Confidence~ Renee Arnold

These days, being confident in yourself and your abilities is a gift. The world tries to tear us down at every turn telling us that we are not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough or talented enough. It is important to find an area of your life in which you are sure in your abilities whether it be a sport, school subject or area of service in which you participate in.

    However, confidence can have its downfalls. For example, if you put all of your self worth into a talent and an injury occurs and you can't participate in the season, what do you have to fall back on? And if you base your confidence in a boyfriend and you break up, you are going to be an emotional wreck because you are going to feel like you have nothing left.

    You never have any need to feel hopeless or worthless because you have God on your side. Although God takes pride in your gifts just like you, he yearns for you to have a deep rooted confidence, a kind based in your faith that won't waver based on circumstances.

Photograph property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photograph taken by Abby Whear.

Worlds Idea of Beauty~ Renee Arnold

We as teenage girls are wired to want to measure up to others in the way we look and act. Girls buy magazines that feature clothing and makeup used by celebrities and diets endorsed by famous people are extremely popular. As harmless as it may seen to want what everyone else has and look like they do, this can have some major consequences on your physical and spiritual health.

 

   First, our world is so focused on things that lead to problems and unforeseen consequences that aren't worth the price we pay. Peer pressure might seem like an elementary concept and you might feel like you are above temptation from friends and peers but nobody is. Please know that anyone who makes you do something you know is wrong is not a true friend and your "friendship" needs evaluating.

 

   Secondly, in a world obsessed with image and status, it can be tempting to want to look like a certain singer, actor and emulate them in the way you dress and do your makeup. There is nothing wrong with having a look inspired by a celebrity but make sure you don't start sizing yourself up to them. You are a perfect individual created by God and made in his image and you don't need to look like anyone but yourself to impress him.

 

   This can also go the other way and you can start comparing other people to yourself. You can start thinking you are better then others because you have better hair, clothes or are thinner. You could also start labeling people as "bad" because of decisions that they make in their lives. No one deserves a label, we as humans have no right to give people labels because we have not lived out the same situations they have.

 

Remember that you are beautiful and God has a divine purpose for you life!

God's Type of Beauty~ Mikayla McMahen

Flipping through her magazine Lillie sighed to her self," If only I could look like them." Looking up, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and thought,"Maybe I could wear different makeup or wear different clothes. What if I styled my hair differently? Then would I be thought more beautiful?"

I think at one point or another we all have or will feel like Lillie. Unbeautiful because of what were told through TV shows, commercials or even just the advertisements we see as we walk through the mall. We are told that unless we have long eye lashes, designer clothes, sleek smooth hair, and are skinny we aren't beautiful. That's when we need to slow down and think about what God says about beauty!

1 Peter 3:3-4 it says, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."(NIV)

It's not about how we look. God see's it's your heart, your attitude. So instead of trying to fit into what society thinks is beautiful, try to be what God thinks is beautiful!

Did you know that Mikayla is obsessed with Starbucks?!?!

A Word From the Wide (The Wise Being God)~ Nadia

Dear Nadia,

What is God's definition of beautiful?

~ Curious





Dear Curious,

1 Samuel 16:7 says: “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” God doesn't base beauty on what our face or our body looks like – His definition of beauty is based on what our heart looks like. We can get a good idea of what God considers beautiful by looking at Proverbs 31. A beautiful, godly woman:

• Brings good, not harm to others: a godly girl will encourage and lift others up; she will not gossip. She is thoughtful and puts others first.
• Works with eager hands/sets about her work vigorously: a godly girl does not complain, but serves diligently – happy to do the work God has set before her (check out Ephesians 6:7).
• She considers a field and buys it: this verse is basically saying that a godly girl thinks before she acts and is a good steward of what she has (including money).
• Her arms are strong for her tasks: a godly girl will seek to strengthen and develop herself – physically, mentally, and spiritually. She will strive to do her best in everything.
• She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy: a godly girl is humble and quick to serve others – especially those in need. She gives generously and selflessly.
• She is clothed with strength and dignity: To be clothed is an analogy for completely covering yourself. Basically, all a godly girl does will reflect the strength and dignity of her character.
• She can laugh at days to come: a godly girl trusts in God. She is not worried about the future because her life is in God's hands (see Proverbs 3:5-6).
• She speaks with wisdom: a godly girl knows the truth of God's Word and speaks it.

