you are worth more than many sparrows.

Last week, I was the only youth staff member in town; the other five were on a high school retreat at the beach. So, while the others were gone, I went to and helped out at a four day workshop at the church for girls ages 8-12. The camp was called project authentic beauty.
It was a hands-on camp, founded in Scripture, teaching girls about their worth and value, their bodies and being comfortable in their skin, ways they can express their beauty in godly ways, how to honor God with their bodies, and what it means to be brave in the Lord. __________________________________________________

day one: Authentic beauty: talking to the girls about what God says about beauty, worth, and value. What does authentic beauty look like and what does it mean to be brave in the Lord? Bravery verse one: "So God created mankind IN HIS OWN IMAGE, in the image of God He created them; male and female, He created them." Genesis 1:27

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day two: Authentic health: talking to girls about how our body is a temple of the Lord which means He dwells IN US. As a result, one of the ways that we can honor, respect, and glorify God most, is by taking care of what He has blessed us with. We focussed on two aspects of this: exercising right and eating heathy. We showed them fun ways to get their heart pumping and blood flowing and discussed the dangers of over eating and under eating. We even ate chocolate together...which was of course my favorite part! bravery verse two: "Do you not know that your body is a TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whome you have recieved from God? You are not your ownl YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE. Therefore honor God with your body."

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day three: Authentic awareness: helping the girls understand the different ways that the media targets them; teaching them that what the world world tells them is completely opposite of the sweet promises the Lord wispers to them in His Word. bravery verse three: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the principles of this world rather than on Christ." -Colossionas 2:8 www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U ___________________________________________________

day four: authentic voice: teaching the girls that they have a choice-to trust the truths of Scripture or the lies of the world. To make this stick, we rolled out a giant laminated piece of paper that said "i am beautiful." We got out the markers and started writing the lies that we believe,over the roll of paper. I saw girls write things like "I am ugly, boys don't like me, i am unloved, i wish i was pretty, i'm not cute, does God still love me?" heartbreaking, i know. but it was such a picture of the lies we choose to believe. When we were finished, we hung the paper on the wall and the girls were given water balloons. As they each took turns throwing their balloons at the poster they yelled things like "I am made in his image! I am wonderfully made, I am beautiful, I have worth!" As they shouted God's truths, the marks and ugly words wiped right off with the splash of their water. bravery verse four: I praise you because I am FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

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You might be wondering why we looked at passages each day and called them bravery verses. One of the main themes of the camp was the idea that to trust God's Words about beauty, worth and value is an act of bravery. Why? Because it means that we are going against the flow; it means we are standing against the lies that the world screams; it means we are being confident in the Lord; it means we can be satisfied with the way that God has made us; it means We have to be brave. but we can be. For He tells us, "do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows..."

The best part? I'm still learning all of this as they are learning.