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That Whole Boyfriends vs. Boy Friends Thing- Part 2: “On Boyfriends”

2010-09-15T19:24:00.003-06:00

Before I get into the do’s and don’ts of dating, I thought I’d ask a question: Will you be dating or courting? This is a very personal decision that only you, God, and your parents can make. In this post, I’ll talk all about the differences- pro’s and con’s. Then, when you’re ready to enter a relationship, you’ll know where to start.

Dating pro’s and con’s:
Pro- You get privacy, so it doesn’t feel like all your friends and family are babysitting you.
Con- You don’t have others to protect you from any kind of abuse.

Pro-You get to really focus in on that person, which is a lot easier without other people to be concerned about.
Con- Dating is often led by a shallow crush that will fade away.

Pro- You can do fun stuff together without any extra expenses for other people that would want to tag along.
Con- Parents are most of the time left out of the relationship. Even friends aren’t usually asked for approval of the match.

Pro- You and your boyfriend get to choose where you’ll go, rather than having to do stuff according to what the majority of a group votes for.
Con- It is much easier to get caught up in the heat of the moment when no one else is around.

Courting pro’s and con’s:
Con- There are other people around that you have to remain accountable to.
Pro- Your virginity is more likely to be protected when in a group setting.

Con- It’s harder to get to know just one person.
Pro- Courting sometimes, though not always, shows a higher level of commitment than dating.

Con- People are more in your business about what you do in your relationship.
Pro- It may seem nosey, but they are probably just on guard for your heart.

Con- You don’t get any time to single each other out to enjoy just your boyfriend’s company.
Pro- Parents and friends play a heavier role and may have some wise advice for your relationship.

Before you rush to a decision, pray about it and weigh out the possibilities of each. The last thing you want to do is land yourself in a relationship without anything established. That includes boundaries of how far you are willing to go. Neither dating nor courting is sinful in and of themselves. You can be a promiscuous courter or a chaste dater. The matter is in your hands. So, choose carefully and you will have nothing but wonderful relationships. Even if you have to end your time with several people, this is not meant to break your heart, but make it stronger. God bless. <3

That Boyfriends vs. Boy Friends Thing- Part 1: "Just Friends"

2010-02-18T20:05:00.005-07:00

Let’s face it. Guy-girl relationships are complicated. Girl-girl friendships, guy-guy friendships are simple enough if you have the love of Christ in you. But any sort of relationship between guys and girls, even just friendship, requires a great deal of effort. Whether or not you feel comfortable around guys, there’s so much to keep in mind. If you like a guy, how do you make sure he knows you like him, but not necessarily have him think you like-like him? If you do like-like him, how do you show it without everyone pairing the two of you up as an item? What if you want to be a couple, yet claim to be “just friends”? When is “just friends” friends and when does it become dating? Does one date make you an official thing? Or does it take at least two to make a “serious” relationship? Do you have to have commitment in dating or can you ditch that boy the moment the next hunk comes along?

In this post, we’ll talk about how teen guys and girls should relate to each other…and how they shouldn’t. God designed these friendships to be very special and unique, super different than how you would treat most companions. You don't need a life-long commitment to one another, but you should learn how to be faithful to each other and sincere as comrades, even when trouble comes. Before I get into dating, I thought I’d talk about friendships with guys. You’re gonna have guy friends before boyfriends, after all.

Make sure your parents meet all you decide to hang out with. It may not seem very important, but they have good judgment and if you have their seal of approval, you’ll get to hang out with great guys, instead of all those perverted creeps out there. Some of you may have already considered being friends with certain boys or maybe you even have some guy friends, but, for the purpose of avoiding a “little secret” between you and your comrades, make sure they all are introduced to your mom and dad. This is especially true for boys. Every girl wants to stay away from the guy who has only sex on his mind. This applies to online things, too. Don’t join forums or go on chat rooms without your parents’ permission. I know it seems harsh, but there have been a plethora of rapes and murders due to unwise decisions from online stuff.

