5 Steps to A Powerful Quiet Time

1. Find Your Spot

I had the same spot almost every day for my devotions. It was the nook in my bedroom window. Sometimes, during the Summer, I would climb out the window and sit in the sun on our rooftop. But inside or out, I knew that was my "holy" place. Of course, nothing about it was actually "holy" or "super spiritual," but for me it was sacred. It was the place I made an intentional date with God. 

Is there a little closet in your house? Or a meadow in your backyard? 

Think about it, where can you designate as your sacred place with God? 

Now set it up with your Bible, some candy, your music and journal. 

2. Set An Alarm

Time flies, weekend days get lazy, and after school is kind of a blur. Try setting an alarm to remind you to spend intentional time with God. Cell phones weren't as nifty or accessible back in my day, but today I have an alarm that goes off, reminding me it's 10AM and I need to take a time out to read, pray, journal, or listen to worship music.

Any alarm will do really. Go ahead, pick a time and try it tomorrow. If that time didn't work out, pick another until you find one you're comfortable and able to keep. 

3. Bring Headphones

Music does something to the human soul. I think God adores music. Sometimes listening to a worship CD or a playlist of songs that talk about God can help focus your mind and heart on Him. My favorite quiet times were when I could belt out worship to God in the privacy of my own room. 

Need music ideas? Take a peek at ours! (Click on the names to see music)

>>Britt Nicole, >>Jamie Grace, >>Antioch Worship, >>Kari Jobe, >>Hillsong United, >>Group 1 Crew, >>Kristian Stanfill, >>Mandisa

4. Get a Pretty Journal

True Girl Fact: If things are cute, we will use them. Sad, but true. Journals are a peek into what's really going on in your heart. Don't think, just write. Write down prayers, questions, complaints, sorrows, funny stories, memorable moments and tell them to God. 

If you need a little inspirational cutsy to get your quiet times motivated, then get yourself a cute journal! Marshall's usually has some super cute ones with easy to write on pages! 

5. Have a Conversation with God

Ultimately, spending undistracted time with God is the main goal. Sometimes life can give us easy-to-use excuses to not spend time with Him. But it's so important, as we grow in our faith and knowledge of who God is, that we actually get to know HIM! Don't make it complicated or formal. Just talk to Him like you would anyone else. Your prayers will change and take different shapes throughout your lifetime. 

Need a conversation starter? Tell God what you're thankful for today. Then tell Him what you want to know about Him. Ask Him to show you something about Him this week. 

However you do it, whenever you do it, making time for undistracted focus on God is important in a Christian girl's life. There is great value in meeting with the Creator of the world everyday.

What Does it Mean to Be Brave?

What does it mean to be "BRAVE"?

BRAVE:

ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage. 

• people who are ready to face and endure
• endure of face without showing fear (ex: we had to brave the heat) 
• Synonyms 
• courageous 
• valiant
• bold
• defy
• dare
• challenge
• face

For me, the keys words I think of when it comes to being brave is being fierce, strong, bold, and courageous. As I repeat these synonyms in my head, I realize that these are the characteristics that we, as daughters of God, have. 

Now, let's be honest. We're girls; it's normal for us to not always have these traits. Actually, this past month, I haven't been challenged or bold at all and that's perfectly okay. 

However, there is going to be a time in your life where God will call you to be brave. 
He will call you to be warriors and fight. 

There's going to be a time where you will need your sisters in order to overcome something. 

That, my friends, requires bravery, hence the "ready to face and endure" definition. 

Last year, on the weekend of 9/11's ten year anniversary, I was supposed to drive from Temecula to a hospital in Orange Country. Approaching the San Onofre nuclear power plant, we noticed some heavy traffic and assumed it was due to the security there. 

We drove past it, got through the traffic, and my brother tried calling the hospital to let them know I wouldn't make it for a special appointment on time.  The anxious part?  When he called, there was no sound; no ring, nothing. No one picked up, even though it's a hospital. 

Heavy traffic + nuclear power plant + hospitals not picking up + highway patrol speeding past us = something had to be fishy. 

We reached the city, finally off the freeway, and the street lights weren't working (of course they weren't). The cars were in a total gridlock, car accidents happening, and it took over 20 minutes to just drive a block. We weren't close to the hospital. On top of that, our cell phones weren't working. 

Now the equation is: No communication + no transportation + weekend of 9/11 anniversary = conclusion of a possible attack. 

Finally got to the hospital-- we went into one of the buildings to see that the lights were out, security was blocking the doors, and it was a mess. 

It was a point where all I could do was sit in my car, assume the worst, and be in fear. There was a sense of vulnerability. My brother even called us, "sitting ducks" because that's exactly what we were. I kept wondering when God was going to kick in this "super woman" attitude so I wouldn't be so afraid of the country getting attacked or us getting into a car accident. The "super woman" attitude never came. However, I prayed and prayed for bravery. I wanted to be bold and strong and fearless in a situation like this. If I wasn't, there would be a weakness in me that I know God didn't want to hold me back. 

Ladies, be brave and don't let yourselves be anything less. 

Don't be afraid, because God will always be there (Isaiah 41:10) in every situation, every moment, every memory. 

If you have an army of sisters by your side, then what's to stop you from being brave? (: 

Madi is a Becoming High School Freshman Intern.  is a worship leader, leading singer for a local band, and a blog writer. Her goal in life is to dream big, stay strengthened and so whatever God calls her to do.

