"'We are all like knives, we can chose to sharpen each other, or we can chose to cut each other down.'"
But how many of us are just sharpening the people we want to sharpen?
For example, you're hanging out with your besties. One of them suddenly blurts out, "I hate myself. I'm so fat and ugly. I wish I was different."
You aren't just going to let that little comment go by unnoticed! So you jump in and try to encourage her. You try to build up her self-esteem. You point out her beautiful eyes or wonderful hair or just flat out tell her she AIN'T fat or ugly!
But what about the unnoticed people? The girl that sits in the corner with her hair covering her face. You see the tears sliding down her face, so you immediately assume something.
We're human. We all do it.
You point her out to your friend and whisper your assumption in her ear. Your friend giggles and says, "No way!" and then says what she thinks is going on. Pretty soon, all these wild stories are going around about the girl in the corner.
But has anyone taken the time to find the truth?
No.
Why not?
Just think about it.
Why do we only encourage the people we want to encourage, and hurt the people we don't know?
Why does the girl in the corner not matter, but all your besties do?
Now, I'm not saying that encouraging your best friends is bad, but what about the people who don't have any friends? We need to reach out to them.
Hear them. Pray for them.
They matter.
So next time you see the girl in the corner, I challenge you to go say hi. Drag your friends along and invite her to sit with you. Tell her she has pretty eyes or cute jeans.
Sharpen her. Let her know that she matters.
Please comment your thoughts, and any experiences you have had with the girl in the corner!
XoXo,
Mikayla Anne
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Height happy--Just call me Tinkerbell :)
Hello my Friends,
The past few months, I had been feeling pretty insecure about my height. I come from a fairly 'small' family, my Mom is barely 5' 4", 110 pounds, and my Dad tops out at about 5' 9".
So you could say that I'm pretty small myself.
5' 2", 96 pounds to be exact.
All of my friends are taller than me, and when we meet new people together, this is the usual conversation...........
"Oh my are you pretty!" (talking to my friend) "Are you 16?" And then they look at me; "Let me guess, you are her little sister! Are you 12?"
And I would want to slug them, but guess what--I can't reach.
Thankfully the past six months or so I've started to look alot older, but the height thing really throws people off. Barely coming up to my BFF's shoulder doesn't help much.
But you know, the past week, I've really started to enjoy my Tinkerbell-type body.
I've realized that God must want me small for some reason, and I'm OK with that. God has a purpose and a plan for my life, and He has me exactly where he wants me to be, short or not.
Acts 17:26 says;
'From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.'
God didn't just toss us into this world to fend for ourselves, He has a master plan for our lives. Everything we do for God is part of His purpose for us being here.
So, short or tall, strong or weak, rich or poor, we are here for a reason, we are placed here by our Heavenly Father.
Always remember that! :)
Signing off,
Height-Happy Tinkerbell (XoXo~Mikayla)
The past few months, I had been feeling pretty insecure about my height. I come from a fairly 'small' family, my Mom is barely 5' 4", 110 pounds, and my Dad tops out at about 5' 9".
So you could say that I'm pretty small myself.
5' 2", 96 pounds to be exact.
All of my friends are taller than me, and when we meet new people together, this is the usual conversation...........
"Oh my are you pretty!" (talking to my friend) "Are you 16?" And then they look at me; "Let me guess, you are her little sister! Are you 12?"
And I would want to slug them, but guess what--I can't reach.
Thankfully the past six months or so I've started to look alot older, but the height thing really throws people off. Barely coming up to my BFF's shoulder doesn't help much.
But you know, the past week, I've really started to enjoy my Tinkerbell-type body.
I've realized that God must want me small for some reason, and I'm OK with that. God has a purpose and a plan for my life, and He has me exactly where he wants me to be, short or not.
Acts 17:26 says;
'From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.'
God didn't just toss us into this world to fend for ourselves, He has a master plan for our lives. Everything we do for God is part of His purpose for us being here.
So, short or tall, strong or weak, rich or poor, we are here for a reason, we are placed here by our Heavenly Father.
Always remember that! :)
Signing off,
Height-Happy Tinkerbell (XoXo~Mikayla)
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Spectacular Quote.......
Hey Everyone!!
Today I was watching some videos of one of my favorite music artists, Paige Armstrong. She is 20 years old, has one CD 'Wake Up' out in stores, and has an AMAZING story to tell.
