If I’m being honest…
Sometimes I feel worthless.
Sometimes I feel like I’m going to fail.
Sometimes I feel like there is no point.
Sometimes I just want to give up.
Sometimes I just forget who I am and what I’m doing and why.
but I am someone important.
I am beautiful
I am kind
I am smart
I am valuable
If I’m being honest…
Sometimes I ask why I’ve even picked my career.
Sometimes I wish I wasn’t even here.
Sometimes I feel as though I’ll never go anywhere.
Sometimes I feel as though I’m just a shadow and I disappear.
Sometimes I feel like a burden.
but I am not a burden.
I am here because I have a different perspective.
I am here because despite the struggles, I am persevering.
I am here because I have insight, hope, and life.
I am here because I’m winning this fight.
If I’m being honest…
I feel the fear
but I will do it anyways
by Lily Garay
Copyright 2015
Author: Jessica Lippe
Guest Post: Twenty -One Years, My Story God’s Glory by Tikeena Mason
I have never really talked about my purity journey in depth until now. There was no purity campaign, never made a big deal of it. My close family and friends who have spent an enormous amount of time around me knew. I stayed quiet for years about my purity journey. Not that I was ashamed or embarrassed. I had nothing to say, what can I tell anyone if I have not learned anything from my journey. I knew there would come a set time in my life when God would release me to share my journey. I am a very private person and I always struggle with how much of myself I should share. God constantly have to remind me that this is not about me, It is and always has been about his glory. It has been twenty-one years since I committed to remaining a virgin until marriage. I was an eleven year old girl, clearly at that age I had no idea of the journey ahead of me. When I made the decision it was quietly between myself and God. Nobody pressured me into making the decision. I made the choice initially because I knew it pleased God and it was in the Bible that fornication is a sin. Nobody in my family had done it. It wasn’t something that was practiced in my home environment. My decision, is not to condemn others for their decision to have sex before marriage. God chose me before I ever chose him, and I am so humbled by his amazing grace. Even when I did not want his grace, grace was yet keeping me. If I am honest with myself and you, twenty-five was the longest I gave my self to wait. I was so set on being married by twenty-five. That was seven years ago. God will give you the ability to do things in honor of his name. You do not have the right to brag about or make someone else feel less worthy because there journey is different than yours. One of my really close friends who I met while in college, recently asked me “how was I able to get through college without having the conversation of me being a virgin?” She told me she eventually figured it out. I chose to experience the college life, I lived in the dorms and I never separated myself as I was untouchable. No you can not hang with everyone and you will not build close friendships with every person you encounter, but you can show genuine love and relate in some way. The key is getting to know yourself, and who you represent. You learn your identity, find your purpose and allow God space to change you to fulfill purpose. I carried myself in a way that I was respected by my peers as well as I gave them respect. It was hard for me at times, because I desired to be in a relationship but God knew I was not prepared and ready in college. I was always trying to reason with God, this is why I say my purity journey led me to purpose, it keeps me close to God. When I made the commitment to God it was never about me trying to please people. I am not committed to my journey for the approval of the church, it was not for my mother. It has always been about my loyalty to God. Sometimes you make commitments for the approval of other’s, as life begins to happen you default on your commitments, now people are disappointed in you. Commit to God, because God will enable you to keep the commitment and if you do mess up, he is not going to be ashamed of you, he will lift you back up and set you back on the path that will lead you to fulfill your purpose. I learned to speak very slowly, and rely on God. I do not use the word “Never” as in I am never going to do this or that” Sometimes you can get so caught up in your own strength and stop relying on God, and you find yourself doing the very thing you said you would never do, because you found too much confidence in yourself. I could get arrogant and say “I am thirty-two, I got this under control” NO the wrong attitude. My prayer is still the same as it always has been “God keep me in your will, I desire to do things your way” the truth be told it is even harder now, because I am older and sometimes I feel like my time is running out. I am human and my biological clock is ticking faster than it did in my twenties. But I am convinced my waiting will not be in vain. I would not have this relationship with God if it was not for my purity journey, I would know of God but I would not know God. God desired for me to know him. I know God is real. I can feel and hear him. I never knew I could get to know God like this. I opened my heart to him and he showed me love and grace. All of my issues and struggles has led me to destiny and purpose. God does not come down to meet your standards, you have to change, come up to meet his standards. I had to give up the life I planned and live out the life