July 2008 PDF *FINALLY*

We certainly do appreciate your patience as we worked on our July PDF version of our magazine. We are humbly apologizing for the delay of making this available to you. Our family recently took over a rather large ministry and our schedule has been swamped with appointments.

Thank you Lady Jess for helping us to get this July Issue up for our readers.

No Longer Available *Available for a limited time Only*

July 2008

Special Announcements:

The winners of our giveaways last month are as following. If you're a winner or the mother of a winner please send us your mailing address to me so we can get your prizes shipped out to you!

My Culottes Giveaway winner is.... Abi @ Lighter Side.

Congratulations! You won a your choice of a pair of culottes or a skirtlot from:

Apron & Bonnet Pattern Giveaway winner is... Tanya @ Laborers Together For Christ

Congratulations you won a Apron/Bonnet Sewing pattern from:

You will love our easy home sewing pattern for a darling half apron with handy pockets that turns into a sunbonnet with the slip of 3 buttons. It comes in 3 sizes: Small--suitable for a child aged 3-8; Medium--to fit an older child or small adult; and Large--for a medium to large adult.

Life Of Faith Series Giveway winner is... Snow Crystal!
She won a copy of the Life of Faith Girls book series: Laylie’s Daring Quest. Congratulations!

Thank you to those who entered our June giveaways! We always appreciate your support of GGM and hope you will continue to do so in the future! If you're a business who'd link to partner with GGM and donate something for a giveaway, please contact me at ggmads@gmail.com!

Featured Articles:

GGM Interview: Lady Jess, A Girl Growing in Grace

Fun Articles:



July is a Great Month! by Sister Angie

Benefits of Chocolate by Mrs. Brown

Columns:

Fact of the Matter: 'It's a Matter of Integrity' Sisterlisa

Portfolio de Couturier: "The First American Flag" by Miss Brielle and Miss Jocelyn


The Faith Factor: 'A Saved Patriot' Sisterlisa

Graphics by designer G's
Some photos from iStockphoto
and sxc.hu Stock Exchange

Editor-in-Chief: Sisterlisa


Special thanks to:
CS Flowers
Faith Sisters
Life of Faith Girls

A Saved Patriot

A gentleman in our church sings a beautiful song in honor of our country and our Savior every year which I love! I can't share the lyrics due to copyright constraints, but it tells the story of Old Glory from a Christian perspective. Many churches have a Christian flag and the colors are the same; red, white, and blue.

The main meaning behind these colors, in a Christian's life, are these;

Red is for the blood of Jesus, who willingly offered to pay our sin debt.
Romans 5:8, " But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Just as our soldiers willingly offer themselves to go into battle for our freedom, Christ went to battle for our freedom from sin.

White is for our forgiveness, as he washed away our sins.
Isaiah 1:18, " Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Ephesians 1:7, " In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

Romans 5:8, " But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. "

Our soldiers go into battle, already knowing that not everyone in America is thankful for our freedom. People still commit crimes and are sent to prison everyday, but our soldiers stills fight for our freedom. Christ already knew we were sinners, and he still offered to pay our sin debt.

Blue is for royalty as we can become a child of God, born into his family.

John 1:12, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"

The people of our nation, although from different nationalities, still come together under one flag and are proud to be an American. The people of this land are Americans, and we are truly a family in this nation. When a person confesses that they are lost without Jesus and choose him to be their Savior they become a part of the family of God. We are all under one banner, his banner over us is love!

Remember that old Sunday School song?

He brought me to His banqueting table,
His banner over me is love
He brought me to His banqueting table,
His banner over me is love
He brought me to His banqueting table,
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love.

He lifted me up into heavenly places,
His banner over me is love
He lifted me up into heavenly places,
His banner over me is love
He lifted me up into heavenly places,
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love.

Jesus is the Rock of my salvation,
His banner over me is love
Jesus is the Rock of my salvation,
His banner over me is love
Jesus is the Rock of my salvation,
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love.

If you have never prayed and trusted in Jesus to be your Savior, you may do so today.

1. Confess that you're not perfect. The Bible calls that sin.
Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

2. Realize that your sin has a payment.
Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ is Lord."

3. Understand that Jesus willingly died for you , even though He already knew you are a sinner.
Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth is love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

4. Here's the best part! Just call upon him!
Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Simply express that to the Lord as you pray,
"Dear God, I know that I'm not perfect and you call that sin. I understand that sin must be paid for with death, but I don't want to pay for my own sin. I willingly receive Jesus' death on the cross as the payment for my sin. Please forgive me and thank you Jesus for dieing for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

If you just now received Jesus as your Savior, please let us know by replying below. Just as we raise our flag this Fourth of July and are proud that we have our banner of freedom, we can also know that His banner over us is love!

