A Note from Katy

i agree. never settle for less than God's best for you, his princess! the best place to be is where you are finding your identity in Christ and not in a man. for me personally, it wasn't until i was totally and completely satisfied in the Lord that i really began a serious relationship (my first one) with the man that is now my husband. even today my husband is not my everything, but he is one amazing cherry on top! an added blessing and gift to the life God is giving me. i truly believe that it is when we are delighting ourselves in Jesus that he often begins to reveal his best for us. magical, wonderful and beautiful things that we could have never dreamed up for ourselves. fairy tales really can happen.

Miss Right

Guy/girl dating relationships in our world today can be so "me centered". People are so caught up in wanting to be "happy" that having a significant other becomes just another thing to help satisfy unquenchable desires. A person can't make you happy. You can only find fulfillment and true joy in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

It occurred to me recently that girls are often on the hunt for "Mr. Right". We spend our time going gaga over the handsome actors in Hollywood and keep our eyes on the best guys in our friend groups. The truth is that, duh, there is no such thing as a perfect guy.

What if we, as girls, started trying to become Miss Right? What if we spent our time looking to God for our identity; searching God's word and allowing him to mold us into godly women? I believe that the result of this would be gorgeous ladies- inside and out! I cannot begin to imagine the impact this would make on girlfriends and guys around us. Our world wants to see something different. Let that difference be Christ in you! Become Miss Right, a girl that attracts the right kind of guy!

The Babies

I am always saying that Christian and I are "babies" starting our life together so young. However, I am referring to a different set of babies today. Allow me to introduce to you the newest kids on the block...

Aren't they cute!?

I love spring time and how can it be spring without new life? The new little goslings born every year on Christian's parents' pond are a reminder of my new life in Christ and of the start of something new in me and Christian's relationship as well. Two years ago in April, I returned back from a spring break missions trip to Lima, Peru during my senior year. It was a trip that I will never forget. I was surrounded by amazing leaders and missionaries that poured truth into my life. During a conversation with my "adoptive dad" who watched out for me on the trip, I I came to realize just how much I cared for a boy named Christian. My "dad" on the trip was telling the girls in his group just how special we are to God and how we only deserve his very best in the guys we are in relationship with. He said that we should only consider dating a man that is not only a Christian, but who is passionately in pursuit of Jesus. I realized then how thankful I was that Christian is apart of my life; constantly pushing me closer to God. I realized that I couldn't imagine doing life without him. These realizations were even more so confirmed in me when I looked around at some of my dearest friends and was heartbroken to find that many of them were giving their hearts away and God knows what else to men who were not followers of God. I couldn't believe what I was seeing! I say this only because I knew these girls well and saw so clearly that they were God's girls. They deserved so much better.

Christian had loved me like Christ does. We had begun to build a friendship based in trust, covered in grace and full of joy. I knew coming back from that trip to Peru that I missed Christian. I began to see how I was giving my heart to him.

Fast forward to the week I returned from Peru. It was Christian's birthday weekend and spring had come to Georgia. Christian took me lunch and we talked about the trip. We came back to his house and decided to go canoeing on the pond. The babies had hatched and we paddled as close as we could get to admire their cuteness.

On that important day April 14, 2010

As a side note, poor Christian has endured way too much of my usage of the word "cute" in my vocabulary. I have realized that coming from a family with three brothers...let's just say its not a word that is used very often. Today, it always makes me smile when he now uses the word to describe me and my little sis. We rub off on each other.

After canoeing, we found ourselves on the bank of the pond fishing and before I knew what I was doing I was basically declaring my love for him. Okay, not exactly, but the just of what I was saying was relaying the feelings I had had while in Peru, I told him that I felt that we were essentially dating or maybe "just friends" "hanging out", but that I needed to know where the relationship was going. I don't think I did a good job of explaining this, but I now realize that what I was needing to know from Christian that day is if what we had was something special. I think I knew the answer. I think we both had known for a while now. But I was determined to get an answer from him that day. I needed to know what was going on because my own, guarded heart was having trouble knowing what to do. I had gotten to a point where my heart had begun deceiving me and it was in limbo over whether or not Christian and I had a potential for a future together.

All of this totally caught Christian off guard. He had never processed or defined a relationship as special as ours. Neither had I. Therefore, I didn't hold his mumbling and fumbling against him. My heart was already kind of at ease after getting my words out. I had to leave to go pick up my sister at a friends house and it makes me laugh to think that I left without working everything out. I guess that I was pretty confident that it would all work out for good in the end. My heart felt free, but I left Christian a the pond suffering. Poor guy.