I won't type out the entire thing because I have to go eat dinner in a few minutes, but I encourage you to check her website out; http://paigehasastory.com
So I was watching one of her videos, and she quoted something a friend told her that I will never forget.
"If the world didn't create beauty, then the world can't define it."
I was like, "Wow." Isn't that an awesome thing to remember??
I mean, God created us. He made us beautiful and unique in our OWN special, precious, ways, and we ARE beautiful!! No matter what the world says, we are beautiful!! Remember that.
God created beautiful, not the world. So why should you let the world tell you what to look like and be?
Anyway, I thought that was awesome!!
PLEASE comment with your thoughts on this, my friends!! :)
XoXo~Mikayla Anne
Today I was watching some videos of one of my favorite music artists, Paige Armstrong. She is 20 years old, has one CD 'Wake Up' out in stores, and has an AMAZING story to tell.
I won't type out the entire thing because I have to go eat dinner in a few minutes, but I encourage you to check her website out; http://paigehasastory.com
So I was watching one of her videos, and she quoted something a friend told her that I will never forget.
"If the world didn't create beauty, then the world can't define it."
I was like, "Wow." Isn't that an awesome thing to remember??
I mean, God created us. He made us beautiful and unique in our OWN special, precious, ways, and we ARE beautiful!! No matter what the world says, we are beautiful!! Remember that.
God created beautiful, not the world. So why should you let the world tell you what to look like and be?
Anyway, I thought that was awesome!!
PLEASE comment with your thoughts on this, my friends!! :)
XoXo~Mikayla Anne
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
My Ski Story..........
Hello Everyone,
Okay, so yesterday, I went skiing for the first time in my life, and something happened up on the mountain. Here's the story.......... =)
Since it was my first time skiing, I took a 2 hour lesson in the morning. We learned how to turn, stop and get on and off ski-lifts. (Getting off backfired on me later, I got off the chair to late and it swung around and knocked me over, and when I was awkwardly trying to get back up on my skis I got taken out by a snowboarder getting off the lift......).
Anyway, after the lesson, Sydney, Jake, Dane and I all started skiing the green slopes. It was a lot of fun, but the runs were so short we spend more time on the lifts than actually skiing. So after a few hours of greens, we decided to try a blue run. The green runs were so easy, so we thought the blue would just be a little bit more of a challenge.
What and understatement. 'A little bit more of a challenge' is NOT the phrase for the run we went on.
After we rode up the ridiculously slow lift, I took one look at the run and started sweating. It was long, steep and icy. Plus the wind was blowing the snow around, so it was hard to see a times. We all started to go down, but I totally lost everything I had learned and done in the past several hours. I kept crashing because it was so steep, and sliding because of the ice. After about five crash-and-slides I decided to give it up and walk down the slope.
It took me a while to actually get my skis OFF, I had to find a spot where I had some traction so I wouldn't slide down the slope in the middle of taking them off. I finally got my skis situated and started the trek down when a lady stopped in front of me. She asked if I was okay, and I told her yeah, that I had just gotten into more than I could handle and I was gonna walk down.
Well, she wouldn't stand for that. She told me her name was Samantha, and then she told me to put my skis back on that instant, and she was going to teach me how to get down a mountain I can't ski. I was like, "Okayyy....whatever." and put my skis back on.
Samantha showed me how to cut my skis in the snow so I wouldn't keep sliding, and then we started snowplow turning down the slope. It was taking forever, so I finally asked her if I could just slide down. She said a bad word (one of many) and then told me no way, I was gonna learn how to get down a mountain I couldn't ski down if it took the rest of the day.
And it did. We slowplowed our way down the mountain for a while, me near tears every single time I got my tips crossed and face-planted, then slid crazily down the slope until she was able to stop me. She then decided I needed a break from snowplowing, so Samantha taught me how to "slide" parallel to the mountain. It was very slow, and it was killing my shins, but I didn't fall as much, and felt less like a five-year-old when doing that. (Crying in front of anyone makes me feel like a toddler).
We finally got down the first big slope when I saw the best thing I'd ever seen---Dane hiking back up the slope to make sure I wasn't hurt or stuck. I figured we were almost to the bottom at that point, so we told Dane it was okay, he could go back down, and we would be there in a few minutes.
WRONG!!
I came over the slope and saw that we weren't even HALFWAY DOWN. (At that moment I was about as mature as my chihuahua). Samantha told me not to worry, that this would go quicker, but I felt like plopping down right there and waiting for Ski Patrol. (Ski Patrol actually came for me later on.....).
