Merry Christmas

Christmas is coming fast. This week is just going and going by, and I feel like it was just Sunday.

Christmas is not just about gifts, and presents that people give you, it's about the time that you spend with your family, and the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus came into this world as a baby, so that He could grow up, and eventually die on the cross for the sins of this whole world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All of us at Beautiful in Christ are taking a break for Christmas, but we'll start back writing in January. Be sure to check back in January!

From all of us at BIC, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Movie Review: Miracle on 34th Street

I love watching Christmas movies, so today when I wasn't feeling very well, I popped in the old classic, Miracle on 34th Street.


Doris Parker and her daughter Susan live in an apartment in New York City. Doris, a young and pretty single mother, works for Macy's Department Store and manages their Thanksgiving Day Parade. When the man who plays Santa shows up for the parade drunk, Doris is in a bind until another man shows up. He has real whiskers, a jovial personality, and knows a lot about the toy market. He seems to be the right person for the job... especially since he says his name is Kris Kringle.

There's no doubt about it... Kris thinks he's Santa Claus. There's just one problem. No one believes him. Doris herself doesn't believe in Santa Claus, and she's raised her daughter Susan in the same way. People start to doubt his sanity, and eventually Kris is put on trial. It all comes down to one thing: do you believe in Santa Claus?

I really enjoyed this movie. It's an older movie, so it was very clean. I thought Kris was very sweet, and the ending was unique. It's now one of my favorite Christmas movies, and I definitely recommend it. Curl up in a blanket, grab some hot cocoa, and watch Miracle on 34th Street if you're looking for a heartwarming story for a snowy day.

~Kylie

Christmas Bible Verses

In Luke two, we are told about the heavenly host of angels that appeared to the shepherds on the night of Christ's birth. I am constantly fansinated with this passage and try to imagine what that event must have looked like and sounded like. Imagine it, a host of angels singing about the glory of God! What a night that must have been!

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” -Luke 2: 9-12

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” -Luke 2:13-14 

Redefining Christmas

Christmastime is definitely approaching. I can almost smell it in the air. People are gearing up for the busy holiday season, and depending on where you live, you’ve probably had at least one snowfall. Everything is centered around preparing for the arrival of what is probably the biggest and most-anticipated holiday of the year.

Christmas is probably my favorite holiday, but not just because of the general holiday cheer. I enjoy being able to spend time with family, give them gifts, and most of all, celebrate the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ. To me, Christmas is just one more opportunity to really reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for us. After all, the reason Jesus came to be on earth was so that He could grow up, die, and be resurrected, to take away the sins of the world. This season, I’ve been thinking a lot about Jesus, and the hope that He’s given us. Without Him, Christmas seems so empty. Christ has to remain in Christmas, otherwise it will become meaningless.

As I thought about it, I wanted some way to be able to share this hope with others. I was thrilled this morning when my mom told me we had some money to give. Excitedly, my siblings and I looked at all of our possibilities. We had so much fun choosing who we could bless this Christmas. In the end, we gave to several causes, such as a local pregnancy center, our local shelters, and several organizations that minister to families overseas. I felt so ecstatic that I was making a difference, and helping other Christians bring Jesus’ hope to those in need. This morning I discovered that the old adage rings true—to give is better than to receive. I can’t explain the feeling I got after choosing to give, but it was inexplicably wonderful. I realized what Christmas is really about—it’s about Jesus, and giving others His hope.

This Christmas, I’m going to redefine my focus. I’m going to focus on what I can give rather than what I will be getting. I’m going to focus on the ways that I can bring light to others, even if it’s just smiling at a random person who passes by me. Most of all, I’m going to look for every opportunity I can to remind those around me of Jesus, the real reason for Christmas. Who’s with me?

~Kylie

Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients:

12 slices bacon
2/3 cup margarine
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
7 cups milk
4 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 green onions, chopped
1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

1.Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
2.In a stock pot or Dutch oven, melt the margarine over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk, whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
3.Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Mix in bacon, cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted.

My family and I, love this recipe and, actually, just had it tonight! :) It's the BEST potato soup in the world! :D

~Ashley

Song Follow Up to "Corrie Ten Boom"

Praise YOU In This Storm

by Casting Crowns

  
I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus 

I think this song goes along really well with the story of Corrie Ten Boom. Through all the storms that she went through, she praised God through ALL of it; being in many concentration camps, her sister dying, her father dying.

  ~Sam

My Hiding Place

You are my hiding place; 

       you will protect me from trouble

       and surround me with songs of deliverance.

