Tessa Emily Hall ~ Christ is Write

Rather than posting the Friday's Reflection series as a way to "reflect" on my previous week, instead I am going to post a Scripture reflection. Every Friday, I will post a new Scripture, discuss my reflection of it, then give you the chance to do the same. By participating, you will have the chance to win prizes, as well as the opportunity to meet other Christian teens. =)

The Point System Yes, there will be a point system, just like the Monday's Minute Challenge. =)
Earning Points:
*To make this more simple, please include the amount of points you will receive at the top of your post. Be sure to calculate correctly!
2 points: If you answer one of the questions. (Details below) 5 points: If you respond with your own reflection. (Details below) 10 points: If you post your response on your blog. 10 points: If you pin either the above picture or today's Scripture (below) to Pinterest. 10 points: If you join the Prayer Circle. (Details below) Points Tracker: TW Wright: 35 Karina: 45 Sarah: 27 His Princess: 10 Prizes:
50 points: You will receive a badge for your blog saying that you are a participant at Friday's Reflection. 70 points: You can submit your own playlist for Friday's Playlist (see below). 90 points: You can submit a Scripture that will be used for Friday's Reflection. 110 points: You will receive a free ebook of PURPLE MOON. 150 points: You will receive a personalized handmade notepad.
Today's Playlist
I think listening to worship music is a great way to get into God's presence. So every Friday, I will post 3 - 5 worship/Christian songs that are currently on my playlist. Feel free to listen to them as you work on today's reflection!
"Power of Your Love" ~Worth Dying For "All This Time" ~Britt Nicole "Let Them See You" Colton Dixon
Today's Scripture . . .

Pin it!

My Reflection:

God calls us to be in the world but not of the world. This means that--while we are on the earth, we need to live for Him only. According to this Scripture, we are not to follow the behavior and customs of this world by allowing their influence rub off on us. At first, this behavior may appear harmless--such as watching TV or being online for hours, copying someone's homework, gossiping with your friends, etc. But we need to recognize this behavior as worldy; that way, we can prevent ourselves from partaking in these sins.

Let's also do as this Scripture suggests and allow God to transform us into a new person by meditating on thoughts that are pleasing to Him. For instance, rather than judging the girl in school who gets on your nerves, instantly recognize this as the world's behavior. Then, put your mind on Christ so that you do not act on this sinful thought.

You may not see the immediate reward, but trust me, it will come. And this reward involves living in accordance to God's incredible plan for your life. Romans 12:2 says that this plan is, "good, and pleasing, and perfect." =)

Your Turn . . .

Answer the questions below to earn points! You will receive 2 points per question that you answer. And if you post your response on your blog and link back to this post, you will receive an extra 10 points!

*To make this more simple, please include the amount of points you will receive at the top of your post. Be sure to calculate correctly!

Have you ever been tempted to follow the behavior and customs of this world? What was the result? +2 pts
What is the biggest struggle you face in applying this Scripture to your life? +2 pts
List specific ways you can put this Scripture into action in your own life. (Example: Spend more time in God's Word, allowing Him to transform your mind so that you can have strength to resist the temptation of this world.) +2 pts
Have you experienced the reward that comes with following God as opposed to following the world? +2 pts
Discuss your own reflection of this Scripture (as I did above -- at least one paragraph). +5 pts

Don't forget to check back to read your responses and interact with others!

Prayer Circle If you choose to participate in this Prayer Circle, you can email me a prayer request at any point throughout the week. On Friday, I will send an email to those in the prayer circle with the updated prayer list, as well as the new Scripture for that week. You will also receive 10 extra points by joining. Email me at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com if you wish to participate! =) post signature

A quick writing challenge (and contest) to help get your creative juices flowing for the new week.

The entry must be between 150 - 300 words. Otherwise, your entry will not be accepted. (In order to see how many words your entry is, write it in Microsoft Word, or you can copy and paste it here.)
The deadline for the contest will be the following Friday.
You do not have to be a teen to enter the contest.
The same person cannot win first place two weeks in a row.
If there is at least 5 entries, the panel of judges will select a 2nd and 1st place. If there is at least 10 entries, the judges will select a 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place. However, if there is under 5 entries, the panel of judges will only select one winner.
If there are at least 10 entries, there will be a few Honorable Recognitions, which are the next highest winners. They will receive a badge, as well as 3 points.
The winners will receive a badge for their blog, as well as extra points (see the point system below).
The winner will be chosen based on the judges's preferences, as well as the following questions: Does this entry capture my attention immediately? Does it make me want to continue reading? Is the writing clear? They will also take into consideration the writer's voice and style--not necessarily technical issues, such as grammar, punctuation, etc.
If you have entered at least 3 contests and have yet to place, send me an email and I will be happy to give you a critique of your last entry, which will include tips and suggestions.
This is only for fun and to stretch your writing muscles--not necessarily to be taken too seriously. =)

Prizes:
More prizes to come!