July Covergirl: Lady Jess, A Girl Growing in Grace

I'm pleased to present this month's GGM Covergirl, Lady Jess. I've only know Lady Jess for about 6months, but I've come to know her as a very sweet, caring, thoughtful person. She is also a big part of GGM as every month she designs our PDF layout. I know God is going to bless her abundantly for all her efforts and talents. I'm excited to see what He will do in her life!

The Bertolini Family...Monica, Gina, Sisterlisa, Mr. B, Timmy, and Jess

GGM: I know you are still young, but what has your childhood been like? I mean, where have you lived, and what are some memories you cherish?

Lady Jess: The only place ever remember living at, besides where I live now, is in a pretty small apartment. As for the memories: birthday parties, church activities, my friends, my salvation, which is a special one, and other decisions I have made.

GGM: What is your relationship with your sisters and your brother like? You and Monica are pretty close in age.

Siblings... Gina, Monica, Timmy, and Jess

Lady Jess: Pretty good. I babysit a lot, and homeschooling has helped me get to know them better.

GGM: Are you happy with being homeschooled?

Lady Jess: Yes. I would never go back to school if given the choice. And, if I were forced to go back, I would probably put up a pretty good fight, and if that didn't work, then I would outshine every kid there.

GGM: What are your favourite hobbies? And why do you like them?

Lady Jess: Reading, because it's fun, and it expands my vocabulary. Talking to my friends, and singing, even though I don't like to sing in front of people. I still enjoy it a lot.

GGM: Do you have a favourite memory?

Lady Jess: No. I can't possibly pick one to be a favorite because I have so many.

GGM: I know you like to design things. What got you started on that? Where do some of your ideas come from?

Lady Jess: (I think you are talking about Monica, she is the designer) I recently was given the opportunity to design the PDF of GGM and enjoy that type of designing.

GGM: You help your mom translate for the hearing-impaired. When did you start learning sign-language and what affect has it had on your life?

Lady Jess: I started learning it from my mom at age four, and it is neat to learn a 'second language', if you will. I find it neat that my best friend has started to learn it from my mom and me, and she is always asking me questions about it.

GGM: If you could change one thing about your lifestyle, what would it be?

Lady Jess: That I lived on a farm and had more brothers and sisters.

GGM: How did you become a Christian? Have you ever felt God calling you to do something?

Lady Jess: I first got saved when I was five, and I hardly remember it, so then I made assurance of it when I was ten. I've never felt God calling me to anything, but I continue to pray that God will reveal what he has planned for my life. My heart changed last year after our parents brought us home. I had a time when I thought I'd never want a large family, and I couldn't stand the thought of camping and getting dirty. But now I want a large family, to be a godly wife, and I desire to homeschool my children and live on a farm.

GGM: What are some of your favourite Bible passages?

Lady Jess: Proverbs 31, because it says how ladies should act, and also Proverbs 7 because it warns us how not to act. I also like Genesis 1 and the book of Revelations.

GGM: What have you read in your Bible lately that has really spoken to you?

Lady Jess: I recently read, in Daniel 1-2, that Daniel stood up to King Nebuchadnezzar and trusted in God to protect him as did his friend, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They also stood up to the King and trusted that God would save them from the fiery furnace. That told me that I need to stick up for God more and for the Bible, for example: If I go out soul winning and someone starts bashing the Bible or thinks that they can take verses out of context, I should be able to stand up for myself and tell them that they are wrong and the right verse is what it is.

Thank you Lady Jess for taking the time to answer our questions and thank you for all the hard work you do around here to help make GGM what it is. We are blessed by you, and so is everyone you meet and greet!

It's a Matter of Integrity

With America celebrating her 232nd birthday I can't help but to sit and think of our founding fathers. What would they say if they were here today? They were men of integrity and prayed for God to guide them as they prepared our Declaration of Independence and The Constitution. As we look to our future for our next generation, what are we passing down to them?

From what I can see, this generation is passing down a 'free thinkers' philosophy that excludes God from being a part of our thoughts and intentions. The next generation is being fed with the idea that they should do what 'feels' good, and following the stars, as they seek to dress and act like today's celebrities. When we hear about Brittany Spears losing custody of her children and having struggles with drugs and alcohol, is this really the direction we want the next generation to go? Each time a young celebrity becomes the next teen celebrity, I cringe at the thought of what will become of them.

