Friday, November 28th, 2008 at 11:26 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
"My favorite Christmas memory is waking up at 5 AM with my brothers and running down the stairs in the pitch dark to see what is under the Christmas tree.
But I also love performing in the Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve, it is a tradition that keeps me focused on the true meaning of Christmas."
>>>Let's go shopping! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of Caroline's music and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Caroline's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
tags: caroline williams, purenrg, pure nrg, celebrity favorite christmas memory
Am I too nice???
Thursday, November 27th, 2008 at 8:19 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
Q: Everyone says that I'm “too nice” and they tease me about “never getting angry”... I get angry and I don't always feel like 'being nice' but I'm just trying to honor Christ in the way I live my life! Should I be showing my anger and distaste a little bit more?
A: Anger is a natural emotion. Read throughout the Bible and you'll see that God gets angry too. Some anger is productive and other anger is unproductive. Psalm 4:4 warns us, “in your anger do not sin”
Anger that is sinful / selfish in nature is definitely wrong, “You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.” (Colossians 3:7-9)
As you can see, sinful / selfish anger goes hand-in-hand with a lot of other unproductive life choices. Choices that ultimately reap trouble for your life.
Here are some awesome nuggets of truth from the Bible on the subject of anger:
+ ”A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” (Proverbs 29:11)
+ “Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.” (Proverbs 29:8)
+ “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:9)
+ “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.” (Proverbs 15:1-2)
+ "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for a man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." (James 1:19-21)
+ "Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared." (Proverbs 22:24-25)
+ "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." (1 Corinthians 13:4-6)
Pretty self-explanatory huh? Don't feel bad about being 'too nice' As sinful human beings, there is no such thing as being 'too nice'!
Talk Soon,
RUTH
* This is an excerpt from the book InTheTimes.com Q&A by Ruth Tynes. Copyright 2008. It may not be reprinted or posted without written permission from the author. Please contact devos@inthetimes.com for reprint permission.
tags: tween pre-teen teen young adult girl q&a, christian faith, emotions anger being made fun of mocked taunted
Korey Cooper on Self-Image...
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 at 8:47 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
ITT:Growing up is hard for every girl, were there any specific issues that you dealt with growing up that you'd like to encourage the InTheTimes.com girls about?
Korey: I was ridiculously insecure, very introverted, and absolutely negative when it came to my self-image. I thought that I was ugly inside and out. I was full of fear, fear of being discovered as the loser that I felt I was.
However, God was faithful to me, faithful to break me down, faithful to make me aware of my utter self-indulgence, for that was the root of it all. Insecurity, pride, and fear is all based on self; and self is not meant to be the center of our lives.
I put on a good fake face, but inside I was coming apart. God was unrelenting with me though, as I wanted Him to be. In His love, He was so faithful to discipline me, as He promises to be with those who are absolutely submitted to Him. He showered me in His love, sheltered me, and helped me build some character, so that I could be useful to Him.
>>>Let's go shopping! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of Korey's music and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Korey's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
Krissy Nordhoff's 'Once Upon a Time' Real Life Love Story
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 at 12 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
ITT:Your husband and Manager / Record Label Exec, Eric, truly is a partner in ministry with you, how did you
meet, how is he an encouragement to you, and what advice would you like to give InTheTimes.com girls
when it comes to finding the Godly 'man of their dreams' ?
Krissy: I met Eric at Rocketown here in Nashville. It's a club for young adults owned by Michael W. Smith. I was working for a record company and so was Eric. His artists were doing a showcase there and Eric was greeting everyone. I happened to be one of the first people there. He introduced himself to me and he would tell you, “She looked like an angel.” The rest is history!
Eric is an encouragement to me in many ways, one of the most important is discipline. Eric is one of the most disciplined, goal-oriented people I have ever met in my life. I was the opposite, a typical musician. He has helped me a lot with learning to be balanced in the areas of spending time with God, exercise, and eating healthy. I am so glad he has rubbed off on me!
Eric also has started his own business and is making his dream a reality. That is very inspiring to me!
The advice I'd like to give girls looking for a Godly man are two things: #1 look for someone who is willing to admit when they are wrong and apologize and #2 look for someone who is always trying to better themselves. These things are my favorite two attributes of Eric, when it comes to the really important conversations in our marriage, they have helped keep our marriage healthy. Don't compromise!
>>>Let's go shopping! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of Krissy's music and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Krissy's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
tags: krissy nordhoff, once upon a time real life love story, celebrity behind the scenes
Everyone tells me that I'm a flirt!
Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 12 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
Q: Everyone tells me that I'm a flirt! But I'm just trying to be friendly! Deep down it makes me feel bad...if I'm doing something not so smart I want to stop, but I tend to just blurt things out! Any advice?
A: Everyone wants to be liked! There are misconceptions all over society that teach that in order to be popular and well-liked, that we must be “up” all of the time, acting as if our life is “perfect” and that we are living one big party. This is far from the truth of reality!
Jesus said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world !”
If you look at the people in your sphere of influence and in society at large that are truly popular and well-liked, they are people who are considered to be “real” -- people who are sincere and genuine.
1 Peter 1:22 says, “have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart” and in 2 Corinthians 6:3-6, “We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way...in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God”
Don't be afraid to be yourself and don't feel like you always have to 'look like you have it all together' because everyone has up and down days! Romans 3:23 encourages us, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
You've pinpointed part of your problem as being that you blurt things out, so start working on slowing it down, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19)
Another misconception is that popular / well-liked people always have something witty to say and are always in a state of conversation, “The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 9:17)
Take time to slow down, think about what you are saying and if saying it is even necessary. Don't talk just to talk, but take cues from the Proverbs 31 woman, “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” (Proverbs 31:26)
Start valuing the people in your life more by not just seeing them as an opportunity to “flirt” or to show off your popularity, get beyond the superficial and truly speak wisdom and love into their life!
Congrats on not being afraid to admit your weaknesses and seeking to improve on them! “for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again” (Proverbs 24:16)
Thanks & Talk Soon!
RUTH
* This is an excerpt from the book InTheTimes.com Q&A by Ruth Tynes. Copyright 2008. It may not be reprinted or posted without written permission from the author. Please contact devos@inthetimes.com for reprint permission.
tags: tween pre-teen teen young adult girl q&a, christian faith, flirt flirting, popularity
