Chosen: Holy and Dearly Loved

by Candy Gibbs

Overview

Chosen is dedicated to helping 8 to 12-year-old girls live their lives in a way that is honoring and worthy of the Savior, Jesus Christ. We have often looked into the eyes of a precious pre-teener as scripture is being read, "The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance..." (Galatians 5:22) and watched as they developed a blank stare. You can tell what they are thinking, "I know I am supposed to be loving, joyful, gentle, but how do I pull that off in my middle school while my friends are going out, going wild, going behind my back, going overboard and going wrong? What in the world does that mean to me?" If we were being honest, we would have to say that we have oftentimes felt just that same way. The truth is our girls can be all God has called them to be. Chosen will train them in Godly character and to lead. We will have a ton of fun along the way! Chosen offers many things to help any level of leader. Chosen is divided into 4 sessions; each containing six lessons with the 4th session containing 8 lessons. This set-up is a benefit because it gives longevity and consistency to the program. Chosen could be done continually for 26 weeks or broken into four semesters; whatever best fits your group. The Leader's Guide contains all 26 lessons. Each of these lessons include a letter to moms that will help keep parents in the loop and help them come alongside their daughter as she learns and grows through Chosen. Also, included in the book is a resource code that can be used to access additional resources on the Chosen website such as registration forms, additional video resources, printable mom letters, and more. DVDs containing teachings for each lesson are included in the Leader's kit. Each lesson walks you through activities that correspond with and enhance the lessons. The website offers valuable resources. You can use your resource code found in the Leader’s Guide to access additional resources. You can find out more about the author and heart behind Chosen. Also available on the website is an online store for purchasing student journals that girls can use to learn how to begin having their own personal quiet time with the Lord. The journals have scriptures that correspond with the lessons the girls are learning each week. In the back of the journal a poster for each session is included. The posters are prints of Ginger Nelson original paintings created especially for Chosen based on the theme of each session. We hope you will journey with us as we seek to know the One who chose us!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780982047644
Publisher:	Pilot Communications Group, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/10/2012
Pages:	175
Sales rank:	1,283,773
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 11.60(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Candy Gibbs is Executive Director of CareNet Pregnancy Centers in Amarillo, TX. A popular speaker, Candy travels around the country to bring practical messages on pro-life, women’s and teen’s issues (more information available through Ambassador Speaker’s Bureau, www.ambassadorspeakers.com). Candy’s presentations for parents give insight and encouragement on raising young people to live purposeful lives in a difficult culture. Candy has been a guest on the nationally syndicated talk show Parent Talk with Randy Carlson, and has hosted the Truth of the Matter, an Amarillo-based radio program. Her articles have appeared in various publications, and she has developed two mentoring curricula: Pearls for teen girls and Chosen for pre-teen girls. More than 300 young ladies have participated in the mentoring programs she leads. She lives in Bushland, Texas with her husband, Brian, a son and a daughter. She also has an adult son and daughter-in-law and one precious grandson.

Read an Excerpt

CHOSEN

Week 1: Chosen, holy, dearly loved

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” - Colossians 3:12.

Welcome to CHOSEN! We have been praying for you and we know that God has hand-picked you. You are the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8) - you are CHOSEN.

Colossians 3:12 tells us that we are chosen, holy and dearly loved.

What does it mean to be chosen?

*Insert here your own story of a time when you were the last to be chosen. Your story should illustrate that you have felt left out and unworthy. Here is my memory that illustrates the point.

When I was a little girl, my friends loved to play basketball. I was good at softball and I was pretty good at volleyball, but basketball…not so much. I can remember many days on the playground when it was team-choosing time. My hands would get sweaty and my stomach would feel funny as the team captains began to call the names of the people they wanted on their teams.

What do you think I was afraid of?

Have you ever been the last one chosen? Can you talk about what that feels like?

Everyone wants to be picked, to be included, and to be wanted.

What if I told you that there was a great and mighty King and that he picked you to be His very own daughter?? I want to read you a story.

Read Beth Moore’s book, My Child, My Princess.

*You can certainly choose something else to share, but this little book illustrates our point beautifully.

Was the princess in our story ever not a princess? Of course not; she could not change who she was. She could certainly act in ways unbecoming of a child of the King, but she could not choose not to be the King’s child…she simply was. That is the same with those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Savior. We are His children then – He is the greatest King and we then are princesses. We can’t choose to be something or someone else; we can, however, act in ways unbecoming of a child of the King.

We don’t want to do that. We want to honor Him and we want Him to be proud of us. Let’s think a little about who we are….

Activity: I would like you to take some time to decorate your name tags. We have written your names on them, and now I would like you to use the stickers and markers we have provided to decorate them. Use symbols, pictures or words to describe yourself. When I look at your name tag, I would like to see at least four things which tell me about you and the things you enjoy.

Great job on your name tags…you are all unique, talented and gifted.

How many of you would say that you look or act like one or both of your parents? Why do you suppose that is?

That is right, because you are their child and we resemble our parents.

Well, that brings us to our next topic…what is holy?

Who is the Bible usually speaking about when you see the word “holy”? That is exactly right – God. God’s Word tells us that there are seraphs (heavenly creatures) always above the Lord saying, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory” Isaiah 6:3.

When the Bible tells us in Colossians that we are holy, that means that we are chosen, set apart to look like our heavenly Father. Because we are His daughters, we should look like Him. We should not look like people in the world who do not know our Father.

What are some things about you that make you look like God? Are there things about you that are different from your friends who do not serve God? What are those things?

We are to be holy because our Father is holy and as His daughters we want to look like Him.

So we are chosen…we are holy…and we are dearly loved.

Have you ever looked at all the stars in the sky and been totally amazed at what God has created? Have you every laughed at an animal and realized that God wants you to laugh and enjoy His creation? Have you ever been in church or even alone in the back yard or in your room and felt God’s presence?

Do you understand how very much your God loves you? He loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for our sins. Can you guys tell me what that means?

Have you ever thought about the fact that not only did God pick you to be His daughter, but you have the opportunity to choose Him as well?

Jesus did come and live a perfect life. He died on the cross for the sins of the entire world and on the third day after His death, He rose from the dead! Is that not amazing?

Do you know what Jesus was thinking about when He did all of that? He was thinking about you… (Call each of them by name).

Have you ever chosen Jesus and asked Him to forgive you for your sins, to come into your heart and make you His very own? Do you know how much He wants you to do that?

If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior and you would like to talk more about that, I want you to raise your hand.

(My suggestion would be for one of the leaders to take the mother and the daughter to the side and talk more with them about what salvation means and lead them in the prayer of salvation.)

We are so excited about CHOSEN and we thrilled that God chose you to be a part of it! Now let’s break up into our small groups for discussion and prayer.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Chosen is more than just 'an ounce of prevention,' this message is what every girl needs in order to know who she is in Christ and to have a firm foundation for traveling through the challenges of becoming a young woman in today's society. Greg Smalley, PSYD And Erin Smalley, MA Exec. Director of Marriage and Family Formation at Focus On The Family "The concepts in the chosen program speak to the heart of the battle for the next generation of young women in America. This program is life-changing and universal." C. Jeffrey Wright, CEO of Urban Ministries, Inc. “The Chosen curriculum takes the gospel of Jesus Christ and presents it in the language of today's pre-teen girls. Nothing could be more important. Candy Gibbs is a champion for life and a true woman of God." Jimmy Evans, Founder and CEO of MarriageToday