By Peggy Cook

SW District Promoter

Make a large crown of cardboard or styrofoam. Cover it with gold foil paper. Decorate it with glitter or other sparkling decorations. You may also wish to add artificial jewels to the crown. Place the crown on the table in the altar of the sanctuary before the presentation begins.

Purchase from a craft store lapel pin backs and artificial jewels. Glue the jewels to the backs for each girl who is to receive her Forward Step award. Jewels needed are pearls, emeralds, amber, sapphires, and diamonds. Present each girl with a lapel pin of the jewel representing her step as her GMA award is presented.

During the invitation at the close of the presentation, each girl may walk to the altar and place her jewel on the table around the crown.

Minerals and rocks have been of great importance since the beginning of human history. In the early Stone Age, people began to make flint and tools. With the discovery of iron and metals improvement was made in these tools. Mankind learned how to use these minerals to improve the quality of life.

Interest in the earth's riches was not confined to minerals and rocks used in technology. The beauty of minerals fascinated people; For example, gold was first used as jewelry in the Stone Age.

Man's reaction to beauty and things that endure has not changed. We share with the ancients a certain desire to have beautiful and precious gem.

GEM or GEMSTONE us the name given to any mineral that is treasured for its beauty and durability and to a few non-mineral substances such as pearl, amber, and coral. Their value depends on seven factors of perfection: (1) Rarity-there are very few of them. If the streets were paved with gems, no one would bother to pick one up. (2) Preciousness-they are valuable. (3) Purity-the first act in their formation is separation from other minerals. (4) Brilliance-they reflect light. (5) Beauty-they have eye appeal in color and form. (6) Durability-they are hard and tough, not likely to split or crack under normal use. Gemstones outlast dynasties. (7) Usefulness-they serve a variety of purposes. They must be cut carefully for their specific use. A wrong cut will ruin even the most beautiful stone.

How people value their jewels! They count them as their most precious treasures.

Many scriptures refer to gems of all kinds being used for a variety of purposes. In the Old Testament we read of the beauty of Aaron's priestly attire and the breastplate with its twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. In the New Testament we learn the description of the heavenly New Jerusalem. The streets are paved with gold, the gates are made of pearl, and the walls are of jasper. Some say that jasper is one kind of diamond. When we picture these scenes in our minds, we imagine beauty and riches.

There is another scripture that is dear to Christians. "They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his son that serveth him" (Malachi 3:17). God used the term jewels to make us know how highly He thinks of us, His redeemed ones who are more precious to Him than jewels are to their owners. Our children are our jewels; the friends we love are our jewels. Those whom we try to bless with salvation become precious to us as jewels.

The saints of God are more excellent in His sight than all others. The saints may be compared to jewels because they have the same seven qualities of perfection found in gemstones: (1) Christians are rare-a few called-out believers. (2) Christians are precious-a high price was paid for them: the Son of God redeemed these jewels with His own blood. (3) They are pure-sanctified by the Holy Spirit, set apart from the world. (4) Christians are brilliant, reflecting Jesus to the world. (5) They are beautiful with clean, high moral standards. They are His treasures and His affection is with them. (6) Christians are durable-they will live eternally; He keeps them in safety; they cannot be taken away from Him. (7) They are useful-each has a specific ministry in the Lord's service. God speaks of them in an endearing manner as "my jewels." He will take care of them in this world and glorify them with dignity in the hereafter.

Some beautiful descriptions are given in God's Word. The Christian is the cedar of Lebanon, the most majestic and beautiful tree in the forest. Heaven is a city with streets of gold and gates of pear. God's people are called jewels!

Where shall we search for God's jewels? Not above in the garnished heaven of sparkling worlds do we look; neither do we search below in the mines of gold and silver hidden beneath the earth where men toil hard and long to dig out what they call precious. We do not look where the topaz, the coral, and the diamond sparkly, nor in our national galleries filled with rare products of nature and art. Neither do we look in museums with their vast collections of valuable antiques, nor in the wardrobes and chests where the rich and noble lock up their lustrous gems. These are not the places to look for Jehovah's precious jewels; we must rather look in the souls of people who have put on Christ, those who have become partakers of the divine nature, those who have been created after the image of His Son.

We have some precious jewels in our presence just now. We have gathered for this special occasion to present girls in the Girl's Missionary Auxiliary. As they are presented by their Forward Steps, we will compare the lives of these precious gems to actual stones found among the most costly treasures on earth today.

First, we present the Maidens. They are just beginning in the GMA program. They are rare and delicate. They are comparable to a pearl. A pearl is not a natural stone or mineral found in the earth. It is made from a living being, an oyster. A pearl is formed when a tiny particle of trash gets inside the shell of an oyster and becomes an irritation to the sensitive mollusk living inside. As this irritant troubles the oyster, it begins to secrete a coating around the particle; and a pearl is formed. Matthew indicated that pearls are fragile when he advised, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, least they trample them under their feet and turn again and rend you' (Matthew 7:6). Swine might step on rubies without harming them, but pearls would be completely crushed. Pearls are not much harder than your fingernails.

The young ladies beginning the GMA Forward Steps are also fragile. Most begin the lessons on salvation without having accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. An irritant begins to trouble their hearts. This is, of course, the Holy Spirit convicting them of their need for salvation. When they accept Jesus Christ, His blood covers all their sins and a new person is formed, just as the pearl is formed with it is covered. The result of the covering of the blood of Christ is that a new child of God is born into His family.

