Lois Walfrid Johnson - Girl Talk. 52 Weekly Devotions

To every girl
who chooses
to run close to Jesus
and
become a faithgirl
with
special love to
Jessica Lee
Karin Lyn
Jennifer Christine
and
Elise Grace

Dear Girls,

This book is about making choices.

Choices that begin small, but grow big. Choices that require you to get up, start over again, and go beyond failure. Choices in which you need to face your fear of what others think and choose your friends with wisdom.

Choices that ask you to act with courage, learn to care, find integrity, and walk with honor. Choices that encourage you to reach out to shape your destiny.

Choices that give you the opportunity to dream. To want the best, not only for yourself, but also for those who need your caring heart, your helping hand, your gift of reaching back and bringing others along with you.

This book will ask you to face obstacles. To read about those who did and those who didnt. To know as friends those people who say, I cannot do this by myself. But I know Who can help me.

Most of all, this book will ask you to reach up, to put your hand within the hand of Jesus and become a Faithgirl.

The 52 stories in this devotional are about girls who have fun times but also know the kinds of choices you face. Theres a story for each week, and you can begin reading any time of the year that youd like. As you read, ask yourself, What would I do if this happened to me or one of my friends? Talk about it with that special person who understands how you feel.

It might be your mom or dad, a grandma or grandpa, aunt or uncle. It might be an older sister or brother, a friend, neighbor, or teacher. When you find that person start talking.

Youll make an important discovery. Not every problem is suddenly solved, but the right person can help you see whats happening from a different viewpoint. Instead of feeling alone, you know theres someone who wants the best for you.

With each story there are questions to help you think about the choices you make. You can use those questions as jumping-off places for talking with someone. Or, you can make this book your own special journal. Often it helps to sort out your feelings by writing about what happened. Other times you may want to put down questions you have or ideas youd like to think through. You can also write about special things people tell you and good times youd like to remember. Elise did that in The Hidden Puzzle Piece.

When you read the verse at the beginning of each week, be honest with Jesus. Ask him, What do you want me to know? Tell him why you need his help. If you repeat the verse to yourself, youll receive the hope it offers. Youll also catch on to something big. Its important to use the Bible in making choices. Its important to memorize verses that will help you at any time of the day or night. And if you memorize the verse at the beginning of each story youll know 52 more verses by the time you finish reading this book.

Have you noticed that some girls and women have an inner beauty and an outward faith? When you choose to follow Jesus, he will help you become that kind of Faithgirl. In spite of the difficulties you may face, youll learn to recognize the choices he wants you to make. Youll have the opportunity to do the kinds of things God wants to bless.

Learning to make wise choices will help you the rest of your life. A long time ago, a runner named Eric Liddell made a hard choice because he loved and respected Jesus. It was only a few months before the Eighth Olympics, and Eric was Great Britains biggest hope for the 100 meters. When he learned the date of the competition for the qualifying races, Eric said he wouldnt run on Sunday. He wanted to honor the Lord by respecting his day.

Some people were horrified. They felt Eric was throwing away a gold medal for Scotland and Britain. They even called him a traitor to his country. For a time it looked as if Eric would lose out in every way. The 100 meters was where he excelled. But then, because he said no to running on Sunday, he qualified for a different event.

Later Eric said that because he stood for what he believed, he discovered that the 400 meters was the race that fit him best. He would not have known that otherwise. Nor would he have dreamed of trying the 400 at the Olympics. Yet because of his choice to honor the Lord, Eric ran the race he was created to win.

In spite of all the years that have passed, people still remember Eric Liddell because of what happened. First, for the difficult choice he made, and then for winning the 400 meters. That win was the Olympic gold in a world record time of 47.6 seconds. At that moment in history Erics time was beyond all expectations.

Right now, whoever you are, in whatever you do, youre in the race of your life. In that race you may face obstacles that make you feel you will lose. Yet you can overcome those obstacles because you ask Jesus for his help. When you choose to follow him, Jesus will not only go ahead of you. He will be with you all the way.

Be a girlbecome a young womanwho has an inner beauty and an outward faith. Live the adventure of running close to Jesus. In every choice you make he wants to help you become a Faithgirl.