Ted Bundy was convicted of killing thirty-six women and girls, making him one of the most notorious serial killers of all time. While waiting on death row for his execution, Ted turned his life over to Jesus and became a Christian. He repented publicly for his crimes and spent his final night praying with his pastor. Ted Bundy was a rapist. Ted Bundy was a murderer. Ted Bundy was a liar. Assuming Ted Bundy really did confess his sins and put his whole trust in Jesus, today Ted is in heaven with Jesus. The gospel applies to people in every nation and age bracket. It is for "good" people and…

Last week, I asked you to define the gospel. Nearly one hundred of you responded, many with fantastic ideas about what the gospel really means. Here are just a few of my favs: Because of Christ's death and resurrection, we have been rescued from sin, death, and separation from God. We all are born with Adam's sin nature. We are destined for hell from birth. The gospel is that Christ died for His chosen people, because of His great love for us. We have salvation in Christ alone by faith alone. —Abbie Man's indwelling sinfulness overcome by the perfect power of our Savior! —Haley The gospel is the good news…

If you've ever looked at your list of Facebook friends and felt like none of them really know you . . . this book is for you. If you have lots of friends, a full schedule, and a lonely feeling you can't seem to shake . . . this book is...

I’m so proud of you, LYWB.com readers! If I had a refrigerator big enough for all 30,000 of you, your picture would be on it! Why? Because you have a genuine desire to study and learn God’s Word. In fact, just a couple of weeks ago when I tested your biblical literacy, you told me things like . . . As the summer starts and school ends, I am going to make a real effort to get into the Word more—more than once a day. I seriously needed a slap in the face to stop claiming I’m a devoted Christian but not studying the Word. I will put in the effort…

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector" (Matt. 18:15–17). God gives very specific instructions for how to confront a friend. Let's break it down. When to confront a…

You call your best friend and pour your heart out about a big event coming up in your life. When the big day comes, you don't hear a word from her. Not a call. Not a text. Not an email. You feel ignored and unimportant. The two of you used to do everything together. You were so much alike you joked that you were sisters separated at birth. But lately she's just stopped calling. When you see her she acts totally weird. It's because you both love Jesus so much that you've become such great friends. You always sit together in youth group. You've done Bible studies together. You keep…

Wanna play Simon Says? Simon says if you like free stuff. As in . . . F-R to the double E Swag Something that costs free dollars and freedy free cents A gift Raise your hand! I'm assuming your hand is up! We all like free stuff. That's why I am so excited to announce LiesYoungWomenBelieve.com Freebie Fridays! How does it work? You visit our blog every Friday, and we give you free stuff! And not just any free stuff. We have plans to give you great resources loaded with truth from God's Word. What's the catch? There isn't one. Just read the post, and do what it asks. Sometimes…

I once heard the story of an old man who knew the Bible frontward and backward. He had huge chunks of Scripture memorized. He was so familiar with the Word that he could look up what he needed in it without a concordance or fancy Bible app. His copy of the Bible was well worn and well loved. Not surprisingly, knowing the Bible this well made a huge difference in the old man's life. After all, God's Word has the power to: Hold us up (1 Pet. 1:13). Help us know which path to take (Ps. 119:105). Keep us from sin (Ps. 119:11). Change our hearts (Heb. 4:12). Help us…

  Summer is great. Swimming . . . yay! Watermelon seed spitting contests . . . uh huh! (Or is that just something we country girls do?) Fireworks, BBQs, telling the alarm clock to take a hike—these are the many perks of summer. But let's be honest, it's only possible to have so many movie marathons before we all start to feel a little . . . bored. You may not have hit the summer slump yet. (Some of you may still be smack dab in the middle of finals—yuck!) But I've got an idea to keep summer boredom far, far away. Are you ready for it? It's the perfect…

