In Girls’ Brigade we have so many wonderful women who give up vast amounts of time to work with girls and young women across the world. We are excited that GB provides so many role models for these young women with whom we work.
Are you a GB leader? Or involved in youth work? Take a look at this blog article we found about the growing trend with Starbucks and therapy, which asks the very probing question ‘Why do women work with girls?’
Last weekend the Girls’ Brigade Europe Executive- a group of ladies and young women from across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland- met in Antrim, NI, to continue God’s work through GB in Europe. It was an exciting weekend with many projects discussed, reviewed and introduced. During the weekend, Vivienne, the Vice President for Europe, led us in a really powerful reflection, and we looked at the broken world in which we live. Here’s what she shared with us:
In Genesis 6:5-22 we read of the flood- a familiar story for many. In this, God looks at the world he had created, a world which he had made perfect, yet which had fallen as a result of man’s wickedness. For the first time since his creating, God looked at the world and was displeased with what he saw- he wished he’d never made it. In verse 6 it says ‘It broke his heart’. The world had gotten to be such a wicked place, man was continually doing wrong, and God was upset by all that he saw.
Look around you- is the world described in Genesis 6 really that different to the world in which we live today? We too live in a broken world. Look at the girls in your company- what evidence do we have of this ‘broken world’ in them? If you have a spare five minutes, grab a pen and paper and think about the issues that affect these young women with whom we work. Think of the society in which they live, the pressures they face, what they are exposed to, what they have to deal with as they grow up. The list is massive! We do indeed live in a broken world.
In this story in Genesis, God uses Noah as His agent to do His work on earth- to gather the animals two by two, along with food and the rest of his family, and to build an ark and God promises Noah that He will keep him safe.
What do we know about Noah from this story? We know only that ‘he was a righteous man…and he walked with God’. (Genesis 6:9) God has placed each and every one of us in Girls’ Brigade for a reason. He wants us to be His agents in this broken world. He wants us to be bold and speak the truth, to love and listen to these girls, and to focus on what really matters.
What do you think God would say to Girls’ Brigade – and you – as His agent in this broken world?
And most importantly… what are you going to do about it?
This story is so powerful, and so relevant to us today. Thank you to Vivienne for sharing it with us. I hope that you will be blessed with this as we on the Executive were also blessed.
Love and blessings,
Charlotte
Girls’ Brigade Northern Ireland are holdin a fantastic event- Wrapped Up- on Saturday 4th February, featuring fantastic speaker Rachel Gardner from Romance Academy. It should be a great event- so get online and get booking! If you aren’t from Girls’ Brigade Northern Ireland but are interested in travelling over and attending, email chloe@gbni.co.uk who will be happy to try to arrange somewhere for you to stay!! Exciting stuff- BOOK NOW!
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*Want to know more about Girls’ Brigade? Drop us an email at gbconnect@live.co.uk – we’ll be happy to explain!
*Fancy writing your own article, whether on prayer, faith, something in popular culture or anything else God’s put on your heart? Get in touch atgbconnect@live.co.uk – we’d love for you to contribute!
GIRLS’ BRIGADE NORTHERN IRELAND:
!GIRLS’ BRIGADE SCOTLAND:
Our online shopping is now LIVE… woooo!!GIRLS’ BRIGADE ENGLAND & WALES:
GIRLS’ BRIGADE IRELAND:
It’s an exciting time right now for Girls’ Brigade and especially GB in Europe. There’s plenty going on at a national and European level, and we hope that you get involved with as much as you can and make the most of all of the opportunities that come your way. If you ever want to find out more information about Girls’ Brigade Europe and some of the projects that it is working on, please email us at gbconnect@live.co.uk and we’d love to tell you more!
In the mean time, stay safe and God bless,
Charlotte
The Girls’ Brigade International President, Ruth Chikasa, is on a trip to the Pacific with her daughter Petra. So far, she has gotten involved in several GB Pacific events, with plenty more to come. You can follow her and Petra as they continue their travels on the GB International website here.
Photo courtesy of Tim Beach: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=230
*Like what you’ve read? Subscribe to this blog by ticking ‘Notify me of new posts via email’ below!
*Want to know more about Girls’ Brigade? Drop us an email at gbconnect@live.co.uk – we’ll be happy to explain!
*Fancy writing your own article, whether on prayer, faith, something in popular culture or anything else God’s put on your heart? Get in touch atgbconnect@live.co.uk – we’d love for you to contribute!
This video doesn’t really need any introduction, take a look…
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 13,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 5 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
As 2012 begins, the New Year period is often a time of reflection for many- a chance to look back at the previous year, at the highs and lows, and to look forward to the year ahead. Many will take this opportunity to make a resolution for the next year – I wonder what yours will be?
This January, take the chance to sit down and review the last 12 months of your life. What have you achieved? What have you found challenging? But most importantly, how has God used you? Each and every one of us is different, and God, amazingly, has a plan for each of our lives.
‘…all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be’ (Psalm Ch.139:16).
None of us will have the same path ahead of us, and God takes an interest in each of our lives. Can you happily say that over the last year you’ve listened to God and His call? Have you consulted with Him, allowed Him in to every aspect of your life, let go of all selfish desires to follow His way?
Personally, I’ve had a fantastic year, and God has both challenged and blessed me. I can see how He is working in my life, and I am thankful for all that He has done. It is truly amazing that if we trust in Him, we have nothing to fear.
’Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight’ (Proverbs Ch.3:5-6).
For so many, this is a time to take what we’ve learnt from the previous year, and to commit to change for the year ahead- to make one ultimate New Year’s resolution. As I look on facebook, and speak to friends and family, I’m amazed at how many people want to stop doing something, or to do less of something.
Quit smoking, eat less, stop drinking, watch less TV, save money.
However, I think that the New Year should not be a time to opt to do less of something, but rather to do more of something. Spend more time with your friends and family, help others, learn something new, but most importantly, spend more time with God. Follow His plans, walk along the path He has laid out for you, and see just where it could take you in 2012!
‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not to hurt you, and to give you hope and a future’ (Jeremiah Ch.29:11).
Here’s to a wonderful 2012!
Love and blessings,
Charlotte
Come All Ye Faithful…
Sung every Christmas, and enjoyed by many, what is this song actually saying to us? God is calling us to come and adore the wonderful gift He gave us at Christmas. Answer His call- come, adore, and worship our saviour Jesus Christ at this wonderful time of year.
www.christianphotos.net
We’re almost there; there’s now only one day until Christmas Day!
Stop.
Reflect.
And be in awe.
What child is this?
