Dedra

Do you realize that 10 million children are online daily? And most of the time it is between the hours of 3 - 6 pm without supervision. It is easy to type in the wrong address of look up a subject that yields bad results. Try it for a test drive. Look up whitehouse - whitehouse.gov is the good site but whitehouse.org is not (it is a porn site). Or even look up something that you think might be innocent like Dr. Seuss and look at more than 10 results. I found my search to be rather frustrating with all of the foul language I saw.

Can you read this?

f u dnt undRst& dis, ur prolly a parent. kdz do evryting dey cn 2 mak sure u can’t read their msgs. bt, itz vry impt dat u cn read their txt msgs. remMbR, a wel n4mD parent maks wel n4mD dczons. 

If you cannot understand the above in its entirety, then you need to learn some chat lingo. See below. I have included a list. There are many more but this is a start.

Be a Safe and Smart Web Surfer and keep your teens safe.

• AAK= Alive and kicking
• AAR= At Any Rate
• AAS= Alive and Smiling
• ADA= Any Day Now
• AFAIK= As Far As I Know
• AFK= Away From Keyboard
• AFN= That’s All For Now
• a/s/l= Age/Sex/Location
• AV= Avatar- Graphical representation often used in chat rooms to depict a person that is in the room chatting
• B4= Before
• BAK= Back at Keyboard
• BBL= Be Back Later
• BBS= Be Back Soon
• BCNU= Be Seeing You
• b/f= Boyfriend
• BEG= Big Evil Grin
• BFN= Bye For Now
• BJ= Blow Job (oral sex on boy)
• BMA= Bite My A**
• Boot(ed)= To get kicked out of chat room or to have to restart computer
• BRB= Be Right Back
• BSEG= Big Sh** Eating Grin
• BTW= By The Way
• CRS= Can’t Remember Sh**
• CU= See You
• CP= Chat Post
• CUL8R= See You Later
• DDSOS= Different Day, Same Old Sh**
• DEGT= Don’t Even Go Later
• DIKU= Do I know You?
• DIS= Did I say…
• DL, D/L= Downloading
• EG= Evil Grin
• EM= E-Mail
• F2F= Face to Face
• FLAME= to insult someone.
• FOCL= Falling Off Chair Laughing
• FTS= F*** This Sh**
• FYI= For Your Information
• GA= Go Ahead
• GAL= Get A Life
• GEST= Gesture- a small file played usually expressing an emotion.
• G/F= Get a Life
• CFN= Gone For Now
• GR= Gotta Run
• GTRM= Going To Read Mail
• H8= Hate
• HK= Hugs and Kisses
• HAGD= Have a Good Day
• HB= Hurry Back
• IAC= In Any Case
• IB= I’m back
• IC= I See
• IDC= I Don’t Care
• IDN= I Don’t Know
• ICQ= I Seek You- An Instant Messenger Program
• ILU= I Love You
• ILY= I Love You
• IM= Instant Message
• IOW= In Other Words
• IRL= In Real Life
• IYO= In Your Opinion
• JAS= Just a Second
• JIC= Just in Case
• JK= Just Kidding
• KK= Okay
• KIT= Keep In Touch
• L8R= Later
• LMAO= Laughing My A** Off
• LOL= Laughing Out Loud
• LTNS or LTNC= Long Time No See
• LTS= Laughing To Ones Self
• LY= Love You
• LYL= Love You Lots
• MUG= Refers to new user in a chat room.
• NE1= Anyone
• NFW= No F***ing Way
• NIMBY= Not In My Back Yard
• NP= No Problem
• NT= No Thanks
• OBTW= Oh By The Way
• OIC= Oh I See
• OF= Oh Fart
• OJ= Only Joking
• OL= Old Lady
• OMG=Oh My God
• OT = Off Topic
• P911= Parents in Room
• PITA= Pain In The A**
• PLZ= Please
• PMJI= Pardon Me For Jumping In
• POS= Parents Are Looking Over Shoulder
• POTS= Parents Over The Shoulder
• QT= Cutie
• RL= Real Life
• ROFL= Rolling On Floor Laughing
• ROTF= Rolling On The Floor
• ROTFLMAO= Rolling On The Floor Laughing My A** Off
• ROTFLMFAO= Rolling On The Floor Laughing My F***ing A** Off
• R/T= Real Time
• RU= Are You
• SEG= Sh** Eating Grin
• SH= Same Here
• SN= Screen Name
• SO= Significant Other
• SOL= Sh** Out Of Luck
• SPST= Same Place Same Time
• SSDD= Same Sh** Different Day
• STR8= Straight
• SYL= See You Later
• SX= Sex
• TAFN= That’s All For Now
• THX= Thanks
• TM= Text Message
• TMI= Too Much Information
• TNT= Til Next Time
• TPS=Too Pretty Stupid
• TS= Tough Sh**
• TSFY= Tough Sh** For You
• TTTT= These Things Take Time
• TTYL= Talk To You Later
• TY= Thank You
• TYT= Take Your Time
• TYVM= Thank You Very Much
• US= You Suck
• UV= Unpleasant Visual
• UW=Your’re Welcome
• UY=Up Yours
• WB= Welcome back
• WC= Welcome
• WEG= Wicked Evil Grin
• WEU= What’s Eating You
• WFM= Works For Me
• WIFM= What’s In It For Me?
• WTG= Way To Go
• WTK= What The F***
• WTGP? = Want To Go Private? ( Go to a private chat room)
• YBS= You’ll Be Sorry
• YL= Young Lady
• YM= Young Man

