That I may tell of all thy wonderous works
Snow creations are featured this month! Scroll down for information about next month’s item.
Snowman created by Catherine, James, and Diana Walker
Snow angel created by Davonne Parks
Snow angel created by Lily Parks
Snowman created by Davonne and Lily Parks
Snowcar created by Davonne and Lily Parks
Future note
If you’d like to have your poetry published, please submit your poem by Wednesday, February 25 for possible use in our March article!
I’ve always liked the story of Noah. Ever since I was a little child, I have been taught about Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6, 7, 8). (…which makes it all the more embarrassing and strange that I would have ended up saying Moses built the ark when I was in Bible class in 8th grade…) But Noah’s Ark appeals to me now, because it’s easy to relate to as a teen! I’m reading through Genesis right now, and a certain verse I read a few days ago is bold in my mind: “Then the Lord said to Noah, ‘Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.’” WOW. Wow! Listen to that…”I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation” (Genesis 7:1, emphasis added). See, God had become sorry He had made man, because there was so much wickedness in the world. But “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” (Gen. 6:5-7) Although it seemed like there was no good in the world, Noah and his family were righteous! The Lord commanded Noah to build an ark so that he and his family would be safe from the great, destructive flood.
While Noah built the ark as the Lord had said, it’s likely that Noah was probably pretty ridiculed during that time. Those who were wicked probably thought Noah was absolutely crazy for obeying this God! But, Noah obeyed GOD. He didn’t say, “But, God, what will everyone think when I begin to build this ark?” or, “Can’t you just save me and my family without me building that?” No. I believe Noah knew what a blessing it was for God Himself to recognize his family and their continuous obedience to Him, and allow them to be saved from the flood! I also think it’s amazing that 1) there had never been rain, and 2) it took him decades to build the ark—that’s a lot of time for ridicule and doubt!
Today, how many times do Christians think, “What will all my friends think if I miss that basketball game to go to Bible study?” and, “There’s no fun at my church. I’m going to my friend’s church tonight for some real entertainment!” It’s an extremely important lesson to learn that, when it comes to obeying GOD, it doesn’t matter what people think! Won’t it make a greater impact if you say instead, “No, sorry, I’m going to our youth group’s Bible study! You should come with me!” and, “I’m looking forward to tonight’s sermon. I know worship is not for entertainment, and I’m glad I get to sing praises to Him, pray to Him, learn about Him, and be with my Christian family!”
Obeying GOD will come easily when we have a close relationship with Him. Others will see our total commitment to Him when we adamantly turn away the world’s ideas of “fun,” and find our true happiness in serving Him! One day, I want to see God look at me and say, “You were righteous in your generation…” Keep Genesis 7:1 in mind as you go through life.
Hannah Smith
Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”
At the request of a good friend, I assisted in creating a poster with the above verse.
To fully grasp the meaning of the verse, I read the chapter surrounding it, and I especially appreciate the part about the meditation of my heart. How often do we think we’re doing a great job as Christians, but still allow sinful thoughts to dwell in our hearts?
To truly be pleasing God, our hearts need to be meditating on, or thinking about, pure, godly things.
Let’s allow the message in those words to penetrate our minds, so that our hearts really will be acceptable to Him, because when our hearts are right, acceptable words will naturally follow (Luke 6:45).
– Davonne Parks
Sometimes the excitement about spring causes us to forget to enjoy the last days of winter. In hopes of inspiring you to enjoy the rest of this quiet season God created, we have decided to post our own favorite things about winter. Psalm 74:16-17 “Yours is the day, Yours also is the night; You have prepared the light and the sun. You have established all the boundaries of the earth; You have made summer and winter.”
Rest – Without yard work or outside activities due to cold air, there are more hours of free time each day to rest.
Hot drinks – A good cup of hot tea or homemade hot cocoa and a book or magazine is so relaxing.
Coziness – Being inside, while the wind blows outside, with a fireplace, book, movie, or games.
Snow days
Snowboarding or skiing – especially on annual church trips.
Sledding – with family and friends.
Making snow angels – much easier than snowmen!
Snow cream – homemade by mom.
What are your favorite things about winter? Leave a comment below telling everyone what you love about this season.
– Pierce My Heart Staff
This month’s giveaway, valued at $55, is featured at the end of this article. Keep reading for details.
Jewelry and accessories are fun, but there is some jewelry that can also make a statement about where we stand in our beliefs. Since true love waits for marriage, I think this month is an appropriate time to discuss displaying that desire with jewelry, as a visible reminder to ourselves, and to members of the opposite gender.
The True Love Waits Pledge
“Believing that true love waits, I make a commitment to God, myself, my family, my friends, my future mate, and my future children to a lifetime of purity including sexual abstinence from this day until the day I enter a biblical marriage relationship.” (Read more about the pledge at Lifeway.com.)
