Following is a post I recently wrote on Project Inspired:

Ladies, to love Jesus is to know as much about Him as possible. But what does that mean? Knowing about Jesus means more than just knowing that He is the son of God and that He is God.

Once you, as a Christian, know about Jesus, you can truly have a relationship with Him, because in doing so, you have a better understanding about Him and what is expected of you. The following is a list of 10 things every Christian should know about Jesus. Of course, they’re not the only things you should know about Him, but they’re a good start for building a relationship with Him. And they should also prompt you to learn more!

1. He loves you unconditionally. No matter who you are or what you have done, good or bad, He loves you. And that love is never-ending. No one will ever love you more than He does!
2. He died for you. I know that most Christians know this, but to really know it is to understand the sacrifices that went into this amazing act. God sacrificing His son. Jesus sacrificing Himself. Not to mention the pain that He felt. All to carry the burdens of your sins.
3. He wants the best for you. God has good intentions when He creates each and every one of us. He plans for our welfare and our righteousness. It’s usually our free will that takes us in a different direction.
4. He wants to be a part of your life. He wants you to take Him with you on your journey through life. Not just when things are good, but also when they are bad. He wants you to take Him with you through prayer, praise and glorification, in everything that you say and do.
5. He wants to be #1. Above everything else! Nothing should be more important than Him. Nothing and no one should come before Him.
6. He has high expectations of you. Jesus often referred to keeping His and His Father’s commandments. So He does expect that you behave a certain way. What is right and what is wrong have been laid out in scripture, and we do have a responsibility to follow those commandments! But it’s not easy. Jesus knows it’s not easy…without Him. Jesus wants you to rely on Him to help you keep those commandments, hence #4, above. He needs to be a part of your life always.
7. He wants you to do good. Scripture reveals many examples of good deeds, from the good Samaritan to the poor widow’s offering. Good deeds alone aren’t going to get you to heaven, but they were obviously important enough for Jesus to continually point them out!
8. He’s not a pushover. Do you remember Jesus turning tables over in the temple courts? Or when Jesus became angry when His disciples were afraid of the storm? Jesus is compassionate and loving, but He wants you to take Him seriously. What does that mean? To believe in Him.
9. He can’t make you follow Him. We were created with free will. And even though everything is possible with God, He won’t make you follow Him. His arms are open; it’s up to you whether you choose Him or not.
10. Life is easier with Him in it. Life is not going to be easy. But scripture tells us over and over that with Jesus in it, we are stronger.

Ladies, did you know these things about Jesus? What do you think of this list?

Check out more of my posts on Project Inspired

If you loved this, then you’re sure to like…

7 Things That Make It Tough to Be a Christian Girl Today

I Want to Write a Novel, But Where Do I Start?

 Why People-Watching Enhances Characterization in Fiction Writing

Following is a post I recently wrote on Project Inspired:

Boys can be hard to understand, right? And for Christian girls growing up in a highly sexual world, it’s imperative to learn how they tick!

But guys aren’t just going to up and give away their secrets…yes, they have secrets, just like you! So I’m going to let you in on a few.

Before you delve into this list, however, know that no two guys, whether they’re non-Christian or Christian, are the same. And not all boys fall into all of these scenarios. But even the best Christian guy falls into at least a few!!!

So here goes:

1. Being a guy is tough. There are a lot of expectations and peer pressure from other guys. In that sense, they’re not much different from you!
2. Teen boys struggle as much as you.They’re also going through an awkward stage. Physically and emotionally, they’re experiencing new things. They’re crossing over from child to adult, and in many ways, it ain’t pretty!
3. Boys can be insecure, and fear rejection and failure. They don’t know how to act in front of girls, as much as you don’t know how to act around them. So they may put on a tough persona to hide their insecurities.
4. They may be saying what they need to say to get what they want. I’m sorry to include this, but I’ve actually heard teen boys say this–usually in the event that they want to be intimate. It’s basically a means to an end that they’d rather deal with later!
5. Many aren’t interested in long-term relationships…at least, not right now! They just want to have fun, fit in and not be left out. Sound familiar?
6. They may be looking to trade up. Eeek! I’ve heard this directly also. Boys like to compete, and at this point in their lives, they’re usually not looking for the girl who would make the best wife.
7. They’re very visual. Many boys lust quickly and it doesn’t take much for their minds to hit the gutter. Sure, checking out girls is cool among friends, but many guys struggle with immodesty. It’s often distracting and confusing, and since they’re likely going through hormonal changes, it’s embarrassing. Even Christian guys struggle!
8. They may be easily tempted. Again, lots of guys struggle with immodesty. Many are too immature to avert their eyes when a “hot” girl walks by or flirts with him.
9. Guys are physically attracted to immodesty and emotionally attracted to modesty. And this isn’t just in relation to clothes, but also to behavior. I can’t say this enough…boys respect modesty!
10. They’re not going to change for you. Really! Even if they say they will, most likely they’re just saying it to get what they want…refer back to number 4.

Ladies, this post is not meant to denigrate boys, or give them excuses for their behavior. The truth is that teenage boys are just as complicated as you are. They’re going through a physical and emotional change in their lives, and it’s a challenge.

But the truth is that the many idiosyncrasies that come with being a teen boy are the same reasons why getting emotionally involved usually ends up with a broken heart for you. But more than that, relationships can distract you from God. I know that I’ve written it before, but unless you’re looking for marriage, you probably shouldn’t be looking for love!

Ladies, what do you think about the above list? Share your story…we love to hear from you!

Check out more of my posts on Project Inspired

If you loved this, then you’re sure to like…

7 Things That Make It Tough to Be a Christian Girl Today

I Want to Write a Novel, But Where Do I Start?

 Why People-Watching Enhances Characterization in Fiction Writing