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Believe

Do you know Christ as your personal Savior? If you died today, do you know 100% for sure you would go to Heaven? Have you ever received the Lord Jesus Christ into your life?

Realize That God Loves You and has a plan for your life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

The Bible Says That All Are Sinners and Our sins have separated us from God. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

God made man in His own image. He gave man the ability to choose right from wrong. We choose to sin. Our sins keep us from God.

God’s Word Also Says That Sin Must Be Paid For “For the wages of sin is death....” Romans 6:23 Wages means payment. The payment of our sin is death and hell, separation from God forever. If we continue in our sin, we shall die without Christ and be without God forever. The Good News Is That Christ Paid For Our Sins. All of our sins were laid on Christ on the cross. He paid our sin debt for us. The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross, and He arose from the dead. He is alive forevermore.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 We Must Personally Pray And Receive Christ By Faith. The Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

Pray And Receive Christ As Your Savior and Lord,

"I know that I am a sinner and that my sin has a payment. If I died today, I would not go to heaven. Forgive my sin, and I accept your death as the payment for my sin. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he came to die in my place. Thank you Jesus and thank you God for forgiving my sin. Help me live for you from this day forward. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."

The Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13Being "Saved" means that Everlasting life begins when we receive Christ as our Savior.

I trusted Jesus as my Savior on January 24, 1995. It was a Tuesday night at a revival meeting in our church. Do you have a memory of the day you trusted Christ? Was your moment just now as you read this message? Please reply and let us know so that we may rejoice with you.

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The Faith Factor

Have you ever wanted to share your faith with a friend or loved one? I sometimes have gotten nervous when trying to explain salvation to another person.

In the upcoming weeks and months we'll be learning fun and creative ways to share your faith with others, but before we go any further it is very important that you know that you have a personal relationship with Jesus yourself. Sisterlisa wrote this delicious message that she entitled, "The M&M Gospel" Be sure to read to the end, for there is a giveaway in this message! If you have a fun way to share your faith with others and would like to have it published with GGM, please contact our Editor for further details.

As I was sitting on the swing at the park one sunny afternoon, my friend walked up and asked me to hold out my hand. Unsure of what she was going to do, I resisted. "It's ok, I have something for you," she said. I slowly put out my hand and I saw a brown bag dump into my hand and several colorful candies tumbled into my palm. They were small candy coated chocolates called, M&M's.

There's so much I would like to tell you about M&M's and something in particular that their company may not even know about. First of all, America's favorite little candies have a history behind the sweetening craze. We all like to hear the story about how we came into this world and their story is so much fun! Another interesting tid bit of information is that in 2004 the M&M's lost their color for a while causing all the M&M's to be Black and White!

Once you've read the history of the M&M, you can now become one! Now don't get too wild and crazy, but be sure to have a lot of fun! Now that you have created yourself into a virtual M&M, you can now customize your own bag of M&M's. Be sure to get your parents permission before ordering, but just for fun you can play with their interactive M&M creator. They're especially fun for sending out a unique message to a loved one. (Min. ordering is 4 bags at $11.99 per bag.) They're a bit pricey, but could prove to be a valuable way to show someone how much you care.



Next comes the part I've been hungering to tell you! The M&M's tell a wonderful story by their colors!


The Dark Chocolate M&M: There's a darkness in this world that we all battle from day to day. This battle is the war between our flesh and our spirit and that entity we fight with is called sin. Sin is a dark nature within us that we cannot escape on our own. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Dark chocolate is bittersweet and sin has it's pleasure for a season, but is not profitable for our relationship with Jesus. In fact, we cannot get to heaven on our own, because of sin.

The Yellow M&M: The yellow M&M reminds me of Heaven for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that the streets of heaven are made of pure gold. The second reason is that the Son of God sits at the right hand of the Father and loves us very much! Jesus wants us to be in Heaven with all His heart, but sin is not allowed in Heaven. God has always known that we sin, but makes Him sad because He knows sin cannot enter His heavenly home. Then Jesus raised his hands and said, "I'll go Father. I'll go to earth and teach the people how they CAN know for sure they can get to heaven to be with you." The Father and Son both know that there is a payment for sin and that payment must be fulfilled. Someone must pay that sin debt, but it has to be someone that has never sinned. That's when Jesus came to earth in the form of a man and lived a perfect life.

