Archives for February 2009

Be My Valentine

February 8, 2009 Leave a Comment

helpinghands1Everyone loves to feel loved. And what better month to show others God’s love than the month of Valentine’s Day. After several busy months of larger projects, we’re going to spend February focusing on a simple gesture of love. Not toward your sweetheart, siblings, or even parents. Let’s share God’s love by sending Valentine’s to people who may have once received them, but may not anymore. I’m talking about widows, widowers, and older folks who often get lost in this holiday-of-love shuffle.

You may already have someone in mind who has lost a spouse, or who may spend this holiday alone. There may be several people at church, someone on your street, or a teacher at school. Choose several people to make a card for. If you don’t know anyone personally, consider making several non-specific Valentine cards for several people at a local nursing home.

I can’t remember many times in childhood that were more fun than making my Valentine’s in preparation for this exciting holiday. Gather your art supplies—glitter, glue, scissors, markers, anything—and some colorful paper, and let your creativity flow! I remember cut-outs, pop-ups, glitter heart stickers—anything to make your card truly original. If you’re having trouble getting started, visit Love To Know or HGTV to spark your own creativity. And don’t forget to check out our card-making article.

Although you may have more fun making the cards than you could have imagined, the real fun comes when you are helpinghands2finished and you get to deliver the cards to their recipients. I think there is a special feeling in seeing older people realize that on a holiday when so many are thinking about young love, someone was thinking about them. You may want to include a simple, single flower—or inexpensive bouquet—or some homemade cookies or bread (remember to consider possible dietary restrictions). Although they will be blessed to receive a card, you will be the one who is truly blessed in sharing God’s love with others.

– Lisa Grimenstein

Filed Under: Helping Hands

Abortion Part I: Medical Breakthrough? Or nightmare?

February 7, 2009 1 Comment

FootInWombAbortion has become an acceptable resolution to an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy. However, as Christians it is important that we know why abortion is unacceptable and the truth about what really happens during an abortion. I am going to cover the medical, spiritual, and legal perspectives of abortion. In this month’s article, we will look at the life of the mother and discuss the baby in a strictly medical scenario.

One thing that continually surprises me is how little people think about the affects an abortion has on their own body. It is true that pregnancy can be hard on a woman’s body. It puts pressure on blood vessels, and there are several conditions that can be related to pregnancy. However, getting an abortion can put you at higher risks for complications and most importantly, it ends a child’s life.

Is a “fetus” human?

I have done quite a few reports on abortion in the past for various courses I have taken. The more research I do, the more it hurts me. I heard my child’s heartbeat when I was 6 weeks pregnant. The baby’s heartbeat usually begins beating 21 days after conception. At that point, most women don’t even know they are pregnant yet. By 10 weeks of pregnancy, a baby has developed its brain, kidneys, liver, hands, fingers, eyelids, and fingernails, and can kick (although it’s usually unable to be felt by the mother yet). Most importantly, for those who argue that a fetus is not a human, upon conception, a fetus already has all the chromosomes needed to make up a human being and is constantly multiplying its cells. For cells to multiply, it must be living, and for it to have the 23 chromosomes (which determine hair and eye color, shoe size, etc.) it has to be human. These facts only point to the unborn as being a living human being.

The Bible also recognizes unborn children. Luke 1:41: “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.” The child was recognized as a babe although it was not yet born.

For more detailed facts and information discussing the unborn, visit ChristianAnswers.net.

What happens in an abortion?

