Bloom!

Dear Girls, Growing up, I never really rebelled against my parents. In college, I stayed away from the wrong crowds and prided myself on academic achievement. After college, I spent two years on the mission field. I knew how to say and do the right things…but I didn’t really understand grace . Then, a few years ago, I was dating a great guy–the man who is now my husband. As we got to know each other, some painful problems emerged that we had to work through. We sought counsel from those older and wiser than us, and our hearts were humbled. I’m still unable to grasp what God did for us. But I know this: His grace healed what was wrong in our relationship. We were broken, and He mended us. For someone like me, a “good girl” who always sought the approval of others and usually received it, the experience was strange. Often, people came to me for help–and now, here I was, begging them to tell me what to do. I was at a loss. And I wanted to wallow in the injustice of my pain–but God w...

This article is very hard to write and my feelings are getting riled up easily. It might be helpful to start with a story, so here goes. There was a young girl named Tamara who was born to a family of men. All she had was brothers and a father that doted on her. One day, they had to move to a different country and start their life anew. While Tamara was anxious, she was also excited to meet new girl friends and explore a new culture. Once at the city center, she runs into a handsome man, Max, wealthy by city standards and an heir to the family business. It was like a good feeling when you feel like you’re living a fairy tale, with your own Prince Charming. However, as they went on more dates, Max became more forceful and more aggressive and finally took advantage of her. She felt numb and betrayed, and all she could do was go home to her father’s house. Meanwhile, there was another girl named Sara who had a brother named Anthony. They weren’t really close and Anthony kept t...

Dear sisters, I just spent my first Christmas away from my family and friends.  In another country.  I wasn't sure how it would be...I definitely missed my dear family and friends and the traditions we always had fun doing.  I knew this year would be very different.  And yet, as my aunt reminded me, "You're being showered with gifts one could never purchase anywhere!"  So true.  I treasure these moments. My kids in small group decorated little paper ornaments Christmas Eve. We went over Christmas vocabulary. When I got to the nativity scene, I asked who was the baby in the manger. Yoyo, a bright 10-year-old with a deep voice, excitedly piped up: "It's God!" So simple. And yet so profound. Then little Kevin came running up to me after  8 AM  class and gave me a big hug. He's one of three boys from an orphanage. My heart hurts for him. He's without parents and he's broken and sad inside. He needs Chr...

“He has chosen not to heal me, but to hold me. The more intense the pain, the closer His embrace.”   –Joni Eareckson Tada Here at Bloom! , it is our heart’s desire to encourage young women to heed Jesus’ call to share the gospel and live a life worthy of the calling we receive from God.   It is not an easy thing to do in present times, but Heroines of the Faith show that no matter what country or decade we live in, all Christians go through trials, persecution and refining moments that help mold us to be more like Christ. It is our hope and prayer that in spite of the many discouragements we face, day to day, that we are reminded of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 which says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on w...

It's January 1st and that means it's a great time to reflect on your Bible reading plans for 2014.  We thought it would be helpful if we compiled a list of reading plans offered by three different ministries. Take a look below and pray about how the Lord would have you study His Word in this new year. Bible Gateway: Bible Gateway offers three different Bible reading plans that they will send to your email daily: - OT and NT in the NIV version, 365 days.  Readings sent daily to your email. - OT and NT in the KJV version, 365 days.  Readings sent daily to your email. - NT in the NIV version, 365 days.  Readings sent daily to your email. Ligonier Ministries: Ligionier Ministries, a ministry of RC Sproul, offers all the following Bible reading plans via PDF (plus more on their website): - 365 days, each day of the week dedicated to a different genre of the Bible - 5x5x5 plan - read through the NT in a year, Monday through Friday. - chronological plan -...