Girlz 4 Christ Summer 2016

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From the Editor

In This Issue

You’ve probably noticed that we all go different directions during the summer.

Some go to Bible camp, more get a job, a few attend summer school, and others go out of town. Because of this, there may be some people that you typically see every day that you won’t see for another three months, and at the same time you may meet new people and make new friends.

By the end of the summer, you’ll notice that different people have different interests, and summertime is a good chance to explore those interests and passions that may not be as available the rest of the year.

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In this fun-filled issue, you’ll notice all different sorts of interests being displayed. You’ll find a few things that you’re passionate about, like reading, poverty alleviation, social media, fashion and beauty, or travel. No matter what your interests are, let’s all band together for a common interest of upmost importance: to glorify God in all things!

From the Editor, Jessica Lippe Design: Lily Garay(cover) and Jessica Lippe (pages) Editors: Jessica Lippe and Lily Garay Writers: Monica Withers, Kristen Hogrefe, Adelee Russell, Kaylin Smith, Jessica Lippe, Emily Joy, Lily Garay, Sarah Fleet, Kimberly Rae All other contributors, photo credits, and sources are listed on the page in which they appear.

Stop the Chatter and Listen .......... 3 Does Church Matter? .....................4 It’s Okay to Get Help ..................... 7 My Soul Longs.............................. 10 Girlz in Action .................................. 11 Girls Around the World................. 11 Young & Beardless: His & Hers ... 16 Encourage All ............................... 18 Poverty, Inc. ................................. 19 Beautiful Girlz .................................20 Lauren Scruggs Kennedy ............20 Summer Shopping ....................... 22 Blank Canvas ................................ 24 DIY Flower Crown ........................26 Fun 4 Girlz ....................................... 30 Sadie Robertson’s Life Just Got Real ............................................... 27 Abnormal Results ........................29 That Awkward Moment ..............30 Behind the Scenes ....................... 32 Find more content at Girlz4ChristMagazine.org We’re on your favorite social media, too!

Although we try to ensure that mentioned sites and outside resources are accurate and appropriate, we cannot guarantee due to changes over time. Opinions/recommendations were not swayed by payment. Readers under 13 need to obtain parental permission before reading or visiting any online sites.

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By Monica Withers, author of Radical God Talk

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Does

Church

Matter?

Four Reasons We Need God’s House

Are you a recent graduate? Perhaps you’ll So let’s be intentional today. Does church begin your junior or senior year in the fall matter? God’s Word reveals that it does, and are working on college applications or because it plays several important roles in internship programs. With everything on our lives. your mind, you may not be thinking about #1: A Place to Gather church and whether And let us consider you’ll keep going when “Some Christians try to go how to stir up one you move away from to heaven alone, in solitude. another to love and home.

If that describes you, you’re not alone.

Studies show that most young adults who drop out of church never intended to stop going; they just weren’t intentional about it. As a result, 70% of teens between 17-19 years old leave the church – some to return later, some to return never.i

But believers are not compared to bears or lions or other animals that wander alone. Those who belong to Christ are sheep in this respect, that they love to get together. Sheep go in flocks, and so do God’s people.”

- Charles Spurgeon

good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

(Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

Face it. We need encouragement in our daily walk with the Lord, and we aren’t going to

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find it in a world that loves darkness more than light (John 3:19).

not intended to replace Bible teaching in God’s house.

The church provides a meeting place where we as believers can encourage and comfort one another (I Thess. 5:11). It’s a place where we can share our burdens and where correction and restoration can take place (Galatians 6:1-2).

Attending church also provides intentional worship. Yes, you can worship in your car, at a sunrise service or at a concert; but church provides regularity of worship.

Other places and methods can certainly complement it.

#3: A Place to Serve The size, shape or location of the church doesn’t matter. What matters is that church provides a place for like-minded believers to gather.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16 ESV)

#2: A Place to Grow and Worship Sitting under the preaching of God’s Word is critical to our spiritual success. We need to know what we believe and why we believe it so that we can always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks us about our eternal hope (I Peter 3:15). Our personal devotions and Bible studies are vital to our growth – and I certainly hope you set apart time each day to talk with God and read His Word – but this time is

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV)

If you’ve grown up in church, you probably know Ephesians 2:8-9 by heart, but verse 10 is equally important.

Although we are not saved by good works, God designed us to do them – to share the gospel with others and to shine for His glory.

Church isn’t the only place we can serve, but it certainly is a start. Opportunities abound and include: praise team, orchestra, choir, children’s church, youth

“Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.”

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“When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy.” - Corrie Ten Boom group, AWANA, VBS, ushering, greeting, etc. For many, church offers training opportunities for future ministry and outreach.

If you’re not already serving in God’s house, I challenge you to ask Him to show you a ministry where you can plug in and share His love with others.

#4: A Place to Remember Jesus told His followers to remember Him by observing the Lord’s Table, an ordinance churches practice to this day. In doing so, we remember His sacrifice on the cross and look forward to His return.

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19 ESV)

Whether your church observes communion once a week or once a month doesn’t matter. This practice provides reflection and self-examination (I Cor. 11:28) and private worship in a communal setting. It sets apart intentional time to make sure nothing is between our souls and our Savior. sEd Stetzer, “Dropouts and Disciples: How many students are really leaving the church?” Christianity Today, May 14, 2014, http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/may/dropouts-anddisciples-how-many-students-are-really-leaving.html.

Final Thoughts You can probably think of more reasons why church matters, and I hope you do!

But perhaps someone at church has burned you. Maybe taking a break seems like a good idea.

I’ll be the first to admit church has disappointed me at times, but more often, I’ve been fed God’s Word, challenged in my spiritual walk and blessed by going (and giving back).

The bottom line is that no church is perfect, but God never designed for us to walk this life alone. Being part of a local body of believers keeps us connected and accountable.

The choice to attend church is yours and not one to be taken lightly. I hope you won’t walk away like so many have but stay faithful to the Lord and His house.

