Issue 2 ~ Autumn 2010
The Virtuous Maiden Encouraging Modern Day Maidens
Inner Beauty Warrior Maidens Recipe Bonanza Cheater Amazing Grace
Devotionals
4 Inner Beauty Grace, Poise, and Tact An Interview with Sandra Schultheis A Serving Heart Warrior Maidens
25
13
Fiction and Poetry
Just for Fun Hadassah– Book Review Little Women– Book Review Recycled, Back-to-School Crayon Before You Meet Prince Charming– Book Review
Cheater My Sin Killed Jesus
30
This recipe has only three ingredients. It’s easy for anyone to make and tastes delicious. All you need is… 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup light cream 1 cup 7-Up or Sprite Also, you’ll want to make sure you have extra flour in case the dough is too sticky to roll. Directions Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place the flour in a mixing bowl; add the cream and Sprite (or 7-Up); mix until combined into a very sticky dough. Pour the mixture onto a floured surface; roll with a floured rolling pin until the mixture is approximately 1 inch thick. You may need to sprinkle extra flour on top, given the stickiness of the mixture. Cut into rounds and place on a floured baking sheet with each round a few centimeters apart. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops of the scones are lightly browned and sound slightly hollow if you tap them, about 15 minutes. This recipe makes about 8 small scones. These are great with butter and jam, or with fresh fruit, although they taste good with almost anything. Because it doesn’t take very long to make them, you can bake them almost any time you want to – they’re great for surprising your parents with breakfast in bed!
Maggie Bushway
1 stick of very cold butter 2 cups of flour 1 teaspoon of salt 3 teaspoons of baking powder 1 cup of buttermilk Directions Mix dry ingredients. Cut butter into small pieces. Mix well by hand. Add 1 cup of buttermilk, and mix lightly. Roll on countertop. Cut into circles Turn oven on 400* (F) for 7 minutes. Let cool.
Look for the Winter 2010-11 issue in December!
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azing subm a r u o ll a , u o y g I am askin . Your chale g n e ll a h c a e k ta scribers, to ur friends o y f o e m so t e g to lenge is this: Virtuous e h T to e b ri sc b su to join and/or t the most e g n a c r e v e o h W ! Maiden by September rs e b ri sc b su d n a members xt issue (you e n e th in d re tu a fe 31 will be ture, as well ic p d n a e m a n r u o will have y ble menra o n o H ). w ie rv te as a short in sted. tions will also be li it for your red re c t e g u o y t a th To ensure tion you n e m to s d n ie fr r u o ferrals, ask y hank you! T . e b ri sc b su y e th when ~Meridian
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Devotionals ~Not on Earthly Things~ Amazing Grace~ ~Mercy~ Reflections on Rain~ ~Getting to know God~
Not on Earthly Things by Meridian
Clothing, iPads, books. Stuff. Earrings, calendars, pens. Just stuff. Makeup, GPS, medals. (In case you are missing my point, it‟s all stuff!). Three-second quiz: What is a synonym for stuff? Did the word “things” come to mind? It should have. Humans like to spend a lot of time with things. For my own part, I spend virtually every minute of my day devoting time to a thing in my hand or in front of my eyes. In God‟s eyes, this is a serious problem! Depending on how much time I devote to a thing, it could easily become an idol. But I will save that for another discussion. What I want to really tear apart is not our tendency to pay attention to one thing, but our habit of forgetting to focus on something greater. The mind is a powerhouse. It contains my thought patterns, it operates all the organs in my body, it stores any information I may need in the future. As the commander in chief of my body, it is crucial that it be kept in order. My heart is a storage room. It is the place where all my deepest longings, hurts, and joys are tucked away. While it keeps all those emotions and opinions, it starts to have opinions of its own, influenced by all those things inside of it. It must be carefully guarded against predators. With the mind and heart as such delicate functions, it is clear that one must be constantly on guard. But our problem is this: if we know that we must be on guard, why do we let all kinds of things in our lives that maybe should not be there? Not only do the heart and mind need to be guarded against predators; they also need to be filled with good things. Even if we do not let our guard down, if we do not fill our hearts and minds with good things, they will become, in essence, malnourished. Who wants to be malnourished? I, for one, do not.
