Why Purity?

I have talked about purity for a long time. The subject has not only interested me, but I have committed to wait and to be patient myself. As I took a walk today and talked to God about the concerns on my heart I asked Him the question "Why purity God?" and I began to think about what some of my readers or witnesses might be asking as I talk about purity and write about waiting.

Why Purity?
If giving into sin is so easy why purity?
If it feels good to have sex before marriage why purity?
If it is so hard to resist temptation why purity?

As I began to think about it God reminded me about His Word. Many times God said to follow Him even when no one else was. He called people to trust Him in circumstances that were taxing. Why does He call us to hard things, when the things He warns us about are so easy?

In my heart, how I answer this question is reminding myself of 3 things.

1) I do not know the future.
2) What I do know is that God does know the future, and He has a plan
3) God has something better than what sin can give me

When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they didn't physically die, they still had blood flowing through their veins, but what they missed out on was having a connection with the Lord and being so close to Him without shame. Sin altered that connection. God had something better than what sin gave them, but they couldn't go back to change their sin.

Purity is there as a guide for us. It never ends or stops unless you don't want it anymore. Purity comes from your relationship with God. The purity of your relationship with Him will flow to your relationships with others, including your boyfriend or husband and also your friends. Purity is a lifestyle choice, not a pill. As I have written before, purity isn't some quick decision...it is accessible to every believer and it's up to them to apply it to their lives or not. No one is held accountable to someones purity but that person. We all make our own decision in life. And it isn't our place to tell people what to do, but rather to be sharing what the Word of God says. Truth should always be constantly flowing in the conversations of believers. Bible verses should be coming up. We should be encouraging one another to Stand Firm. We should be sharing our failures and our dreams with each other know that each person is just as human as we are. This should be happening...but it's up to each believer to make the choice to be that kind of person.

I don't write this blog to point fingers and people, I write to drawing attention to God's truth. Truth naturally exposes lies. Forgiveness exposes sin. Love exposes bitterness.

So that is what our goal should be to be a light in the darkness!

I'm off to lunch now :)

The Purity Cage

As I reflected over conversations from the weekend this morning and things that have been on my heart, God presented His desire to me for purity.

This will be kind of short, but really lean in close and read a few lines over again to really capture what God is trying to say today.

Purity is not the absence of an action. Purity comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Purity is a form of worship to God. This truth changes the context in what most of us have believed purity to be. If purity is not the absence of an action, anyone can be pure. But, if purity comes from a relationship with God, every believer has access to purity. Are you hearing this?? Right now, weather you have never kiss a guy, whether you have children outside of marriage, weather you have been divorced or are currently sleeping with someone, YOU have access to purity through Jesus Christ.

Like patience, purity may be accessible to you, but if you use it or not is up to only you.

Purity is not a “insider club” award. It’s accessible to every Believer. If you have given someone sex outside of Gods plan for you…grab purity!!! But before you do…I have to warn you. Purity is harder than patience. Because purity is an addition TO patience. You cannot have purity without patience. And patience also, is an ACTION; not some "superpower". It is a choice. I do not agree with those who say “don’t pray for patience”, you HAVE TO have patience to an effective believer in Jesus Christ. No one will be blessed by your testimony if you have never had to rest on patience.

Patience is a necessity in purity because patience goes BEYOND circumstances.

You can easily loose your patience and kiss your boyfriend. You can easily let go of your purity and sleep with him too. This is a possibility for every human being. We are attracted to love and unity, weather we admit it or not. Our Spirits desire for unity with God ignites our physical desire for unity with another human being. That desire leaves its relation to the Spirits desire for unity with God, the moment it steps out of Gods divine purpose and into the flesh (sex outside of marriage).

This “mistake” is no mistake, it is a choice. BUT because if you are a believer, God forgives. You may come back into access of purity, it will not look the same, it might be even a little harder, but it CAN be done with a relationship with God, patience and a desire for purity.

Like I said in previous posts, no one can make you be pure, it has to be what you want. It will be tested. It will be a target for the enemy. You will need to Stand Firm under trial and have patience and trust.

In the case of purity in its physical demonstration, this is a new zone for me.

I have not kissed a guy. I have not had sex. I have not even laid next to a guy horizontally. It is GREAT that I haven't done these things. But I also do not know what they feel like. This in my life had created purity to the max resembling captivity.

My desire for physical unity is in captivity through my purity. My purity has kept my desire in a cage, it has limited space to move and its behind lock and key. When I make my covenant to my husband GOD will unlock the cage and release my desire for physical unity.