But how do you find the nice boys and keep yourself safe? One step in the right direction is to make sure your family’s acquainted with all the guys you like hanging out with. I know at times boys may seem like they’re from another planet, with all their noises and smells, but it can be a blessing to have them as friends. What could I possibly get from being buds with guys, you might be thinking? Plenty. At times, they can be more pleasant to hang around than girls, believe it or not. They’re sensitive and caring when you get to know them and more like you than they seem, even though they do have a different way of expressing love than us. What’s up with all the punching and burping contests, anyway? So before you think every guy’s an odd little twerp, consider some of the things that can make them nice friends:

* They can be good listeners and encouragers, minus all the crying drama.

* They’re honest and simple.

* They don’t necessarily judge you by looks like some girls do.

* They’re not always gossiping and laughing over crushes (I mean, seriously, when was the last time you saw a guy do that?!)

* When they’re not cracking jokes about bodily functions, they can have a great sense of humor.

* They’re stronger than most girls and if you’re an athlete, they’re great to play sports with.

* And they can be just plain fun to be with. Getting bored of all that nail polish and shopping?
Try hanging out with a guy (they love video games, by the way). And no, I don’t mean that as a last resort. ;)

Just as a note, though, do not get alone with a guy. Stay in group settings. You may consider the two of you nothing more than friends, but when it’s just you and him, sexual temptations abound. You can be pals with any guy, as long as your parents approve. Just surround yourself with family and friends. This is the safe thing to do and you’ll be glad you did it.

As unique and different guys may be from girls, you’d be surprised what exciting friendships you can have with them. I’d persuade you to go up to a guy and just say hi. Introduce yourself if you’ve never met him before. Have your parents meet him and watch the friendship blossom.

A Little Q&A

2010-01-10T08:19:00.002-07:00

1. Times have changed. Certainly premarital sex is okay now, right?

That’s like saying murder is okay now, since times have changed. Things changing – music, clothes, food, and our culture in general has absolutely nothing to do with sin. Sin is sin. So, no, premarital sex is in no way any more appropriate now than in ancient times.

2. Why should I dress modestly? Isn’t a guy’s job to keep himself pure and say no to lust?

Not only does God tell us to dress with modesty, but it makes a statement that we want to be treated with respect. It shows that we care about our bodies enough to guard them behind the veil of modesty. We can’t expect guys to respect us, if we don’t respect ourselves. Yes, a guy is responsible for his own actions, but for the sake of his purity as well as our own, we need to dress in a way that the Lord would approve of. And if you’re thinking you have to dress sexy to catch a guy’s attention, believe it or not, modesty keeps guys more intrigued. Being hard to win gives you a mystery they’ll keep chasing after. A girl who exposes her body leaves little to the imagination. But a girl who takes a lot to get is actually more attractive to a guy. The good kind of guys, anyway.

3. What if we don’t have sex, but share a bed every now and then?

Sleeping in the same bed with someone is not a good alternative as the Lord said to keep the marriage bed undefiled. Everybody has a different opinion of what’s too far, but we really shouldn’t be getting that close to sin in the first place. By sleeping together, but not “sleeping together”, you’re only a step away from temptation. Why purposely put your bodies that close together, when you know that the next minute you’ll probably be peeling your clothes off? Love isn’t just a hook-up, but a lifetime commitment to one another. If you really do have romantic feelings towards the other person, you’ll be willing and eager to wait until you’re married before you start messing around with each other’s bodies.

Neat stuff

2009-12-23T17:04:00.004-07:00

Readers, please check out these neat blogs and facebook page. Plug-in, if you can. This guy has a very cool novel and you can get updates on it by plugging in. Check it out here http://knewsome.blogspot.com/ , here http://thewordcrafter.wordpress.com/ , and here http://www.facebook.com/thewordcrafter . You can read an excerpt of it and vote by joining the Anomaly -> http://wherethemapends.proboards.com/index.cgi . Enjoy!