Please notice that the pledge says nothing of our past. If you’ve messed up before, you can choose to begin, right now, abstaining from sexual behavior until your wedding day. Mistakes of our past can leaves scars well into our future, but once we receive God’s gift, we have the privilege of starting with a clean slate in His eyes (Psalm 103:11-12).
Does the Jewelry Matter?
Our inward commitment is the most important, and no amount of jewelry can change our hearts, but if we are truly dedicated to saving ourselves for marriage, the jewelry can be a great visual reminder to ourselves, and to anyone who wants to date us.
Styles
The most common True Love Waits jewelry are rings, which come in a variety of styles.
While some purity jewelry at Factory 79 costs upward of $200, simple silver rings can be purchased for under $25. I personally love their Daisy ring and Floating Heart necklace.
If Factory 79 jewelry doesn’t suit your style, Bob Siemon Designs might be the store for you. They have a slightly edgier feel to their jewelry, including a TLW Guitar Pick Pendant. C28 also has a nice selection of purity jewelry. If you want even more options, you could do a Google or Amazon search for “True Love Waits Jewelry,” or visit your local Christian bookstore to see if they offer any TLW items.
Wear with Confidence
If you choose to purchase True Love Waits jewelry, wear it with confidence, knowing that you are confessing His name before man (Luke 12:8). If you choose to purchase a purity ring, wear it as a serious commitment and not just because it’s cool. This jewelry should really mean something and reflect a commitment that is in your heart. Feel good knowing that you are setting an example for your family members, your peers, and girls younger than you who want to someday emulate your attitude. Most importantly, feel good knowing that you’re giving yourself a constant visual reminder that true love really does wait.
Giveaway Details
For our second giveaway, C28 and Factory 79 are each giving one purity ring away to a reader! C28 is allowing a reader to choose any purity ring worth up to $25 and Factory 79 is giving away one Daisy Ring, valued at $29.95. To enter, leave a comment below by Wednesday, February 25, 2009, stating at least one thing you’d like to see in an upcoming Style Sense or Beauty Buzz article. You may enter to win a ring for yourself, or to give it away as a gift for someone else.
Comments are moderated so they may take a day or so to appear. Make sure to include a valid e-mail address in your information (this will not appear in the post). The two winners will be announced on Feb 28 and they will be e-mailed with simple instructions on how to claim their new ring. We also want to give a special thank you to C28 and Factory79 for their generosity!
Davonne Parks
Since I’ve started using the “Daily Bible Reading Schedule” card for the new year, I am constantly reminded of God’s unmatchable power and complete awesome-ness! One of my favorite things to do when I read is keep track of verses that stick out to me. This one actually made me stop everything and smile–really wide!
“So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.” -Genesis 29:20. I love it! Jacob loved Rachel so much that he told Laban, her father, that he would serve him for seven years just to be able to have her as his wife. But Laban gave Jacob Leah, the eldest daughter instead. Poor Jacob! Of course, we learn that because he loved Rachel so much, he worked yet another seven years to be able to marry her! Every time I read this verse, I am so amazed at Jacob’s persistence to gain the one he truly loved. God watched over Jacob, and Jacob trusted God. I will continue to strive to do the same, and I hope and pray that one day, if it’s God’s will, He will show me a wonderful, good man like Jacob.
By Hannah Smith
Valentine’s Day is often dreaded by girls who don’t have a boyfriend, but this year, there’s no need to worry! Be content with being single, and feel confident knowing that you’re holding out for a really special guy. This Valentine’s 
Day, get creative – think of your own favorite things about being single, and really enjoy being you!
10) Dressing up is optional.
9) You get to choose who to spend the day with.
8 ) You can check the fluids in your car without a guy trying to show off what he knows.
7) Nobody will try to make you give up half of your favorite dessert.
6) There’s no pressure to spend time or money purchasing gifts.
5) You get to choose the movie (and watch it in your favorite Pjs!).
4) You get to spend the evening doing something you really enjoy.
3) A good attitude about being single may inspire other single girls to be happy with themselves, too.
2) You’ll have time to brighten someone else’s day.
1) Instead of being distracted by romance, you can focus on sharing God’s love with everyone.
By Davonne Parks
We often have the picture perfect Valentine’s Day in our minds, and it usually includes a special someone. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all about relationships, though; this holiday can be a fun day for everyone!
One way to have fun on Valentine’s Day, whether in a relationship or not, is to throw a party with your friends! You could throw an around-the-world party, and have everyone bring an ethnic food, you could host a card-making party and have guests bring their favorite Valentine’s embellishment, or, if the party is just for girls, you could hang out and do a few fun girl things.
