The High Price of Fame

I was flipping through channels and there was a show that I came across and watched called “Toddlers & Tiaras.” I was quite disturbed as I watched these little girls forced into beauty pageants undergoing hours and hours of hair, makeup and coaching by their mothers. They had hair extensions, spray on tans, false teeth to replace the missing teeth that most children proudly display, false eyelashes, nails and clothing that you would typically see on Vegas showgirls.

The mothers would either pressure the girls to be something that weren’t and the child would become upset or the mother would cater and bribe the child so that they would comply making the child spoiled with a nasty attitude. The competition is fierce and the pressure to be perfect is very apparent as you look at the child’s faces. I felt sorrow and pity as I watched the torture that they endured attempting to smile through the make-up but found it difficult. Their innocence and inner spirit was being drowned with make-up, glitz and glamour.

This reminds me of Brittany Spears and the grooming that took place when she was a child. She was thrust into the public eye as a pre-teen sexualized for fame and fortune. This was all done at the hands of those who were supposed to protect and raise her up in the way that she should go.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

She became an American sex symbol that young girls worshiped and idolized and grown men lusted after. If you follow her today, you can pretty much come to a conclusion that none of the beauty, fame nor fortune bought her love, contentment or inner peace.

In fact, many of the childhood celebrities that were thrust in the public eye while their minds and spirits were still developing have had issues with drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, broken relationships and suicide. As they rise to stardom and are idolized, they are surrounded by lights, cameras and fans and they attract people who just want them for what they can get. Then as the beauty, fame and fortune fades and dwindles, they are not accustomed to the loneliness and do not recognize their own reflection. They realize that they were just a product, a novelty for sale and no one ever really knew who they really were as a person. Do they even know who they really are?

This doesn’t just apply to celebrities. The professional sports industry is a very dark industry as well. Fame and fortune arrives with a hefty price-tag. Very few can handle the pressures that come along with it. It’s just like the old saying, “All that glitters ain’t gold!”

Parents, before you thrust your child into the entertainment industry, please think about the cost that comes along with it. What is your child’s soul worth? What is your soul worth? Scripture made it clear as it pertains to thrusting a child into darkness, sin and idolatry.

“But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matthew 18:6


© Copyrights, All rights reserved


Have a blessed weekend!

Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

Take a Stand. Spread the Word. Save the Butterflies ♥


"It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

COMING SOON! Join the Butterfly Movement!

Launching Fall 2010!

"Strength and honor was her clothing" Proverbs 31:25

God is Love

Have you ever entered into a relationship where those three words, I love you are spoken and no sooner than you utter them, secrets pop out from nowhere? Do you wonder why that is?

When you use the term love you are actually calling on God.

Why?

God is love. God is truth. God is the light.

When love is spoken, the truth and the light peeks through darkness. When you open your heart and reveal that you love someone, you are calling on God without even knowing it. You don’t have to recognize or acknowledge Him for Him to exist. He just does.

For a moment, let’s forget what the television, media, jewelry commercials and Valentine’s Day advertisements say is the definition of love. To really understand love, you must go to the source.

The Word of God/The Bible

Love is

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1-3

Without love, we have nothing. If we think of love and are reminded that God is love and truth then that would imply that without God and truth, we have nothing. We can give everything we have to the poor, but if we do out of obligation or for recognition and without love, it’s pointless. Love should be our motivating factor.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 4-7

When God is invited in, of course being the truth and light, things will be revealed and your love will be tested. If someone is telling you lies, God will reveal it because you called on Him. If they are avoiding, hiding, covering up or with holding truth, that is the same as lying. Love protects, trusts and rejoices in truth, not lies.

God = Truth
Devil = Lies

Love is patient. No rushing, no guessing, no anxiety and no worries. It doesn’t seek itself, it’s wants to give, nurture and provide; not take, with hold or have ulterior motives. It does not envy or boast; always wanting to see if the grass is greener on the other side or walk around bragging with pride because you have it and others don’t. It doesn’t live in and throw up the past over and over again instilling guilt and shame, it forgives. It doesn’t take revenge or wish misery on others when wronged or hurt. Over time it heals, restores and looks forward to the future. It is not easily angered, looking for an argument or keeping one going. It doesn't compete, it compliments. It does not throw temper tantrums nor is it violent. It is not superficial or shallow, It is humble and deep. Love is sacrificial and unconditional. True love perseveres, overcoming obstacles and challenges.

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 8-9

This means of all spiritual gifts that you may have been blessed with, are useless unless you utilize them with love, a pure heart and in good cheer.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.” 10

Ok, so what if lies are uncovered and the past revealed itself. We are all sinners, right? Now what?