Kristen Hogrefe is the award-winning author of the young adult suspense trilogy Wings of the Dawn. Her blog thinktruethoughts.com is designed to encourage others to think truthfully and to live daringly. She enjoys meeting new friends at facebook. com/kristenhogrefe.author.

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The Day I Walked into a Counselor’s Office I was terrified walking through the door of the counselor’s office. I had no clue what to expect. I felt scared and vulnerable and exposed. My stomach was sick, my hands were sweaty, and the back of my neck felt warm.

What do I say? What will they do if I tell them the thoughts that sometimes get inside my head? What will happen to me if I tell them the truth? Visions of muscled guards carting me off to an insane asylum flashed through my mind. I knew it was far-fetched, but I was so scared my sense of reality became skewed and I was afraid my life would never be the same.

What will my friends say? Will they think I’m crazy? Only crazy people go to counselors, right? My anxiety sank from my heart to my gut as I imagined the way others would treat me if they knew I was getting “help.” Would my friends ever talk to me the same way again? Would I be ostracized or treated like a stranger?

The counselor welcomed me with a warm smile as we sat down in chairs opposite each other. Once we were seated she looked at me and asked “What can I do for you?”

I sat there, silent. I had no clue what to say. It was as if all logical thought had fled my mind. I couldn’t remember any of the lines I’d practiced and for a few moments I was worried we would have to spend the next hour in awkward silence.

Thankfully the counselor had anticipated such an encounter. She began asking gentle questions to guide the conversation and get to the heart of what was bothering me. Within moments the words came tumbling out. All the dark thoughts that had been haunting my brain fell out of my mouth.

After getting a large chunk of my story out into the open I braced myself for the two words I’d prepared myself to hear: “You’re insane.”

But the counselor’s response was nothing of the sort. In fact, the first thing she did was tell me “You’re not crazy.” From there she explained that the thoughts and feelings I was experiencing were actually normal for someone who had gone through the life experiences that I had.

Furthermore, she explained that a lot of my feelings were common to the human race in general. As she peeled back the layers of emotions and thoughts, she helped open my eyes to the spiritual battle going on inside of me. After that she armed me with God’s truth so that I could stand strong against the enemy.

Maybe you’re in a dark place right now. Maybe you’re torn up inside because part of you wants to ask for help, but the other part is terrified. I know how you feel; in fact, I’ll bet the majority of your peers have felt the same way at some point in their lives.

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Fear is probably the biggest factor that keeps us from asking for help from a professional counselor.

Let’s take a look at five big fears that keep people like you and me from seeking the help we need to break free.

Five Fears 1.

People will think I’m insane. You are NOT insane. You’re not the only one who faces your particular struggle. 1 Corinthians 10:13 assures us that the struggles we face “are no different from what others experience” (NLT).

Fear, insecurity, doubt, grief, self-loathing, suicidal thoughts, cutting, binging, eating disorders, OCD, sexual abuse, sexual sins —trust me, a counselor sees all these things and then some. You are not the first.

2. My parents will explode or overreact. Your parents might appear to overreact because they love you. Ultimately they want you to find healing. It might be scary at first to tell them, but trust that God will work in their hearts and yours and make you all stronger because of it.

Maybe your situation is different. Maybe you live in an abusive environment and your parents don’t have your best interests at heart. If this is the case, I encourage you to consult a trusted Christian adult or youth pastor. If it is an immediate need, you can call a Christian counseling hotline. There are many, but one you can check out is with Focus on the Family ministries. You can call them at 1-855-771HELP (4357) Monday through Friday from 6:00am to 8:00pm MDT. 3. My friends will treat me differently. True friends want what’s best for you. They want you to find healing, and if they don’t, then they’re not the kind of friends you need anyway. Chances are a lot of your friends have experienced similar thoughts and struggles as you have. If so, your courage might give them the bravery they need to get help as well.

4. God will be disappointed in me. This is one of the most destructive lies Satan will ever throw at you. He’ll do anything he can to create distance between you and your Heavenly Father. He wants to rob you of the acceptance, comfort, and love that God offers.

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We can never disappoint God—after all, He already knows the future. He knows every weakness, every struggle we will ever have, and He loves us anyway. A lot of people associate weakness with failure, but feeling weak is NOT failure. In fact, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that he was not ashamed of his weaknesses, because God told him “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (NLT). By the end of the verse Paul concluded, “Now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (NLT).

Being weak doesn’t mean we fail; it just means we have more of an opportunity to experience God’s strength, so that His power can be seen at work through us.

5. If I go to a counselor, that means I’m a bad Christian. Perhaps you’ve heard some believers say “If you just had more faith, you wouldn’t feel this way,” or “If you were more spiritually mature, you wouldn’t need to ask for help.”

Nothing could be further from the truth. On the contrary, you become a courageous Christian when you admit you have a problem, and seek the help you need to overcome it. Nothing is braver or more mature than that.

All throughout the Bible God emphasizes the need to seek wise counsel. Proverbs 12:15 tells us that “he that listens to counsel is wise” (AKJV). Proverbs 11:14 also says, “Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory” (NASB).

What are some things you can do right now to get the help you need and take the first steps toward freedom? Let’s take a look at five: Five Steps You Can Take to Get Help 1.

Tell God what’s going on. Isaiah 9:6 refers to God as a “Wonderful Counselor” (NLT). God is our ultimate confidant. He’s the first one we should turn to when we’re struggling.

2. Tell a trusted Christian friend. Do you have a bestie who loves the Lord as much as you do? If so, confide your struggles to her and ask her to pray that God will give you wisdom on how to get help.

3. Tell your parents and/ or a trusted Christian adult about your struggle. The first 30 seconds will be the hardest, but eventually relief will come. It’s terrifying to tell your parents or another adult about your struggle, but good things will come of it. Telling them about the battle you’re going through is one of the most important steps of actively seeking help.

4. Ask them to help you find a Gospel-based Christian counselor. Finding a Christian counselor is important, because although secular counselors can give good advice, God’s truth is what will ultimately set you free.

5. Remember healing is a process. You’re gonna be tempted to get frustrated with yourself and give up. Don’t. Remember that God is walking through this storm with you, and He will bring you out to the other side.

