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Do Hard Things: Introduction
Guess what book arrived in from my holds list at the library yesterday?  I'm so excited to have an opportunity to read Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations. I've long appreciated Alex and Brett Harris's passion and zeal for the Lord. In an age where teens are expected to rebel and be a disgrace to their parents, it is high time a generation of young people steps up to the plate and denounces this corrupt thinking in our culture! And it's not only teens who need to be challenged to go against the flow of modern mediocrity; we adults aren't fairing much better these days. There are 40-year-old adolescents mindlessly wandering, seeking ease and comfort, and living for nothing greater than themselves. Have we, as adults, also bought into the low expectations of our cultural surroundings? Are we pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone, outside of a life of ease, beyond the slums of selfishness? I struggle with this daily so I am especially thrilled to hold a book in my hands which, according to Randy Alcorn, "Will prove to be one of the most life-changing and culture-changing books of this generation."Join me over the next few weeks as I read through this book and share what I'm gleaning from it. If you have your own copy, feel free to read along with me and comment with your own thoughts. Let's step outside of the mire of mediocrity and boldly set out on a journey to become world-changers willing to "do hard things". "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God." -William Carey Related: Listen to the Harris twins on NPR here. Labels: Do Hard Things, For the unmarried, Self discipline
Can the desire for marriage become idolatry?
 I get accused of a lot of different things in being a blogger read by more than a handful of people. One of the accusations I've heard time and time again is that my view on the importance of marriage and family is nothing short of idolatrous. Yes, I know that believing all throughout Scripture we see God created marriage as a good thing or that God holds parents responsible to train, raise, and nurture their children might be going against what is preached and practiced in the majority of modern Christendom these days. However, these beliefs of mine are not something I just pulled out of thin air and slapped the word "Biblical" upon, they are rooted in Scripture. Candice Watters reiterates this in her article, Marriage: An Idol?
Most single women want to get married. A good marriage is something they deeply desire. But for many, their desire is unarticulated, a silent longing. I kept quiet most of the time when I was single and hoping for marriage, mostly out of embarrassment for being romantically unsuccessful. It was easier, and less risky, to just keep it to myself. By my silence, I could avoid ridicule and the possibility of having to admit my failure if marriage never happened. But today there's an added reason women hide their desire for marriage. They've been told and retold that nurturing such a desire will not only scare men off, but worst of all, it may lead them to idolatry. I see and hear this warning a lot among Christians. It seems anytime someone writes or preaches about marriage to singles, they start with the caveat that wanting marriage is good "as long as you don't make an idol out of it." Can the desire for marriage really become an idol? It's technically possible. But that notion has been blown out of proportion. And repeatedly suggesting the possibility of idolatry has done more harm than good. It's caused a lot of women to be tepid in their approach to marriage and made them afraid that any amount of thinking or acting on their desire might be a sin. Both have the unfortunate consequence of making marriage even less likely to happen. Such caution is rarely urged with other desires. No one would discourage a woman from praying fervently, even daily, for an unsaved family member. And we'd applaud intense and passionate faith for the healing of a friend who was dying of cancer. Even desires that more easily border on idolatry - education, career pursuits, and hobbies - get a near-universal pass. But giving a fraction of such attention to the desire for marriage solicits dire warnings of overdoing it. Fervency when petitioning God for a mate comes under singular scrutiny. Read full article.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this article. If you agree or disagree, I encourage you to think it through Biblically. What does God's Word have to say concerning this? Do you believe the desire for marriage can become idolatry?
Hat-tip to LadiesAgainstFeminism.comGraphic from AllPosters.comLabels: For the unmarried, Marriage
Valentine's Contest Winner!
Valentine's Contest: Finalist #4
And the final Valentine's Contest Finalist - Bethanne:Valentine's Day has always been about doing something special for my family. Ever since my mom helped me make a chocolate cake from scratch, Valentine's Day was not complete without making something chocolate for my family. I would also enjoy preparing them an elegant meal and serving it on our china. The theme was red, with things like meatloaf with ketchup, red jelly for the fresh rolls, and did I mention the chocolate dessert?
