Take me to the Cross -Olivia Bennett

You stand in the midst of a sweaty crowd. They shake their fists towards heaven, as if they are angry at the God who sent his son to them. But who are they jeering at? Who is worthy of so much hate. As you push your way through the mob of men, women, even children their dirty faces and darkened hearts let you know that the person their screaming, cursing and mocking is loathed by them. You come to the front and there the scene that has unfolded in front of you is shocking. A man is nailed to a tree. Blood runs down his face from a crown of thorns that sits on his blameless head. Your eyes meet... You know this man and he knows you. Eyes widen and arms shake as you realize the Son of God hangs before you.

In his eyes there is a perfect hope enough to make a man whole. With the one look you, it’s as if he said to you, that he would do it all again. His words pierce your heart.

“It is finished.” He says as he breathes his last.

You start to tremble. No! It’s not you! The world is shaking. Lighting and thunder, clouds and wind; they surround you from every direction and it sends you into a frenzy. You shake uncontrollably and fall to your knees before the man who gave it all for you. Weeping, cursing and amazement enters your ears. In your heart, you know the earth will ever be the same.

Your surroundings change. Instead of the cross in front of you, there is a tomb, meant to conceal the savior’s body. Two men guard it. They don’t seem to notice you as your hand touches the stone. You weep for him. But as you do, two men, in the purest white appear in front of you. They push the heavy, impossible to move stone from the entrance and a light emerges from the depths of death, a man, with gracious compassion in his eyes. His gaze falls on you and you seem to melt in the warmth of his smile. He puts his hand on your shoulder.

“All this, I did for you,” He says.

“Why? Why would you endure that for me?”

His hand wipes the tear from your cheek, “Because I love you. And I love this world, these people. I desire eternity with them.”

You look around and for the first time, see beauty in the ashes of the Earth. You start to see the master plan unfold.

“What do you want me to do?”

He smiles and takes your hand, “Go spread the word. I’ve made a way where there is no way.”

Now, it’s up to you and me.

A Day in High School -Bridgette Heiner

On June 12, 2015, I went to take my ACTs for the second time. But this time I was not in my school, in uniforms, or surrounded with my friends. I was in a different school.

A public school.

Now, my high school is not a normal high school. My high school is a charter school. It has uniforms and a more difficult education preparing us for college.

My senior class has 8 girls and 6 boys. So my class is small. But I am so close to all of the girls in my class. Of course it is not perfect but I was pleasantly surprised that in this tiny school, all the girls in my class are Christians.

Most of the girls in my class also love to learn. Which was awesome for me because I have a much more higher motivation to learn with all my friends getting excited about functions and integrals or what Aristotle says about friendship; which I probably would not have had motivation to learn about on my own.

Then there were the uniforms. The uniforms at my high school were more strict than the ones I had in middle school or in elementary school. All I could were was a white polo shirt with our school logo on it and kaki pants/shorts or a paid skirt. And for a girl in high school, I had my moments of anger because I felt restricted and not allowed to express myself.

On June 15, for a short time at least, I got to experience what it would be like to be in a "normal" high school classroom: lots of people, huge building and normal clothes.

At about 8, I arrive.

There is a huge crowd of people lining up outside to take the ACTs. As I walk from my car to the building, the line starts to go in. I get in line and look at the people in front of me. One of the first things I notice was the difference in all the peoples' clothes.

There are girls in leggings and plaid shirts, short shorts with T-shirts and work-out outfits. Their are pretty outfits, and then some that I don't prefer. Friends dressed alike and the strangers next to them have a different style.

I am dressed in one of my nicer shirts and cute shoes and jeans. My hair is up in a bun and I did my makeup as well.

As I walk into the building, I am kind of lost. I don't know which classroom to go to and there are so many people. I just want to blend in and not stick out as a strange person who doesn't even know what she is doing.

Finally, I walk into the classroom I am going to test in and I give the teacher my registration paper feeling like everyone in the classroom is looking at me. I am just hoping they were seeing how friendly I am instead of the fact that I was one of the last ones in the classroom and I am alone. I go to sit down in my desk, feeling a bit as if I was going to somehow mess up just sitting in my desk because I had not ever sat in that type of desk. As I look around, I notice the different clothes again and I start placing the people in different friend groups in my head. Some looked like they were more athletic so I placed them in the "jock" section. Some looked like they were put together and studious so I put them into the more "studious" section. And some looked like they just didn't quite fit in so I thought that others may think of them as the "weirdos" who looked like they didn't care about school or others or anything really.