FeetOutsideWombI have seen the images of what abortion doctors call the “products of conception” of an abortion. However, because we have established that it is a baby, I will refer to it as that. The images are too graphic to share, and frankly, if I were able, I would erase the images from my memory. However, I will tell you a little about the procedure. (I am putting all of this into layman’s terms to make it easier to understand; I am in no way inflating or worsening the procedure to scare anyone—this is what really happens! For those who are faint of heart, you may want to skip the next two paragraphs.) Depending on what stage of pregnancy you are in, your doctor, and your medical history, there are several ways in which doctors go about it. In one procedure they use a long thin tube and insert it into the uterus and attach a syringe to suction the baby out of the mother. This procedure is called manual vacuum aspiration and is done up to week 7 of the pregnancy. The most widely used method of abortion is called suction curettage. In this procedure, the mother is usually given some type of anesthetic for pain. The doctor will insert metal rods to stretch the cervix open. Once open, the doctor then inserts a long tube into the uterus and connects it to a suction machine. The machine pulls the baby’s body apart and out of the uterus.

As graphic as these procedures are, partial birth abortions are even more horrific and vile.  Partial birth abortions are done between 24-36 weeks of pregnancy. During the procedure, “the cervix must be dilated using laminaria. Forceps are then introduced into the uterus to grasp the baby’s legs. The baby is delivered breech while the head remains inside the birth canal. Using blunt-tipped surgical scissors, the base of the skull is pierced and a suction catheter is inserted to extract the brain. This causes the skull to collapse and the dead baby is then fully delivered.”

Any way you look at these procedures, it is clear to me that abortion in any shape or form is murder. It kills an innocent, living human being.

(Abortion procedure information taken from pregnancycenters.org/abortion.html)

What can abortion do to the woman?

Abortion has many side effects. It can cause excessive bleeding, infection, and sepsis, damage to the uterus and uterus lining, and damage to other internal organs. On top of these side effects, having an abortion could affect future pregnancies. Women who have abortions have an increased chance of delivering prematurely. Many women who have abortions also suffer emotionally. They have feelings of guilt, anger, depression, and other symptoms which could lead to more physical ailments. There is also talk of a link between breast cancer and abortion:

“Medical experts are still researching and debating the linkage between abortion and breast cancer. Here are some important facts:

kikiCarrying your first pregnancy to full term gives protection against breast cancer.  Choosing abortion causes loss of that protection.

A number of reliable studies have concluded that there may be a link between abortion and the later development of breast cancer.

A 1994 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found: “Among women who had been pregnant at least once, the risk of breast cancer in those who had experienced an induced abortion was 50% higher than among other women.”(http://www.pregnancycenters.org/abortion.html)

Ok, what can or should I do if I am a pregnant teen?

My advice would be to first, confess and ask God to forgive you for your sins, and repent. In this time, there is no one you need more than Him. Second, find an adult you trust. This needs to be someone who will support you. This person can be your parents, a friend, a counselor, or a teacher. This is one scenario where I STRONGLY urge you to talk to your parents as soon as possible. Procrastinating is unhealthy. You need to get medical treatment (prenatal vitamins, ultrasounds, etc.) as early as possible to ensure you and the baby are healthy.

It is important that you remember that just because you may sin, causing an unplanned pregnancy, you can still ask for and receive forgiveness. There is no reason to physically punish yourself with a harmful, unnecessary procedure or take an innocent life because of your mistake. Confess, repent, and prayerfully make a wise decision for your child, and yourself.

By Sarah Ancheta

Filed Under: Tough Stuff Tagged With:

Share the Love

February 6, 2009 1 Comment

“Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13

family2When asked, many of us would be quick to say that we love our families. But how often do we actually show that love? Do we spend more time yelling at our younger sister to get out of our room, or do we invite her in to listen to her tell about her day? Do we get irritated when our mom asks us to help with the dishes, or do we do them without being prompted, knowing that she has busily been taking care of other’s needs all day? As hard––and sometimes inconvenient––as it may seem, it’s time to start showing and sharing our love with our family, rather than just affirming it when others ask.

The month of Valentine’s Day offers a great opportunity to create a family “Share the Love” Day. If February 14th doesn’t work for your family, choose another day. You may even enjoy the effects of this day so much that your family might choose to do this every month! Start by putting everyone’s name in a hat. Then have each family member secretly draw a name. (Even though baby siblings can’t do this, really young family members, with the help of an older sibling, can enjoy and participate in this event.)

