Hey girls! Just a note before I go into my deepest thoughts (well, not my deepest deepest thoughts but they’re pretty darn close *insert laughing emoji*). I’ve been wanting to post something for a while now, and a lot of topics have run through my mind, but “role models” keeps popping up. So I might be all over the place… but that’s because I have a lot of things to say. I hope you like it! :)
Role Models. It’s an interesting topic isn’t it? Role models can be defined in so many ways. There are the parental role models, (You ROCK Mom!), the celebrity role models (if you don’t know who Audrey Hepburn is, PLEASE look her up!!), the Biblical role models (Esther has, and and always will be one of my all-time favorite people to study, and the role models that are closest to our age. These are sometimes the hardest for us to identify. It’s no secret that I love and look up to my mom, or that I adore Audrey Hepburn movies (and aspire to cosplay as her on the streets of Rome), or that one of my favorite Bible verses is Esther 4:14 (“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”) because of Esther’s amazing character. But what people might not realize is how I watch what the older girl in my youth group does when our youth minister is speaking. What people might not realize is how I listen to the older girl’s conversations at school. What people might not realize is how much we pay attention to the older kids around us, and how big of an impact that makes on our lives.
I would say my number one close to my age-ish role model right now is a senior who’s in a play with me at school. I’ve never seen her dress immodestly (which is impressive in the world we live in & the auditorium we work in because it is HOT in there), and I can’t think of a time I’ve felt uncomfortable around her because of her language or topic of discussion. She’s always made me feel welcome and like I belong in the play. She has a brother two years younger than her (I do too, for those of you who don’t know) and the way she treats him at rehearsal inspires me to give more respect and be more patient with my brother. The thing is, I honestly don’t think she realizes how much I watch her. (Well, if she’s reading this she might now…) I think that when we tell our role models that we appreciate their dedication to Christ and we encourage them, it helps our role models in their walks with Christ.
I have another friend who I look up to. When I was at theatre boot camp, I told her that I thought it was cool that she did theatre AND loved God. (I’m a nerd, i know. I choose to embrace it.) Recently she wrote me a letter saying that she tries to be more like Christ in her everyday life because she realizes that people look up to her. (That was the jist of it anyway XD) My point is, it’s important to encourage the people that you look up to. More importantly, we need to be a girl others can look up to.
Love. Without love, we can’t inspire others. One of the main reasons I look up to Audrey Hepburn (again, you all need to go watch Roman Holiday or Sabrina after you read this) is because of her humanitarian work. SHE HELPED THOSE KIDS OUT OF LOVE. She could help those kids because she was loved by God. She was loved by God, so she could love others. “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. One of my favorite songs is “More” by Matthew West. The chorus goes “I love you more than the sun and the stars that I taught how to shine; you are Mine. And you shine for Me too; I loved you yesterday and today and tomorrow I’ll say it again and again; I love you more.” Go listen to that song. Right now. Go. Or keep reading. The only reason we can love others is because Christ loves us. 1 John 4 is a great chapter to read about it. God is love. And we need to extend that love to others. If we don’t have love, we can’t be a role model for other girls.
Words. “Words can build you up, words can break you down. Start a fire in your heart then put it out. Let my words be life; let my words be truth. I don’t wanna say a word, unless it points the world back to you.” Words, by Hawk Nelson. That’s a great song. Put it on the ‘Role Model Playlist’. Without words of encouragement to other people around us, we can’t be a good role model. Also, if the words we say or the things we’re talking about aren’t pure, then how can we expect other people to respect what we say, let alone look up to us? We have to make sure that our words are always clean and uplifting. If they’re not, then we aren’t setting a good example.
We need to look like Christ. Ephesians 5:1-2 says “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Our goal as Godly role models in this world is to bring people closer to Christ, and if we aren’t striving to imitate Christ, then why would people want to imitate us? We need to be role models like Paul, who in 1 Corinthians 11 tells his followers to follow his example, as he follows the example of Christ. Instead of being full of worldly things and gratifying the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), we must fill ourselves with the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). (Or if you wanna sing the song I sing with the kid’s class, you can’t be a kiwi (WHEE) because the fruit of the spirit is LOVE JOY PEACE PATIENCE KINDNESS GOODNESS FAITHFULNESS GENTLENESS AND SELF CONTROL-OL-OL!) When we strive to act like Jesus, everything else will fall into place.
So girls, tell your role models you appreciate them. Love each other. Use kind words with each other. Strive to be like Christ. This is a really weak ending, I know. But I’ve poured my heart out to you girls. I pray that whoever reads this will be uplifted by it, and that we can all strive to love one another, be kind in our words, and be like Jesus. I know I’m not there. But as my mom said the other day, “We are Jesus’ girls, and Jesus has already won the battle.” Stay strong girls. I love you, and Jesus loves you.
So I decided to include a small “Role Model Playlist” because I’m obsessed with Christian music:
“More” by Matthew West.
“Words” by Hawk Nelson.
“God Girl” by Jamie Grace.
“Glow” by Moriah Peters.
“I Choose Jesus” by Moriah Peters.
“Bright Side” by OBB.
“In Crowd” by Rapture Ruckus.
“Look Like Love” by Britt Nicole.
“Do Life Big” by Jamie Grace.
“A Little Closer” by Group 1 Crew.