But more recently Valentine's has turned into a less formal party for my 10+ nieces and nephews. We have the children over while their parents go out, and there is no picking them up when the evening is over. The kids get to spend the night at grandma and grandpa's, and the parents get a quiet night and morning at home!
In the afternoon, we will have Valentine's games and a mini party for a snack. The featured drink is strawberry milk! This year I'm planning the main activity to be baking sugar cookies. I'll prepare the dough ahead of time then the children can roll and cut their cookies. When they are baked, the children get to decorate and of course eat them!
For the meal I'm planning something everybody can help with--"pigs in a blanket"--the children love helping to put the dough around these. We'll also have heart shaped Jell-O cutouts and carrots (I had to fit a vegetable in!). This isn't health food, but who says you have to eat healthy at Grandma’s?! And of course I will have to serve something chocolate, probably "decorate your own cupcakes"!
The formal china will be exchanged for easy clean up of paper plates. There will be no white tablecloth or candles, but there will be oh! so much love.
I enjoy planning this party even more then my formal dinner. I love spending time with my nieces and nephews, and even though there might be lost sleep from helping them in the night and a dirty house when they leave, some things are easy to over look when you’re doing something for the ones you love.
-Bethanne Busenitz, 17 Labels: For the unmarried
Valentine's Contest: Finalist #3
Valentine's Contest Finalist #3 - Stephanie:I am nearly 21 and I'm still enjoying the blessings of living in my father's household. My days are spent helping my mother, and learning to be a keeper at home.
I have not always been a single young lady in desire of God's best. A year ago God began to do a great work in my heart. I was dating a young man, and after having dated two and-a-half years, we had informally decided to get married.
At this time God began to bestow on me His mercy and wisdom revealing to me that the relationship was not honoring to Him, He asked me to come back under my father's authority and trust that He would supply all my needs. My God has never failed me and I praise Him that He protected me in those years of dating!
Though I emerged from the relationship physically pure, I was grieved that I had given my heart so openly to one that God did not have for me. It has been such a blessing to see how God has used my mistakes to bring me to a place where I fully appreciate the joy of submitting to my father, and given my father the desire to lead me and guard my heart.
It is because of our desire to encourage single young women in the Lord, that my sister Hannah and I are planning a Valentine's dinner for fourteen young ladies. It's going to be held on Thursday, and I'm looking forward to seeing what God's going to do through the time of fellowship.
My plans for the evening are as follows: The girls have been instructed to dress as formally as they desire. When the girls arrive I have planned an icebreaker game since few of the girls know each other. Since my theme for the evening is focusing on Godly women in the Bible or History, I will tape names on the back of each girl as she arrives, instructing her that she must find out who she is. When she discovers her identity, she will read about the history of the woman.
We will then proceed to an elegant candle-lit dinner of lasagna, salad and bread; followed by a dessert of chocolate truffle cheesecake and peanut butter pie.
After dinner I plan to share my testimony with the girls, and give them an opportunity to tell us what God's doing in their life at this time. Then we will let the girls that wish to, take part in blessing us with their talent on the piano, followed by a time of praise and worship.
To conclude the night, we plan to watch segments from Return of the Daughters. It is my prayer that as each girl leaves with a rose in her hand, she will also leave with a love in her heart towards our loving Savior, and embrace Him as the Prince of her life!
-Stephanie Johnson
 Labels: For the unmarried
Valentine's Contest: Finalist #2
Valentine's Contest Finalist #2 - Gretchen:Our church has a tradition to do a Valentine's banquet for all the married couples. Last year, my younger brother and I expressed the desire to plan and organize the banquet and we were gladly given permission. My vision was to have the single young people, highschool aged and older, do everything from the preparation to the clean up and allow the married couples to have the evening off. It went so well that we were asked to do it again this year.
 We decided, this year, that my brother would be in charge of making all the food while I would be in charge of everything else. After much thought, we chose to do a Garden theme and the planning and bargain shopping began. Since it is winter, we had to buy/use artificial plants & flowers, but they actually looked great at the banquet.
