Today's blog comes from Ali Claxton. She has served on the LifeWay Student Events Team for six years and is currently an Event Coordinator and Recreation Specialist. She has been involved in student ministry for over 15 years and is passionate about seeing teenagers discover their identity in Christ. Ali is a free-lance writer, small group leader, girls ministry mentor and avid coffee drinker.

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For one of our FUGE team devotions, we tried a little experiment using empty coffee cups. We talked about how the circumstances of life can empty us of our passion, our patience, our determination and our joy if we choose to dwell on the very things that drain us. OR we can opt for gratitude and acknowledge the goodness of God and all the benefits that come as the result of a personal relationship with the Giver of Hope.

The experiment: with colorful strips of paper and crayons on the table in front of us, we were given the opportunity to fill our coffee cup with written reminders of God’s blessing. Imagine pink and green strips of paper with words like:

REDEMPTION
GRACE
PEACE
JOY
WORD OF GOD
PRESENCE OF GOD
TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF GOD’S FAVOR
GOD’S PROVISION
RELATIONSHIPS
FAMILY THAT MODELS FAITH
HEALTH
A SOUND MIND
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
A JOB I LOVE
LAUGHTER
TALENTS
ICED COFFEE FROM STARBUCKS (…don’t judge me)
A PLACE TO LIVE THAT FEELS LIKE HOME
STUDENTS I LOVE AND AM HONORED TO WALK ALONGSIDE
MY CHURCH

You get the picture. It didn’t take long for us to polish off all the little strips of paper and look up to find our cups just shy of overflowing. I carried my little object lesson to my desk and continued to fill it the rest of the day. As I walked out the door at the end of the day, I took one quick glance at the cup and smiled at the way God reminds us of His faithfulness.

I recommend this experiment for anyone in need of a little perspective…may your cup overflow.

Today's guest blog comes from Amy Pierson. Amy was girls' minister at Prestonwood Baptist Church for several years before God called her husband and her to work with international college students from unreached countries. And they are expecting their first child! To see stories and more of their daily journey check out: www.teampierson.com

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I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 1:4)
 

Last year, I loved walking with several 8th graders I could see God changing and growing weekly. One Sunday I asked if they wanted to go to the football game together. One said, “No way, that’s when we go to the Chinese church’s youth group.” Let me back up to say none of these girls are Chinese or speak Chinese. Then, they proceeded to tell me that two of them had been going every Friday to the Chinese church’s youth group to help them with Bible study. One was even teaching herself drums, so she could start a praise band!

My jaw dropped as they reminded me of something I shared: international missions can happen in your hometown, because many immigrants are only here for 2-3 years then return to their unreached countries. I was thrilled that they remembered and were listening. But, there was a much deeper joy, because I heard about how they were walking in truth and living it!

A few weeks ago, a former student tweeted he lead someone to Christ in a prison outreach my husband initiated. We heard via twitter- What joy! A former student I discipled in high school is now in college. She came to visit me for a few days in NYC and was telling me about all the girls she is discipling in college and in her local church. And, I watched her pour into one of my 7^th graders here. What joy!

I could tell many stories about students bringing me much joy from following and serving Christ without my prodding. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have any joy stories yet. There were many years of digging hard soil before I did. Pray, be hopeful, and call them to bigger things. Don’t grow weary in doing good, because there is a deeper joy when you hear about a way they are being obedient to something the Lord has shown them.

To see someone grow is a blessing! But, I agree with John…to hear they are walking in truth and making disciples… when they aren't with you... There really is no greater joy!

Today's blog comes from Brittney Mc Cook. Brittney has had the joy of serving the Lord in student ministry as a Bible teacher, small group leader, event planner, T-shirt folder, and coffee shop psychologist for over 6 years and wouldn’t change it for the world. She currently serves as one of the Bible Study Teacher for Pillars Girls Ministry at First Baptist Canton in Canton, Ga & is the Founder of Radiant Girl Ministries. Check out their blog at www.radiantgirlministries.blogspot.com.