The Red M&M: After Jesus was grown and had begun his ministry here on earth, He knew the time was nearing that the sin debt would need to be paid for. Many people did not believe that He is the Son of God, as a matter of fact, they thought He was lying to them when He told them that "Whosoever believeth in me shall not perish, but have everlasting life and that no man cometh unto the father but by me." The people did not believe him and the penalty was death. Jesus knew this was going to be his fate one morning, but he willingly went forward, recalling His words to the Father, that He would volunteer to pay the sin debt so that all mankind could be in heaven one day. Jesus was lead to Calvary, after being beaten so severely that people could not even tell that he was a man. On the cross of Calvary that day, Jesus stretched out his arms and died for you and for me. His shed blood was the sacrifice needed for our sins to be forgiven.

The White M&M: Yes there IS a white M&M, it's just not in the classic bag you see in stores today, but rather through the customized option on their site and in some candy stores throughout America's malls. The White M&M brings me great joy, for it is the white that indicates the washing of our sins. Jesus's blood washed us white as snow, so that our sin is not seen by the Father anymore. It's the proof that we are forgiven for our sin nature and our ticket to enter the pearly gates of Heaven.

One thing I could never understand is that the old motto of the M&M's candies is, "They melt in your mouth, not in your hand." Yet, my M&M's always left a smudge of chocolate on my hands. My mom could always tell if I had gotten into the M&M bags. Although we are forgiven by the Father, we still sin each and every day. After all, we're not perfect and we will always make mistakes. When we sin it does leave it's mark on us, whether it be through the tone of our voice, the expressions on our faces, and even the images within our own minds. That daily sin will not cause us to lose our home in heaven, but it will cause us to have a difficult time communicating with the Savoir. His Holy Spirit resides in the hearts of all those who have trusted in His death as the payment for their sin. The Holy Spirit wants to talk to us every day and express God's love and mercy to us through various ways. When we live in sin, making no effort to communicate with the Father, it makes it difficult for us to hear Him speaking to us.


The Green M&M: It's very important to keep your hands clean. Anytime that chocolate smudges onto your hands, wash it off right away. We do this by GOing to the Lord and confessing our sin and apologizing to God right away. If we go any length of time without saying we're sorry for our daily mistakes, it leaves chocolate fingerprints on everything we touch.


If you have never believed in the Lord with your heart and you'd like to today, just tell Him. Just talk to God like you would talk to a friend or your mom. Tell Him you believe He is real and that He died for you. Admit you aren't perfect and that you know you can't get to heaven on your own because of your sin. Trust that He will say yes, because His very own Word, the Bible says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."


Once you have believed in Him with your heart and have communicated to Him that you want him to save you from sin and let you in heaven, He will ALWAYS be with you! You will still make mistakes every day, but God has forgiven you. Just remember the Green M&M telling you to GO to the Father and say you're sorry when you do make mistakes. His love and mercy is never ending!

Now for the giveaway! We are giving away 5 customized packs of Salvation M&M's accompanied by mini versions of this lesson for one reader to share with 5 people she knows needs to hear the gospel message. She will also receive this lesson printed in full color on classic white cardstock, perfect for framing.


Simply blog about this article and let us know you've shared The M&M Gospel message LINK with your readers and you'll be entered for this drawing! Our winner will be announced February 15th!


The M&M Gospel Lesson was written by Sisterlisa through the guidance of the Sweet Holy Spirit. All rights belong to Him, but if you'd like to download the free pdf file here, to remember it for your Faith Sharing opportunities, you may do so. Any print version of The M&M Gospel message or digital reproduction should credit the Holy Spirit and Growing in Grace Magazine.

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Kitchen:
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Pet of the Month February 2008 "Quaker"

My pet’s name is Quaker. He is a male kitten. We got him in November 2007. He likes digging in our trashcan, chasing our other cat, Minga, sleeping in warm and cozy spots, and purring. My dad got him for my mom and me for an early Christmas gift. He has little curly hairs all over his neck. He is the most silky cat that we have ever had. This photo is of me holding Quaker. ~Morgan

Quaker lives with his best friend, Morgan, who is nine years old, in the fourth grade, and has her own little corner of the world at Mees-Alees. She loves her brother Kaden, and her mommy is her teacher.

