Our purpose at Howard Books is to:
- Increase faith in the hearts of growing Christians
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- Instill hope in the hearts of struggling people everywhere Because Hes coming again!
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Girls Of Grace 2002 by Point Of Grace
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Permission Department, Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
ISBN 10: 1-58229-268-X;
ISBN 13: 978-1-58229-268-7
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Study Guides by Whitney Prosperi
Edited by Philis Boultinghouse
Interior design by Stephanie Denney
Cover design by LinDee Loveland
Cover photos by Robert Ascroft/Industrie Rep
Photography on pages 1, 41, 51, 97, 105, 147, 189 by Robert Ascroft/Industrie Rep
Photography on pages 23, 87 by Michael Haber
Scripture quotations marked ( NIV ) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. Scripture quotations marked ( NASB ) are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked ( NLT ) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 50189. Scripture quotations marked ( NKJV ) are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Italics in Scripture quotations were added by the authors for emphasis.
Excerpt in chapter 1: Donald Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1997), 15-16. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Contents
I entrust you to God and the word of his gracehis message that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
Acts 20:32 NLT
Foreword by Beth Moore
What a perfect time to share a few words about my sisters in Point Of Grace! I had the opportunity to minister with them only last night. As we gathered round the river, my memory rewound an entire decade to the very same church where I first saw them. Long before Point Of Grace was a household name in countless Christian homes, Heather, Denise, Terry, and Shelley came to one of my Bible studies as special guest singers. They were students at Ouachita Baptist University at the time, and I doubt that the word artists had ever occurred to them. When they opened their mouths, God opened His heavens, and the restas they sayis history.
I was only one of many who got to sit on the sidelines for the years that followed and watch God be huge. Ill never forget how I felt when they accepted their first Dove Award. I wept over the privilege of getting to witness such an amazing work of God from such close proximity.
Acts 17:26-27 reads, From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us ( NIV ). Whenever I teach these verses, I use Heather, Denise, Terry, and Shelley as the perfect examples of a God who tailor designs servants for specific generations.
Can you picture Point Of Grace in our great, great grandmothers churches? Hardly! Revival would have taken on a whole new meaning as much of the congregation required CPR. But our generation? I cant think of anyone God has suited more perfectly to minister to His people in our day. I am convinced that some of their greatest works are ahead.
I have celebrated every work Point Of Grace has accomplished, but I can honestly say I have never been more exited than I am about Girls Of Grace. God has given these four young women favor among girls of all ages, and I am thrilled by their determination to be good stewards of their positions of influence.
You are going to love Girls Of Grace! Youre also going to want to grab a copy for every girl you know. This book has the Spirit-empowered capacity to change young lives. Its about time this generation grasped that nothing is cooler than being a Christian.
Ten years ago, as those four college girls sauntered onto that stage, I was quite sure I had never seen a more precious gathering of fresh faces in all my life. Then last nightI thought the same thing. Grace lasts. Thats all there is to it.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 NIV
Introduction
Over the years we have been blessed to meet teenage girls from all across the country. No matter where these girls live or what kind of life circumstance they find themselves in, they all struggle with some of the same basic issues.
First Timothy 4:12 says, Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe ( NASB ). The truth is, applying this verse at any age is difficult, but it is especially hard during the teenage years. As we talk with teenage girls, we see that they really are striving to glorify God in their lives, but they have many questions about life that desperately need to be answered.
So, to all of you precious girls who are looking for answers, this book is our attempt to encourage you in your faith, to challenge you in your walk with Christ, and to aid you in your search for answers to many of lifes questions.
In writing this book, we have come to realize more than ever that we do not have all the answers. But we are intimately acquainted with our Mighty God who does hold all the answers. We prayed and studied and sought Gods guidance as we wrote the words on the pages of this book.
We ask that you open your hearts as we share what God has placed on our hearts for you. Our hope is that the Lord will use this book to minister to you right where you are. Our prayer for you is that you know you are loved and that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. We pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe (Ephesians 1:17-19 NIV ).
With all our hearts,
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