Beauty Is Light Shining Brightly

I couldn't sleep and it was almost midnight. I don't know what it was, exactly. Maybe it was the fact I was just plain stressed out. Whatever it was, I spent a whole night last week going straight to my bible to find one specific verse. But it wasn't that verse that tripped me out. It was what happened after I found what I was looking for.


After looking up that one verse, I switched to another verse. Then, to another, and another, and another. There, I found myself reading pretty much all of Luke, and then, I finally landed on this verse: 

Luke 8: 16

"No one lights a lamp hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open."

Now, normally I'm not a Bible-freak. I find myself in a habit of only reading it when I need it and I'm desperate, but this verse  totally changed that. It's caught my eye before, but something about it stuck to me so strongly than ever before. 


Then a few pages later I found Luke repeating the same thing. Out of the whole chapter, this is something he repeats; something he wanted to stick out to the world.

Luke 11:33

"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lightened, as when the light of a lamp shines on you."

No matter what, that first line always comes striking back. And that brings me to the trippy part. After being hit with that verse twice, I flip through Matthew to find a different verse. But this time, it's like the verse is thrown at my face. This one, I'm sure, everyone knows.

Matthew 5: 14

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

It literally says the same exact thing. When you think about it, sure, it may talk about showing light to other people and not hiding it. Sure, it may talk about His light shining in the darkness, but there could be another thing to it, too . . .


We shouldn't hide our light. 
Our spark and our passion and our drive is the thing that shows God more than how much we read, pray, worship, anything. The things we do can show our faith so evidentally that it makes the angels praise and sing. This, my friends, is truth.


So this is my challenge to you.
How can we shine brighter and more visibly this week? 
Is there someone that needs you to smile at them? 
Or share a lunch table with? 
Is there a girl who needs to hear she's beautiful? 
Or a friend that needs you just to pray with them? 


It's time to shine girls!


Love, Madi <3

Incurable Fanatic

"If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large."

-William Wilberforce

Make me an INCURABLE FANATIC.

Recently I watched a movie called Nefarious: Merchant of Souls. It was a documentary about the sex trade all around the world.

It was heartbreaking. It was horrifying. It was painful to watch and parts of it physically made my stomach hurt. I definately cried, numerous times.

Our culture considers it taboo to talk about the sex trade, but the reality of the situation is that it is happening. It is growing. It is here. It is estimated that over 2 MILLION children are exploited each YEAR.

What!? How? How have we not stopped this? How is this business still growing?

These are people, human beings, innocent young girls that are being traded day and night for money. Because of greed, because of lust, because we live in a crumbling world. Their bodies the property of another man. Their voices, their cries for help, muffled by corrupt police and political figures.

One man who is involved in rescuing girls in Cambodia with the International Justice Mission (ijm.org) recently participated in the raid of a brothel where he recovered the pajamas of a 7 year old girl, with blood stains from her abuse and torture. This is not okay. WE need to be thier voices, WE need to communicate to these girls that they are loved, they are not forgotten. WE will not let them forever live unwillfully selling their bodies.

Girls are broken down by their pimps, told endlessly that they are worth nothing. They are stripped of any sense of value; any dignity is beaten out of them. One previous prostitute, when asked why she became a prostitute answered "because I thought that was all I was good enough for. Both my mom and my grandma were prostitutes so I thought it was my destiny, it was in my blood. There were numerous times that I wanted out, but I was threatened not only with my life, but with the life of my family and those closest to me."

It may seem like a big cause, and it is. But we can make an impact, we can help stop this horror.

HOW?!
1. Praying- prayer works. prayer is poweful, especially when we come together in prayer

2. Spread the Word- Do NOT be ashamed or embarrassed to talk about this issue. Tell your friends about, ask questions, research organizations. GET INVOLVED.

"You may choose to look the other way but you can never again say you did not know"
Will you be an incurable fanatic with me, and stop at nothing to rescue and restore these girls?

He Loves Us Anyways

(photo credit)

{i thought this was appropriate, considering tomorrow is good Friday.}



Say YES! To Adventure

Photo Credit

Everyone Listens to Music

I think the number one factor that has shaken the world is music; we're the music culture. 


Whether it's from from pop, rock, humble, alternative, or one of my beloved ones, jazz, our generation is wrapped up in our iPods and headphones. I know for me, music is something that I need a daily dose of. When I'm at school, when I'm in the car, or even blogging, I always have some kind of background music to listen to!


But before you get too pulled into it you have to ask yourself some of these questions:


a) Is it encouraging? Does it put you in a good mood? 
If you listen to depressing music, it's shown to influence your mood as well. The type of music you listen to shapes you to be that music. You want music that makes you charged up for the day. 




b) Does reflect your personality? 
I know that for me, the type of person I am reflects in the music I listen to . . . as well as the people I know! Everyone has inspirations and role models--they always follow through with music that reflects off their personality too! 




c) Does it have a positive tone? 
The music we can listen to may sound great, but sometimes we can skip over the fact if it has a positive meaning to it or not. If it's not uplifting or doesn't give you some sort of feeling/message, or even some sign of strength, it's not as great a song as you think it is! 




d) Is it inspiring? 
This is a toughie for me. Great music isn't just a great song--it's an outreach. Whether that means you can share it to a friend or not or help you get over something, it is the movement of inspiring. 

Some of the music artists I love listening to that answers to these questions are Lenka, Norah Jones, Ingrid Michaelson, Hillsong, The Fray, Coldplay, One Republic, 
Natalie Grant, Britt Nicole, Audrey Assad, Xenia .

Your turn!   

Comment on this post or/and comment our Facebook what kind of music/artists you like to listen to!


Love,