Pictures from the February Tea Talk!

Girls Really Living gathered together for a very special Tea Party this month! 

We dressed up, picked out fun hats and gloves to wear, and were treated to a Tea Talk by our friend, Mrs. Sheryl.

Mrs. Sheryl shared how each tea cup is shaped differently and yet is still so beautiful. God has created us in a unique way and each of us are precious in His eyes!



enjoying scones and fruit
tea sandwiches and cheese
posing for a picture while enjoying tea with our dessert... cheesecake and fudge brownies!

Mrs. Sheryl taught us about the history of tea, gave us instruction on tea etiquette, and reminded us how special we are to God. He has placed us here "for such a time as this."

Lauren and Jaimee
We are so thankful to the Lord for blessing us with such a lovely afternoon!

June Journey to the Heart

We have been given the amazing opportunity to lead a girls Journey to the Heart in June. The Journey to the Heart is a 10-day experience in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In the midst of 3,000 acres of woods and lakes you will enjoy Bible study with your team of other girls, have sweet fellowship, worship and prayer, and rich, personal time with God.

Out of all the retreats and Bible conferences we have ever attended, the Journey has had the greatest spiritual impact on our lives! We would love to see every single Christian young person go on a Journey. Prayerfully consider sending your older daughter(s) with us. This journey will help them learn how to love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength! 

To sign up, click here.

Should you have questions, feel free to email us or leave a comment.

Being an Example - notes from the January meeting

1 Timothy 4:12, Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.

Setting an Example in Your Youth
God calls us, no matter how young we are, to live a life that is an example to other believers! Realize that God has positioned us where we are for a purpose. He is equipping you and giving you the power to follow Him now, right where you are. My obedience to God will encourage my generation to follow Him. I’m here for people! My life is to bless others. Do others see God’s love reflected in me? In some way, you’re impacting, shaping and causing others to become like you. Paul said, Pattern yourselves after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah), 1 Corinthians 11:1 (Amplified).
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loves us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God, Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV).

The time and day to love and follow Jesus is NOW! Who are you modeling your life after? Jesus should be the first one! Take time to read biographies and stories of men and women who lived their lives for Christ. Do you influence others, or are you easily influenced? Ask yourself: TODAY, does my heart belong to Jesus?
other verses: Ecclesiastes 12:1, Psalm 90:14

Speech
Your words reflect what’s in your heart: Out of the abundance (fullness or overflow) of the heart that mouth speaks, Matthew 12:34. Honor God in what you say. Do you speak the truth in love? - Ephesians 4:15. Are you loud or gentle in your speech? When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly - Proverbs 31:26 (The Message).

Life/Conduct
Today’s choices will influence the direction of your entire life. So now is the time to seek with all your heart what is best! Choose to live now for what counts for tomorrow and all eternity. It’s the springtime of your life! What seeds are you sowing in this season of youth? Your conduct/behavior/how you live- does it reveal Jesus to those around you? You shall know them by their fruit, Matthew 7:16.

Love
Eighty percent of Americans claim to be Christians... why don’t we act like it? What if Christians really were Christ-like? God Himself is love (read 1 John 4:7-21). By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another, John 13:35. We can love others well only when we are rightly related to the Lord and living according to His principles. Have I opened my heart to receive God’s love? Have I asked God to make me more aware of His presence? Have I taken out “the garbage” in my life? Mother Teresa, “We are all pencils in the hand of a writing God, who is sending love letters to the world.”

Faith
“Above all,” you and I need to learn to take up our shield of faith. We also desperately need to know the Word of God so as to answer the enemy when he comes to us with doubts and deception. Where do I sense the enemy sending his fiery darts? Is my shield of faith up? What lies am I believing about God? What Scriptures should I use to resist the devil?
verses: Ephesians 6:10-18, Psalm 119:11, 1 Peter 5:6-9

Purity
The word purity here means sinlessness of life. This can only come through Jesus. He creates in us a clean heart. He gives us the desire to stay true to Him. Seek to please Him in all you do. Purity also means unmixed, not contaminated. We need to keep a check on what worldly things are influencing our thoughts and motives (movies, magazines, books, friends, etc.). Examine your heart and your motive every day. Purity also includes how you treat others - with respect, honor, and genuine love. Keep Philippians 4:8 in your mind! Is ____ true, honest, just, pure, lovely, etc.??
Have I examined my heart and my motives? What is influencing me?
verses: Psalm 51:10, Philippians 4:8

Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. NASB


Many now are watching the footsteps that we take,
Many soon will follow in the choices that we make.
So let us then be faithful, to be what we should be,
And leave a good example that they can clearly see.

Be an example of the believers in word and in conduct,
Be steadfast, in love, in faith, in purity of life;
For those behind us, let us stand within the gap
And make a difference in their lives.
Be an example to follow Christ.

Let us then be watching the weary, day by day,
Looking to encourage and to lead them in the way.
To run the race with patience, on Jesus fix their eyes
And challenge them with excellence, that they might win the prize.
~Mac and Beth Lynch


You tell on yourself by the friends you seek,
By the very manner in which you speak,
By the way you employ your leisure time,
By the use you make of dollar and dime.
 
You tell on yourself by the things you wear,
By the spirit in which your burdens you bear,
By the type of things at which you laugh,
By the records you play on your phonograph.
 
You tell what you are by the way you walk,
By the things of which you delight to talk,
By the manner in which you can bear defeat,
By so simple a thing as how you eat.
 
By the books you choose from the library shelf,
By these things and more, you tell on yourself.
- Author Unknown

Book Recommendation!

Each girl was challenged to spend seven days working on developing gratefulness in her life! Each day's assignment came from this great little booklet by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, The Attitude of Gratitude: Developing a Grateful Heart.

