I have been very blessed throughout my life. I have a mother who loves me and siblings who I actually enjoy being around. I was born in a country where I have freedom to attend church and share my beliefs. I have no fear of being beaten because I’m a woman, and I have the opportunity to receive a good education. There is so much in my life that I don’t deserve and I try to spend every day being continually thankful for it.
I have also had my fair share of tragedy and suffering in my lifetime. My family has been hurt by someone we should have been able to trust, and some bad decisions have been made as the result. This brings me to the point of this article. Even though we are Christians, we are not guaranteed a perfect, easy life, but what we are guaranteed is the constant presence and love of God (Matt. 5:45).
When tragedy struck my family, my grandparents gave me a small foot-shaped keychain with words that I could never forget. It is a famous poem that many people have heard and it is written in many different versions, but the one I have always known goes something like this, “Lord, you said once I decided to follow you we would walk side by side through life. But when I needed you most I only saw one set of footprints in the sand.’ The Lord replied, ‘I love you and I would never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints in the sand, it was then that I carried you.’” (Mary Stevenson, 1984)
These few sentences have stayed with me since the young age of six and have often reminded me where to turn. God is there whenever we need Him and gives us exactly what we need when it’s needed––just like He did when He put it on my grandparents’ hearts to buy me that keychain (Phil. 4:6-7). Because God knew that I would need it in my life and that it would help me press on through the hard stuff.
There have been times when I foolishly chose to pull away from God rather than strive to be closer and I always ended up regretting it (Romans 12:12). So as a Christian I would have to say that when things are not going the way you have planned in your mind just remember God will take care of you and something good can come from it if you choose to let it (James 1:2-4).
Don’t be afraid to be confused or angry about the sad things that happen in your life, but do always remember that God doesn’t want you to be hurt or upset and He will help you get through it. God never leaves us, and when we work diligently at our relationship with Him we can become exactly what He designed us to be!
Shelby Garrett
Q. “I have a friend that constantly talks about people behind their backs. However, when that friend comes around, she is ‘best friends’ with them. I struggle to watch this situation go on and on. It doesn’t seem right how one person can be so nice toward someone else and then be so mean when they turn their backs. It’s frustrating and annoying. How do I deal with people like this?”
If you can find the courage, you should try talking to your friend about the problem. It’s important to be polite and kind while doing so. It’s hard to have a reasonable conversation with someone if she’s angry or hurt. If she’s a fellow Christian, you could remind her that hypocrisy is condemned in the Bible 
Do you have a criterion when looking for a guy to date? Does he have to be taller than you? Does he have to have a Master’s degree? Does he have to be physically fit? You may have said yes to all of these things, or perhaps you don’t require any of them. Whether you do or not, most of us have a list of things we want in a partner and things we do not want. Sometimes that list consists of things that don’t matter, like hair color, but most of that list consists of things that have some sort of rationale. For example, girls often want a guy that is bigger than them so that they look and feel smaller. A girl might want a guy with a Master’s degree because to her that translates as security; or she might want a guy who is physically fit because it insinuates that the guy is energetic and enthusiastic, which translates as success.
The bottom line is that something has to change, and that can be scary, because change is one the hardest things a person can go through, especially when it involves changing self perception. In your case, you may have to change eating habits, exercise, or both, which means that you may have to change when and where you spend your time. However, the more essential and difficult change deals with your self-esteem, which is the culmination of the way you see yourself and how you think others see you. A real change of character requires a watershed moment. This is basically the moment when you decide in your heart that you are going to go through a transformation. The watershed moment leads to a crucible period, which is basically a much longer period of time that really tests who you are. For example, when people make their New Year’s resolutions they may have had a watershed moment. The next step, the crucible period, is spending the next six months or a year fulfilling that promise. Unfortunately, many people fail to stick to the commitment; in other words, they cannot endure the crucible. But this is where you are going to be different. You are going to love who you are and you are going to make any changes that are appropriate and reasonable. I did not say strive to become the prettiest girl is school, or the thinnest, but a person you are happy to be.
The other day I caught a story on TV about a man who was confined to a bed; he could not move because he was so big. That is obviously unhealthy. However, there is a point when big does not mean unhealthy, or lazy, and of course, not unattractive. You have to decide if guys are not looking your way because you are big, or if they are not looking at you because you are self conscious about being big. One of the most unattractive things to a guy is insecurity; you have to figure out a way to love yourself if you have not already. People like people who like themselves. Understand that even thin girls can be viewed as unattractive if they are insecure. As funny as it might sound, try spending some time with yourself. Figure out who you are and realize all of your great qualities. Believe that you are valuable, and guys will start to believe it too.
When we think of November, Thanksgiving is what usually comes to mind. It’s a time for families to be together over a wonderful meal while being thankful for all of it. During this time of year, we’re reminded to be thankful, but do we really need a holiday to remind us? As Christians we should be most thankful for Christ dying on the cross for us, but also for simple things in life that we all take for granted. So, for this month’s top 10 I am making a list of the simple things in life that I take for granted, as do many of us. It is a list that will allow us all to think of the simple things in life and remember how blessed we are. Let’s continue to be thankful for all our blessings throughout the entire year.
6)Transportation. As a somewhat new driver, I love driving and being able to be on the go all the time. Imagine having to walk everywhere. A ten-minute drive to school could take you an hour to walk. Going on a vacation and being able to fly to the other side of the U.S. in just hours is amazing, and I know it is one of the things we forget about.
It’s “Turkey Time” again! Thanksgiving is here, and we all know what that means
Plan your meal in advance. Look over menu ideas and plan your menu early, so you have ample time to shop for ingredients. When looking over recipes, read the entire recipe before starting it, so you can make sure you have the ingredients and it’s a recipe you’re comfortable making. Take special note of prep time and total time so you know how much time to allow for cooking.
This month is a time when people are typically more expressive in their thankfulness for others. While we should always be expressing a heart of thanksgiving, it’s wonderful to live in a country that, while it often encourages discontent and greed, also dedicates a day to being thankful for what we have.
I’m thankful that my family loves being together, whether it’s doing a fun family activity, cleaning the house to loud music, or going on road trips. We enjoy being in each other’s presence, and we don’t need an occasion! I’m also thankful that my family respects one another’s need for time alone. If one of us desires a break from everyone else, the other family members understand and happily work together to give the person in need time to themselves. Since we’re all able to refresh ourselves separately, we are happier and able to fully appreciate our time spent together, playing and working with each other, and growing for God.
Mam-ma, as we grandchildren called her, would take turns with her sister inviting the preacher and his family over on Sunday afternoons to eat dinner with her, Pap-pa, and their four children. She was actually very poor but she still found ways to be hospitable to others.
Pride kept me from telling anyone that we didn’t have much food in the house. Somehow, a local church found out and donated four brown grocery bags full of food for our Thanksgiving dinner! As the two people delivered the groceries and set the bags down inside my front door, I cried and said a silent prayer thanking God for such kind and generous people.
“If only I had that car…”
Physical Self: We often take our looks for granted, and it’s not uncommon for us to complain about our imperfections. Imagine not being able to see those imperfections, or anything else. 
thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe…” The author of Hebrews reminds the reader of Christ’s superiority and of this New Covenant by which we are saved. If nothing else worth being thankful for ever happens again in our lives, this should be enough! James tells us to be thankful even in temptation, because when we have obediently endured, we will receive the crown of life (James 1:12). Peter, John, and Jude continue to teach and encourage, even amid their own persecution and trials.
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