So, if we have to fill our hearts and minds with good things, what is there to think about? What kinds of joys should be held in our storage rooms? Colossians 3:1-2 answers with a rather simple reply: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (NIV) If you are saved by grace, you are called to not be caught up in this world, but completely absorbed in God‟s presence. You are called to think constantly of pleasing God, not getting the latest gadget. As members of God‟s kingdom, we must strive to please Him in all we do. This means not dwelling on your stuff. Am I saying that you need to move into a hut, completely shut out from civilization? Absolutely not! We have been called in this world, placed in the families we have, and given whatever means we may have. Enjoy your stuff! Just know that God expects your very best, your all from not just your lips and hands, but from your soul and mind How does one go about doing that? Think baby steps. First, prayer is going to be important. Let God know about your desire. Then intentionally start thinking more about God. Get to know him. Dig in his word. Really participate in worship at church. Slowly you will build a habit. What better habit can you have than to dwell on the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who made you, loves you, and wants to be your very best friend?
Arielle B.
God created us to worship him. Let‟s live like it! May it be said of each one of us that we have set our hearts and minds “on things above.”
Amazing Grace By Miranda Poskey
Countless times when we come across pain or sickness we cry out to God for healing. We go to the Bible and search for passages where Jesus heals the sick or touches the lame. We spend numerous hours praying for God‟s healing touch. Many times God listens to our cry and heals us, but there are also the times where He tells us to rest in His plan. When this happens it feels as impossible to rest in Jesus as it is to rest in a hurricane. But out of it will always come more evidence of God‟s love for us, His desire for us, and most importantly an abundance of amazing grace. An experience like this happened to me last year. I was a pre-professional dancer, spending six out of seven days at my ballet studio. I loved every hour and every day I spent dancing until I hurt my hips. Being in a lot of pain, I went to my physical therapist and we kept adjusting my hips, hoping that it would help. For a year I did physical therapy and continued dancing. After a year, my pain became so terrible I had to stop dancing, I couldn‟t walk, and barely could rest at night because of pain. I was devastated and felt that nothing else could go wrong. I felt that God had taken away from me what I had loved best and I was unable to determine why. At that point my physical therapist suggested that I could possibly have torn muscles in my hip. He then hinted that I should go to an orthopedic doctor. So, like anybody else would, I went to see the doctor. He was unable to come up with a definite conclusion. He was see-sawing between a torn muscle and a tight tendon. Either one of these would require surgery but he was unable to determine which surgery to do for over three months. This was really hard for me to hear. I felt like I was in a runaway train and things kept going from bad to worse. I then went through many painful tests. I even had an allergic reaction to some of the medicine required to do the tests and was still unable to walk. During these three months, the doctor decided to do the surgery to repair the torn muscle even though he wasn‟t sure if the muscle was actually torn. My very wise mom had no peace about this and told me that we should wait to do surgery. Though I knew I should listen to my mom, I grew bitter and upset with her because I didn‟t understand why she would want me to go through even more pain. Wisely, she gently told me that once I lost my attitude and bitterness we could schedule the surgery. This made me even more upset and bitter.
