Here are a few of the testimonies girls wrote last semester after we finished Set 4. I hope you'll enjoy reading these & rejoice in what God is doing in our group this year!
"Courage to
Stand Alone was my favorite lesson. I learned about this a few years
ago, but it's always good to be reminded again because we are humans and
slip up. I know for myself, I tend to find myself wanting to "blend in"
but instead I need to tell myself that God has called me to a higher
purpose and I should be serving my Lord instead of myself." -age 14
"Although the lessons have influenced me in more ways than I can
count, the way God has most used Bright Lights in my life is giving me
boldness. There have been other factors that have helped me with this
issue, but Bright Lights has definitely been one of the most important
influences.
About two years ago, I was extremely shy... I avoided praying out
loud, I was terrified of what people would think of me, and I didn't
want to step out of my comfort zone for anything. Although I wanted to
serve others and witness, I was afraid to take the first step to doing
so. However, lessons like
Presenting the Gospel,
Sensitivity and
Humility
convicted me of my selfishness and pride, and God helped me to begin to
change. Being a small group leader literally shoved me out of my
comfort zone, but it surprised me how quickly my comfort zone was
enlarged, so I started reaching out in other ways. Several important
times this year, I've felt God prompting me to do something... when I
obeyed, even though I was afraid, God would bless what I was trying to
do and although it was usually just as hard as I thought it would be (if
not more so), it wasn't impossible... and it was worth it.
I'm still shy. I'm still afraid of what people think of me. I'm
still selfish and prideful. And I always will be. But God is changing
me. Day by day, He's molding me into the person he wants me to be. It's
hard; it's a painful process. But He knows what He's doing, and I
wouldn't have it any other way." -age 15
"One decision I have made this semester, after we learned about
protecting ourselves from polluting influences, is the commitment to
submit to my father's rules while I live in his house. It has made a big
difference in my life. I am following his rules better and respecting
him more. I have also tried to follow my mom's rules more too. The other
lesson that had the most impact on me is the one where we learned that
standing alone is going to be hard but rewarding. It impacted me most
because I do stand alone sometimes at school. But I know that even the
times when I don't have friends I can still believe that God knows what
He is doing. The Lord is showing me more on how to pick true friends and
how to better obey my parents." -age 10
"This semester in Bright Lights there were a lot of important
lessons. All the lessons were very helpful for me but I think the one
that helped me the most was the lesson on having the courage to stand
alone. I have never actually stood up
alone for what I believe
in, there have always been other people to stand up with me. But, as it
says in the lesson on standing alone, before we can apply the other
lessons we learned in this set we have to gain the courage to stand
alone. This has opened my eyes to all the chance I have had to stand
alone, and I haven't. I have been praying four courage to stand alone
with God. And for a chance to stand alone for him. Once we have the
courage to stand alone in God, we have the ability to stand up to our
friends for what we believe in, to use discernment with our words and to
stay away from polluting influences." -age 13
"One Bright Lights meeting, we were talking about friends. Allison
mentioned that we should evaluate our friends by how they treat others
(especially their siblings). I realized that if people evaluated me that
way, they probably would not want to be my friend! That thought has
helped me set a goal for myself and it's given me more of a desire to be
kind to my brother and sisters." -age 11
"I was always concerned about how I looked. I didn't like my hair
style. I thought my clothes looked weird compared to the girls' clothes
at school. I also wanted to wear make-up. I also was worried about how I
talked. I didn't want to talk about Jesus to other kids at school. I
wanted to talk about what they wanted to talk about. I also wanted to
act cool. I didn't want to be the odd one out. I wanted to have a friend
at school. So, I started to act like the other girls at school. I
always wore tight jeans and started to wear lipstick, like the other
girls. I also started to use the words they were using and began talking
a little too much in class. I also had a different attitude about
things.
After discussing the lessons this semester, I started to do things
God's way. I started talking about Jesus to other girls at school. I
paid more attention to who I was hanging out with. I need to hang out
with someone God would approve of. I didn't talk as much in class. I
changed myself to be more and more like God. I understood things better
about what God looks for in a person.
Now, I realize I don't want to be like the other girls. I want to be
like Jesus. I also want to be a Bright Light to others and be noticed
as a follower of Christ. This semester has really helped me know who I
want to be and what a fully devoted girl for Christ should look like. I
want to be able to stand alone." -age 12
"Two chapters from our lessons really meant a lot to me, they are:
"Friends" and "Polluting Influences." The "Friends" chapter has made me
think more about what kind of friends i choose, and whether or not they
are a Godly influence or a bad influence. The chapter on "Polluting
Influences" has helped me pay closer attention to what I watch on TV,
especially kids' shows that promote boy/girl relationships or anything
with bad language. I'm making a commitment to honor God by saying "no"
to things that tempt me to think bad thoughts or do bad things." -age 10
"I think Bright Lights impacted my life in the lesson where I had
to accept the way God made me. I used to always think that I wasn't
beautiful, then I found Psalms 139:14, 'And I praise your for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made.' That changed the way I thought about
myself. Plus, Genesis says that we are made in God's image! And Bright
Lights has really helped me grow on that because I am surrounded by lots
of other Christian girls that are friends with me no matter what I look
like." -age 11