Now comes the fun part. After the family has designated a day, begin thinking of several things you can do for the family member whose name you drew. If you have a younger sibling, help them come up with some ideas. Some of these deeds may be done in secret, or they may obviously give away the identity of the “secret admirer.” Choose to play that game you’ve been putting off with your little brother. Fold some laundry or sweep the kitchen for Mom. Secretly place a note in your dad’s lunch, or, if it’s nice out, wash the car. Spend your day doing things for the other person.

A fun addition to this day is to include a Valentine breakfast––for dinner. Give Mom the night off, or have the entire family make “breakfast” together. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out pieces of bread to make Valentine French toast. Top it with strawberries and whipped cream. You could also use a metal heart-shaped cookie cutter in a pan to create Valentine pancakes. Another great treat is a smoothie. I love the recipe below, which just happens to create pink smoothies––perfect for a Valentine’s Day meal. As you sit down to enjoy this fabulous feast, share your thoughts about the day. What made you feel the most loved? If you chose to keep your identities a secret, reveal to one another their “secret admirer.”

There are always ways to show your love and appreciation for your family, whether it’s a creative plan or a simple gesture. Don’t limit yourself to this month. Even if you are the only one in your family who continues to do this, choose a day each month to serve––and demonstrate love for––your family. Ephesians 6:7: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.” Their pleasure at these constant surprises will be worth more than all the free time you might want to spend on yourself.

Strawberry-Banana Smoothies
family3Makes 3-4

3-4 cups vanilla frozen yogurt
1/4 cup orange juice
1/3 cup milk
7-10 strawberries
1 large banana

Blend until smooth.

By Lisa Grimenstein

Filed Under: Generation Gap

February 2009 Desktop Image

February 5, 2009 1 Comment

If you’d like to have our theme image on your desktop this month, simply click on “standard” or “wide-screen” underneath the photo, then right click on the image and select “set as background.”  Note: laptops are generally wide-screen, and desktops are usually standard images.

Pierce my heart to love like You do, 1 Corinthians 13:6-8: “…[Love] rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…”

desktopthumbnailfeb09
February 2009, Created by Davonne Parks – Standard or Wide-screen

Filed Under: Desktop Delight

Non-romantic Love

February 4, 2009 Leave a Comment

4With this month being February, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss many couples’ favorite holiday: Valentine’s Day! I have always thought it to be a day used only as an excuse to get presents, but since I’ve gotten older and more understanding, I’ve realized that even though it may be like that for some, it doesn’t have to be that way for me! I have come to recognize that I can choose to make this day about love and God’s grace and mercy (Eph. 2:8)! My boyfriend and I have decided to make this a day of appreciation for the small things, such as time spent together. We usually write letters and buy some type of candy—simple and perfect!

Before I continue on with the good things Valentine’s Day brings, let me make this suggestion: Valentine’s Day can be celebrated with many different people. For example, you could choose to do something for your mother or maybe your best friend; it really doesn’t matter. What I’m trying to say is that if you are not currently in a dating relationship, there’s no need to feel left out of this wonderful day. You can go out and tell everyone important in your life what they mean to you—and don’t be shy about it!

To me, the best thing about Valentine’s Day is the chance to express your love and positive feelings freely (of course, we shouldn’t hesitate to do this all the time)! I am one of those people who often come up with different scenarios in her mind and many times tells herself that “this may be the last chance I have to speak to or see someone.” So I have always made it a goal to part with everyone on good terms. Sometimes I worry that I don’t tell people how much I 5care about them, and so I make a point of being open with others about my feelings for them. I think that Valentine’s Day can be used as the perfect opportunity to tell all the people in our lives how much we love and appreciate them! We can do this by sending cards to the elderly, hosting a party for friends, or doing nice things for family members.

Don’t let those who care about you just assume that you care, too—tell them with kind and loving words (Rom. 12:10).  God wants us to take care of each other, and sometimes all that is needed is a simple thank you and expression of gratitude. I hope that everyone will choose to make this holiday of love a day to show love and spread God’s many gifts to His Creation.

