Last Saturday was the first time in a long time that I did not receive a text message or call from my Papa about the Clemson vs Carolina football game. He was a true Gamecock fan for some reason and I, on the other hand, was born and raised a Clemson fan. He used to always text me or call me when Clemson lost or even when they won. Even when Clemson would lose, I loved reading his simple text “how about them Tigers?” His rival comments were always so calm but came with a purpose. When he would call or leave a message, he always started out with “Kayla, this is your grandpa calling…” Or when I was living at home with an old school answering machine, we would quote him before he spoke “Roger, this is your dad…” He just had a voice and demeanor that everyone knew. We had an ongoing family football division but it was always fun and games. To be honest, I never really cared that much for football, but I did love the rivalry, grilling out, and just the fun of it all. It was a way for my papa and me to connect even when we were too busy to get together. When I married a Georgia fan, it got interesting, but that was just one more rivalry to add to the table. I’m sure papa would have gotten a kick out of the game this year. (Sorry Dustin, but you know it’s true)

During the summer, we would spend our days at the lake with papa and grandma and whichever cousins or other family members or friends would show up. We would fish or just go for boat rides every weekend, sit at the falls or just swim around. In the evening we would grill out and everyone was invited. I never remember asking them if we could come over, we just did. We all did. My Papa loved people and he loved to be with his family and friends. I remember waking up early on summer Saturday mornings to the smell of coffee and bacon, my dad’s specialty. Whether we sat on our porch overlooking the calm water or walked over to grandma and papa’s place, we were at home. Though his cabin was torn down last summer for future developments, those memories can never be taken away. I dreamed of the day I would be able to walk my boys down to the same dock that my papa and dad built themselves. I wanted to see my boys sit down under the tin roof shed and listen to the rain as it passed over on a hot summer day. I imagined my papa and grandma sitting on the dock, probably with a line in the water, just watching the boys jump in the water a hundred times. What would it be like if he was still here? Would I even have made the time to enjoy those moments?

I live less than 5 minutes from my grandparents’ house, but for some reason, as an adult, I would always find myself too busy to drop by and spend time with them. As a child, I spent every summer weekend with them and a lot of my other family members as well, but as an adult, life just got busy. From long summers to only holidays and text messages, our relationship died down but our families kept growing. When our campground started to dissipate as investors tried (and are still trying) to take it over for land development, my papa basically let go of his place. It was too much for him to handle and just not the same without a dock and a place for his boat. We had to remove docks, clear land, and in one day, the investors bulldozed the home that sheltered my childhood summers. I can still smell the fruity pebbles on busy mornings and the sparklers on July 4^th. The campfire was always going and the American flag hung on each of our decks. There are too many memories to count, but so many memories I feel like I missed out on with him and my children just because I didn’t make time for them.

My papa didn’t text me during the game Saturday because his life on earth ended a few months ago. The week before my first year teaching Released Time at Pickens Middle School, I was sitting on a boat in Edisto with a few good friends and their kids, my mother in law, and my husband and boys. My phone had been ringing for a while but I never heard it since it was in my bag under my seat. As the sun was setting and I was enjoying the view, my husband handed me his phone to show me a text from my sister that said “tell Kayla to call me now.” In my gut, I knew something was wrong. As I picked up the phone and called her back, my heart sank. All she could say was, “papa died.” She couldn’t explain it, she didn’t know how, and she was just in shock and hurting. I just wanted to be there with my family but I couldn’t. I was hours away in the ocean, a place my papa always loved. As tears flowed down my cheek, I looked out at the sunset and just prayed for strength and peace that only God could provide.

The weekend before we left for Edisto, we visited my papa and he was healthy, happy, and ready to get his surgery over with. He was scheduled for a simple surgery on his kidneys and was supposed to be out of the hospital in less than a week. He told me that he loved me and he would see me soon as we walked out the door. I knew he would be just fine. I was wrong. The day of his surgery, my dad called to tell me everything was great and the doctors didn’t have any concerns. Every day, every call, my dad said the same thing, he’s doing great. The night before my papa passed, he was cracking jokes with my dad and smiling. He didn’t look like anything was wrong with him. For some reason, the next day, he passed away suddenly after cardiac arrest. His heart just wasn’t as strong as it needed to be. We don’t have all the answers, nor will I ever understand why this happened, but what I do know is that my papa is in a much better place. Whatever his body could not handle on this earth is no longer a hindrance to him in heaven. He is free and his death was simply a part of God’s purpose for his life. The next morning, I woke up early with my boys, and took a walk on the beach, one of his favorite things to do, and just remembered him for who he was and felt his presence as if he were walking beside me. I know that he is gone but he will always be remembered.