Around the room, we had 6 different gardens:
A Child's Garden - complete with real dirt, seeds, real plants that were just beginning to pop out of the dirt and lots of cute gardening items appropriate for a child
 The Serenity Garden - complete with a lovely little bench, a mini pond with real goldfish in it and lots of beautiful flowers
 The Welcome Garden - which included a ladder my little brother and I had hand-made from an old tree in our backyard, sand and some living cactus looking plants
 The Garden of Love - this included a white table and chairs set up for tea under some trees with real cream, sugar and little cookies. We had rose petals on the ground all around and under the table as well, with many extra touches to make it look like a perfect retreat.
The Rock Garden - complete with lots and lots of rocks which we dug up from our gardens at home, a mini pond and larger pond with a fountain, blue lights and some adorable yellow butterflies I purchased at Hobby Lobby.
We also had another sort of "garden" with a bridge. Instead of water running under it, I used sand and made it look like water with a rock outline - an idea I had seen on a recent trip.
Around the room, we had a path that ran by the different gardens which was made of green lights. The musicians, which were young people from our church, played under a lattice cove that was decorated with greenery and flowers. We also had a photography room, set up like JCPenny's and a young man from our church took pictures of the couples.
 As the couples walked in, they were given a program and a rock with a number painted on it. The number on the rock stood for which table they were sitting at. A beverage cart, which was decorated with lots of flowers and tulle, was pushed around and they were offered tea or water. Many came early and enjoyed wandering around the gardens while enjoying the sounds of music and water falling (from the fountain).
 After the banquet started, each table had waiters/waitresses--young people from our church--who served them the delicious food my brother and some other young people from our church had made: Mixed Salad Greens with Poppy Seed Dressing, Assorted Fruit on trays, Honey Wheat Bread, New Potatoes with Chives, Sesame Broccoli, Baked Chicken with Herb Sauce and Raspberry Mousse Pie - all made from scratch. My Dad took care of the after dinner games and program.
  While it took months to plan and 1 1/2 days to set up, it was well worth the effort. Many couples that attended said it was the best banquet our church had ever had. I was very, very blessed in organizing it, especially as I worked with the young people from our church who endlessly gave up their time and energy to help me unload rocks/stones, dirt, sand and loads of other stuff as well as assist in setting up the gardens. I can hardly wait to begin planning next year's banquet! -Gretchen is 20 and works as a mother's helper, studies and teaches flute and piano, and runs Fashionably Modest Patterns. She also happens to be my sister. :)
Labels: For the unmarried
Valentine's Contest: Finalist #1
It was very hard to narrow it down to four finalists from all the excellent entries to the Valentine's Contest, but Jesse and I finally came up with four entries which we both felt exhibited great creativity, effort, and a servant's heart. I will be posting the finalists in the next four entries and then will post a poll for everyone to vote on their favorite. The winner of the poll will win the grand prize. All finalists will receive a small prize.
Finalist #1 - Sarah:Before I read about your blog contest, I had already sent some little gifts and candy to my dear girlfriend for Valentine’s Day, and I was also going to buy a roast for my family to enjoy. But after I read your post, the Lord showed me another thing that He wanted me to do.
I am the editress of an e-magazine for single ladies, meant to encourage them in their walk with the Lord. I asked the Lord what He wanted me to do that would be an encouragement to them at this time of year. I will be sending out an encouraging e-magazine on the 14th, but I knew the Lord wanted me to do more than that.
There are 40 ladies in my area who are members of my e-magazine. So, I am making up and sending them little bags filled with candy. I am including a laminated bookmark that I made, which has an encouraging verse (Hebrews 13:20-21) on one side and our logo and theme verse (Isaiah 40:31) on the other side. Lastly, I am enclosing a note to encourage them to keep their eyes fixed on their Lord through this time of longing for a "special someone."