I couldn‟t understand how my parents and God would let me go through so much difficulty and pain. But what I really didn‟t understand was that God was working through my mom and my dad. God was still looking at the bigger picture. My mom and dad soon grew weary of my emotional roller coaster and told me that they had scheduled the surgery and it would be in three weeks. These three weeks were full of expectancy for me. I had a feeling that once I had surgery I would be completely better. Oddly, a family friend said that he had been dreaming of me and couldn‟t sleep because God told him that I was not supposed to have the surgery. This shocked me. In the mean while my mom wanted to have me see my physical therapist in order that I would be a little more comfortable during these last couple weeks. We couldn‟t get in to see my physical therapist but it was worked out that I could see a therapist that worked with patients who had the same kind of torn muscle that I did. When I went to see this therapist, she asked many questions about my surgeon and his protocol. She knew much about my surgery because she had worked with the country‟s best surgeon in this particular operation. We then asked my surgeon what his protocol was and he had none. This caused some worry but we went ahead with the preparations for the operation. To my shock, however, my surgeon called and told my mom he had been dreaming of me all night and could not sleep. This sounded strangely familiar. His suggestion was to cancel surgery and see the country‟s best surgeon the therapist had mentioned. This caused the biggest emotional breakdown I have ever had. I was in tears crying to my mother, who never left me, crying that I couldn‟t keep going in so much pain. But what really shocks me now when I look back was that the doctor was willing to lose the potential money from my surgery in order to follow what he thought needed to be done. Now I see that this too, was something that God had strategically planned for my good. At this point I spent my life on the couch, doing nothing and taking a lot of pain killers. To shorten my story, we saw the surgeon and he knew exactly what my injury was and how to treat it. He did the surgery and I healed amazingly well. Through the entire experience my mom never left me. She encouraged me, supported me and helped me walk through the valley of the shadow. But I am now pain free, I can walk and dance for Jesus again because of His persistence. Even though I didn‟t want to listen to the people God had sent in my path, Jesus never deserted me. The One who experienced the worst pain any man could go through walked me through my pain. Even though I walked through so many trials I now can look back and see that God never let go of me. He was always with me no matter how much I didn‟t want to listen to Him. God‟s amazing plan came through in the end. The Holy Spirit was all around me, working through Believers and unbelievers to complete God‟s amazing plan. To me, this story shows that He will always take care of me even when I don‟t deserve it. That‟s what grace is. Giving somebody what they don‟t deserve and never will deserve. But God showed me His amazing grace and He never abandoned me.
Mercy By Lora I have the gift of mercy. It is encouraging to know that every gift has its good and not-so-good things. I am sure you have learned that. For those of us with the gift of mercy, then, what are the strengths and weaknesses? The gift of mercy can mean that you go out of your way to be sure not to hurt anyone's feelings. Sometimes you may only tell part of the truth or a downright lie just for the sake of not making anyone feel bad. This is certainly a weakness for those of us with this gift, and God doesn't want us to use His gift for sin. If you truly have the gift of mercy you usually feel sorry for people a lot. You hate it when someone is embarrassed or ashamed. You would do anything to make them feel better. You forgive quickly, though sometimes not very easily. But here is the good side of the gift mercy. My mom has the gift of prophecy and we get along really well. She and I flow so easily - for instance, if we go witnessing in the mall she and I usually go together because we even each other out. It works splendidly. I think it is great to have friends of all gifts, but you're going to be prone to get along with prophets the best! All gifts are a gift! They are all beautiful and they are all of God. We should make it a goal in our life to achieve all the gifts - Jesus has!
By Meridian
Reflections on Rain I love the rain. It is such an elegant combination of gentleness and severity. It is a place where God's creation can cry out and say, "See, I told you there was a Creator!" The rain continues with a joyful chorus: "The creator is loving!" As I sit here on my bed pondering this glorious creation of God's, I begin to think: where is God trying to cleanse and water me? Where is he thundering in my ear, and where does he want me to see his grand majesty? Truly rain is symbolic. I think the soft pitter-patter signifies God's gentleness. The bright lightning shows God's glory. The loud thunder brings to mind that God wants our attention. Of course, the non-stop rain goes to show that God will never stop loving and caring for us. The streams created demonstrate that the Gospel is spreading around the world. Rain simply says, "God." God loves to show himself through little things. Like rain. So many times we miss this. If we paid attention to such things, we would be far closer to God. We would get a little bit more of a glimpse of the majesty of God. What a wonderful gift that would be! We would enter the throne room more captivated, more enthralled, more equipped to worship. Truly, with our whole hearts we could say, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come." I want more of that. I want to worship the Lord more fervently. Rain doesn't get distracted by the thunder and lightning. I want to be the same way- reserved totally for Christ. I want my focus to be so on Jesus, so filled with awe and worship that "the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." So maybe I'll start with rain. And perhaps God will really captivate me. One drop at a time. Drip, drip, drip.
