Sketching Faces~ A Fun Craft Article by Hogan Stevens

(Apologies for the blurriness of the picture. LAT has been having some technical difficulties)



When I was told to write a fun article for January, I seriously could think of nothing. Nothing. And that’s weird for me, because I can usually come up with something to write about after a day or so. So I kept asking myself, “What fun things do girls do that I can write about?” And I just could not figure it out. You see, I don’t think I am what is considered a “normal” teenage girl. I hate to shop, and my idea of a fun afternoon with my best friend is reading a book…or talking about books. So I instead asked myself, “How do I have fun? Maybe I can inspire one of our readers to try something new!”

  Here lately it seems I’ve caught the drawing bug. Of course, I’ve always loved to draw all sorts of things, even when I was really young, but lately I’ve grown to love sketching portraits. I really only discovered this talent a couple of months ago, I would like to share it with you. All it takes is a blank piece of paper, a sharp pencil and your imagination!

  I usually use an actual picture for reference when drawing a person. Just follow the details of the picture with your eyes as you draw, paying attention to the shape of the face, eyes, and mouth. Sketch lightly at first, that way you can erase any mistakes (I do lots of erasing the first few minutes).

  When filling in each area of the face, make sure you pay attention to each detail, like just where the eyebrows lay on the forehead or how high the lips are from the chin. These things really help bring out the characteristics of your subject.

  The hair and eyes are usually what I save for the last, since they are probably the most difficult to sketch. I also like to make them as lifelike as possible. With the hair, make quick, decisive strokes--all in the same direction--and be sure to make them all even looking. Don’t want spotted hair, now do we?

  I always pay special attention to the eyes, since they are what give the subject that small spark of life. Each person has a unique shape to their eye, and every eye has a different layer of coloring that is not all that hard to capture. Don’t forget to make the pupils the darkest part of the eye, and you can also add a small catch light right next to the pupil just to add that extra bit of sparkle to the eye. Take your time.

  Of course, you don’t have to be the best artist to do this! It takes loads of practice to get it all right, but I think you will really enjoy it. I know I sure do. I’ve spent hours just sketching out my friends and family, and it really is a joy to see their reactions when I show them a hand-drawn portrait of themselves. They really seem to appreciate it…even when I don’t get their nose just right or forget to add just enough freckles. I can hardly wait to give my parents and my best friend the pictures I’ve drawn of them for Christmas!

  And…if it turns out you just can’t seem to get down a good technique at making your drawings 100% lifelike, just put them off as caricature! No one will know the difference. Hopefully.

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!

 

I Will Go~ A Music Review by Michelle Pell

I Will Go ~ Starfield

Starfield is a group based out of Canada, started in 2000, with multiple awards including Covenant Awards and Vibes (Canada's Dove Award).

I Will Go, the group's third album release, is full of songs with lyrics straight from Scripture.

They do many church songs with a twist to how they sound. When you're standing there singing along to their songs, you can really get into the words and what they mean, instead of just standing there singing.

My favorite songs on the CD are Reign In Us and I Will Go. Both are extremely inspirational and meaningful to me. One song asks God to come and take over my life, and the other is a sacrificial song promising "I Will Go.”

If you don't enjoy most contemporary christian music and are more of a worship girl, this album is perfect for you because of its solid lyrics. But this album is in the genre of Christian rock, so to you rock girls out there, you will be able to sing praises while ROCKING OUT!

Whenever you are feeling down and out, or in need of a pick-me-up this album, with it's scriptural songs and peppy beats, will lift you right up and remind you that God is FOREVERMORE.

Idols~ A Spiritual Article by Heather Young

Idols

When you hear the word “idol,” you might imagine a statue of some sort, with people bowing down to it.  Actually, anything can become an idol.  An idol doesn’t have to start out with something bad; it can start out being something good.  But a good thing that becomes a god-thing is a bad thing.

“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3

“You shall not make anything to be with Me—gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves.”
Exodus 20:23

“You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars.”
Exodus 23:24

            God made it clear that we are not supposed to worship anything other than Him.  Worshipping doesn’t necessarily mean bowing down to money, a person, a movie, or any other earthly object or being, but simply seeing it as higher than God.  Anger, fear, and the loss of a desire to live are three feelings you will most likely experience if you are deprived of your idol.  Your idol could be a person you’re trying to impress; you’re afraid that if you don’t live up to their standards, they will reject you.  Maybe your idol is possessions; you think that you just have to have the newest phone, latest clothes, or coolest car.  Whatever your idol is, you need to put it in its place under God and remember that He is the only person, place, or thing that can ever truly satisfy you and bring you true joy and love.

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and mammon.”
Matthew 6:24

“For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods.  For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.”
1 Chronicles 16:25-26

            We did not create God; God created us.  He is more perfect than anything we can ever imagine or see.  Man-made items are not even close to what God has created.  Why would we want to worship things other than God? Because the grass always seems greener on the other side.  We shouldn’t try to fill our lives with figures we think will fill our lives with happiness.  God is the one and only true God, and we need to truly believe that with all of our heart.  Don’t seek approval of others around you.  Seek the approval of God, and He will use you to fulfill the wonderful plans he has for your life.  Idols do not even begin to compare with what God has to offer you.

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.  Amen.”
1 John 5:21