Over the course of the next half-hour he called my phone probably 5 times. During which I was standing in my best friend's driveway celebrating her acceptance into design school. I remember blasting Toby Mac from my mom's minivan speakers for the neighborhood to hear and us dancing? Did we really do that? All the while Christian is desperately trying to get a hold of me so that we can set things right.

I eventually got home and called him back. We talked through the fact that, yes, we each cared about the other A LOT. We agreed that we did not want to spend time getting to know any other girl/guy like we did with each other. We decided that our relationship would transition to being a more intentional one; spending special time together and getting to know each other better. We got off the phone being defined as being "in a relationship" I guess? Good times. We were headed in a fun direction. Excited to see where our heavenly father would lead.

Wanna Be A Wife?

Every girl dreams of finding that special someone to truly love her. Many young women spend their time wondering when their prince charming will come. They want their happily ever after. Do you really think that you are ready for true love; for marriage? I just finished working through a book by Debi Pearl called "Preparing to be a Help Meet". It opened my eyes and taught me a lot about what is looks like to get ready for marriage. And by "working through" I mean I was meticulously dissecting every page, vigorously highlighting and writing exuberant NOTES TO MYSELF IN THE MARGINS. Dont tell my MATH 3316 professor, but I have spent more time studying Debi's book in the last month than my notes from her class. To me, learning and studying this stuff is more important than even my classes at Kennesaw State. I know that busying myself preparing for the responsibility of being a wife will be far reaching and and will bear fruit in our marriage for years to come.

What I love about this book is that it is written to both married and unmarried women. Debi writes from experience. She doesn't talk down to us young ladies, but she does speak extremely frankly about what she knows well. She is a know-it-all and I love it about her. A youngin' like me needs the frankness. I need an older, godlier woman like her to speak into my life as I prepare to be a new wife. When I was reading the book I could just see her sitting me down and telling it how it is.

Debi Pearl's name may sound familiar to you. She and her husband started a ministry called No Greater Joy and she has also written a book called "Created to be His Help Meet". Which is more targeted towards married women. I want all "my girls" to know: do not wait to read this book until you are engaged. Take it from me, if you are a highschool/college/single girl that wonders about when and how you will ever come to meet "the one"; if you have even the smallest desire to get married someday; if you are struggling to chart the waters of opposite sex relationships in our crazy world today...you need to get your hands on this book!

I found this book refreshing and I learned so much. And this is the FUN kind of learning. I couldn't put it down! Even if you don't like to read, the pages are organized in a neat format...words seriously jump off the page. It is also filled with journal-ing spots that I wrote in from time to time. Because of the way I wrote in it I know that I will keep this book and look back at what God was teaching me.

And hey, if any girls are interested I would totally do a book group to discuss it more. We could meet in our new home. More on that fun news to come!

How Can a Young Person Stay Pure?

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands. (Psalm 119:9, 10 NIV)

Our goal should be to be like Jesus. The bible says that he was tempted in every way...even the same ways that we are tempted today (Hebrews 2:17-18). So many times we stumble when temptation comes along. We sin. We are impure and we feel it. Jesus never sinned though. What a role-model huh? Thank goodness that he says that he will always provide a way out from temptation and sin (1 Corinthians 10:13).

So, how do we remain pure? We need to seek Jesus with all of our hearts. We need to search the scriptures, God's instructions and promises to us, for help. We cannot uphold ourselves to the highest standard (the Lord's standard) of purity on our own. This is a constant struggle and we must cry out to God for help and guidance.

The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8 NLT)

How Long?

So, how long have you known each other?

I get this question a lot.
Sometimes I don't know exactly how to answer.
Sometimes I think of the first day I met Christian (see this post).
Sometimes I think of the first dance we went to together when I was fifteen.
Sometimes I answer by telling about when we became "official" as a couple once we both graduated from high school.

Most of all, I smile when I think of our friendship over all these years. First, before we fell in love or we dated, we were buddies. It happened like this.

http://pixar.wikia.com

First, Christian and I spent time with each others' families. From going to the school's family square dance to going to family camp together, we got so many chances to hang out and get to know each other and our families. I think that I was better friends with Christian's younger brother Jon before I was even friends with Christian. Christian was a grade older than me in high school  so we were rarely in the same classes. I have good memories of being invited to join Christian's family to do things like come over for dinner and a movie or go to a museum for the day. We had fun. These were fun and relaxed times getting to know each other better.