“Looking For a Girl” by OBB.
“Show Jesus” by Jamie Grace.
"That Kind of Faith" by OBB.
"Stand Strong" by Moriah Peters.
Role Models. It’s an interesting topic isn’t it? Role models can be defined in so many ways. There are the parental role models, (You ROCK Mom!), the celebrity role models (if you don’t know who Audrey Hepburn is, PLEASE look her up!!), the Biblical role models (Esther has, and and always will be one of my all-time favorite people to study, and the role models that are closest to our age. These are sometimes the hardest for us to identify. It’s no secret that I love and look up to my mom, or that I adore Audrey Hepburn movies (and aspire to cosplay as her on the streets of Rome), or that one of my favorite Bible verses is Esther 4:14 (“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”) because of Esther’s amazing character. But what people might not realize is how I watch what the older girl in my youth group does when our youth minister is speaking. What people might not realize is how I listen to the older girl’s conversations at school. What people might not realize is how much we pay attention to the older kids around us, and how big of an impact that makes on our lives.
I would say my number one close to my age-ish role model right now is a senior who’s in a play with me at school. I’ve never seen her dress immodestly (which is impressive in the world we live in & the auditorium we work in because it is HOT in there), and I can’t think of a time I’ve felt uncomfortable around her because of her language or topic of discussion. She’s always made me feel welcome and like I belong in the play. She has a brother two years younger than her (I do too, for those of you who don’t know) and the way she treats him at rehearsal inspires me to give more respect and be more patient with my brother. The thing is, I honestly don’t think she realizes how much I watch her. (Well, if she’s reading this she might now…) I think that when we tell our role models that we appreciate their dedication to Christ and we encourage them, it helps our role models in their walks with Christ.
I have another friend who I look up to. When I was at theatre boot camp, I told her that I thought it was cool that she did theatre AND loved God. (I’m a nerd, i know. I choose to embrace it.) Recently she wrote me a letter saying that she tries to be more like Christ in her everyday life because she realizes that people look up to her. (That was the jist of it anyway XD) My point is, it’s important to encourage the people that you look up to. More importantly, we need to be a girl others can look up to.
Love. Without love, we can’t inspire others. One of the main reasons I look up to Audrey Hepburn (again, you all need to go watch Roman Holiday or Sabrina after you read this) is because of her humanitarian work. SHE HELPED THOSE KIDS OUT OF LOVE. She could help those kids because she was loved by God. She was loved by God, so she could love others. “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. One of my favorite songs is “More” by Matthew West. The chorus goes “I love you more than the sun and the stars that I taught how to shine; you are Mine. And you shine for Me too; I loved you yesterday and today and tomorrow I’ll say it again and again; I love you more.” Go listen to that song. Right now. Go. Or keep reading. The only reason we can love others is because Christ loves us. 1 John 4 is a great chapter to read about it. God is love. And we need to extend that love to others. If we don’t have love, we can’t be a role model for other girls.
Words. “Words can build you up, words can break you down. Start a fire in your heart then put it out. Let my words be life; let my words be truth. I don’t wanna say a word, unless it points the world back to you.” Words, by Hawk Nelson. That’s a great song. Put it on the ‘Role Model Playlist’. Without words of encouragement to other people around us, we can’t be a good role model. Also, if the words we say or the things we’re talking about aren’t pure, then how can we expect other people to respect what we say, let alone look up to us? We have to make sure that our words are always clean and uplifting. If they’re not, then we aren’t setting a good example.
We need to look like Christ. Ephesians 5:1-2 says “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Our goal as Godly role models in this world is to bring people closer to Christ, and if we aren’t striving to imitate Christ, then why would people want to imitate us? We need to be role models like Paul, who in 1 Corinthians 11 tells his followers to follow his example, as he follows the example of Christ. Instead of being full of worldly things and gratifying the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), we must fill ourselves with the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). (Or if you wanna sing the song I sing with the kid’s class, you can’t be a kiwi (WHEE) because the fruit of the spirit is LOVE JOY PEACE PATIENCE KINDNESS GOODNESS FAITHFULNESS GENTLENESS AND SELF CONTROL-OL-OL!) When we strive to act like Jesus, everything else will fall into place.
So girls, tell your role models you appreciate them. Love each other. Use kind words with each other. Strive to be like Christ. This is a really weak ending, I know. But I’ve poured my heart out to you girls. I pray that whoever reads this will be uplifted by it, and that we can all strive to love one another, be kind in our words, and be like Jesus. I know I’m not there. But as my mom said the other day, “We are Jesus’ girls, and Jesus has already won the battle.” Stay strong girls. I love you, and Jesus loves you.
So I decided to include a small “Role Model Playlist” because I’m obsessed with Christian music:
“More” by Matthew West.
“Words” by Hawk Nelson.
“God Girl” by Jamie Grace.
“Glow” by Moriah Peters.
“I Choose Jesus” by Moriah Peters.
“Bright Side” by OBB.
“In Crowd” by Rapture Ruckus.
“Look Like Love” by Britt Nicole.
“Do Life Big” by Jamie Grace.
“A Little Closer” by Group 1 Crew.
“Looking For a Girl” by OBB.
“Show Jesus” by Jamie Grace.
"That Kind of Faith" by OBB.
"Stand Strong" by Moriah Peters.