It seems to me that the world no longer wants integrity.

By Definition:
Integrity- adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

Moral- of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical:

Ethical- pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right and wrong in conduct.

Right- 1. in accordance with what is good, proper, or just: right conduct.

2.	in conformity with fact, reason, truth, or some standard or principle; correct: the right solution; the right answer.

3.	correct in judgment, opinion, or action.

Do our country's leaders and possible future leaders portray these principles of integrity? So just where does integrity come from originally?

Job 31:6," Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity."

Psalm 25:21, "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee."

Proverbs 19:1, "Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool."

We know that our country's leaders aren't perfect, because God has said in Romans 3:10, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" Yet, we should expect them to live with integrity. A person with integrity that makes a mistake will offer an humble apology and seek forgiveness. As a young lady, it is very important that you learn from your parents how to vote. Keep updated on what's going on in the political realm and seek wisdom from your parents in matters of government. The people who are the mayors and governors of today, could very well be the next president and congressmen of the future. If the Lord tarries His coming, you may be the next generation of voters and it's important that we know who, in our government, is walking in integrity.

Who will be the next mayor of your city? Do you know who plans to run for the next election where you live? Is there a man your family knows that truly walks in integrity that is interested in the city politics? Can he be convinced to run for mayor?

I've never been one to be at the political debates and city meetings, but with the direction our country is going, I feel that we should be teaching young people how to make wise decision in regards to their future leaders. The parents of generations past should have been passing this important part of our education down to us.

You can become involved in your city's future even if you're not approaching voting age. Here are a few things you can do now:

1- Pray. Begin to pray now for the future leaders of our country. Pray that God raises up the men that He wants us to have, and not what our country deserves to have.
2- Write a letter to your local newspaper's editor about how you feel about the integrity of our leaders. Include what you expect in the city's leadership, what disappoints you, and what you hope to see in the future.
3- Avoid tabloid stories about politicians. Be sure that what you know is fact.
4- Seek your parents wisdom in regards to these tips and ask for guidance when writing letters and calling politicians.
5- Write to your mayor and governor and let them know how you feel. Many politicians have their e-mail addresses listed right on their websites.

Our leaders are to uphold the law and to listen to the people of their cities, states, and country. How else will they know how we feel if we don't contact them and let them know? I'm not suggesting that you join picket lines, chain yourself to a tree, or pin up a 10 foot banner in front of your home, but you can do your part by letting your voice be heard, then leave the rest to God.

As children we were taught to pledge allegiance to the flag, pray for our leaders, support our troops, and love this country as the land of the free and the home of the brave. We learned patriotic songs, to wear the country's colors proudly, and to celebrate our nation's birthday every 4th of July. As we pass on our patriotism to the next generation, let's hand them something to be proud of. Let's be sure that integrity doesn't get lost in the sea of free thinkers. Young ladies, you will be raising the next generation. Please continue to pass the torch of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It's a matter of integrity!

Portfolio de Couturier: The First American Flag

Portfolio de Couturier: The First American Flag…

I have always enjoyed the story of Betsy Ross and the honor bestowed upon her to sew the first American Flag. She was a loyal Patriot to her country and I can imagine her surprise when General George Washington, along with Governor Morris asked her to make the first of our beautiful flags.

... Sewing the American Flag…

What kinds of fabrics would Betsy have used?

It is said that Betsy Ross was an upholsterer. Now an upholsterer specialized in covering chairs and other furniture of the times with heavy and durable fabrics. Therefore the fabrics Betsy could have most likely used would have been linens and heavy silks. Everything would have been hand sewn and assembled with the utmost care to get the design correct.

Imagine if you will her excitement in making the flag, and perhaps her nervousness when she had to present it to the founders of our country.

Upon seeing the flag that Betsy created; she was asked to make the rest of the flags for the American naval fleet. After this, The Congress then commissioned her to make all of our government’s flags.

Did you know that Betsy was able to cut a five pointed start with one snip of the scissors?

As the story goes, at first General Washington originally drew the stars on our flag with 6 points; instead of five because he assumed they would be easier to cut. However, Betsy soon demonstrated that a five pointed start could be cut easily with a single snip, thus the 5 pointed stars still remain on our beloved flag.