30 points: You will be able to create your own prompt that will be used in Monday's Minute Challenge!
40 points: You will receive a critique based on your current week's entry.
50 points: You will receive a free blog critique and helpful suggestions.
70 points: You will receive an 700 word critique on your novel, short story, article, etc.
80 points: You can help judge one of the contests!
90 points: You will receive two weeks free in my Write Now Mentoring Program!
100 points: You will receive a free ebook of PURPLE MOON. =)
150 points: You will receive a personalized handmade notepad.

Earning Points:

20 points: If you sign up for a month of my Write Now Mentoring Program!
5 points: If you post a review of Purple Moon on Amazon and/or Goodreads. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
5 points: If you join the Purple Moon Publicity Group on Facebook. (You will have the chance to participate in monthly giveaways!)
3 points: If you post your entry on your blog, linking back to this post
2 points: If you post a tweet about Monday's Minute Challenge, with hashtag #MondaysMinute (You may tweet more than once in a week, however the points will only count for one tweet.)
2 points: If you follow this blog via Google Friend Connect. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
2 points: If you "like" my Facebook page. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
2 points: If you follow my Twitter account. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
2 points: Become a "fan" of me on Goodreads. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
2 points: Follow me on Pinterest. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
2 points: If you respond to another person's entry. (Positive feedback only! You may respond more than once, however the points will only count for one response per week.)
10 points: If you win 1st place in the writing prompt contest.
7 points: If you win 2nd place in the writing prompt contest.
5 points: If you win 3rd place in the writing prompt contest.
3 points: You receive an Honorable Recognition.

Points Tracker:

TW Wright: 58
Mary B: 37
Elisabeth: 40
Funto: 9
Benj. Evans: 20
S. Brightly: 59
Jacqueline: 50
Rebekah B: 19
Anna: 9
His Princess: 38
Tara T: 27
Evan: 10
Rcubed: 41
Sarah: 35
Jillian: 10
Brooke: 12
Kaley: 2
Karina: 23
Kaira Anne: 11
Lottie Le: 2
CeCe: 2
Marsh: 3

*Points are updated every Monday.

*When you request to use your points for a prize, the points you use will be taken away from your total. In other words, when you reach 30 points, you can claim the prize for 30 points--but it will cost you all of your points. Or you can continue to try and earn points so you can claim a bigger prize.

Keep in mind that you cannot win first place two weeks in a row.

If you have entered at least 3 contests and have yet to win, please send me an email and I will be happy to give you a critique of your last entry and offer suggestions.

The judge panel chooses these winners based on a point system (not to be confused with the point system mentioned above!)

Since there were two entries that had the same amount of points for 3rd place, we have decided that they both deserved to place.

(Keep in mind that the judges are not aware of which entry belongs to which participant until after the judging is complete.)

The entries that the judges thought was the most intriguing (based on rule #4) is ...

Third place winner (#1):

“You. Are. Insane.” He grabbed my arm. “Do you have any idea what this could do to your reputation?”
I snorted. “Nice one, Oryon. Like it isn't in ruins already after what happened.”
“I'm serious. You could get hurt. Nobody knows what goes on there, Emeli. Nobody. Because nobody ever comes back.”
“It's time somebody did.” I stared out at the expanse of blue water, my heart quivering but yearning at the same time. Swirls of rough red sand accosted my back, but I was used to it. Nothing would hold me back from this journey.
“You can't just expect to make it back here alive!” There he was, clawing at my arm again. I detest people who touch me. “They're all dead, Emeli. Worms are eating their bones as we speak.”
Oryon always was a tad too dramatic.
I yanked my arm back and reached over the bridge railing. My fingers slid easily through the damp ocean breeze. “Who said they died there?”
Oryon leaned forward. “What?”
“Who said they died there?” I swung around to face him.
Color drained from his face.
“What if it was so amazing, and magical, that they never wanted to come back?” The wind whipped my hair around as I whispered the words. “That's why I'm going, Oryon. To find out.”