I'm pretty sure Samantha had been in the military or something, because she wouldn't let me stop. We started sliding some more, seemly making no progress to me. My blood-sugar was starting to drop--fast--so we had to stop a lot more. (Some of you know my blood-sugar is really weird, it drops at random times, and I start shaking until I have some protein or sugar).
We slowly worked our way down, and I felt like shouting for joy when I saw the bottom of the run. A Ski-Patrol guy came by with a sled and asked if we needed a ride down. I was about to yell, "YES! Get me off of this mountain!" when Samantha told him that we didn't need it, and he snowboarded away.
I think that was the worst temptation I have ever had to push someone down a hill. I wanted to get down to the bottom SO bad, and my only chance to get down without skiing was snowboarding away because of Samantha........ =P
I was shaking so badly it was hard to stand up. Thankfully we only had a little bit more to slowplow before it was at my skiing level. I skied the rest of the way down and a worried Mrs. Duerksen met us at the bottom. She thanked Samantha for helping me, and helped me ski to the lodge and sit down where Sydney helped me get my equipment off. Dane gave me a power bar to get my blood sugar back up, but it took me a long time to stop shaking.
We headed back to the Duerksen's house then, and Mrs. Duerksen feed us more food than I could eat. =) I had a fun day skiing, but next time I go, (and I will go again) I'm staying away from the blue slopes. Maybe after a few years of experience I can try again. =)
So, there's my first skiing adventure! Sorry it's so long.
Do any of you have a good ski story? I'd love to hear them! =)
Have a great week, and Merry Christmas!!
Mikayla
-- The humble shall see their God at work for them. No wonder they will be so glad! All who seek for God shall live in joy. Psalm 69:32
Okay, so yesterday, I went skiing for the first time in my life, and something happened up on the mountain. Here's the story.......... =)
Since it was my first time skiing, I took a 2 hour lesson in the morning. We learned how to turn, stop and get on and off ski-lifts. (Getting off backfired on me later, I got off the chair to late and it swung around and knocked me over, and when I was awkwardly trying to get back up on my skis I got taken out by a snowboarder getting off the lift......).
Anyway, after the lesson, Sydney, Jake, Dane and I all started skiing the green slopes. It was a lot of fun, but the runs were so short we spend more time on the lifts than actually skiing. So after a few hours of greens, we decided to try a blue run. The green runs were so easy, so we thought the blue would just be a little bit more of a challenge.
What and understatement. 'A little bit more of a challenge' is NOT the phrase for the run we went on.
After we rode up the ridiculously slow lift, I took one look at the run and started sweating. It was long, steep and icy. Plus the wind was blowing the snow around, so it was hard to see a times. We all started to go down, but I totally lost everything I had learned and done in the past several hours. I kept crashing because it was so steep, and sliding because of the ice. After about five crash-and-slides I decided to give it up and walk down the slope.
It took me a while to actually get my skis OFF, I had to find a spot where I had some traction so I wouldn't slide down the slope in the middle of taking them off. I finally got my skis situated and started the trek down when a lady stopped in front of me. She asked if I was okay, and I told her yeah, that I had just gotten into more than I could handle and I was gonna walk down.
Well, she wouldn't stand for that. She told me her name was Samantha, and then she told me to put my skis back on that instant, and she was going to teach me how to get down a mountain I can't ski. I was like, "Okayyy....whatever." and put my skis back on.
Samantha showed me how to cut my skis in the snow so I wouldn't keep sliding, and then we started snowplow turning down the slope. It was taking forever, so I finally asked her if I could just slide down. She said a bad word (one of many) and then told me no way, I was gonna learn how to get down a mountain I couldn't ski down if it took the rest of the day.
And it did. We slowplowed our way down the mountain for a while, me near tears every single time I got my tips crossed and face-planted, then slid crazily down the slope until she was able to stop me. She then decided I needed a break from snowplowing, so Samantha taught me how to "slide" parallel to the mountain. It was very slow, and it was killing my shins, but I didn't fall as much, and felt less like a five-year-old when doing that. (Crying in front of anyone makes me feel like a toddler).
We finally got down the first big slope when I saw the best thing I'd ever seen---Dane hiking back up the slope to make sure I wasn't hurt or stuck. I figured we were almost to the bottom at that point, so we told Dane it was okay, he could go back down, and we would be there in a few minutes.
WRONG!!