Bottom line? Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).

Did you know that Nadia likes to sing and dance?!?!

Chosen by God~ Nataleigh Robinson

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart 1 Samuel 16:7

I've always loved how God picked David, puny little David, to rule over the kingdom of Israel over his big strong brothers. Imagine with me Samuel and God walking down the line of boys together examining each of Jessie's sons. Samuel looks at each man sees the strong hands and arms and says "this guy would make a good king." But God shakes his head "No, he's no good I've seen his heart and he’s not fit to rule my kingdom." The process repeats itself until Samuel finally comes to the end of the line. This can't be right! he thinks somebody has to be king! Finally after a short conversation with Jessie, David enters the scene. He's a scrawny teenager who can't be much older than 16 or 17 but there's something in his eyes that causes Samuel to stop. Then he hears God's voice whispering in his ear. "He's the one Samuel, the one I've chosen."

Can you imagine that: The world looks at you and says "Oh she's nothing special just, she’ll never amount to anything, she’s just another face walking the halls to class." but when God looks at you He sees something amazing.  He looks at you and He calls you beautiful, He calls you smart, He calls you by name and He's chosen something AMAZING for you to do that's different than anybody else. 

There's never going to be another Nataleigh who has gone through the same things I have. God has chosen something different and special just for me that only I can accomplish. If I can't do it no one can. But that's the beauty of it: I can because God made the task just perfect for me. He gave me just the right amount of inner and outer beauty to help me accomplish the task.

God has something for you too. Yes even you. You may think but I'm not smart, I'm not pretty, I'm not brave, I'm not strong. Stop telling yourself that.  Those are lies straight from the Devil trying to convince you that you’re less than you should be. You have potential! Moses didn’t think that he was charismatic enough but God put him in charge of an entire nation, Paul considered himself a terrible sinner but God used him to build the Christian church, Mary was just a normal girl living in her village but God saw something special in her and chose her to be the mother of his son.

Hadassah probably never considered herself to be to be brave or smart or much of anything for that matter.  She was an orphan who had been raised by her cousin.  I’m sure she lived with a lot of fears that those who had killed her parents would kill her too.  I imagine she spent a lot of time trying to fade into the background.  But God saw something in her.  He saw not only an outer beauty (for no one could deny that she was beautiful) but an inner beauty as well. 

Because of her outer beauty she was noticed by the king of her land and ended up becoming queen and because of her inner beauty she was able to find the courage within herself to stand up for her people who were sentenced to death.  This women, whose name had been changed to Esther opened herself to be used by God and it saved the life of the Jewish people.

God gave you just the right amount of smarts, beauty, courage and strength to accomplish the task he has for YOU! Some people may still be smarter or stronger or braver or prettier than you are but that's because God has something different for them than he does for you and their going to need to be smarter or stronger or braver or more beautiful.

Hadassah probably never considered herself to be to be brave or smart or much of anything for that matter.  She was an orphan who had been raised by her cousin.  I’m sure she lived with a lot of fears that those who had killed her parents would kill her too.  I imagine she spent a lot of time trying to fade into the background.  But God saw something in her.  He saw not only an outer beauty (for no one could deny that she was beautiful) but an inner beauty as well. 

Because of her outer beauty she was noticed by the king of her land and ended up becoming queen and because of her inner beauty she was able to find the courage within herself to stand up for her people who were sentenced to death.  This woman, whose name had been changed to Esther opened herself to be used by God and it saved the life of the Jewish people.