It’s scary. It’s terrifying. It might be the hardest thing you ever do, but getting help from a professional counselor could be one of the most important decisions you ever make. Like I said, I know where you’re coming from. I’ve been there. But I also know that God can and will use a godly counselor to help you work through your struggles and hurts and set you free.

Adelee Russell is a freelance writer from Brownsburg IN. Her favorite past times include: peoplewatching, eating Italian food, and frolicking in the rain.

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…I have found the one my soul longs for. (Song of Solomon 3:4) Most times that I look at this verse I think about this verse being at my wedding.

But really this verse it what our hearts sing the moment we give our life to Jesus! Finally, our hearts are satisfied with a divine type of filling.

It’s such a beautiful thing. And in that moment, we are satisfied.

I want to live my life in that state of satisfaction. A lot of times I forget that I HAVE found the one my soul longs for. I will try to fill myself with food, friends, coffee, sleep, anything that brings an inkling of happiness.

But it goes away, and I, again, feel empty.

But I have learned from my experience. And I have learned that we cannot let our satisfaction leave. Our satisfaction is one of the qualities that non-believers see in us and wonder about. It is interesting and quite intriguing to them how we can have so much life going on around us and still have so much peace in our hearts. Therefore, we just hold fast to our perfect peace. And we do that through a steadfast mind as it says in Isaiah 26:3.

The Lord will bless us with a perfect peace if we keep our minds on Him. The definition of steadfast is “resolutely or dutifully and

My Soul Longs

unwavering” (Dictionary.com) So let us keep our steadfast mind, simply because we serve a big big God! A God that is enough. A God that knows our needs better than we can or ever will! He has never failed us. If anyone in the universe deserves our trust at all, it is Him. He desires to be our roots. We should trust Him enough to surrender anything in our heart, minds, or souls that is anything but unwavering.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalms 37:4) Delight in Hebrew means “a prim, root” so make Him your root my friend, and He will align your heart with His, and your desires with one’s that will glorify His Kingdom! He will certainly fulfill those desires that He so graciously gives us! And THAT is our satisfaction.

Isn’t that beautiful? Oh my goodness, my friends. It isn’t about Him giving us what we want or what we feel we deserve, but it is about becoming so close and intimate with Him that we suddenly and passionately want everything that He does. And God’s desires are ultimate and eternal. We don’t have to worry about them being fulfilled. It’s inevitable that they will be.

So today- remember where your satisfaction lies. Remember that you are intimate with the one that your soul longs for. The Bible says that “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from the beginning to end.”

(Ecclesiastes 3:11) Therefore, He has woven us to long for Him, because He longs to be our everything. Remember your everything. No matter what you go through today or tomorrow, our Good Good Father will turn it’ll eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the LORD Let your heart live forever!”

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Girlz 4 Christ has readers from every continent in the world! (Okay, so we don’t have anyone reading in Antarctica yet…) On the next few pages, get to know your international sisters in Christ.

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My fave foods are lasagna and brace, which is barbequed meat

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Where she’s from: I live in Rome. I was born in Italy, so I’ve lived here all my life.

On family: I live with my parents and my brother.

Daily activities: During the school days I wake up around 6:30 am, get ready for school and our parents drop me and my brother off at 8:10. Lessons start by 8:20 and close at 2:05 pm. I take Information Technology (IT) classes. After school I have lunch and then siesta for 30 minutes. Later I do all my homework for the next day and when I finish them, I play my piano or guitar. In the evening I spend time with my family by watching our favorite TV shows.

The best place in Italy: I like a lot of places in Italy but I particularly like visiting Piazza Venezia and the Fontana di Trevi in Rome.

Her favorite getaway: I love taking my summer vacations in Sardegna which is a very beautiful island with nice beaches and mountains.

On language: I speak English, Italian, and a little bit of French.

On free time: I used to swim, but now I do more of music after school. I play the piano, play guitar, and sing. I love working with computers.

What she would say if trying to convince someone to visit her hometown: I’d say they should visit Italy because it has a lot of sites to see, like the Colosseum and the Vatican in

Rome, plus the Duomo, the Pisa Tower, Venice, Florence, and many other places of interest. Italian cuisine and fashion is one of the best in the world. Current Italian fashion is simple but very classy and chic. The people have a very good sense of humor and are friendly.

On future dreams: I have a lot of goals for my future. I would like to become a computer engineer, but I’d also love to build a career in music maybe by teaching children music or becoming a vocalist.

Where she’d love to live: I’d love to live in the USA, because I intend on going to college there. I also have family and friends there.

On community involvement: I help young children in my local church. I intend to volunteer for community services in my local government area.

On her life and nation: Most Italian girls are ambitious and hardworking. They’d love to speak English fluently and see the entire world. Italian girls are also very fashionable. I set my own trends. I like elegant dressing but I’m always in casual trendy styles.

I love bright colors such as yellow, orange, or turquoise blue but I use minimal jewelry. I choose my shoes depending on the occasion.

They could be flats, high heels, sneakers, or boots, but I don’t like sandals. I am a Christian and I love the Lord. I love traveling, reading, cooking new recipes with my mom and chatting with my friends. I’m a very cheerful and easy-going person. Another thing I really love is laughing a lot.

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My fave food is definitely ice cream!

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Where she’s from: I was born in Wellington, New Zealand, but I now reside with my family in a small town called Coldstream, just outside the city of Melbourne. Our family moved to Australia back in 2001, when I was just 3 years old.

On family: I have two amazing parents, and 8 wonderful siblings! There are seven girls and two boys, of which I am the second oldest, and the ages range from three to twenty. We live on a small farm, consisting of sheep, cows, chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, and a very energetic Irish Setter called Lucy! So you could say that we have a few other added special members of the family.

Daily activities: I am currently completing a Diploma in Applied Fashion Design and Technology, so that does take up quite a bit of my time. I also cook meals for the family, and help school my younger siblings, who are homeschooled. I also have a part-time job.

