Usually, when asked why I won’t do something, my reply is, “I have a reputation to keep!” This doesn’t please most people who hear this; instead, their response to that is, “You shouldn’t care what other people think!” To a certain extent, I can understand that thinking. For instance, I should not care what someone would think if I were to stand up for what is right among a crowd of wrong-doers. However, when it comes to reputation, I believe it does matter what people think. I will explain why.

We are to be an example to those around us (I Tim. 4:12). If we are off doing and saying things that Jesus would not do and say, then we are not being a very good example! Of course, none of us is perfect–and we will never be–but we are to try our best to have a mind like Christ (Philippians 2:5). People know what kind of person we are by our actions (Matthew 7:15-20). Even if we say we are a Christian, if we do not try our best to be one, they will not be apt to look to us as an example!

Others also take notice of who we hang out with. Often, teens don’t want to believe that they will begin to act like the people they hang around. The Bible tells us it will happen, though. “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (I Corinthians 15:33). If the people we are “friends” with will not accept our ways as a Christian, we have no need to be affiliated with them. After we have tried our best to teach them, if they do not want to better themselves, then we must sever those ties, or else they will bring us down. Sometimes, there are people who seem to be our friends, who in the end, spread our defects, make us look bad, and hurt the reputation we are attempting to build for Christ. We have got to watch out who we are running around with, or others will begin to see that we are beginning to imitate their ways…which, if unrighteous, will be greatly damaging to our building reputation!

The Bible tells us what we are to be, simply! By becoming what God has commanded, we don’t have to wonder “who we are,” or “how we should live.” We will know how to be the right example! Here are some things God wants us to be:

Moral, having integrity (Titus 2:7)
Reverent, respectful (Titus 2:7)
Incorruptible, not willing to give way to the devil’s ways (Titus 2:7)
A sound speaker, using good language and words, and being uplifting with our words; they are powerful (Titus 2:8; Ephesians 4:29; Psalm 34:13-14; Col. 3:8-9; James 3:5)
Humble, meek, seeing everyone as above yourself, not being conceited or proud (Philippians 2:3-4; Matthew 18:4; James 4:10; Colossians 3:12)
Blameless and harmless in a world of perversion; (Philippians 2:14-15)
Joyful (Philippians 4:4; Psalm 35:9; 2 Cor. 12:9-10)
Caring, hospitable, kind & tenderhearted (Eph. 4:32; 1 Peter 4:9; Phil. 2:4)
Forgiving and loving (Eph. 4:32; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Col. 3:13-14; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:7-11)

I know that it may seem like, at times, the Bible is just a “rule book” of “don’t do this” and “you can’t do that.” But when we honestly grasp all God and Jesus have done for us, why would we not want to mold ourselves to fit His standards? I mean, we don’t need money or power to become the things He commands us to be. It’s all inside us, and He’s willing to help us become all that we can be for Him!

I’d like to end this entry on this note: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). We can be the best example to those around us, as long as we seek God’s guidance in building a righteous reputation. Even when we mess up, keep trying. He knows if we truly desire to live for Him; He knows our hearts!

– Hannah Smith

Last week, I tried to plant seeds of hope in the hearts of women who don’t like where they’re headed. My goal today is to help those seeds to grow.

Here are a few more things I’ve learned along the way:

1) We’re only as busy as we allow ourselves to be.  It can be very tempting to make excuses like, “Well, I have to do that,” or “This person needs me to do this for them,” or “I have to finish this by tonight.” The excuses will go on as long as we allow them, but it boils down to the fact that if we are so busy we don’t have any time for anything other than the urgent, than we’re too busy and it’s our own fault! Really look at your schedule, be honest with yourself, and see what you can cut (sports, dates every weekend, after-school events or clubs, working full time outside the home, etc.).

2) Excuses are unnecessary.  People can make any excuse seem too small, but nobody can really argue with a plain and clear, “No.”  Try to say something like, “Thank you for thinking of me. I think what you’re doing is a worthy cause, but I will not be able to help with it.” Keep it short, sweet, and clear. Saying “yes” or “maybe” when you mean “no” will confuse the person who asks for help. If you ask something of someone else, try to remember that they are also very busy, and don’t allow it to upset you or harm your relationship.