It’s time we stop comparing ourselves to those around us and start comparing ourselves to God's perfect plan. Find out what He wants you to be and strive to become that.  Because trust me there’s nothing better in this life than walking in the path God wants you to walk.  And there is nothing worse than stepping off that path and going our own way.

Did you know that Nataleigh's favorite TV show is Once Upon a Time?!

Beauty~ A Poem by Haylie Gregory

High heels

Mini skirt

Designer purse

Revealing shirt

Long lashes

Killer eyes

Polished nails

Skinny thighs

Perfect teeth

Soft hair

Toned body

Tummy, where?

To the world, this is beauty,

But that’s not what’s beautiful to Me.

Ecclesiastes 1:4, “One generation (outer beauty) passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth (inner beauty) abideth forever.”

Did you know that Haylie loves to wear men's shirts?!
Did you know that Lauren really wants to go to Venice?!

Photographs property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photograph taken by Lauren Jaji.

Kindness and Goodness~ Renee Arnold

So far we have covered love, joy, peace and patience. This month we will look at three virtues that are often overlooked in our culture.

Kindness and goodness are sort of the same thing in our language. They both mean considering others first and doing nice things for people. Just look at the bullying epidemic in our country. Kindness may seem like a kindergarten level topic, but evidently there are a lot of people that never listened during kindergarten. Kindness is sometimes easier than being rude. Flashing a smile to someone in need instead of following them around and insulting them. Other times it is difficult, like when your friends are teasing or gossiping about someone and you know it's wrong. In every situation kindness and goodness are the right way to go.

Another virtue lost yet treasured by our society is faithfulness. There are so many cheating scandals and adulteresses in our world. Individuals not happy with who they're with and so they go out looking for someone better. The bible calls us to be faithful to our spouse, friends, boyfriends and family. Of course that doesn't mean you stick around if you're in a destructive situation. There are always situations where the right choice is to leave.

Did you know that Renee has extremely messy handwriting?!
Did you know that Lauren owns a pair of bright pink jeans?!

Photograph property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photograph taken by Lauren Jaji.

Peace and Patience~ Renee Arnold

Last month, I wrote about the first two qualities listed in Galatians 5:22-23 love and joy. This month I will write about peace and patience.

Peace is a tricky concept. Over the years, pop culture has taken peace to different extremes. During wars, hippies and other anti-war groups have used the peace sign to symbolize togetherness and harmony. What is true biblical peace? Peace is trying your best to not quarrel and casue trouble with others. That doesn't mean not confronting those who do wrong or cowering in a corner when those you love are being attacked. Peace is trying to avoid conflict but defending those who are being confronted.

Patience is one of the hardest of the fruits for me to abice by. I am not a very patient person at all, I snap at my sister, I get fidgetty at church and assemblys and don't like to concentrate on one thing at once. Patience is a trait I wish I had becasue it makes life more enjoyable becasue you're not always looking ahead, you're content in the moment. This is something I need to work on personally.

Keep your eyes peeled for future articles about fruit of the spirit!

Did you know that Renee has extremely messy handwriting?!

Did you know that Haylie's fourth favorite animal is a dragon?!

Photograph property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photograph taken by Haylie Gregory.

Fishing with the Right Bait

If you have been following Lilies Among Thorns Magazine for awhile, you might have realized that we post a lot of inner beauty/modesty articles. I have it scheduled out this way with our beauty writers. Every month, one of our beauty writers will write an article about inner beauty or modesty. Now, some of you may think that we are over-doing this subject, but I want to get the message across to you about how important it is. I want you ladies to know that inner beauty is what actually matters.

Lots of girls judge beauty by what guys or a certain guy thinks. You get all dolled up and head out for the weekend to catch a guy’s attention, but is that how you want to keep his attention?