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Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” Ps 86:11

The other day I met with a good friend of mine for some lunch and some good old’ fashioned girl talk. As we were sharing with each other all the exciting things God was doing in our lives, she informed me that she would be heading to Iran in April for 5 months to teach English. I knew it had taken her a long time to be okay with leaving everything here in the States to go where God was calling and leading her...so I was more excited than sad.

As blessed as we both were to have grown up in the same student ministry, and even had the same mentor when we were in our late teens/early twenties, no one ever told us what do you do between 16 and the wedding day.We both so deeply longed for a earthly romance, and thought surely by 25 it would have happened by now! We felt we were groomed to live for "that day" and that life only began when you met “the one.” No one every told us that marriage was a gift not a goal. For so many years we both struggled with this whole being single thing. It took us both a long time to learn the beauty of this season and gift of time that God has given us. 

I wish someone would have told me before I set my foot into high school and especially college to not chase a relationship but to instead to chase Jesus. Learn to love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind. Instead of wishing away this season embrace it as the gift it is; that until you have a good grasp on you're identity in Christ, fall head over heels in love with Jesus, and are satisfied in Christ alone...a relationship is the last thing you need to be worried about. 

It wasn't  until I was about 22 or 23 that my heart finally caught up with my head that there really was a reason for this season. God began to cultivate a desire in my heart to be a lady of dilegence and maximize all this spare time I had for His glory. I have time now that I may not have one day to serve, invest, teach, travel, and most importantly to spend with Jesus. By all means; dream, desire, but don’t wish this season away. There is a reason for it.

That's something we need to communicate to teen girls as well.

In case you're still undecided about coming to the LifeWay Girls' Conference, here are 10 reasons that should make you stop right now, click this link---GIRLS CONFERENCE---and register.

10. You get to see inside the corporate headquarters of LifeWay. Of course, we'll have to blindfold you, take away all recording devices, and then make you cross-your-heart, hope-to-die that you won't tell anyone about it.

9. You have the opportunity to experience downtown Nashville. You haven't seen your fill of cowboy hats, rattlesnake belts, and wanna-be country singers until you've strolled down Broadway at dinnertime on a Friday night. You can call it a "cultural encounter" if you choose to bring teen girls.

8. Chic-Fil-A. Enough said.

7. You might just meet your new best friend. The uniqueness of this conference is this: where else can you meet other women who are passionate about reaching this generation? Who else would understand the frustration when girls flake out on an event? Who else would get why you're tired of conversations about Jacob, Bella, and Edward? I have never experienced such fellowship and unity and energy in any other venue. You just have to experience it to understand what I'm talking about.

6. You get to drink from a fire hydrant. The breakout sessions that we've compiled will give you loads of information, tips, encouragement, and more questions. It'll feel like you've spent the day trying to drink from a fire hydrant. I learn more in that 24 hours than a month looking at articles online.

5. Erin Davis will make you laugh—a lot. She's one of those unique sorts of people who can use the English language to weave stories and truths together in a way that will leave you laughing one minute and convicted the next. She's a rare combination of humble, witty, compelling, and vulnerable. You don't want to miss what she has to say.

4 3/4. Amazing worship with Jaime Jamgochian...without worrying about your Bible study lesson. For me, my worship is often distracted by what I have up ahead--teaching and leading people. But for this one block of time, for these worship sets, you get to be you. Not the leader of girls. So let your worship be free and profound.

4 1/2. Hayley DiMarco is in the house! Haven't heard of her? I bet your girls know her...and have read her books. She's the author of a gazillion books for young adults. And the books are good. Really good. But her voice and her message are even better.

4. You get to meet a real Miss Black USA. Most beauty queens don't make me stop and listen. Most don't have a message that I want to hear. But Ocelia Gibson is different...because she's a passionate follower of Jesus and she cares about the lives of young black women. That's reason enough to punch your ticket and get aboard this train.

3. You get a sneak-peek, private premiere of OctoberBABY. Haven't heard about this movie yet? Check out their website. We'll be offering a late-night opportunity to watch the film after the main session on Friday night. Just bring your kleenexes. Trust me on that one. (And get ready...in April, we're launching a Bible study to go with it!)