Love never fails. Truth never fails. When truth does reveal itself, the reaction from the offended can make the offender run from truth or hold tight to it. Truth is perfect so when it’s revealed, the imperfection starts to fade away so the offended should take a deep breath and analyze the situation and react calmly.

In the spirit, truth is the main artery to the heart. When truth is hidden, you are cutting off the blood and oxygen to the heart and it begins to weaken and then symptoms begin to appear; signs telling you that something isn’t right. When the truth is revealed, the blood rushes back to the heart and revives it. It is important to recognize the symptoms and not ignore them.

When truth is hidden it can leave permanent damage and scarring called “bitterness.” If the heart isn’t treated with patience, kindness, care and concern nursing it back to health, it will not fully heal and the problem will progressively become worse. If truth isn’t fully disclosed and only is revealed in fragments, every time the heart heals from the last attack, more lies can end up hardening the heart creating resentment. Brutal truth (light) will overpower all lies(darkness)

Attempt to think of this before you react to truth in rage. The offender will be afraid to disclose truth in the future, so it will be revealed slowly or run from it and the artery will start building up slowly deteriorating. God reveals truth, but making the offender ashamed of it will determine if you receive it all at once or in pieces. It may also make them run from truth in all other areas in their life as well.

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 11-12

Like a child means to have not reached maturity. Spiritual maturity is something you have to diligently seek and grow into overtime. You will not change over night. You have to learn to walk a new way, talk a new way and think a new way. If someone has not matured, then when it comes to love, they will be ignorant to it. As you grow older you may look in the mirror and see a man/woman in the reflection but if you have not sought truth, wisdom and knowledge, (God) your spirit is still that of a child. As you start to seek it, it will make itself known and you will then become fully known. This gives the old saying “To know me is to love me and to love me is to know me” a whole new meaning.

Loving and praying for your enemies is also calling on God. God is truth but He is also just. If you consult God with your conflicts, He will bring justice to the situation. Attempt to leave revenge in the hands that it belongs; The Lords alone. Not only will He settle the conflict, but you will also be blessed for your obedience.

Before you tell someone that you love them, ask yourself, Am I prepared for truth to be revealed? Can I handle the truth? Am I spiritually mature or am I still that of a child? This doesn’t just apply to romantic relationships, it applies to all relationships, whether good or bad.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 13

Without love, hope and faith are lonely. They need love to survive. God is love and truth instills hope and faith. Without the clear and concise understanding of love, you cannot give it nor can you receive it and before you can give or receive it, you must seek it. Jesus, in His words said it best.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” Matthew 6:33

With love, your humble servant of Christ,

Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

Take a Stand. Spread the Word. Save the Butterflies ♥


"It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

COMING SOON! Join the Butterfly Movement!

Launching Fall 2010!

"Strength and honor was her clothing" Proverbs 31:25

The Beauty of Atonement

Have you ever been in a situation where you are causing self inflicted pain? It is a pain that can take all forms; insecurities, depression, shame, guilt, isolation, misery and can evolve into unhealthy relationships, addictions and co-dependent behavior. It’s almost as though you are a martyr for some reason or cause. The only person you think you are hurting is yourself. There is a void inside of you and you find yourself becoming a human sacrifice. It could be apparent or it could be sub-conscience. These things start from a feeling of unworthiness and can grow into larger issues.

This is what you call atonement.

Atonement – “The making of reparation for a sin or a mistake”

It can be to repair or makes amends for something or it can be in the form of self sacrifice/self inflicted pain.

Personally, I know that I often find myself trying to atone for my sins and then at times for the grace and mercy that I feel is undeserved. I have a tendency to try over-work, over-achieve and give to where it’s almost taking everything out of me.

When you have been where I have been, surrounded by nothing but turmoil but then make it out almost unscratched, it can be quite devastating. You may appear shiny and new, but the internal scars remain. You just can’t see them becasue they are so deep within. It’s like being thrown in a tornado, with havoc, chaos and destruction all around you and all of a sudden, you made it out. But where is everyone else? They were victims of the tornado and weren’t as fortunate as you. You then start to question, "Why me? Why did I make it out and not them?" The guilt can be overwhelming. You also become anxious because you are aware of the responsibility that it carries so that obligation evolves into an obsession.

Or maybe you are one of the ones that didn’t make it out of the tornado. You witnessed others survive and you wonder, "Why didn’t I make it out? Why was I left behind? Am I not important?" Then you find yourself drowning in sorrow, and it seems like the tornado is the only thing you know, so you stay but don't realize that you can make it out, but it's so hard to step outside what has always been.