Hey

2009-11-26T11:15:00.002-07:00

I put up a poll. Be sure to vote for that. Only a couple days left! And I should have a new blog post up in the next week, if possible. -- Jess

Not gonna be around much...

2009-11-07T19:39:00.001-07:00

Hello, readers! I know I haven't posted for a couple weeks. Sorry about that. Due to my participation in Nanowrimo, I won't be able to blog again until December comes 'round. Looking forward to blogging again then!-- Jess

Purity of the Body

2009-10-23T07:43:00.002-06:00

Physical touch between guys and girls. How far is too far? Is it bad for a Christian girl to have sex with her boyfriend? Gasp. What about kissing? Or just hand-holding? Surely that’s allowed. Hugging? When is it going too far? Is it okay to do what you like as long as it’s not blatant sexual intimacy? Or maybe anything goes?

These are just a few questions to ask yourself if and when you’re on a date with a guy. As a “couple”, you’ll probably want to show each other your feelings. That’s a normal physical desire but you should know ahead of time your parameters. Before you freak out, this isn’t my view on how physical one can go. I do have my own opinions, but will keep them to myself. What’s important is that you know how far you can go without feeling convicted. I’m not saying you should stand on a log with the seas of temptation below you and get as close to the edge as possible. Do that, and you’ll end up falling with very little to stop you. It’s the same way in relationships. The more you and your boyfriend do, the harder it will be for both of you to stop. Soon you’ll be hurled into the waters of sin if you don’t watch out.

Imagine for a moment, you and your boyfriend. He seems like a nice guy. He buys you roses, jewelry, and chocolates, takes you to fancy restaurants, and writes you gushing romantic poems. Surely, this is love, right? Not necessarily. Sooner or later, you’re gonna be faced with the temptation of physical touch, if you haven’t already. Remember, guys are physically wired. Girls may rely more on emotions, but touching guys is still a struggle for us too, since we can also be “turned on.”

In this post, I’ll talk about what kinds of physical touch there are and the consequences of them. Then you can make your own decision with the help of your parents and God to set boundaries.

Touch. I’m not talking about social touch. Giving someone a little punch on the arm or shaking their hand to be friendly. What I am talking about is romantic touch, which is very tempting. While sociable touch is fairly innocent, romantic touch can lead to much more. The Bible tells us to treat one another as brother and sister. We’re not supposed to do anything that would make another guy or girl stumble.

Okay, let’s say, you’ve moved on to holding hands or wrapping your arms together with your fingers caressing each other’s hands, giving “loving” squeezes from time to time. Even holding hands can give way to a deeper sexual fire. What do you do, then? Your parents and God tell you what you should do, but you alone must decide what you will do. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” What you mean to do and what you end up doing are sometimes very different things.

If things continue to progress, next you might want to start hugging your boyfriend. Depending on the rules (which you should have while in a relationship!), that could be perfectly fine. If hugging is okay, I suggest sticking to quick side hugs. Even if you’re an “item”, you still need to be careful to not tempt each other. Long hugs with your chest touching his are not a good idea.

Hugging usually leads to kissing. Again, make sure this isn’t bending any guideline that has already been set. Kissing is often a surefire way to arouse sexual passions, so if you do kiss, short kisses are probably best. A quick peck on the cheek might be a good idea. If you must kiss on the lips, avoid tongue-to-tongue kissing (French kissing) or any long kisses. A kiss on the hand when saying goodnight is sweet and pretty harmless.

Anything beyond hugging, kissing, and hand-holding lights a fire that’s hard to put out. Can you stop yourself before you go “all the way”? Maybe, maybe not. Are you willing to take that chance? You’re the only one who can decide.

You should answer these questions ahead of time, so you’ll be prepared for tempting situations. But keep in mind what the Bible tells us. 1 Cor. 7:1 says, “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” Let that be your guideline and you’ll be on your way towards the path of sexual purity.

Pure Rebellion

2009-10-16T14:02:00.002-06:00

Last night was a very special night for me. I attended the Pure Rebellion conference about sex and relationships at Rocky Mountain Calvary. I would highly encourage you to go tonight, which is the last opportunity to attend for this year.