As I look back, before my teenage years, I remember every detail of the little things that my papa did to make me feel special. I remember his calm demeanor, his “well Dean” (my grandma’s name) comments when things didn’t go just as planned, and his love for his family no matter what happened. I remember summers that I never wanted to end and walks on the beach in silence, just enjoying God’s creation. I wish I had more moments like that, but I don’t have that chance anymore.

Today, I want you to take a deep breath and think about someone you’ve disconnected from in the last year. Who do you only speak to on holidays or special occasions? How would you feel if that person was no longer around for you to see?

There was a silence on Saturday, though even from a text, that reminded me of the relationship I had with my papa. It wasn’t long in depth conversations about life, but it was life and living it together. On Sunday mornings, as we sat on his screened in porch at the lake, he would pick up his bible and head out to church. No matter how pretty the sun was or how less crowded the lake would be, he made a point to go to church every Sunday. His lifestyle left an imprint on all those around him. Make an impact on others and pass on a legacy of respect and honor for those that have served the Lord before you. Spend time, make time, and be present with those in your presence. Put down your phones and just live. No matter how many pictures you have on your phone they will never be able to compare to the memories, the sights, the sounds, the smells of the moments and the people that meant most to you.

I pray that my children will always respect their grandparents and never get so wrapped up in their own lives that they forget about those around them. I’m sure I’m not the only one that regrets not spending enough time with someone that loved so much, so don’t let that next regret be yours.

Some of his military buddies might beg to differ, but he was a man with a gentle spirit that calmed the room in any chaos. He was a man of God that loved his family and will always be missed. He was my papa.

I miss you pops! And by the way, “Go Tigers!”

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

May God bless you and show you His Grace every day!

Kayla Rampey

My prayer for you this week:

I pray that God will guide you 

Every step of every day

I pray that He will show you

His love in every way

I pray that you’ll be kind

And be His hands and feet

I pray for every word

And every person that you meet

I pray that you’ll remember

The ones that go without

I pray that you’ll be grateful 

And share His word throughout

I pray you’ll find a way 

To give to those in need

I pray you’ll hear His voice

And follow where He leads

I pray for love and laughter 

Or whatever God may will 

I pray for understanding 

When life is hard to deal

I pray this prayer in honor

Of the Lord who reigns most high 

I pray to be a witness 

From now until I die

I pray that all you do

Is for His glory above

I pray for humble spirits 

That exemplify His love 

I pray for the lost and wondering 

That are looking for that peace 

I pray their hearts will soften 

And their burdens will be released 

I pray for a grand revival 

A culture against all sin

I pray for bold believers 

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

-Kayla Rampey

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!

In 2 Corinthians 13:5, the apostle Paul asks the Corinthian believers a question: “Or do you not realize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you?” Christ is not merely outside of us, a Helper in our time of need, but He dwells in us, living in and with us all the time. If you are a follower of Christ, a daughter of the One True King, you are empowered by the fact that the Holy Spirit lives within you. He is with you always.

Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.”

When you become a follower of Christ you become a new creation in the eyes of God. Your sins are washed away and covered by the blood of Jesus and your new life begins.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

By the power of Christ, your sins are covered and you are a new creation. As you let go of your old self and let Christ take hold of your life, realize that His power is all that you need. Trust in Him, believe in His love, and never let the world distract you from the purpose He has for your life.

Romans 8:11 states, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”

Read Romans 8:11 again. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in YOU. If the Spirit of Christ lives in you, it’s time you start to act like it. God gave you the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead! Live by the Spirit and empower others with the strength and ability that God has blessed you with. Having power alone is great, but sharing it with others, spreading the news of Christ, and empowering those around you, that is the purpose of an empowered Jesus girl.

There are so many teenage girls that are struggling with depression. Out of the thousands of teenage girls I’ve worked with in my life, I can honestly say that the majority of them have struggled with depression at some point in their life. At one event, I asked the girls in the audience to raise their hand if they had ever been diagnosed with depression. It amazed me to see hands rise up all over the room. The audience was filled with girls 6^th – 12^th grade that were struggling with a pain that no one could see from the outside. On the outside, the girls looked young, beautiful, and carefree, but on the inside they were completely broken.

Depression and anxiety have become the silent killers that are spreading like wildfire across the world. Like a disease without a cure, depression is taking lives every day. The “cures” that most girls are reaching for end up leading them further down a path of destruction.

For some girls, they seclude themselves to hide their pain. It’s much easier for a person to ignore reality and seclude themselves from other people than it is for them to open up to someone and ask for help. If a person already has trust issues, do you really think they are willing to ask for help?

Teenage girls and young women across the world are turning to cutting just to feel alive. A psychiatrist once explained it to me by saying, “When a person feels lost and says that they are basically dead inside, they turn to cutting just to feel like they are alive. The pain on the inside hurts so bad that when they inflict physical pain on themselves it distracts them from the internal conflicts within their minds.”  

Other girls are turning to drugs, sex, and alcohol to cope with past hurts in their lives. Addiction can start with one simple mistake and domino into a life out of control in less than a few days.