God ordained for me. God can never use your life, if you do not give it to him. My life has never belonged to me, it belongs to God. You are only here on this earth to fulfill God’s will. I use to be afraid of what God would require of me, what if his will was something I did not desire. I now know that God does not require anything from you that is not already inside of you. The closer you draw to God, his desires will become your desires. I had to allow God to take me through his process. He was maturing and preparing me to trust his plans for my life. He moved me out of his way, no more trying to figure out when and how. I truly can now appreciate the last twenty-one years because it has matured me so much that I can now share with you. The growth in my spiritual life is a result of me not giving up on God during the process. God could not get the glory if there was no development and maturity spiritually during the process. I had to go through the proper stages of grooming to be fully equipped and prepared in order to help someone else and for you to see God through me. Sometimes you can be in a rush to move to the next level, and try to get around the process. I use to wonder why I had to go through so much. I use to think if I have to suffer this much to fulfill destiny. What was I really asking for? I was saying I will take on tribulations. The word “tribulation” means, severe trial or suffering. The different seasons of my life was to fully prepare me for what God has called me to do. You have no idea of what pain you will experience in life, neither do you get to choose at what point in life you will experience it. My purity journey has been all about obedience to God for me. Nothing more. Nothing less. God desires to reveal his character through you. I have been tested and tried. 1 Peter 1:7 says, “these trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold, though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. “so when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed” God test you to purify your faith. He want to know if your faith is real. There is a old cliche that says, “you can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk” Test and trials are for you to learn how to walk the talk. God will find out if you are real or not. Are you for him or are you putting on a show for people. Are you willing to surrender your all to him? A surrendered life to God can be agonizing and uncomfortable at times. I can remember during the stretching of my faith I felt irritated and restless and wanting God to conform to my plans so badly. For years I was focused on my plans and what I imagined to be the perfect life for me, and finally after years I recognized that I had to shift my focus to God plans for me. Sometimes you may think we are living a surrendered life to God because you go to church, I found that to be false, because I did not always live a surrendered life in every area of my life. I was picking and choosing what I wanted to give God control of. There was no peace or joy until I started living in total surrender to God. In order for him to use your life he needs control in every aspect of your life. I had to give up my old way of thinking and how I was processing my journey. I had to stop thinking about the difficulty of the task, and learn to appreciate the difficulty. Whenever I reflect on my life I get really emotional because I can say through everything God has hid me and kept me for his glory. I take no credit for my strength or life.
Crafts that Put the CHRIST in CHRISTmas!
While counting down the days to December 25th, you may be a little overwhelmed. Have you finished getting gifts for your parents, siblings, friends, teachers, coworkers, and church staff? Are you running out of money? Have you been so busy with shopping, finals, and everything else on your plate that you haven’t even begun decorating?
Take a deep breath…
…and breathe out.
The Christmas season was created as a time to reflect on all that God has done for us. But like so many other times in life, there is so much to distract us, that Christmas can sometimes become meaningless!
We’ve found a few ways to reflect on the miracle of Jesus’ birth, while still providing an opportunity to decorate and create low-cost gifts for friends and family. Here are a few pins we’ve found on this. Be sure to follow Girlz 4 Christ on Pinterest for more ideas like this!
Now it’s your turn! Share with us any crafts you made this season, especially if they celebrate the reason for this (and all) seasons!
A Trip to Amish Country
 Amish Country
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Have you ever been to Amish Country? Do you know what Amish are? I learned about the Amish several years ago, and was fascinated by each thing I read about them. The Amish are a denomination of Christians that are quite a bit different from other denominations! They take “in the world, not of the world” to a whole new level by not using electricity, dressing in old-fashioned clothes, and even speaking their own language!
Ever since learning about the Amish, I really wanted to visit a community where they lived. While spending a year in Central Ohio, I was surprised to learn that Holmes County, the area with the largest Amish population, was only a two-hour drive from my house! During that year I visited three times, one trip for every season except winter. While I enjoyed all the new things that each season brought, I especially loved the fall during harvest time (where everyone used horses instead of tractors!).