Before the event, I was excited, but expected the night to solely consist of a 2 1/2 hour speech about sexual purity. But this event was above and beyond my expectations. The event was very interactive. The audience got to shout out answers, clap during the music, text answers to purity questions, and try to win free t-shirts and gift cards. There was a rap dance about being a rebel to this world, which was very well done. Lots of music with passionate lyrics, modern dance moves, and a portrayal of how the world tries to rebel.

The evening started off with a powerful video on how the media (music and TV) view sex. I have to say, I couldn’t be more horrified. To the world, sex has become almost a big joke. It’s taken for granted and the attitude’s become, “Do what you want with whoever you want, whenever you want, and don’t worry about the consequences.”

After this, a woman came up and told us all about STDs. Did you know that 1 out of 4 teenagers who are sexually active have an STD? 35,000 people a day are diagnosed with an STD! HPV, for example, has no evident symptoms until it starts to tear up your body on the inside, even leading to cervical cancer. Only 3 percent of those with HIV can feel symptoms.

Next, there was a video from the movie 17 Again. For those who know the storyline, which is about a man who’s trapped in a teenager’s body, it comes as no surprise when he (played by Zac Efron) makes a stand for purity since he is really an adult with more wisdom than the rest of his class. The teacher, however, says, “Since telling teenagers to abstain from sex is like asking a porcupine to poop goat cheese, we will provide you with a way for safe sex.” At which point, condoms are handed out. This scene is sad, but accurately portrays how the world sees things.

But really, what is safe sex? There’s no guarantee condoms will always stop pregnancy, and even then, what about the other consequences? No one’s perfect, therefore, why should we trust something to protect us that is made by an imperfect person? Safe means secure, no risk of getting hurt, protected, harmless. Can any form of sex give you that guarantee?

One lady shared her story about how she got pregnant three times outside of marriage and had an abortion each time. She told us about how terrible she felt inside, until the Lord healed her pain. Safe sex, huh? Even if condoms or birth control pills do keep you from pregnancy and STDS, the world never mentions the emotional pain that everybody experiences when they have sex outside of marriage.

They showed a clip of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants in which the girl lost her virginity (carefully skimmed over). In the next scene, the character asked, “How can something, that’s supposed to make you feel so complete, leave you feeling so empty?”

The lead singer of the band In Pursuit Of, at age 24, just got married a month ago and is a living example of how it is worth it to stay pure. He says it wasn’t easy, but he has no regrets. The other three males in the band, in their twenties, too, are also still virgins.

Towards the end, there was a powerful skit showing the Lord helping a girl. Satan came along and tempted her several times to become obsessed with money, be sweet-talked by a guy, and drink alcohol. The guy left her, the money left her, and the alcohol was gone. When she thought all was lost, Satan tried to convince her the only way out was to kill herself. But in the end, though all the people and Satan, tried to tug her away, she ran back to her Savior.

This event, filled with so much zeal, renewed my excitement for my purity stance and brought me near tears. It helped me become more on fire for the passion the Lord has given me. You will be encouraged by seeing many young men and women who were waiting for the right one to come along. This event won’t cost you anything, but an open heart to see what God will do. If you live in Colorado, go to this event. You won’t regret it and it will change your life.

For more info, go to: www.pure-rebellion.com

PURITY OF THE ACTIONS - Part II

2009-09-24T10:59:00.001-06:00

If you are interested in a guy, you still need to be careful. Make sure you watch what you say. Also, before getting into a deeper relationship, consider how old he is compared to you, that he’s single (including not having a girlfriend), is a Christian with godly qualities, and that you have the support of loved ones. We’ll talk about this all more in another post, but just a quick reminder. ;) And no, this is still not a good opportunity to flirt (as there never will be).

If a guy’s flirting with you, you have to be alert for the way you react. If a guy calls you “baby” or “hot stuff” or any other name that makes you feel uncomfortable, walk away. Be sure to tell your parents as soon as possible, if they’re not present. He just wants your attention and by not giving it to him, he’ll be sure to give it a second thought before he tries flirting with you again.

