Bigger, better and more beautiful

Mighty Strong Girls is going through some transformations -- good ones! Our emphasis on the magazine, small groups and events remains. But each area has become more refined and beautiful. 

We have several new board members, and we are looking at hiring our first staff member to sell advertising for the magazine. The structure of the organization is going to change so that we can raise funding more easily and spread God's love even further. The magazine is getting 16 pages bigger and going from three issues a year to four issues, plus it's getting the infusion of a whole new focus that we plan to unveil in full when the summer issue is published. 

God is giving us direction for our events -- showing us to focus on one fundraiser and one service/discipleship event for girls and their moms. 

It is a very, very exciting time for this ministry. We are beside ourselves about all the announcements we can begin making soon on our website. 

So how did we get here? How do we know that bigger, better and more beautiful is the right move? 

We are focusing on our relationship with God, seeking to listen to Him and His purposes for the ministry. And He is speaking loud and clear! He is drawing us not only closer to Him but also to one another. The women-led board has been seeking Him, being authentic with one another and living out the same kind of advice we want to pass on to girls. 

We are asking God while we are asking others. We have invested in relationships with teen girls, who are beginning to give us their trust and telling us what they need, how they pray and what areas they crave spiritual guidance in. 

As we move forward in faith, we are asking anyone who has had Mighty Strong Girls in their prayers, thoughts or radar screen to pray. Not just about the organization....we always need those prayers. But right now we are praying for our 30 CHALLENGE. There are 30 days in April. This month, we want a new donor to sign up every day to give a minimum of $30 a month. This is sufficient for us to do what God is telling us to do at this moment and move a step closer to His plans for the future of Mighty Strong Girls. 

Will you pray with us? Will you pray for 30 families to step forward? Will you pray about any and all ways God wants you to partner with us? Will you pray that we (the leadership team of this ministry) would continue to seek God's direction, to put Him first, to do His will and to always draw close to Him? 

We are so thankful for the people who financially and prayerfully provide the pillars for the messages we are delivering to girls. May God bless each and every one of you! 

P.S. If God calls you to be one of the 30, what you need to do is simple. Click on this link (mightystronggirls.com/electronic-contribution-form.html) , print out the form and mail it to Ripe for Harvest, our accounting partner in ministry. If you have any trouble with the website, just email amydenney@mightystronggirls.com.

Day 34: Serving can lead to spiritual riches!

Today's reading — Proverbs 22

This chapter was very convicting to me. Made me think about wealth, poverty, debts, fear of the Lord and how all these things can either work together for His glory ... or not.

Today I'd like to talk about verse 16: 

He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth 
and he who gives gifts to the rich — 
both come to poverty. 

For some reason, this made me think about the photo shoot we did not long ago for a Mighty Strong Girls magazine column on different body types. (For the record, I made seven girls FREEZE for an outdoor photo shoot. They probably still haven't forgiven me...it was brutal!) 

But as I edited the photos this morning, I was reminded that God isn't examining the outer shell, though they are all uniquely different. The bottom line is that girls of many shapes, sizes and colors are ALL beautiful to Him! 

I think in verse 16, poverty isn't necessarily material poverty but spiritual poverty. It comes in many shapes, sizes and colors — just like the body type. So beware....whether you are oppressing the poor to increase your wealth or whether you are giving something to someone who doesn't need it. Because the path he wants you to take is the one that leads to a cheerful, giving heart. One that leads to eternal life and spiritual riches!

How can you apply this to life. Instead of taking a prized pair of jeans or prom dress to a consignment store or giving it to a friend who lacks nothing, perhaps you can donate it to a homeless shelter or ask your pastor if there's a family struggling in your own church with a daughter who could really use and LOVE your selfless donation.  

As a side note, I want to mention that we had MANY, MANY dresses donated to Mighty Strong Girls for a style show and dress sale fundraiser last month. It was amazing. I'd like to share one story from that event. The mom of one of the girls happened to tell me days later that her daughter is given an "allowance" of $100 per prom or homecoming dress. Anything above that she must pay for on her own. This girl donated a $500 dress to Mighty Strong Girls. This was a big sacrifice, as she might have been able to sell it for $300. A girl attending the event bought it for $50, which was donated to Mighty Strong Girls. What a priceless, amazing act of kindness. My heart is full when I hear of these stories! And that, dear girls, is what a Mighty Strong Girl does! 

{seeking spiritual riches alongside you}
Amy