Weekly Devotions: Especially for Girls

Dear girls,

I have some information that might interest you. Last night, as we sometimes do, our family sat around the dining-room table and looked through the summer’s social media photos.

We have teenage sons, and so naturally there are quite a few pictures of you lovely ladies to wade through. Wow – you sure took a bunch of selfies in your skimpy pj’s this summer!  Your bedrooms are so cute! Our eight-year-old daughter brought this to our attention, because with three older brothers who have rooms that smell like stinky cheese, she notices girly details like that.

I think the boys notice other things. For one, it appears that you are not wearing a bra.

I get it – you’re in your room, so you’re heading to bed, right? But then I can’t help but notice the red carpet pose, the extra-arched back, and the sultry pout.  What’s up? None of these positions is one I naturally assume before sleep, this I know.

So, here’s the bit that I think is important for you to realize.  If you are friends with a Hall boy on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter, then you are friends with the whole Hall family.

Please know that we genuinely like staying connected with you this way!  We enjoy seeing things through your unique and colorful lens – you are insightful, and often very, very funny.

Which is what makes your latest self-portrait so extremely unfortunate.

That post doesn’t reflect who you are at all! We think you are lovely and interesting, and usually very smart. But, we had to cringe and wonder what you were trying to do? Who are you trying to reach? What are you trying to say?

And now – big bummer – we have to block your posts. Because, the reason we have these (sometimes awkward) family conversations around the table is that we care about our sons, just as we know your parents care about you.

I know your family would not be thrilled at the thought of my teenage boys seeing you only in your towel. Did you know that once a male sees you in a state of undress, he can’t quickly un-see it?  You don’t want our boys to only think of you in this sexual way, do you?

Neither do we. We’re all more than that.

And so, in our house, there are no second chances with pics like that, ladies. We have a zero tolerance policy.  I know, so lame. But, if you want to stay friendly with our sons online, you’ll have to keep your clothes on, and your posts decent.  If you post a sexy selfie (we all know the kind), or an inappropriate YouTube video – even once – it’s curtains.

I know that sounds so old-school, but we are hoping to raise men with a strong moral compass, and men of integrity don’t linger over pictures of scantily clad high-school girls.

Every day I pray for the women my boys will love.  I hope they will be drawn to real beauties, the kind of women who will leave them better people in the end. I also pray that my sons will be worthy of this kind of woman, that they will be patient – and act honorably – while they wait for her.

Girls, it’s not too late! If you think you’ve made an on-line mistake (we all do – don’t fret – I’ve made some doozies, even today!), RUN to your accounts and take down the closed-door bedroom selfies that makes it too easy for friends to see you in only one dimension.

Will you trust me? There are boys out there waiting and hoping for women of character. Some young men are fighting the daily uphill battle to keep their minds pure, and their thoughts praiseworthy – just like you.

You are growing into a real beauty, inside and out.

Act like her, speak like her, post like her.

Mrs. Hall

http://givenbreath.com/2013/09/03/fyi-if-youre-a-teenage-girl/

*Girls, this is especially for you! Read this and think about it. Have you ever done the same thing? Taken semi-inappropriate photos/selfies? 

Bible Verses:
Matthew 5: 27-28

Think about this. Read&Reflect 

Mention @godinmystory #readnreflect if you read this post!

Weekly Devotion: Sinful Nature

Sin. It's something that everyone does. It's inevitable. We are already full of sin right when we come out from our mother's womb. Humans are never righteous; not one of us are righteous or holy. There's nothing we can do to save ourselves. But our Heavenly Father saw our desperation and misery, so He sent His precious one and only Son to take our place on the cross. We all know the story. But no, it's not merely a story. It's a life-changing act of true love from the God of all Gods, Creator of heaven and earth, King of all kings. We are not even worthy to untie His sandals, but He humbled Himself to become one of us in flesh and humanity so that He could understand us, relate to us. He did all that He could to reach out to us. But what did we ever do to reach out to Him? Or even get to know Him?Jesus knows all our troubles. He knows all the temptations we face daily. He was like one of us. But he overcame all of it. In circumstances just like ours, He managed to overcome all the troubles we face and become a perfectly righteous person. We can never be like Him, but that shouldn't stop us from trying. He did His part; have we done ours?


Bible verses to read: 
James 4:171 
Corinthians 10:13
Romans 6:23
Galatians 5:16


I will be posting new devotions every week for you to read and reflect, read the text and the verses - then pray to God! Let God help you deal with your sins, we are all weak, only by God's grace and strength that we may accomplish great things! Jesus loves you, and blesses you all!


*If you want me to post a devotion about a certain topic, tweet to @godinmystory, with a hashtag #readnreflect