My pastor, before he left to become a missionary, told my youth group that ‘how you catch them is how you must keep them’. This means, if you caught him with the wrong bait (your looks), you will loose him later. If you are fishing with the right bait (your inner beauty and God), then you won’t have to worry about loosing him.

Psalm 39:11 says, “When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity.” This verse is saying that your outer beauty is nothing without your inner beauty. Anyone can be beautiful on the outside! Look around you; you see beautiful women all the time, but are they happy? They may seem happy on the outside, but are they on the inside? Look at Jennifer Lopez. She was voted Most Beautiful Women by People Magazine. She is currently going through a divorce. You can be the most beautiful women in the world and still not be happy.

Happiness comes from God. God is the only one who can give you true, everlasting happiness! Your beauty comes from God. King David said in Psalm 27:4, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.” David wanted the beauty of the Lord, and that is exactly what we should want! We should want the beauty of God! Who could possibly be more beautiful than Him? He created beauty!

So Ladies, let me ask you, what bait do you want to fish with?  

Did you know that Haylie has an unhealthy addiction to Pac-Man?!

Your True Valentine~ An Inner Beauty Article by Renee Arnold

With Valentines Day in the air you may be excited because you have a special someone in your life to share it with or you may be depressed because all your friends seem to have boyfriends and you don't. Either way you need to know that your relationship status doesn't determine your beauty. You may not feel beautiful but you definitely are in God's eyes. You are his princess and he wants you to know that.

  Feeling like you're unloved can make you feel miserable. Just know that God doesn't look at how many Valentine's Day's you were without dates, he doesn't measure you by the world's standards. The world may say that you need a boy in your life to be happy but you know that all you really need is God. 

  It is dangerous to base your worth on if you have a boyfriend or not because that's not what God intended for you. He wants you to lean on him for support and not relay on anyone else for your happiness.

So this Valentine's Day, remember that you are special even if you spend it single!

Does Beauty Consume You?~ An Inner Beauty Article by Madeline Hunt

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30

 

 

If beauty is fleeting why do we as girls care so much about it and place out hopes on it? Because the culture has taught us that being beautiful is the most important thing a woman should seek after. It seems as if there is always the new "fix you face" or "Look 20 years younger" wonder drugs. Are you letting your longing for being beautiful consume you?

 

If your not quite sure ask yourself these questions...

*How long do I take to get ready compared to the time I spend with the Lord?

*Are the worlds fashions more important to me then dressing modestly?

*Do I spend hours pouring over fashion magazines and websites?

* What is more important to me, Serving others or making sure I look fabulous before I even think about leaving the house?

*Is the attention of others people, especially guys more  important to me then dressing for the glory of the Lord?

*Am I wearing make-up to cover my imperfections or to totally change my look to what I see as the "Perfect Girl"?

 

Remember that God can do anything and He can make Beauty from ashes. He can change the way you look at beauty. What does God really call beautiful? Humility, Love, Joy, Patience, Self-control and many other things, just look in His word.

 

 

Tips for being beautiful in God's Eye's

*Spend time with Him every day in Bible reading, Prayer, and memorization.

*Don't worry about the way you appear in other peoples eye's

*Pray for a Heart that is beautiful to God

*Look for ways to worship the Lord Unashamed!

*Try to find ways to bless your family, friends, and even strangers.

*Remember you chief aim in life To Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever!

 

 

So how can you over come your imperfections both inside and outside? Seek to Glorify God in Everything, Worship Him unashamed and disregard the opinions of man when it comes to beauty and seek what the King sees as Beautiful!

 

Just The Way You Are~ An Issues Article by Hogan Stevens

In the world today, there is so much pressure for us to be beautiful. Everywhere you turn, you see thin models, attractive actresses, and even the popular girls that seem to have it all. As young women, we very often feel that we are not enough. We think that we are ugly or just plain unlikable.

I regularly struggle with my self-esteem. I have always been very shy and self-conscious, and there are some times when I just can’t look at myself without finding my smallest faults. When people compliment me and tell me that I am pretty, I find it hard to believe them.

