May 29th – July 10th
Tuesday nights 5:30pm-7pm
HPC Highland Campus

To SIGN UP or for more details, email us at conniefirmin@gmail.com. Help spread the word about Summer Sparkle…tell your friends and family.  Check out these photos from last year’s Pledge Celebration too… click here.  Don’t forget to sign your daughter up today!  It’s a summer that she will remember for years to come.

If you are a teen girl finishing 6th grade through high school and live in the Baton Rouge area, Summer Sparkle is the place to be!  Our team is gearing up for one fantastic summer with you in mind.  We will come together to dig deep into God’s Word, make lasting friendships, and have fun!  We’ll uncover the truth about purity, healthy relationships, accountability, real beauty and so much more.  Summer Sparkle wraps up the summer with an awesome pledge celebration for you with all of your friends and family (one of our favorite parts).  The cost is $25 (includes a Sparkle book, materials and a shirt).  You must pre-register to attend.

May 29th – July 10th
Tuesday nights 5:30pm-7pm
HPC Highland Campus

To SIGN UP or for more details, email us at conniefirmin@gmail.com. Bring your friends to Summer Sparkle. and help us spread the word.  Here are photos too from last year’s Pledge Celebration… click here.  What are you waiting for?  Come discover why you were born to Sparkle!

I grew up like most kids having chores.  You know, chores like cleaning your room,washing dirty dishes, folding laundry, that kind of thing.  There was one chore that I hated… no,despised, and it always seemed to be my responsibility: Cleaning out the unattended leftovers hidden in the refrigerator.  Ugh!!  I’ve always hated dumping out the old stuff quietly growing in back of the fridge.  Sometimes those once delicious meals would splash grossness of the now science experiment on me.  One word:  Gross!

No longer do I live with my mother, but, of course, I still have to clean the fridge.  This got me to thinking one day.  Our sins are a lot like the mold that grew in those leftovers. The sin starts out in secret, growing inside of us, always in a place where no one is looking or suspecting. It expands from the inside out and eventually consumes us mind, body and soul.  Bit by bit, it breaks us down and pulls us further and further away from our friends, our family and, most importantly, God.  We may be able to hide our sin from the people around us, but it’s never, ever hidden from God.  It says so in Hebrews 4:13.  “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Tucking things away and allowing them fester and grow inside keeps us from enjoying and growing in our relationship with God and with others.  It holds us back from seeing the great joy and experience that God has planned for us.  I love what Proverbs 28:13 (MSG) says:  “You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.”

How awesome is it that God gives us all we need to release ourselves from the sin we’ve tried to so hard to hide?  We just need to admit our sin and do our best to walk away from it.  God’s mercy is right there waiting.  Friends, mentors (of course, Sparkle leaders) and God’s Word are the best tools to strengthen us and keep us on His straight and narrow path in growing.  Don’t ever feel like something you’ve said or done can’t be made right.  At times, I’m guilty of hiding things and acting as if no one could find out or even believing I wouldn’t be affected.  Living like this doesn’t benefit you or me, and it doesn’t glorify God.

God has princesses (you and me) that He is raising up and teaching to be queens.  As His princesses and queens-in-training, wouldn’t we want to wear our crowns knowing we did everything possible to keep them as sparkling and beautiful as we always imagined it could be?  It’s up to us.  Talk to your mom, talk to your leaders and friends.  Let’s agree to step out, clean out the fridge and get the ‘mold’ out of our lives.  It’s time for a start fresh.

-Lauren

Lauren Martin is a  Sparkle Tribe Leader.  She walks out a lifestyle of purity daily and is an inspiration to students and leaders alike.  Lauren is a breath of fresh air and offers encouragement and valuable advice to our team and girls.

