What Moms Need to Tell Their Daughters

The real title of this post is: "Things to make sure your daughter knows so one day she doesn't strut across a stage half naked losing all dignity and honor."

So if you're a preteen girl reading this, make sure you mom reads it too. And if you're a mom, be sure to share this with your daughters.

Not too many positive role models for our girls come out of Hollywood. But they could. Because any girl/young lady can make choices that make her a young woman of faith and dignity. I mention dignity because of Proverbs 31:25-26, 30 which says, "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised."

These are good verses for our girls. But girls aren't always encouraged to make the right choices or to be the kind of woman mentioned in the verses, so it's up to us as parents to guide them into becoming women of faith. Women of dignity. Women of character. It should start long before their first steps, but if not, start today.

Here are some things we need to tell our daughters.

(I added some resources to help with this. Some are written by me, some are not.)

  1. Guard your heart. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Guard your heart above all else,
 for it determines the course of your life." The things you see stay with you. The things you read stay with you. The music you listen to has a message that stays with you. Use Philippians 4:8 as a guide for what you see and hear.

(Check out the movies you want to watch at Plugged In online to find out what they really contain HERE)

  2. Celebrate you! Psalm 139:13-14 says, "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it." God made you who you are. He gave you the personality, talents and abilities you need in order to be who he created you to be. It's okay to work at those things and improve yourself, but don't wish you were someone else. You cheat yourself. You cheat others. Only you can be the you God made.

(Check out The Christian Girl's Guide to Me: The Quiz Book for fun ways to find out more about what makes you special HERE.)

  3. God has an amazing plan for you. Jeremiah 29:11 was written to the Jews in exile, but it's true for you too. "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." You are not here by accident. God has things for you to do. That's why #2 is so important. God gifted you with what you need to fulfill his plan for you. Don't sell yourself short or settle for less than the best. Going along with what everyone else is doing might be the easy road, but it's not the best one. God wants more than that for you.

(Check out The Christian Girl's Guide to Being Your Best for great advice, fun quizzes and doable crafts to help you discover all you can be HERE.)

  4. Every choice you make is important. It's easy to act without thinking or go along with the crowd. But each choice matters, even the little ones. Choices turn into behaviors and habits. Choices have consequences. Something you do on impulse to make others laugh or get attention may not have the outcome you plan. Weigh each choice and ask yourself if this is a good thing for you and for others. Think through big decision and discuss them with a responsible adult.

  5. Don't be an attention seeker. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." It's okay to get attention for good grades, good sportsmanship on the playing field, singing a solo, making the debate team or helping out in the community, but don't let that be the only reason you do them. And never lower yourself for attention. Twerking half dressed in front of a million viewers will surely get attention—the wrong kind. Is that attention is worth losing people's respect, dishonoring God, and losing all dignity and integrity?

 6. Your purity is your gift to your husband. I know people don't think this way anymore, but saving yourself helps you avoid guilt and emotional baggage. Cover up and don't display to the world what you are saving for your husband. You can dress with style and still be modest. Add a cute high cut tank top under those scoop neck shirts. Put some fun leggings under the short skirts and dresses. Make your own fashion statement if you need to. Flaunting your half naked body in public doesn't show any creativity or imagination. Finding ways to be stylish and modest at the same time does.

(Check out The Christian Girl's Guide to Style for ideas HERE.)

  7. Being different is okay. You're not a freak because you don't sneak out to parties, make out with boys, wear a swimsuit that looks more like underclothing than something you could swim in, disrespect your parents or take part in certain activities. Even a small light illuminates in a dark world. Be the light others need to find their way.

(Check out a Young Woman After God's Own Heart or a Girl After God's Own Heart HERE)

  8. Good manners never go out of style. Saying thank you, writing a note, giving deference to the elderly, respecting those in authority, taking turns, turning off your phone in restaurants and talking quietly and respectfully show that you know how to be polite. They put you a notch above the others whether or not your friends agree.

  9. Your friends will influence you, so choose good ones. Proverbs 12:26 says, "The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray." Your friends are important. You talk to them about things you don't discuss with your parents. So make sure your friends are the kind that will give you good advice and encourage you to be your best, not go along with the crowd or be mediocre.

(Check out Girls Politics" Friends, Cliques and Really Mean Chicks HERE (teen girls) or A Girl's Guide to Best Friends and Mean Girls (preteen girls) HERE or Just for Me: Friends HERE (young girls))

 10. Live on purpose. Micah 6:8 says, "The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Simple, huh? Live intentionally. Live as a princess because you surely are as a child of the Heavenly King. Keep that in mind and the first nine points will fall into place.

(Check out: The One Year Devotions for Girls Starring Women of the Bible for a daily dose of inspiration all year long. HERE (girls 10-14), or The Christian Girl's Guide to the Bible HERE (ages 8-12) or Just for Me: The Bible HERE (ages 5-8))

These are my thoughts. What other messages do we need to give our girls? What books and other resources have you found helpful?