Avoid late-night talks alone with guys, as this can often lead to sexual temptations. In addition, if you have any concerns or questions about sex, talk them out with a parent or other trusted adult. Avoid talking about such things with boys, as this can sometimes be mistaken for flirting.

And, always know, that you have your first love Who will always be there. God is constantly trying to woo you and get you to draw closer to Him. Before you roll your eyes, remember that He has qualities you’d want in a guy. He’s loved you since before time began, believes you to be more beautiful than any jewel, and will never leave you. A friend sticks closer than a brother and since Jesus is your best friend (or should be!), you can be sure of one relationship that will never die.

PURITY OF THE ACTIONS - Part I

2009-09-24T10:54:00.001-06:00

He’s handsome, he’s godly, he’s everything you’ve looked for in a guy. And what better way to get his attention than to flirt, right?

Wrong.

That may be the world’s way of doing things, but for a Christian young woman, it’s certainly not an appropriate way to act.

Flirting is trying to get someone else’s attention to get them to think you’re more interested in them than you are. To “seduce” or “speak sweet nothings” are common definitions for flirting. Signs of flirting often include: batting eyelashes, giggling in a high-pitched tone, winking, physical touch, smiling provocatively, teasing, and flattery.

Maybe you have dust in your eyes, have a high-pitched laugh, or like to smile. But be careful with your actions. What may seem innocent could get you in a heap of trouble. Check your heart and mind to consider what your intentions are behind this.

Flirting will only get you into trouble. Before you think I’m trying to tell you not to have any fun, consider what can happen if you flirt.

* Heartbreak. Not just the guy will be hurt, you most likely will as well.

* Sexual Assault. You can get raped or at least be abused in a serious physical way. After you’ve flirted with a guy and he’s making moves on you, he may not want to back off when you reconsider.

* The guy may flirt back, causing you to stumble in your walk with the Lord. Afterwards, he might even try to push you to go further sexually in the relationship.

* If your actions towards a guy are something you wouldn’t want your loved ones seeing, you shouldn’t do it.

* It doesn’t line up with Scripture. 2 Timothy 2:22 tells us “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” We are clearly told not to just walk away in the opposite direction of sin, but to run! We’re not called to sit around and do nothing. We must pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. None of those have a part in flirting. We need to hold ourselves accountable before God for our actions.

Purity of Dress

2009-06-03T15:02:00.002-06:00

The way girls dress these days would make you think the world’s running out of fabric! Between skin-tight, low cut, spaghetti strap shirts and shorts that come up way too far above the knees, girls are not doing much in the way of modesty lately.

Usually when a girl dresses in a provocative way, it means one of two things- they don’t know what it does to guys and are therefore ignorant or they do know, but don’t care (sometimes out of desperation for “love”). Some girls just want to fit in with the latest styles. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to wear nice clothing, but what does God have to say about modesty?

1 Timothy 2:9-10 says: “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”

This doesn’t mean we can’t dress our best. In fact, the Lord does want us to present ourselves in a decent way, since we are to be examples for Him. But he wants us to do it with modesty. What does modesty mean, anyways? It means being conservative, not drawing attention to one’s body.

Why dress modestly? Well, first of all, God commands us to do so. Secondly, guys are very visual. Imagine your mom making your favorite kind of cookie. After baking them, she comes up and waves the plate of cookies in your face, making comments like, “Don’t they smell delicious? Can you see just how perfect they are? Can you almost taste them? Well, guess what? You can’t have any.” Then she walks away, leaving behind the cookies. Your first reaction would probably be to dive at the cookies. If you didn’t have any self-control. In the same way, girls, with or without knowing it, are going around in revealing clothes as if to say, “Hey, I’m gonna dress like this, guys, and I expect you to treat me with lots of respect.”