       Selah

- Psalm 32:7

Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

- Isaiah 4:5-6

Corrie ten Boom's faith really amazes and inspires me. I read her story not too long ago, and came away with a strong desire for faith like that. She was such a strong and faith-filled lady that I would have loved to meet.

You only have to read a brief biography of her life to gather that her life wasn't easy. She grew up the daughter of a clockmaker in Haarlem, Holland. When the Holocaust began, Corrie and her father and sister Betsie helped hide the Jews in their house. Sadly, they were betrayed, and Corrie and her family were taken to a concentration camp. Her father and Betsie both died during their imprisonment, but Corrie escaped ten months later with nothing short of a miracle. She then went on to speak to thousands of people about how "there is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still." (quote from Corrie)

When I read Corrie ten Boom's book, The Hiding Place, I was baffled by her joy and hope even in the midst of darkness. I couldn't understand it, until I realized something. "The hiding place" may refer to the secret room in the ten Booms' house that they used to hide the Jews, but I think that it also refers to the source of Corrie's hope as well - Jesus. When things were at their worst, Corrie still ran to her Heavenly Father, the only one who could be her refuge during that time. Corrie learned how to truly rely on God for everything, and how to hide under the shadow of His wings. Below is some of Psalm 91, a passage I thought was fitting.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 

       will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, 

       my God, in whom I trust." ...

He will cover you with his feathers, 

       and under his wings you will find refuge; 

       his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

  You will not fear the terror of night, 

       nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, 

       nor the plague that destroys at midday....

 If you make the Most High your dwelling— 

       even the LORD, who is my refuge-

 then no harm will befall you, 

       no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you 

       to guard you in all your ways;

 they will lift you up in their hands, 

       so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.....

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; 

       I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him; 

       I will be with him in trouble, 

       I will deliver him and honor him.

 With long life will I satisfy him 

       and show him my salvation."

When things get tough, all we have to do is call on the name of the Lord. He's always listening, and always there to lift us out of any pit. I want to rely on His strength to carry me. No matter what lies ahead or how hard things are, He knows what will happen, and He is there to walk through it with us. He's our refuge, and He will always be our Hiding Place.

~Kylie

P.S. - I found this website interesting, because it contains photos of Corrie's home and Corrie herself. Check it out with your parents' permission! Click here.

Corrie Ten Boom

I just recently finished reading "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom. I also saw the movie- but that didn't happen to be as good as the book. 

I really enjoyed reading about this very special lady, because she had such a passion for the Lord- and kept her faith, even through all that she went through.

Corrie- and the rest of the Ten Boom family, let Jews into their homes, during the Holocaust- when Hilter was killing all the Jews. 

Eventually, she, her sister Betsie, and her father, Casper, all were sent to Concentration camps- where they were beaten and abused. 

Betsie- Corrie's older sister, by 9 years, was with Corrie most of the time during their time at Concentration camps. Betsie was the one that helped Corrie keep her faith, and still pray and look to God through the whole situation. 

Betsie died in the concentration camp- along with their father. 

Corrie was released from Ravensbruck (concentration camp) on New Years Eve- almost a whole year after she and her family was aressted. 

_____________________________

Corrie is a good example for all of us- while we are going through hard and difficult times- we need to look to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. 

We've all had hard times- some people have had a harder life than others- but if we look to our Savior, He'll hold onto us, and carry us through our hard times. 

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise  

Kutless "What Faith Can Do" 

~Ashley  

How Beautiful is the Body of Christ

Romans 10:15
"How shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,
and bring glad tidings of good things." 

How beautiful, the hands that served the wine and the bread, and the sons of the earth.

  How beautiful, the feet that walked the long dusty roads, and the hill to the cross. How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful, is the body of Christ. How beautiful, the heart that bled, that took all my sin and bore it instead.

  How beautiful, the tender eyes that choose to forgive and never despise. How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful, is the body of Christ. And as He laid down His life.  We offer this sacrifice, that we will live, just as He died. Willing to pay, to pay the price, willing to pay the price. How beautiful, the radiant bride, who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes.

  How beautiful, when humble hearts give the fruit of pure lives so that others may live. How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful, is the body of Christ. How beautiful, the feet that bring the sound of good news, and the love of the King. How beautiful, the hands that serve the wine and the bread, and the sons of the earth. How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful, is the body of Christ. 