Upon entering Holmes County, it’s common to experience an overall relaxing feeling. Suddenly, it doesn’t matter that it’s difficult to find a wireless hotspot or are stuck going ten miles per hour behind a buggy. Being surrounded by people dedicated to hard work and simplicity allows you to prioritize what is truly important. Since millions of people come to Amish Country for this experience, why not stay someplace that reflects these values?
Where to Stay
Blessings Lodge is located within walking distance of downtown Berlin, Ohio, and is a wonderful centralized location for everything going on in the heart of Amish Country. Although it has the conveniences of indoor plumbing, electricity, and cable television, it still reflects the Christian values that are shared with the Amish.
Each room at the Blessings Lodge is unique, and my sister and I enjoyed our stay at the “Faith” Simple Blessings Cabin. It was her first visit to Holmes County and my third, but it was the first time for both of us to stay at this cabin, which we agreed was our favorite part of this getaway! The porch offered amazing countryside views (and there were binoculars to gain a better perspective). The kitchen allowed us to save money by making our own meals, and we were surprised to be greeted with Amish cookies waiting for us on the kitchen table! The bathroom featured a Jacuzzi tub, and there were enough beds to sleep up to seven people. These were just a few of the amenities. The owners did an excellent job provided special touches to make the Blessings Cabin feel like home, such as games, books, and décor that can only be found in Amish Country.
We absolutely loved the convenience and warmness of Blessings Lodge. It was a wonderful place to stay, but I also spent a weekend at Turkey Hollow Campground in Millersburg once. That was a fun experience of primitive camping, boating, and simply enjoying nature.
What to Do
No matter where you spend the night, here are some things I did in Holmes County during the day:
-Toured Yoder’s Amish Home. These two houses were previously Amish-owned, although there are still many Amish working here and in their barn. You can also tour a schoolhouse and take a buggy ride on this property.
-Ate cheese! Guggisburg Cheese is where Baby Swiss was invented, and they have a beautiful Swiss-themed shop, park, and restaurant. Heini’s Cheese a large shop where many people come here just to sample the dozens of cheeses and fudge!
-Visited the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center. I learned so much about these conservative Christian branches, and realized that the most important thing is that we all love Jesus!
-Saw animals at The Farm at Walnut Creek. There is a drive through (or wagon ride) safari where you can feed and pet all kinds of exotic animals! There’s also blacksmithing, an Amish home, and more!
-Shopped at the dozens of gift shops and restaurants. One of the benefits of simple living is that many of the things you can buy are locally-made!
Tips for Visiting
You may be wondering why I’ve only shared scenic photos of the area. Even in research, you may find photos of Amish homes, schools, buggies, and belongings, but very few of Amish people. Many Amish find it disrespectful to have their photo taken, so aim the camera away from them.
The Amish may have different beliefs, but don’t say they are “wrong” or “confused”. Like us, Amish believers love God, and know that He has called all of us to live for Him. It’s just that our individual callings might vary! Use your visit to Amish country as an opportunity to celebrate who we are in Christ!
Welcome To Girlz 4 Christ!
Girlz 4 Christ Magazine is here to provide you
with positive, encouraging, & relevant material
as you grow in the Lord.
What can you expect in the pages of Girlz 4 Christ?
-Interviews with role models who are taking a stand
-Devotionals from both average girls and well-known writers
-DIY ideas (such as recipes, crafts, and service projects)
-So much more
All for Free
-Devotionals from both average girls and well-known writers
-DIY ideas (such as recipes, crafts, and service projects)
-So much more
All for Free
Girlz 4 Christ Winter 2013/2014 Issue!
The Girlz 4 Christ Magazine Winter 2013/14 Issue is out! Below you’ll find the titles and authors of all the contents inside. Some of them you can click on, which will take you to the weblink for that article. The other articles can only be found inside the magazine. (But you can subscribe for free in the right sidebar!)