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You can submit your pet for our Pet of the Month article each month. Simply follow these guidelines and send in your submission to our photo department subject line: Pets

Submission Guidelines:

-Send in a picture of your pet, please do not edit the photo or resize it. We will do any editing that may be needed.-Photos of inappropriate nature will be denied.

-If your photo includes a picture of yourself, we will need to contact your parent for permission. Please send their e-mail address in with your request. (This applies to girls under 18)

-Tell us a little about your pet and what makes them special to you. Maximum of 500 words.

-Your pet may be of any species. (Ex; cat, dog, pony, chicken, etc.)

-You may enter no more than 2 pets per month.

-All girls may enter, no age limit.

A Matter of Life and Death

A young lady arrived in Sunday School a few minutes early in hopes of finding an empty seat next to her friend. She truly wanted to sit with her and enjoy the lesson side by side. Upon entering the room, as she slowly peered over the rows she did indeed find her friend's Bible and purse placed on a chair next to an empty seat. She excitedly placed her own sparkling blue covered Bible and her handbag in the front row right alongside her friend's chair. In the second row just behind them sat a few other girls she knew and she happily greeted them with a friendly hello.

A few moments later, her friend came strolling by, only she did not look too cheerful. She glared at the blue Bible accompanied by the handbag and snapped at the young girl, "What is YOUR stuff doing there? I was saving that seat for someone else!"

Confused and with dashed hopes the young girl frowned and cautiously extended her sincerest apology, "I am so sorry, I just wanted to sit with you. I didn't know you were saving the seat for anyone. There wasn't anything on the chair and I was so happy to be able to find a chair next to you." The young girl's sincere apology made no difference to the angry friend as she replied with haste, "Well SOMEONE should have TOLD you!"

She turned to the row of girls behind her and snapped, "You should have told her!" Much to their amazement they matter of factly responded with the only truth they knew as they unanimously said, "We didn't know you were saving the seat."

Meanwhile a few other girls entered the room and the perturbed friend critically expressed to them in that same harsh voice, "You'll HAVE to sit by her!" As she rolled her eyes and let our a deep sigh, one of the girls did sit by the young girl and began a pleasant conversation, making it obvious that she paid no attention to this angry female.

As the young girl went home after church to discuss this with her mother, her heart was heavy with pain and confusion. Her once gleeful countenance had been stained with utter devistation. She felt as though her heart would die.

You may have heard it said before, "It's a matter of life and death." That's exactly what happens to the spirit when we wield our untamed tongue on of the ear and soul of a fellow human being. Be cautious of your tongue ladies, for you never know how damaging your words can be.

Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." (KJV)

A 'Love'ly Heritage

Some History of Valentine's Day

Many have argued the exact origin of Valentines’ Day and how it came to be. Some believe that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the unfairness of the law, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers, in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories conclude that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. That would be pretty interesting, considering that when I think of the word ‘priest’ I think of the Catholic Church. Therefore, if he did help the Christians escape persecution, which would have been completely amazing.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl, who may have been his jailor's daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine’.

One very historic thing has taken place on Valentine's Day, was the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Al Capone planned the death of Bugs Moran, who was the current leader of the rival North Side Gang. In February, Capone spies discover that Moran is planning an important meeting, which just happened to be on Valentine's Day, at a garage that the North Side Gang uses as a liquor depot. In 1929, Capone's hit team lies in wait, armed with their most awesome weapon, the Thompson submachine gun (the Tommy gun). Seven of Moran's gangsters go into the garage; two decoy police cars pull up with Capone's men disguised as cops. They went into the garage, and told Moran's men to put down their weapons. When they did, Capone's Tommy guns erupt. Within ten seconds the men are lifeless on the floor. Not at all what God would want for us.

Some other interesting facts about Valentine's Day include the following:

- 188 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually
- The per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2005 was 25.7 pounds. Candy consumption has actually declined over the last few years; in 1997, each American gobbled or savored more than 27 pounds of candy a year.
- The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut roses in 2005 for all operations with $100,000 or more in sales was $39 million.
- In February 2006, stores sold $2.6 billion worth of merchandise.

