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I am the Vine

October 15, 2008 Leave a Comment

The following song is by Knowles Shaw. When I think of virtue, one thing I think of is bearing fruit for Jesus. Think about the words and what they mean in your life.

“I am the vine and ye are the branches,”
Bear precious fruit for Jesus today;
Branches in Him no fruit ever bearing,
Jesus hath said, “He taketh way.”

“Now ye are clean thro’ words I have spoken;
Living in Me, much fruit ye shall bear;
Dwelling in you, My promise unbroken,
Glory in heav’n with Me ye shall share.”

Yes, by your fruits the world is to know you,
Walking in love as children of day;
Follow your Guide, He passeth before you,
Leading to realms of glorious day.

“I am the vine and ye are the branches;
I am the vine, be faithful and true;
Ask what ye will, your pray’r shall be granted,
The Father loved me, so I have loved you.”

I want you to read the next passage with God in your heart. These are the virtues that every one of us should display or be striving for in our daily lives.

Romans 12:9-21 “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Think about your life every day––what do you do to show the world that you are God’s?

By Megan Skinner

Filed Under: Devotionals

More Precious than Rubies

October 13, 2008 Leave a Comment

Proverbs 31:10 “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”

Photos 1-4 from National geographic

Azurite

Gypsum

Mesolite

Pink Chancendony

Photos 5-8 Submitted by Shelby Garrett

Filed Under: Gifted Girls

Depression

October 11, 2008 Leave a Comment

The following passage is from the book of Proverbs. It is about being a virtuous woman. I want you to notice that she is always busy, always doing something with her time. She’s helping others who are in need. She is healthy and confident, joyful and wise.

The Virtuous Woman

“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31:10-31

What’s stopping you?

Although this type of woman is one that we should all strive to be, many times we have a hard time being virtuous and joyful and productive. For many women, depression can interfere with their ability to become a Proverbs 31 woman.

According to depression.com, women are almost twice as likely to become depressed as men. The higher risk may be due partly to hormonal changes brought on by puberty, menstruation, menopause, and pregnancy. It is normal to feel “depressed” occasionally; however, depression is a much more serious problem. Review the following list and consider how often you experience any or all of these thoughts or feelings.

Depression symptoms:

constant feelings of sadness, irritability, or tension
decreased interest or pleasure in usual activities or hobbies
loss of energy, feeling tired despite lack of activity
a change in appetite, with significant weight loss or weight gain
a change in sleeping patterns, such as difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much
restlessness or feeling slowed down
decreased ability to make decisions or concentrate
feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt
thoughts of suicide or death

Although we all tend to experience some of these feelings from time to time, for many people, these feelings and thoughts are constant and debilitating. If you think that you suffer from depression, seek help from a doctor or a therapist. Talk to a parent, friend, or school guidance counselor about it first, if that helps.

Food of the Month: Pumpkin

Pumpkins have a lot of beta-carotene, which is a form of vitamin A. According to Pumpkins and More, “current research indicates that a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and offers protection against heart disease. Beta-carotene offers protection against other diseases, as well as some degenerative aspects of aging.” So, help yourself to another slice of that pumpkin pie!

To find out more, visit Color Me Pumpkin or Pumpkins and More.

By Megan Skinner

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Filed Under: Health and Fitness

Strive to be Virtuous

October 9, 2008 Leave a Comment

10. Help other girls in their journey to become virtuous women. Begin a Bible study with girls in your youth group. Be an example to those who are younger then you.

9. Show maturity beyond your age. Develop the ability to take on real-world problems and show that you can handle what life brings.

8. Have self confidence. Be proud of who you are in Christ.

7. Put others before yourself. Be willing to help someone else before doing things for yourself.

6. Be trustworthy. Always keep others’ trust and don’t do anything to betray it, unless the secret is about a harmful situation.

5. Choose a boyfriend who will encourage you to be virtuous. Date a guy who respects you and encourages you.

4. Always arise to a challenge when doing charity work. Take on a charity project, like organizing a community service project for your youth group.