The best place in Australia: Wow! You can’t really put Australia in a box and limit it to just one thing! Australia is huge, and there is so much to see and do. Uluru is a definitely a national landmark, along with the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Bridge, and the Great Barrier Reef.

Her favorite getaway: I love the beach, and going for long bush walks. Any place is a favorite, as long as there is a heap to do.

On languages: I can only speak English fluently, but I am currently learning: Mandarin, Spanish, German, and Maori.

On free time: I love sewing, fashion, drawing, hanging out with my friends and family, cake

decorating, scrapbooking, watching movies, spending time with Jesus, and traveling.

What she would say if trying to convince someone to visit her hometown: Haha! Still working on this one! I would say…. Just do it!

Every place is different, and you might just love it!

On future dreams: Actually, I am going to go back to New Zealand and help with costumes for musical theatre for a few months! I love dressmaking and fashion design, and it will be amazing working with the costumes! I haven’t quite decided what I want to do further down the track, but I would love to get more into dressmaking and fashion design when I have finished my Diploma. Maybe do further studies, get a job in the fashion department, or start my own business!

Where she’d love to live: It would have to be New Zealand. I love Australia, and it is so nice living here, but I love the green mountains and crystal clear lakes of New Zealand as well and I have a special connection to the place where I was born. I can totally see myself living there one day.

On community involvement: I have been involved in quite a few different things over the years, but I currently do volunteer children’s work (amongst other things) for an organisation called Institute in Basic Life Principles. I also enjoy doing volunteer work for another organization called Character First.

On her life and nation: I have found that people from countries on the other side of the world actually have no idea just how big Australia is! In fact, Australia is only slightly smaller than the United States! Australia is mostly desert, with a population of over 23 million.

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His & Duck Dynasty’s newlyweds share what it’s like to be young and… beardless!

John Luke’s Favorites Favorite Bible Verse John 3:16 and Luke 9:23 are my two favorites. Easy to remember.

Favorite Summer Activity Tennis and late night card games Favorite Duck Dynasty Episode My wedding of course!

Favorite Charity The Hub Ministry in Shreveport, Louisiana During 2016, a sponsor contributes to the favorite charity of each G4C cover feature. Just $25 can feed a homeless person for an entire month through The Hub! A $100 donation sponsors a victim of human trafficking for a month including housing, programs, and access to vital resources for a recovery back to a restored woman. With this issue’s donation, The Hub was able to provide both of these services for a month! Learn more at TheHubMinistry.com.

Seeing the men in your family, we have to wonder: who taught you how to shave?

It was self-taught but I haven’t gotten much practice in.

What are the top 3 requirements to truly be a Robertson?

Faith in God, Love for nature, and the ability to laugh at yourself.

Why did you decide to write a book about self-improvement and pursuing goals?

I felt as though I could identify with people who have outrageous dreams but no idea where to start. I wanted to get them the inspiration and tools for someone to take that first step.

What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?

My marriage to Mary Kate is absolutely my biggest accomplishment.

How do you find balance with going to college, being newly married, writing a book, starring in reality TV, AND working on ministry projects?

Not easily! It’s all about prioritizing and making sure the important things like faith and marriage come first, then school, work and other things. Life is hectic but it’s fun.

What lesson learned from reality TV life can be applied to a more typical real life?

Things usually go better when you plan out the big things, but you also have to go off script so you don’t miss the little things.

What goals do you see yourself having?

Near goals are to be more kind, patient, and loving. A longer goal I have is to finish college at Liberty University.

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Hers

By Jessica Lippe

Who was your role model growing up?

Bethany Hamilton. I read her book “Soul Surfer” when I was either 9 or 10 and even at such a young age I was completely in awe of her unwavering faith in God. You may have heard her story or watched it come to life in the movie “Soul Surfer.” Bethany grew up surfing in Hawaii and it even looked like she would go pro, but when she was 13 years old she lost her arm to a shark. She trusted that God had a plan for her life, and with that faith she persevered and did become a pro surfer indeed- not to mention John Luke may be missing the she has been able to reach millions with the Robertson’s signature big beard, but he gospel! I knew if she could trust God with such an makes up for it with big ideas. You may obstacle as losing a limb, that I could trust Him have seen him on Duck Dynasty with too, no matter what life threw at me.

Young & Beardless

plans like running a snowball shack or getting married. His big ideas are #RobertsonSiblingRivalry! now spilled onto paper inside his latest book.

John Luke’s sister, Sadie

What is the biggest life change you've had to make since becoming a Robertson?

Robertson, has a new book With chapters covering topics Getting used to a crazy life. too! Check it out on page like connecting, loving, risking, When you step into the 27. and failing, John Luke shares in a way spotlight things get really busy. All that we all can relate to when it comes to of a sudden you have a million more things going pursuing dreams. You’ll finish this book on and places you have to be, and balancing all of that on top of being newly-married and going to with a better understanding of who you college can be a challenge. So I am still adjusting are, where you’re going, and what you’re to the chaos of life. But even though it can be doing. Each chapter ends with some crazy at times, it is so so fun! questions for journaling and a review of What is your advice for the single ladies out there?

Don’t settle. Some of the best advice my dad ever gave me was, “God gives His best to those who leave the choice to Him.”

one of John Luke’s favorite books.

Even if you’ve never watched Duck Dynasty, this is still a fantastic book to launch those God-given goals!

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With Emily Joy

Encourage All, since my mission was to encourage everyone around me.

In middle school and high school, I felt like God blessed me with the gift of encouragement. My sophomore year in high school I decided to take action. I started small by sending daily, encouraging text messages to my friends.

My messages began taking an unhealthy amount of time out of my schedule. Soon, I was sending so many messages that I needed to find a different avenue to encourage those close to me.

After praying and consulting with my parents, in January of 2015 I decided to start an Instagram account to encourage people worldwide. I began by posting daily pictures with inspiring messages. I also connected a Bible verse to the photo.

I named this ministry outreach program

Since its birth in early 2015, Encourage All now has over 8,000 followers on Instagram. It is amazing to see how God has used this ministry to change my life and also others around me.