And some city names that sound lovely are:

Valentine, NE; Loveland, CO;

LovejoyGA; Lovelock, NE; Love Valley, NC

Lovelady, TX; Loves Park, IL

Loving County, TX; Lovington, NM

Loving, NM; Love County, OK

and Sacred Heart, MN.

I am so glad that we have the ability to develop our own history. Holidays are so materialistic and commercialized these days. The world uses Valentine's Day as such a sensual holiday today that the innocent part of it has seemed to have vanished.

If we had the opportunity to create such a grand history for the future generation of America, what would it be? What do you have planned for Valentine's Day? You don’t have to be married or be dating to give Valentines out to people. Give some to your family, your neighbors, or your friends.

Did you know that there are seventeen verses in the Bible that state the phrase ‘love the Lord’? Did you know that there are over 372 references to love in the Bible?

Keep in mind that Jesus is our best Valentine.

Living Water

This past summer, my daughter volunteered to be the keeper of Max, her class’s red-eared slider turtle. The teacher gave her a feeding schedule and instructions on cleaning the water-filled aquarium. She recommended that the tank should be cleaned once a week. As the cleaning time grew near, poor Max would be swimming in green, murky water.

Do you know what stagnant water is? It is non-flowing water that is stale and often smelly. In order for water to be fresh, we must empty out the old and replenish with new, fresh water.

In the book of John, we learn that Jesus offers living water. When we drink of that water, we will never thirst again. The water that He gives must not be held in. He instructs us,

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38 (KJV)

Did you get that? His water flows into us and then out to others. Living water is moving water, unlike the water in the turtle tank. Allow His life-giving water to flow freely.

Lord God, help us offer hope, mercy, truth, and kindness. May your living water flow from us as we offer a fresh drink to others in this dry and weary land. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Rachael - "Falling In Love"

We’ve had some stormy weather recently in California, but we were so blessed to have a break in the rain and had a bit of sunshine one afternoon. What a great opportunity to head out to Starbuck’s for a Tall Non-Fat Sugar free Cinnamon Dolce Latte and decided this might be a good time to call Rachael. Rachael happily agreed to meet with me for what became a wonderful afternoon.

We sat at a small table nearest the door with the warm sunshine beaming through the pane on our faces. As I prepared myself with my pen and journal in hand, I knew this was going to be a good meeting of friends.

GGM: Hi Rachael, tell me a bit about your family.

R: Well, I’m the third born of four children and the only daughter. My parents are happily married and my mother has always been a keeper of the home. My dad is a deacon at our church and we serve in the ministry together in many ways. My oldest brother, David, is married and they have two children which I adore! My second brother is Joe and he is a fireman and my younger brother is Dan and he is a junior in high school. Growing up in a home with three brothers was different than many of my other friends and I was happy to get a sister-in-law.

GGM: In what ways does your family serve together in the ministry?

R: My dad is a bus driver for our church’s bus ministry and my brother, Daniel, and I volunteer together with him by bringing children to church every Sunday morning. My parents both volunteer together in the college Sunday school class which my brother, Joe, and I attend together. Our family all serves in the college ministry together with helping with all the activities. We also ‘adopted’ one of the sweet ‘Senior Saints’ of the church as a ‘grandma’ and include her in all our family gatherings.

GGM: Rachael, it sounds like you have a close family, but have you ever had rough times?

R: Oh yes, I think any family has it’s share of ups and downs, but our family is very close and no matter what kind of storm comes our way, we stand by each other’s side without wavering. I love my brothers very much, we’re best friends!

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"I love my brothers very much!"

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GGM: Rachael, you’re eighteen now and preparing for college correct? What are you hoping to achieve in college?

R: Yes, I have a strong desire to be a nurse.

GGM: Oh that’s wonderful Rachael, how old were you when you knew that was the direction in which you were heading?

R: Well, I volunteered as a candy striper at our local hospital for a few months one summer and while I was in the ninth grade I was going through some old boxes one day I found an old letter I had saved. It was a paper I wrote in the second grade to my teacher about being a nurse. When I found that letter, it was then that I knew. It was a confirmation to me that I was going to be a nurse. I have always been the kind of person that wanted to help people.

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"It was a confirmation."