Shelby Garrett

Shelby Garrett

Filed Under: Dating

God is Love

February 3, 2009 1 Comment

2In order for us to love others the way God loves us, we must first understand a little about His love. First we’ll discuss how God loves us in times of sorrow and in times of joy. We’ll also talk about God’s love being a two-way thing; He desires for us to love Him too!

Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1) God loves us in times of sorrow.

A- God loves us when we hurt
God knows when we are hurting. He knows how we’re feeling and He knows our pain. Going through difficult situations may be hard to understand at the time, but often, once it’s over, we can look back and understand why things happened. There are times; however, when we don’t fully understand why but we can still choose to learn from those situations.

When we hurt, God hurts for us, and He’ll comfort us if we allow Him to. Second Corinthians 1:3-4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

B- God loves us when others hurt us
God created humans with the free will to make their own choices. If we didn’t have free will, we’d all be like robots, automatically doing everything we’re supposed to do without any choices to make at all. This free will allows us to make bad choices as well as good choices, and it allows others to make bad choices as well. Unfortunately, others may make bad choices that hurt us, whether it’s physically or emotionally. There is a poem, written by an anonymous author, about how someone else’s bad choices hurt her.

My Dad
Wishing there was a way to hide all the fear
Hoping you were the dad I wanted
h2h3Now that I know from the past thirteen years
But in the end its the fear that haunted

Marks to show the way he is pleading
From them; that’s the only way we bonded
Showing me my father had no meaning
Hate with no love is all that he wanted

Bruising to starving from the bad time then
Wanting to fit in but could not manage
Hoping his anger would just go dim
All the bruises that did the damage

Now I am glad that I’m out of your raft
For once, My life is going by fast

This girl’s father hurt her in terrible ways, and I’m sure that when she wrote this, she didn’t feel that God was close to her. In reality though, He was crying right there with her, longing for her pain to stop.

As much as it hurts us when others are hateful, it hurts God even more. As difficult as it is to do, if we endure the pain, we will get through it, and we will be stronger people because of it. First Peter 5:10: “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”

Christ loves us through our pain, and if we lean on Him, not only will we get through the bad times, but we will fully overcome them and we will thrive because of Him.

C- God loves us when we sin
Sometimes we do things that are so terrible we don’t love ourselves, so we don’t think God can possibly love us. God does love us, though, and He’s waiting with open arms to welcome us back whenever we turn back to Him and ask for His forgiveness. First John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and will take us back no matter what! There is no sin that is too big for Him to forgive, and no heartache that is too much for Him to bear. Colossians 1:13-14: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

h2h5When we sin, we need God, and we need to ask His forgiveness for our sins, and allow ourselves to be reconciled to Him through the blood of Christ. Colossians 1:21-22: “And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.”

When we ask God for forgiveness, we can ask Him to help others forgive us. If we’ve done something to hurt someone else, we also need to go to that person, confess our sin to them, and ask their forgiveness. After we’ve done that, we also need to forgive ourselves, and to learn from our sins so we don’t make the same choices in the future.

We also need to make sure to forgive others when they sin against us, because God forgives us in the same measure we forgive others. John 20:23: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” When we are unwilling to forgive others, it’s usually due to a problem with the ugliness and sin in our own hearts, which will also contribute toward making us feel unloved. We need to get rid of that ugliness, and allow ourselves to love enough to forgive others of their wrongs. There will be times when we will need the same grace from someone else, and we’ll be more likely to receive grace if we’ve been merciful to others.

We need to remember that God loves us no matter what. He hates our sin, but loves us, and wants us to feel loved and be obedient to Him so that we can enjoy the blessings He has to offer for our lives.