What Hurts the Most - Rascal Flatts
I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house
That don’t bother me
I can take a few tears now and then and just let them out
I’m not afraid to cry every once in a while
Even though going on with you gone still upsets me
There are days every now and again I pretend I’m ok
But that’s not what gets me

I have a long road ahead and so do many others. We must stay focused on walking with God and having a relationship with Him. Ultimately, He is our number one focus.

The historic record of the birth of Christ can be found in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20.

Unlike any other baby, the one born that night in Bethlehem was unique in all of history. He was not created by a human father and mother. He had a heavenly pre-existence (John 1:1-3, 14). He is God, the Son—Creator of the universe (Philippians 2:5-11). This is why Christmas is called the incarnation, a word which means “in the flesh.” In the birth of Jesus, the eternal, all-powerful and all-knowing Creator came to earth in the flesh.

Why would God do such a thing? Why would he come as a baby, instead of appearing in power and majesty? Why make himself a true man and live among us, when he knew full well how terribly he would be treated?

It was LOVE! It was necessary, if you are to be saved!

from www.christiananswers.net

The 4 keys to keeping God first:
* Consistency - practice makes perfect.
* Creativity - journal, prayer
* Conversation

Daily is the key!

Kitchen Service

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Ecclesiastes 9:10

We are designed to serve others and love them for who they all. Afterall, we represent the Lord.

Paul lays it out on how to follow Christ:

“I urge you to imitate me” (1 Corinthians 4:16)

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice” (Philippians 4:9)

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

“You became imitators of us and of the Lord….and so you became a model to all believers” (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7)

Paul wrote letters to people to be passed around to other churches. We are a living letter that is known and ready by everyone. We are God’s love letter to the world.

Fruit Happens

Fruit of our lips - “Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name” (Hebrews 13:15)

Fruit of our deeds - “That you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10)

Fruit of our attitudes - “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23)

How can we make sure we stay in the fruit of the Spirit? By staying in the word and abiding in a personal relationship with Christ.

Read God’s Kitchen Patrol - p. 87

Look for unexpected angels!

God calls us to service. Use your talents. If you still do not know your gifts, pray that God will reveal them to you. Keeping your mind busy helping others is the best medicine when you are going through hard times.

Do not forget to check your motives when you serve. If you are grumbling and complaining or want attention or praise from others, we are doing things for the wrong reasons.

We belong to the Lord! Amen. He is our strong tower, our fortress. Seek Him and you will find the most amazing treasure ever.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

What does intimacy with the Lord mean to you?

To me, I talk to him throughout the day. I find out my quiet times and I take advantage of them. It is never the same time of day but I diligently set aside some time.

What are the distractions in your life? Notice that if you do not have an active prayer life, the devil leaves you alone. The devil likes stirring up stuff to keep up from seeking the Lord.

What are you using as your Spiritual Snickers Bar? Friends, eating, family…we all have them. Even though I pray, it feels good when I cry to my friends. Is it wrong. No! God puts people in our lives to help us along but it doesn’t give us private time with the Lord. He wants us to seek Him with all of our heart and talk to Him as a friend.