                                                                       "How Beautiful" 

                                                                                 ~written by Twila Paris 


~Natalie

                                            

"Fearless" Taylor Swift

Hi guys! It's Sam! Today, I'm going to be doing a review on Taylor Swift's sophomore album, "Fearless". Now, you might not agree with everything I say, and that's fine, this is just a personal review of this CD. But, I'd love to hear some of your opinions too!

"Fearless" Taylor Swift

The overall appearance of this CD is great! It's fun, upbeat, and has alot of personality!  Taylor Swift write about personal experiences, which makes the CD even better!

Fearless: This song is all about rushing into a relationship. Diving into it headfirst without thinking about what you are doing. This doesn't seem like the kind of relationship a Christian girl should be having. It's sure to go down somewhere along the road.

Fifteen: "Fifteen" describes a girl who is getting into a relationship at a young age. As this song proves, young relationships usually don't go anywhere or as the way you might've planned it, and you just ended getting your heart broken. ["Abigal gave everything/ She had to a boy/ Who changed his mind/ And we both cried/"] I think Taylor Swift is using this song as a warning to young love.

Love Story: I have mixed feelings about this song. I love the tune, and how the song seems to take place in the Victorian era. But the overall message of this song, really isn't the greatest. The girl and the guy are in love, but the father doesn't want them to see each other, and yet they sneak off in the night and see and be with each other ["So I sneak out/ To the garden to see you/ We keep quiet/ 'Cause we're dead if they knew/"] against the girl's father's will. ["And my daddy said/ 'Stay away from Juliet'/"] This is a rebellious song. In the end, though, the boy goes and asks the girl's father for permission to marry his daughter. That was good. ["I talked to your dad/ Go pick out a white dress/"]

Hey Stephen: There's really nothing wrong with this song unless you have an offense to "kissing in the rain". "Hey Stephen" is about a girl who obviously likes this boy names Stephen. Taylor Swift seems to describe this boy as an attractive, young man who has girls around him all the time. ["Of all the girls/ Tossing rocks at your window/"] The girl in this song is almost just like one of those girls, except she's more than just a "fan" of Stephen, she actually has feelings for him, and really wants him to feel the same way about her. I think the message of this song is really cute.

White Horse:  This song is quite sad. and there's really nothing wrong with it. I don't really know what to put for this one. haha. Well, the girl seemed to not realize that guy didn't really love even love her. She was blinded, because she loved him so much. ["Maybe I was naive/ Got lost in your eyes/"] But I'm actually not really sure.
You Belong With Me: This song is upbeat and fun. The girl in this song isn't satisfied without the guy she wants. The girl puts down the other girl that the guy is dating. Saying that she (herself) know the guy a whole lot better. ["She doesn't know your story/ Like I do"] She's obviously very jealous of the other girl. It's not very good to be jealous, but it can be hard not to be sometimes.
Breathe: In this song, the girl and the guy broke up, and the girl just can't get the guy off her mind. She says that it's not easy being in a relationship, ["And we know/ It's never simple/ Never easy/"] and wishes that they're relationship could've gone on, because she can't breathe without him. ["And I can't breathe/ Without you/ But I have to"]
Tell Me Why: I'm a little confused with this song. I think it's weird how she says that she loves the guy in this song so much, but yet he's abusive to her, and she doesn't want to break up with him. ["I need you like a heartbeat/ But I know you've got a mean streak/"] In this song, she just lets the guy do what ever he wants to the girl. ["I take a step back/ And let you go/ I told you I'm not bulletproof/ Now you know/"] It seems to me, like you should make sure the guy isn't mean to you, before you go and fall in love with him.
You're Not Sorry: (coming soon with others) 

 

~Sam 

True Beauty Follow-Up

Kylie's post about True Beauty was something great to read. I loved to read through it, and see what everyone's different opinion of true beauty really is.

I have some Bible verses to go along with what Kylie said, so that you can get more insite on what we're actually talking about! 

Let your beauty not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes – but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
1Peter 3:3-4

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 2:9-10

But the wicked will perish: The Lord's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

Psalm 27:30

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
       but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

I hope you are encouraged by these verses, and think about where your beauty comes from. 

~Ashley

True Beauty

From Zion, perfect in beauty,
       God shines forth. ~Psalm 50:2

One thing I ask of the LORD,
       this is what I seek:
       that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
       all the days of my life,
       to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
       and to seek him in his temple. ~Psalm 27:4

 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;
       God comes in awesome majesty. ~Job 37:22

It's the question that every girl has wondered at some point in their life -- what is true beauty? In the glamourous portrayal of  'beauty' that we get from movie stars and popular culture today, there isn't really a clear answer. As a Christian, I've heard numerous times that true beauty comes from the inside, and that it's your heart that counts. That's a very true concept, but as I thought about this, I wanted to approach this topic from another perspective.