2) God loves us in times of joy

God rejoices with us and He wants us to share our joys with Him. Just as He knows when we’re sad, God also knows when we are happy. True contentedness and happiness can only be found in Christ. Without Him, there is a void that can never be filled. Philippians 4:6-7: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

h2h4God wants us to be happy, and He knows that true happiness can only be found in living a life that’s fully dedicated to Him. Colossians 3:14-15: “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

3) God wants us to love Him

A- God deserves our love
Deuteronomy 30:20: “And that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

There are people who think that God has nothing to do with the life they’re living, the days that they survive, or even the time that goes by. God is in control and He has something to do with everything that happens to us––from how long we live, to how our life is at the time if we allow Him to be involved. God put all of us in this world for a reason. He wants us to know what having a life feels like, whether we want to accept it or not. He wants nothing more than for us to learn about Him, get to know Him, and allow Him to be in our lives. God deserves to be the center of our lives. He brought us here, and is showing us the world, letting us live amazing lives filled with different memories, whether they’re good or bad. Sometimes bad things happen to us, and we can’t change that, but we can choose how we handle ourselves in trying times. We can choose to love God. He deserves our love. Even though things won’t be perfect until we get to Heaven, if we choose to love and serve God, we will live content and fulfilling lives on earth, no matter what the circumstances. Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

B- God desires our love
God wants us to love Him. He sent Jesus to this earth to live a perfect life and die for our sins so that we can be made whole in Him. God loves us so much that He was willing to watch His son die so we could have the hope of eternal life. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

We can’t fully enjoy God’s blessings unless we love Him, and He wants to give us those blessings!

C- God will take care of us when we truly love Him

3It’s important for us to understand that our lives can change in the blink of an eye. We could, at any minute of any day, lose our life. It could be from a horrible, unexpected accident, or we could die because of bad health. James 4:14 says, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” Understanding who God is and what he stands for should really change our lives. It should affect us in so many ways, such as the way we live our lives, the way we talk, and how we dress.

Bad things will happen to all of us at times, but trust Him through the bad, too.  All things are in God’s hands, and His plans are always better than the plans we can make for ourselves.  Something good will come out of even the bad if we allow it to, just as we’re told in Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

First Corinthians 2:9: “but just as it is written, ‘THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.’”

In conclusion:
We hope that you realize that God is love, as the Bible tells us in Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God loves us in times of sorrow and in times of joy. God wants us to love Him too, and to share that love with others. Mark 16:15: “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’” So, ladies, let’s be the best role models we can be in order to show others how God helps and loves us.

We hope that you’ll choose to share the love of God with others, so they can also learn about Him, love Him, and choose to follow Him. We should all live, and teach others to live, in a way that will give us the hope of one day entering the Kingdom of Heaven, according to the promise made in Jude 1:21: “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

By Michelle Jane and Davonne Parks

Filed Under: Heart to Heart

Love Never Fails

February 2, 2009 Leave a Comment

dbr2The theme of love is one of the easiest to find examples of in Scripture. This month’s reading shows us several examples of the love Jesus taught.

In Romans and Isaiah, we are told of Israel’s rejection of God, but of God’s unwavering love for them. As many times as they disobey and turn their backs on Him, He continues to love them and desire a relationship with them. Although we may not commit the same sins as many Israelites committed, we daily disobey God, rejecting His promises for us; yet He continues to love us and desires our love and obedience toward Him.

An amazing example of obedience to God, even amid excruciating trials and pain, is Job. I am astounded by his faith in God’s love for him, even as he sits on the ground, scraping sores on his body and mourning the loss of his children. I only recently comprehended just how faithful He was, and how sure of God’s love he was. Although we are aware from chapter 1 of the unseen battle between God and Satan, Job is not. I think it would be easier to endure Job’s trials and pain if I knew that I was God’s wonderfully loved proof to Satan that there were obedient people on earth. However, Job remains faithful and refuses to curse God—even when encouraged to do so by his wife and friends—without ever knowing that God is confidently using him to prove a point to Satan. What amazing faith!