I came over the slope and saw that we weren't even HALFWAY DOWN. (At that moment I was about as mature as my chihuahua). Samantha told me not to worry, that this would go quicker, but I felt like plopping down right there and waiting for Ski Patrol. (Ski Patrol actually came for me later on.....).
I'm pretty sure Samantha had been in the military or something, because she wouldn't let me stop. We started sliding some more, seemly making no progress to me. My blood-sugar was starting to drop--fast--so we had to stop a lot more. (Some of you know my blood-sugar is really weird, it drops at random times, and I start shaking until I have some protein or sugar).
We slowly worked our way down, and I felt like shouting for joy when I saw the bottom of the run. A Ski-Patrol guy came by with a sled and asked if we needed a ride down. I was about to yell, "YES! Get me off of this mountain!" when Samantha told him that we didn't need it, and he snowboarded away.
I think that was the worst temptation I have ever had to push someone down a hill. I wanted to get down to the bottom SO bad, and my only chance to get down without skiing was snowboarding away because of Samantha........ =P
I was shaking so badly it was hard to stand up. Thankfully we only had a little bit more to slowplow before it was at my skiing level. I skied the rest of the way down and a worried Mrs. Duerksen met us at the bottom. She thanked Samantha for helping me, and helped me ski to the lodge and sit down where Sydney helped me get my equipment off. Dane gave me a power bar to get my blood sugar back up, but it took me a long time to stop shaking.
We headed back to the Duerksen's house then, and Mrs. Duerksen feed us more food than I could eat. =) I had a fun day skiing, but next time I go, (and I will go again) I'm staying away from the blue slopes. Maybe after a few years of experience I can try again. =)
So, there's my first skiing adventure! Sorry it's so long.
Do any of you have a good ski story? I'd love to hear them! =)
Have a great week, and Merry Christmas!!
Mikayla
-- The humble shall see their God at work for them. No wonder they will be so glad! All who seek for God shall live in joy. Psalm 69:32
A Christmas lesson with Mary and Martha
Hello Fellow Bloggers and Readers,
I am sorry it has been such a long time since my last post. On the long list of things I must and/or want to accomplish, blogging is usually at the end of the list. I wish it wasn't, but certain things, such as devotions, school, eating and sleeping must come first, and then youth group, church and friends, and then the hustle and bustle of this time of year--which doesn't leave a whole lot of time to do other things, such as sitting down and writing something worth reading and posting to 'Bloggin' by Mikayla'. Okay, so enough of me rambling on. You certainly didn't stop by to read about my schedule. ;)
So now, what to post about that will make you glad you took the time to stop by. Hmm.
How about another some-what random post with alot of rabbit-trails and topics? That seems like the only kind of post I can write. My apologies in advance.
I always have this writing block when I try to write something others will read. I can write pages and pages in my journal, but that is because no one else will ever read it--thankfully! :) I don't have 'Spell Check' in my journal.
Well, how about the obvious--Christmas!! :) I'm sure excited!! Only 16 days away.
One of my very favorite parts of Christmas is the time I get to spend with my family. My Dad is off work for a week or two, I don't have school, and there's plenty of time to hang out together and play board games, create new traditions, and concoct some new goodies in the kitchen. :)
I would love it if you commented with your favorite Christmas
tradition.
I would have to say mine is spending Christmas eve with my Grandparents on my Mom's side, and Christmas morning with my parents and brother, and the Christmas afternoon with my family on my Dad's side. Lot's of fun, food and presents! I am so thankful to have such great family and
friends to spend the holidays with.
But let's not forget the true meaning of Christmas! Everywhere I go, now that it is so near the 25th, I see more and more frantic parents rushing around the toy section of Target and parents of teenagers stressing out of the price of all the electronic gizmos that are added to the 'Letters to Santa'. More credit cards being maxed out, stressed-out shoppers racing for the last 'Super toy' and store employees wishing they could just go home.
Is this the way the season is supposed to be? Frantic stress because there is so much to do before the in-laws come to town? Anger at the people who are trying to relax and enjoy the season while you are rushing around to everything yourself?
It all reminds me of the story in the Bible (Luke 10) about Mary and Martha. I know you all have probably heard the story many times, but don't turn me off or exit out yet. I hope this will mean something to you.
Martha represents everyone trying to get ready for Christmas. She rushes around, trying to get all her shopping, cooking and decorating done before family and friends arrive. She really would appreciate the help of her sister, Mary.
But Mary is content where she is. She is sitting at Jesus's feet, concentrating on the words he is speaking, learning from Him. She is everyone that is making the most of the Christmas season, and focusing on God, not on presents and preparations.