The beauty of atonement is that we already have it. The reason Christ endured that long walk carrying His cross was to atone FOR us so we don’t have to. He sacrificed for us, shielded us, atoned for all of our sins. Yes, ALL of them.

So today, I ask you. What are you trying to atone for?

Quit trying to atone for something that was already paid for by Jesus. He paid a hefty ransom for us. He freed us. Our ransom from the slavery of sin means we have atonement. Instead of trying to make reparations for your sins, turn to Christ and give praise for the priceless gift that He gave and ask Him how to use you to glorify Him.

“You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Be blessed this week!

© Copyrights, All rights reserved
March 2010

Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

Take a Stand. Spread the Word. Save the Butterflies ♥


"It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

COMING SOON! Join the Butterfly Movement!

Launching Spring 2010!

"Strength and honor was her clothing" Proverbs 31:25

Love covers a multitude of sins

The closer that this ministry is coming to its destination, the more questions I am asked and I am very happy to answer because they are very valid questions. I need to prepare myself for this responsibility as well as set expectations for the community.

Most recently, I have been asked, “What if they some of the ladies are a different religion or don’t believe at all. What if they are homosexual? Will you not allow them to join?”

Butterfly Ministries will not discriminate anyone on the basis of race, ethnicity, cultural beliefs, sexual preference, religion or the lack thereof.

I have a very clear and specific purpose. To spread God's love by empowering young ladies to take a stand and to encourage others to get know Him personally, not to judge them.

Encourage - To inspire with hope, courage, or confidence; contribute to the progress or growth of.

We will not push them, force them, scare them nor will we withhold our services if they don't commit their life to Christ.

We will advocate, educate, empower, encourage, inspire, motivate; take a genuine interest in them. Kindness will lead them to God. Not fear. Fear does not encourage Faith but discourages it.

“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2-3

We all fall short in the eyes of God and have our own sins to account for. After they make the choice to bond with God, He will instill something in that person that is between Him and them. Even if they choose not to, it is still between them and God. My mission is to encourage that bond with God, not to play God.

"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:2

Another important and very valid question is, “How will you deal with issues such as:

• mental disorders
• teen pregnancy
• addictions
• suicidal thoughts
• physical, sexual or emotional abuse
• express the desire to harm themselves or others

I currently work in non-profit and during the past 5 years that I have worked there, I have grown both personally and professionally. They have put me in situations that challenged my leadership quite often. They made me a more well rounded person overall. I have learned so much from them and because of my experience there, I am equipped to take on this ministry.

I have learned that many non-profits and ministries fail by trying to take on things that they are not staffed, equipped, trained or experienced to handle. They attempt to duplicate efforts that already exist in the community. This is where successful partnerships are very vital to the growth and success of your organization. I have program areas that I will focus on and when the bulleted issues above arise, I will have partnerships with natural alliances in the community that I will make referrals to such as Therapists, Pastors, Social Workers, Healthcare Professionals and Child Protection Agencies.

They will specialize in children’s needs and be fully equipped to intervene as needed.

This reminds me of a partnership that our organization has had with another non-profit for the past 5 years. They build homes for low income families with a mortgage at zero interest making their home affordable and safe. The Family Services Manager and I started both companies around the same time. We contacted one another because we saw that there was a gap that needed filled and our partnership needed strengthened.

We work together to make sure that the families that we serve do not fall through the cracks. If they apply for a home and are denied because they have barriers keeping them approval, she refers them to me and our program helps them with financial literacy, education, resolving their credit issues and budgeting to help them remove those barriers. After those barriers are removed, we then refer them back for approval. She doesn’t try to take on that burden and responsibility, she refers them to us, a trusted partner because she knows that partnerships are what make a non-profit or ministry successful.

In that aspect, she doesn’t just deny a family, stepping on their dream and just let them walk away confused and discouraged. She instills hope and faith in the family and let them know that they aren’t denied, it’s just that they have some work to do before they are approved. We also attend one anothers events, serve on committees and support each others fundraisers.

It is a wonderful partnership.

"To all of you, be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit." 1 Peter 3:8

I feel absolutely blessed to walk the path that God has put me on. Despite ALL of my challenges, I have learned more than I ever thought I would but realize I have alot more to learn. I have met some amazing people that inspire me but have many more to meet. I have overcame and accomplished more than I ever thought possible but God requires more and I am His humble servant!

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2

"Above all, continue to love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8


Be Blessed this Weekend!!!


© Copyright – All rights reserved
November 2009

Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

"It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

COMING SOON! Join the Butterfly Movement!

Launching Spring 2010!

"Strength and honor was her clothing" Proverbs 31:25