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GGM: That’s great that you have a desire to help people, were there any people in your life that you feel greatly influenced you to help meet the needs of others?

R: (sigh) Yes, my parents love to help people. They often have families come to our home to minister to them and they have always had a heart to visit in the local nursing homes. My mother loves elderly people, and children, they tend to flock to her. She has a special way about her that touches their souls. My dad used to teach in Junior Church for the fourth through sixth graders and I enjoyed helping in his class. My parents have always volunteered for Junior Camp every summer as well. They have been a great example to me of reaching out to others that are in need. I don’t think I’ve ever heard my dad say, “No.” to someone.

GGM: How wonderful that your parents have been involved in your upbringing. Would you like to share with our readers about some special times you’ve had together with your parents?

R: (big smile) My mom and dad created a special event for me the night I was graduating from sixth grade. Part of this surprise was just as much for my dad as it was for me. My mom had planned a specific time for my dad and I just before we left the house. My mom and I had gone shopping to get a special dress for graduation and my dad had not yet seen it. It was so pretty. We got a long white dress with a sheer pinafore, which had rose petals in it. Mom had me get my hair done and she had my dad wait for me in the dining room. As I walked down the hallway to see him, his face lit up; and so did mine. My mom had arranged a white sheet around the back of the chair, draping from the ceiling down to the ground.

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"I want to save my purity for marriage."

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Dad asked me to sit down and he got down on one knee. He then told me how special I am to him and brought out a pretty ring and asked me if I would wear it as a symbol to the world that I want to save my purity for marriage.

Another time was when my mom took me on a special weekend getaway to a little hotel for girls. It was like a fairytale hotel and we had a wonderful time together. I’ll never forget that weekend.

GGM: Oh Rachael, it sounds like your parents love you very much. You said earlier that you want to be a nurse and I’m wondering what you think about having your own family one day. Your mom sounds like a wonderful example and I’ll bet you’ll be a good mom too.

R: I used to think that I wouldn’t have children, until I became an Auntie. I fell in love with my nephew and niece the days they were born. Now I do want to be a mom one day.

GGM: Have you had any experience with working with children?

R: Yes, I have volunteered in different children’s classes at church, tutored after school for younger children, and even helped in a daycare during the summer when I was younger. My employer taught me how to teach with a homeschool approach in that daycare. It was rewarding to see small children learn from me and see them understand what I was teaching. Each day we had times when we sat at the dining room table and taught workbook pages to keep their minds fresh over the summer. It was a lot of fun.

GGM: You mentioned that your mom has always been a keeper of the home; do you think you will follow in her footsteps when you have children?

R: Oh yes! I want to be able to be there for my children and I have no problem at all with being at home. I love being at home.

GGM: Well I’ll bet your parents have a great deal to do with that. What do you think inspires your family to reach out to others like they do?

R: It’s because of the Lord. His example to us in the Bible shows us that we should be reaching out to others.

GGM: Rachael, if you could talk to our readers and share something with them, what would you say?

R: I would let them know not to worry about boys until they’re older. The friends you have as a young girl may not always be there when you grow up. We think that our friends mean so much to us, but many people go in different directions when they get older and Jesus should be the most important relationship we have.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my friends, but Jesus and my family are the most important. Show your family how much you love them. While growing up we always supported our siblings when they were involved in sports and ministry events. Birthdays have always been a big deal to us too. One more thing, be sure that when you are ready to have a relationship, that your parents are involved with your decisions. They can see things in people that we may not see. It’s important that you keep focused on the standards that you have.

GGM: Rachael, you told me that you graduated from sixth grade, but what about high school. What kind of education have you had?

R: I grew up in the Christian school through our church ministry and my mom volunteered a lot. It has always been important to me that she wanted to be involved in my days. Then after graduation I attended a Bible college for a short time before registering for the nursing program. I also took an extra class at our local evening school of the Bible for a Spanish class. We were taught how to lead a soul to Christ in Spanish. I want to take more Spanish classes in college.

GGM: It’s important to get an education that is not coated in secularism, are you glad your parents gave you a Christian education?

R: Yes, I am very thankful.

GGM: You are blessed to have a family that worked hard to provide for you. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today, Rachael. It has been a blessing to hear about your family and about your hopes for your future.

