Good morning, Mini-Women! How fun was our live blog party Friday night? We missed those of you who couldn't join us -- although you were totally with us in spirit, right, everybody?
At the very end, my computer froze up, probably because of the bajillion comments in my inbox, so I didn't get to officially bring the party to a close, but you did a great job on your own. That's because you're maturing right before my eyes!
I did want to say that all the things we talked about in that very-packed two hours are things that make growing up EASIER than it would be without our Lord Christ. Just to recap, we talked about five different "easy buttons."
(1) Jesus' rules are way easier than the not-written-down ones that other kids put on ya, like you have to be boy-crazy to be "in" and you're a reject if you don't play at least two sports. All Jesus says is: love God with everything you have and love other people the way you want to be loved. THAT WAS EASY!
(2) You don't have to know everything. If you're paying attention to God by having quiet time and praying and getting into the stories in the Bible, God is going to fill you in on a need-to-know basis. So when everybody else is going on about stuff you're clueless about, not to worry. Having the 411 (do poeple still say that?) doesn't make you cool. THAT WAS EASY!
(3) Other people may hold a grudge, like, forever, but God doesn't. Jesus tells us God not only forgives but turns us around so we're headed in the right direction. It's definitely hard when your friend ditches you for some teeny tiny infraction of the friendship rules, but knowing you're forgiven where it counts makes it so much easier to learn and go on. THAT WAS EASY!
(4) Even though it seems like everything would be so much better if people would listen to what you know about how they ought to be behaving, you don't have to "fix" everybody, and you can't anyway. Jesus says we have to love people and forgive them and pray for them; he doesn't guarantee that's going to change them. So why do it? Because it changes YOU. And you just never know how THAT is going to affect somebody else. THAT WAS EASY!
(5) The entire rest of the world might say you aren't smart enough or skinny enough or talented enough or blonde enough, or that you don't have enough of the right stuff. They just don't know. You ARE enough, because God MADE you enough. Sure, you're going to keep growing and maturing and becoming more and more and more your real self. But right now, this very minute, you are enough. THAT WAS EASY.
The rules themselves ARE easy. Like Jesus says, when you let him be in charge, the yoke is easy and the burden is light. The part that's HARD (as I think it was Dancing Kw!n pointed out) is that we still have to live in a world where a lot of people are saying we're lame and uncool for doing the Jesus thing instead of the so-called "cool" thing.
We're going to work on that, starting Thursday. For right now, will you do two things?
#1 PARTY CLEAN-UP
If you were at the party at all, even for a few minutes, you were a winner. Each one of you has won THAT IS SO ME, the one-year devotional book. If you already have that one, please email me privately at nnrue@att.net and we'll talk about what you would like to have me send you. By the way, if I still owe you a prize from a past contest, I will be mailing those out, too, in this batch. (Trying to finish a novel for grown-ups makes it hard to get everything else done!)
#2 HELPING ME WITH GIRL POLITICS
As I said in one of my posts last week, I'm revising the GIRL POLITICS book and would love to have some stories from you about friends, cliques, and really mean chicks. I'm making that a little simpler, so . . .
If you would like to tell me in a couple of sentences what a TRUE FRIEND is like, you can post it here as a comment or email it to me at nnrue@att.net. Here are some examples:
A true friend is happy for you when something good happens to you, instead of wishing it had happened to her.
A true friend sticks up for you when other people are putting you down.
A true friend listens to you even when you go on and on and on (and on)
There will be more questions, but let's just go with this one for now. Everyone who helps will receive a copy of the new GIRL POLITICS book when it comes out.
Thanks, mini-women! You are the BEST and it is EASY to be your friend!
Blessings,
Nancy Rue
OK I might as well go back to Brownie Girl (VividAsh isn't my kind of name LOL)
Strangers = think I'm shy
My Friends = think I'm outgoing
My Best Friends = know that I'm completely insane!
Posted by: Brownie Girl | January 30, 2012 at 11:20 AM
a true friends there for you know madder what
a true friend likes you for who you are on the inside
Posted by: Emma | January 30, 2012 at 01:21 PM
A true friend is someone you can talk to about ANYTHING
Posted by: Abby:) | January 30, 2012 at 01:54 PM
A true friend is someone who is your sister or brother in Christ.
A true friend loves you when you're hurt emotionally, even if being hurt makes them hurt emotionally.
A true friend will stick up for you.
A true friend will share secrets with you, like what they're getting their parent for their birthday or Mother/Fathers day.
A true friend will brighten up your day, like bacon bits in a salad (I got that one from a saying!).
A true friend will give you warmth when you're in a bad mood.
A true friend will pray for you.
A true friend is God.
A true friend is family.
A true friend knows you well.
A true friend will help you up when you are down.
A true friend will tell you the truth, even if it hurts.
A true friend would practically do anything to help you.
A true friend will help you when you're doing the wrong thing and need direction.
No matter how large an argument or fight is, a true friend will always find out a way to break the ice.
Ok, I have to go! Bye!
Amelia
Posted by: Amelia, who slept in 'till 11:00am! | January 30, 2012 at 02:08 PM
A true friend is one that will love you through everything.
A true friend knows when teasing and bullying each other is different.
A true friend doesn't cry herself to sleep if you make a new friend you have more in common with.
A true friend doesn't judge you.
A true friend respects your differences.
A true friend is won't joke about serious things in your life you vent about.
A true friend is one that has your back and won't leave you when your not cool.
A true friend won't tell you you need a boyfriend to be her friend!