Getting to Know God By Meridian
Your birthday comes around. Suddenly you feel older, more mature, godlier, a little more worthy of respect. You know that everyone else feels the same way. Thus, they treat you like it. Or maybe I am being a little bit sarcastic…In all reality, your life is pretty much the same. You don‟t feel a whole lot older, and you don‟t suddenly see a change in your social or spiritual maturity. Though sometimes God works in leaps and bounds, he often uses simple, everyday scenarios to grow you. These include such things as a particular verse in the Bible that stands out to you, or a friend bringing fresh flowers to your door “just because.” God can work miracles through such situations as these. Humans love to see transformations, and God loves to make them happen. One of the things I mentioned is hearing God‟s voice through Scripture. Something should be really obvious in that statement: If you are hearing God‟s voice through Scripture, you have to be in the Bible. Choosing to dig into God‟s Word and really start talking with him may turn out to be one of the best decisions you make in your lifetime. I became a follower of Christ at a young age. I cannot remember a day when I did not know my Lord and Savior. I could explain to you the Bible‟s greatest stories, recite famous Scriptures, and even name a few of God‟s best attributes (so long as they did not deal with the fact that he is a God of relationship). Finally, when I was eleven years old, it kind of clicked. I was saved, God loved me, I loved him; but that wasn‟t getting me anywhere in my walk with God. It is like trying to be best friends with someone, but never listening to what they have to say or even really telling them about you.
“...Before you were looking up at God, but now you are looking down at the world.”
.When I came to this realization, I began to pray more frequently and more fervently. I started to really search the Scriptures and say, “God, what do you want me to learn today? What will draw me closer to you?” Building a relationship with him is an amazing experience! The past few years for me have been remarkable, an exhilarating trip through the mind of God!
I dearly hope that each and every one who reads this essay will be encouraged to do as I have done and develop a relationship with God. Remember what I said at the beginning of this essay, though: God uses simple experiences. He likes baby steps (but don‟t be shocked if he does otherwise). I think prayer is the most important step to take when you begin this all-important relationship. One of my friends describes prayer this way: “You get a different perspective on things. Before you were looking up at God, but now you are looking down at the world.” This is so true. Through prayer and earnest seeking after the Father, you commune. God gives the grace to see life through a new lens. God wants to hear all your deepest longings, your needs, your hopes. Simply, he just wants to be with you. Don‟t be afraid to tell God everything. He never gets tired of listening. GOD LOVES YOU! Upon initiating your prayer walk, it is important that you ask God for the grace to see Him and the whole of the world through a new, eternal view. Ask him to help you as you embark on your next journey of faith: listening to God‟s voice in the Scriptures. This requires more discipline than the first habit. With prayer, you can do it at any time, any place, quietly or aloud. But Scripture is different. Of course you can get the Bible on your iPhone or computer, but quiet times are very personal when you set aside time for God, rather than doing it just whenever (though of course that has to happen occasionally). Start your personal Bible study by reading in the Psalms and the New Testament. These will give you a model for prayer and for life.
~ Inner Beauty ~ Grace, Poise, and Tact ~ ~An Interview with Sandra Schultheis ~ ~ A Serving Heart ~ Warrior Maidens ~
Inner Beauty Inner beauty. I‟m sure you‟ve all heard of it before. It‟s the beauty that doesn‟t rely on makeup, having the perfect body, or wearing cute clothes. It‟s about having character, virtue, if you will, and letting it shine. One place you can hopefully find inner beauty is in yourself. This is in some ways the easiest place to cultivate it – and in other ways, the hardest. If you have inner beauty – honesty, faith, a serving heart, joy, peace… - then others will notice. I bet you‟ve heard this comparison before: The mean, rich popular girl who everyone “likes” because they are afraid not to, and the “average girl” who has a kind heart and is always there for everyone. Who would you rather be? Would you rather be queen over all the money and glory and riches in the world, or a humble servant in the house of the Lord? At first, the “riches and glory” sound kind of nice, but when you think of it, the humblest slave in heaven is richer and much happier than all of the billionaires on Earth put together – and, what‟s more, this wealth lasts. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Dollars decompose, coins will rust away, cute clothes will go out of style, and money can be lost just as fast as it can be made. Although cultivating your outer beauty isn‟t a sin, God tells us in Proverbs 11:22, “Like a gold ring in a pig‟s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.” Wow! I think that shows pretty clearly what our priorities should be! In fact, the Bible has a lot to say about inner beauty.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” (Proverbs 31:25) “A woman of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” (Proverbs 31:10) “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30) “…The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” (1 Timothy 2:910) “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God‟s sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4) All of these verses have a common theme: while outward beauty and charm, jewelry and fine clothes, are great for a while, your real beauty doesn‟t come from them. More important than them is being clothed in strength and dignity, doing good deeds, and having a gentle and quiet spirit. When you cultivate that inner beauty, you are worth more than rubies.Inner beauty isn‟t only found within yourself. It‟s found in others, too. Have you ever heard of a man named Pickwick? He‟s the central character in The Pickwick Papers, a famous book by Charles Dickens. Pickwick is a very ugly man, but so kind-hearted that you can‟t help loving his character.