Godly Girlz
4 Ways to Spread the Gospel Adelee Russell
Girlz in Action
Miracle Seed Maddy Morrison
Fashionable Girlz
Natural Beauty Products Natasha Atkerson
Girlz on the Go
Healthy Girlz
Winter Workout Jessica Lippe
Homemade Spiced Cider Jessica Lippe
Fun 4 Girlz
Top Books Every Girl Should Read Natasha Atkerson
Gift Guide
Maybe you still have some last-minute shopping to do. Or maybe you’re figuring out what to do with some money that you’ve been given. Here are our suggestions that will make any girl smile!
For the BOOKWORM
Anomaly by Kristen McGee “Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds left to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid.”*
Anomaly is a story of love, boundaries, and believing that you are something greater than what society tells you to be. All her life Thalli has been programmed to follow orders and never think outside the box. When she starts questioning her surroundings, her program, and feelings…where she lives, this kind of thinking leads to death. It’s only when she is about to die that she becomes alive.
*this quote can be found here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16124145-anomaly
First Date by Melody Carlson Devon has just begun attending a Christian school, and although she’s not so sure what she believes about God, she realizes that the people at her new school are boring. It even appears that the boys are avoiding talking to the girls at all costs! Devon decides that she, along with her group of friends, can turn this school atmosphere upside-down. Together they start a secret club calling The Dating Games, or DG. Their first mission is to help each other get dates for the homecoming dance. The only problem? None of them have dated before! Okay, maybe that’s only one of the many problems they run into… This is the first book of The Dating Games series, written by the popular Christian author Melody Carlson. This is different than anything she’s written before, and it will be interesting to read the upcoming books!
For the HEALTH FOODIE
Good Belly Whether you want to start the New Year healthy, are having any sort of stomach troubles, or are just looking for a tasty beverage, you should try out Good Belly Probiotic Juice Drinks. There are so many good things about it: there’s a special kind of probiotic strand in the juice, it’s organic, and comes in either shots or quarts (I tried the quarts in several different flavors and highly recommend them). Some of the drinks are gluten-free and others provide a multivitamin. The only thing that is lacking is that these great-tasting drinks are actually not 100% juice. But because this is an innovative company, I’m sure they’re working towards a wider variety of options. I took Good Belly as part of their 12-Day Challenge and felt much better after doing so. You can also try their 12-Day Challenge and receive coupons by signing up at goodbelly.com.
Primal Strips You will love Primal Strips Vegan Jerky, even if you aren’t vegan! Although they don’t taste the same as real jerky, they come in a variety of flavors, some that are even better than the beef version! These are great for those
who are on special diets, because they are
nutritious, gluten-free, non-gmo, vegan, kosher,
and preservative-free. They’re perfect for on the
go as well. Visit primalspiritfoods.com
For EVERYONE
A great gift that will bless not only the recipient, but the world, is a donation to charity in the recipient’s name. It’s best to ask the intended recipient for the name of their favorite charity, but here are a few to get you started:
-EveryOrphan.org -GOProject.org
-BoyfriendBears.org -ElliesRun.org
-Amazima.org -BirdsofHope.org
-WorldVision.org -RaphaHouse.org
In the Act
Have you ever wanted to become an actress? I recently got the chance to speak with two upcoming Christian actors that starred in “Secrets in the Fall”. We had you ask questions and we got the answers! Make sure to read until the end for a special surprise. First up we have Celina Tolbert. A North Carolina native who just finished her first semester of college.
When did you first start acting? I started in 7th grade when my mom found an ad in the newspaper for a community theater version of The Wizard of Oz and I thought that sounded really fun! I did an audition and got the part of a munchkin. It was a pretty big production and even though it wasn’t professional theater, it was still a great experience. After that I started becoming more involved in community theater. Once I got to the end of my freshman year of highschool I explored the option of acting in films. I’ve been doing work in faith based and family film since then.
Where does your faith come into play? I’ve been a Christian since I was about seven years old. A few years later I went to a YFC camp where I realized I wasn’t doing anything with Christ. It was a big wake up call for me because it hit me that I was called to serve Him and not just love Him. That’s really where I find my purpose.
Where do you see yourself in the future with acting? I would really like to keep doing faith based projects. I just want to be in films that lift up God. I don’t want to be in anything negates my faith or my beliefs. Helping the faith-based market grow is something I’d like to continue doing. I honestly don’t think that acting will be my whole life, but I hope to combine it with youth ministry in the near future.