  

Lessons from Old Testament Women #2

     If you've read through my The One Year Devotions for Girls Starring Women of the Bible devo, then you've already read this. But it's a good lesson anyway. (And if you get the book, there are 364 more to read!)

God Has a Special Plan Just for You

     For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

     Trust in the Lord with all your heart;  do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6

     Just as God created you to be unique and special (see Sept 18), he also has a special plan tailor-made for you. Sometimes it's easy to fall into the trap of being and doing what everyone else is doing--or doing what others think you should do, not what you really want to do. It's important to look for God's plan for you and follow it rather than copying what others are doing. Each person's plan is different. Think of the plans he had for the Old Testament women.

• God created Eve to be the mother of all living things. No one else could do that job.
• God planned for Mrs. Noah to be the one who, along with her husband, stepped out in faith and saved her family. She led her family into a new world after the flood.
• God planned for Sarah to be the mother of the child who would fulfill God's promises to Abraham.
• God planned for Puah and Shiphrah to be in the right place at the right time to spare many Israelite baby boys.
• God chose for Jochebed to save her young son who would live in Pharaoh's palace and lead his people out of bondage.
• God planned for Ruth to go to a foreign country and be part of Jesus' family tree.
• God put Esther in the right place at the right time to save her people.

     These are only a few examples of the plans God had for each of the Old Testament women we've read about. He has an equally wonderful plan for you. It doesn't matter to God if you're popular at school, or a super brain. It doesn't matter if your parents are rich and influential or if you're being raised by a single mom or a grandparent. God's plan is designed just for you, and you are the only one who can fulfill it.

     Ask God to guide you each day and be willing to do the things he asks you to do. As you read your Bible, look for God's instructions to you. Listen to his voice speaking to your heart, and he will keep you on the right path to fulfill his plan for you.

Thinking it Through

     Read Proverbs 3:5-6. What does it mean for you today?

    Ask God to show you his plan for you today and follow as he guides you through his Word and his Spirit speaking to your heart.

Look for this book at your local Christian bookstore to read about more women of the Bible.

Reviews

Wow! I didn't realize how many reviews I'd already have with the book not yet released. I love that people took the time to write and post reviews.

Here are three:

The One Year Book of Bible Trivia for Kids opens the door to brush up on Bible knowledge! This book may even possibly teach kids a few new things too. It's friendly format is basic, yet appealing. The meat of the book is straight to the point and readers will begin a yearly journey starting in Genesis and finishing with the book of Revelations.

Each of the devotions has a title ( for example: A Willing Learner), a Question ( What Jew really wanted to preach about the Lord but didn't know Jesus was the Messiah), a multiple choice answer (a. Apollos, B. Agabus, C. Timothy), For You (a section that asks a question for the reader to contemplate the devotion at hand and apply it to their life), and the correct answer to the trivia question with the accompanying Bible Verse in which the answer is found ( in the devotion, I mentioned the answer is A and the story can be found in the book of Acts).

The 365 Bibical Trivia devotions are written as if speaking to the reader. The age recommendations is 10 -14 year olds but I think even a younger child interested in their faith can grow from using this book daily. This devotion could even work for a family time discussion. Reading through the book, I was even challenged by some of the trivia questions!I recommend checking this book out for yourself. I'm sure it would be a blessing to any kid craving that deeper relationship God.

What kind of fruit did Eve take from the tree of knowledge of good and evil? A. pear; B. apple; C. we don’t know.

What did Jesus serve the disciples for breakfast? A. fruit and cereal, B. fish and bread; C. manna and quail.

Learn a little Bible trivia while learning more about God’s message within the Bible. This One Year book features 365 trivia questions that lead into meaningful devotions about the questions. Each devotion also includes a For You section, which gives a simple application to kid’s lives. And the answer to the opening question wraps up the devotion and gives readers biblical references to read.

This book will keep curious kids on their toes and give them a reason to open their devotional and Bible daily. They can also use their knowledge to test family members each day. [The answers to the questions above are C. we don’t know and B. fish and bread.]

I had a privilege of trying this book with the kids I babysat and they loved it. Elizabeth said, "I love the pictures and the questions. It helped me think." Jack, the younger one liked looking at all the pictures and seeing what was next, even though he was only 2 1/2.

I mentioned this book to my cousins, and one of them said, "Man, I wish I lived closer to your house, so we can do devotions again." My other cousin said, "I like the Bible Trivia because it helps me learn more about the Bible and God's Word." I gave them a few trivia questions over the phone and read them the first few pages.

Even though this book may be for older kids, the toddlers I had liked the pictures and the applications that I made for them using the devotional book.

I highly recommend this book to any parent! Although, it won't be published until October 15, 2013.

Bible Trivia for Kids: The One Year by Katrina Cassel is a book for kids age 10 or so and older to test their knowledge of the Bible.

The format of the book is a daily devotion based on a Biblical trivia question. The devotion explains the passage from which the question is derived. Then there's an explanation of what it can mean in your own life.