God has given you the power to handle more than you could ever handle alone. I challenge you to use the power God has given you for His glory.

You can save someone’s life by embracing the power that God has granted you.

How can you empower others? Are you ready for a challenge?

Challenge:

Ladies, it’s time we step up and do what God has called us to do. If we don’t start empowering each other now, more and more girls are going to start leaning on other methods of coping with struggles they cannot handle alone. It’s our job, as Empowered Jesus Girls, to show each other Who to turn to when things get tough. God is the only way to peace. We need to shout it from the rooftops and help other girls realize how powerful our God is!

When a person is struggling with depression, left out, or maybe just the quiet girl in class, I challenge you to reach out to them. I challenge you to step up your game and step out of your comfort zone. Share God’s love with someone today. You never know how powerful your words and actions can be until you let God work through you.

Empower the powerless.

As followers of Christ, you are called to make disciples, but how can you do that if you keep saying you “hate” people.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

The bible clearly states that it is important for you to love God and love people. This is repeated multiple times throughout scripture. In Matthew 22: 36-40, Jesus speaks of the love, not hate, that you should show those around you.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

If you “hate people,” you are also saying that you hate yourself because guess what guys, you are a person. More than that, God created you and everyone around you. By hating people, you hate God’s creation.

Hatred is defined as ‘intense dislike or ill will.’ Do you have ill will for God’s creation? As a child of God, you are His creation that He has commanded to love others as you love yourself. He doesn’t specify certain people or give you characteristics of the people you and shouldn’t like; instead, He commands you to love others as you love yourself. No one is excluded from His command. Jesus shared His love by dying on the cross for the sins of the whole world. Why is it that it is so hard for believers today to simply love others just by being kind?

I can guarantee you that there will be people that you cannot get along with no matter how hard you try. There will be people that love you no matter what, and then there will be people that refuse to like you no matter what. Life is not easy and we are all imperfect people, but the Jesus still commands us to love one another. How can you love someone that is not easy to love? What about your enemies or evil people in this world?

 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighborand hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48

Despite how hard it may be, the Lord says we are to pray for our enemies. More than that, we are called to step out of our comfort zone and love those that are not in our circle of friends. If Christians only made friends with other Christians and never spoke to nonbelievers, how would people come to know Christ? What would unbelievers think about Christians if they never spoke to them? Christians, it’s time to step up and show the love others through the love of Christ.

I know that not everyone will get along in this world, but it is important for you and I both to realize that God is greater than any hate in this world. God can settle the hatred that boils under your skin if you will just turn it over to Him, ask for forgiveness, and let Him fill you with the love that only He can provide.  

From now on, before you use the word hate, remember that hate is not just a word you are using against another person or thing; it is a word that you are using against God.

When you say, “I hate that person.” You are saying, “I hate who God created!” Do you really mean that? Would you look up to God and tell Him you hate His creation?

Remind yourself daily of God’s great love and the love that you are to mimic to others.

Show love by living like Christ.

Make disciples by devoting your life to being different.

Stop the hate, turn to Christ, and trust His guidance.

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!

Christian testimonials have become predictable in the church today. It seems as though every testimony that I have heard in my past, including my own, has had a prodigal child element. Most testimonies go a little something like this, “I once was a child that grew up in or around church but one day rebelled against God. After a spout of rebellion, maybe drugs and alcohol or even worse, I hit rock bottom and realized that I needed God in my life. From that moment on, I let God into my heart and started living for Him.” The end. Others start out with “I never knew God as a child or cared to know Him, but one day after living in sin for many years, I turned to God and surrendered my life to Him.

The prodigal son was a character in a parable Jesus told to illustrate how generous God is in forgiving sinners who repent. The prodigal son was a young man who asked his father for his inheritance and then left home for “a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.” Later on, he realized his mistake, hit rock bottom, and returned to his father. Upon arrival, his father welcomed him with open arms and even threw a party on his behalf. The parable of the prodigal son is a moving example of the Father’s love and forgiveness for His children. Too many people today are taking this parable as a detour required for salvation instead of an example of God’s forgiveness when a person turns astray.  

It’s not often that you hear a testimony about someone that was born, accepted Christ at a young age maybe at vacation bible school or somewhere like that, and then they lived for Christ for the rest of their life.

More often than not, it seems as though struggles must come before salvation can occur.

Too many testimonies revolve around the person and their struggles and not the purpose and the plan that God had for them. For about 30 minutes a person will talk about their wild rebellious attitudes, near death experiences, drug and alcohol abuse, and maybe even jail time or worse, then spend a brief 5 minutes telling the audience about how they accepted Christ and changed their lives. They never go into detail about the transformation or what happened after the fact, but instead they spend the majority of their time talking about them and not about Him.