In addition to the daily photo posting, I lead prayer groups through Encourage All. These prayer groups are a safe place for girls of similar ages from across the world to share, support, and encourage one another. Young women talk about life issues, share prayer requests and praises, as well as seek advice. There are currently about 100 women in these prayer groups who are connecting through Instagram.

I have absolutely loved seeing God working in these young women’s lives and also the Encourage All community.

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By Jessica Lippe

Hopefully you give a portion of what you earn to charity. But when you donate, have you ever considered what is done with your money?

Some foreign aid actually hurts communities! As relief continues to be funded with little change happening, it’s becoming more and more obvious that we need to find ways to help that actually help.

Unfortunately, when people provide items such as food or clothing to people overseas, it may seem like it is beneficial. However, gifts like these actually run local vendors out of business who can no longer compete, which ultimately can make the problem of poverty even worse. Emergency aid may be needed in some circumstances, but the aid often continues for too long after the initial crisis Another issue is that some parents hand their children over to orphanages only because they believe they will have a better life there than

they ever could with their family. These are just some of the problems that are contributing to the continuation of poverty.

The documentary Poverty, Inc. explores the stigmas behind poverty aid and popular projects that garnered lots of attention without making a positive difference.

So what is the solution to the foreign aid problem? While the world is still looking for the right answers to this question, Poverty, Inc. explores some ideas by interviewing aid recipients and workers who have started ministries based on real needs and real solutions.

Perhaps you could help solve the poverty problem with your own ideas!

Be sure to watch Poverty, Inc. It’s new to stream on Netflix or you can order the documentary at PovertyInc.com.

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Lauren Scruggs Kennedy Interviewed by Lily Garay

Lauren’s life changed after a night with a traumatic accident. But by the grace of God, she survived to tell us about her life today!

Tell us about your favorite charity.

My husband Jason and I are starting one. I started meeting girls and women who lost legs and arms and many different things, but many didn’t have prosthetics or had one but looked embarrassing to them. But it really brings restoration. I want to help and be led to help to provide for women who are in need of an arm (which can be $50-100k) and can’t afford it.

For Still Lolo, why did you choose to have your family members write many of the chapters?

One big thing I noticed is how you all join together during tragedy. I often think I’ve gone through the lesser of it all. I feel like my parents and sister and friends went through more trauma than me. They had to go through the visual aspect and making hard decisions for surgeries. Their input is incredibly important. Whatever you may be going through, cancer or losing a limb or going through anything shocking in a sort of way, you can be reading the book and relate.

They’ve told me so much that I didn’t even know. There are things I can’t even share; only they can. We didn’t experience the same things with this accident.

Although the accident happened five years ago, are there any adjustments you’re still getting used to due to life with one hand and one eye?

Acceptance comes as time comes. Random things trigger insecurities at random times.

Your body just adapts quickly and you learn things. I have to figure out that, oh, I can’t do that. I need help with that. In every stage it’ll be a learning process What do you think is the biggest takeaway message for your second book, Your Beautiful Heart? Why do you think girls today need such a book?

I think oftentimes we grow up as women and girls just comparing ourselves to people and what we define as beautiful and comparing ourselves to what others think. This focuses on the foundation of beauty. It’s about really encouraging the girls around you and forming community and being a good friend. Even for me I doubted my beauty and sometimes still the enemy attacks me with different insecurities. I need to remind myself what beauty really is.

Why did you choose a career in fashion journalism?

I was always intrigued by what people were wearing and paid close attention to it. It is inspiring how creative it is. It really pushes GIRLZ4CHRISTMAGAZINE.ORG

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me and challenges me. I meet all these fun people and it’s great getting to see them every season.

From Tyndale

What does a typical day on the job involve?

Every day looks so different, everything from collaborating with brands, and currently working on launching a new product. Then there’s lots of awesome meetings to start my foundation. I’m finalizing my website and logistics. All the while, I’m learning how to balance it all.

Lauren’s Autobiography No one could have guessed that the life of Lauren Scruggs could be completely altered in a split second. She was a recent college graduate working as a fashion journalist. But when invited to be a passenger in a private plane at a Christmas party, she exited the plane into the dark night. All it took was a slight nick from the spinning propeller to sever her eye, cut off her hand, and sustain brain trauma that would require a long-term healing process. Lauren and her family’s hope in God played the biggest factor in going through this tragedy. Read this book for more about Lauren (or “LoLo”) and her life, accident, and recovery.

There’s even a foreword by fellow amputee and cohost of the Beautifully Flawed Retreat, Bethany Hamilton!

What are your favorite summer activities?

Jason and I love going to the beach. We love California. We can travel in our state and there’s amazing places. We like to hang out with friends and eat food.

What’s your favorite verse?

Isaiah 40:31. In 2nd grade we had to memorize scripture. mostly every kid picked john 3:16 and for some reason I was so drawn to Isaiah 40:31. during difficult times I cling to that verse and times of spiritual growth.

What’s your summer fashion tip? What styles should we be wearing?

For me, personally, I’m trying to minimize my wardrobe and make sure I love pieces and invest pieces and not just buy things off a whim. I’m a neutral girl. I like a good pair of shorts and a hat and off the shoulder tops are so big and I love them so much. I think they’re really classy as well. I think it’s important to stay classy and be yourself. wear things that make you comfortable, but respect your body.

What does your haircare routine look like?

I wash my hair 3 times a week. I love hair masks and keeping it really hydrated. I just got a split ends corrector. I round brush my hair. My go-to is a hat. I like messy looking.

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Summer Shopping

When invited to Maui, Hawaii, my first reaction was elation. My second reaction was, “What will I wear!” For a beach trip, I definitely had some shopping to do.

So far I’ve found a good collection of clothes and other needed items, and it hasn’t cost much! If you find yourself wanting to redo your wardrobe for summer (or any season), you can easily do so on a budget! Just use some shopping techniques like coupons, clearance racks, online shopping, thrift stores, and DIY!

COUPONS By signing up for the Eddie Bauer rewards program, I got a $10 rewards coupon right around the time I started this shopping experience. This allowed me to get several of the gadgets I wanted, and inspired me to look up coupons for other stores! Look for online coupons or in-store flyers.