I was fascinated when I read the above verses. I had never really thought about God's beauty before! But as I contemplated it, the more I realized how true it was.

Now, I know this may sound a little odd -- the idea of God being beautiful. But I don't think David, the writer of the Psalms, was referring to God's physical beauty. Rather, God is beautiful in His very nature. He's so perfect, so majestic, so infinite, that beautiful doesn't even begin to describe Him adaquately. He's beautiful not only because of His love, His mercy, and His compassion toward us, but just because He is God.

Here's something else for you to think about. Because we're created in God's image, we have His beauty too. We definitely can't have it on the infinite scale of His beauty, but because we are in Christ, we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). That means that we're beautiful too. God's beauty is amazing, majestic, and glorious. It's beauty beyond compare, and beauty that will never pass away. That's something I definitely want to have. What about you?

~Kylie

From the Kitchen...

Hey!
   This is Natalie! For my first post on this blog, I am going to share a recipe that is a favorite in my family. It's great for a special breakfast or just as a yummy snack.

                                    Sweet Cinnamon Biscuits                                      

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Baking Time: 15-20 minutes

 Serves: Six

Ingredients:                                                                                                 

-2 cups sifted all-purpose flour                                                                             

-1 tablespoon baking powder

-dash of salt                                                                                                    

-1/4 teaspoon baking soda                                                                              

-1/4 cup vegetable oil

-3/4 cup buttermilk

-8 tablespoons softened butter

-3/4 cup granulated sugar

-1 teaspoon cinnamon

Icing: 

 -confectioners sugar

-milk

-vanilla

1) Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl and mix well.

Stir in vegatable oil.

Add butermilk and stir just until blended. (If you don't have buttermilk, you can combine a small drop of lemon juice to 3/4 cup of milk, and use that as a substitute.)

2) Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth.

Roll dough into a 15 x 8-inch recatangle.

3) Preheat the oven to 400* F.

Grease a 9-inch round baking pan lightly.

4) Spread butter over the dough.

Combine granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix well.

Sprinkle over butter.

Roll up rectangle, jelly roll fashion, starting from one long side.

Pinch seam to seal.

5) Cut the roll into 1 1/2-inch slices using a durable piece of string. (I find that quilting thread works best)

Arrange the slices, cut side up, in a prepared baking pan.

Bake until lightly browned, about 15-20 minutes.

Remove from oven.

Spread icing overtop if desired. Serve hot.

Update on Our Progress

Hey everyone,

Thanks for bearing with us as we get everything figured out. We've had some things change around this blog. First of all, we now have Samantha and Natalie writing with us! They're two girls who love the Lord, and will definitely be a great addition to this blog. Stay tuned for their bios.

Secondly, since we now have four writers, we're trying to get a schedule set of who is posting when. The schedule will start next month. In the meantime, we'll be posting a little sporadically, but we hope things will get into a routine soon.

Thanks for coming by!! You can leave us a comment or email us at daughtersoftruth [at] gmail [dot] com.

~Kylie, on behalf of Ashley, Sam, and Natalie

Rescue

 When Ashley posted her devotional earlier this week about Jesus coming to our rescue, this song immediately came to mind.

You are the source of life

I can't be left behind

No one else will do

I will take hold of You

I need You Jesus, I need You Jesus

My heart is Yours for life

I need Your hand in mine

No one else will do

Lord I put my trust in You

I need You Jesus to come to my rescue

Where else can I go?

There's no other Name by which I am saved

Capture me with grace

I will follow You

My heart is Yours for life

I need Your hand in mine

No one else will do

Lord I put my trust in You

This world has nothing for me (I will follow You)

-- Rescue, by Newsong

My favorite part of this song is the chorus. The part that really stands out to me is the verse where we're asking God to "capture us with grace". As girls, we have an inner desire to be rescued... swept off our feet... captured with grace. Jesus wants to steal our attention completely. He wants us to be totally focused on Him, as our Savior, our Father... and our Hero. Ask God to sweep you off your feet with His beautiful love. You won't be disappointed.


~Kylie

Jesus is my superhero

When I was a little girl, I wanted a superhero, to save me and take me to some faraway land, where he'd keep me safe, and I'd never have to worry about anything.
Now that I'm a little older, and a bit more mature, I know that will never happen. But I do have a superhero. 
"Who?" You ask.

Jesus.