Don’t get me wrong when I talk about this subject, testimonies are great when they are shared in the right way. Sharing your testimony with others is important because you can relate to other people in a way that not every person can; however, it is very important that your testimony is not mainly about you but its main focus is on Jesus Christ.

The bible says in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

There is a false belief going around that you must struggle tremendously before you can get saved. It is almost like being a ‘prodigal child’ is required for the Christian life. I have sat in bible studies with friends of all ages discussing their testimonies and the majority of them had a “prodigal son” element. In addition to that, I have sat in bible studies where I’ve heard others say, “I don’t really have a testimony because I was saved at a young age and didn’t go through a hard time, struggle with drugs, or rebel against God before getting saved.” In youth ministry multiple students implied that their testimony hadn’t been written yet because they still had to live before they could learn from their mistakes. They felt that without a rock bottom story they didn’t have a salvation story worth sharing. The sad part of that story is that some people won’t live through the trial they think they need to endure to make a good “God story” to tell others.

Living in sin and learning from your mistakes before getting saved is NOT a requirement for following God. Loving God and believing in Him is what is required.

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37

Testimonies aren’t always about a person that ran from God, hit rock bottom, or struggled through a hard time before they got saved. Your personal “God story” can simply be, “I knew I was lost and I needed Jesus in my heart, so I prayed and became a child of God.” You don’t have to be an adult to tell your testimony after all the trials you have been through. Instead, you can be a youth, or even a young child, and share with others your love for Christ. Every testimony is important in the eyes of the Lord. Share your story and let God use you for His glory.

To those of you that have prodigal child testimonies just like me, I am not condemning you at all. Every testimony is important. Instead, I am sharing with you that we need to be careful when we present our testimonies to younger generations. This hits home with me, and I’ll be honest, when God gave me these words to write, I really felt Him stepping on my toes. There have been times where I have told my testimony and focused more on myself and my struggles than the One that held my hand through it all. The very first time I told my testimony I know I spent more time on me than telling others about Him. I learned from that experience and have made a point to let others know that all testimonies don’t have to be the same. It is a major lesson I had to learn but I don’t want people to think that salvation cannot occur without a struggle. When I finish telling my testimony, I don’t want people to remember me and my pain, I want them to remember God and His power, His plan, and His purpose.

The parable of the prodigal son in the bible was not meant to be an example of how your testimony should be; however, it was meant to show you that your Father will always be waiting for you with open arms. It is not a story that exemplifies that you should go out, live a little, then run back to your Father when you have nothing left; instead, it is an example of God’s love. We are not called to play tag with God and keep running back and forth until we finally feel that we need Him the most. We are called to follow Him, always.

When a child gets saved at a young age, adults often question if they are truly believers or not because they haven’t experienced enough to understand the depths of Christ’s love. However, the bible says in Matthew 18:2-4, “And He called to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom.” The faith of a child is strong because it has not been corrupted by the world. A child doesn’t have to go through hard times or experience pain to realize that he or she needs Christ; they just know and believe that they need Him in their heart. As simple as learning John 3:16 can teach a child that God’s love is stronger than any love we can ever imagine. It doesn’t take a tragedy to make John 3:16 real.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

The bible says in Romans 10:11-13, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” It doesn’t give you an age or a scenario of what you have to go through before you get saved, it only says ‘call on the name of the Lord and you will be saved.”

Romans 3:23 states, “For everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Again, it doesn’t state the extent of each person’s sin; it simply says ‘everyone has sinned.” No person is without blame before coming to know Christ as their Savior. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, death and sin entered the world. While teaching about Adam and Eve, I simplified the birth of sin by asking my class, “What type of babies do cats have? Of course they said kittens.” Then I followed up with “What type of babies do dogs have? As expected, they said puppies.” Lastly, I asked, “What types of babies do sinners have?” They sat there quietly for a minute then responded reluctantly, “sinners.” It is hard to imagine a tiny little baby being a sinner, but when sin entered the world, sinners began to birth sinners. Every person on this earth is born into a sinful nature with the ability to choose to stay in that position and live in sin or to turn from their sins and follow God.

Each person is given a chance to follow God, but if we are constantly bombarding people around us with prodigal child testimonies, eventually generations to come will believe that they can’t become followers of Christ without first experiencing a major struggle with addiction, near death experiences, or jail time. It is important for us to share Christ and the story He gave us, but more than that, He wants us to use our testimonies to lead others to Him and not mislead them with what their lives should look like prior to getting saved.