I've got a great friend. He's always available to listen to me and give advice. In fact, He gives better advice than anyone else I've ever known. He never steers me wrong. He is a capable and compassionate advisor. He nudges me to be more like Jesus, gently pointing out sin in my life, and reminding me who God calls me to be. When I am tempted, He pulls me toward an alternative, always reminding me that Jesus is better than the things my flesh desires. When I am wobbly, He's always on the scene ready to help. He's never too busy for me. He's always available. He prays for…

the·ol·o·gy noun : the study of God We study God through His Word each Thursday on the blog. Our goal is to present the truth of God in a way you can digest and apply. This week we'll continue our conversation on how we hear the voice of God. Last week, we looked at four ways God speaks. Here's a recap: God speaks to us through creation (Ps. 19:1). God speaks to us through our conscience (Rom. 2:15). God speaks to us through Jesus (Heb. 1:1–2). God speaks to us through His Word (Heb. 4:12). Here are four more ways we can hear the voice of God. The Holy Spirit…

I was traveling recently and met a young woman who was doing big things for God. Things that stretch her beyond her comfort zone. Things that make her weird or different from other girls her age. Things that force her to lay her plans for her own life on the altar of God's will. When I asked her how she started down the radical path she was on, she said: "Simple. A few years ago, I gave God the all-in card.” I doubt she offered God a physical card. But in her heart, she told God, "I'm all in. You can have every part of my life." It was a…

the·ol·o·gy noun : the study of God We study God through His Word each Thursday on the blog. Our goal is to present the truth of God in a way you can digest and apply. This week we'll look at how we hear the voice of God. A talking donkey A burning bush A quiet wind A voice from heaven A big book A sheep fleece A rainbow A pillar of fire A cloud of smoke What do these things have in common? They were each used as a mouthpiece of God, a tool through which He chose to speak to His people. I don't know about you, but I've…

I wish I could have the readers of this blog over for a big BBQ this evening. We'd eat summer food (think corn on the cob, popsicles, and juicy hamburgers). We'd chase lightning bugs, and once the sun set, we'd all pile on a blanket (that would be one HUGE blanket!) and watch the fireworks. I do love the Fourth of July. It's great to celebrate our freedoms as a nation, but this year I've been thinking of some of the even greater freedoms we have—freedoms that don't belong to Americans alone—those that are promised to us by God because we are His children, citizens of His kingdom. What is…

My pastor recently read us this short, five-chapter story as a way to explain the progression of temptation in each of our lives. Chapter One I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost ... I am helpless. It isn't my fault. It takes forever to find a way out. Chapter Two I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend that I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I am in this same place. But it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out. Chapter…

Yesterday, Paula wrapped up her series from the Beatitudes by focusing in on persecution. If you missed that post, be sure to check it out here. I loved the post, but can I be honest? Persecution is a reality that gives me the willies. I don't like to think about the persecution the disciples faced after Jesus' death (like the fact that they were stoned, imprisoned, and eventually killed!). I squirm when I consider Jesus' words that persecution is a blessing, because to be honest it's hard for me to see it that way. Safety feels like a blessing. Freedom of religion feels like a blessing. But persecution? That seems much…

"Should I submit to my boyfriend?" That's the question that one of the smart readers of this blog submitted recently. To be honest, it's a bit of a stumper. Since a boyfriend is not the same as a husband, isn't submission in that relationship a bit misplaced? Part of me thinks yes! But since I see dating as preparation for marriage (as opposed to just having fun), is it reasonable to think a girl could disregard what the Bible teaches about submission while dating then suddenly flip a switch after saying "I do"? Hmmm ... that's a little trickier. Those same questions may be swirling in your mind as you…

Widow of WWII Soldier Waits Over 60 Years For the Love of Her Life - Tear Jerker! from joylights on GodTube. The video above is a real tearjerker. The first time I watched it, I thought it was simply a Hallmark-card-like take of a soldier's wife who understood sacrifice, patriotism, and loss. I suppose it is a story about those things, but one thing that the soldier's wife said landed like a dart in my heart ... "Billy was married to me all of his life, and I chose to be married to him all of my life." Gulp. The truth is, the woman in this story had only been…

I've always loved scavenger hunts. That's why I'm sending you on one. Your assignment? Find the best quotes from the book Lies Young Women Believe or from posts on this site. We will turn your favorite quotes into shareable images for use on thi...