This makes it so hard for guys. Think it’s hard not to eat those cookies? It’s even harder for guys, especially Christian ones trying to keep their purity, to resist temptation when you’re “dressed to impress”. You shouldn’t expect guys to treat you the way you want to be treated when you dress in skimpy clothing. A guy still has a responsibility to resist temptation, but we’re not helping them at all by wearing clothes like that.

Your worth is above the jewels. Show that by dressing modestly. Not only will guys treat you with respect (or they should, anyway!), but you’ll be obeying the Lord’s commandment. And you’ll be letting your real beauty be revealed- your heart.

Wanting to dress to impress? Try dressing to impress the One who really matters- God. And trust me, if you dress in a conservative way, the guys whose attention really is worth getting, like your future husband, will see you and appreciate it.

PURITY OF THE HEART – keeping what you desire in line with what God desires

2009-02-25T14:31:00.001-07:00

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord”- Psalm 19:14.

God told Adam and Eve to be “fruitful and multiply”. In this first romantic relationship mentioned in the Bible, He gives us an example of true love. Love inside of marriage. And He is more than capable to bring the right one at the right time for you too.

So, if God created man and woman to be together, what could be wrong with those kind of desires? Plenty!

If you’re a girl, then you know that the thing girls desire most in a romantic relationship is love. What girl, or woman, hasn’t dreamed of intimacy with a guy? This doesn’t mean we don’t want to connect to others mentally, physically, or spiritually, but our biggest need is emotional. This isn’t bad, but it means one of our main battles is to guard our hearts.

If you’re too young, even with good intentions, you have no business in a relationship with someone. Better to wait until you’re old enough to think about whether or not you intend to marry this boy. To begin a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship at too early of an age sets you up for temptations that you’re probably not old enough to deal with yet.

Another normal feeling is attraction. To see a boy and think he’s good looking is normal. But not everything that’s normal is good. Love isn’t just a feeling. It’s not just a pounding in your chest at first sight of a cute guy. That’s not what makes up a healthy relationship. That is just emotions on overdrive. Dwelling on attraction can then lead your thoughts astray. So, as thoughts of that good-looking boy pass through your mind, they should lead you to prayer, not fantasy.

Well, you might be thinking, if it’s a natural and good desire, why should I want to or need to guard these feelings? Picture your favorite possession- ipod, laptop, cell phone, you name it. Now, isn’t it normal to want to use these things and enjoy them? Sure. But you don’t go around letting them lie on the floor so people can step all over them, do you? Of course not! Well, if something as simple as a cell phone makes you worry, how much more concern should you feel about your own heart?

I pray that you guard your desires well, so that the meditations of your heart will be acceptable in God’s sight.

Laura's Story

2008-11-18T12:11:00.001-07:00

My name is Laura. I grew up in a small town, as a bubbly teenage girl full of life, full of love, and full of promise. Adopted as a baby by a loving doctor and his wife, I lived a secure, comfortable existence with my two brothers and several dogs.

Even as a small child, God began calling to me. He once came to me in my bedroom, saying, “Behold, I stand at the door of your heart and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into him and dine with him and he with Me.” I was so filled with excitement and with my little child voice, said, “Come on in, Jesus!” It was then that I also asked Him to come into my heart and forgive me of all my sins.

When I was nine, I felt His spirit all over, filling me inside with His love and joy. But, growing up proved to be a challenge for me. My loving parents divorced, and my mother lost her mind, tried to commit suicide, and ended up in a mental hospital. When she finally got out, she was still very mentally broken, so she moved far away, leaving me behind. I already had abandonment issues and this was now another mother who didn’t want me. My dad then remarried to a woman, who also really didn’t want me in the picture.

So, when I entered high school at fourteen, I was thrilled and excited when the cutest boy in school, Casey, an athlete, started showing interest in me. After all, I knew I wasn’t worthwhile. I wasn’t wanted as a baby and now my adoptive family didn’t want me either. But, the cutest boy in school wanted to know me. He would hold me tight in a hug at night when we took walks and he would buy me gold jewelry and talk on the phone with me until late in the night. I didn’t give God or my morals any consideration when things began to get physical. No one ever told me that my purity was valuable. Needless to say, I gave that boy my purity and not long after that, he left me for another girl. Another girl! After, he promised that he loved me, and that we would get married someday!