3. Always give before you receive. Be willing to give to those who are in need before taking what you want.

2. Be a good friend, daughter, sister, and granddaughter, so you may be live up to your virtuous title.

1. Serve God before anything else.

-Kim Cook

Filed Under: Top Ten

Paint A Pumpkin

October 8, 2008 1 Comment

Pumpkin Painting Instructions:

Purchase desired pumpkins or gourds
Purchase washable paints
Find paintbrushes
Begin painting!

Pumpkin Painting Ideas:

Have a pumpkin painting party where you supply the paints, and everyone else brings their own pumpkins and a snack to share. Everyone can make two pumpkins – one to keep and one to give away! Invite younger siblings and parents to this activity, because this is an event every age can enjoy. Give everyone a chance to discover their gift of painting!

Give simple prizes or certificates for the pumpkins, such as most original, silliest, most professional, etc. The pumpkin pictured won first place for the most colorful pumpkin!

Caution:

Do not leave these painted pumpkins outside! The paint will wash off in the rain. Depending on their size, the pumpkins can be used as a table centerpiece, an office paperweight, or a fireplace decoration.

Your Turn!

Paint your own pumpkins, take pictures, and contact us to receive simple submission directions, so your pumpkin can also be featured in our Gifted Girls section.

Future Note:

We will be featuring homemade cards in our December 2008 issue. If you’ve ever made a card for someone else, or would like to try making a card, take a picture of it and send it to us no later than November 15^th for consideration.

– Davonne Parks

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Filed Under: Gifted Girls

Costume Party!

October 7, 2008 2 Comments

fab5 Autumn is a beautiful time of year. The trees look amazing with all their shades of oranges, reds, and yellows, and the weather feels wonderful. There’s a refreshing crisp, clean feel in the air.

Many people celebrate Halloween during this time of year and attend Halloween parties, but the Bible is very much against any type of witchcraft, which Halloween is often associated with. Read our October Friends article for more facts about Halloween.

Instead of celebrating the witches, goblins, and gore, why not celebrate the autumn season with a fall costume party? Bob for apples, roast marshmallows and hot dogs over a fire (use hay bales instead of chairs for seating), make caramel corn, and have good, clean autumn fun.

In previous Style Sense articles, we’ve discussed the importance of modesty, and as Christians and soldiers for Christ, we are to set an example and be the shining light for the world (Matt. 5:14). Autumn, and costume parties, are supposed to be fun, so make sure your modest costume reflects that. Use your imagination and be creative. Encourage your friends to dress modestly too. A good way to do that is to pick a theme for your group, such as a fruit basket or pigs in a blanket. If you are hosting the party, you can make the entire night a specific theme, such as influential people in history, favorite Bible characters, favorite (clean) movie characters, favorite candy bars, or anything else clean and fun you can think of.

Cheap and Easy Individual Costumes

1950s Woman: Wear a tea length black dress with black pumps. Dress it up with pearl earrings, a necklace, and white elbow-length gloves. Use mega hold hairspray to style your hair into that classic 1950’s look. Add bright red lipstick and you’re ready to go!
Strawberry Shortcake: Wear blue pants and a blue skirt with a pink and white striped shirt. Borrow or buy a really big hat and tape cut-out strawberries onto it.
Princess: Wear an old formal or bridesmaid dress and heels and simply add a tiara.
Gymnast: Buy or borrow a leotard, throw gym pants over it, wear your hair pulled back into a scrunchie, and wear a medal around your neck.
Pippi Longstocking: Purchase a jumper from a thrift store, then hot glue square fabric remnants to the jumper. Put on a solid t-shirt under the jumper and wear mismatched knee socks. Shape a wire hanger to your head and braid your hair around it to make your braids stand out, then spray it orange with temporary spray die.
Ballerina: Wear a leotard with a knee-length tutu, ballerina slippers, and pink tights. Put glitter on your face and wear a tiara!
Bunch of Grapes: Wear black sweats as a base. Find a small remnant of green fabric and cut out leaves as you would with paper dolls. The leaves will come out in a long strand that will wrap around your neck. Then take a brown paper lunch bag and attach it to a party hat with staples. Twist the bag to make the stem. Use purple face paint to make your face a grape. Blow up about 20 purple balloons and attach them to the sweats with safety pins (through the lip of the balloon).
Raining Cats and Dogs: Sew stuffed dogs and cats onto an umbrella.
Black-Eyed Pea: Put black make-up around one or both eyes, and hot glue a letter “P” cut from felt to the front of your shirt.
Cowgirl: Put on jeans or a knee length denim skirt, boots, and a cowboy hat. Bonus if you use yarn and a marker to make a face on a paper bag and put the bag over the straw part of a broom for a horse.
Kindergarten girl: Wear jeans or capris with a pink shirt and pigtails. Put on a pink backpack or grab a pink lunch box and you’re ready to go!

