Little Girls and Crowns of Beauty!

I want to start by saying thank you.

Thank you to the moms and daughters who attended.

Thank you to all our volunteers who prayed, served, gave in-kind donations and worked with our team on the retreat.

Thank you to our donors. We are SO GRATEFUL that you believe in what we’re doing. By God’s amazing grace and to His glory, you are sowing into good soil.

Our fourth annual Mother/Daughter Retreat was awesome! Every segment was meaty and power-packed. Plus we had lots of fun!

Image may contain: one or more people, people sitting, shoes and indoor — Girls Only Workshop – Honest questions asked. TRUTH shared in response!

Image may contain: 1 person, flower — MOMS ONLY Workshop.

If you’re familiar with the account of Jesus feeding the multitude with five loaves and two fish, I felt like He took our measly little bit, which didn’t seem to be enough, and blessed it by miraculously feeding the girls and moms! It seemed as though ‘eyes’ were opened. Such answer to prayer!

Image may contain: one or more people, people sitting, people eating, table, child and indoor — Is there anything more precious than girls taking notes when hearing the message?!

One of the messages dealt with negative thoughts. I asked the girls to answer on an index card anonymously, “What are the negative thoughts that circulate in your mind on a regular basis?”

I received answers like: “I’m not pretty enough.” “I’m not smart enough.” “I’m not skinny enough.” The answers were heartbreaking.

Image may contain: 3 people, people on stage and child — Reading their answers to the question.

I also battle toxic, negative thoughts – that if I’m not careful, I’ll start believing as truth. That’s why it’s so important for us to be in God’s Word on a regular basis, so that He can speak TRUTH into the madness of our thoughts.

In Matthew 13, the Bible compares God’s Word to a seed planted in peoples’ hearts. As part of the retreat, each girl and mom planted a zinnia flower. The girls (and their moms) were then challenged to nurture the fragile seed at home by watering and giving it plenty of sunshine in order for it to grow into all God designed.

You and I are much like that fragile flower. When we spend time with God, He plants His seed of Truth in our hearts. It’s our choice to nurture and water the truth-seed. We must guard against the seed being snatched away or becoming too distracted or busy to nurture.

When we spend regular time reading and applying God’s Word to our lives, those toxic, negative thoughts become less and less, quieter and quieter. God replaces bad thoughts with Truth, making us more confident and courageous. He also enables us to be more peaceful and joyful and less fearful and anxious. He holds together our broken hearts, comforts us when we mourn, and bestows on us crowns of beauty instead of ashes!