Betsy’s Battle flag

by Minna Irving

*****
From dusk till dawn the livelong night

She kept the tallow dips alight,

And fast her nimble fingers flew
To sew the stars upon the blue.
With weary eyes and aching head

She stitched the stripes of white and red,
And when the day came up the stair
Complete across a carven chair
Hung Betsy's battle-flag.
Like shadows in the evening gray
The Continentals filed away,
With broken boots and ragged coats,
But hoarse defiance in their throats;
They bore the marks of want and cold,
And some were lame and some were old,
And some with wounds untended bled,
But floating bravely overhead
Was Betsy's battle-flag.

When fell the battle's leaden rain,
The soldier hushed his moans of pain
And raised his dying head to see

King George's troopers turn and flee.

Their charging column reeled and broke,

And vanished in the rolling smoke,

Before the glory of the stars,

the snowy stripes, and scarlet bars

Of Betsy's battle-flag.

The simple stone of Betsy Ross

Is covered now with mould and moss,

But still her deathless banner flies,

And keeps the color of the skies.

A nation thrills, a nation bleeds,

A nation follows where it leads,

And every man is proud to yield

His life upon a crimson field

For Betsy's battle-flag!

Did you know that July 25th is Threading the Needle Day?

On July 4th, 1776 the founders of our country signed the Deceleration of Independence that declared our country a free nation under God. Many man and women have given their lives and dedication to keep our country free.Remember to pray for our soldiers who are serving in Iraq and all over the world.

Sincerely,
Miss Brielle

Portfolio de La Vie: Betsy Ross

Betsy Ross is one of the most-well known ladies in history, but not too much is known about her except that she was the first to sew an American flag with the stars and stripes.


On January 1st, 1752 Elizabeth (Betsy) Griscom was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the 8th child out of 17, and was brought up in a household with strict discipline rules of Society. Being in such a large family plain, sensible dresses were a given, and Betsy was good at making her clothes having learned how to sew from her great-aunt Sarah.

Betsy attended a Quaker school, and after she finish her father apprenticed her to an upholsterer named William Webster. While working for the upholsterer, Betsy fell in love with a young man and fellow worker John Ross, who was the son of an assistant rector at a Episcopal Church of Christ.

Because Betsy and John were of different denominations, Betsy was voted out of Quaker meetings and the couple had to elope. They did so in 1773 when Betsy was only 21, marrying at Hugg's Tavern in New Jersey.

Because of the marriage Betsy was forced to split from her family and the Quaker congregation. The young couple decided to join the Christ Church and start their own upholstery business to make a way in life.

When the American Revolutionary War broke out it affected the Rosses and they were financially weakened because the fabrics they depended on became scare and there was no business. John decided to join the Pennsylvania Militia and was then seriously injured by an ammo explosion just before the war was about to end in mid-January of 1776. He soon died afterward and was buried in Christ Church cemetery. Betsy continued on with the upholstery business by herself.

Only supported by 18th century affidavits and family oral history shows accounts of the widowed Betsy Ross meeting with George Washington, George Ross, and Robert Morris at her small upholstery business where it's said to have been the birth of the first American flag, complete with stars and stripes. It's been said that these

men met there in silence because the men protested that these new [five-pointed] stars would be unfamiliar and difficult for seamstresses to make, she folded a piece of paper, made a single scissor snip, and revealed a perfect five-pointed star.

After John's death, Betsy joined a group called the "Fighting Quakers", who were quite nontraditional and support the war effort. In 1777, June, Betsy remarried to a sea-captain named Joesph Ashburn in Philadelphia.

During the war the Ashburn's house was occupied and used by British soldiers, of course, forcibly when they controlled the city in 1777. Betsy nursed both American and British soliders after the Battles of Germantown.

Several years later Betsy was notified by her husband's old friend, John Claypoole, that her husband was dead. Betsy then married Claypoole and the couple had five daughters together. However, an unfortunate event kept being repeated in Betsy's life as Claypoole died after 20 years of ill health. Widowing her once again. She kept working at her upholstery business, which included the making of United States until 1827. Betsy then retired and moved in with her married daughter, Susannah Satterwaite, who continued with her mother's business. Betsy died at the age of 84 in 1836, and her body is buried at the Free Quaker burial ground on South 5th Street. However, 20years later her remains were reburied in the Mount Moriah Cemetery in Cobbs Creek Park, a section of Philadelphia. In 1975 in preparation for the United States Bicentennial celebration the city ordered that Ross' remains be moved to the Betsy Ross House courtyard. The workers found no remains under her tombstone though, but bones were found in the family plot and were deemed to be her's. Her remains are now at the Betsy Ross House for tourists to see.