Why is it we are like this? Why has society made it so hard for us to just accept ourselves? Everything has to be their definition of beautiful: full lips and a trim figure… otherwise known as perfect. But that’s just it! No one is perfect! Not even those lovely models that seem to be just what everyone wants to look like.  Did you know that even they sometimes struggle with their looks?! I think that every woman goes through a time where she feels like there is nothing pretty or lovable about her.

Watch this video. Not everyone is as real as they seem. They are not perfect.




And, of course, that is not true.

In God’s eyes, you are His adored and beautiful creation, the one He smiles upon with love, the one He wants to be with forever. To Him, you are beautiful just the way you are. Never mind trying to become someone you aren’t; God made you a certain way, and He doesn’t make mistakes, does He? No!

He thinks about you all of the time, as it says in Psalm 139:17-18, “How precious concerning me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.” Greater than the sand? Just think of how many grains of sand there must be in the world…God’s thoughts of you are many times more than that.

Still hesitant to believe that such a powerful, all-knowing God could possibly love someone like you? Well, if this is not love, then I don’t know what is: “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Jesus Christ came to this earth for one purpose: to sacrifice Himself for our salvation, so that we might one day be with Him in His kingdom.

And sometimes, we forget this love that God has so graciously shown us. We forget that He made us in His image, that He longs for us to come to Him…We get so caught up in trying to make ourselves beautiful by the world’s standards, that we fail to see the beauty we already have. This makes the Lord so sad! He hates it when His children feel inferior, when we cry because we think we are not enough.

There is one song that comes to mind as I write this. It is called “How Deep the Father’s Love” and my favorite line is, “How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure. That He should give His only Son and make a wretch His treasure.”

To God, you are more than enough. To Him, you are beautiful…just the way you are.

More Precious than Rubies~ By Renee Arnold

What is a ruby? Probably every one has at least seem a picture of this fiery, red gemstone. Rubies are beautiful and also very valuable. A ruby necklace at Macy's can average from $260 to $5,000! Did you know that God says that we are more precious than rubies? (Proverbs 3:15) You have so much worth to Him. You are His special little girl and He has wonderful plans for you! God doesn't ever want you to feel like you don't matter or you don't have a place in this world because you most certainly do! You are worth so much more than a $5,000 necklace at a department store. You are SO PRECIOUS!! 

 

  Don't be swayed by ads that say you have to be thin or have straight hair to be beautiful! Don't believe that you have to be the most popular or have a boyfriend to matter! You matter to God and it hurts Him when you don't see that. Did you know that when God created you He knew exactly what you were going to look and act like your whole life? God doesn't make mistakes so even though frizzy hair and freckles may make you doubt it, He doesn't mess up.

 

  God also has a perfect plan for your life. We humans, having a sinful nature, usually don't catch on and we end up messing up, but God can even make a plan out of that! God is never surprised by anything and He can turn a seemingly hopeless situation into something good.

 

Ask yourself this.... is what I wear and the way I present myself like a ruby? Am I making myself 'cost less' by wearing immodest clothes? Is that really the way God wants it to be? Dress like a ruby and you'll begin to feel like one too, even if you have to wear ruby slippers!

'Demons'~ A Freelance Poem by Lauren Kuechenmeister

Fighting demons one-by-one,
But really the battle’s just begun.

Look in the mirror, and what do I see?
Everything I wish I could change about me.

Flip through the channels on the TV,
And see everything I feel I should be.

Turning pages in magazines filled with flawless faces,
And knowing I can’t put my feet in their places.

I’ll fix everything I can about me,
But who is it I’ll turn out to be?

Rules upon rules with no exceptions,
Then I’m only asking for their rejection.

I’ll start by changing just one thing,
After that, the changing will be never-ending.

Never enough-more and more;
But who is it I’m changing for?

