Susie Shellenberger - Girl Talk with God

Girl Talk with GodGirl Talk with God SUSIE SHELLENBERGER 2001 Susie Shellenberger All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotation in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Shellenberger, Susie.
Girl talk with God / Susie Shellenberger.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-0-8499-4290-7
1. Teenage girlsReligious life. 2. Imaginary conversations. 3.

Christian life. I. Title. BV4551.3 .S54 2001
248.8'33dc21 2001035898 Printed in the United States of America
07 08 09 10 RRD 20 19 18 17 16 15 Dedicated to Gaye Marston, whose ministry and prayers reach far outside Fredricksburg, Virginia.
Thank you for loving teen girls and investing your life into their well-being through professional counseling.
Youre the best! Table of Contents The following chapters of the present work appeared in a slightly different version in the following sources and are reprinted with permission of the publishers: Chapter 4, On Gods Love, published in Brio magazine (February 1999); Chapter 5, On Hypocrisy, published in Brio magazine (December 1998); Chapter 6, On Spending Time with God, published in Brio magazine (May 1999); Chapter 7, On Boyfriends, published in Brio magazine (September 1999); Chapter 8, On Language, published in Brio magazine (April 1996); Chapter 9, On Hell, published in Keeping Your Cool While Sharing Your Faith, by Greg Johnson and Susie Shellenberger (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale, 1993); Chapter 11, On Forgiveness, published in Help! My Friends in Trouble, by Susie Shellenberger (Ann Arbor, Mich.: Servant, 2000); Chapter 12, On Reaching Out, published in Help! My Friends in Trouble, by Susie Shellenberger (Ann Arbor, Mich.: Servant, 2000); Chapter 13, On Sex, published in The Mother/Daughter Connection (Nashville, Word, 2000). Im glad you picked up this book. (Our little secret, okay?) Its true. (Our little secret, okay?) Its true.

I love the smell of new books... and the inside of new tennis shoes, and hot dogs sizzling on the grill, and fresh-cut roses... and a bunch of other scents I wont take the time to bore you with. But youre not the only one who knows my favorite smells. God knows them too. Yep, its true.

I tell Him all the things I love to smell. (I tell Him a lot of other stuff too.) I absolutely love talking to Jesus. And the most exciting part? Its when He talks back! Thats right. God and I have conversations. A lot of them. Do you have conversations with God? The fancy name for it is prayer. That may sound a little high and lofty, but its actually all about talking to Him and listening to Him talk back.

If youre having trouble praying, think of prayer as a conversation a really intimate conversation with the Creator of the universe. You can tell Him anything. Im serious! And the cool part? Hell never laugh. Hell always understand. And He loves nothing better than having conversations with you. Its true! Maybe some of these conversations will spark some of your own.

Start writing them down if you want. Youll be surprised at the difference conversations with the King of Kings can make. I promise! Your Friend,
Susie Shellenberger D o you realize that most of the people in America consider themselves to be Christians? Yet many would also admit they dont have a personal, growing relationship with Jesus Christ. They consider themselves Christians, however, because they assume a Christian is someone who believes in God and tries to be a good person. You probably have friends and teachers at school who have bought into this assumption. Its tragic to realize they believe a lie.

The Bible is crystal-clear on what being a Christian is. And its much more than simply acknowledging with our brain that theres a God. Following Jesus Christ affects every single area of our lives. It requires a lifestyle change. But the rewards are beyond description. After all, who among us deserves forgiveness for sins? The beautiful, exciting thing about Christianity is realizing that well never be good enough for God but He loves and accepts us anyway.

Well never deserve His forgiveness and the gift of eternal life, yet He offers them freely. As you read this first conversation between a teen girl and God, search your own heart and make sure youre not merely professing with your lips and not living the life with your heart and actions. God said: How was church? I said: Fine. I guess. Were you listening? Yeah. Sure.

What was the sermon about? Oh, You know. Being a Christianthat stuff. Ever thought about taking it to heart? Im clueless, God. Thats what saddens Me. Are You trying to tell me something? Sure am. Okay.

Whats on Your heart? Its whats not in yours. Scuze me? Me. Im not in your heart. But I sure would like to be. Funny, God. Real funny.

Of course You are. Were hanging. No. Im talking about being a Christian. I am a Christian! No, My child. Youre not.

Sure I am! What is a Christian? Someone who believes in You. Hm. Satan believes in Me. Well... yeah, but Is he a Christian? Of course not! So, a Christian isnt simply someone who believes in Me. Huh.

Never thought about that. Back to the question: What is a Christian? A good person. Is anyone good? All of mankind was born with sin. Well, You know. A Christian is someone who does good things. No. No.

Come on, God. This is frustrating. You know what I mean. I need you to verbalize it. Okay. Being a Christian is doing good things and going to church.

Oh, and reading the Biblethats important. My child, are you aware that numerous religion classes are taught in universities around the world? Many of them study Christianity along with other religionsand those students are required to read the Bible. If those students try real hard to do good things, read the Bible as part of their class requirements, and go to churchto write a report about itwould they be classified as Christians? Oh, man! I hate this, God. Youre gettin all deep on me. Can we quit being so religious and just cut to the chase? Good point. Because Christianity isnt a religion.

Sure it is! No, My child. Christianity isnt a religionits a way of life. Well... And Id like to make it your way of life. I so dont get You, God. Im already a Christian.

Why are You after me? Go after a thief or a murderer or a porn publisher. Why? Youre in the same boat theyre in. What?!?! Check out Romans 3:23. You mean... in the Bible? Youre quick. in the living room. in the living room.

What? Your Bible. But Thats why you want Me to tell you what it saysbecause you dont know where your Bible is. This is scary. No. Its reality. Wipe off the dust and turn to Romans 3:23.

Um Its right after Acts. Yeah. Which follows Luke. Uh-huh. New Testament. Oh, yeah.

Got it? Okay. Here it is: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. So? So thats not just prostitutes. Its you too. Hey! You cant compare me to a prostitute. Why not? Youre both sinners.

Yeah, but I dont sin like they do! Hm. What do you think sin is? You know... killing someone, having sex outside of marriage, robbing a store. My child, sin is disobeying Me. But disobeying You... well, that would include a lot more than just killing, sex, and robbing! Right.