It's as easy as that. Jesus, who lived a sinless life, died on the cross, for all sinner who walk this earth. He loves you enough to be beaten and hung on a cross.
Dying for our sins in something that I find, that's hard to comprehend. Why would Jesus do that for us? Why? Why? Why? 

Because he loves us. 

Jesus saved us from our sins, when we asked him into our lives. And him saving me from my sins, is way better than having a superman. 

Jesus is the only true superhero, because he saved us from eternal life in hell. 

And someday, we'll go to Heaven, and spend eternity with him there. And that's way better than a faraway land. 
John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have eternal life."

Jesus is my superhero. Is He yours? 


~Ashley


Oh, and soon, we'll have another writer joining us. We'll be adding Natalie to our group of writers ASAP! :)

The Beginning

Welcome to Beautiful in Christ! Our names are Ashley and Kylie, friends living on opposite sides of the United States. We have a heart for encouraging other girls in their walk with Christ and this blog was started for just that purpose. We also want to remind you, our readers, of what true beauty is, and how we are made beautiful -- through Christ.

On this blog we hope to post meaningful articles that make you think and bring you enlightenment, along with some fun stuff along the way. This blog is fully committed to God and we pray that He would speak to you through it. If you come away from this blog with anything, we hope it is this: Jesus loves us so much, and thinks we have value beyond compare.

We'll be getting this site up and running over the next few weeks, so bear with us, but in the meantime you can visit our blogs (Ashley's blog, and Kylie's blog). Or you can shoot us an email at daughtersoftruth [at] gmail [dot] com.

In Christ,
Ashley and Kylie

About the Blog

The purpose of this blog is to encourage girls in their faith and remind them that their beauty is found in Christ alone.

We are Ashley and Kylie, two girls living on opposite sides of the country. We started this blog in October 2009 because we wanted a way to connect with and encourage our sisters in Christ around the world. We soon realized that it was too much for just us to handle, so we brought on Natalie and Suzanna, two of Ashley’s friends. You can find out more about all four of us at The Writers page.

We believe that every young woman is beautiful in Christ, and because of Him, we are lovely beyond compare. We are His daughters, and He thinks we are amazing. He loves us more than words can describe. This is our message, and we hope it comes through in every post that we write.

We have a heart to reach girls and help them understand the love of Christ and what true value is. We will be posting about these topics and more.

More About Us

Here's a little more about us...
 

{administrator & contributing writer}

Hey everyone.

My name is Ashley. I'm a sixteen year old girl, who loves to read, write, sing, play my guitar, listen to music and watch old TV shows.

I've been a born again Christian for 10 years, and I love the Lord with all my heart, and do everything for him.

I live in a family of five people- my parents, my siblings, and me. My siblings, Gracie and Ian were adopted as babies from Vietnam.

I love to read- anything teen Christian fiction, and Christian fiction. Some of my favorite authors are Jenny B. Jones, Janette Oke, Melody Carlson and Shelley Adina.

I love to write, if you don't already know that, from me being a part of this blog. I pretty much write the same kinds of books as I read- Christian fiction. I've been writing since I was ten, but I've been starting to write more and more as I get older, and more mature

I love to write songs, and play my guitar. I've had my guitar for almost two years, but I've just recently started to play it, more and more. I also just started writing songs in the last few months, something to get out my feelings, and write about my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Like I said earlier, I really enjoy watching old TV shows. By that, I don't mean like really old shows, but like 70s and 80s shows. Some of my favorites are Charlie's Angels, The Dukes of Hazzard, Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries, and other detective shows. 

I live in a small town in Pennsylvania, where my mom and dad homecshool me and my siblings. I've been homeschooled most of my life, and I enjoy every minute of it.

I hope that you enjoy this blog as much as we enjoy writing it. :)

If you would like to check out my blog, you can go to: http://www.ashleystrawser1993.blogspot.com

Love in the Lord,

~Ashley

{administrator & contributing writer}

Hey! My name is Kylie. I’m completely in love with Jesus, and I have a strong desire for others to feel His love as well.

