Sunday, September 29, 2013

Coming Soon: Pris(Teen) Program Manuals and Missionary Mentoring Tween and Teen Girls

Pris(Teen) is a tween/teen girls program emphasizing God's commandments for us while developing Godly women. It emphasizes relationship building and bonding with parents demonstrating the God family relationship.

Currently this program is split into 2 program sessions: fall/winter and spring/summer. Below are some example of subjects. Soon I hope to have the program translated for the sane and those who can't read chicken scratch. I have about 3000 stickies and post-it's I'm also having to transcribe and place in the correct spot. I guess that's why all of my receipts and documents for the tax year are always delivered to my accountant in a large plastic bin. I really don't want to know what she says under her breath or after I shut her door. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

If your church or after school program are interested in this program prior to its printing, please let us know and we will try to help best we can. As promised:

Fall/Winter
Crush in' - what are crushes and how to handle them without becoming a stalker
"hooked"- discuss the "hooking up" trend ( this will be the only time we discuss sex and only with permission once parents know exactly what will be discussed)
Relationships: opposite sex, cliques, mean girls, and teachers
"What if I can't knit?" Being a Godly woman as described in Proverbs 31
God character trait examples based on the Fruits of the Spirit - first 3 are love, joy and peace
Moms: "If it's not one thing, it's a Mother." We study mothers such as Mary, Sarah and Hagar, Hannah, and the mother of Moses. We study these examples privately with just girls but create homework with their moms as well as plan an activity with the girls and their moms. (Remember part of this program is to bring kids and parents closer.) I pray that both groups will grow spiritually, grow their compassion and that the teens will begin associating fun with their parents not just rules. My brother is a Baptist preacher and he said something that really stuck with me. "With Baptists you always know what they're against but not what their for."No truer words. Of course, my husband and I are not Baptist so I really appreciated his sensitivity to his own denomination. When I first developed this program, I asked if I could try it out with his youth as they needed workers for the girls. My brother deferred to the youth director- a kid still in seminary who told me no. We agreed we were here for kingdom building but the Baptist had different "mapquest"directions on how to get there. I cried for 3 days. Not because I was turned down as much as I knew how hungry the girls were for good healthy female relationships.
Lastly, during the month of February we will emphasize the study of "love" from the book of Ruth.

Spring/Summer
Good decision-making and goal setting "huh?" 2 of the last fruits of the spirit: meekness and temperance. Fancy words for humble and controlled or self-disciplined.
Boundaries: building and keeping. "look at the hand."
Money Matters (a lot)
Being a Lady: etiquette and manners "Audrey Hepburn - God style"
Daddies: how they affect our self-esteem, evaluating them- are they a safe person emotionally and spiritually? (We also have homework for dads and daughters as well as planned activities.
Divorce: with the rate at 80% Christian or non-Christian how do we handle it? "We are Family." (We also have activities that are between all family members including blended. Although we are blessed to get our self esteem from our Heavenly Father, teenage girls still rely on their biological earthly father. We will do everything we can to foster talk relationship between the father and daughter or both the father and stepfather.
Peer Pressure - fitting in (God tells us to be in this wold but not of this world so what does that meN and how to help teens navigate that while their flesh just wants to be accepted and popular. Can there be both?)
Continue to study more God character- longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and faith


This is a program parents have to be just as committed to as girls. If both parents are alive and living near, they must participate. Otherwise, it sends a detrimental message to your daughter that one to two hours a month is too much to spend with your daughter focusing only on her and her needs. Just because she's out of diapers doesn't mean she doesn't require attending to. You reap what you sew. My father abandoned me at age 13 because my mom was tired of him screwing around on her. Him being a cop, well, that's just what they did in those days and she just wSnt gonna turn a blind eye to it. He left us when I was close to 12 or 13 and my brother was just 3 or 4ish. On his visitation days, my brother and I would be dressed sitting on the couch watching every car that drove by only for him to never show. He now lives in Panama City and I don't allow him near my children and we don't talk. You reap what you sew. Both parents must meet with leaders before you start the group. If you don't have parentL support, it's not fair to start something which will break their hearts later. Lastly, we established earlier this was a relationship based program. You will be their friends, surrogate mothers, Christian advisors as well as the woman who just holds them while they cry. This is a time sink. I don't mean that negatively but..... If you are getting ready to start a family, build a house, care for an ailing parent- then wait and start when you or others can commit to them. No men whatsoever and all the "house rules" Re in the program material. You may take these girls to the mall, for pizza, have them over for sleepovers or popcorn and devotions after the football game. They will be your children, grandchildren, little sisters, and most of all you want to lead them to a personal relationship with Christ so you will be eternal sisters kingdom-building. Please before you speak to your pastor or recruit workers, pray about your commitment as well as the Holy Spirit making a way for you making your work practically already finished. Obviously once the Holy Spirit has prepared the hearts, check with your church and make sure they are ok with everything written here before you order the program. Expectation management is 99% of your function as a leader of the girls! servant to God, and worker for your church. Keep them all in the loop. A heart-match is far more important than "but she has a huge house with a finished basement perfect for the girls."