Have you written any letters of gratefulness recently? Let this quote inspire you!

"A handwritten note is like dining by candlelight instead of flicking on the lights, like making a gift instead of ordering a product, like taking a walk instead of driving. Handwritten notes will add a lot to your life. You can still use the telephone or the Web for the daily chores of staying in touch, but for the words that matter, it's courteous, classy, caring, and civilized to pick up a pen."
-Margaret Shepherd

...so get writing!

A Thankful Heart

This month's meeting was on developing a spirit of gratefulness.
Contentment is realizing that God has already provided everything I need for my present and future happiness.
The Lord is Good, Psalm 34:8.
He is the God Who Gives all things to Enjoy, 1 Timothy 6:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, James 1:17
Be content with what you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you, Hebrews 13:5

Gratefulness in Scripture
David - Psalm 92:1-2, It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night. David was in communication with God all the time! (Psalm 55:17, Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.)
Job- when faced with deep trouble and after losing everything, he blessed the Lord, responding in faithfulness, not in anxiety. Realized that all comes ultimately from God. Job 1:20, Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. He was rewarded, God gave him double what he had lost.
Daniel- Daniel 6:10 -When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open (toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
Paul- he learned to be content in whatever state he was (Phil. 4:11). 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 - Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. We find IN HIM (not always in what happens to us) plenty of reason to thank Him and plenty of power to thank Him.
The ten lepers - only one took time to go back and say thank you, and he was made whole (healed) by his thanksgiving and faith. Be forever grateful to the One who has saved your life!

Look UP! -our thanksgiving should be directed towards God
Where is your focus? On me or God? It all depends on your perspective: thank God for allowing you to go through _______. He’s designed it for you to grow closer to Him. He knows and understands. He’s allowing it. Romans 8:28 - all things work together for good to them that love God. Character cannot be formed in ease and quiet!
Day in and day out, all the time, we’re to be grateful! Focus on the positive. You cannot be grateful and angry at the same time. Spend time with Him. Give Him the best of your time, talents and treasures. It lifts Him up, glorifies Him.

Psalm 119:63 - At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
Psalm 103:2-5 thank God for His benefits, Ps. 104 bless the Lord, 1 Samuel 12:24 consider what great things He has done for you!
Hebrews 13:15 -Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

Look AROUND -thankful for relationships, thankful towards others (Eph. 1:16, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers).
What does a grateful heart look like? it’s contagious!
It is revealed and expressed by thankful words, not in murmuring or complaining. Is a humble person. Conscious of God and others- seeking to bless them. Easily contented, not bitter (yield all rights to God). Life-giving.

Begin your morning by thanking God
Express thanks to other people
Rejoice in trials
Look for benefits instead of murmuring (remember Pollyanna!)
Pray for those who have benefited you
Thank God for your authorities and pray for them

does Jesus have your life?

Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.


Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing always, only for my King

Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee

Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold
Take my intellect and use every power as You choose.

Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine

Take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne
Take my love, my Lord I pour at Your feet, it's treasure store

Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

Here am I, all of me, take my life, it's all for Thee!

~based on the hymn by Francis Ridley Havergal

October notes - you are God's fine china plate!

2 Timothy 2:20-22
~In a wealthy home there are dishes made of gold and silver as well as some made from wood and clay. The expensive dishes are used for guests, and the cheap ones are used in the kitchen or to put garbage in. If you stay away from sin you will be like one of these dishes made of purest gold - the very best in the house - so that Christ Himself can use you for His highest purposes. Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts... but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right. Have faith and love, and enjoy the companionship of those who love the Lord and have pure hearts.


keeping sparkle in my life

To the degree that we try to partake of the world, we diminish our brightness.

Just as God separated the light from the darkness on the first day of Creation, so He wants to separate the children of light from the children of darkness. God identifies all people as members of one of two categories:
children of light
or
children of darkness.

I Thessalonians 5:5, For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
Colossians 1:13, He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.
Ephesians 5:2, 8, And walk in love, ...for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
In I Corinthians 5, Paul explains that we will have interaction with unbelievers, however, we're not to become like them, but we are to be light to them! Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord.

A “dim” believer has too much light to be welcomed by the children of darkness and not enough brightness to be comfortable with the children of light!
Is the brightness of your witness being dimmed by the influences of the world? If so, ask God for wisdom today to “come out and be separate.”

1 John 1:7, If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His son cleanseth us from all sin.

being set apart for God’s purposes

Instead of seeing how close you can get to the line between right and wrong, create a large gap! Only with a pure heart can we grasp and express God’s love. Seek God wholeheartedly! Use God’s Word to purify your heart (praying Scripture to Him). “the enemy doesn’t have to destroy us, just distract us. Little distractions tolerated over a long period result in big disasters” - Daniel Henderson

You've been set apart - just like a fine china plate. You are more valuable than you can ever imagine. You are a special gift from God. The plate is a reminder of how God sees you- in Christ you have a new nature (2 Peter 1:4); you are beautiful, lovely, costly, perfect, pure. It's a privilege to be set apart. God wants to use you for His highest purposes. Be clean and ready so He can use you to serve others. You are God's fine china plate - to be used for His perfect purposes. Be set apart for God.
You may be the only Bible that people ever read... so what are they reading? Col.2:6 - as you have been taught, so walk in Him!

We read a short story called, The Secret of the Fine China Plate, from Robin Jones Gunn's book Gentle Passages.


You will be known by: what you flee from, what you follow after, what you fight for, and WHO you put your faith in (1 Timothy 6:11-12). Always remember how precious you are to God! Read Psalm 139 and write down how much you mean to the Lord.