This is something that parents and kids could do together, say, over dinner or before bedtime. It's too advanced for younger kids though, in my opinion. The only thing I didn't care for is that each devotion is dated. I just don't like dated devotionals, because it makes it seem like if you don't start on January 1, then you might as well not start at all.

Lessons from Old Testament Women #1

Old Testament Women: God Created You to Be Unique

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. Psalm 139:14

There are many principles we can learn from Old Testament women that apply to your life right now, right where you are. It doesn’t matter whether you are homeschooled, or in in public or  private school.It doesn’t matter if you’ve been a follower of Jesus most your life or if faith is new to you. These principles are for you.

The first one is this: God created you to be unique. Remember Eve? God created her as a full-grown woman in the Garden of Eden in his own image. Eve was the first woman, so of course she was individual, but so are you. God doesn’t have a limited set of molds he uses to create people. He makes each one with his or her own looks, personality, talents, and strengths.

Think about your friends. One might be short, red haired, musical, and love roller coasters. Another might be tall with dark skin and dark hair and be the track star. You may look totally different from either of them and have some shared and some different interests.

God made you your own person. When you try to be like someone else, you cheat yourself of the individuality God gave you. Sure, it’s okay to try the same hairstyle as one of your friends or to want an outfit similar to hers, but you shortchange yourself when you try to be her and not yourself.

Look for the things that make you unique and special. Are you outgoing? thoughtful? good at planning? Can you sing? identify all the constellations? decorate cakes? God gave you the looks, talents, and personality traits he wants you to have. It’s up to you to develop them and to be willing to use them for him.

Thinking It Through

What makes you special? How are you using your own talents and personality traits for God and others?

Pray Psalm 139:14 as a prayer of thanks to God—and really mean what you say. Next time you find yourself wishing you were more like someone else, think of these words.

Adapted from The One Year Devotions for Girls Starring Women of the Bible.

First Review of New Book

Here is the first review (that I know of) of The One Year Book of Bible Trivia for Kids. This was written by someone on Good Reads

The One year book of Bible trivia for kids is an amazing book designed to help kids learn the Bible while having fun taking short quiz's and reading a short devotion for every day of the year. My children and home school children are having a blast reading the days and will often read ahead and the past days they missed just to have some extra fun. I would highly recommend this book not only for kids but parents and teachers to read and express the literature with their kids and family members. This is even a fun refresher for some of the grown ups. I am very pleased and I think you will be too.

You can buy it on amazonHERE

A Light to Guide You

A Light to Guide You

Q: What book of the Bible says God's Word is a light for your path?

            a.  Hebrews

            b. Psalms

            c. Proverbs

     Imagine this. You and a friend are on a camping trip with your parents. The two of you get permission to walk to a nearby nature area. You pack snacks and bottles of water into your backpacks, and you're off.

     You have fun, but you weren't paying attention to the time. The sun is setting quickly, and you realize you'd better head back to the campsite. You know you just have to cut through the woods, and you'll be there.

     "Which way?" you ask your friend.

     "I don't know. What do you think?" He looks around.

     "I'm not sure. Everything looks different in the dark."

     "Wait a minute. I think I have a flashlight in my backpack." He digs around for a few seconds and pulls out a flashlight. He clicks it on and a bright beam of light cuts through the dark.

     "Point it over there," you say. "I think that's the way back."

     He shines the light where you point. Sure enough, it's your campsite straight ahead. The flashlight saved the day.

        God says his Word will be a light for your path. It tells you how to live, and it helps you make decisions. It's important to become familiar with the Bible so you can use it as your guide for life. Read from the Bible each day and ask yourself how the Scripture applies to you.

For you: When it comes to life's questions, you don't need to grope around in the dark, trying to find your way. You already have a light and a guide. The Bible can guide you in making the right decisions and knowing what to do when you aren't sure of the way. Take time to read a few verses of Scripture every day.

Answer: b

     Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

From The One Year Book of Devotions for Kids, Tyndale House Publishers coming October 2013

Coming Soon

Both Kathy and Karen have new devo books releasing with Tyndale House Publishing.

Learn a little Bible trivia while learning more about God’s message within the Bible. This One Year book features 365 trivia questions that lead into meaningful devotions about the questions. Each devotion also includes a For You section, which gives a simple application to kid’s lives. And the answer to the opening question wraps up the devotion and gives readers biblical references to read.

This book will keep curious kids on their toes and give them a reason to open their devotional and Bible daily. They can also use their knowledge to test family members each day.

See more HERE

Princesses are a big attraction for most girls, especially preschoolers and early readers. The One Year My Princess Devotions is written for early readers and preschoolers. Each devotion sheds light on how the reader is a princess—a daughter of God, the King. The devotions also emphasize how little princesses should respond to being God’s children. Each devotion includes Royal Words (the Bible verse), Princess Thoughts (a short devotion written for early readers), a Prayer, and a Princess in Action section (an activity related to the devotion).

The devotions are thematic according to the calendar. For example, January features creation and February highlights love.

Little Princesses will look forward to learning more about their King each day.

See more HERE

Don't miss out on these books that will be releasing in October.