3) Keep God first, family second, and everything else after that. We need to keep God in His proper place.  There is a problem if we regularly skip our morning devotionals.  We may try to fit Bible study into little minutes during the day, but too often those little minutes became completely filled with other things. When we’re too busy to spend ten minutes a day in God’s Word, then we’re too busy!  When we are truly keeping God first in our lives, our families will easily come in second, because focusing on God allows us to push our worldly cares and desires away.

4) Re-prioritizing is up to us. Nobody is going to keep our lives in order but us, and even then, only with God’s help. If we want our lives to run smoothly, we have to be the ones to make it happen. Nobody else can do it for us; it has to be our own decision, and we have to be the ones to follow through on that choice.

5) Take advice from those who love you, and ignore those who don’t.  It’s important that we seek advice from people older and wiser than us who also love us. These people truly want what’s best for us, and can often see the bigger picture when we can only see what’s right in front of us. The people who truly care about us will let us know their opinions, but will also encourage us to make our own decisions. On the other hand, there are people who will give advice or say things because they want things to happen for their own gain. These people will get angry when we don’t take their advice. We have to develop a thick skin about it, do what’s right for our situation, and not worry about what the other people are saying.

6) Ask for wisdom. If we are diligently seeking God’s will, and asking Him to grant us wisdom, He will give it to us. When you don’t know what to do, study His word (which we should be doing anyway) and pray for wisdom. With God’s blessing, refuse to be a victim of your circumstances, and take charge of our own life! Ask Him to show you the way, then don’t be afraid to follow where He leads.

Wrapping it up

Every family is different; therefore, every family has different needs. If your Tuesdays tend to be terrible, then I hope that you will fully re-evaluate your life, starting today, and change what needs to be changed in order to meet the growing needs of your family and yourself, not just for today, but for always.

Davonne Parks

I apologize for the delay in posting articles. I usually try to make the posts in advance so if life gets in the way, they will still appear at the proper time. Life has been happening, in a good way, more than usual lately, so even advance planning has been put to the side.

Curious as to what’s been happening? I am ten weeks pregnant with my second child! Lisa (the other editor) is also pregnant with her third boy, who is due in May! Many of you may not realize that Lisa and I are cousins, but we are, so our grandma is especially excited about adding two new great-grand- babies to the family. We’re also excited because as well as our oldest two being very close in age (only two months apart), these two will also be close in age. Visits are sure to be even more fun and busier than ever before!

And, we have a new spiritual life as well! Michelle Jane, who has attended my church for several months, and has done some volunteer work for the magazine was baptized into Christ today! I’m so excited to have a new sister in Christ!

I appreciate all of you for being so understanding when other things delay magazine work for a few days. We do have several great January articles ready to go, including a fun giveaway, just waiting to be posted, so stay tuned because all of you are in for a real treat for the rest of the month!

Davonne Parks

This photo was taken near Grotto Falls, Gatlinburg, TN, on a family vacation. This was the beautiful part, obviously. But what you can’t see in this shot is the sign that was just below my feet that read, “DANGER: Hazardous Cliff.” Along the way there were also numerous signs that were equally, if not more, disconcerting: “DANGER: Falling Deaths Have Occurred…” I can’t say I felt exactly safe, but after affirming my surroundings and staying alert, I was more at ease.

Now that I can look back on that hike, I’ve noticed an analogy: In life, there are so many things that are hazardous to our Christian lives, but so often, we take no time to recognize those things, and they penetrate into our hearts. This causes us to be desensitized to how God has commanded us to live, and we aren’t cautious of what we allow into our hearts and minds. But, just like on the path to Grotto Falls, if we pay attention to our surroundings and avoid the hazards, we can see the true beauty and stay on the righteous track! “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

We must be constantly monitoring where we are spiritually, because if we are not careful, the devil will be able to trick us, and we will be in great danger. God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him, and He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able (1 Corinthians 10:13). Let’s keep our eyes on Him so that we will be able to disregard the hazardous things in life, and stay focused on the truly beautiful things!

Hannah Smith