Rachael and I had a sweet time together that afternoon. It was evident to me that she genuinely loves her family and sincerely desires to help others. I hope that reading about Rachael has inspired you to make your Savior and your family more important in your lives. I have every confidence that she will be a wonderful wife and mother one day.

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The Remote ConTroll "America's Top Model"

The remote control is a hand held device used for browsing your televisions channels from the comfort of your sofa, but it can also become somewhat of troll if we're not wise. In this monthly column we'll take a serious look at today's television from a scriptural perspective.

“America’s Next Top Model”

On this reality show, which Tyra Banks hosts, girls are expected to basically lose all self respect and dignity. You would also have to be willing to push the competition aside just to win it all. One girl almost caught pneumonia because she had to pose in a pool in the winter time. Not only is this show unsafe for anyone, especially girls with low self esteem, it is also completely unsupportive of biblical, holy living.

Some television programs seem innocent enough when you watch it for the first time, but once you start watching it a little more, and a little more, at first you don’t hear them taking the Lord’s name in vain, and you don’t see two people posing immodestly.

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"You become numb to the fact that you SHOULD change the channel, "

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...but because you have been watching the show for such a long time that you become so what of an addict. All you see is a few people ‘going for the gold’ and ‘reaching for there dreams’, which is what the world is telling you that you should do.

It’s no wonder that there is a generation full of girls crying in the bathroom while they throw up today’s meals and girls so thin that it doesn’t take a doctor to diagnose them with malnutrition. As for me, I don’t need the world to tell me what they think of me, as long as I am pleasing God. If the world considers me a wimp, goody-two-shoes, or, meaning it in an insulting manner, a Christian, I consider myself on the right path.

Allow God to control your remote.

Psalm 101:3a, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:" (KJV)

The Beauty Planner: Healthy Hair

I found these steps to healthier hair, and thought that maybe you might want to know.

1. Cut down on tea and coffee, instead drink water (between six and eight glasses a day), herbal teas and unsweetened fruit juice.

2. Believe it or not, regular exercise can help your hair. It will supply healthy blood cells to help nourish, regenerate and repair your hair.

3. Eating 2-3 pieces of fruit a day provides your hair with vital vitamins and minerals.

4. Avoid rubbing, pulling or stretching wet hair.

Did you know that some women have a spiritual connection to their hair? During times if grieving some women allow their hair to grow for a period of time. When they feel that they have passed that grieving stage they get their hair cut.

I once had very long hair and I wanted it cut very short. I was so sad after I cut it. Ever since then I have allowed it to grow very long. The Bible talks about a woman's hair being her crown of glory.

1 Corinthians 11:14, "But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. " (KJV)

Have you ever struggled with the idea of getting your hair cut?

'The Beauty Planner' will be a weekly tip article discussing various topics of beauty. If you have a tip you'd like to see featured, send in your Beauty Submissions to our Editor.

Someone Is Watching Me

There was a time when I thought someone was watching me. It made me feel uncomfortable to think that someone is staring at me, watching my every move. What will the girls think of me if I make a wrong facial expression? What if they think I’m giving them ‘dirty looks’? Growing up in a public high school in Los Angeles was scary at times.

Fast forward to today and I’m in church, still feeling like all eyes are on me and I wonder if I am accepted? I didn’t grow up in a Christian home and I often have felt out of the loop with the other Christian girls. What will they think of me? Will they accept me? I didn’t want them knowing the past that I had once lived.

I wonder if that’s how the woman at the well felt. As I read through that passage of scripture I learn that she must have felt that way. When Jesus asked her for some water she said,

“...How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” in John chapter 4:9 (KJV)

She had an idea set in her mind that she would not be accepted because of where she was from. Although Jesus knew all about her, and even told her so in verses 17 and 18, he still accepted her. He offered her living water, even though he knew how she was living in her life.

Although I know how God feels about me those questions still come up in my mind. Do the other ladies accept me? What do the girls talk about when I’m not around? Why is it that certain friends never invite me over? Is there something wrong with me or my family? Maybe if I get my hair cut differently, wear different clothes, or buy them gifts, maybe then they would accept me.

Keeping up a reputation like that can become hard work, but why do we worry about what others think of our lives? In one instance I do want to be accepted by others, yet I don’t want to have an attitude of, “Well they better get used to who I am.”