Have you ever felt as if you are living a double life?  On the outside you appear happy, confident, and all smiles, while on the inside you are broken, insecure, and doubtful.  I think we ALL have that tug of war in our minds from time to time. The fact of the matter is we shouldn’t let our feelings depict WHO we are, HOW we act, or reflect our VALUE.  WHO you are is a direct reflection of Jesus.  He created you in purity and beauty.  How can we doubt such divine creations?  HOW you act directly reflects Jesus as well.  Strive to be His hands and feet to all that you come across; showing love and grace just as He has shown you.  Jesus has placed so much VALUE on your life. He did not create you by accident, but specifically for a purpose only YOU can fulfill.

On too many occasions I have wasted precious time devoting thoughts to such negativity about myself.  Whether it came from people at school or work or T.V., I was my own worst critic… ME! All of those lies we allow ourselves to think come from the devil.  He wants to wreck or derail us at any cost.  He’s always trying to convince you and me not to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.  And while that battle goes on inside our heads, as girls, we feel we have to have it all together on the outside… right?!  We cannot let anyone know we are going through a tough time. What if my friends think I’m dumb?  What if they laugh at me? Or what if they agree with all these thoughts racing inside of my mind??  

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying you need to share every single thought you have with every friend you have ever had!  But if you start to think more negative thoughts about yourself than positive ones, reach out to a trustworthy friend or leader that you can share these things with. Ecclesiastes 4:10 says, “And if one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”  You do not have to fight the battle alone.  In fact, it’s recommended that you get some back up.  Surround yourself with positive friends that are LIFE GIVING, not LIFE STEALING.  Get involved with a Sparkle group or any kind of Youth group at your local church, make it a priority to build some healthy relationships where others can help you stand your ground… it makes the fight a little bit easier on you.

A few weekends ago Anthony Evans led worship where I attend church.  I bought his album and started listening to his songs…especially to his lyrics. This particular one hit home for me and became my inspiration for this post:

You’re fighting for me

Now I don’t have to anymore

Your love is holding me

When I can’t hold on anymore

My heart was breaking

But it doesn’t have to anymore

I don’t deserve it but you’re showing me I’m worth

I’m worth fighting for

Oh, Oh, Oh

I’m worth fighting for

After listening to this song over and over again, I began to wonder how many people, especially us girls, get to that point where they feel as though they are not worth it. Maybe they feel alone or desperate for someone to believe in them and fight for them.  More often than not, we begin to fall into a trap of believing lies and allowing deceit to lead us into decisions we did not plan on making.  Whether it’s going too far with your boyfriend, lying to your parents in order to impress the wrong group of people, or even something as small as adjusting your belief and morals just a tad to prove to someone you’re worth it…no matter what you face, fighting the battle alone will always leave you short of your destiny.  You wouldn’t want to sacrifice the gifts God has given you all because of a silly battle that didn’t even happen in real life, something that was all in your head, would you?

In our Sparkle Tribe, we use PURE as an acronym for our core values.  They stand for P= Purity, U= Unity, R= Relationship, E= Excellence.  If you UNITE with the right people (trustworthy friends/leaders), you will build RELATIONSHIPS that will allow you to fight your battles with plenty of back up keeping you strong and striving for EXCELLENCE in your life, all while living a life of PURITY.  If you are going through something that you think is too difficult to handle, just remember 2 Timothy 4:7.  “This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way.”  Don’t give up now!  God is fighting for you to finish the race because YOU are WORTH it!

Darelle Deslatte is a dedicated leader in our Sparkle Tribe and works as a College and Career Counselor.  Whether she’s working, leading or just hanging out with friends, Darelle is a shining example of purity and an inspiration not only to the girls in our group, but to all who come into contact with her.  She loves God and her faith reflects this great love to everyone she meets.   You can follow Darelle on Twitter @darelle. 

Thanks Darelle for taking the time to share some great wisdom with our readers! Good stuff!

At this month’s March Mixer for our Sparkle Tribe, we had the pleasure of hearing from our special guest, Dena Rizzo.  Dena is a renowned Hip Hop dancer and choreographer. She shared her heart and a wonderful message with the girls keeping them on the edge of their seats.  It was so good that we never even got to the dancing, and we’d like to share just a few highlights with you.