Looking back at it, I honestly don't like that my mind put everyone in boxes because of the way they looked but it is honesty hard not to when this is your first day in a high school surrounded by kids in normal clothes.

It felt so weird to be in that environment. I felt so different. So self-conscience. So insecure. Wanting to feel ok and accepted but feeling alone and separated from everyone else.

I sat there and looked around and it seemed like because of the clothes people had on, some people would be considered "cooler", "more put together" or " more beautiful" than others.

A few hours go by and it is time for break. I go to the restroom and as I am washing my hands, I notice the girls around me and I see how we are all dressed so differently. I see how some of the girls are just so pretty and even though I was dressed nicely, I still avoided looking too long in the mirror because the next thing I look at, after my clothes was my face. And even then I feel as if I was not pretty because of my skin.

This was so weird for me. For the most part, I am pretty comfortable with who I am and the body God gave me. But in this school, I felt different. I felt like there was some sort of competition to be the most "something" in order to stand out or to be noticed in a good way. I mean, I avoided the mirror because I didn't feel pretty enough.

After I finish my testing, I am ready to leave. I walk to my car fast because at this point I just want to be around my own friends and family. People that accept me no matter what I wear.

As I am in my car trying to drive out of the parking lot, I notice the car behind me in my rearview mirror. It is a boy driving his girlfriend in his car. Then I think about how I didn't have a boyfriend. I thought "Wow. I bet others feel self conscience like I do now because they are not in relationships." Thinking my insecurity about not having a boyfriend was immature and petty of me, I asked myself "Well, why is that such a desirable thing?" I realized it is because we all want to feel loved and noticed. And the people in the relationship seem loved and noticed by their boyfriend or girlfriend so I understand why that is so desirable.

I also thought about the fact that the girl driving next to me had a car like me. I looked at her and thought "I bet she is thought of as cooler or luckier because she has a car." I didn't feel jealous (I have a car), I just could understand why others would feel insecure without a car.

I finally got home and thought about what I had experienced.

I can see how both girls and guys can feel so insecure when going to a public high school. This is more than just "high school".

This is spiritual battleground.

The desires to be noticed and be loved are not in any way bad. God made each of us to have these desires. But the way we all fill these desires can either hurt or help us.

If we search for acceptance from the people around us through this competition of who is the something-est or the most something, we will be left feeling not good enough, empty, and alone. Searching for acceptance through status or materials distracts us from searching for God's everlasting love. The Devil wants us to feel unimportant to others. He wants us to try and earn love through material things because he knows that it will leave us always feeling not good enough and wanting more.

God loves all of us just the way we are. He loves us for us. Not for the things or the status we have. He does not compare us to others. He doesn't love us based on how "loveable" we think we are to others. He loves who we are. We are His sons and daughters and he finds each of us precious and worthy of love. No matter whether we have the coolest car and the best clothes or if we have no car and have to wear uniforms.

Search for love from God. He is the only one who can help you feel truly loved and complete.

He Is Worth It All: Song Of The Day

He is worth it all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg7h6GiNTLg&noredirect=1

It Falls To Us...

Lionesses,

I address you as you are. Precious and perfect in every way. You're King has made you as such and it is not something to be ashamed or scared of.

The power that we hold, as daughters of the one and only God, has made us targets in a worldwide attack from our King's sworn enemy, Satan. His hatred for us can mean only one thing and that is... we are threats. How do I know this? It's pretty simple actually: Satan only lashes out against threats.

But that is nothing to be afraid of because greater is He that is in us then he that is in the world. And honestly, I'd rather be an enemy of Satan than an enemy of God. Take heart and be brave for the King has already claimed the victory over the enemy and it is just a matter of time before He comes back for His bride.

But as we wait, we must not be idle. It has fallen upon us to give the Lion's roar. To sound an alarm and raise our flags. It has fallen upon us to stand under one banner and unite under the one and only God.

Rise up daughters of the King and become who you were made to be. Rise up and roar.