We all spend time with the Lord in different ways…reading the bible, praying, listening to Christian music, etc. These are all creative ways God gives us to spend time with Him. He invites us each day. He wants you to come as you are. I know I have a long way to go before God is finished with me but He gives me a renewed spirit each day.

PRAYER + THE WORD + TIME = INTIMACY WITH GOD

Find God’s will - you can only do this through prayer. God puts things in our hearts. Be Still and Listen.

You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Luke 10:41-42

This is the chapter about unloaded all the unnecessary things we take on. Our rocks. I can tell you from experience that doing man’s work is like trying to run in the sand. But doing God’s work, He carries you and it becomes much easier.

Find the things in your life that you are doing that load you down. Make a list and pray about it. God doesn’t want us to be miserable. He wants us to have a fruitful life and share it with others. But if you are constantly grumbling about your rocks, is it showing others encouragement and God’s love?

Yes, we all take on too much. I still believe each one of us needs balance. Take the time and have a cup of java with the Lord. I personally have water but if you are coffee drinkers, go for it. God longs for our devotion. Mary just chose the better part.

Does it mean what Martha did was wrong? Service to others, no! But grumbling and complaining about it was not what the Lord was seeking. Often when we are tired and weary, we want to start looking what others are doing. I could easily compare myself to my sister but I know that we are different. She has a gift for talking to strangers. She says she struggles in this area (and maybe she does) but she can make anyone feel warm and welcome. Do not get caught up in the gotta have what the other has…this leads to jealousy, bitterness, etc. Plus, in order to get what someone else has (in their walk with God), you would have to go through his or her trials and tribulations. We do not always see the whole picture.

Now this what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.” Haggai 1:5

Each person has different gifts. Use what comes easy to you. Mine is computers. I can use it to email, create blogs, web pages, etc. God gives us the talents we need for a time - use it while you have it.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Ecclesiastes 9:10

Only one thing is needed - have a personal relationship with Jesus. Get to Know Him.

God is the Bread of Life, the Living Water…

Grasp Luke 10:42

“I cannot do everything, but I can do ‘one thing.’ I cannot meet every need, but I can respond in obedience to the need the Spirit lays on my heart. I cannot carry every load, but I can carry the load God has for me. For His yoke, indeed, is easy, and his burden is truly light.”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things.” Luke 10:41

One of the things you will notice in this chapter is that it all starts in the beginning. Yes, the beginning of time. God created Adam and Eve and they took the first “bite” into sin. Then they hid.

One thing I have learned in my walk is to confess what I have done wrong and repent (and never repeat the same mistake). Is it hard?, yes it is. Following God is not easy. The devil wants to take you and crush you. He gets to you through friends, family, work, etc. That is why we must admit when we do wrong.

One of the steps in AA is admitting you have a problem. The same goes for any sin. In God’s eye, a sin is a sin. There is no difference. Murder, lying, stealing, etc. are all sin and according to God’s word, it is the same.

Tough stuff! The good news is that God sent His Son to die on the cross for all of our past, present, and future sins. Halleluiah!

This chapter also focused on Worrying.

10 signs of a BIG Worrier - read page 33. Worry is a problem.

“An anxious heart weighs a man down,” Proverbs 12:25

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:27

What do we worry about?….40% are things that will never happen, 30% are about the past - which cannot be changed, 12% are about criticism by others - mostly untrue, 10% are about health - which gets worse with stress, 8% are about real problems that can be solved.

When it comes down to it, worry is a big waste of time for everyone. So why do we do it?

The bible commands us not to worry. “Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life.” Matthew6:25

Fix your eyes on the Lord and His grand plan for you.

Difference between worry and concern:

Worry - it is often unfounded, it spreads to many things, obsesses about the problem, creates more problems, and looks to self or other people for answers.

Concern - involves a legitimate threat, is specific, addresses the problem, solves problems, and looks to God for answers.

God has overcome the world! Count your blessings and thank God for each one.

Kick the Worry Habit - p. 47 “I sought the Lord, and He answered me; he delivered me from all of my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” Psalm 34:4-5

Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World - Joanna Weaver (Fall 2007 Bible Study) 

Cure for the Common Life - Max Lucado

90 Minutes in Heaven - Don Piper