1440 student ministry started up again last night at Church of Hope. My tribe consists of 9th through 12th grade girls. Last night there were at least 16 girls plus me and this cool girl. She’s awesome.

Chris spoke on the topic of hashtags and the labels we put on ourselves.

This is the definition wikipedia gives a hashtag : A hashtag # is a type of label or tag used on social media networks. The hashtag makes it easier for users to find messages with a spcivific theme or content.  Users create and use hashtags by placing the hash character # (also known as the number sign or pound sign) in front of a word or unspaced phrase, either in the main text of a message or at the end. Searching for that hashtag will yield each message that has been tagged with it. A hashtag archive is consequently collected into a single stream under the same hashtag.

Chris spoke of the hashtags he gave himself while growing up. ie: #trouble #unclean. He had us write down (because it doesn’t happen if we don’t write it down.)

                          NO  LONGER

# ________________________________________________________________

                                I AM A

# ________________________________________________________________

Our videographer took our pictures with our signs and we headed off to small group

We talked about the hashtags we give ourselves.

#ugly      #unworthy        #notsmartenough     #insecure   #unloved

It broke my heart to hear their words.

I asked them “Why do think you feel this way about yourselves?”

They said “Because other people label us that way.”

What other people? Who would tell you those things?

“Friends”  Well I don’t think they are really your friends

“Boys – boys that don’t like us anymore.” I wanted to find these boys and throat punch them. 

“Parents” Your parents really? Ok, so I have been a parent of a teenager girl. Hard? yes of course it’s hard but are you really being told you are ugly? and stupid? and unworthy?

So the next question I asked was “What hashtag has your Maker given you?” Because that’s the one that matters.

#loved

#beautiful

#warrior

#worthy

That’s better. They are incredible. They are loving and kind. They are compassionate and caring. They are warriors and daughters of the King. Sometimes we just have to tell them over and over again.

Elaine and I have chosen the word “Worthy” as our 1440 high school girls word of the year. We want the girls to know that no matter the life situation, they are Worthy. They are worthy of so many things but no matter what, their Maker loves them.

We love them too.

Do you have a high school girl in Ocala? Send them over to 1440 on Sunday nights at 5:30. You won’t regret it. I don’t think they will either.

Love,

the girl who is tired of Florida cold.