Many others may keep their desire for physical unity on a leash. Which make it easy to wiggle around, sway to the left and sway to the right, and at the moment of almost going too far they jerk on the leash and pull back. It also presents the opportunity for it to pull you along if you aren't strong enough.

You cannot control something on a leash, you can only slow it down or stop it. This is DANGEROUS in a desire for physical unity.

We may be creatures of touch and expression, but that does not mean that we should be showing it without captivity.

The words “captivity” “cage” and “leash” may cause you to cringe a little, but let’s include some verses of reference: 

“For though we live in the world we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strong-holds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take CAPTIVE every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once our obedience is complete” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Make sense?

“Above all else GUARD your heart, for it is the well-spring of life” Proverbs 4:23

Guard can mean to contain….which is what you do with a cage.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “NO” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to PURIFY for Himself a people that are His very own, EAGER to do what is GOOD.” Titus 2:11-14

“It is Gods will that you should be sanctified; that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each one of you should learn to CONTROL his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will PUNISH all such sins, as we have already told you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a HOLY life.” Colossians 4:3-7

The easiest way to control something is to make it captive in a small area.

This is something I’m learning to apply in my own life. 

I don’t want to be writing words of encouragement and charge here and not be humble enough to say “hey, I’m in it too” and that it is hard. The guy that I’m in courtship with is very comfortable...I like hugs, and I like his long hugs. But it is very hard to not only keep the big things caged, or captive, but to also keep purity as such a high desire that even the small stuff is worth a few extra thoughts.

This is not a post to point out what is right and wrong. I think I've made that obvious in previous posts. This is about Gods desire for us. He wants us to be pure! He wants us to say “no” to cuddling for hours on the couch. YES it is not easy! YES you might have to take your thoughts captive again. BUT you MUST stay the course!

The beautiful thing is that when you  make that covenant with your spouse and God, HE then says “YAY!!! Now you can enjoy all I have for you”

Why does He have us wait until marriage?? Because it is precious. It’s the best gift He gave us, to have a unity physically with someone like our unity with God spiritually. It’s beautiful. And He wants to make sure that precious thing is not messed around with.

It’s hard.

And it’s hard for me to talk about this! There have been many times when I wanted to give up on waiting, but God kept speaking more truth into me. I didn't want to be a patient person, but then He showed me what true patience was (and true selfishness!! haha). I don’t want to stop cuddling, but He is showing me more of what true purity is. And it needs to be caged, because it isn't time yet.

If you aren't a virgin, I want to tell you that whatever you think you aren't good enough for, is a lie. The enemy WILL and probably IS using your mistakes to keep you from God’s healing and plan for your life. Purity is a option for all Jesus Christ's children, virgin or not.

If you have kids outside of marriage. Change your life! Show your children from today forward what it means to be pure. Just because you have kids, does not give you the right to keep sleeping around. You did the same thing that everyone else who isn't a virgin did, yours was just more obvious. So change now. Seek God as your strength, and LET Him show you what to do from here on out. I cannot tell you how much my heart aches for you. Please do not be living with your boyfriend. I don’t know why you would do that to yourself. If your boyfriends isn't a believer, don't live with him, have him help with the kids and bring him to church! If he is a believer, don't live with him, do a study. Go through courtship. Say NO to ungodliness from here on out. Pursue things of God, like marriage. Go and sin no more.

It’s your choice. But don’t think it only effects you.

Purity started when your relationship with God did…will you embrace purity?

Will you take captive the desire until God is ready to show is beauty to you?

“Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you, DO NOT AROUSE or AWAKEN love until it desires” Song of Songs 3:5

Learning about myself

God often uses very normal experiences to speak volumes to our hearts. He has certainly done that for me. I've always been a girl who has loved the Lord all my life. I get excited about His Word, I love being at church because everything is about Him and He my most favorite topic to bring up in conversation.
But He showed me something new. Something I don't think was a big deal before, but now it could possibly keep me from some of the little blessings He has for me.

I was reading Oswald Chambers "My Utmost For His Highest" on May 30th and God convicted me about my faith. As I searched my heart I knew I trusted God, but there were things I thought He was keeping from me. Then God opened the door to show me I put unnecessary requirements on myself. I often think "I have to do my best or God will withhold something from me" when that isn't what He says at all. There is a point of missing a blessing if we don't follow God, but He never said we have to be perfect. He just said follow me. Here I am following Him and I'm telling Him I'm not good enough.

Some of this had come up a few Sundays ago when I realized I've been "chasing after God" when really all along He was chasing after me. I put unnecessary stress on myself that He didn't intend to be there.

