Dear reader,
Have you ever wondered if God’s Word relates to your real life? To those things you care about most, like your friendships, future, family, dating, identity and image? Does God have anything to say about those issues?
Yes, he sure does. Although you won’t find the word dating in the Bible, that doesn’t mean God hasn’t spoken on the subject. The Bible’s a manual for life, and within these pages, God gives you the answers to your toughest questions.
Every day, you are bombarded with messages from the world about how you should look, act, think and talk. You’ve probably grown so used to these messages that you don’t even notice them. Another radio ad. Song lyrics. Air-brushed photos in a fashion magazine. Whether you realize it or not, your mind is receiving those messages. But “they are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing; their images are but wind and confusion” (Isaiah 41:29).
Where are the true images, the images that bring life, hope and happiness? Life is all about image—who you are, where you’re going, what you’re worth. That’s why we created True Images®—to give you a different message, God’s message about who you are in his eyes.
True Images combines the timeless truth of God’s Word in the easy-to-understand New International Version with features that help you make the connections between Scripture and your life.
Take a look at what’s inside.
*120 In Focus Articles. Maybe you’ve asked yourself, “How does the Bible relate to my real life? What God says is fine and all, but what does that have to do with the issues I’m facing right now?” Good questions. Check out the 120 “In Focus” articles spread throughout the Bible. These are first-person stories from girls like you on how they’ve dealt with everyday life issues, such as friendship, body image, popularity, loneliness, spiritual growth, family problems and more. After each story you’ll find a short sidebar with tips on how to deal with that issue.
*500 Truth or Dare Notes. Ever opened the Bible and felt like you don’t even know where to start? Sometimes all you see is pages and pages of dense black text, and it looks so intimidating. The 500 “Truth or Dare” notes are meant to help you find good places to dive in. These short, sound-byte notes give you a taste of what’s in the text and dare you to discover God’s truth on a variety of faith-related issues.
*100 Love Notes from God. When God looks at planet Earth, he doesn’t just see a mass of faces. He sees you. And he loves what he sees. The 100 “Love Notes from God” will help you personalize the message of God’s very personal love for you. You’ll find journaling spaces with each note to help you respond. God’s not interested in a soliloquy (him doing all the talking). He’s speaking to you, and he’d love to hear back from his daughter.
*300 Genuine Notes. There are a lot of nice-looking bodies walking around on this earth, but if that’s all there is to a woman, then she doesn’t have true beauty—just a shallow imitation. Believe it or not, God has a lot to say about beauty, and he’s not referring to fashion tips or face masks. True beauty begins on the inside, in your heart, and flows out from there. Beauty’s all about character, and the 300 “Genuine” notes in the Bible will help you identify what true beauty really looks like. So ask yourself: When God looks at you, does he see a beautiful girl?
*52 Mirror Images Profiles. The Bible was written by a bunch of men and has a lot of male stars in it (Moses, Samson, David, Paul, etc.), but where are all the women?! Where’s the girl next door we can relate to (Ruth), the superstar we can look up to (Esther), the female leader we can follow (Deborah)? She’s right there! In fact, God features a lot of leading ladies in his Book. The 52 “Mirror Images” profiles highlight both positive and negative role models, identify key personality traits and help you apply the lessons of these women’s lives to your life today. You’ll get a whole new perspective on the women in the Word.
*66 Book Introductions. Ever crack open your Bible to a book you’ve never read before and wonder what in the world is going on? Sometimes it helps to have a little background info. You’ll find that in the 66 Book Introductions, along with some quick facts on the book and “Life Lessons” to remember. Everything in the Bible is there for a purpose, and when you start discovering God’s motives for why he wants you to read each book, you’ll be amazed at his master plan and how it all fits together. Rely on the Book Introductions to help prepare you for the time you spend reading God’s Word.
*12 Quizzes. How about a little fun … or a lot of fun, for that matter? Check out the 12 quizzes located on the glossy tip-in pages in the Bible. What’s your image? How well do you know your best friend? Who’s your Prince Charming? What are your spiritual gifts? Discover the answers to these questions and more when you take the quizzes inside. While you’re there, you can also check out what guys think about specific topics, such as dating and friendship, in the “Reflections From the Other Side” interviews.
*Subject Index, “Christianity 101, ” Reading Plans. Check out the back of True Images for more help in your walk with Christ.
As you can probably tell, we feel strongly about the power of God’s Word and what he has to say to you. He loves you so deeply and truly wants what’s best for you. We invite you to open True Images and discover God’s truth for yourself. Go ahead—he’s waiting for you inside.