I have thoroughly enjoyed making up all these little goodies for others. It definitely has helped to take my eyes off of "poor me" and turned them to my Lord and others!
-Sarah Ann Ekberg, editress of Ladies-in-Waiting an e-magazine dedicated to challenging and encouraging single girls in their love relationship with the Lord. Labels: For the unmarried
Guest Post: The Ministry of Single Girls
 The Ministry of Single GirlsGuest Post by Katie Martin It's truly amazing how much a young lady can be an encouragement and a blessing to those around her during her single years. Singleness, though it may be temporary, is a valuable time to reach out to your community and to serve and care for your family. Here are just a ideas I thought of for ways to be a blessing to the different people the Lord puts in your path: Your Parents
Especially for young women, serving your parents is a way to be a blessing in your home, to be obedient to the Lord, and to be an example to the younger children around you. I'm not talking about simply obeying your parents, but go out of your way to make sure their needs are met without being asked.
I love to wash, iron, and lay out my dad's clothes for work and to cook his favorite meals. My dad loves chocolate chip cookies - fresh out of the oven. It brings me joy to see him getting excited when he smells them baking! My mom loves it when I bring her some iced tea or clean something that usually gets overlooked. These are just simple things that can be a big blessing to your parents! Your Church
In my church there are a number of opportunities for a young woman to serve. Every first Sunday of the month we have a big lunch after the morning service. All the women and girls cook the food, bring it to church, and set it up. There are lots of families with many little children and the unmarried girls often help the little ones go through the line and fix their plates. Afterwards, we help clean up and re-package food to be taken home. Another way we can serve in the church is by helping young mothers with their little children. It's such a blessing to allow a young mother to talk without being interrupted and it's a blessing for me to be able to play with her little ones! A lot of young unmarried girls in our church can play the piano and we love to be able to relieve the pianist every once in a while. That's another fine way for a young girl to serve in the church! Your Siblings/Other Children
The best way to be an encouragement to your siblings/other children is to spend time playing with them. They love that! I love playing with children and it always encourages me as I strive to be a godly woman because I see how much of an example I'm setting for them. There are a lot of ways I can be a blessing to my mother and siblings at the same time by helping my siblings with their schoolwork or their piano. Sometimes it's necessary just to be silly when I'm playing with them. I try to enjoy every minute without controlling or being condescending. My siblings don't know it yet, but this Valentine's Day I'm planning a special treasure hunt for them - they'll have so much fun completing all the steps in order to get their Valentine's Day cards! These kinds of surprises are the most fun for them. Another way I can bless my siblings is by teaching them. My mother is the primary teacher in our household but I can help my siblings with their math, science, or spelling. I also help them with their piano work. It's a wonderful way to practice for being a homeschooling mother someday! One of their favorite things to do is play "one room schoolhouse". They love it when I dress up and play the teacher. I write lessons on the board for them to copy. Little do they know that when they are pretending to learn, they really are learning! The Elderly
There are a lot of absolutely lovely elderly people within my church family. I love to sit and listen to them talk about their lives and their spiritual journeys. You can gain so much wisdom from them! My family greatly enjoys volunteering at the local assisted living facility and blessing the residents by talking to them, playing BINGO, bringing them cards, and playing hymns on the piano. There are so many things an unmarried girl can do to bless others around her and bring the glory to God. The Lord is gracious! I'm blessed beyond measure in this season of my life and I wouldn't change it for the world. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10
-Katie Martin is a seventeen year old stay at home daughter. She enjoys cooking, sewing, graphic design, teaching piano lessons, and playing with her five younger siblings. In an effort to encourage other young ladies during this season of life, she blogs regularly at Stay-At-Home Daughters under the moniker of "Flibby."
Graphic from AllPosters.com
Labels: For the unmarried
Valentine's Contest: Honorable Mentions
 Thank you to everyone who participated in the Valentine's contest this year. I wish I could share all of your wonderful entries on this blog--if only we had enough space! The following entries really touched me so I'm awarding them Honorable Mention: Honorable Mention #1 - From Amber:This Valentine's Day I am going to send a very special letter to my grandmother (Nanny). She came to stay with my family for four months and left about a month ago. I have really grown to love her and I am afraid that she will be lonely this Valentine's Day especially because my grandfather died about two years ago and she really misses him.
