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Our site has a new home and we'll no longer be posting on this one.

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Find our blog and other conference information there!

What Guys Like About Girls

Becoming Beautiful | Becoming Girls Conferences
Intern Bailey asked some Christian guys what they think about girls and beauty. What exactly do they look for? What makes us beautiful to them? How do we impress them? Check out what they said!
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Now what do YOU think?

Am I A Good Person? Are You?

Do you try to be a good person?

I do.

When I became a new believer about 6 years ago, I was all about being "good." I didn't cuss or talk back to my parents, I went to church on Sundays and served in the children's ministry. I was a good person; it was a known fact. 

But there was something terribly wrong with that. 

Sure, I was good and I even tried to share the word of God to people and lead them to Christ, but my relationship with Jesus was stale. 

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

I was trying so hard to be good that I forgot to even sit at the feet of Jesus! The works we do are nothing in comparison to the light of the Most High. The hundreds of things we do can't save us, but the one thing Christ did. 

The Lord was completely reminding me of all this last week when my dog died. My heart was broken, when I found the dog that I grew up with for 11 years, limp with no life. I had to completely rely on The Lord and trust in Him ad hold on to the comfort that only He can give. 

I was reading in Isaiah while this entire event was taking place, and if you've ever read Isaiah, you know that it's not the most uplifting book in the bible. But The Lord was using it to humble me and remind me that I'm not the "good person" that I've made myself out to be. 

I mess up. 

I'm a sinner, just like the people in Isaiah. 

The only difference between me and those people is that I have been saved by The Lord Jesus Christ! Amen for that!

So, stop and ask yourself:

Am I a good person?

Because, while in the word, we will begin to realize that we are not. We will be humbled before The Lord, and when that happens, when we realize that we need Jesus like crazy, we will strive, not only to be more like him, but to have a relationship with him. 

Don't try so hard to be good so that the world can see, but love The Lord and soon enough, your good deeds will humbly flow from your life, like a stream trying desperately to reach the sea. (That totally might not make any sense to you. But it did to me). 

"Let the one who boasts boast in The Lord," (2 Corinthians 10:17).

Love,

Bailey Gundry | High School Intern

 

5 Steps to A Powerful Quiet Time

1. Find Your Spot

I had the same spot almost every day for my devotions. It was the nook in my bedroom window. Sometimes, during the Summer, I would climb out the window and sit in the sun on our rooftop. But inside or out, I knew that was my "holy" place. Of course, nothing about it was actually "holy" or "super spiritual," but for me it was sacred. It was the place I made an intentional date with God. 

Is there a little closet in your house? Or a meadow in your backyard? 

Think about it, where can you designate as your sacred place with God? 

Now set it up with your Bible, some candy, your music and journal. 

2. Set An Alarm

Time flies, weekend days get lazy, and after school is kind of a blur. Try setting an alarm to remind you to spend intentional time with God. Cell phones weren't as nifty or accessible back in my day, but today I have an alarm that goes off, reminding me it's 10AM and I need to take a time out to read, pray, journal, or listen to worship music.

Any alarm will do really. Go ahead, pick a time and try it tomorrow. If that time didn't work out, pick another until you find one you're comfortable and able to keep. 

3. Bring Headphones

Music does something to the human soul. I think God adores music. Sometimes listening to a worship CD or a playlist of songs that talk about God can help focus your mind and heart on Him. My favorite quiet times were when I could belt out worship to God in the privacy of my own room. 

Need music ideas? Take a peek at ours! (Click on the names to see music)

>>Britt Nicole, >>Jamie Grace, >>Antioch Worship, >>Kari Jobe, >>Hillsong United, >>Group 1 Crew, >>Kristian Stanfill, >>Mandisa

4. Get a Pretty Journal

True Girl Fact: If things are cute, we will use them. Sad, but true. Journals are a peek into what's really going on in your heart. Don't think, just write. Write down prayers, questions, complaints, sorrows, funny stories, memorable moments and tell them to God. 

If you need a little inspirational cutsy to get your quiet times motivated, then get yourself a cute journal! Marshall's usually has some super cute ones with easy to write on pages! 

5. Have a Conversation with God

Ultimately, spending undistracted time with God is the main goal. Sometimes life can give us easy-to-use excuses to not spend time with Him. But it's so important, as we grow in our faith and knowledge of who God is, that we actually get to know HIM! Don't make it complicated or formal. Just talk to Him like you would anyone else. Your prayers will change and take different shapes throughout your lifetime. 

