Church Mice All Grown Up.

These thoughts are for those of you who house some of your earliest memories within the church walls.

For those of you who had the blessing of reading Bible stories with your parents every night as you went to bed.

Perhaps some of you had the gift of hearing that Jesus loves you every day as a child--just like me.

This is for you girls, who had to go to a Harvest Festival instead of trick or treating. :)

Perhaps you were the Queen Bee in Sunday school--just like me.  I was the loser who sat in the front with my hand positioned strategically so I could answer the questions first.  Maybe that was you, too. (We were awesome, by the way ;) )

Maybe your dad is a pastor, or your grandpa.  Or perhaps you dominated at Awanas, or truly thought nothing was funnier than Larry on VeggieTales.

You were a lot like me.

But now you are growing up.  And things change.  Maybe you had to realize that nobody in 7th grade wanted to see you new Bible cover.  Perhaps your first lesson in high school was that inner beauty and purity got your NOWHERE with the boys.

And maybe, if you were really honest, you would say that Jesus and Sunday School were great for childhood, but now... they just don't translate.  The stories of David taking on a giant made you stand taller when you were 6, but now...now it's just a memory.

But maybe if you were even more honest, you would say that you wish it was as simple now as it was then.

Sometimes, when you are alone, not distracted by friends, boys, phones, you can remember what childlike faith felt like. And you want it back.

You want to believe, simply, again.

Can you go down memory lane with me? Go back to Sunday School with me.  Back to the songs and hand motions and simple truths about God. Look at those stories again.

Think back to Noah's ark.  Do you believe that this childhood story about animals can give you strength at 17?  This story actually points to Jesus and the cross.  Because you accepted Jesus back in Sunday School, Jesus can still carry you through the storms of life?  If you place yourself under his love, you will find protection and promises. Put yourself on that ark, and hear yourself shout aloud:
"Hear my cry, O God...
From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint...
You have been a refuge..a tower of strength...
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings."
(Psalm 61:3-4)


Remember the story of Joseph?  Yes, the guy with the great coat. Well, here you are, as a teenager, and within these pages you could see anew that God's plan for your life is so much bigger than you can see now.  You could cling to the comfort that God never left Joseph's side, through abandonment, slavery, imprisonment.  He will never leave you either, through heartache, depression, loneliness, rebellion.  And if you kept looking at this story, perhaps you could begin to believe that God has HUGE purposes for you too, just as he did with Joseph.

As David took on Goliath, you can take on the giants in your heart and mind.  The giant voice that says that you have drifted too far, or that you are too plain or too boring too hold anyone's attention.  You can still believe that because God is with you, you can be victorious over your giants. And like David, your life could find a new start when you take on your giants in God's strength.

Girls, may I be the one to remind you that the Sunday School stories can change your teenage years, just like they did in elementary? You can really believe that Jesus loves you again, and there your confidence will be.

I still believe.  It doesn't always have to be so complicated.  We just need to mute out the distractions of adolescence, look away from the buzz of high school, walk away from the painful drama of junior high, and instead, dive into the stories of our childhood.

Let's go back to Sunday School girls.

The Prettiest Girl in the World.

Did any of you tune into the Miss America pageant on Monday night?  And what did you think?  Do you agree with decision--is Miss New York truly the prettiest girl in America?

So what makes the beauty queens so beautiful?  Usually a big smile--with straight(ened) teeth, distinct eyes with long eye lashes.  She's gotta be tall-but not taller than the boys, right?  And thin, but not skinny.  Curvy, but not plump. Big personality, yet not obnoxious and annoying.  How am I doing so far?

Girls, what if we redefined beauty?  I know, I know--here comes the proverbial "inner beauty" phrase.  You assume we are gonna take Fat Amy and say why she is beautiful, huh?

Um....I'm not gonna go there.

And I'm not here to tell you to embrace your frizzy hair, or never go for a run, and only wear sweatpants. (Except in college, I just described myself in college without even trying.)

The Bible says, "Beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

What does that mean in real life?

I think we get the first part--beauty is fleeting.  We have all seen people age--smooth skin wrinkles, hair grays, waists grow...things sag.  :)

But what does  a woman who fears the Lord actually look like?  What kind of beauty does she have?
Here's my thoughts:

Her eyes may not be distinct, or diamond shaped, or bright blue but, rather,  her eyes look to others. She fixes her eyes not on herself, her appearance, or her problems.  She doesn't look to only increase her popularity, but she looks out for the under dog.  She sees the needs of those around her.  She is able to look past the teenage drama and see what matters for eternity.