As girls, we have to protect our friends and ourselves.  You might also hear it referred to as “guarding yourself”.  You’ve gotta be choosy when picking your friends.  Test the water before you tell them your deepest secrets.  Just how trustworthy are they?  To be considered trustworthy means you are reliable and able to be trusted.  Come to think of it, just how trustworthy do others think we are?  When others are looking for the latest gossip, are we the go-to girls for the juicy stories?  If so, then you and I might want to check our own “trustworthiness” ratings.

In order to be a great friend, you’ve got to start by guarding your lips and your ears while keeping your eyes wide open.  When your friends share their heart with you, always remember the phrase “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  If you don’t mind people telling all your secrets, then I guess you have nothing to worry about.  However, most people want friends they can trust.  If you want trustworthy friends, then you must be selective about who you link up with.  Be the kind of friend you can trust.

Know who you are!  When others try to speak lies over you or about you, then you punch them back with what God says about you.  We don’t recommend getting physical to defend your stand.  If you find yourself face-to-face with a bully, then by all means, hit them with the Word…not your fist.  Use what God says about who He created you to be to counteract the lies with the truth.  If you don’t, you might just fall for  some of those lies and start believing them yourself.

In Psalm 139, the writer expresses that God knew you before you were created (awesome chapter if you have not read it); in fact, He created you.  He knows everything about you.  Nothing you have done, are doing, or will do is a surprise to God.  Nothing you do is too big for Him.  If you need a “do-over”, then have one.  Go to God, ask Him for help, follow His lead, and let Him iron out the wrinkles in your life.  He can smooth out the most difficult wrinkle with ease.  He’s even written all of your days in His book.  Live your life to the fullest and in the truth.  Be a trustworthy person and before you know it, you’ll have some great trustworthy friendships.

She boasted, “I told him all about you!”  In her best southern accent, she squealed, “I told him you’re saved, sanctified, spirit-filled and never touched by man’s hands.  That’s right honey, I told him you’re a virgin!”  I’ll never forget when a church friend and mother came to me after a gentleman expressed some interest in me.  I know she meant well, but it was simply an awkward moment for me.  In short, she was selling me to this male suitor like I was some shiny new Geo Metro.  I could hear the commercial, “Brand new! No miles! All credit is approved! Everything must go!” Okay now I’m being silly, but you get the picture.

Early in my walk with God, I began to learn about my worth as a woman in Christ.  I began to understand what my mom couldn’t teach me and my dad wasn’t there to say to me.  I found my value far exceeded any monetary amount.  I learned I was a gift, and my body, a temple.  I was too valuable to give “it” up in exchange for dinner and a movie, or sly grins and whispers of sweet nothings.  I learned how to honor God with all of me so that He would receive glory.  And don’t get it twisted, I’m not saying it’s always been easy… but it has always been worth it.

Let me challenge you to begin to study and find out what God says about you.  Don’t let someone who didn’t create you define you.  Knowing who you are in God comes with endless benefits.  When you know your worth, you won’t give away what God has ordained for your spouse.  When you know your worth, you won’t allow someone to treat you with disdain or disrespect.  When you know your worth, you won’t settle for less than God’s best for your life.  Make a decision today to not give yourself to anyone who’s not your spouse.  Wait for God to unite you with the one He has for you.  I know it’s easier said than done, but I’m talking about what I know, not just what I’ve heard.  Even if you haven’t waited, you can make a decision to give all of yourself to God.  Try it, and watch Him wipe the slate clean.

The old saints use to say, “God will keep you if you want to be kept!”  I can attest to that.  Truthfully speaking, there were times God kept me even when I didn’t want to be kept (thank you Jesus).  And it doesn’t matter if you’ve made mistakes in the past, the wonderful thing about God is that you can start over again.  Sis, you don’t have to give yourself away anymore, you’re too good for that.  When God made you He made you fearfully and wonderfully.  There’s something to be said about the glow of a woman who has been in intimate worship with the Father.  Allow God to give you a different type of afterglow.  Take it from me, a 33 year old virgin: purity’s so worth it and you are too!