I read an interesting article recently that pointed out some troubling facts about the role sports is playing in many of our lives. For many of young women, involvement in sports or other after-school activities may be in the driver's seat, and they're not taking you to a destination you should want to go. Check it out: The pastors of sixteen churches where attendance was dropping said that kids in sports was the number one reason why less people were coming to church. More than one third of churchgoers in a separate study said that school- and sports-related activities were "quite a bit of an issue" when considering their church…

When you think of a woman who's a champion athlete, model, and celebrity, you might not use the word "submissive" to describe her. But that's exactly how Gabrielle Reece describes herself when talking about her marriage. Gabrielle has made a name for herself as a professional volleyball player, but recently she's made headlines for something she said off the court. In her new memoir she wrote: To truly be feminine means being soft, receptive, and—look out, here it comes—submissive. That little sentence ignited a media firestorm, including a few heated interviews and lots of Internet backlash. Reece responded by saying that she thinks submission is a "sign of strength." I'm…

    The video above tells a powerful story of the effects of bullying. For today’s post, I’d like to simply use this video as a jumping off point to launch a discussion about words, bullying, and hope. Here are a ...

FACT: Only 9 percent of teenagers say that they definitely plan to become parents in their early adult years. FACT: About half of the public says it makes no difference that a growing number of women don't ever plan to have children. What do those numbers mean? They mean that fewer and fewer girls your age ever plan to become mommas. There are probably lots of reasons for that, but the bottom line is that we live in a culture that no longer holds up motherhood as an important role. As a result, more and more young women are saying "no thanks" to the idea of becoming mothers. Since Mother's…

This week wraps up with Mother's Day, a holiday dedicated to telling mom how great she is and showering her with love, gifts, and words of affirmation. But ... What if your mom isn't so great? What if your mom has disappointed you? Or you just can't seem to get along with her? Or she's not in the picture at all? There isn't exactly a Mother's Day card dedicated to saying all of that! If you find that it's hard for you to express love to your mom this Mother's Day, here are a few points to ponder. Honor—No Ifs, Ands, Or Buts Over and over in Scripture, God commands…

Is your tongue on fire? That's the question I posed in Tuesday's blog post based on James 3:5–9. That passage says: So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full…

Is your tongue on fire? No, I'm not talking about eating spicy food. I'm referencing our power to set things ablaze with the words that we say. I've been struggling a bit with guarding my words lately, so I pulled up this post on the subject from our archives. Just in case any of you have a tongue that's been smoldering, I've decided to repost this video and blog as a reminder that our tongues can cause a lot of damage.     In case you couldn't load the YouTube video above, here's a play-by-play. 

In the middle of a dark night, a single arrow is set on fire. It's not…

From the LYWB.com team: The following thoughts were posted by a twenty-seven-year-old groom on Facebook the day of his wedding. We thought his post was so sweet and encouraging that we couldn't wait to pass it on to you. I hate to jump to the punch li...

"I'm so glad I got to spend this time with you, Erin" she said, "because now I know how to pray for you." These were the words of a sweet lady named Emma who was tasked with picking me up at the airport and driving me to a recent event. We had never met before, but over lunch and a short road trip we got to know the basics of each other's lives. I learned about her grandson with special needs and her accountant husband who was busy crunching numbers in anticipation of tax time. I filed these kernels of information away as typical "getting to know you" stuff, but…

Some of you are feeling foolish. You left us a comment telling us so after I posted a list of what makes a fool last week. The Bible gets pretty specific about what kinds of choices fools make in order to guide us toward the opposite of foolishness . . . wisdom. Fortunately for each of us, the Bible doesn't just warn us what not to do in order to avoid living foolishly, it also gives us some firm advice of what wise living looks like. So let's revisit those verses from our "foolish checklist" and see if we can come up with a picture of what it means to…

On Tuesday I wrote about the "foolish woman" described in Proverbs 7. What makes her foolish is mostly the way she interacts with guys. Let's be honest, we've all been known to act a fool around a fella a time or two. But the Bible gives strong warnings about this kind of woman. A foolish woman is someone we should all work hard to avoid becoming. Proverbs 7 isn't the only place we find a description of foolishness. In fact, the books of Psalms and Proverbs are loaded with warnings of what foolishness looks like in action. Most of these verses also offer a contrasting reality, which is wisdom. The…