Don’t do it for those who say you need it most,
Because, then, you’ll become one of their earthly hosts.

Do it for you if it’s in God’s plan,
Because His is the only plan that has love to make it stand.

So you’re fighting demons one-by-one.

Step aside!

Because my God’s already won.

About the Author!
Lauren is a teen girl living for the Lord! She loves turtle lattes, traveling, and watching info-mercials!  She loves watching Disney movies and singing Christmas songs all year long. Through all of her life experiences (good and bad), God has never left her side, and she believes that nothing is too big for God!  She wants to become a psychologist one day but is excited to see what other plans God has in store for her life!

Inner Beauty With a Smile!~ "Inner Beauty Revalation"~ By Renee Arnold

Inner Beauty is probably something that you've heard about time and time again in youth group, by your mom or in a magazine but what is it really? Inner beauty simply means that beautiful actions on the inside that shine to your outside.

 

  We look at ourselves every morning in the mirror.  We may be happy with what we see and we may not be. You may have heard that the best accessory is a smile and that is absolutely true! All the make-up or plastic surgery in the world can't compensate for a simple smile you give someone. A smile is only one way to let your outer beauty shine through, say hi to someone new at your school, help a sibling or peer study for a big test, help your parents when they ask. These are only a few ways to show someone that you value the inside more that the outside.

 

The main key to inner beauty is your heart. It's who you really are. How is your relationship with God? Do you have one? By relationship I don't mean just going to church and reading your Bible in your Bible class. By relationship I mean an actual relationship with Him. Do you set aside time in your busy day to spend with just Him? Do you talk to Him not just when you need something, but just to talk? Do you live for Him? True inner beauty comes from God! He is the only one who can give you true and everlasting beauty. His beauty, unlike out outer beauty, will never fade.

 

  Now, I'm not saying that our outside isn't important, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit so we should take care of them. What I am saying is that we shouldn't begin to value appearance more than actions by choosing friends because of what they look like or dating a really cute guy even though you know he isn't a christian. We should look to the inside first and choose who we date and who our friends are because of it.

 

  Our world is obsessed with outer beauty. Celebrity's pay fortunes for plastic surgery, women pay hundreds for "miracle creams" that claim to banish wrinkles or make dark circles go away. Is that really worth it? Wouldn't you rather sink your money and time into something that will last! Read this last verse and ask yourself where your heart is. What are you really concerned about in life? Your outer beauty, or what can shine even brighter, your inner beauty?  

²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:20

 

 

Are You Clothed?~ Inner Beauty Revelation Column by Madeline Hunt

Rather clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus. Romans 13:14
Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.1Peter 5:5b
She is clothed with strength and dignity. Proverbs 31:25a

Although you may take great care to dress modestly or femininely, how much time do you spend clothing your heart? Throughout the Bible, God makes it clear that He is more concerned with our heart than our outward appearance. If you devote yourself to adorning your heart carefully, your inner beauty will shine through. I challenge you to record the amount of time you spend getting dressed, showering, and getting ready; include any “touch-up” during the day. Compare that with the time you spend adorning your heart each morning. The character traits in the verses above will bless you and others, but first you must be willing to devote the time that it will take.

Picture yourself shopping for an outfit for a special occasion. You will make sure everything coordinates and looks lovely. You may even buy new jewelry to complement the outfit. On the day of the event, you will make sure the clothes are clean before putting them on, and you will be careful to keep them clean all day.

Do you go through the same process with your heart? The spiritual clothing of your heart is so much more important than the physical clothing of your body. It is hard to focus on the appearance of our hearts instead of our physical appearance. But it will be so worth it! Your relationship with God and others will improve, you will be a light to others, and you inner beauty will be evident to everyone, and your life will be a testimony! Are you willing to devote what it takes? I challenge you to choose one of these “spiritual articles of clothing” to pray for whenever you are tempted to worry about the way you look.