A child that gets saved at a young age may one day go through hard times and move away from God, but that does not make their salvation void. The bible says in Romans 8:38-39, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today not our worries for tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old is gone, the new has come.” When a person is saved, their old self is washed away by the blood of Christ and they become a new creation. A new creation can slip and fall away from Christ but His love will never leave them. This is not a free pass to do whatever you want and ask for forgiveness later, but it is a chance to realize that God is a forgiving God but expects His children to live for Him. As a parent loves their child, they want them to listen and obey, but at times they know their children will mess up. When the child disobeys the parent, they are disciplined in a way that gets their attention and hopefully prevents them from disobeying them again. God is the same way with His children. He knows you aren’t perfect but He expects you to try to be like His Son. When you fall away, He is still there waiting from you to return. He never stops caring for you, and He will discipline you when needed. As a follower of Christ, you will go through trials and mess up at times, but when you do, you will know that you have sinned and you will either return to your Father or live with your bad decisions and discipline that comes with it.

No one is perfect, not even a beautiful baby born in a corrupt world, but the Lord our God is waiting for you to hear His voice and run to Him.

If you were a young child that knew the truth in John 3:16 and got saved because you knew your God loves you, your testimony matters.

If you are an adult that has struggled through a life of addiction and sin, hit rock bottom, and finally ran back to God, your testimony matters.

To the youth that said they don’t have a testimony yet because they haven’t lived and learned, God is waiting on you to run to His arms.

Your testimony does not have to be a broken road. It is not a requirement to struggle immensely before getting saved. Whatever your testimony may be, let it shine for God’s glory.

Let your testimony be truth.

Let your testimony be a Light to others.

And let your testimony lead others to Him.

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!

-Kayla Rampey

 It’s time to eliminate the insignificant drama that fills your mind, and refill it with the love of Christ and His commands for His children.

There is no doubt that people are constantly comparing themselves to those around them. Adults compare themselves to other married couples and start to gradually see their faults and where they fall short of other couples. They see the outside images of “perfect” marriages and feel as if they are missing out or lesser than the others that they see around them. Marriage after marriage is being destroyed by a false mentality that perfection is the only way to peace in the home.

“It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe.” Proverbs 29:25

Mothers often get depressed because they are constantly bombarded with the image of perfect moms that keep their houses clean, always have dinner on the table when their husband gets home, and have children that respect them daily.

As teenagers, adults, and even young children, we should not subject ourselves to such scrutiny in comparing ourselves to so many people that we don’t even really know. A picture may look like a background set in heaven when in reality that person is living in the midst of a breakdown. If scroll through the “perfect” lives of past friends and peers, you are bound to get discouraged when you see others than seem to have it so much better than you.

It is so easy to get focused on the things in life that don’t matter that we often forget about the one and only reason we exist in the first place. We were not made to constantly worry about ourselves and how much better off other people are; we were made to see those in need, open our hearts to them, and share Christ with those around us. If we are constantly comparing ourselves to false projections of people we don’t even know, do you think we’ll ever get up the boldness to ask them how they truly feel? If we think a person “looks” ok, then why would we ever check on them and see if they needed anything? The false interpretation of a life that someone claims to live is blocking Christians from the boldness that Christ has given them to share with those around them. Don’t let the “picture perfect” world that we live in fool you into believing you are less than anyone else and no one needs your help. You are needed just as much if not even more to help the ones that you know are in need as well as the ones that “look like” they have it all together.

Why do we spend so much time worrying about what others think about us when all we really need to be worried about is what God thinks about us?

The bible makes it clear about what we should focus on in our lives.

In Philippians 4:8, the bible states, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Nowhere in that scripture does it say for a believer to spend time worrying about what someone else is wearing or how someone else is succeeding more than you. The bible says for us to focus on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and worthy of praise. When your mind is focused on those things and your heart is focused on the love of Christ, there isn’t room for unneeded worries in life.

Make it your goal to cleanse your mind of the unnecessary worries that this world throws at you every day. Write them down as they cross your mind and read over them at the end of the week. When the week is done and you start to look at the worries you struggled with, you’ll realize how insignificant they were then and they are now.

 Eliminate the insignificant drama that fills your mind, and refill it with the love of Christ and His commands for His children.

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!

-Kayla Rampey

Anxiety has become an epidemic that is spreading every day. It’s as if the entire world has forgotten what it’s like to be at peace, calm, comfortable with their surroundings.

When you are walking down the aisle at a store and someone starts to slow down to speak to you, do you look down and avoid eye contact or do you greet them with a smile? When you are standing in line, do you make conversation with those around you, or do you lose yourself in your phone to avoid awkwardness? What are you afraid of? Are you being Christ to others by secluding yourself from the world around you? How can we expect to share Jesus with others if we can’t even share a smile?

Anxiety is a tool that the devil uses to control our minds and keep us preoccupied and distant from our Lord and Savior. It can come in many forms, be seen in different ways, and affect those around you without you even knowing it.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7

When Eve was first tempted in the garden to take of the forbidden fruit, Satan asked her, “why would God not want you to have wisdom like Him?” In a split second, she started to doubt God. Shortly afterwards, she took of a bite of the fruit and gave some to her husband as well. Sin and death entered the world the minute Eve let her mind, filled with a Satan’s deception, talk her into to taking the fruit she was told not to touch by God Himself.