By Jessica Lippe

CLEARANCE RACKS It’s surprising how many great items can be found hiding on the clearance rack! It’s better to shop for clothes that are going out of season this way, but you may be surprised at the summer wear you find here! I immediately found a cute tunic on a clearance rack at Kohl’s, and I’m going to double its use by also wearing it as a swimwear cover-up. I also took advantage of Sports Authority closing to score cheap sandals- it’s like a store-wide clearance rack!

ONLINE SHOPPING Since I wasn’t sure what to do with my phone at the beach, I looked for a waterproof cell case. I found that on LakeLivin.com as well as a few other helpful supplies, all from the comfort of my living room! You can save even more online by shopping with rewards programs. Many shopping rewards for physical stores also apply to their online shops. There are also extra online rewards programs, like Swagbucks, that give you rewards points for a variety of online shopping. Finally, be sure to look up promo codes before finalizing any

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DO IT YOURSELF online purchase! One of the easiest ways to score a discount is to do a quick search at RetailMeNot.com. Be aware, though, that unlike shopping at brick-and-mortar stores, some online shopping can sneak in shipping fees or even subscription programs!

THRIFT STORES I may have saved the best for last. You probably have several local and chain thrift stores in your area, with the money going to a good cause. Find out all the stores near you at TheThriftShopFinder.com. Thrift stores often have more than just clothes. If you need luggage, accessories, entertainment, or even kitchen supplies, you can find a good deal here. And not everything’s secondhand, either! To save even more, some thrift stores have sale days or discounts on certain colored tags. I snagged some already-discounted thrift store shorts for even less thanks to a color coded sale!

Some homemade beauty treatments are better than store bought!

Clay Mask Bentonite clay absorbs grease and toxins.

Mix bentonite clay with water until it’s the consistency of toothpaste.

If you’d like, add a couple drops of tea tree oil. Spread on your face, feet, or even hair! Wait until the clay dries and begins to crack, then wash off.

Breakfast Facial The nutrients from the most PRO PACKING TIPS important meal of the day I’ve impressed many TSA agents with the way I pack. Most of the provide vitamins for your time, I manage to bring everything I need in just my carry-on luggage, face, too! Mix a quarter cup including when I spent three months backpacking Mediterranean of dry oatmeal with a Europe last summer! I’d like to pass on a few of my pro tips with you. mashed-up banana. Add a few spoons of honey. (It’s -If you’re flying, look up the exact carry-on limits for your airline and country. While all have size restrictions, there may or may not also be okay to leave out any ingredients you don’t have.) a weight limit.

Smear on your face for a -Because you can only carry on liquids in 3.4 oz. containers that fit in a half hour, then wash off. one-quart bag, try to find solid alternatives for your liquid toiletries.

There are soap bars, deodorant bars, lotion bars, and even shampoo Foot Soak Fill a plastic tub with water and one half cup bars! If you end up needing to bring a lot of liquid product, pack it in baking soda. Dip your toes your checked luggage. in the tub to clean your feet.

-Keep your clothing compact and wrinkle-free by rolling each item up. After drying off, moisturize with oil or lotion.

-Stash your undergarments in baggies. This will help keep your suitcase organized and could save you some embarrassment if a TSA agent has to search your belongings.

Hair Treatment Take a handful of coconut oil and -Wear your bulkiest clothing on your flight days to save more suitcase rub onto clean hair. Once your hair is completely space. covered in oil, wrap a -Always remember to stay hydrated, especially while traveling! You’re turban or towel and keep it allowed to bring an empty water bottle through TSA security, and that way for at least an then after the checkpoint there will be plenty of drinking fountains to hour. Then shampoo and fill up at. condition as normal.

-Most importantly, never pack more than you can carry!

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Ask any makeup artist- good, healthy skin is the best possible way to ensure any makeup look will be strong. In all honesty, you can pull off essentially any look with amazing skin. But if you’re like me, you aren’t naturally endowed with Kendall Jenner-like skin. With the right routine, you can help your skin live its best life!

WARNING- This routine is intense, but totally rewarding.

Night Routine Removal- Though this step isn’t necessary, I personally like using micellar water to cut through my makeup and make cleansing easier. I use one by Leirac that can only be found in France, but Garnier has an amazing one for around $7.

Oil Cleanse- Don’t let the oil part scare you.

Even the oiliest skin will greatly benefit from an oil cleanse, because of basic chemistry. For one thing, stripping skin of its natural oils makes it go into overdrive to produce more oil- see how that works? Second, oil is one of the only things that dissolves oils. I personally use a homemade blend of Avocado and Jojoba oils infused with rose petals and jasmine. Apply to your face and use a hot, damp washcloth to remove.

Second Cleanse- No, one cleanse isn’t enough.

Though an oil cleanse is amazing for removing makeup and dissolving dirt, a second cleanse is necessary for really removing the free radicals and built up gunk of the day. Slightly wet face and gently massage cleanser into skin using fingers, muslin cloth, or cleansing brush.

Exfoliate- Some people don’t need to exfoliate daily, but my skin gets dull and flaky

if I don’t. Make sure you find an exfoliator that works for you and a schedule that fits your skin type. Use your fingers to massage grains into your skin, scrub gently for one minute and rinse, pat dry.

Toner- Toner is amazing for tightening pores, refreshing, and revitalizing the skin. Glycolic toner like helps further exfoliate and brighten the skin. Apply to a cotton ball and glide over towel dried skin.

Sheet Mask- This step seems unnecessary, but feels so decadent. And honestly, it makes such a huge difference. Sheet masks push healing compounds deep into your skin and use the paper to prevent the nutrients from evaporating as they would with just a serum. I use different sheet masks based on what my skin needs- TONYMOLY has the best ones by far. My favorites are the Red Wine mask and Rice masks from their I’m Real line, as well as the entire Farm collection. Place the mask on your face and allow it to sit for 20 minutes or more, then massage any leftover product into your skin. *NOTE- If you have any prescription acne lotions or treatments of any type, now is the best time to apply them.

