The word which God has written on the brow of every man is Hope.

First let’s define “drama tween.”

Well, we know that a “drama queen” is a person given too often excessively, emotional performances or reactions. Merriam-Webster definition.

“Tween” is a derivation of the word “between” which means, in an intermediate space or interval. The word “tween” means a boy or girl not yet thirteen years old. A “tween” can also be referred to as a “preteen”, according to Merriam-Webster.

Therefore, a “drama tween” is a boy or girl (usually a girl) not yet thirteen years old given too often excessively, emotional performances or reactions. In other words, any given situation, no matter how minor, has the potential to turn into a dramatic uproar. – MOTHERS BEWARE.

Next, let’s discuss some of the characteristics of a “drama tween.”

· If your tween has ever started a sentence with: Mo`THER…!

· If they use the word “like” in a sentence when it’s grammatically incorrect and/or they use the word “like” redundantly (5-7 times) in a single sentence.

· If they have destroyed the sacredness of short-hand. (i.e., ttyl, ttfn, bff, pofn, lol, lmbo, etc.)

· They tend to dress in colors that are bright enough to blind you.

· Tweens have the ability to hold a phone conversation for hours at a time.

· They often display the inability to control laughter.

· Most moms would agree that tweens are musically challenged.

· More often they are dependent upon visitations from swarms of friends (at any given time).

· Some tweens actually believe that money does grow on trees.

· An over abundance of lip gloss and bracelets.

How does a mom relate to her tweenager who seems to be living on another planet? Here are a few tips:

1. Communication. This is vital in your relationship with your tweenager. Talk to them till they are blue in the face. Exchange dialog with them. Share your thoughts with them, and ensure them your trust while reminding them that they can talk to you about anything. Don’t be their friend, they have plenty of those already however, they only have one mother.

2. Quality Time. Spend time with your tweenager. This is one of the most important times in a child’s life. They are in a between stage and looking for acceptance. Reassure them that at home, they are always accepted. Sow seeds of confidence and a healthy balance of self-esteem when talking with them.

3. Unconditional Love. Love your tweenager unconditionally. Everyone has the need to be loved, and your tween is no different. Show them love by talking with them, spending time with them, and especially when they make mistakes. There are always mistakes made in life, you made them as a tween so keep that in mind when your tween makes a mistake. None are perfect, but we should be teaching our tweens to strive for perfection.

These are just a few survival tips to help you in your effort to survive the “drama tween” experience. I would just like to offer one last bit of advice to my fellow mothers: When in doubt, don’t pout, pray. Prayer really does change things. However, it should not be used as a last resort. The scripture tells us to always pray and not faint. If your tween is easy breezy you’d better get a head start on praying for those teen years; I hear they can be pretty intense and the bottom line actually is – YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET.

Integrity is a broad term that a lot of people in business like to use, but what does it mean to have integrity?  Webster describes the term integrity as firm adherence to a code of especially moral values. Another way of putting it is – doing what’s right, even when no one is watching.

Integrity is a way of life that should reflect in every area of your life, not just one or two areas. You can’t expect to have integrity as a business owner but not have it in your personal life and visa versa. If you’re honest at home then you are most likely to be honest at work as well. It’s a character trait that can’t be turned off or on. Either you have it or you don’t, it’s trivial.

Can you have integrity without having Christ, of course, but to what extent? It may not bother a business owner who has integrity to exaggerate his earnings. However, to a business owner who has integrity and who has Christ, this would be considered a lie, even if it is “just a little white lie,” it’s still a lie in the eyes of a loving God and He would not be pleased with lying no matter how small.

Therefore, as a Christian in business, I strive for excellence. I don’t strive for it because I am perfect, I make my share of mistakes, but because God is perfect and He has given me excellence and it would be unethical not to at least attempt to give Him my best.

The only piece of advice I can offer to my fellow colleges is to manage your business as if God Himself is your partner, because after all, He is. (wink)

Each second $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography. The pornography industry is larger than the revenues of the top technology companies combined, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix, and EarthLink.

90% of children ages 8-16 years old admit to having viewed pornography online.

47% of Christians said that pornography is a major problem at home.

Like a drug, this addiction renders its victims helpless, destroying lives everywhere.

There is nothing sugar-coated or sweet about the damaging results of pornography and yielding to sexual temptation. Enticing images are constantly displayed on television, magazines, and on the Internet. Seductive visions are implanted in the minds of many by almost every form of technology known to mankind. In times past, “sex sells” was a term used figuratively, but now it has taken on a literal sense, and unfortunately, business is booming.

So how can we defend ourselves against the power of porn? With the power of purity of course.

