Teaching My Daughter to Shine for Jesus
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Love is a powerful word and unleashed by choice. 1 John 4:7 completely defines it, “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God—God is love.” Radiance can come from this love. Love is so multifaceted that one chapter is not big enough to contain it. As we raise our daughters, let us instill in them… how much they are loved, to love themselves, and how to love others. God sees her as who she really is. He knows her fears and mistakes and the totally awesomeness He created. Our daughters can save much heartache if they can just wrap their minds around love and let love wrap around their minds
.GOD’S LOVE
How does God love? 1 John 4:9 says, “God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins”. Let His precious Son take the punishment of the cross that we deserved. God formed us and planned our destiny. “For I know the plans I have for you, plans for a hope and a future.” Philippians 4:6 We will never know the depth, height, or span of His love. There is no measure and it’s always loving and kind. In the bible, God explains His love in great detail. For example, “I am your provider and I meet all your needs.” Matthew 6:31-33 and “I never stop doing good to you.” Jeremiah 32:40. “Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 also “And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
LOVE OTHERS
What a loving Father!! In the world today our daughters don’t know the love of God. Some daughters feel abandoned, overlooked, invisible, misused, and not forgiven. Our job as parents is to create an atmosphere of love in our homes. Love between husband and wife, parent and children, sibling to sibling. We ourselves can be imitators of God and show His love which is merciful, forgiving, patient, and kind. Show her how to love others by loving her. We can be an example to our daughters. Love her, forgive her, be merciful to her, be so patient with her, and above all, be kind to her. The love chapter (1 Corinthians 13:4) as it has been called, expresses it this way, “Love is patient, love is kind…..it keeps no record of wrongs. It always protects always trusts, always hopes, and always preservers.” God calls us to this way of thinking. Not just us, but everyone else out there too. Even if they don’t deserve our love, they are weak, they are suffering, they are mean, they are ugly, or they are an outcast. This is grace to them. He loves “they” all the same. In Ephesians 5:2 the Word states, “Live a life filled with love for others...” Oh my yes. The greatest character trait of God is love but how does He do it? So hard to follow the example of God when the evil of the world comes in but he commands us in Luke 6:27-31 “But I tell you who hear me, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other …” Loving your enemy means praying for them and not wishing ill toward them. Forgive. We want to be forgiven when we offend. So grace is when we give that forgiveness to others who may not deserve it. How about this one… “ Do to others as you would have them do to you.” When you can walk with this truth in your heart, then your brilliance begins to peek out through the cracks like beams of light through a cloud.
LOVE YOURSELF
God came down to earth in human form and His name was Jesus. As He walked on earth, Jesus expressed love by preaching, healing, and delivering His people. Many sat listening to the Lord as He laid out a journey for his people in which the direction was love. One of His greatest commands is to love the Lord and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We have discussed God’s great love for us and how we should love others but self-love, that’s a tough one. Where does your daughter get her worth? Can she love herself? Recently, my daughter and I started a ministry called “A Girls Worth”. We hope to teach several series on “knowing your worth and loving yourself”. The first series was called “Precious”. In the series Katie and I emphasized the 3 Rs to truly learn how precious we are.
Realize we are precious- God created us all for a specific purpose.
Respect ourselves- Love yourself in how you honor your body and mind.
Remember God is good- No matter what happens, God works all things for good
Let’s face reality. I get up in the morning with a great need for encouragement in this area. I have to be reminded to love myself as do we all. The source of my worth is found in Jesus. How he values me is the most important. In Isaiah 43:14 the bible says, “Because you are precious in my sight and honored and because I love you.” We are loved and valued by our creator. Let’s remind our daughters everyday of their value, worth, and to love themselves.
To teach our daughters the love God, how to love others, and self love in all circumstances is a priceless treasure. Love conquers all.
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About the Book
Who better to teach a daughter the truths of God than her mother? What better book to guide a daughter into those truths than the Bible, the holy Word of our Creator, God? This world is full of influence for our precious girls. There is a dark stain spreading throughout our atmosphere. Who will be the light in the darkness? Mom, it’s you. Those who follow Christ are called to be salt and light. In Ephesians 5–6, Paul lays a foundation of “being the Light of Jesus” to our stained world.
“Follow God’s example in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you … Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. … Instead let there be thankfulness to God … For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of LIGHT form the Lord and your behavior should show it. For this LIGHT within you produces only what is good … Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days … Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord … A final word be strong with the Lord’s power. Put on all God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil … May God’s grace be upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This book is a call to mothers around the world to equip their daughters to “Shine for Jesus.”
About the Author
Karen Ann Dorsey is a wife and a mother of one precious daughter. Karen has a desire to see young ladies know that they are precious to Him and they were designed to “shine” the light of Jesus. She continues her crusade as founder of A Girls Worth ministry, worship leader, and junior high youth leader.