Biblical Beauty

In honor of our first night doing this bible study, sweet hubbie bought these pink roses! The girls thought they were beautiful and I was giddy to have been thought of. It's nice to be a girl.

Tonight we began our Biblical Beauty study here in our home. Hannah, with about 10 of her friends came over for a couple of hours and we ate pizza (of course) ate cookies (of course) and jumped in head first into this really wonderful study about what God has to say about true Biblical Beauty! This ministry began with the Fun With Faith clubs (www.funwithfaith.com) that I have been a part of since Hannah was in first grade. I started with a co-leader, a few kids in Hannah's class and another handful from the co-leader's class and we embarked on a bible club right there in the public school cafeteria! This year we will meet at our house because these girls have BUSY schedules and it seemed like Friday night worked great for everyone (plus, Chris can take Samuel on Daddy Dates)

I have secretly longed for this day when we could curl up on my couch, barefoot with Bibles in hand and these young girls eager to lay their burdens down....somewhere. I can remember this age so vividly. I ached to belong and felt like so much of an outcast. Even my trips to church were painful. Usually a borrowed dress and a borrowed bible and at 11 years old, I'm not sure which was worse? The ladies in the Sunday School class made a forced effort to include me but always managed to shine light on the inability for this "unchurched" kid to fit in. ..."Kim, would you like to read this passage from Leviticus?" Fumbling through the pages and nearly to the back of the bible before someone would snicker and mutter and the color would creep up my neck and I would ache to belong. ..."Here honey, take this paperwork that your parents need to fill out so we can put you on our roll". Yea, little did they know that my parents spoke with vile hatred of church and literature that I brought home was "propaganda". Painful as it was, God was working on me......even then.

I have always had a love for this age. I can relate to them so well. I still feel like there are days when I am as lost and overwhelmed as they are, but with different problems. Most of all, I have wanted the opportunity to share with them the true gospel. I have wanted the opportunity to dispel any myths about the *way* you should pray, *where* you should pray, and *what* you should pray. As God leads me, I will teach them the truth about His word and the faith that comes by grace alone. I am excited about these lessons which cover beautiful topics like: patience, kindness, love, joy, modesty, humility, gentleness, hospitality, purity, and forgiveness. They will learn about how God purposed them; each and every part and they can't reject their physical attributes without rejecting God. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalm 139:14 They are learning that even their personality traits are God-given and He intends that they glorify Him, no matter what! We talked about what our culture today says in direct conflict to what the bible says. I will post updates to our weekly club and share some insight from their perspective!

Wow, could I have used a little something like this in 1982??? Take a peek at this little snapshot of me. It was suggested in the curriculum to show the girls how much *change* is taking place :) Try not to laugh too hard! Check out those wings!