When we could (finally) drive, we would force get our siblings to go do fun things with us around town. We had to be chaperoned : ) At this period in our relationship, we had come to realize just how much we enjoyed being together. When a member of the National Honor Society as a junior, I helped plan to volunteer at an event at a local elementary school. I always knew I could count on Christian being there to help. One beautiful day, we coerced some of our siblings to hike up Kennesaw Mountain. This was something Christian and I really wanted to do together. So we drug our sisters up the mountain and I think they legitimately complained the entire way up. We didn't mind though. We were together. The first time that he put his arm around me was seriously at the park with all of our sisters and brothers. They laughed at us. They knew that we were more than friends. I guess a lot of people knew.

Christian likes to say that he took every opportunity to take me to dances and events through high school. He really did. Going to these special events were, well, special. It was a fun time for me to dress up and be the date of a handsome guy, but it didn't really mean anymore than that. That doesn't sound very romantic, but it took the pressure off. Christian never once made me feel like we had to define our relationship or anything. In fact, that didn't happen until years later, but that is a story for another day.

For Christmas 2009, we exchanged gifts with each other. We were still "just friends" at this point. I got permission from both sets of parents to buy Casting Crowns concert tickets to give Christian. We both enjoy Christian music and I knew it would be a great gift. Why did I have to get permission for going to a Christian concert you ask? Well, I was basically indirectly asking if we could go on a date. On our own.

Once we were in a relationship and going out on our own we appreciated it so much. It was SO different from having to be with family all the time. We actually got to talk! Today, we often remember and are thankful for that season when we were able to build our relationship in a comfortable context among family and friends with plenty of accountability. Because of all this, the transition from being just friends to a serious relationship was natural and the timing was right.  Our families approved, but they began to realize that once Christian and I began to go out on our own, they hardly ever saw each other! At one point my mom asked one of  Christian's brothers, "Jon, are we still dating?" It was never just Christian and I dating, it was our families too!

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/disney

I have been so very blessed over the years of knowing Christian. I can honestly say that I have grown closer to the Lord through our relationship. We look forward to marriage and getting to grow up together. We also hope that our story and the way it has played out will encourage young men and women to think outside of the box when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex. We felt the Lord calling us at very young ages to do things way differently than the world does. I challenge you to talk to the Lord about this topic. I promise that God cares about your love life. You cannot put God in a box and exclude him from this part of your life. I am thankful for Christian who is a man after God's own heart and who has guarded me. He truly is my knight in shining armor. I am also thankful for all our family and friends who have supported us and kept us accountable to God's best. These are the blessings you need to be on the lookout for girls!

It's Going to Be Okay

On the radio this morning there was a segment where people call in and share something that they would've liked to go back in time and tell themselves if they could. This lady came on and said, "Hang in there. It's going to be okay." When she was just fourteen years old her parents divorced. Her father left her and as a result of her life feeling torn apart she made some bad decisions. Today, she has a wonderful life in which she holds on to Jesus Christ for everything. She wanted to share the truth that God is in the business of redeeming the stinky stuff of this sinful, fallen world. She said that during her teen-aged years she had lot's of people tell her "it's going to be okay" but now that she is older, she realizes how true that statement was. This lady learned that in Isaiah 52:12 it says that God will never leave you, but that he will go before you and guard you. She sees now how while her earthly father certainly did, her heavenly father never once

abandoned her.

It is the same for all of us. We need to hear this. We need to hear that it is going to be okay. I cried in the car listening to her testimony because I could just imagine how many fourteen year olds that are going through similar things need to hear this. In Christ we can be confident that the Lord is bigger than anything that we are going through and that he can redeem and restore what is broken. He can cover in forgiveness all the ways we have messed up. Hang in there. It is going to be okay.

You Are Lovely

How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty! (Psalm 84:1 NIV)

I have loved this verse for a long time and I have seen it everyday for the past six years on the wall in our kitchen. How lovely is your dwelling place Jesus! Be welcome in this place Lord! I have loved my mom's heart in wanting our home to be a place filled with the Holy Spirit.