Valentine’s Party Tips
Spend a few hours cleaning. Like we mentioned in January, don’t worry about spending days scrubbing your house, but make sure everything looks nice. This is not a job for your mom! If you’ve never vacuumed or cleaned a bathroom, now is the time to learn. Make sure the house is straightened up, the floors are swept, the bathrooms are clean and well stocked, and the party areas have clean counters to place party items on.
Make it a fun friend time. The idea of the party is to have good, clean fun. Encourage everyone to have a fun time on this typically date-worthy holiday. Don’t use this as an opportunity to complain about not having a boyfriend or date.
Use free decorations. Look around your house, and have your friends look around theirs. Anything that’s pink, red, white, or has hearts will work. You may have some red paper plates from Christmas, white candles from a previous party, and a pink tablecloth for Easter. Put them together and you have a Valentine’s Day table! Think creatively when you come across anything that may work – balloons can be used in the main party area, throw blankets and pillows will help make the couch festive, and a red lamp shade will assist in creating a Valentine’s Day atmosphere. Don’t limit yourself to these ideas though – if you come across something that may work, take it to the party area with you and let it sit for awhile to see if inspiration strikes. In keeping with the first tip, make sure to put away your unused decorations as soon as you’re finished decorating.
Provide a few Valentine’s foods. If you’re planning on a full dinner, have everyone bring a dish to make things easier. Pink lemonade or red kool-aid make a fun drink option. For treats, you can make pink milkshakes, chocolate covered strawberries, iced heart sugar cookies, or chocolate cupcakes with red sprinkles. Most pink or red foods will work for this!
Be prepared with entertainment. Whether you choose to watch a movie, have a devotional, or do one of the things listed above, make sure to have your supplies ready before party time, so that every second of the party can be fun filled.
Don’t forget the camera! This evening is going to need to be documented on memory card.
Keep in mind
Whether you’re single or in a relationship, Valentine’s Day can be a fun day to express appreciation to those we love. If you are single, just enjoy it! Spend time with your friends delighting in the love of the One who created love—God! Have fun with your friends, and try to be content knowing that you aren’t faced with some of the temptation or potential heartbreaks that dating people are faced with.
In everything, including our friendships and relationships with others, ask God for wisdom about what to do, open your heart to allow Him to show the way, then don’t be afraid to follow where He leads, because He loves us the most of all (John 3:16) and knows what’s best for our lives and our futures.
Have fun this Valentine’s Day, and feel secure in knowing that God will send the right person to you when His time is right.
Davonne Parks
Since this month’s theme is “Pierce my heart to love like You do,” I hope you will be just as excited as I am about this month’s new recipes—focusing on foods from around God’s world! I’m going to give you some GREAT ethnic foods to try in this new year! We’ve got everything from Chinese food to Italian, and I think you’re going to love it! “To love like You do,” includes being open to and seeing the perspectives of others. If we’re open to trying new things, then we will have another opportunity to tell others about Christ. I encourage you to branch out and try some of these great recipes. And while you’re at it, ask someone who is from that country to tell you a little about their culture; they’ll be flattered, and you will probably make a new friend!
Around the World: Cooking Tips and Advice
Recipes always include a list of ingredients, but these questions and answers tell you what you need to have on hand to cook the ethnic foods that you love!
Chinese Cuisine
French Cuisine
Mexican Cuisine
Italian Cuisine
Setting the Mood:
Some fun things that you could do to set the tone for your meal are:
If you’re cooking Chinese:
-you could hang pretty paper lanterns and light candles.
-you could eat with chopsticks.
If you’re cooking French:
-set mood music, like some mellow French jazz
If you’re cooking Mexican:
-put chips and queso (cheese) on the table as a pre-dinner snack.
-play some Spanish music–it’s a really fun addition to the food.
If you’re cooking Italian:
-Make plenty of GARLIC BREAD!! To make cheap and easy garlic bread, put aluminum foil on a pan, add buttered bread, sprinkle garlic powder on top, and place in a preheated 250-degree oven for about ten minutes.
Ethnic meal ideas
Chinese
Speedy Ginger-Chicken Soup Bowls
Crispy Won Tons with Oriental Dipping Sauce
Gingered Shrimp with Cashews
Coconut Almond Cookies
French
Caramelized Onion Tart
Classic Potatoes Au Gratin
Quick Pork Cassoulet
Easy Crème Brûlée
Mexican
Ultimate 7-Layer Dip
Chipotle Tomato Soup
Black Bean & Rice Tostada
Creamy Mango Dessert
Italian
Minestrone Soup
Pesto Tortellini with Scallops
Chicken Marsala
Tiramisu Cheesecake
*If anyone has any recipes for Indian (or other) cuisine, please post them in a comment!
By Lexi Hammonds
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…”
February 2009, Created by Davonne Parks – Standard or Wide-screen
Recent Comments