One of God’s most central commands, following the command to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, is to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus states this to his critics in Matthew 22:37, and Paul reminds the church of this important commandment in Romans 13:9. Paul gives us several examples of this kind of love, in Romans 14:19: “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification,” and in Romans 15:1-2: “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” It is often a hard thing to love our neighbors—friends, acquaintances, family, even our enemies—the way God commands; however, He makes it clear how important this law is. As we read this month, let’s focus on the many illustrations of love and ask God to help us love others in the way He desires.

By Lisa Grimenstein

Suggested February Reading

dbr1FEB 1 Rom 9-10
FEB 2 Gen 16-19
FEB 3 Josh 21-24
FEB 4 Ps 12-14
FEB 5 Job 9-10
FEB 6 Isa 23-28
FEB 7 Matt 11-13
FEB 8 Rom 11-12
FEB 9 Gen 20-23
FEB 10 Judg 1-6
FEB 11 Ps 15-17
FEB 12 Job 11-12
FEB 13 Isa 29-33
FEB 14 Matt 14-16
FEB 15 Rom 13-14
FEB 16 Gen 24-27
FEB 17 Judg 7-11
FEB 18 Ps 18-20
FEB 19 Job 13-14
FEB 20 Isa 34-39
FEB 21 Matt 17-19
FEB 22 Rom 15-16
FEB 23 Gen 28-31
FEB 24 Judg 12-16
FEB 25 Ps 21-23
FEB 26 Job 15-16
FEB 27 Isa 40-44
FEB 28 Matt 20-22

Filed Under: Daily Bible Reading

Pierce my heart to love like You do

February 1, 2009 2 Comments

1 Corinthians 13:6-8: “…[Love] rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…”

news1Welcome to the second issue of the newly structured Pierce My Heart. We hope you’ve been enjoying all the changes, as well as your old favorites. Although there are still some changes taking place, we have settled into this new year, as we hope you have too. One of our most exciting changes is yet to come—we have several new writers! We will be welcoming them over the next couple months and hope that you will enjoy the fresh change that will come from their writing. If any of you would like to join our volunteer writing staff, be sure to let us know and we’ll send an application your way!

In this issue

Entering into February rarely happens without thoughts of love entering our minds. And this month’s issue is filled with love! From demonstrating love to our families to celebrating love with our friends to sharing love with strangers, we will center this issue on sharing God’s love with others, and learning about His love for us.

Of course, the first place to start when discovering God’s love is in His word. This month’s Daily Bible Reading schedule is filled with scripture about God’s love for us, and how He wants us to love others. As well as studying Scripture for what godly love looks like, we also have some articles that discuss how we can show godly love today.

Part of God’s love is how we love ourselves because of who we are in Christ and how valuable we are to God. This month’s Cooking Corner includes great recipes for foods from all around God’s world. Although Beauty Buzz will focus on loving our hair, it also relates to the more important matter of loving the body God gave us. February’s Health and Fitness will also discuss being content with our bodies, and not comparing ourselves to others or some “perfect”—and worldly—standard.  This issue will also introduce some more difficult topics, such as alcoholism and God’s love for unborn children.

mediamatters1Don’t forget to check out some of the lighter topics, though! Media Matters reviews a great love story, and Gifted Girls will display some reader talent. We have a list of the best things about being single, and a few fun suggestions about how to tell others what they mean to you. And to get extra insight from some of our writers, visit our new blog, Just for Today.

Be sure to also check out Style Sense this month, because there are not one, but two special giveaways, for a total value of $55!

A closing note

You can subscribe to the magazine, on the right-hand side of the page, to receive your favorite articles in your inbox the day they’re posted. Don’t forget about the Facebook Fan Club. You can join, and invite all of your Facebook friends to join too!

Now that we’ve hopefully renewed our spirits, we can fully delight in the feeling of God’s love, so grab some hot cocoa, sit back, and relax as you read the articles this month to discover new ways of sharing that love with others.

By Lisa Grimenstein

Filed Under: In this Issue
« Previous Page

To the Top