The other day, I heard Beth Moore refer to this verse in talking about how we are the dwelling place. When you have trusted Jesus as your savior the Holy spirit dwells inside of you. We are lovely as children of God. Beth mentioned how, in truly believing this verse, from the coffee pot to her spot to have her quiet time in the morning she says aloud "I am lovely!"

So, do you believe it ladies? Do you believe that you have been bought with a price by our Father God (1 Cor. 6:20)? Do you believe that you are lovely? In a world that is constantly scrutinizing our outward appearance, we need to look inwardly and to make ourselves lovely dwelling places for the Spirit to reside.

I don't care how messed up your hair is or how gross you feel first thing in the morning, I challenge you to look yourself in the mirror and declare, "I am lovely!"

Choosing True Beauty

By sharing stories from her own life, Kim Meeder wrote the challenging book, Fierce Beauty. Kim is an amazing storyteller and in no time at all I was wrapped up in the story of God's redemption in her life. The book opens up with the story of Kim scaling the side of an icy cliff. I can't imagine ever doing such a dangerous and adventurous thing, yet Kim compared her scary mountainside moment as a way to show our need to hold onto the the Lord. What had placed her in this fear-gripping situation was her zealous desire to do her will, her own way. It was in that moment that she heard God's still, small voice asking her relinquish control to him. She complied and instantly her eyes were open to how stubborn she had been.

God wants to make us strong and courageous women to be used for his purposes. Throughout the book Fierce Beauty, Kim encourages women in what that looks like to fiercely defend beauty that radiates Jesus Christ rather than the fake and temporary beauty that the world tries to sell us. God has given Kim Meeder deeply moving and purposeful insight on how he views his precious daughters. True beauty is most definitely the way we live in Christ and not simply a look.

Click here to read chapter one of Fierce Beauty...
http://multnomahemails.com/wbmlt/pdf/FierceBeautySneakPeek.pdf

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Be Different

I love to people watch and one of my favorite places to do it is in my university’s eating area. Over time, however, I realized that sitting there I would get to do much more than just watch…I would also get to listen. I promise I’m not a creeper and don’t try to listen to anyone in particular, but I have overheard some interesting conversations over the past few semesters. Sitting in the Commons and listening is always a reminder of what a lost and hurting world that we live in. The things that people dwell on and consider to be important never cease to amaze me, especially in college where conversation typically includes talk of the latest drug, Plan B contraception and plans for clubbing over the weekend.  I try not to be too surprised when I hear this type of talk, but my heart is soft and it often hurts.

Commitment to serve. What a beautiful picture. 

The other day I was sitting at a table right next to two girls. Their conversation made me perk up my ears because it sounded like they were talking about me. Okay, so they weren’t talking about me, but they were talking about a couple that they know that recently got engaged. It sounded like they were a young couple, so the girls were talking about how crazy it is to get married so young. Then, they mentioned that the girl who was getting married had never been kissed and that she was saving her kiss for the man that she would marry. “Why on earth would she want to do that?” They questioned.  The girls then began chatting about the guy’s proposal. As part of the proposal, he had secretly set up everything he needed to wash her feet following the ring and the question. Christian young women would probably swoon at that idea. The washing of feet is such a symbol of love, especially for your future spouse to humble himself at your feet. At least, that is what I think. But these girls, oh, they ripped this guy apart. “What a weird thing to do!” “Why did he do that?” “I would not want someone to wash MY feet when I am proposed to.”  

The comments coming from these girls represent the world. The world thinks that Christians are freaks. They think that we are so weird. They just don’t understand. They don’t understand the joy that comes from a relationship with the Lord; God’s grace and the freedom from sin. These girls didn’t know the precious gift that purity is; being able to save everything possible for marriage. Christian and I know and have prepared ourselves for the fact that some people are not going to be the most supportive of us getting married so young. The world tells us to finish college and get a job, to own a house and two cars and live together for awhile to see if we are truly compatible. But what they don’t understand is that we will be going into our marriage young and in love and with minimal baggage. We don’t have junk from past relationships to carry into our marriage like most thirty-year-olds that are getting married do. We don’t have it all figured out by any means, but thank goodness we have wise and godly parents and mentors spurring us on to become closer to each other and to Christ.

I challenge you to be okay with being different. You can be sure that there will be people, like these girls in the Commons, who will talk about you behind your back. They will talk about how weird you are for living your life for God. You may even have people say straight up to your face that you are crazy. I challenge you to smile and realize that they just don’t understand. Realize that and pray that someday they will.  