“Now the serpent was craftier than any other beast of the field that the Lord had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden.” Genesis 3:1

“..the serpent said, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes, and the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband.” Genesis 3:4-7

In a split second, your mind can ruin your life and the lives of others around you.

The signs of anxiety are not always clear, but I can guarantee you that someone you know is suffering on the inside from this unruly epidemic. Someone you know is controlled by the worried thoughts of their mind and searching for a way out of the cage they have created for themselves.

Someone that suffers from anxiety is most often described as a person that worries about almost everything, but there are so many other signs that are overlooked and left unnoticed in today’s society.

An anxious person struggles to accept that God is in control and tries to handle everything on their own.  They don’t even realize that they are trying to be ‘more powerful’ than God, but every day that they choose to try to handle things themselves without God, they are basically telling God they don’t need Him. They like to fix things, people included. They are often leaders and strong willed in their opinions. You would never know that they are struggling because they look like they have it all together every time you see them. They are usually extroverted and outgoing just to cover up that their inner worries. The outgoing person sitting beside you is broken on the inside. Can you see it?

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to the Lord.” Philippians 4:6

The silent student in class, at work, or even sitting beside you at your house, that person could be screaming on the inside. Do you really know what is going on in their head? What are their thoughts? Where do they come from? Are they begging you talk to them in their heads but too afraid to even say hello? What holds us back from speaking to these people?

“Since we have such hope, we are very bold.” 2 Corinthians 3:12

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16

The one with dark circles under their eyes, sleep deprived and always drinking coffee to try to stay awake; have you ever tried to talk to them? As you walk by them, you notice their Starbucks coffee and maybe even cringe at the price the cost, but did you notice the hurt in the person’s eyes? Could you see more than just a cool coffee cup with a big price tag?

“I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

When a business man gets out of his nice new car with a briefcase and perfectly pressed suit deep in a conversation on his high dollar phone; can you tell that his finances are the only family he has? Can you see that he is overwhelmed with debt, working overtime every chance he gets just to get by, and completely alone when he walks in the door at night? His greed drove his family away, and he is alone, tired, and just trying to get through each day. On the outside his success shines and causes others to covet everything about him, but in reality he stays busy just to avoid the loneliness he feels inside.

“For the love of money is the root of all evil…” 1 Timothy 6:10

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25

The party girl that posts pictures all over social media of her nights out and life of luxury will never tell you that every smile in her pictures is only there because of alcohol. She seems happy and looks like she is living the dream, but she uses alcohol to cover up the fact that she is terrified of slowing down, afraid to give up her lifestyle and move on as a single young mother. She fears reality and avoids it by “looking like” she has it all together.

To the extroverts, the control freaks, the ones that can handle it all, seek the Lord for your peace, let Him be your guide.

“You will seek Me and you will find Me, when you seek with all of your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

To the tired and exhausted, you can find rest in the arms of Christ.

“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

To the successful, the wealthy, and the lonely, God can give you all that you need.

“…My grace is sufficient for you, for My power, is made perfect in weakness…” 2 Corinthians 12:9

To the party girl that lives for the day and survives by masking her anxieties with alcohol and adrenaline, remember that you are not promised tomorrow.

“All flesh is like grass and its glory like the flower of the grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” 1 Peter 1:24-25

“Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

To the worriers, the everyday fake smilers, and the anti-social avoiders of society, it’s time to step up, look away from your phones, and feel the meaning of living like Christ.

“The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

The signs of anxiety may not always be clear, but the devil will do whatever it takes to gain control over your thoughts, take away your peace, your calm, and your joy in life.

Fill your mind with Christ and He will filter the things of this world that are constantly bringing you down. Let go of yourself and give your whole self, mind, body, and soul to the One that loves you most.

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:1-3

“Set your mind on things above, not on things of this earth.” Colossians 3:2

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent and praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!

Every year, Grace in the Wilderness Ministries hosts a teen conference towards the beginning of the year for girls 5^th – 12^th grade called, Empowered Jesus Girl. This has been a growing success over the years and a great source of unity among local teens from various churches, backgrounds, and communities! It has been such a blessing to watch teen girls forget about their worries, worship freely, and grow closer to God at this event.

Years back, we charged each teenager a fee for food and worship. It wasn’t the best scenario, but at the time it was the only way the event could go on. A few years back, we prayerfully decided to step out on faith and make this a FREE event. We reached out to the community and let God lead us in the direction HE wanted us to go. Within a few weeks, we had the event booked, a band and speaker in place, and multiple volunteers to assist wherever there was a need. We trusted and God provided.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

From then on, we have had a vast variety of volunteers that help with decorations, food preparations, registration, light/sound crew, music, and speaking. It’s amazing to see the provision God has blessed us with over the years! He has used this event for His glory and allowed it to grow every year!

