favorite things...

When I was a little girl, my favorite things were so simple…I loved wearing pigtails, running around outside…barefoot… all summer long. Mama taught me to swim, and helped me overcome my fear of the diving board. I loved staying all day at the pool and diving deep into the water ; feeling the refreshing coolness as my hands cut through the water over and over again until I was so tired… I would fall asleep on my towel in front of the kitchen (while the aroma of supper danced in the air)…the sound of cartoons playing somewhere in the background.  

Then as a young girl, my favorite things were different.  I loved to spend hours reading and imagining myself as the characters in the fairytales I read…the princess or the heroine…I loved ballet class, following and imitating the steps of my dance teacher. I loved riding my bike to the store and taking my granddad’s glass Coca-Cola bottles to the Piggly Wiggly and getting the deposit for the glass…just meager change- but so fun that he would let my brother and me keep the money and  go to the local dime store to buy grape bubble gum. I loved shoes and fashion and curling my hair, playing dress up… and I had posters (of the current teen heart-throb) on my wall and began listening to records all day. (we are talking vinyl here of course)

The high school girl version of me went through a myriad of different favorites, but all matching the typical teenage standard…music, friends, not flunking algebra. There was definitely a shift in the core of my girlhood attachments. I began to be more concerned about the opinion of my peers and was heavily influenced by the culture I was immersing myself in. But the reality was that inside was mostly still little girl pigtails, princess stories and ballet class, while the outside reflected big hair, blue mascara, and 80’s fad fashions and sometimes…a punk rock rebel attitude. I began to want to make my own way without really knowing what that all meant and often wound up trying to fill a void with things that don’t matter…but at the time...those things became my favorites. Most of all, I just wanted to be accepted, to be a part of something…to be loved.

The majority of girls that age tend towards a trend that begins in an innocent mind and often emerges due to the influence of the culture and the growing need to belong.  The more we try to fit, the more we find we are wandering lost and the favorite things of girlhood are forfeited for the allure of acceptance. In the end, there is only ONE whose acceptance matters most, and that acceptance was bought with a most valuable price. It was always there, even when we didn’t notice.  Jesus died and paid a debt we are completely unable to pay and His love is supreme, no other love and acceptance can ever compare. Belonging to Christ is the only real belonging and the greatest love a girl can ever know. The fellowship and sisterhood of believers is more excellent than anything we experience when following the crowd into groups or cliques we might think we have true community with.  Jesus sees those who are called His own as treasured, beloved, adored, cherished….

Belonging to Him…my Favorite.

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 1 Corinthians 1:21-22

Oh Lord, may those You have saved and call Your own treasure their existence in You, and cherish the promise of salvation and belonging to You.

good work...

There is no better way to figure out how to be a girl after God’s own heart than to look at examples of the virtuous and God-fearing women God may have put in our lives.  As I write this, I am thinking of so many women of God that have taught me, inspired me, humbled me, corrected me and blessed me. Each one has given me something different, in addition to their sisterly or motherly friendship, that I rely on in almost every moment of my day.  Although not by name, you will catch a glimpse of these exceptional women here in this post.

I have needed their influence along the way whether I knew it or not. I needed their examples as a young girl and I still need them for I am now in a completely new stage in life as a wife, mom, and woman searching out those specific areas in which God would have me serve. The youngest of my four sons is now in youth group so I have more freedom to serve in youth ministry to the extent that I have longed to for a while now. My husband Drew and I met because of our mutual calling to reach out to youth and children with the gospel, but raising my rambunctious boys has kept me fairly well occupied. It hasn’t always been easy to stay back with my young ones in tow while he went out into the wide world of youth evangelism, summer camp and laser tag. Don’t get me wrong, I have been blessed to be a mom and I have loved every minute of it. Even if I was just choosing the best baby bottle, I know at the time I was where I was meant to be.  I was just patiently awaiting the moment God might give me the freedom to jump back in, still not exactly sure where it might lead me.  I know I am not the only girl out there with this same experience and I am not only speaking to just the married or mom friends.  I know that there are many girls in high school, college, and also quite a few single or career women out there too who are wondering when their day of discovering their niche in service or ministry will come.  Of course, only God has the answer to that question, and looking into the scriptures we can see how God used ordinary people and their passions, talents, life skills, personalities, struggles and even their stage in life to bring their calling into focus.  After all, He is the author and designer of all these facets of our lives.    

No matter what your situation, many times our calling comes right in our own family. I speak to so many kids who just don’t understand how important it can be to be a Godly brother or sister to a sibling, and a help to your mother or father…a blessing to those you spend so much of your time with. Serve those people who are right there in front of you without complaining and watch and see the blessings it produces in your life.  If God chooses to bless you to become a wife and mother one day, then you will again have  an incredible ministry right in your own home; raising children to become godly men and women who can evangelize the world one day…maybe even the next Charles Spurgeon or Elizabeth Elliot. But why wait until then to love and serve the next generation?  

Being a girl after God’s own heart is never dull and with God there are no impossibilities as we grow into women and search for our purpose. God may place a woman working in a company where she sharpens the organizational skills needed to start a food pantry, a mentoring/ job training ministry, or even rescuing victims of child slavery. She may design software  and is able to one day help ministries set up their own websites, not to mention, the network of people she meets that God may one day use to assist her in that calling.  An older sister or a mom of an autistic child may one day counsel and encourage someone going through the same struggles she herself faced or find a way to support many ministries and missions working through a service business that also allows her use her God given gift of hospitality. She may find a clever solution to a problem or create a home business that is of great value to others. She may manage her own corporation of hand crafted goods from home and accomplish things she wouldn’t have otherwise been able to do in another setting because she is more productive in domestic surroundings ...and it may become a thriving industry that provides thousands of jobs for others. She may become a medical missionary bringing medicine and supplies to those who have nothing or use musical abilities God has given to inspire and uplift many with her worship songs. And I haven’t even begun to mention all those women who are the mainstay of prayer and support for their spouse, brother, sister or friend who is serving in missions or vocational ministry. What about the girl who simply listens…really listens and comforts and guides someone who doesn’t have anyone else to turn to. I could continue on and on and still not cover the breadth and depth of what a God fearing woman can accomplish in service for Jesus. But the point is that God knows… and He uses everything… from the seemingly small, mundane day to day events… to the overwhelming struggles…to shape us, mold us, work through us…  And it isn’t really what we can bring to Him but what He does ...with the circumstances we face and the capabilities He gave us ...through the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

So, to use a sort of old cliché that has been the motto for many a ladies retreat, “Bloom where you are planted”.  My interpretation of that old axiom is “Minister where you are providentially positioned”.  Most of the time, we find that our ministry calling isn’t some far off, lofty goal that may come into fruition in the distant future; it is whatever is right in front of us at that moment.

I am so thankful for these verses that remind us that it all starts with Him and His work in our hearts.

“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”  Colossians 3:17 (NLT)

 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…” Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

Thank You Lord for your transforming power, and thank You for work that glorifies You!