What Are You Waiting For?

My parents raised me so that I would treasure my purity and guard my heart closely for the man that I would one day marry. When I was little they would jokingly say to me, “Save your kisses for your husband.” Little did they know that I would grow into my teen years holding onto their words and establishing even higher standards for myself.

I have learned a lot about guarding my heart and staying pure over the years. I have discovered that it is not just about remaining physically pure until marriage. It is not just about waiting to have sex. It is about not giving my heart away. Its about not getting emotionally tied to any man that is not my husband. Most importantly, it is about an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

This is what author Dannah Gresh so amazingly communicates in her new book, What Are You Waiting For? This is a question that I have had to answer for myself in the past few years. Your parents can be godly, can share with you their desire for you to “wait for true love”, they can give you rules and a purity ring, but ultimately YOU are the one that will have to decide what you are waiting for.

This book addresses issues such as porn, homosexuality, masturbation – stuff that we are being faced with, stuff that our friends are being faced with in this fallen world that we live in. This book is not for the faint of heart, but the author’s love for God is what makes her passionate about sharing candidly with young women. Her purpose in writing this book is to deal biblically with questions that every girl wants to ask about sex. These are the issues that, sadly, are not being dealt with in the church. People are embarrassed to talk about them. This saddens me because I know that our God created sex to be something so beautiful between a man and woman united under the covenant of marriage. While the church remains silent, our world is currently in the business of distorting what God made to be a precious and holy gift.

When you finish this book, you will have a pretty incredible picture of God’s design for sex. You would not believe how romantic and creative our God is!

You can learn more about this book here...http://www.purefreedom.org/bookWAYWF.htm

I blog for books... http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/

All the Single Ladies...All the Single Ladies

I am so thrilled that I am now finished with my freshman year in college! It is so nice to have a little extra time on my hands to read and write on my blog. I am excited to post my review of a book that is very near to my heart.

I just finished reading Praying for Your Future Husband after receiving it from the publisher to review on my blog. This is a new release by Robin Jones Gunn and her friend, Tricia Goyer that I have long been awaiting. I feel as if Robin has been a mentor to me. Like a close friend, I have “gotten to know” her over the years reading dozens of books in her fictional series targeted to girls and women. Her books are all so Christ-centered and have continued to point me and I am sure millions of other women to our True Love and King in heaven.

This book has been such an encouragement to me. I recommend it to any of my girlfriends and any moms who want to read it and hand it down to their daughters. Wow. I love Robin’s heart for prayer. Prayer is so powerful and I love learning more about being a prayer warrior. For single women, finding “the one” is on the forefront of the mind. Much time is also spent prayerfully seeking God and his plan and asking him to bring the right guy along. This book is a guide through God’s Word and a collection of real life stories from women who stopped to pray for the mystery man who they would someday marry.

In a world where instant gratification is expected and “serial dating” is a normal , Gunn and Goyer take time to pause and consider what would happen if young women begin to exhibit patience and a complete dependence on the Lord when it comes to their love lives. The best part about Praying for Your Future Husband is that God is faithful to answer our prayers! God is the lover of our souls and he will provide in his perfect timing. I love the quote, “Waiting time is not wasted time!” I hope every girl gets their hands on this book and beings to pray boldly for their future spouse. I can’t wait to see what he does!

Learn more about Robin Gunn and her heart for women here...http://www.robingunn.com/PAGES/bio.html

Purchase the book here...http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Praying-for-Your-Future-Husband/Robin-Jones-Gunn/e/9781601423481/

Smart Girl / Stupid Girl

I am currently doing a Beth Moore bible study on the patriarchs of the bible. I was just reading about Joseph after he had been sold by his own brothers into slavery in Egypt. Still through that trial, God looked upon Joseph with favor and placed him in the house of Potiphar who was in the high ranks of Pharaoh's empire. Pretty soon, Potiphar saw that the hand of God was on Joseph and how everything he did became a success because of the Lord. Potiphar went as far as putting Joseph into command of his entire household and made him his right-hand man. As most of you know, Joseph had a lot going for him and even when faced with trial and temptation God gave him everything he needed to succeed.

Joseph faced his greatest challenge yet when Potiphar's alluring wife began to seek him out; desiring for him to sleep with her. In response, he gave the woman more than just a refusal, "And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her." Gen. 39:10, but also reasons why. Joseph knew what was on the line for him. His master trusted him with everything and it would be a wicked sin against him and in the sight of God. Joseph successfully resisted temptation and came out on the other side a man of even stronger character.