I‟m sure you can think of someone, fictional or real, that is irresistibly likeable, regardless of his or her outward appearance. Well, that‟s inner beauty, that thing which somehow turns the “unfashionable” and the “ugly” into friends worth having, people worth knowing, and sometimes even into “beautiful” in your eyes. Sometimes we can be slow to recognize beauty in others. We shrink back when we see an ugly beggar on the roadside. We‟d rather not be the badly dressed girl‟s science partner. You‟d much rather your “Prince Charming” come dashing in on a white horse with a gorgeous outfit than walk in wearing sweatpants. A lot of the time we only see the people‟s outward appearance, without stopping to think, Hey. That person is a real,
thinking, talking human being, with ideas and feelings. They need to be loved, too.
How often has that crossed your mind? But the fact is that the crusty, ugly exterior is just that - the exterior. Have you ever seen a geode? They look like ordinary rocks, but when you break them open they‟re full of beautiful crystals. You‟d never guess that the oyster with the gross seaweed and lichen covering it hides a lustrous pearl. Humans are sort of like that sometimes – their outer being hides their good natures, their inner beauty. And sometimes you can see it even through the less-than-gorgeous outside – coal can turn into diamonds, you know. So, all and all, good character, inner beauty, is one of the most precious things you can have or give. Yes, you can give inner beauty – by being an example of it to others. Glow with love for God, kindness to others, peace, self-confidence, and joy, and others will see. And maybe they might think, I want some of that, too.
Grace, Poise, and Tact By Erika
Think about the “manners” that girls in olden days had. They’d wear dresses and gloves. They’d all learn how to sew. They’d even balance books on their heads to improve their posture! I wonder where all that went. When did ladies stop acting like ladies? Nowadays it seems like the fashion is to look like a shapely boy. I see all these girls wearing boyish flannel shirts and vests. Lots of girls are cutting their hair short into “pixie cuts.” While there’s no problem with those things, whatever happened to being ladylike? Being ladylike isn’t just what you wear. It’s acting like it. One fundamental point of being a maiden, a lady, is poise. The first thing that may spring to your mind is posture – like sitting up straight. Yes, that is a part of poise. But the part that we, as virtuous maidens, want to cultivate is grace. There are two definitions of grace: One, the kind that God gives us, and two, elegance. Refinement. Charm. Poise. This second one, (elegance) is a huge part of being ladylike. We could call it tact. Here’s an example: Your 8-year-old cousin comes to visit and is gushing about the Hannah Montana concert she went to last weekend. If you have tact, you’ll say, “Sounds cool,” even if you absolutely hate Hannah Montana. But, you could also be tactless, grimace, and groan, “Ugh, Hannah Montana? Why do you even like her?”
I’ll put it this way: “tact” according to the dictionary is “the ability to avoid giving offense” or “discretion.” You might think, “Oh, yeah, I do that.” But do you? Do you fight with your siblings a lot – is it because of lack of tact? Do you get into fights at school and with your friends because you won’t yield – even when the other person is really right? In some cases it’s right to be “tactless.” If someone’s running off their mouth, spewing out every swearword ever invented, yeah, you can ask them to be quiet. They might get mad and start swearing at you, but you did the right thing. But there are some cases when it’s not OK. If your parents are introducing you to someone at church, it’s very rude to say, “Whatever,” and run off. But sometimes things can just pop out of our mouths. If we hate Subway sandwiches, it’s hard not to moan, “No! I hate Subway!” when your mom announces you’re stopping for lunch there. So here’s what we can do to not do that: pray and practice. It seems difficult, and it’s almost always hard to wait, but if you pray to God he’ll help you. And remember, the thing that really makes a virtuous maiden is faith. You can’t live life to the fullest without God. You can’t improve yourself without God. You can’t do anything without God! But with God, nothing is impossible.