I am going to write her a note telling her how much I love her and how much I appreciate everything she did for me while she was here. My wonderful mother homeschools us so we were able to spend plenty of time with her. She made us laugh, she read to us, and she won my heart. She is very sweet and loving so I would love to be able to encourage her.
I will find some very pretty note paper and with my best handwriting I will endeavor to make her happy. -Amber, 13 years old
Honorable Mention #2 - From Lorrie:My plan for this Valentine's Day is to make simple valentine cards (out of colored paper) and tape a piece of candy to some of them. Then, I'll go to town and visit one of the nursing homes. I have a friend who is the Activity Director. I'll give these to her to pass out since she knows which residents can and cannot have candy.
I used to work in this nursing home a few years ago. You'd be surprised to see how many resident's family members just stick them in the nursing home and never come back to visit. I always think about them during the holidays. I remember one day one of the older women was sitting in the front lobby for a long time. I asked her if she was going to eat and she just smiled at me and told me that she was waiting on her family to come and visit. Her family never did show up that day. And, everyday she'd sit there, waiting. This broke my heart, she really did believe her family would come and visit her.
I couldn't think of a better way to spend my Valentine's Day than to show these people that someone is thinking about them. -Lorrie Honorable Mention #3 - From Leanne:Autism occurs in 1 in 150 children. The Keebler family realized that not one, but two of their three boys had autism four years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Keebler's lives became filled with taking Joshua and Caleb to therapy, researching other treatments and doctors appointments. They have to be some of the most selfless people I know. Hearing them talk about how the Lord has greatly blessed them in the midst of trials is incredible.
Our family met the Keeblers about six months ago when they began attending our church. My younger sister and I started going to their home once a week to work (and play) with Joshua, age nine, Caleb, age seven, and Aaron, age four. Working with special needs kids is amazing. Getting excited with Mrs. Keebler when Caleb learns to sign a new word, when Joshua starts to write stories, when Aaron sings, praying with Mrs. Keebler for her boys.
Last week I called Mrs. Keebler told her that we were planning on watching her kids so she and Mr. Keebler could go out to eat in celebration of Valentine's Day. After they got back from the restaurant they told us that this was the first time in six years that had gone anywhere by themselves.
Mr. and Mrs. Keebler are mistaken. Yes, we might be a blessing to them, but they bless us in their example and testimony in a way they will never know. -Leanne
Thank you Amber, Lorrie, and Leanne, for your heart to minister. May the Lord richly reward you! Graphic from AllPosters.com Labels: For the unmarried
Guest Post: Don't Repeat My Mistakes!
In keeping with our theme of encouraging unmarried women this week, Sherrin asked me if she could share the following lesson she wished she had learned when she was still single.
 Don't Repeat My Mistakes!
Guest Post by Sherrin Drew
In our family scrapbook there is a picture of me holding some home baked bread. I must have been about fourteen, and Mum had decided it was time to include some household skills in her home school curriculum. Her efforts were short lived. I complained so much that this was one battle she chose to lose. Mum already had to make her rebellious teenage daughter assist with outside chores and complete her schoolwork, without adding baking to the list. This is just one snippet of my teenage years, which were largely wasted in unhappiness and rebellion. Now, as a newlywed, I wonder how much better equipped I would be if different choices had been made over ten years ago. I have spent the last six months of married life gradually learning to clean the house, use the vegetables we grow, grocery shop, and plan meals. I have a long way to go! If I had enthusiastically embraced Mum's plans, I would not have got married and had to learn from scratch. Marriage has quickly taught me that running a household really is hard work, and it requires practise. Even though I tried to learn some household skills in my early twenties at home, this did not make up for the lessons I missed out on as a teen when Mum and I both had more time. I share this in the hope that it will encourage teenage girls to make the most of the time they have at home with their mothers. When you get married, you could already be an expert at cleaning a house or cooking cheap and nutritious meals. Unlike me, you will not need to invite your Mum over to teach you to clean windows! I encourage you to consider ways in which you can learn as much as possible from your Mum in this season of your life. Take over some of her work. This will make life easier for her now, and for you later! Don't repeat my mistakes. - Sherrin Drew is a young wife from Australia who blogs at www.sherrindrew.blogspot.comGraphic from AllPosters.comLabels: For the unmarried
Guest Post: A Lady in Waiting
Don't forget to enter our Valentine's Contest for the Unmarried! Entries must be received by tonight. We've added a bunch of new prizes so you won't want to miss this! In keeping with this theme, I'll be posting some guest posts this week specifically to encourage unmarried women and young women.