Sorry about that last one. One of my friends was being hateful today just because she is the oldest she thinks she's in charge of our group. She needs prayer. Please pray for my friend Carrie Scott!
Posted by: Andi | January 30, 2012 at 04:35 PM
A true friend is someone who is always there for you even in hard times.
Posted by: Rebekah | January 30, 2012 at 05:09 PM
A true friend will never let you down,
A true friend is a christian,
A true friend is willing to try what you do best,
When you are bad at a sport or dancing, she/he will help you to do better, (If you want to!)
A true friend will know when to stop teasing you,
And A true friend will go along with your play!
Mrs. Rue: I think I won more than once, so will I be getting a email soon? (Actually it's my sister's email so she'll get it and see it's from you and tell me to read this!
~Grace
Posted by: Grace Heather | January 30, 2012 at 07:04 PM
A true friend is someone you don't have to put on an act around.
A true friend is like a sister.
A true friend understands when you mess up around her.
A true friend doesn't care how popular you are.
A true friend doesn't care if you have other close friends.
Posted by: Lilac | January 30, 2012 at 08:31 PM
Here is what I think a true friend is, and I hope you don't mind it is written as a poem!
A True Friend
There are many ways do describe a friend, but I believe a TRUE friend is-
Kind and Compassionate, Understanding and Cheerful,Kooky and Crazy in all the best ways, Funny and Sharing, Loving and Dreaming.
Friends don't always last forever, because, a true friend, is hard to come by.
Posted by: Squirrelgirl 777 | January 30, 2012 at 08:34 PM
A ture friend's with you all the time.
They don't care what's up--they stick with you.
There's a verse, I thin, that tells youthat a true friend isbetter than a brother. So, in our case, I suppose a true friend is better than a sister! So, a true friend is just like family.
And a true friend really understands you and knows you--I suppose, right down to your favourite colour and what you like as pizza toppings!
Posted by: May Warry | January 31, 2012 at 01:23 AM
Praying!
Posted by: Amelia | January 31, 2012 at 02:29 PM
Hey Girlz. :) I've decided to change my name to Go$p@l G@ng$t@. If you can't read it, it says "Gospal Gangsta". And I spelled it wrong on purpose. ;)That's all for now, love y'all!! :)
Former Dvncin' Kwi!n
Posted by: Go$p@l G@ng$t@ | February 01, 2012 at 09:02 PM
Hopefully this isn't too off topic..but right now i am really praising God now because i finally have my own horse.
ILYLWSBWA
Laura
Posted by: ~~~LAURAJANE~~~ | February 02, 2012 at 06:06 PM
Hey congratulations LauraJane!!!!! So cool!!! :D
p.s. Mrs Rue I think I emailed you, I don't know if you got it or not
Posted by: Joy | February 02, 2012 at 07:08 PM
Do we have to email our adresses?
Posted by: May Warry | February 02, 2012 at 08:54 PM
wow!!!! LAURJANE you got a horse! you are so lucky! i love to ride!!!! thats awsome congrats! what the horses name? :)
Posted by: Emma | February 02, 2012 at 10:28 PM
A True friend is a friend who stays with you no matter what... (Even if another friend comes by!)
P.S. Mrs. Rue, I sent you two emails'and I'm not sure you got them! They were for your girl politics book!
Posted by: Jujubear ♥ | February 03, 2012 at 08:27 AM
Congrats, LauraJane!
Did anyone but me not get the right page until they looked up www.nancyrue.com? If you did, then I think it's Nancy Rue's new website look...I think.
I came up with one more!
A true friend will tell you the truth, even if it hurts.
ILYGMTDFMSIC! (I love all y'all more than dairy foods, mah sistahs in Christ!
Amelia
*PS A true friend will love you more than things.*
**PPS I got a little southern at the end. Basically, it says, I love all of you girls more than dairy foods, my sisters in Christ!
Posted by: Amelia, who slept in 'till 11:00am! | February 03, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Sorry this is off-topic but Wow Nancy Rue I love your new website! :D
Posted by: Joy | February 03, 2012 at 12:51 PM
New website?!?!?!? That sounds cool! I love horse's too! You can tell by my new name! former Grace Heather now Lovin' Horse's!
(P.S. Mrs. Rue? I sent you an email, did you get it?)
Sincerely,
Lovin' Horse's
Posted by: Lovin' Horse's | February 03, 2012 at 04:41 PM
yes amelia i do see the new website now. its awsome. :)
Posted by: Emma | February 03, 2012 at 07:33 PM
A true friend is someone you can trust. Someone you can tell your secrets to without worrying that she will talk about you behind your back. A true friend is someone who understands you. It doesn't mean you are exactly the same. Here's an example. You love writing. Your friend doesn't. But when you win a writing contest your friend is the one who congratulates you and jumps up and down with the same excitement and happiness you have. Because although she might not understand why you love writing, she knows how much it means to you. Also true friends overcome the differences. A true friend wouldn't tell you that she isn't your friend just because you like something she doesn't. Oh! Congratulations to all those who won the book! I hope I can be in the next blog party!
Posted by: Yoomin | February 04, 2012 at 09:34 AM
Cool new website!
Posted by: May Warry | February 04, 2012 at 05:21 PM
I love your new website! Its cool! I didn't know you had a blog for adults! I told my mom about it, and she likes it too!
~Lovin' Horse's
Posted by: Lovin' Horse's | February 05, 2012 at 01:28 PM
I love your new website! It looks better organized than your last one! I was sooooo confused when I couldn't shortcut it here. But I love the site!
Posted by: Andi | February 06, 2012 at 07:23 AM