Fight power with power. The power of porn is great but the power of God is the greatest. The only defense we have against the addiction of pornography and all sexual impurity is through God. We must arm ourselves with the word of God. Put on the entire armor of God. Making sure you have your loins girt about with truth, with breastplate of righteousness guarding your heart. Protect your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Next, take the shield of faith, that you may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Finally, take with you, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray without ceasing. To pray without ceasing doesn’t mean praying non-stop 24 hours per day. It means to pray in addition to the morning and bedtime prayers you pray. It means that quick silent prayer you pray when you don’t have time for eloquent words and the prayer poise. Prayers like, “Lord, help me,” “Jesus, I need you now,” or “God, I can’t do this alone.” These are what I like to call “rescue me” prayers, like the one Peter prayed when he began to sink on the water after Jesus called for Peter to join him.

Guard your spirit. Your eyes, ears, and nose are all portals to your soul. It’s easier to prevent junk from entering the portals to your soul than it is to get the junk out after it has entered. You’ve heard of preventative maintenance right? It’s the same concept. Prevent yourself from allowing sexually impure images, conversations, thoughts, etc. to enter your spirit. This means movies, books, songs, etc. will have some type of affect on you, if it provokes sexual arousal on any level, no matter how small, it’s probably not good for you spiritually. Be sensitive to your spirit and the Spirit of God too. It may not scream warnings to you, it may whisper them, be on alert.

Can I pray for you, your loved one or friend who maybe struggling in this area? Father in heaven, we glorify you and praise you! You are so awesome! I am interceding on my friend’s behalf because I know what it’s like to struggle. Please strengthen them, shower them with your love and mercy. Assure them that with you, anything is possible. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Resources:

The Bible, New Living Translation Ephesians 6: 13-17

Something Else:

Dream BIG. Pray Hard. Expect God.

Being “extra virgin” is an attitude, a lifestyle that goes outside of the constraining box of sexual purity. Extra virgin requires the mind, body, and spirit to cooperate with the Spirit of God. Those who are “extra virgin” carefully guards what enters into their soul. They are sanctified wholly, completely. Not a religious juggernaut, but a gentle Christian giant. One who is steadfast and unmovable in faith and no push over to fear.

There are many characteristics of an “extra virgin,” however, today we are only going to discuss three.

The most important requirement is that we must be a believer. If we don’t believe in something we will fall for anything, why not believe in an absolute truth, the savior of the world. He died that we might have life more abundantly, extra virginly. Our only access to the Father is through the Son. Our belief is a vital part because it’s the first step in our walk of faith.

Next, our mind must be renewed. Our thought process has to be completely revamped. We should start off by carefully guarding what we see, hear, read, etc. Images, sounds, and words all have a way of imbedding themselves in the recesses of our minds and coming out in one form or another. For example, my family and I don’t watch music videos to anything other than Christian music. Why? Well because of the images, I don’t want my daughter thinking that it’s cool to dress in a provocative manner nor do I want my sons thinking it’s okay to be derogatory toward women. We won’t even discuss the vulgarness of some of the lyrics.

Finally, you must be an avid hearer and doer of the word…that includes fervently praying. I don’t know where I’d be without the word of God and prayer. The word guides us, gives us advice on how to handle situations and it includes examples. Someone told me that the word B.I.B.L.E. is an acronym for Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth – I love that! The bible says that it is so easy to follow God that even the fool cannot error. Whoa! And prayer, is how we communicate with God. I don’t know about you but I need all the communication with God that I can get!

The beautiful thing about being extra virgin is that even though I’m married with three children, I’m still extra virgin. Woo hoo!

Being a model has nothing to do with your physical appearance but everything to do with the condition of your heart. No, this is not another one of those corny “it’s not what’s on the outside, but what’s on the inside” articles, but it may get us to consider our own image, spiritually speaking of course.

Models are beautiful no doubt. They usually have some type of physical attribute that is mesmerizing to others. That attribute is usually a generous amount of beauty. In addition to their gorgeous faces, they are typically thin as well. At some point in their life they become discovered (whether intentional or not) and finally fame and fortune are soon to follow.

Well, guys and gals, that’s not my story. I’m no beauty queen however, I am fearfully and wonderfully made. “Fearful and wonderful” outweighs “beauty” by far, not according to society’s standard but definitely according to God’s. The unequal proportion of my stature probably rests at the bottom of the totem pole in this world, but in heaven I’ll be rid of it! But while I’m in route, I’m content with me, because godliness with contentment is great gain. Not monetary gain, but God’s promissory gain, which is worth far more than anything of this world.

Unlike Pamela Anderson I wasn’t discovered, but nonetheless I was chosen. Hand-picked long before I formed in my mother’s womb. Why? I suppose it’s because God wanted me to know He loves me for me. And His love was/is not based on any physical attribute, fame, or fortune I (or man) could possibly attribute to self. He loves me and all my flaws and façades of perfection. He loves me unconditionally. Finally, fame and fortune on this earth pales in comparison to the riches and glory in Christ Jesus. Need I say more?

Having said that, I’m not America’s next top model according to this world, but when it pertains to God, I’m His top model. Not because of me, but because of Him. Are you top model material?