 High school is over. You're either finished with college or you've chosen not to go. Now you're waiting. But what are you waiting for? Direction? A sign that you're on the right road? A map to lead you to your next destination? A husband? A job? We're all familiar with waiting--it's something we begin to experience as small children. We know how it feels to wait impatiently, tapping our feet and letting out an occasional sigh as we watch the hands on the clock tick hours of our lives away. As we grow older we learn to sit patiently, meekly watching those same hands go 'round and 'round. There is a time to wait (patiently), a time to hope and to expect, but instead of lulling ourselves to sleep with the rhythm of our rocking chairs, let's look at the phrase, "waiting on the Lord" a little differently than usual. Imagine for a moment, that you have entered a restaurant. The hostess has led you to your seat and given you a menu, but you haven't yet seen your waitress. You peruse the menu, decide upon a meal, and wonder if the waitress will be along soon. She, instead of coming to wait on you, has settled herself into a cozy chair in the corner and decided she'll just wait for you to let her know what you'd like to order. If you want something, surely you'll come and let her know. Now imagine that you've gone back to the same restaurant, and this time your waitress comes to your table as soon as you've been seated. She smiles and introduces herself, inquires how you are doing, and asks if she can get you anything. This waitress is learning how she can best serve you. By the time you leave, she will know a little bit about you. She will have served you and even given you a little bit of companionship. So what does that have to do with waiting on the Lord? Everything! When we come to the Lord's table and ask what we can do to serve Him, we gain a better understanding of His overall plan and the things that "taste good" to Him. As we offer Him our companionship, we learn who He is. Historically, ladies-in-waiting were the queen's closest friends. It was their job to serve her and to be her companions. As daughters of God, we have the privilege of both serving our Lord and being His companions. As we wait on Him daily we can learn who He is and what His desires are. How much more efficient and personal than simply curling up in a comfy chair and waiting for Him to bring His order to us! Instead of languishing as the minute hand makes its rounds across the face of the clock, add a little word to the end of your waiting, and wait on your heavenly King. He's waiting for you. - by Rebekah Bentley, Originally published in A Lady in Waiting, Volume 1, Issue 1Rebekah is a 23-year-old homeschool graduate currently "waiting on the Lord" at a children's home in India. When she's back in the States she enjoys dancing and teaching dance, writing, acting, and working part-time for the Home Educators Association of Virginia. Rebekah publishes A Lady in Waiting magazine, a print publication designed to encourage stay-at-home-daughters. You can reach her by e-mail at rebekah@aladyinwaiting.com.
Graphic from AllPosters.comLabels: For the unmarried
Our annual Valentine's Contest for the Unmarried
 Valentine's Day is just around the corner and guess what that means? It's time for our annual Valentine's Contest for the Unmarried. Yes, you read that right. While normal Valentine's themes are surrounded with hearts and lovers, we like to take this season to remember those of you who don't have husbands--maybe you are a single mom, maybe you are still in your teens, maybe you are an older unmarried woman who is patiently waiting upon the Lord for marriage. Whatever the case, if you are an unmarried female, we want to encourage you this Valentine's Day to celebrate in a meaningful way. And that's what this contest is all about. The inspiration for this contest comes from a reader named Rachel who wrote: As I read about other Valentine's Day contests on the web, I was reminded of something that happened several years ago.