Moisturizer- After a sheet mask, your face will be moist and tacky. This is the perfect time for a moisturizer. Personally, I believe everyone should be using an anti-aging moisturizer, regardless of age- an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. For those of us more acne prone, don’t be afraid that moisturizing will make you break out- just the opposite. A well moisturized skin will stop overproducing GIRLZ4CHRISTMAGAZINE.ORG

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oils and absorb your skincare routine’s benefits instead! I love Mario Badescu Cellufirm moisturizer. Apply liberally to damp skin and massage upward.

Eye cream and treatments- We’re in the home stretch! Now is the time to apply eye creams, lip treatments, and spot treatments.

These are all very specific to your personal needs, so feel free to play around with them and find what truly works for you. My skin saver is Mario Badescu Drying lotion-apply with a cotton swab to a pimple and its GONE the next morning. Bible.

Don’t forget to apply lotion to your body, and a heavier cream to your hands, feet, knees and elbows before bed.

Taking care of your skin means ALL of your skin.

Morning Routine My morning routine is scores less time consuming since I put so much time into my night routine. I simply buff my face with a cold, damp washcloth, spritz on some Caudaile Beauty Elixir, and finish off with Pacifica’s Rose Gold Primer serum.

This wakes up and refreshes my skin so that it’s all ready for makeup.

Make sure that your morning moisturizer includes an SPF! Like the old adage says, nothing worth having is easy to get.

Gorgeous skin is no exception. But with some time and money invested into it, you can start posting those #nofilter worthy selfies in no time.

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Sadie Robertson’s

John Luke’s younger sister just released a new book, too! Sadie Robertson is known not only for her roles on Duck Dynasty, Dancing with the Stars, and God’s Not Dead 2, but for being a Christian teen who walks the walk. Her newest book is the first Live Original fiction novel. In it, we meet complete opposites, Kate and AJ. Kate is a Nashville socialite whose rich family is trying to get their own reality show. AJ’s a backwoods Louisiana tomboy forced to move to Tennessee after a family tragedy. When both girls wind up at the same school, no one can believe how these two could get along in the same environment. The reality show producers pick up on this, and suddenly want Kate to share the screen with new girl AJ! Told by the perspectives of both girls, this intriguing book will have you wondering how these unique individuals will get through school, reality TV, prom, and other elements of real life!

Which book was your favorite, Sadie’s or John Luke’s? Read Life Just Got Real and Young & Beardless (page 17), and let us know what you think on social media!

Post on the Girlz 4 Christ page or use hashtag #robertsonsiblingrivalry.

Then check out the next page for more books about real life!

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Reviews by Jessica Lippe

Cherish

Saturate Field Guide

By Vicki Courtney Navigating all the relationships in your life can be tricky. Family, friends, guys, and God are all very different types of relationships, and need to be addressed in different ways! This book breaks down various relationships teen girls like you have and gives practical advice for how to cultivate them, including help with some very sticky situations! What about parents divorcing, or mean girls, or boyfriends laying the pressure on? This book does not shy away from tough topics, but rather deals with them in a God-honoring way. All this is balanced out with the fun aspects of real life as well!

By Jeff Vanderstelt and Ben Connelly Do you think that church, Bible study, and other Christian practices seem so separate from real life? If you’re looking for a new book to go through for your bible study group or family devotions, this is the one to read! This guide will lead you through eight weeks of learning how to live missionally. Each week focuses on a different topic about what it means to live in the world but for Christ. You and the people you work on this guide with will learn more about how to be disciples of Jesus, no matter where you are or what you’re doing!

Can You Relate?

By Vicki Courtney Also written by Vicki Courtney, this book has much of the same content as Cherish, but is geared more for 9-12 year-olds, or middle schoolers. This is an age where all kinds of new experiences are happening and it seems like you’re encountering real life for the first time! From the everyday relationships with classmates to the virtual relationships you’re beginning to navigate online, this book will lay out what can otherwise be a confusing aspect of life. All in all, you’ll discover why relationships are something to celebrate!

Looking for Lovely

By Annie F. Downs Author Annie F. Downs goes on a quest to collect the moments of lovely in her life. While real life can be weighed down with bad situations, we can find hope in all the lovely tidbits that God has scattered for us to find.

These are the things that may seem insignificant on the outside, but end up being the moments that matter most. Whether it is a special memory, a chat with a good friend, or a visit to a meaningful place, each chapter displays a story of the lovely that Annie has found, and provides inspiration for how to find your own lovely, too!

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abnormal results Random Fact: Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every 2 weeks or it will digest itself.

You should know that I collect random facts and keep them in a green notebook that must always be placed third from the left on my bookshelf, next to my red notebook on clichés and my blue notebook on metaphors.

Win This Book!

Message the author by going to KimberlyRae.com/contact.

Include the code “FOURDUCKS” in your message. Kimberly Rae will select one G4C reader to send a copy of Abnormal Results!

I am aware this is abnormal.

You know that cheesy phrase about having your ducks in a row? My mom is always saying it when we're running out the door, usually late, on our way somewhere.

My dad says it, too. "Do we have all our ducks?" he'll ask Mom, which is funny since there are only two of us kids, and I'm fifteen. I don't often get lost on the way from my bedroom to the front door, though the two times I did have made for a great family joke ever since. That was sarcasm in case you missed it.

Alex, my little brother, wanted in on the fun, but he never could figure out where the ducks were. Mom took him to a park once and showed him a family of ducks swimming in a row across a pond, and tried to explain what a metaphor was, but he being only five at the time understood it about as well as I'm understanding why an x plus a y divided by a z somehow turns into a number.

The whole duck thing is important, because when all your ducks are in a row, it means your life is in order. Things are under control. I had no idea how rare a gift that was, all those little ducks staying right where they

should be, until cancer knocked one of mine over.

Not a duck though. A dork. One of us four.