With this story in mind, I ask you to consider…

What specific motivations do you have for not buckling to worldly temptations?

I named this post Smart Girl/Stupid Not So Smart Girl because, as women, we tend to be either of these -smart or stupid. I hesitate to even use the word stupid because I am so nice, but at the same time the truth is that we can be just plain stupid sometimes. I smile knowingly at the picture above that my lovely sister Emilie photographed. Love can make us dumb. Especially in the area of guy/girl relationships, the world often encourages us to throw caution to the wind and (in a Disney princess-y voice) "follow your heart." Below are some thoughts that might help you distinguish between being a smart girl and a stupid girl in various situations.

A Not-So-Smart Girl…

Acts on impulse – Let look at this little dialogue…boy: Hey, I really like you; I think that you are really awesome and I was wondering if you would go out with me? girl: Oh yes! I like you too! (turns to girlfriends) Eeeek!!! Girls, so and so and I are dating!!! Cute right? Well, a little background for you, this boy and girl met on a missions trip and had known each other for a grand total of 1 week. This story really happened to this girl but thank goodness I didn't share the reaction of the girl above. This may sound like a goofy example, but it happens every day. A Not-So-Smart Girl makes decisions on impulse with no regard to reason or to God's will.

Lets emotions rule – This trait of a Not-So-Smart Girl goes hand in hand with the first, but emotions often wage a war inwardly. As women with "spaghetti brains (check out this video)," we have to keep out thoughts and emotions on tight reigns. An unwise girl is quick to gossip about others, posts thoughts that should remain private on sites like Facebook and has no control over what comes out of her mouth in front of guys and others.

Initiates - This is a trait that scares me the most about being a Not-So-Smart Girl. A girl that initiates a relationship with a boy is charting dangerous waters. God created men to want to chase and win a girl and her heart. If we turn to throwing ourselves on guys and don't make them earn our trust and affection then we are sacrificing the amazing plan God has for love and eventually marriage. A Not-So-Smart Girl chases boys, texts and calls them and sends them mixed messages in her actions and speech.

A Smart girl…

Thinks things through- In regards to Joseph's story, Beth Moore says "We are wise to rehearse in advance our reasons for standing firm." Ladies, we need to decide what we are going to do in a given situation BEFORE we find ourselves wrapped up in it. Looking back to my middle school years I am thankful that my mom talked with me about what I would do if a boy "asked me out" or to be his "girlfriend." Knowing in advance what my response to them would be, whether it was a guy that was "stalking" me or a guy that I actually liked, helped me bypass so much drama and heartache. Likewise, when you are in a special relationship with the opposite sex you need to decide where to draw the line physically with that person. It is so important that you think through your reasons for standing firm in this precious area of purity. For me personally, being prepared in what I was going to say and do made me a smart girl especially into my high school years when I was making decisions mostly on my own. This leads me to another attribute…

Prays- Using the example of dealing with a boy, don't be afraid to take time to pray about a relationship. I promise God cares about your love life. If a guy thinks that you are weird for not accepting or giving him an answer right away, then he is not the guy for you. A girl who stops to talk to God about a decision whether big or small is smart.

Seeks wisdom- I remember being a cute, little 7^th grader when a boy asked me to be his girlfriend. Going to someone who is older, wiser and further in their relationship with the Lord are all qualities that you need to look for in receiving counsel from someone. My mom talked me though what it would potentially look like to "go out" with this sweet friend. She reasoned that we would eventually bore of each other and then possibly break up. What would that do to our friendship? Would it be awkward? These were all questions my awesome mom talked me through. In the end I decided that it was better that we remained friends – and we are both now grown, in college and friends to this day! I am so thankful that I stopped to gain wisdom. I wonder how some of my middle school girlfriends would have advised me if I had told them about that boy first. Oh the drama!

This is good stuff; stuff that I am learning and have learned. Stuff that I want other girls to know. We want to be girls after God's own heart, seeking His face in everything we do and say! While I was writing this, my mom threw this book my way. It is a wonderful resource that shows the difference between being a "Girl Gone Wild" and a "Girl Gone Wise" with lots of scripture to back it up.

Girls Gone Wise: In a World Gone Wild by Mary A. Kassian

Also, check out the books awesome website!

http://www.girlsgonewise.com/