I never spoke to Casey again after he left me without even giving me an explanation. I lived the rest of my teenage years and most of my adult life in tremendous pain. I tried to kill the pain with drugs, I tried to kill it with alcohol, and even with other relationships. The lack of concern for my purity and the thought that virginity was something to compromise plunged me into a life of pain and confusion. If only I would have remembered God and how much He loved and valued me, the severe pain could have been avoided. I could have lived His plan for my life and avoided all of the trauma and damage.

One day in my late teens, a girl invited me to church. I was very hostile and bitter because I felt angry at God for letting all the bad things happen to me. What I didn’t realize was that God had been there all along, longing for a relationship with me. He hadn’t left me. I had left Him. I ended up going to church, falling on my knees, and crying out to Him to forgive me and change my life. He was there. He had never left. He loved me. He would never leave me. He was there all along. He cried when I cried. He helped me the moment I cried out to Him so now I live my life mindful of Him. I’m not perfect but He is always there.

The reason for this story is to let you know that you are precious even if your mother and father forsake you. God will never forsake you. You are made to have a relationship with God first. Your purity does matter. Your virginity is a wonderful thing. You will avoid unnecessary pain if you will commit you ways, purity included, to God. He will pick you up when you fall, and cleanse you if you are in need of cleansing. He is the Lover of your soul. He has a beautiful plan for your future. A plan to prosper you and not to hurt you. If you have already made mistakes like me, there is healing. There is forgiveness and you can be pure in Him through Jesus Christ and the blood He shed for you on the cross. He is waiting and standing at the door, knocking. Open the door. He will come into you and you will never be the same.

Where it all begins...

2008-10-26T14:07:00.005-06:00

Purity. A million various thoughts can branch off from that one word. Everybody knows what the brain is. You use it every day for different tasks- school, chores, etc. Surprising as it may seem, purity and the mind are in some ways connected. But what does the Bible have to say about it? 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to “take every thought captive”. Another passage tells us that whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, these things think upon. In order to start living a pure life, we must filter through our thoughts and bring them to the Lord and see if they’re worth thinking. Some girls love to daydream about the day they’ll be swept off their feet by a wonderful guy. Does this mean we should waste away our hours drooling over boys? I don’t think it does.

Adam was the first man; Eve, the first woman. We were made as assistants, as helpers. We can’t help guys if we are constantly thinking wrong thoughts about them. 1 Timothy 4: 12 “…But rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”

We need to protect our mind against thoughts of lust or hate. Hate is an emotion that causes us to want bad things to happen to people, such as their death or discomfort. The Bible says that when you hate someone, you have killed them in your heart. The thoughts of us as human beings are evil, unless we bring them to the Lord. He will purify us. To be pure means to be clean, to be white, to be free from blemish, to be spotless. We need this in every day of our lives. Although we cannot go without sinning, God’s forgiveness only can give us true purity. The world may hate us, but the only thing we should hate is evil.

And Jesus also warns against lust. Lust is basically thinking about someone in a romantic way and wanting to give in to sexual compromise. We’ll discuss that in more detail later. But He tells us that if you desire someone, you have already committed adultery in your heart. Not just guys can lust. Girls can be tempted, too. And it’s not always sexual lust, though that’s what we’re focusing on here. Titus 2:12 says, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”.

If you are sincere about it in your heart and thoughts, and if you haven’t already, say a simple prayer to the Lord to ask Him into your life. “Confess with your mouth, believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God, and you will be saved.” If you prayed that, then congratulations! You’re part of the family of God. You don’t have to worry about death and where you’ll go one day. Your blemishes are washed away with the blood of Christ.

Or, if you already are a Christian, pray that the Lord will remove any current sin in your life. He’s given you purity. Learn how to use it.