From the LYWB.com team: After more than five years as a blog dedicated to exposing lies and replacing them with God's truth in the lives of young women, we've decided to switch directions. From now on this blog will be dedicated entirely to the subject of goat herding. You can follow us at our new url www.liesgoatherdersbelieve.com.  Clearly, I've never been good at practical jokes ... as you can tell by my sad attempt above which is a) a day late for an April Fool's Day prank and b) not very believable. But I wanted to get you thinking about the subject of fools. April Fool's Day is a strange…

Raise your hand if you've been going to church since you were in the womb. Keep it up if you've celebrated at least fifteen Easters in church. I can't see those hands through the computer screen, but I am sure there are many of them raised. That's a good thing! It's great that so many of you are so familiar with the Easter story. But sometimes that means that when the day rolls around, we move into auto pilot—moving through the motions of pastel dresses, church services, and dinner with family without every pausing to consider why the empty tomb matters so much. I don't want you to miss it…

I've often said there are two kinds of girls in this world. There are the diamond-loving girls, who would rather have one itty-bitty, sparkling piece of glass on their finger than a thousand rings made of cubic zirconium. And then there are the girls who prefer funk to flash. They'd rather have chunky bracelets and necklaces made of plastic than drop the dough required to wear the real stuff. I myself hang out in the second group. I asked for a guitar for my sixteenth birthday. When my parents got me diamond earrings instead (my birthstone), I almost burst into tears. I never did become a rocker, but my love…

The culture says it's best to take partners for a "test drive" when it comes to sex before marriage. God's Word says to save sex until after you say, "I do." Who's right? Who's wrong? Who really understands how sex is supposed to work? One way to find out is to ask a bold question—who is having the best sex? The answer may surprise you. The culture may be screaming that practice makes perfect when it comes to great sex. But proponents of that thinking simply aren't doing their homework. In an article titled "Sex Without Marriage Often Ruins People's Health and Well-being," physician John R. Diggs Jr. outlined the…

In Luke 8:51–52 Jesus approaches a crowd mourning the death of a twelve-year-old girl. His words to them may seem strange considering that they had good reason to be upset. But He said, "Stop crying" (v. 52). In Luke 7:13 He says the exact same words to a momma whose only son had died. She sure had reason to cry. Her situation was exceptionally hopeless. And yet … "He said, ‘Don't cry.'" When we tell someone not to cry, it's usually because we are uncomfortable with their emotions or because we think they're overreacting. But when Jesus told people not to cry, it was because He had a plan to do…

Has anyone ever said something like this to you . . . "Birds of a feather flock together." "If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?" Since we aren't birds and our friends are unlikely to go cliff jumping, the message of these phrases can get a little lost in translation. Perhaps a few words from a juvenile court judge can clear the matter up. Recently, an email from a former juvenile court judge found its way into my inbox. The focus of his email was prayer, but a few sentences he wrote at the beginning got me thinking about Y-O-U. As a juvenile court judge, I often told…

Are there things about your school that you'd like to see God change? Are there people on your campus who desperately need to know the powerful message of the gospel or the reach of God's love? Do you sometimes feel like the only one at your school who is willing to live like God's called you? If you answered "yes," let me follow up with one more question. (Zero guilt intended. Promise.) When was the last time you prayed for your school? With that question in mind, I'd like to invite you to check out this video, promoting the 2013 Collegiate Day of Prayer. Will you join those who have…

We talk a lot on this blog about waiting for God to bring the right kind of guy at the right time. It's an important message. Much heartache has been caused by rushing into love or forcing a relationship that is outside the parameters of God's best for you. When it comes to love, I want you to wait well. But I also want you to know that waiting well doesn't work like a magic formula. You can guard your purity. You can trust God with your love life. You can write lists and save pennies and work on being the right person for love, but none of that guarantees…

Candy hearts. Chocolate kisses. Red roses. Yep. Tomorrow must be Valentine's Day. It can be a great day for those who are in love. For those who are not, an entire holiday dedicated to romance can be a little (okay a lot!) discouraging. I know that many of the readers of this blog are single. You have written to tell us that you are committed to God's will when it comes to romance. To you I send out a colossal pat on the back. (I'd send you each a bag of chocolate if I could!) I know that waiting isn't easy, especially when the whole world seems to be celebrating…