Cheap and Easy Group Costumes:

The Seven Seas: Sew a length of sailing rope to the front of a blue shirt in the form of the letter C. Put on a sailors hat, and enlist six friends to do the same.
Pigs in a Blanket: Buy pig snouts from a costume store, and have everyone wrap themselves in a blanket.
Forest: Make costumes out of refrigerator boxes and washer boxes. Tall people can be different sized trees and shorter teens or younger siblings can be bushes. Paint the boxes to look like trees with holes cut out for the eyes. Supplies needed: cardboard boxes (trunk), paint (to paint the trunk and leaves), brown shirts, and crepe paper (leaves).

Have a happy autumn, and feel free to e-mail us with pictures of your costume!

By Alicia Sargent

Filed Under: Style Sense Tagged With: Modesty

Getting Close

October 6, 2008 2 Comments

The first time I saw the sand and the ocean as far as my eyes could see, is when I realized that I saw Him. I stood on the beach with the sand between my toes and the water washing over them and I felt Him. Still to this day, I will never forget how close I feel to God when I am at the ocean. All of us have a place where we feel closest to Him. When I was twenty, I left home for a period of time and moved to the North Carolina coast. Any time I needed to feel close to God, I went to the beach. I usually went late in the evenings when others had gone home. I knew I could pray wherever I was and He would hear me, but feeling Him is what gave me comfort. When I had to leave North Carolina and move back to Kentucky I took one last drive to the beach. Alone, late at night, I sat there with the water rushing around me and cried. I had never felt as close to God as I did when I was on a beach. What was I going to do now?

I moved back home and I immediately missed that closeness. I prayed and prayed. And although that can bring some comfort, for me I needed to feel as though He heard me. One fall day I went for a drive alone. The leaves had changed colors and seeing all the colorful trees on the mountainside simply amazed me. I pulled over and decided to take a walk up an old path. I was half way up the path when I felt Him. I looked down and there were leaves everywhere. The cool autumn air, the birds chirping––I knew He was telling me something.

I didn’t need the ocean to feel Him. Sometimes I don’t even need to pray to feel close to Him. I simply need to take the time to appreciate the marvelous works He created. The snow in the winter, the rain and flowers in the spring are all signs He gives us that He is alive. In some form, everyday, I look for Him. I always make it a point to appreciate the blessing He gives me of life so that I can enjoy His works.

By Sarah J. Ancheta

Filed Under: Heart to Heart

Virtuous Friend Choices

October 5, 2008 Leave a Comment

What do you look for in a friend? I’m sure most of us would say that humor, kindness, and common interests are among the top characteristics on our list. I’m also sure most of us believe that our friends are good people who want to do what is right. However, when you take a closer look, how many of your friends could be described as genuine, virtuous, and full of integrity?

A little over a year ago, I met a group of girls who are among the most genuine young women I have ever known. These women really strive to be virtuous. They know that includes how they dress, how they talk, and what they watch and read. I know gossip can be fun at times, and almost instinctive, to women. But these women have their minds set on refusing to do that. There are many fun, cute clothes out there, and we tend to argue that it’s okay to look nice in front of guys. My friends don’t buy into it, and they choose to always dress modestly. They also don’t watch or read immoral things because they are well aware that we are to set our minds on what is good and pure (Phil. 4:8).