What’s your go-to verse when you’re on set? I would definitely have to say Jeremiah 29:11 because it reminds me that God will always have a plan for me.
If you want to keep up with Celina, just check her out on twitter: @Celi_Cienta
Our second actor is from Charleston, SC who started acting when he was an extra in Army Wives, but I’ll let him tell you more about it. Without further ado here’s my interview with Daniel Bostic.
When did you start acting? In high school I was very much the shy kid. Not very outgoing, not really a lot of friends and I guess my mom knew me better than I knew myself because she signed me up for a drama class in highschool. I really wasn’t happy about it. All I could think about was the stereotype that all drama kids are nerds (plus I hated standing up in front of people). I ended up falling in love with it and the whole process and so that was my beginning for stage acting. Then one night out of the blue I got a call to be an extra on the set of Army Wives. Even though I only got a really small role with them, it really kind of springboarded me into the film world that I’m at now.
Where does your faith fit into all of this? To be honest it’s something I’m still trying to figure out. It’s a very interesting time right now because film is definitely the most popular it’s ever been and will continue to grow. There’s just a lot of differing views. It’s challenging to be a Christian in this industry. I’ve probably turned down 6-7 roles in the past 6 months because of faith issues. It’s not necessarily because of my role, but because of the production as a whole. What is the strangest thing a role required you to do? It was for a film called “Gone For The Day”. The storyline is about a girl who walks into a coffee shop and she feels down because she broke up with a guy who worked there. I see she is sad so I help her and we eventually become best friends. For part of it I actually had to roll down a hill wrapped in bubble wrap. I couldn’t roll straight and all the bubbles were popping! Good times:)
To keep up with Daniel, check him out on twitter: @debostic
Welcome To Our Site
Girlz 4 Christ is an e-journal for girls of all ages. Our mission is to encourage you & give you a Godly perspective on things.
What can you expect from our E-Journal?
-Health tips
-Beauty tips
-Answers to your questions
-Ideas (ex. what to do when you’re bored)
-Interviews with Christians that are making a stand
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Beautiful Tomorrow w/ Jamie Kennedy
Beautiful Tomorrow is a web-based movement for reaching out to teens and young adults under 30. To help them by sharing and inspiring them with quotes or being a direct contact for them and take today’s struggles and turn them into a beautiful tomorrow. Jaime wants to help people find the beauty of their past, help them grow, and show them what has brought them to who they are and to appreciate and understanding the future. Everyone has struggles.
Here are some questions that G4C asked her:
Did you grow up as a Christian? I did not grow up involved in much faith at all. I went to communion and confirmation classes in middle school and high school just because I was forced to and not because I wanted to. My family isn’t really involved in faith either. We just did the whole religion thing because of tradition. It wasn’t until the Fall of 2011 I decided to go with a friend to church and from that day on I’ve been completely changed and given my life completely to Christ.
Do you have any words of wisdom you’d like to share with our readers?
I think that something everyone hears and doesn’t pay attention to is when older people say, “Who you surround yourself with is 100% of what you’re going to be.” In highschool it’s all about who you’re friends with and what is the cool thing. I think if you’re selective at that age and break down and ask yourself “How are the people I’m surrounding myself with going to benefit the me God wants me to be? Are my surroundings satisfying Him at all?”
What does Freedom mean to you?Freedom to me is that feeling of not having to be weary or fearful because I know God is in control and Has a plan even in his silence. I first decided that this feeling in my heart…..
What does Freedom mean to you?Freedom to me is that feeling of not having to be weary or fearful because I know God is in control and Has a plan even in his silence. I first decided that this feeling in my heart…..
God and said, “Please have control…”
“Nobody said that life was easy and as strong as you are with your faith and relationship with Christ there are going to be difficulties and temptations and it’s going to be hard the older you get. but when you completely just trust in God and the plan He has for you. the freedom in your heart. even if it isn’t what everyone your age is typically up to. It’s perfect and exactly what He wants to for.”
JJ Photography
Girlz 4 Christ 