I had almost neglected to notice that it was Valentine's Day, being an unmarried daughter who has chosen to avoid traditional dating practices. But that afternoon, a friend a little older than I dropped by our house, explaining that she was on a mission to deliver miniature roses to all the unmarried girls she knew who are committed a courtship mindset (and thus wouldn't be receiving roses or cards from any guys). Even though I wasn't struggling with contentment that day, her special gift really blessed and encouraged me.
Just yesterday, I resolved to follow her example and do something to encourage other like-minded young ladies who are seeking to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to follow His ways. Perhaps you could initiate a contest with this goal.
Another idea: Maybe the unmarried daughters' contest could be to help married couples to celebrate Valentine's Day (ex., facilitate their parents' plans, offer to babysit for a couple with small children).
I think that with either of these, the goal would be to fulfill the instruction given in Hebrews 13:4 ~ "Marriage is to be held in honor among all." Contest Details: You must be unmarried to participate in this contest and, to keep things simple, it is only open to unmarried females (This is not to discriminate against the handful unmarried males who read this blog--if you want to have your own contest, you are free to sponsor it. :). There is not age limit minimum or maximum.
To enter:
1. Compose an email or post on your blog about how you as an unmarried woman, are going to celebrate Valentine's Day in a way that will encourage other young women, encourage married couples, or any other creative idea you have that will hold up marriage as honorable and/or show love to someone else (your family, friends, neighbors, the elderly, shut-ins, anyone who might be in need of extra love right now). Perhaps it might even be something you are doing to deepen your relationship with the Lord.
Be creative; the sky is the limit! I will be posting some of the entries which come in, so I'd love to have you send pictures along with your entry, if you can take pictures of your celebration or project.
2. Submit your email or blog post link along with your full name and mailing address - biblicalwomanhood AT sbcglobal.net.
I will accept entries through February 12th, 2007.
My husband and I will choose our top four favorite entries and will post them February 13 and 14 and provide a poll for readers to vote on the entries. The winner selected by you all will receive a prize package of special goodies and a $25 gift certificate to any online store of their choice. In addition, the Grand Prize winner will receive: -A free copy of Martha Greene's Treasury of Vintage Home-Keeping Skills from Discount Homeschool Supplies -$25 worth of free products of your choice from Roses and Teacups-A free Homestead Garden Soy Wax Candle and Homestead Gardens Room & Linen Spray from Homestead Originals-A free Titus 1:15 Purity Bracelet from Cherabella Faith -A free handmade card and handmade dish cloth from Maidens Gifts-A free Shawl Collar dress pattern from Hint of History
-A free 16 oz. soy jar candle of your choice from Mia Bella Candles (these are one of my very favorite candles ever!)
-A free one-year subscription to A Lady in Waiting magazine -A bottle of hand and body lotion as well as a mini skincare set from L'Bri Pure and Natural-A free headband of your choice from Peppermint Street Boutique-A free copy of The Auction Video Homeschool Course-A free copy of Entering His Gates by Lorrie Flem -A free copy of TEACH magazine
-A free copy of A Woman of Noble Character: Becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman in Today's Busy World-A one year subscription to Seasons at Home magazine-Large rice bag from Froggy Girl Designs -One free item of your choice from TheEasyFrench or TheEasySpanish
The three runners up will receive:
-A free copy of Grande Cooking by Lisa Taylor -A free copy of Entering His Gates by Lorrie Flem -A free copy of TEACH magazine
( By the way, if you have a business and would be interested in donating a prize, email me for more details!) Instead of Valentine's Day being a day of dreariness and sadness for those who are unmarried, let's make it an exciting day of blessing and encouragement. "It is more blessed to give, than to receive." Note: I'd also love to receive some guest posts from unmarried women or young women encouraging other unmarried women to glorify God in this season. Email me if you are interested in writing something to be posted in the next week. Graphic from AllPosters.com Labels: For the unmarried
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