Congratulations, Rcubed! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge sent to you. =)

Third place winner (#2):

I fought hard, but to no avail. They had their arm wrapped around me so tightly, crushing my collarbone into my chest. I couldn't breathe.
They were dragging me back to the woods.
Darkness was pressing up against the edge of my eyes, and it wasn't just the night. I was losing consciousness. I kicked my heels into the soft ground, desperately gathering the little bit of air I had left. I pushed it out with all the force I could muster, hoping it might pass as a scream. It barely whistled past the hand clamped over my face, then died.
Oh, dear God, was I going to die out here?
The thought took what oxygen I had left, and panic-filled remorse pulsed sharply through my veins. I'd been warned. And now I was going to pay the price.
The arms around me suddenly let go, and I fell to the ground. I gasped in air, my shoulders throbbing in time with my racing heart. Run. I had to run.
A hand twisted in my hair, halting me painfully. My head yanked around. My assailant's face was only inches from mine.
And I knew those blue eyes so well.

Congratulations, S. Brightly! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge sent to you. =)

Second place winner:

I walked down the road. Debating whether to take the right or the left path. To wander in the desert or to swim in an endless ocean. I couldn’t decide.
They called to me. The desert louder. Telling me if I went that way I would find an oasis. It wouldn’t be too hard. Not as much work as the water.
But the voice of the ocean nagged at me. “The hard way leads to the safe place.”
That’s where I wanted to get to. The safe place. But which way really led to it? I had to make a choice. And now. The sun was quickly setting, and I had to get move. If I stayed monsters of the past would get me. I could hear them getting closer. Which way? Which way?
Then it was clear. I knew what I had to do. If I went through the desert, the easy way, the monsters would follow me. But the ocean, well they couldn’t swim. Even if it was going to be hard, I needed to go. I slipped into the water just as the angry beasts leapt for me.
I woke with a start. Breathing heavily. I didn’t usually have dreams that meant something, but that dream sure didn’t seem a coincidence.
“I’ve got to talk to David,” I whisper. “The hard life here Lila comes. And you better watch out because I’ve got lots of emotion today.”
My stomach rolled as I thought about the conversation that was coming. But I needed to get this behind me, and that wasn’t going to happen if I took the easy way.

Congratulations, Brooke! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge and ebook sent to you. =)

First place winner (#1):

My feet found their way on the track that led through the wood. I traveled from the lough on my way home. It was not long before I came to the stretch where I lived. There was smoke in the chimney; it would be a cold night. Shutting the door tightly behind me, I saw my father in one of his rare moments. He sat by the fire with his fiddle on his lap. The glow of the flame showed me his pensive face. I caught a glimpse of his wrinkled brow as he turned towards me. “Me boy, wheer ya been?,” he said.
“Oh yeh know, just down to the lough.” I casually replied. It must have been something in my voice, his expression softened.
“Want ta hear a tune?”
“That’d be swell!”
I pulled up a chair to listen to the strains of “Tobhair dom do lamh.” It was only occasionally that he pulled out the fiddle. I had even heard him talking to mum about selling it, which he never got round to doing. I gazed into the fire as the song continued. I remembered how my brother loved to hear Father, the rare times he played. Maybe this was a song for him. I noticed the subtle change as the tune switched, this time to a jig I knew as “Swallowtail.” It was approaching the time I usually retired, but I stayed there in the midst firelight and listened. The hour drew on until the final note was heard, lost in the silence of a cold Irish night.

Congratulations, Benj.! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge sent to you. =)

Honorable Recognitions:

These winners will receive a badge, as well as 3 extra points:

Marsh
Sarah
His Princess

Congratulations! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge sent to you. =)

Thanks so much to everyone who participated!

Submit your response in the comments below.
Your response should range between 150 - 300 words.
The deadline for the contest will be this Friday.
Let me know which prompt you have chosen.
(Optional) If you submit your response on your blog and link back to this post, I will add your link to the list of participants at the end of this post.
If you'd rather not submit your post in the comments, you may email it to me instead.

Remember:

1) Your response should range between 150 - 300 words, otherwise it will not be accepted. (Copy and paste your entry here to count the words, or you could write it on Microsoft Word.)
2) The deadline for the contest is this Friday.

Choose at least one:

Write a passage continuing your entry from last week week (or whichever week you'd prefer). Try to continue it using these items: scissors, a bird, and sunglasses.
Write a passage based on this picture.
Write a passage using this phrase: It was the scariest thing I would ever face ... but I also knew it was my only chance to find freedom.