The first time I spoke at Empowered Jesus Girl, we had around 50-75 teen girls. A year later, we had close to 100, then about 150, and last year we had over 250 attendees! God is using this event to reach girls around the Upstate and start a revival that only He can direct!

If the Lord wills, we hope to grow even more in the coming years and reach more teens for the glory of God!

Usually, the only cost for this event from the ministry is the pizza. As you know, teenage girls love their pizza and feeding 250 teenagers gets pretty expensive. So I’m asking you to help me help others! No matter your age, no matter your connection to Empowered Jesus Girl, you can make a difference in the lives of others! Every penny counts and every penny is one penny closer to allowing someone to join this event, learn about Jesus, and get a FREE meal at the same time!

Save your change to make a change!

One way you can serve it to simply save your change to make a change! We all end up with pockets full of change and pennies without purpose that sometimes fall to the wayside. I ask you to set out a jar somewhere in your home and write “Empowered by Change” on it. Over the next few months, clean out your pockets, old pocketbooks and bags, and maybe even look under the couch for lost coins, and toss them in your jar. Over time, your jar will start to fill up and you’ll see how quickly your change can make a change!

When your jar is full or you would like to make a donation to Empowered Jesus Girl 2020, you can contact me or one of the ladies from Grace in the Wilderness at the information below.

Kayla Rampey: KaylaRampey@Yahoo.com 864-915-8094

Sharon Hawkins: Sharon@wildernessgrace.org (864) 380-2358

Grace In The Wilderness Ministries, PO Box 14848, Greenville, SC 29610

We are also looking for youth and adults to help out as volunteers, photographers, and advertisers. If social media is your thing, contact me directly and I will gladly sign you up to help us out! Whatever your spiritual gift may be, we would love for you to join the crew as we serve the Lord!

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1

We are all called to serve God, and if you feel like this would be a great fit for you, contact me today and will add you to our list! You can email me at KaylaRampey@yahoo.com or text me at 864-915-8094.

We ask that you pray specifically for God to provide the wisdom and direction for 2020s event, the financial means to keep this event Free for everyone, and the volunteers that will step out on faith with us to share His word!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

Thank you for your prayers!

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!

-Kayla Rampey

After about a month of teaching Released Time at Pickens Middle School, I’ve learned a lot about middle schoolers. I love my job, and I love working with teens and sharing God’s word during the school day, but there are just some things I will never understand about this age group. (and yes, I’m sure my mother said the same thing at one time) The top random things I’ve learned about middle schoolers include:

One, VSCO girls are basically girls from the 90s…which I once was. They wear Birkenstocks, scrunchies, chokers, oversized shirts and leggings, friendship bracelets, and apparently are super worried about saving the turtles. They also hiss and make ridiculous noises at each other for no apparent reason randomly throughout their conversations. Yes, I feel 100 years old…but nope…I don’t get it.

Two, TikTok is the #1 obsession with middle schoolers right now. After hearing about TikTok every day for one month straight (and hearing that Facebook is only for old people and parents), I decided I would look it up and see what it was all about. I’ve heard about it but really never had a desire to check in to the obsession until now. I have to say, when I first downloaded the app, I had no idea what to expect. I knew I would see dance moves, because all of students are “attempting” to mimic them, and I knew it was a little out there, but what I didn’t know how addictive it really is. As I scrolled through clip after clip, my mind was taken over by the culture that we live in. Not all of the clips were bad, but the majority of them sent the wrong message to young minds and since they were such short clips, it was easy to see things you shouldn’t be looking at in between the clips that aren’t so bad.

In the 30 minutes or so that I was hooked on the app, I saw multiple clips of teenagers videoing their parent’s reaction to them shouting cuss words from a popular song or hearing dirty jokes, boys putting on makeup, young girls dancing in shorts way too short to be showcased for anyone to see, boys showing off their muscles and dancing trying to get attention, a lot of Git Up dance challenge clips, several videos of guys trying to get a date, and other videos of teens just saying things they should never say, plus randomly odd videos of couples singing to each other, and even tutorials of how to make it look like you’ve been cutting yourself. Yeah…this was all in just a few minutes. Just be careful what you post – you may think it’s private and it’ll never be seen, but once it’s out there, anyone can find it.

On the other side, there were some adorable videos of dog voice-overs, funny dance moves, Christian kids telling their testimonies, hairstyle tutorials, surprise military homecomings that made me cry, and a few other cool things, but in my opinion…is it really worth all of your time?

TikTok is like a trance that if you let it, it will take over your mind and basically brainwash you with whatever you are watching. We live in an instant gratification society. TikTok is instant. The clips are so short that after watching one you can just scroll down and there are endless others to watch. You can’t just stop at one either. It’s like once you see one, you have to scroll down and see the next one. It’s just a few seconds, so what’s it going to hurt? But then an hour later, you’ll realize that a few 5 second clips cost you an hour or more of your day.

