the change in you as you seek to love out loud.

Do you use this day to reflect on the past year? The blessings God has given you? The people he has brought into your life?

Do you say “thank you”? Why not spend some time today making a list of the people you are thankful God has brought into your life (bet it’s HUGE! :)). Let them know!

It is so easy! And what a simple way to say “Thank you ” to those serving our country. Could you imagine if everyone sent one?!?!

I’m a U.S. Marine Captain stationed in Afghanistan; my tour a duty ends here in October. I want to thank you, your friends and family for their support. I picked up one of your post cards the other day. This was the first post card/ letter I’ve received since arriving here over two months ago. The card was signed Stacy, Ciara, Donna, Nick, Tom, David, Vulle, Vosh, Pat and Trish. I hope you and your family have a wonderful summer. Thanks for thinking of us (U.S. service members).

A Marine captain

Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest difference.