Nikki Washington is an abstinence advocate and the founder of thechastitybelt.org, a blog site dedicated to purity.  For more information, you can contact Nikki at thechastitybelt2010@gmail.com.

Thanks Nikki for sharing your heart with us this month.  I love the challenge you issued to our girls to search for their true worth.  Great message!

Regardless of your family history, the best defense you have as a parent is to equip yourself.  Dig into God’s Word daily and talk often with your child.  The discussion of purity is not an “ok, we had this talk. Now you know.” kind-of discussion.  Please do not expect one chat to equip your child for life in today’s anything goes society.  Today’s young people need to see their parents walking out what they speak daily.  Share your journey with your child, tell them about some of your struggles (not all…don’t unpack your whole life on them) and your goals, and encourage, encourage, encourage them.  Be their biggest cheerleader, and pray for them daily.  Remember, someone is speaking the opposite of purity to your students 24/7 (TV, internet, friends, social media, etc).  It’s our job as parents to make sure they hear the truth about life and purity, and to equip them with the tools they need in life.  Put your students in a safe atmosphere (connect groups, youth ministries, church, etc) where they can be fitted with the gear they need for life.  However, it’s ultimately up to them to put these tools into practice as teens and young adults.  Sadly, some will choose not to and face serious consequences, but don’t let that be an excuse to look the other way.

YOU ARE the best teacher your student will ever have regardless of what anyone says.  Every day, your child is learning something from you through your actions.  If you feel your life isn’t a good example, don’t give up…you can change that.  It doesn’t mean perfection. Set a goal to improve.  Simply make the changes you need to make in your life and be honest with your child in your journey.  Make the best of your situation.  Ask God for help.  Find a good devotional or Bible study, get connected in a local church, and surround yourself with a support network.  Improving your child’s view of you is one of the greatest gifts you can give them.  As Francis of Assisi would say, “If God can work through me, He can work through anyone.”  I feel that way every day.  Lead your child by your actions and when necessary use words.  You’ve got this!

I am rarely a fan of television talk shows, but was flipping through the channels the other day and happened upon a talk show doing a piece of the now-popular “Purity Ball”.  If you are not familiar, Purity Balls are held in hotels around the country, whereby a daughter in her early teens is escorted by her father to an evening event with music, dancing, a nice dinner, etc.  The ball ends when the daughter takes a pledge to live her life purely and presents this pledge to her father, who also commits to help her in that journey.

As is the case with most media today, this talk-show host and much of the audience was tearing to shreds the guests who had signed the agreement and attended the events. I was infuriated.  Comments such as “Purity isn’t a reality in 2012.” “Sex outside marriage is not wrong.” “Abstinence doesn’t work.” were followed with an eruption of applause from the audience.

The truth is, that is the feeling of most of today’s anything-goes society.  Although 80% of the country identifies themselves as Christians, sex outside marriage has become a common occurrence and is glossed over as an event of little consequence.  And, if I’m being totally transparent, I would tell you that I, at an earlier point in my own life, felt the same as most of the studio audience that day.

At 13 years old, I was the only virgin I knew!  Everyone around me was having sex.  I held out as long as I could, and mostly due to peer pressure, I became sexually active.  For me, it was a horrific, embarrassing, and shameful experience.  I resolved I would never do it again, but peer pressure persisted, and my relationship with the Lord dwindled.  Before I even knew what was happening…..I was pregnant 4 times by 19 years old!

So the question becomes, does purity really matter?