If we truly want to be virtuous, and to encourage others to do the same, then we should seek out friends who challenge us to be virtuous as well. Does this mean that you need to get rid of all your friends who gossip and watch bad movies? Not necessarily, because you can be an example to them. But it does mean that you should start making an effort not to participate in the gossip and movies with them. I’ve noticed that since I’ve spent time with these upright women, I am much more convicted not to gossip when I’m with my other friends. I also make a conscious decision not to dress in ways that might tempt men. What good is there from tempting someone to sin? “It is better not to … do anything else that will cause your brother to fall” (Romans 14:20–22). These women challenge me to be a better Christian. When developing relationships with women who truly strive to be virtuous, over time, sin becomes less comfortable and much more noticeable. And so, I challenge you to form relationships with girls who will encourage you with their virtuosity.

By Lisa Grimenstein

Filed Under: Heart to Heart

Virtue in Mind, Heart, and Body

October 4, 2008 2 Comments

Most of us want to be virtuous, but many of us struggle with that to some extent. Maybe we don’t know exactly how to be virtuous, or if it’s even worth the effort. Every Young Woman’s Battle by Shannon Ethridge and Stephen Arterburn addresses that in a very straightforward manner. These authors tell us what it really means to be pure, how to reclaim purity if we’ve lost it, how to stay pure, and how to fully love and rely on the One who will never disappoint us, Jesus Christ.

Every Young Woman’s Battle is broken down into seven sections, with each section having three or four chapters, making a grand total of 222 pages full of information about all areas of sexual purity. The sections include:

Part 1: Understanding Our Battle
Part 2: Avoiding Self-Destruction
Part 3: Avoiding the Destruction of Others
Part 4: Guarding Your Mind
Part 5: Guarding Your Heart
Part 6: Guarding Your Body
Part 7: Looking for Love in the Right Places

The chapters in these sections discuss modesty, flirting, the media, breaking cycles of abuse, common excuses for premarital sex, how far is too far, and more. The final section tells us how to know when the time is right for Mr. Right, how to become Mrs. Right, and how to fall in love with Jesus.

Who is this book for?

This book is for anyone who has become sexually active and wants to learn how to stop, girls who haven’t yet had their first kiss and want to know where to draw the line before they make mistakes, and people who don’t think having sex or fooling around outside of marriage is wrong (you’ll probably think otherwise after reading this book).

Boy Book

To learn how a guy’s mind works, read Every Young Man’s Battle. Learning about purity from a guy’s perspective is very eye-opening as to the large role we play in helping them to be pure. A note of caution: some of the issues discussed in this book are very personal and not for the young teen reader.

Your Mind, Heart, and Body

We’ve previously discussed the disease and heartache that premarital sex can bring, and it’s important to keep in mind that just because we’re not having sex outside of marriage, it doesn’t mean we’re okay. God wants us to be completely pure for our own good. First Thessalonians 4:3-4, 7: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.”

Sexual impurity happens long before technical virginity is lost. Nobody is going to guard our purity but ourselves, and if we are going to win this battle, we must enter it prepared. Every Young Woman’s Battle gives us the information we need to prepare ourselves as much as possible for the road that lies ahead, so one day we will be able to show our love to our husbands fully, without reserve, and without regret.

Davonne Parks

Filed Under: Media Matters

Movie Night!

October 3, 2008 1 Comment

Is it the buttery smell of popcorn, the fizz of soda, or the girly conversations? I am pretty sure it is all of them, because it’s a MOVIE NIGHT! My pick for a girly movie night is… drumroll… Nancy Drew, starring Emma Roberts. It doubles as both a clean mystery and the best movie for a Christian movie night this month. Now what’s holding you back? Grab your popcorn, soda, and best friends and settle in for a night of fun! When planning for your awesome movie night, invite a new girl to share a fun, clean evening with! You never know how much influence you have until you use it! Remember, God wants us to be pure in everything we do, so keep your movies and conversations fun and clean! 1 John 3:19-20 “We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.”