Interview With...
Sandra Schultheis Titus 2 commands the older women to instruct the younger ladies in the church. Sadly, many young ladies have never been given this opportunity, and may never have it. When I saw this problem, I began to realize just how blessed I am to have godly older women who can mentor me and teach me what it means to be a woman. I hope to bless you each month as I share my interviews with many of these lovely women. Hear their wisdom. Learn from their life experiences, Scriptural knowledge, and special talents in the home. Simply be blessed, saturated. With that introduction to a godly woman, meet Mrs. Sandra Schultheis, the wife of Colorado State Senator Dave Schultheis. Who has been your greatest role model? What has she taught you? My most memorable role model is Anne Ortlund, our pastor's wife in CA. I was a young adult when I was first mentored by her. She taught me that I shouldn't be a stagnant pond taking in, but to be a flowing pool fed by the Lord Jesus Christ and flowing out into others' lives. There have been times when I slow down, but it has been a strong admonition in my life. What is your favorite verse? Why? One of my verses that has been a powerful influence is John 1:12-13, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed on his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision, or of a husband's will, but born of God. " This was the verse I claimed when I trusted Jesus to save me. What is the most important thing you ever learned? An important thing that I have learned is that the universe doesn't revolve around me. What are some things you wish you would have known or are glad you knew when you got married? After Dave and I were married a few years we were in a study on marriage led by our pastor, who said that marriage is a 100% proposition, not 50-50 or 30-70, but a total commitment, and not keeping score. What is one thing you think all young ladies should know? Every young lady should have a sense that she is precious in the LORD's sight, and not allow herself to be abused by any man. God's love is more important than a fleeting moment of compromising. (Continued on next page.)
What skills do you most enjoy using in your home? I enjoy showing hospitality to those who enter my home. I like making it a comfortable retreat for Dave and others. I also enjoy making good meals. Of course I enjoy many craft making projects. What do you view as the most important thing to remember when maintaining a home? An important thing I've learned is to hold my possessions loosely, especially my home. Since it belongs to the LORD, it's there to be used for Him. What defines the way you live? I Corinthians 10:31-33 sums up the way I want to live. "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews or Greeks or the church of God---even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many so that they may be saved." Try Mrs. Schultheis’s tasty clotted cream recipe with your scones! (Recipe for scones on page 3) Clotted Cream Devonshire Cream 1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened 1 tablespoon sifted powdered sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/3-1/2 cup whipping cream Beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Beat in sugar and vanilla. Gradually beat in enough whipping cream to make a mixture of spreading consistency. Do not overbeat. Cover and chill 2 to 24 hours. Makes 1 cup.
~A Serving Heart~ By Erika
Let‟s be honest here. We don‟t always jump at the chance to wash the dishes, pick up our little brother‟s toys, and clean the bathrooms. Why not? Well… maybe it‟s just not that fun. Or maybe it‟s disgusting – who wants to clean the toilet out, anyway? But, if we want to grow in our faith, serving is essential. James 2:18 says, “But someone will say, „You have faith; I have deeds.‟ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” That‟s pretty clear – just saying that we‟re Christians isn‟t enough – we have to act like it, to act like Jesus. And Jesus was constantly serving others. He gave free food to 5,000 people. He healed countless invalids, including “unclean” lepers whom no one else would even touch. He even washed his own disciples‟ dirty, filthy feet. In Matthew 20:16, it reads, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” This seems like a little bit of a contradiction, but what it basically means is that when you serve others and “be last,” be the least, you are storing up glory for yourself in heaven. But don‟t serve just for imminent glory – rather, serve to get closer to God, develop your character, and to draw our relationships with family and friends closer. Serve with a willing heart, not a grudging one. (Continued on next page.)