I suppose I should explain the whole dork thing. When we were really little, my three best friends and I were waiting in line at Swirly Cone, one of those side-of-the-road ice cream shops. Baby brother Alex, whose full name is Alexander but he hates it, was hanging out with Mom, telling her about his latest genius creation with sidewalk chalk. I saw his eyes suddenly get real big and he tugged on Mom's arm. "Mom, look!" People all down the line turned to see him point at us and yell, "It's four dorks in a row!"

We've been the four dorks ever since: me, Chad, Alecia and Dan. We were thick as thieves, as Dad used to say (he and Mom like to see who can use the most clichés and metaphors), since kindergarten, back when it didn't matter about boys or girls or who had name brand shoes or who could play sports or not. Things have changed over the years.

We've changed. But I was sure nothing was big enough to wedge into our friendship.

We'd stay the same forever.

I was wrong.

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That Awkward Moment How to Handle Embarrassing Situations

By Adelee Russell We’ve all been there. Your face turns red, your throat closes up, and you start fantasizing about how awesome it would be to have invisibility as your super power. Hours later you’re going over and over the event in your mind, kicking yourself for being such a fool.

You’re Not Alone Your sisters in Christ here at G4C know how ya feel. In fact, we’ve compiled some of our most cringe worthy moments to prove it.

Take a look: “I was looking back, waving at my crush in the 7th grade as I walked across the Commons. "Bye Chris!" I said. I played it cool.

Good! Until the next millisecond when I turned to look where I was going and smacked face first into the giant concrete pillar that supported the roof. I broke my thick, coke bottle glasses, got a small cut on my nose and hugely wounded my pride. I wanted to cry.

Meanwhile my crush laughed at me and teased me for being a klutz.” –Robin Lord Dilallo, G4C writer “I was on the homecoming court, but two days earlier my friend accidentally whacked me in the face with a badminton racket. I had a huge black eye to go with my formal. The day before homecoming was the Christmas play and I had to play Mary with the black eye! Everybody was picking on Joseph.” –Kimberly Rae, G4C writer “Once at a graduation party the rug slipped out from under me and I fell flat on my back in front of everybody.” – Kelsey Marie, G4C writer

“Once at a bowling alley, I didn't know my shoe size, so I had to kneel down and check what size I was to get the rental shoes.

While doing this, the bowling alley's phone rang, and for some reason, the staff decided to set my bowling ball down on the counter in order to answer the phone. Wonder of wonders, it rolled off and hit me right in the head! They called 911, an ambulance came, and the works. (But I ended up being unharmed!)

I'm not sure what's more embarrassing: this incident when it happened, or having to tell the story over the years whenever I have to explain why I don't really like to bowl!” –Jes Lippe, Editor of G4C “I was eating with my mom at a fast food restaurant. After taking a bite of my chicken sandwich we laughed about something.

Moments later there was a tingling sensation on my nose. Suddenly, my nostrils started burning.

I grabbed a napkin and blew my nose, and a huge chunk of chicken came out! The burning sensation continued as I grabbed another wad of napkins. This went on for 20 minutes as more and more chicken came out my nose in wispy shreds. It was mortifying. Thank heavens I wasn’t on a date! –Adelee Russell, G4C writer “I was a freshman or sophomore in high school. I lived down a gravel road where the bus picked a few of us up. I was typically running a little behind, but one morning I was so late I had to run to the bus to catch it at the end of the lane. This was in the day before backpacks. We just carried the books in our arms, and I always carried a bunch. I also played in the band --- a trombone. Already embarrassing, right? I tripped (also typical) as I approached the bus, and my trombone left my hands and slid under the bus. I had to retrieve it, gather my books, and regain some sort of dignity before getting on the bus. Fun times!” –Hally Franz, G4C writer GIRLZ4CHRISTMAGAZINE.ORG

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Embarrassing situations happen to the best of us, so how do we deal with them?

Although donning a clever disguise and fleeing the country can sound like a pretty good idea, I assure you there are better ways to deal with the awkward moments in our lives. Let’s look at few of them: Three Ways to Handle Embarrassing Situations 1. Resist the urge to believe you’re the only one who makes mistakes. As you can see from our own mortifying tales, you are NOT alone in your embarrassment.

Mistakes, fumbles, pieces of chicken flying out of your nose—these things happen to the best of us. When the humiliation makes you want to crawl in hole and isolate yourself, STOP, and remember that you’re not alone.

2. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Humor helps immensely when dealing with awkward moments. Don’t demean yourself, but don’t be afraid to see the humor in the situation and turn it into something that makes you and others smile.

3. Move on. It happened. You cringed. You remembered you’re not alone. You tried to see the humor in the situation. Now it’s time to move on. The past is in the past. If your peers keep bringing it up, don’t react.

Pretty soon they’ll get bored and find something else to talk about. Dust yourself off and look forward to a more graceful and coordinated future.

The best thing you can do in an embarrassing situation, is to remember God’s truth. Here are three truths from the Bible that God

Himself, and God never changes. He tells us in Malachi 3:6 “I am the LORD, and I do not change” (NLT). Because of this we can “take refuge in the shadow of [His] wings” (Psalm 36:7, NLT)—even when we mess up.

1. We’re all works in progress. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (NLT). Not one of us has arrived at perfection. We’re all in a state of constant growth, and mistakes and mishaps can help us learn so we can do better the next time. Instead of concentrating on your failures, dwell on the fact that it is by God’s love and power that you will continue to grow and find victory in the end.

2. Each day is a fresh start. Lamentations 3:23 says, “Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin anew each morning” (NLT). It doesn’t matter what anyone else says—in God’s point of view each day of your life is a clean slate, and His opinion is the only one that counts.

When you wake up the next morning after an embarrassing situation, resist the urge to do a replay in your mind, and instead claim God’s truth: today is a new day. His mercy guarantees a fresh start. Live in the freedom of His grace.

So toss out the disguise and cancel the plane ticket. The next time you find yourself in the middle of an awkward situation, just remember these truths, put them into practice, and you’ll make it through okay.

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Don’t forget to enter the contest to win a copy of Abnormal Results. And check out our blog for bonus preview chapters!

John Luke and Mary Kate Robertsons’ first anniversary is on June 27th!

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