• I would say that to the 51% of babies who are born to unwed mothers today who live in poverty, it matters.
• I would say that to the 13% of teens who will contract a sexual transmitted disease this year, purity matters.
• To the 22% of babies who were aborted last year (and to their moms), it matters.
• To the 15+ million single moms in the country, many of which are unwed single moms, purity matters.
• To the 500,000 teens who attempt suicide every year (many due to failed sexual relationships & the emotional distress that accompanies them), it matters!

The reality of sexual purity is simply this:  Our Heavenly Father loves us more than we could ever know.  His desire isn’t to deprive us of a life full of joy, fun, excitement, and happiness. Just as a parent’s desire isn’t to deprive their 4-year-old child of fun when disciplining them for running into the street after a ball, God knows what is best for us.  When we wait and do things in his timing, his way, the long-term blessings far exceed any temporal joy.

Our January Guest Post comes from author and friend, Jennifer Maggio of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  She is passionate about helping single moms and is considered one of the nation’s leading authorities on single parent and women’s issues. She is a critically acclaimed author and sought-after speaker who has appeared on more than 100  radio and television programs. You can find more information about Jennifer’s ministry (The Life of a Single Mom Ministries) by visiting her website at http://www.jennifermaggio.com.

Thanks Jennifer for sharing your heart for purity.  You’re right, purity really does matter.

The OLD:  What an amazing year 2011 has been.  From the release of Sparkle to the Sparkle Tribe Pledge, it’s been one eventful season of celebration.  We ended the year with a bang collecting 129 copies of Sparkle for the Sparkle Christmas Project to help girls of all ages receive a copy of Sparkle.  We wrapped these books, tied bright ribbon with a cute diamond jewel on each one to remind the girls “You are made to Sparkle!” and sent them off to various locations in the United States to eventually end of in the hands of unsuspecting girls.  What a privilege this project has been!  Feedback has started coming in already, and the stories are unbelievable.  I’ll be sharing a few in the near future.  A big Thank You to each person making this project possible.  Without each of you, these precious ladies likely would not have the opportunity to receive a copy of Sparkle.  Thanks so much for helping spread the message of purity!

And now for the NEW:  Great things are happening in 2012, and we do mean great!  Sparkle Tribes are starting up in other places, and THIS warms my heart to see young people owning purity.  (If you were unable to read the previous post about owning versus renting purity, check it out.)  2012 has lots of great things in store for each you.  One of my favorite things we’ve planned so far is our monthly Guest Blog Posts coming your way the last Friday of each month throughout the year to bring you more information.  Next week, you’ll be hearing from a wonderful woman with a heart for purity, and you don’t want to miss that.  And…there’s a rumor that Sparkle may be going with Children’s Cup to Africa in 2012.  Very exciting! More on that later.  Don’t forget to check back the last Friday of the month.  We’ll see you then.

Have you seen our Facebook page?  Check it out at www.facebook.com/SparklePurity.  Help us grow by suggesting it to your friends.  Have you signed up for our newsletter?  If not, send your email address to conniefirmin@gmail.com with Sparkle News in the subject.  Check out the other areas on this site…watch the trailer, sample a chapter of Sparkle, follow us on Twitter, or check out some of the resources listed to help equip you to pursue a lifestyle of purity.   We are here to help you!

Speaking of something new… If you have not heard, we have a Sparkle Christmas Project in the works.  For a limited time, buy a book as a gift, and we’ll donate one to a young reader unable to purchase their own copy.  You can also purchase books outright to donate to the project where both books will be donated.  If you’d like to specify who will receive your donated book or include a special message with your donated book, just email those details to us and we’ll do our best to get it to them.  If you are a leader or youth pastor and would like to receive books for girls in your area that cannot afford a copy, please send your request and we’ll send copies while supplies last.

We’ll do this for the entire month of December.  TO PARTICIPATE, please email us at conniefirmin@gmail.com or simply go to our website at www.conniefirmin.com to purchase the book.  Thank you for investing into the next generation!

*****************

If you’d like to sign up for the Sparkle Newsletter, please email us your name and email address, and we will add you to the list.