Easy for you to say, you might be thinking. I‟m not saying it‟s going to be easy – it‟ll be hard! No one is born perfect and so no one can have a heart exactly like Jesus‟. But we can learn to not begrudge our parents when they ask us to take out the trash, to not grumble and complain when it becomes clear that you have to clean your room or it will become unfit for human habitation, and not to do the absolute minimum when you perform the boring, everyday tasks you need to do. In fact, you should be trying your best – even if that isn‟t exactly perfect. “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Colossians 3:23) This is a great perspective, one not often taken. Imagine you were a maid up in heaven in the castle of the all-seeing, allknowing God. Would you stuff your messes into the closet instead of putting them away right if God was looking over your shoulder (and he is!)? Would you take the biggest ice cream cone for yourself at the store when you know God‟s watching you? Probably not. And here is the core of having a serving, selfless heart – do everything like you‟re doing it for God, like he‟s watching you and seeing your heart. It might be hard to do the right thing at first, but if you persist it will become easier and easier as God molds your heart. And remember – you‟re not alone. If it seems too hard, remember that God is walking next to you, supporting you. And he will help you become the woman he has ordained you to be.
What if the armies of the Lord Picked up and dusted off their swords, Vowed to set the captives free, And not let Satan have one more? What if His people prayed, And those who bear His name, Would humbly seek His face, And turn from their own way… What if His people prayed?
I love the song by Casting Crowns, “What if His People Prayed?” It‟s so true! Prayer warriors are the real world changers. Prayer is really the greatest weapon we have! With it was can withstand all the fiery darts that Satan throws at us; lies, temptations, and more lies. What if we were to become warrior maidens? What if we were to really use the weapon that He had entrusted us with against the evil forces of Satan? What if His people prayed? What if? So let‟s do it! Let‟s stop sitting around on the battle field and start fighting! Let‟s pray! Because no battle can be won if the soldiers never communicate with their commander. Becoming a „warrior maiden‟ is not easy. It takes work. Hard work. That‟s why I‟ve come up with a list of practical tips that I hope you can use to help get yourself in shape, and to remind yourself to pray. (Continued on next page.)
Pray! Practice is the best way. Ask God to teach you how to pray, and when you pray, don‟t just throw requests at God. Praise Him and thank him! It has been said that God inhibits the praises of His people.
Make notes to remind yourself to pray and stick them at places that you will be likely to see them. Maybe on your iPod or on the mirror, or the cover of your favorite book. Then, before you do what you were going to, stop and say a quick prayer.
Decide to pray specifically for unsaved people every time you begin to feel worried or afraid. If the devil sees that every time he tries to make you afraid you begin praying instead, he‟ll stop! (Plus, it‟ll take your mind off your fear, and help those people turn to God!)
Start a prayer journal. Write down prayers to God and also prayer requests. Then when you look back you can see how God had been working.
Last but not least, read your Bible every day and pray every day. This is how you get to know God, and the more you know and love him, the more you will come to desire to talk with him.
Fiction and Poetry ~ My Sin Killed Jesus ~ ~ Cheater ~
My Sin Killed Jesus by Maggie Bushway
My pride was the crown of thorns, My unfaithfulness was the whip. My untruthfulness made His clothes be torn. My covets made His precious blood drip. It was my stealing that nailed Him to a tree. My anger made blood stream from His lip. Jesus died all because of me. He died to take away my sin. That’s why He died upon a tree, But He came to life again! Just like He had said. God forgave all my sins. That’s what I have read.
By Erika D.
You can’t let her get away with this. It’s still not right. It’s for her own good. Can you even look her in the face anymore knowing that she’s cheating? You can’t let her get away with this.
*Read the rest of the story in the Winter 2010-11 edition of The Virtuous Maiden!
Just for Fun! ~ Hadassah– Book Review ~ Little Women– Book Review ~ ~ Recycled, Back-to-School Crayon ~ ~ Before You Meet Prince Charming– Book Review~ ~ Recipe Bonanza!