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

If It's Not One Thing It's A Mother

Hey girls! It seems like forever from Sunday  to Wednesday. Wednesday should totally rock. It's so cool when we get to visit other youth groups, fellowship and basque in God's greatness - not just look at the cute guys in the other groups. Come on now, you know you look.

My mother and I have been working on a yard sale for the weekend. Not what I really wanted to do in the end but I was out-voted. It reminded me about how our parents can be good for us and bad for us. Parents are human and make mistakes, too. I was reminded of Jonathan. (in the Bible...stay with me) His dad was Saul. (1 Samuel 18:1-19:6) Saul was a bad dude. Sure he was king, but he was a coward and bully. He backed down from fighting Goliath to let a little guy named David go in there and beat the pants off Goliath. Then what did Saul do? He was ticked at David and was afraid David would be more popular than him. Know anyone at school like that? Someone doesn't have the moxy to do something so when someone else does, the first person resents the second person. Geez.

Well, Saul had a son, Jonathan. He watched his father and saw him for who he was; slime-bag. While he respected his father because he was his father regardless, he knew there was a better way to behave and live. He chose God's way.

It may be the same for you. Whether your parents don't take their faith serious if they are Christ followers or maybe they aren't Christ followers and their lifestyle is hurtful to you - you have the power to make different choices. You are free to choose.

Jonathan's choice to sacrifice his place on the throne and give it to his BFF David to fulfill God's plan is completely out of character for his father, Saul. Jonathan chose to be different - to be the man God created him to be just as God created you to be. He has an awesome purpose for you - every day - every minute. It's not all about parting seas and killing giants.

It's not easy loving our parents all the time. I'm sure they would say the same. We love and respect them because God tells us to. It doesn't mean we have to follow their path.

If you want to know more about finding your own path - give me a shout! Let's explore it together. Let's discover what great future He has for you. Remember the verse in Jeremiah???????????? LEARN IT! KNOW IT! LIVE IT!

Oh yeah, lol, we are going to be doing just that starting Wednesday October 20 - remember? We will begin our "One Girl Can Change the World" study. During this study we will be digging deep to find our purpose and the plans God has for us. Should be awesome. Yes, there will be food, too.

Love you all!!!
Pamela and Cassie

Friday, September 17, 2010

Wait in line? Self check-out, please.

Pristeen is a God-given group - not merely God-inspired. I was driving one afternoon and God began talking to me. The thoughts and ideas were coming so fast I couldn't get pulled over and write them down fast enough. (that's why I have a boat-load of notebooks in my purse and car -fyi) God told me every color, every syllable, the tag line, the scripture, the flowers, the purpose.....EVERYTHING. Nothing about "Pristeen" is Pamela or Cassie except for our support. God works like that.

So many times we are focused on our "purpose" in this big world, we can't see the forest for the trees. As children we have super huge expectations. Because our parents love us so much and tend to spoil us, we can feel as if the world really does revolve around us. As we get older, it's a tough cruel world and you ain't as great as you think you is.... feel me? Or maybe it was just me? Am I alone here? Can I get an amen?

Of course, I always knew Geoff would be a preacher. He used to preach to his little dog "chokey mook" (he couldn't say chocolate milk). He couldn't have been older than 2 or 3. Imagine that.

Imagine having that divine purpose - always. You do. You just may not know what it is yet. He just happened to have recognized his earlier, I think.