2. You can choose to be still. While this weekend has more options than a McDonald's value menu, you have the chance to ignore all of it and be still. We'll have our prayer chapel open all weekend, so if you feel like getting away for a couple of hours, our house of prayer is your house of prayer.

1. God wants to minister to your soul. Let Him use this weekend to refresh you, to wash over you with His love and His grace, and to renew your spirit for this crazy, upside-down, make-you-want-to-pull-your-hair-out thing call girls' ministry.

I get it. The economy is tough. Your schedule already has no margin for breathing. Childcare is a nightmare. I'm with you in that boat. But having been a part of this conference since its birth, I can tell you emphatically that if you feel the desire begin to bubble within you, GO. God will provide the money. Your schedule can change. Your kids can spend time getting spoiled at Granny's house. Take time for yourself and your heart and your ministry. You won't be disappointed. And you might just buy yourself a set of cowboy boots.

Today's guest blog comes from Paul Turner, Student Ministry Specialist at LifeWay. Here's how he describes himself: " I am a dad twice over. My wife and I have somewhat successfully reared two daughters and are investing in a 16-year-old international student from China. It makes us absolutely experts on NOTHING! You can find me on the road encouraging parents, students and their leaders." You can check out his personal blog anytime.

When our daughters were much younger (they are 21 and almost 20 now), they had the habit of saying, “Dad” followed up a nanosecond later by one or two more “Dad!”. No way could anyone short of Evelyn Wood (you know, the speed reader? I am assuming she can hear and answer quickly too) could answer between the first “Dad” and the multitude of “Dads” to follow. It used to irritate the fire out of me. I had almost forgotten this until they both returned home from college last week. Safe to say, they have not lost the ability to repeatedly say my name, “Dad” before I could ever answer.

And then it dawned on me, I miss them saying my name, and I miss them. We really are blessed to have two daughters who love God and love others. My wife and I intentionally decided before we even knew that we would have kids, that we would pray for them daily, and do our best to help them love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength- Deut 6

They are not perfect and I know that full well because I know their parents and I, in particular, know their dad way too well. He is a knuckle head. Thank God that the girls take after their mother on most things.

Be intentional with your girls. Be thankful for them. Pray for them. Say each of your girl’s names in rapid fire so they know what it sounds like. Don’t get angry about it. Grab onto them, hold them close, tell them you love them and show them the love of God in how you treat your spouse, your family, and each one of them.

How am I supposed to get along with her?

Why don’t they include me?

Why are they mad at me?

I don’t like her. Wouldn’t it be fake if I was nice to her?

How many times have you heard these questions from girls? No matter their status—from the queen bee to the outcast on the edges—girls are desperately trying to understand how to interact with each other. As we invest in their lives, it’s vital for us as leaders to exemplify what it looks like to daily live out unity within the body of Christ.

In Ephesians, Paul wrote that every believer is united in Christ. Even if two people have nothing in common with each other, but both are followers of Christ, their purpose in life is the same. However, the enemy knows we will be less effective in proclaiming Christ if we’re divided, so he works hard to create division. Jesus told us in John 10:10 that the thief, Satan, comes only to steal, kill and destroy. He came to steal our hearts, kill our relationships, and destroy our unity. Fortunately, Christ has come to give us life in all those areas.

A.W. Tozer wrote in his book The Pursuit of God, “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.”  As believers, we need to be tuned to the same source of life, purpose and unity or everything we do will come off as pointless noise.

So how can you as a leader of girls develop unity?

 1. Be the example. If you are at odds with someone, including your husband, girls can spot it. They hear your conversations with others. They hear your conversation about others. If you're not setting the standard, girls have nothing to follow. 

2. Make your expectations clear. Every year (at least once a year!), focus your BIble study on respecting others. You cannot expect every girl in your group to be best of friends (even Paul and Barnabas parted ways), but you can expect and demand that girls treat each other with basic respect.  

3. Keep a tight reign on "trash talk". There should be no room in your ministry for slams, snide comments, smart remarks, or other cutting remarks. It's easy to "let it slide" so that you're not the bad guy. But when you say nothing, then you send the message that it's OK to treat other people that way. 

How do you work toward keeping unity among the girls in your group? Comment below!