Whether her smile is perfect or not, this girl she uses her words to bring life to everyone and anyone.  She refuses gossip or contagious negativity, and instead searches for words that point people to the love of Christ.  She speaks starkly differently than her peers, understanding the power of our words.

A girl who's beauty is not fleeting may not have long, slender legs, but she is busy running around making a difference in other's lives.  She spends more time serving and loving those around her, than she does perfecting her calves. She moves about her days, guided by the love that God has for her, and strengthened by God's promises for her.

And this girl, who you ALL can be, is not necessarily dressed in the newest jeans, cutest top and absolutely the. greatest. boots.  But girls, she is clothed in the love of God, she is arrayed in purity, .  She accessorizes herself with humility and compassion.

You can all have this beauty.  When you learn that beauty begins not with yourself, but with others, you can become the prettiest girl in the world.  The grace and beauty that lasts, does not begin with what you see in the mirror, but what God sees in your heart. Ah--there it is--inner beauty. :)   So let your Maker, the God that loves you, teach you about the beauty he has put in you just waiting to come out.

You are Adored by a Holy God, Girls--go change your world.
--Rebekah

Searching For Me

Last night, at youth group, my husband encouraged his junior high workers to remember back to when they were in junior high.

Um....no thanks.

It was too close to bedtime, and going down that memory lane was sure to lead to nightmares.

But because I love my husband, and he is super cute, I took the risk.

My early teenage years were...um...how would I describe it?  TERRIBLE.

I started junior high on the tail end of some hard-core tomboy years.  Like NBA-jersey-wearing-no-hair -brushing years. I moved into the middle school and realized that other girls brushed their hair (and teeth), so I made some adjustments so I would at least survive socially. I got into 7th grade, and realized that girls didn't wear WWJD bracelets or Bible t-shirts 5 days a week, so I made some more adjustments so I could at least fly under the radar. Then the next semester I realized that flying under the radar wasn't super fulfilling so I adjusted my behavior a bit more so I could move up the popularity scale.  (There really was a list of who was the most popular in my school!) I realized that to overcome my Wal-Mart wardrobe and orange frizzy hair I would have to change a bit more.  I would need to gossip strategically, complain effectively, and chase after what my peers were chasing after.

It was a busy few years!  The name of the game was change.  I would make changes to myself so I didn't feel quite so unsure of myself.  Then a few more changes so I could grasp a bit more confidence in the death-trap hallways of middle school.  And when popularity and confidence were finally within grasp, make just a few... more..... tweaks..... to grab hold of it!

But I never got it.  The assurance that I was searching for, the identity that I so desired to build, the well-liked and confident Rebekah that I so wanted to be was not to be found.

At least not at the time.

And it left me hurting, lonely, and restless.

Can somebody tell me that I'm not alone? Can anyone relate with my search for confidence?

Do you feel like you are working overtime, searching for yourself?  Maybe, just maybe, if your jeans would fit a bit differently, you would find some confidence? Maybe, if you could just change up your reputation, kinda be done with the quiet church mouse and instead be a bit bigger, bolder, and more dramatic you--then you will be confident.  If just 5 more people complimented you,  6 more people favorited your photo, 7 more retweeted your thoughts, then you could be sure of yourself.

As a survivor of junior high and high school, I am compelled to share with you some horrible good news:

Your search for you is not going to be successful. Your quest for identity through relationships, looks, and favor is going to leave you empty-handed and exhausted.

Can I suggest a new area to look for confidence?

Quit looking at the gorgeous girls that you want to look like.  Cease gazing at the cliques that close you out.


And look, instead, at God. 


Because when you come to God, the God that made you, He will show you who He has made you to be.

And you might hear Him say this:

Beautiful Daughter,

You have no idea how thrilled I am to have your attention! How I have longed for you to come to me, to hear what I think about you.  Do you have any idea how much I love you?  As I was building you, before your birth, I loved you! Do you know the value you have in me?! I made you, just as you are, for a reason.  My treasured one, I created you, uniquely, so please stop trying to fit in.  Search for confidence, right here, in Me.  Because I love you, and I will take care of you! The world--the world will only lie to you, chew you up, and spit you out. But not me---I loved you enough to sacrifice my Son so that I could have you. Please come to me to find out who you are.  You are loved.  You are enough.  You don't have to be loved by everyone--or anyone--at school.  My love for you is enough.  I don't care if you are too skinny, too curvy, quiet, loud, or a red-headed lefty.  I created you for a purpose.  Stay close to me, and I'll show you that purpose.

--God

Girls, how I hope you can stop using the world's map to find yourself.  Just come fully to the God who made you.  There you'll find confidence, purpose, and love---a love that will change everything.