Me, well, God gave me lots of skills and talents not unlike some of those He gave Geoff except He led me to them thru different paths and at a slower pace cause I was a knucklehead. These paths have allowed for knowlege and compassion for people who can't be reached using traditional tactics. One is no better than the other - just different. (ok - i'm better but don't tell Geoff. He still believes Duke is a great basketball team, too.) God needs us all to fulfill HIS purpose - not ours.

That's pretty rough stuff. God with His sense of humor also gave us freewill. It's like having a tug o war contest with yourself all the time. Nothing easy about the journey of being a Christian. If you ask me, anyone can NOT choose Christ. That's the easy way out. That's the easy self-checkout. It's not all hard or boring, though. That's another reason Cassie and I really want to mentor you guys so you can see from our lives (before and after - good and bad, with make-up and without). You don't have to wait until you're 23 to fulfill God's purpose and plan. You don't have to wait until you graduate from Carson Newman. You don't have to wait... That's the amazing thing. In this world where no one wants to wait for anything - thats the one thing no one wants to jump on early. Go figure!!!!

I read today "The point is that life cannot be reduced to one meaning. Life as God intended it is rich with many meanings - plural. And while some people may discover the overarching purpose of their lives (Billy Graham - Geoff Prows) BE CONTENT by realizing that simply because you are a child of God, your life has profound meaning and a myriad of purposes. "

It goes back to yesterday's post. You never know where and when God will use you but He will and He will always provide you with the ability to be used. You may help someone who dropped their books in the hall and before people start to snicker, you jump in and help - showing compassion.

You may just smile at the lunch lady while going thru line not knowing where your smile will go and who will receive that same smile from her and help them - all because you chose to show God's love and kindness.

I know...blah...blah....blah....so that's enough for today. I love you girls. I pray you give God another day to show you His plan for you - even if it's just one smile at a time. Jeremiah 29:11 - read it, learn it, know it, live it....HINT!!!!

From the HCSB "   'For I know the plans I have for you' - this is the Lord's declaration - 'plans for your welfare, not for your disaster, to give you a future and a hope.' (going a bit further) 'You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you.' This is the Lord's declaration."




Peace!
Pamela and Cassie

Thursday, September 16, 2010

A New Day!!!

Hey girls! Shouts to Morgan, Jenna, Makayla, Kaylie.... We will soon begin our "One Girl" study. We are so excited. Cassie and I are working hard to make this a great time of hanging and learning. God is so good. We just want everyone to know just how good He is!!!

Got any music you recommend? I will give free downloads to any of my girls who send me recommendations and requests!!!


When you think about Miriam - moses' sister, think about her courage and her foresight. God made her a core leader of the exodus. See how He used her? (Micah 6:4) "I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam."

You never know how God will use you. You touch everyone you meet. You never know how your attitude might affect someone like the girl at the gas station taking your money. Maybe she was having a really bad day. You smile and are pleasant and it changes her affect so when she goes home, she doesn't take her anger out on her young child. You just NEVER know who you touch.

Show God in everything you do. Be a living Bible.

Oh, Gee, like that's easy. I'm sure that's what you're thinking. You'd be surprised.

Love you girls!!

Pamela and Cassie

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Welcome to Our New Site!

To all my peeps and peepers...... welcome! welcome! welcome!

Okay, that was a little lame but seriously welcome to the new blog for Pris{teen}. Loving God, Loving Others, Loving Self.

As of October 20th, we will be beginning a girls only small group. We will have our first study called "One Girl: Can Change the World". Usually church begins at 6:30 but we will start at 6pm with some food and fellowship. If you cannot come early, no worries. You can still munch while we study. This study will last 8-10 weeks. It's  a sort of trial run to see if there is enough interest in having our own group all the time.

We will have lots of fun. music... games... prizes... contests... but most importantly we will learn about God and His love for us and how we fit into this big world at such a young age.

 I hope you will check us out and tell a friend. Share this blogsite on your facebook page. Help us spread the word.

We will be passing out "Save the Date" cards soon and signing up girls interested so we can order enough materials.

If you know of someone you'd like to invite and hang out with while we all hang out together, please invite them or share this site with them. Email us and we can also send them the information. Perhaps you have kids or grandkids who may benefit, too. Please, Please, spread the word!!!

Pamela and Cassie