the GGs

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.

~Proverbs 3:5-6 (the Message) 

Sometimes it is our children who push us to do big things for God.

 

Last fall, my then 11 year old daughter, begged me to start a small group for girls her age. To be honest, she had been begging me for two years & finally I just ran out of excuses. So I chatted with my daughter-in-law--who is a girls’ small group extraordinaire--about material, sent out invites, prepared a format, researched games with a purpose, bought lots of pink things, secured a place big enough to meet for the fifteen girls we had invited, asked a couple of my girlfriends to help lead a small group within the small group & embarked on the year-long God Girl journey of my life. 

 

Last night, was the final time we would meet before we break for summer & before the sixth grade girls move on to middle school & youth group. 

We gathered outside with the girls & their moms to toast marshmallows, play our favorite game, & share what we had learned together… 

As the girls settled in to our last talk time, I thought back to the things I had so longed for them to understand about being a God Girl in the beginning… that a God Girl knows the true meaning of love… that even when times are tough that she knows real happiness… that she knows how to communicate… that she really knows herself & how precious she is to God &… that she knows God in such a deep way that she trusts Him with her life completely.  

 

Slowly, they began to share in simple words what they had learned…  

How to be myself. 

That I am beautiful.

That I don’t have to look or be what the world tells me I should.

How to be a good friend. 

What a ‘real’ friend is.  

How to trust each other. 

How much Jesus loves me. 

How Jesus wants the best for me.

That I can’t do anything to earn Jesus love. 

Jesus love & forgiveness is a free gift. 

Mind blown, I stood transfixed. With no words to describe the fullness I was feeling in my heart.

They got it. Every last bit.

I have to admit, I stumbled over my closing remarks & really… now that I have words to put to my emotions, these fabulous girls have given me far more than I  have given them. 

Truth be told, I had entered the fall feeling worn out & a little lost in ministry. My spicy, Jesus lovin’, people lovin’ daughter & her merry little band of tween girls gave me something cheerful to look forward to. Without doubt, they were a bright spot in my ministry year. I couldn’t help feel renewed by their energy & to be encouraged by their wisdom. Their joy was infectious & their honesty refreshing. Their selfless love & compassion for each-other often moved me to tears & the grace they extended to me week after week has been truly humbling. 

In those last moments, I was struck by how much I will miss seeing each one of their precious faces as we all move on to a new season of life. As I looked around the circle again, I prayed that as they continue to grow into young women, what they experienced in God Girls will follow them… that they will always know how valuable they are, how uniquely beautiful God has made them & that they will embrace the good God has planned for them. 

Go & do great things for God GG’s… Go & do great things! 

"God Girl"

Oh oh oh oh yeah
If my eyes light up with I say your name
And it's written all over my face
Tell me does it make me crazy
Well, maybe I got somethin' that I can't explain
And the beauty of it never changes
It's got me wrapped up
I'm all caught up
I can't help but say

I'm a God girl that's who I'll be
From the top of my head to the soles of my feet
No I can't deny it, wouldn't even try
I'm your girl in a crazy world
I'm a God girl that's who I'll be
From the top of my head to the soles of my feet
I can't deny it, wouldn't even try
I'm your girl for the whole wide world to see
(See, See, See)

And when my ears start hearin' what people say
Hurry up find love cause times tickin' away
Well, I'm not bein' lazy I'm just waiting for
Still waiting for the right boy
Cause I only want to listen to your voice
So I'll be listenin'
Always listenin' to you everyday

Cause I'm a God girl that's who I'll be
From the top of my head to the soles of my feet
No I can't deny it, wouldn't even try
I'm your girl in a crazy world
I'm a God girl that's who I'll be
From the top of my head to the soles of my feet
I can't deny it, wouldn't even try
I'm your girl for the whole wide world to see

Your name in lights
My biggest dream
My all in all
You're all I need
Hand in hand with the master of all creativity
And I won't stop until I know
All my facebook friends and foes
Look at me and only see one thing

I'm a God girl that's who I'll be
From the top of my head to the soles of my feet
I can't deny it, wouldn't even try
I'm your girl in a crazy world
God girl that's who I'll be
From the top of my head to the soles of my feet
No I can't deny it, wouldn't even try
I'm yours

Oh I'm a love girl and I'll always be
From the top of my head to the soles of my feet
I can't deny it, wouldn't even try
I'm your girl for the whole wide world to see

(Your name in lights)
(Can't change it)
(Can't fake it)
(Can't break it)

(You can't change, can't fake, can't break)
(I'm your girl)

Oh oh oh oh yeah
For the whole wide world,
The whole wide world to see

-Jamie Grace, God Girl