We all have areas of our lives that need improvement, but it’s what God thinks that is the most important. If we live to please the Lord in all we say and do, then what others think isn’t the most important factor I our lives.

1 Samuel 16:7b, “…for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (KJV)

“When I keep my eyes on Jesus, right living happens.” ~ C.D. Baker

Have you ever had a time when you didn’t feel accepted? How does this make you feel?


Don't forget to send in your submission for Pet of the Month.

He's So Great

The other day we found ourselves in a dilemma when the toilet was overflowing and water was spilling all over the floor. At a time like this, it seems so overwhelming and yet we panic and aren't able to think clearly on what to do. Then in walks my husband and leans down behind the tank and shuts off the water. Then everything calmed down and I felt kinda dumb, because I *knew* that was the answer. Yet, in the midst of my panic attack I couldn't think right.

Have you ever had a time when something seemed so huge that you panicked? Sometimes when we're right in the middle of a moment like that we're not sure what to do and the problems gets worse by the minute. We were thankful that my husband was there to help us with this 'overflowing' obstacle. There are times when problems will come up in our lives that seem too big for us to handle, but God is bigger than anything that comes our way.

We will always have times when problems arise, but God is greater than anything that the enemy may try to send in our direction. Has there been a time when God helped you through a tough time?

1 John 4:4, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (KJV)

Gracious Reviews "Strawberry Shortcake"

Strawberry Shortcake is a fun cute character that many moms remember from the 80's and we fondly recall the sweet fragrance from the doll collection. We want to share a few thoughts from our resident tween author Olivia and a sweet reader named Gina.

"If you are a girl between the ages of three and eight, then chances are you have seen Strawberry Shortcake. This cartoon is a great show for this age group.

Of course, the main character is Strawberry Shortcake. She and her playmates are very kid-friendly. My personal favorite is Angel Cake.

What also makes this cartoon so sweet is all of the cute colors, the happy music, and story lines. Even an older girl can still appreciate this sweet and innocent show. If you haven’t seen it, you should check it out!" ~Olivia

Olivia says that she enjoys Strawberry Shortcake's website of fun filled adventures with coloring pages, games, and more!

A GGM reader named Gina says, "In this book, 'The Berry Big Storm', we read about a ginormous spring rainstorm that hits Strawberryland, and Huckleberry Pie's fort is flooded! They have a big disaster to clean up, but Strawberry Shortcake and her friends learn that the hardest jobs are easier to accomplish when everyone works together. They learn to work as a team and Huckleberry's fort gets fixed up and ends up even better than before!"

Growing in Grace found some additional information, at Strawberry Shortcake Central, that might prove fun for mothers and daughters to enjoy together. If you've saved any of your Strawberry Shortcake memorabilia from the 80's, you might find the worth of that collection at this site.

"I always enjoyed the dolls when I was a little girl and although I adore the vintage Strawberry Shortcake, I'm happy to see our fun little character redesigned for our own little girls. Such a fun way to connect with our daughters!" ~Sisterlisa

Growing in Grace Magazine is pleased to see an animated series and book collection that portrays the kind of Christ-like character shown in the lives of these sweet little people. Kindness and common courtesy is becoming endangered and it's important that we do all we can to preserve the qualities that God intends for us to have.

'The Berry Big Storm' is being given away this month to one special girl living in the United States. Please follow these guidelines:

1. Post about this giveaway (linked to this post) on your blog, or your mom can do this on her blog.

2. Bring your URL back here for us to see and you'll be entered to win!

3. Deadline for entering will be Feb 13th, 2008 and the winner will be announced on February 14th!

4. Be sure to leave us a link where your mom can be contacted in the event that you win.

5. Get your parent's permission.

Each month GGM is willing to review a product or service for company's that exhibit moral excellence in their businesses. If you would like our team to review your family oriented product or service, please contact our administrator.

Think On These Things

The first to post with the correct answers to all three questions gets an award for their site. Be sure to leave a link where the code can be delivered to you. Answers must have scripture location. All answers based on KJV.


Where do we find in the Bible that two sisters prepared for guests?

What portion of scripture tells about a woman who lied on behalf of her husband?

Which sibling watched over another for their safety in a waterway?