Need a conversation starter? Tell God what you're thankful for today. Then tell Him what you want to know about Him. Ask Him to show you something about Him this week. 

However you do it, whenever you do it, making time for undistracted focus on God is important in a Christian girl's life. There is great value in meeting with the Creator of the world everyday.

Becoming Captivated Study | The Next Step

Did you learn something new at this year's Becoming Brave? Were you inspired to change your part of the world? Then Becoming Captivated is for you! 

Learn more, dig deeper, and make friends with other girls, your age, who want to the change the world too! 

Beginning February 22, this once a month Bible study will equip you (and moms too!) to become who God has uniquely called YOU to be. 

Sound interesting? Read more and sign up here.

Becoming Brave Workshops 2013

*Please note, there are 2 sessions Becoming Girls Conference of workshops. 

Saturday, 10-11AM: Age Group Appropriate & Saturday, 11-12PM: Your Choices

Becoming Brave 2013

A conference for girls, ages 11-18, to discover who they are, what their purpose is, how much they are loved, and have fun doing it!

Becoming Girls Conference is coming to Temecula, California on January 25-26.

Get tickets HERE.

See schedule, times, features, speakers, and other info @ becominggirlsconference.com

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter using: #becominggirlsconference / @becominggirls 


Find us on Facebook.com/becominggirlsconference

We are Becoming Brave

We don't combat culture. We change it.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter using: #becominggirlsconference / @becominggirls 
Find us on Facebook.com/becominggirlsconference

Want to Register? 

Beautifully and Wonderfully Made

I praise you God because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. - Psalm 139:14

Photography by JMorlet

What Does it Mean to Be Brave?

What does it mean to be "BRAVE"?

BRAVE:

ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage. 

• people who are ready to face and endure
• endure of face without showing fear (ex: we had to brave the heat) 
• Synonyms 
• courageous 
• valiant
• bold
• defy
• dare
• challenge
• face

For me, the keys words I think of when it comes to being brave is being fierce, strong, bold, and courageous. As I repeat these synonyms in my head, I realize that these are the characteristics that we, as daughters of God, have. 

Now, let's be honest. We're girls; it's normal for us to not always have these traits. Actually, this past month, I haven't been challenged or bold at all and that's perfectly okay. 

However, there is going to be a time in your life where God will call you to be brave. 
He will call you to be warriors and fight. 

There's going to be a time where you will need your sisters in order to overcome something. 

That, my friends, requires bravery, hence the "ready to face and endure" definition. 

Last year, on the weekend of 9/11's ten year anniversary, I was supposed to drive from Temecula to a hospital in Orange Country. Approaching the San Onofre nuclear power plant, we noticed some heavy traffic and assumed it was due to the security there. 

We drove past it, got through the traffic, and my brother tried calling the hospital to let them know I wouldn't make it for a special appointment on time.  The anxious part?  When he called, there was no sound; no ring, nothing. No one picked up, even though it's a hospital. 

Heavy traffic + nuclear power plant + hospitals not picking up + highway patrol speeding past us = something had to be fishy. 

We reached the city, finally off the freeway, and the street lights weren't working (of course they weren't). The cars were in a total gridlock, car accidents happening, and it took over 20 minutes to just drive a block. We weren't close to the hospital. On top of that, our cell phones weren't working. 

Now the equation is: No communication + no transportation + weekend of 9/11 anniversary = conclusion of a possible attack. 

Finally got to the hospital-- we went into one of the buildings to see that the lights were out, security was blocking the doors, and it was a mess. 

It was a point where all I could do was sit in my car, assume the worst, and be in fear. There was a sense of vulnerability. My brother even called us, "sitting ducks" because that's exactly what we were. I kept wondering when God was going to kick in this "super woman" attitude so I wouldn't be so afraid of the country getting attacked or us getting into a car accident. The "super woman" attitude never came. However, I prayed and prayed for bravery. I wanted to be bold and strong and fearless in a situation like this. If I wasn't, there would be a weakness in me that I know God didn't want to hold me back. 

Ladies, be brave and don't let yourselves be anything less. 

Don't be afraid, because God will always be there (Isaiah 41:10) in every situation, every moment, every memory. 

If you have an army of sisters by your side, then what's to stop you from being brave? (: 

Madi is a Becoming High School Freshman Intern.  is a worship leader, leading singer for a local band, and a blog writer. Her goal in life is to dream big, stay strengthened and so whatever God calls her to do.