It is fully healthy to have high goals to keep yourself accountable...but they aren't requirements. That's what I had made them.

So since those two "wake up" taps God has been encouragement me. Yesterday He showed me that He has given me everything I need for godliness (2 Peter 1:3). That means godliness with people, godliness in relationships and godliness in life choices. I have all that I need to make good decisions. I have all that I need to be a good person to other people. I have all that I need to have a good relationship. That was great, except I wanted to fix every relationship in my life right then and there. But those relationships are with other human beings who might need time to also be shown some things. So I tucked it in my heart and thought about how to apply it to myself without writing any lengthy letters to people.

This is a part of my OCD, wanting to correct something in every way right now! That's why I have piles of clothes, and then do a deep clean of my room one day. Its a whole bunch at one time, but not much consistency. Also another thing I am working on! haha.

So my encouragement to you would be to search your heart. Ask God to really show you what your motives are.

• Are there some things you could be doing better in? Have a better attitude? Speak up more? Speak up less?
• Are there some things you could be worrying about less? Stressing about little things? Stressing instead of trusting? Not giving yourself enough rest?

God does not expect perfection, just devotion. If you are truly seeking Him, He will reveal things in you that could use work, and that's good because that means He is alive and moving in you. But you have to make the decision if you will ignore Him, or if you will work on those things He points out. It's up to you, He won't force you to change. 

Are you willing?

Purity: Forgiveness Edition

If you have already had sex before marriage. If you have kissed people who you aren't committed to now. If you have fallen away from God at some point, or are experiencing that now. This message is for you...

FORGIVENESS.

You see the thing about Purity, is that we all need it. Which means we are all impure. No one is any more pure than the other. Purity is a choice not a scale. You either are pursuing it, or you aren't.

People ask me "what if someone has already had sex" but that isn't what it's about. Your past has NO hold on you IF you change the direction of your course. Now, if you STAY on the wrong path, then okay, lets bring the past out so that you see the pattern. But if you want to be pure, then DO IT.
You want to save your kiss even though you gave it up...OKAY.

The reason you can do this is because of forgiveness. When we mess up, and we KNOW we messed up, we then confess that junk to the Lord and desire to turn from that, God then forgives us. HE no longer holds those things against us.

What a lot of people, I find, forget to tell us, is that God may forget, but the consequences are still there. And also, satan never forgets.
Why do I say consequences? Because, sin is ugly and messy. It messes everything up! But forgiveness makes YOU better. It makes the sin NOT mess you up. But you still have the same body.
When you are forgiven and seek the Lord, you can handle anything that comes your way. So consider yourself then ABLE to handle the consequences that will probably come.

Another thing some people, I find, fail to point out. Is that every time Jesus helped someone out of sin. He didn't say "I cleaned you up now do whatever you want....go ahead and keep doing what your doing" Um...NO!
He said "go and sin no more!"
There has to be a change somewhere. If the stove is burning your hand then MOVE YOUR HAND!
If you really want to be forgiven and pure, you WILL turn from your previous ways.

I have run into some people who have said they love my story and it's so encouraging to them and they want to be pure too. Yet, they are still sleeping with their boyfriend, living with him and/or getting pregnant without a commitment. How can I believe them, when their sin is so precious to them?

Jesus challenged the rich man in Mark 10:17-22 to give up what he had, but it was too great of a request.
Are you holding onto your sinful lifestyle like this? Is it too great of a request for you to let it go?
Where is your treasure? In Jesus? Or in your earthly satisfactions and desires?

Letting go of what you "want" is soooo important in pursuing Purity.
I had to let go of lots of things. One was my desire to be married. It was a DESIRE. It consumed my thoughts and I would drift off into fantasy thinking about it. Finally, I said "enough". I asked for forgiveness and begged God to help me get rid of the deep desire, because it was IN THE WAY of me desiring Him. Now, it has not been a overwhelming thought since!!!! :)

So you have to decide.

YOU have to decide.
No one else can do it for you.

Will you TURN from your sin?

Will you "go and sin no more"?

Purity is possible for you.

But it is a choice.

It has to be your choice.

Your life has to change, even if your consequences don't.

Will you stop having sex?

Will you stop kissing?

I'm really asking this of you.

I don't want your "likes"...I don't want to just encourage you.

I want you to experience freedom

I want you to be blessed and strong from forgiveness.

I want you to pursue Purity.

What do YOU want?

Everyone has sinned. You are not alone.
If you have gotten pregnant outside of marriage, had a abortion, or gone farther than you are proud of? You aren't alone. But you CANT stay there. It is messy and it will only eat away at your life little by little.