Hadassah is a spectacular book for young women! It is based on the true story of Esther in the bible but Tommy Tenney adds a bit more excitement. When Hadassah was only 8 years old her parents died in a fire lit by men who despised the Jews. The only relative able to take care of her was her cousin whom she called Uncle Mordecai. He did his best to raise her on his own and took great care of her. At the castle, the Queen has gone against the king’s wishes and is banished leaving the king alone. Soon after a decree was sent out saying that every fair maiden in the land must be brought to the castle. One night, soldiers come and take Hadassah without a warning. She is terrified until she meets a man called Hegia who is in charge of the candidate’s yearlong preparation. He takes special interest in Hadassah and teaches her the ways of the king. She had to change her name because it sounded too Jewish and it was dangerous to be Jewish in that part of the land. At the end of the year they sent candidates one by one to meet the king. When it was Hadassah’s turn, it seemed that the king highly favored her. A few days later the king sent for her and made her the new Queen of Persia! Later on, the king hires a new second-hand man named Haman who was an evil Hagagite. (Jew hater) Haman wanted to destroy all the Jews in Persia and told the king lies about the Jews in order to have the king sign a decree to obliterate them. Unfortunately, he succeeded, and all the Jews were to be destroyed by the third month. Hadassah was astonished and Mordecai sent a message saying that Hadassah must go into the king’s courts un-summoned and plead for the Jews lives, and the consequence of this act was death. But the king would be leaving for war and she would not be able to stop the decree. She then realized that this might be the only reason God called her to be Queen. (Continued on next page.)
Review by Kameryn Alexandra Wilson
After three days of fasting and praying, the day came when the king would leave and also leave Haman in charge. Hadassah entered the king’s courts and was very close to being killed when the king held out his scepter to her, summoned her, and asked her request. She asked that he and Haman might join her that night for a banquet. When the time came, she told the king what Haman had done. The king was furious with Haman and sentenced him to death. Hadassah’s courage and boldness before the king saved her people from annihilation! What an incredible story to be remembered by! Hadassah is one of my all-time favorite books and has inspired me to be bold in my requests before my King, just like Esther was. I highly recommend it to all the young woman who desire to be excited and inspired! Happy readings!
By Louisa May Alcott Review by Erika D.
Little Women, a novel by Louisa May Alcott, is an amazing book. It has great writing and a good plot. The story tells about the lives of the March sisters, who live in the late 1800s, and has a mixture of happiness and sorrow, love and sadness, that makes it one of the greatest “classics” in history. Moreover, although this book will count as credit if you need to read a piece of classic literature for school, the writing is lively and easy to understand. You’ll get to know and become friends with the March family: Meg, the oldest, Jo, the topsy-turvy tomboy, Beth, the patient and hardworking “lamb” of the family, and Amy, the pretty, graceful artist, also the youngest. You’ll also meet and learn to love many other characters. I highly recommend this book because, while it is a fun and easy read, the book is simple, pure, and uplifting, and it has so many beautiful, clear ideas about our Father’s love and developing our own character that you’re sure to go away full of inspiration.
Before You Meet Prince Charming By Miranda Poskey As virtuous maidens we are always on the long and windy road called purity. This road is hard, bumpy, and definitely crazy. Sometimes there are detours, and sometimes there are pot holes. In her book, „Before You Meet Prince Charming‟, Sarah Mally shows us how to avoid these bumps and potholes in purity. She teaches the importance of our family‟s role in purity, the role of our dad‟s, and the role of our Heavenly Father. She tells her story about a princess and her journey on the journey of purity. Sarah Mally complements her story with the wisdom she has obtained on her journey. She tells us what has helped her in her purity and imparts her knowledge in how to guard our hearts. She knows that as young women we can get carried away in our dreams and she adeptly shows us how to keep our feet on the ground and our head in God‟s Word. Nothing goes untaught in her book as she encourages us to follows God‟s plan for our lives as we fight for purity in our un-pure culture.
Recycled Back-to-School Crayons
By Grace
Tools and Materials Kitchen Knife Old crayons Mini cake tins Liners to fit pan 1. Use the knife to chop crayons into pea size pieces taking care to keep colors separate so you can combine them, as you like. 2. Preheat the oven to 150 degrees while you fill the tin with crayon pieces, arranging them in interesting designs. 3. Bake just until the waxes have melted, 15 to 20 minutes. 4. Remove the crayons after they have cooled. If they stick place tray in the freezer for an hour, and the crayons will pop out. Have fun!
Recycled Back-to-School
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