One of the greatest ways to make God's fame known is to praise Him when the bottom drops out of your life. Our message is loudest when our lives hurt the most.

-Louie Giglio

I've had a rough time recently. Those of you who know me are probably very aware of some of the things I've been going through in the past few months. It's draining feeling like you're constantly living in a crisis. On top of that, it's hard to keep living life day to day and going on with your responsibilities when you just want to sit down and let things crash around you. There have been many days it's been a struggle to pull myself out of bed and get on with my day. Oh, believe me I've had my moments of breakdowns -- in fact I seem to have one weekly -- but I feel that for the most part I've been able to keep myself strong.

Last week I stood in a small room with my mom, sister, and brother-in-law looking at a monitor showing my dad's heart. The doctor was explaining what we saw and as I watched a video of my father's heart beating and I saw the seriousness of his illness, I still felt calm. Once again things were crashing down and I watched my mom break down sobbing and my sister go to comfort her. Sure I cried as well because it was an emotional and serious moment, but I still felt peace. I wondered why. I began to worry that maybe I had become numb because of all the crises in my life recently, but that wasn't it because I was sad and concerned. What I've realized is that the many events have taught me even more that God is in control of our lives. His Will will be done and I trust in that. I've seen His Hand on my life recently and I know I'll continue to see it. So when my dad asked me, "What do you think about all this, Sarah?" I responded "You're going to be ok." I believe that. I've seen God's hand on my dad too much to doubt that. I've seen His perfect timing in an incredible way. Even though it's tough right now, I have faith that God is able to do above and beyond what we can even imagine.

--Sarah

Captivating

We had our family fall festival this weekend, and I helped out with face painting. There were so many adorable little kids, but one girl and her mother really caught my attention. The little girl's mother kept telling her how beautiful she was, how pretty she was, how she was her beautiful little girl. Every time the mother said those words, the girl's face would light up, and she would smile shyly. It made me think of something I had read in a book a while back.....

"Little girls want to know, "Am I lovely?" The twirling skirts, the dress up, the longing to be pretty and to be seen-that is what it's all about. We are seeking an answer to our Question. When I was a girl of maybe five years old, I remember standing on the coffee table in my grandparents' living room and singing my heart out. I wanted to capture attention-especially my father's attention. I wanted to be captivating. We all did. But for most of us, the answer to our Question when we were young was "No, there is nothing captivating about you." Get off the coffee table. Nearly all a woman does in her adult life is fueled by her longing to be delighted in, her longing to be beautiful, to be irreplaceable, to have her Question answered, "Yes!"
Why does the Question linger so? Why haven't we been able to find rest in a wonderful, personal answer for our own hearts?"

Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul
John & Stasi Eldredge

We all had different experiences growing up, whether they were more like the little girl at the Fall Festival, or more like the author from Captivating. But I guarantee you that every one of us is still asking "the Question" daily in some way. I know I do. Maybe the Question lingers because we don't find ourselves worthy of the love of our Creator. No matter what your parents, your friends, what anyone else has said to you, what thoughts they have put into your head...YOU are lovely, YOU are worthy, YOU are captivating. If you could clearly see yourself the way God sees you, there would be no doubt.

"All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you." - Song of Songs 4:7

~Britt~

Captive

I've always read the verse "take every thought captive" and that's as far as I've gone with it. I would try to capture the thought and then I was left with it not knowing what to do. So because of that I would take it and just replay it, which I knew was definitely not the right thing to do. It wasn't until recently that I really took time to meditate on the rest of it: "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5) That means that whatever is opposed to the truth of God must be captured and made obedient to Him. What does that mean and how do you do that? I think it comes with realizing the truths that God says about you and when a thought comes learning to replace your negative thoughts with those truths. I'm definitely not saying this is an easy thing to do. I think it comes down to a daily decision. Learn to ask yourself "Who gave me that thought?" and "Is there truth in it?" Allow God to speak His truth to you and begin speaking it to yourself.

-- Sarah

And I think to myself....

I've been thinking a lot about thinking recently. Seems absurd and somewhat redundant, but it really is an important thing. I've always seemed to struggle with self-defeating and negative thoughts. For years I thought I was the only one but I'm starting to realize it's a way the enemy attacks a lot with girls.

I came across this quote when I was reading a few weeks ago and it really put things in perspective for me:

Some psychologists and neuroscientists have concluded that everybody maintains a continuous, ongoing silent dialogue, or stream of self talk, of between 150 and 300 words a minute. These are grouped into 45,000 to 51,000 thoughts each day. Most of those thoughts are neutral and harmless, such as Where did I put my keys? or I need to go to the cleaners today.

But another small yet powerful percentage of such self-directed speech packs quite a punch. The thoughts can be accurate or inaccurate, constructive or destructive, right or wrong, and they mattter a lot more than remembering to drop off your dry cleaning.

Self Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself
by Jennifer Rothschild

With all of those thoughts, what are you saying to yourself?

--Sarah

Welcome....part 2 :)

Hello girls! For those of you I haven’t gotten to know yet…my name is Brittany, I'm 24 and I work at the church as Aaron’s assistant. I graduated from U of A last year with a degree in Apparel Studies. When I moved back to Fort Smith, there was an opening at the church and I really felt like it was where God wanted me to be. I can’t tell you how blessed I have been by working with the youth here. As far as future plans...I plan to open a clothing store sometime next year, but right now I’m thinking about starting with an online store first.

I recently became engaged to Scott (who leads worship on Wednesdays and in Ignite). I really want to encourage you girls to trust in God’s timing. Don’t settle for anything less than you deserve or what God has planned for you. Scott was my first boyfriend (we started dating on the day of my 23rd birthday) and I can’t tell you how happy I am that I didn’t settle for less than what I have with him. Not to say that I didn’t make mistakes, or go on dates with guys I knew I would never marry…..but trying to take things into my own hands never worked out well!

I am so very excited to be on this blog with Sarah! We both have such a heart for teenage girls, because we were once there (and not too long ago).We want you to feel that you’re never alone with what you are going through, and share a few things we’ve learned along the way...

~Britt~

Welcome!

How exactly do I start this thing off? Introductions have always been so weird for me...that's why I don't usually do them. I don't like to introduce myself to others because I never know what all to say. I guess that's why I've been plagued by being known as the "shy one." Maybe it's just more that I'm socially awkward.

I'm Sarah. I'm 24 years old and currently in school to get my Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and Individual Counseling. God called me to counseling about four years ago and it's amazing to know I'm walking in His calling. I work at the church, along with Brittany, and I've been there for a little over 2 years. I do all the video work and graphic design for the church. I guess you could say I'm the mastermind behind The Church Office episodes and I design the bulletins you get every week at church.

I'm single and really trying to learn to be content in that. Guard your hearts, girls. I promise it's well worth it. I've made a few mistakes recently in the relationship aspect of my life, but God is molding my heart back together -- because He's good like that.

I have a heart for teens, especially girls. I see so much of myself in so many of you. It's a hard time in your life....and I hope that this blog can help you learn something from two girls who just recently made it through.

--Sarah