(Present the Maidens to recite their assigned verses. Introduce each girl by name. If you choose to have pin bearers, introduce them by name.)

An emerald is a gem variety of the mineral beryl. In ancient times it was known for its beauty and alleged power of healing diseases of the eye. Flawless specimens of good color and size are exceedingly rare. It is a stone worthy of high honor. A variety of types of minerals around the world are called emeralds. Each one is different in a small way from the others, yet they are all beautiful green gems prized for their worth. We tend to rely on color to identify a gem; yet it is usually the most misleading quality used. Much practice must be gained to properly identify precious gems.

The GMA girls who have completed the Lady-in-Waiting step are also worthy of high honor. They have completed a difficult step with includes a study of the characteristics of a Christian found n Matthew 5:1-16. They have found in these verses the qualities that would identify someone who is a Christian. We call these the Beatitudes.

As these girls grow and mature in their Christian live, these characteristics will become more evident in their daily habits. We may be fooled occasionally by a person who claims to be a Christian, but as her ways unfold, the true characteristics of a Christian will not be evident.

We can be misled in identifying true Christians. Let us examine ourselves to be sure that the precious blood of Jesus covers us; then we can truly develop the characteristics these girls have studied.

(Present the Ladies-in-Waiting to recite their assigned scriptures. Then present their awards and appropriate jeweled lapel pin.)

Amber is a fossil resin generally found on seacoasts. The characteristic color is yellow with brown or red shades possible. It takes a high polish and has been valued for beads. In the Hebrew language the word refers to the color of a bright fire. Amber is slightly brittle and emits an agreeable odor when rubbed. It has also been used a medicine in the ancient orient. Today it is used in the making of varnish.

The girls in the Lady step also remind us of a bright fire. They have completed the step that teaches them to make a joyful noise unto the Lord and to seek the Lord while He is found. Most importantly they are taught to be careful where they place their treasure. Their hearts will naturally long for the treasures that are most important to them. They must learn the difference between earthly and heavenly treasures. Their scripture verses teach them that difference. At their age girls are usually really "on fire" for the Lord and are eager to work and live for Him. Pray that these girls will continue to be a fire for the Lord.

(Present the Ladies to recite their verses; then present their awards and lapel pins.)

A sapphire is a precious gemstone because its hardness is next to a diamond. Although sapphires may be found in many colors, the true sapphire is blue. The ruby is a red variety of the same mineral. Sapphires and rubies are used to keep perfect time in watches and clocks.

The prominent words to describe a sapphire are true and perfect. This well describes the Princesses. They do an in-depth study of the Doctrinal Statement and then must pass a written examination on "What We Believe." When girls complete the Princess step, they have a better understanding of what is means to be a Baptist. They learn what it means to be faithful and true first to their Lord and then to His church. They become true-blue Baptist.

(Present the Princesses to recite their verses; then award their pins.)

Nothing epitomizes the appeal of gems more aptly than the diamond. What other object on earth could be so small and yet so beautiful and valuable? What other object could retain its worth for countless generations? What young lady is there who doesn't eagerly anticipate the day when that special someone will place a diamond on her hand? The diamond is the hardest substance known. Both tremendous heat and pressure are required over a long period of time for the crystallization of carbon into a diamond. Quality diamonds of clear, strong, and unusual color are highly prized.

Another important characteristic of the diamond is its resistance to attack by acids or alkalies. The name diamond is derived from the Greek word adamas meaning invincible.

The Queen steps are the pinnacle of GMA Forward Steps. The process to becoming a Queen takes tremendous effort. There is great heat and pressure as girls work over several years to complete the necessary requirements to make it to this point. These young ladies have become strong in their Christian lives and tend to be more resistant to attacks of Satan than those who do not attain the rank of Queen in GMA. They have memorized many scriptures that help them to make right decisions with a clear mind, as well as to help them make a strong and brave stand for Christ. They are not invincible like a diamond, but they do have great strength of character.

The higher they progress in the Queen steps, the greater the strength of character they attain. May we encourage each girl to complete all her steps to become Sovereign Queen by the time she reaches grade twelve.

(Present all the Queens to recite their verses and receive their awards and lapel pins.)

One interesting fact about gems and their purity is that if you placed a large bag of diamonds under X-ray, nothing would be seen. Stones that are pure will not stop the X-rays. The only diamonds that will show up under X-ray are those made by man from glass. Glass has lead in it that shows up as an impurity.

One day each of us will stand before God to be examined. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior will stand pure before Him. As He looks into each heart, He will not see any sin or worldly impurities because the blood of Jesus has cleansed that heart.

What about your heart? Are you one of God's gems? It is no accident that kings and queens are crowned with the treasured gems of their kingdoms. Gems are rare and precious and display the wealth and power of the kingdom. God will one day make up His jewels to display the wealth and power of his kingdom. He who sits upon the sapphire throne and has around Him a rainbow like an emerald, who created all earth's riches for His Son's pleasure, places the highest value on mere man who by faith in Jesus Christ can become a child of God.

You can be one of God's jewels if you accept Jesus as your Savior. Will you pass God's X-ray? Have you been obedient to the command of Christ after you were saved? Have you joined His church and been baptized? Are you serving faithfully where God has placed you? You can do what God wants you to do as we sing a song of invitation.

Song: "When He Cometh"

(Girls may remove their lapel pins and come lay them around the crown on the table or stick them into the crown to symbolize God gathering His jewels around Himself.)