Martha is frustrated, because her 'TO DO' list just seems to be growing longer and longer, and Mary isn't helping her out a bit. So she goes into the living room where Mary and Jesus are and says, "Lord, isn't Mary supposed to be helping me bake cookies and wrap presents and finish shopping? She is being lazy, leaving me to do all the work!"
But Jesus says,
"Martha, your sister is concentrating on the real meaning on the season. Stop rushing around so, and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Focus on me, Martha."
Aren't we all 'Marthas' around Christmas? All we focus on is getting everything done. We forget why we even HAVE Christmas!!
So just think about that in the remaining days until December 25th.
Let's all be more like Mary. Slow down and listen to what God has to tell us this Christmas season.
Jesus is the reason for the season! Never forget, my friends! :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Mikayla
-- The humble shall see their God at work for them. No wonder they will be so glad! All who seek for God shall live in joy. Psalm 69:32
I am sorry it has been such a long time since my last post. On the long list of things I must and/or want to accomplish, blogging is usually at the end of the list. I wish it wasn't, but certain things, such as devotions, school, eating and sleeping must come first, and then youth group, church and friends, and then the hustle and bustle of this time of year--which doesn't leave a whole lot of time to do other things, such as sitting down and writing something worth reading and posting to 'Bloggin' by Mikayla'. Okay, so enough of me rambling on. You certainly didn't stop by to read about my schedule. ;)
So now, what to post about that will make you glad you took the time to stop by. Hmm.
How about another some-what random post with alot of rabbit-trails and topics? That seems like the only kind of post I can write. My apologies in advance.
I always have this writing block when I try to write something others will read. I can write pages and pages in my journal, but that is because no one else will ever read it--thankfully! :) I don't have 'Spell Check' in my journal.
Well, how about the obvious--Christmas!! :) I'm sure excited!! Only 16 days away.
One of my very favorite parts of Christmas is the time I get to spend with my family. My Dad is off work for a week or two, I don't have school, and there's plenty of time to hang out together and play board games, create new traditions, and concoct some new goodies in the kitchen. :)
I would love it if you commented with your favorite Christmas
tradition.
I would have to say mine is spending Christmas eve with my Grandparents on my Mom's side, and Christmas morning with my parents and brother, and the Christmas afternoon with my family on my Dad's side. Lot's of fun, food and presents! I am so thankful to have such great family and
friends to spend the holidays with.
But let's not forget the true meaning of Christmas! Everywhere I go, now that it is so near the 25th, I see more and more frantic parents rushing around the toy section of Target and parents of teenagers stressing out of the price of all the electronic gizmos that are added to the 'Letters to Santa'. More credit cards being maxed out, stressed-out shoppers racing for the last 'Super toy' and store employees wishing they could just go home.
Is this the way the season is supposed to be? Frantic stress because there is so much to do before the in-laws come to town? Anger at the people who are trying to relax and enjoy the season while you are rushing around to everything yourself?
It all reminds me of the story in the Bible (Luke 10) about Mary and Martha. I know you all have probably heard the story many times, but don't turn me off or exit out yet. I hope this will mean something to you.
Martha represents everyone trying to get ready for Christmas. She rushes around, trying to get all her shopping, cooking and decorating done before family and friends arrive. She really would appreciate the help of her sister, Mary.
But Mary is content where she is. She is sitting at Jesus's feet, concentrating on the words he is speaking, learning from Him. She is everyone that is making the most of the Christmas season, and focusing on God, not on presents and preparations.
Martha is frustrated, because her 'TO DO' list just seems to be growing longer and longer, and Mary isn't helping her out a bit. So she goes into the living room where Mary and Jesus are and says, "Lord, isn't Mary supposed to be helping me bake cookies and wrap presents and finish shopping? She is being lazy, leaving me to do all the work!"
But Jesus says,
"Martha, your sister is concentrating on the real meaning on the season. Stop rushing around so, and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Focus on me, Martha."
Aren't we all 'Marthas' around Christmas? All we focus on is getting everything done. We forget why we even HAVE Christmas!!
So just think about that in the remaining days until December 25th.
Let's all be more like Mary. Slow down and listen to what God has to tell us this Christmas season.
Jesus is the reason for the season! Never forget, my friends! :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Mikayla
-- The humble shall see their God at work for them. No wonder they will be so glad! All who seek for God shall live in joy. Psalm 69:32
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