Some clips are good and some are bad, but since they are all mixed in together, you never know what might pop up. Like I said, we live in an instant gratification, no filter, society. Just be careful what you are putting into your mind. If you fill your mind with filth, eventually you will start to be ok with whatever you are watching. One by one, things will start to look more common and your desire will be to fit in more with the society you live in. You’ll start to accept the sins that you know are wrong, just because you see them so much.

When sin saturates your mind, your mind starts to find satisfaction in the sins it’s filled with.

The #1 excuse for people not spending time with God is, “I don’t have time.” Well, here’s my answer, “If you have time to watch 100+ clips on TikTok and check all of your other social media sites and somehow text and facetime all your friends all day long, then how do you not have time for God?” Maybe you just need to prioritize. What are you willing to give up for God? What’s more important that the One who created you and sent His Son to die for your sins?

I’m not saying I’m perfect and I spend all day every day serving the Lord and reading my Bible and praying all day long, but I am saying I try my best to stay focused on God in all that I do.

If you constantly fill your mind with junk, eventually junk will come out. I called out a few of my students for saying the Lord’s name in vain in my class the other day, and one of them came to me after class and apologized. She said that she didn’t even realize it was in the song she was singing. Apparently there’s a TikTok song that’s catchy, hilarious, and gets stuck in your head after seeing it 100 times a day. Another one that gets stuck in your head is the one that kids are shouting cuss words just to get their parents’ reaction. Whatever it may be, don’t let it distract you from following God’s Word.

You have two directions that you can be going in life. One, you are moving closer to God and seeking His will for your life. Or two, you are moving away from God and closer to the sins you know are wrong. You are never standing still, living in the middle between good and bad. You are always moving one of two directions.

What about you? Are you moving closer to God or slowly moving away from Him?

Evaluate your life. Prioritize your time. Refocus on what matters most.

Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

May God Bless you and show you His grace every day!

-Kayla Rampey

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭

God’s creation is a constant reminder of His power, His provision, and His passion that He has for His children. Only God has the power to create all things. Only God can provide the means to sustain the earth for centuries to come. Only God is perfect. 

Day 1: God brought light into existence simply by saying the word. 

“Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:3

Day 2: He created the atmosphere that would hold the very earth we live on in its rightful place.

“Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:6-7‬ ‭

Day 3: God created separated the land from the sea and created land and plants. His order of creation is so significant because each step provides for the next. By creating light and atmosphere to adhere to the heavens and earth, God created the land sea and plants to provide for each other. Without the land and sea, the plants would never spread across the earth, but God knew what was needed and provided with His power and His perfection, everything that was needed to sustain His creation.

“Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:9-12‬ ‭

On Day 4, God created the sun, moon, and stars to separate the morning from evening. His power is seen each day when the sun rises, sets, and the moon and stars hang in the sky exactly the distance He knows we need. The sun is far enough away from the earth that it doesn’t incinerate the earth but close enough that it warms the land and helps the plants to grow and seasons to change. The moon is set in the sky to light the night and support the wildlife that will come to be in the next few days. He controls the waves, the rotation, the times that only His power can control.

“Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:14-18

On day 5, God created the marine life and birds. With plants already on the earth, the birds had a place to live but what would they eat for nourishment? The marine life created a food chain from large marine life to small fish that would become meals for birds and larger fish in the sea. Each creature was created to reproduce. The plants, the marine life, the birds, all had everything they needed to survive because God provided for them and gave them a purpose.

“Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.” God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:20-22‬ ‭

On day 6, after all things were ready and prepared for the next creation, God breathed life into the first man, Adam. Only the breath of God could breathe life into a man from the dust of the ground.

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:26, 31‬ ‭

He created man in His image, the image of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He knew His creation would not be perfect forever, but He also knew that one day every knee would bow to His name. He is all powerful. He provides for our every needs. He is perfect in all that He is. He is the One and only God.

On the same day, day 6, God created animals that would provide food, wealth, for mankind. His creation shows His endless power. His provision is showcased in His skillful development of each step leading to the next. His perfection is seen when He ends each day and says “it was good.”

On day 7, God rested. He didn’t rest because He was tired from all He had done.

“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.” Isaiah 40:28

God rested to show the significance of the completion of His creation and to remind others to set aside a day for rest and reflect on the beauty God had made. On that day, God’s creation was complete. Each step led to another, provided for reproduction, and exalted the power of God.

“By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭

Often, we overlook the glory of God’s creation and the importance it has on our lives. We let it go, take it for granted, and forget the steps that God took to provide for His children before He even breathed life in to mankind.

Today, reflect His power, His provision for each and every aspect of existence, and His ultimate perfection that no other can achieve.

Thank God for all He has done. Know that from beginning to end, you were on His mind. Never forget that.

May God bless your and show you His grace every day.