I’m a self-declared bookish person, and I love literature. Writing is a huge part of my life, and I take pleasure in using it for God’s glory. It’s my dream to have one of my novels published someday. God brought me a little closer to that dream when I won second place in a short story contest put on by a homeschool magazine. When not working on Kids of Faith or Ignition, I enjoy writing and developing my set of three fantasy novels, or writing short stories on various topics. I immensely enjoy being homeschooled because that gives me the time and flexibility to write. I also devour books; some of my favorite authors include C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Ted Dekker, and Janette Oke. I have eclectic tastes, too. One moment you may see me reading a chick-lit book; the next, a thriller. What I write is just as varied as what I read.
I have a very active imagination, which can be both a gift and a problem. I love the pioneer, colonial, and renaissance eras, and bonnets, aprons, and medieval dresses & capes all have a place in my world. I enjoy creating things; whether it is crafts, graphics, or worlds of my own that spring from my imagination. I also love music, and enjoy writing songs when the inspiration strikes. I hope to grow in my knowledge of how to play the guitar so I can set the words to music and express my adoration for God through song.
Although my road as a Christian is tough sometimes, it is He alone that keeps me going. It amazes me that He loves me when I am not and can never be worthy of it. I’m definitely not perfect, and I rely on His grace to catch me when I fall and fail.
My articles are not mine; they are God’s, and I hope & pray that He will use them for His glory.
You can visit my blog at http://www.hisbeautifullove.wordpress.com
Because of HIM,

~Kylie

 
{administrator & contributing writer} 

Hi, my full name is Suzanna. My friends call me Anna.
 When I heard that I could possibly begin writing for this blog, I got really excited and jumped up and down and screamed. Well, not really. But if my nephew wouldn't have been snoozing, I possibly would've.
 I like to read pretty much anything...I like Melody Carlson a lot.
My brother and I are both homeschooled by my amazing mother while my dad provides for the family. I am in eighth grade, and like everything but math.
 Music is really important to me. I listen to it constantly throughout the day, and I don't know how I survived without my iPod and doc. A FEW of my favorite bands are Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch, Flyleaf, Barlow Girl, Pillar...pretty much all Christian rock/metal.
 My parents, brother and I are members of the Christian Motorcyclist's Association. I love going on motorcycle rides with my dad, and absolutely love being a part of such an amazing group. It's like one big family.
 I love thick, green grass, music, concerts, photography, my family, but above all Christ. Isn't He awesome!? I love worshiping Him, and don't know how atheists and not Christians live. I love being in big groups when we pray or sing and you can really feel the Holy Spirit all around you.
 One other thing that's important to me is purity; saving myself for my future hubby. I think of purity as a gift that on our wedding night we'll both be able to share it together instead of my giving it away to several other guys. I think dating is weird...courting is the way to go! :D
 Thanks for reading...hopefully I wasn't too much of a bore.

 {contributing writer}

Hello there! My name is Ashley and I turned fifteen on New Years Day this year! God is the love of my life and I absolutely love to express my love for Him to others! I’ve been playing guitar for two years this February and it’s helped me get through a lot, although that sounds kind of cliché. Those who have been around me a while know that I love books with a passion! Some of my favorite authors are Robert Whitlow, Frank Peretti, and Jenny B. Jones! 

I’ve always dreamed of being a writer. When I was little, I could always be seen toting around a beat up notebook, writing down things I wouldn’t let anybody else read. Some things never change. I write Christian fiction and hope to have a book published by the time I’m 18. 

To talk more about myself, I have a rather large family. I have 2 brothers, 2 sisters, and 7 nieces and nephews whom I all love quite dearly! I live in a small town, out in what most of my friends might call the country! I love it, although I dream of one day traveling the world. 

Summing this long thing up, I also enjoy playing softball, and getting to know interesting people. I think everyone is beautfully and wonderfully made and I love trying to brighten peoples days by just giving away a smile!

{guest writer}

Hello! My name is Natalie and I am a sixteen year old girl whose passion in life is to love and serve my Savior! 

I am blessed to have been brought up in a family of God fearing, born-again Christians. I accepted Christ into my life when I was four years old and have been striving to please him ever since. 
 I am the middle child of seven kids. I have four sisters and two brothers. My older sister and both brothers no longer live at home. My sister is attending a university in the south and my brothers are both gown up with jobs and homes of their own. I love spending time with my three younger sisters and parents!

My interests include horse back riding, camping in the mountains, exploring and admiring God's creation, and kayaking! I have been playing the flute for four years now and am currently studying in a music school in my area. Last Christmas, after receiving a guitar, I began to teach myself under the helpful advice of my best friend who also plays guitar.

 My idea of relaxing is snuggling up on the couch in front of the fire place with a good book, or staying up late writing a story.
 I'm not entirely sure of what I would like to be when I grow up. I have greatly considered Early Childhood Education, but with our country in the condition that it is in, I haven't completely made up my mind. I do believe that God has a plan for my life and I cannot wait to discover what it is!