You can't get rid of sin by covering it up with more sin either.

There is a beautiful road you can choose. Adam and Eve chose sin, now you have the freedom to choose a better road. It takes work. But each and every time you work you get stronger and happier because you get closer and closer to the Lord. But YOUR SIN, your present sin, is IN THE WAY of you going deeper with the Lord. Are you going to let it stay there, or will you say "enough"?

Some of your decisions can't be undone easily.

• If you have children in a house with a man who isn't your husband....you will need help. You will need somewhere to go that is good for your children. Seek out Family, the Church, Christian Friends. That's what they should be there for. (you can't wait for your partner to marry you, but if he does, THEN you move in)
• If you are in a relationship where you know your partner expects to get sex from you...you will need to break it off.
• If you have already been kissing, you will need to establish rules for yourself and let others know of your decision so it's less of a chance of someone trying to get that from you.
• If you have had an abortion, and now are married, or not, you need to ask forgiveness. And live in honor or your child.
• If you have drifted away from the Lord and are still living in your sin, you need to STOP. It isn't easy. But choice by choice you have to say "NO"

All of these require that you....

1. Confess Your sins
2. Ask for FORGIVENESS (and mean it)
3. Ask God to help you TURN from it
4. TAKE YOUR HAND OFF THE STOVE
5. Seek The Lord, Purity, Love, Peace, Christian Friends, Church
6. LIVE BY THE WORD

This is all POSSIBLE. You know how I know? Because every single day I do it! I need Jesus every day...and you do too :)


Purity is achievable by THOSE WHO WANT IT, not by those who are perfect.

"For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23

"While we were STILL sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8

"What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? BY NO MEANS! We died to sin, how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:1-2

"Just as you used to offer parts of your body in slavery to impurity and ever-increasing wickedness, so NOW offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness" Romans 6:19

"Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature" Romans 13:14

"What fellowship can light have with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14

"I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I may present you as a pure virgin to Him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpents cunning, your minds might somehow be led astray from your sincere devotion to Christ" 2 Corinthians 11:2-3

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10

"Flee the evil desire of youth an pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" 2 Timothy 2:22

"It teaches us to say "no" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age" Titus 2:12

"As obedient children do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance" 1 Peter 1:14

"Be self-controlled and alert, your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers [and sisters] throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of sufferings" 1 Peter 5:8-9

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" 1 John 1:8-9

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" 1 John 2:15

"Give Me your heart" Proverbs 23:26

You are not alone

I have a lot of embarrassing things in a journal I call my "private journal". But there would be, in a journal called that.

There is a reason I kept all those entry's. Stuff I maybe want to forget. Yeah, they are in the past. But they make me a person. And in my imperfections and mess up's God revealed His beauty and love.

I struggled with depression, suicidal thoughts, LOTS of crushes, and self-esteem.
While none of those apply to me today, reading back on them made me remember how real it was. And I knew then, like I know now, that I was never alone in my struggles. And the same goes for you. You are not alone. Everything we experience, go through or feel someone else has felt too. That's the crazy thing about being God creation. He made us all with feelings and thoughts...it's only a matter of time before you find someone that has been where you are in the millions of people on earth or that ever lived.

I don't pretend to be perfect. I'd be such a big liar if I did. But I'm not going to share my faults and not share God revelations too. His revelations combated my faults. They combated satan's lies.

Yes, satan. He's real. And boy does he hate people who love Jesus. We threaten him. People who don't love Jesus aren't a threat to him, they are more like his pawns.

Looking back on writings from years ago, satan told me I was stupid, and I believed him. I believed him for a long time. It kept me from really embracing God's calling in my life and it kept me self-conscious. Boy oh boy would I beat myself up. It was so sad that recently reading them actually brought pain to my heart, to think I was ever so hard on myself.

Why am I sharing this with you?

Because I KNOW about depression.

I also know about happiness.

My true happiness happened when I was around 18 when I realized that everything that brought me internal pain was my failed attempts to find fulfillment in my surroundings. It was then, at the total end of myself and my confidence that I realized what I needed was always in front of me. Jesus. He wasn't just my Savior and giver of eternal life after death. But He was the lover of my soul...literally....LOVER. He was so in love with me, he kept quiet while I would go on my tangents. And I always thought that my "eternal amazing life" was just a tease because I couldn't experience it until I was dead....haha. But no. God gave me such a revelation I haven't forgotten to this day....ETERNAL LIFE began at my salvation. I started living in eternity the moment I said "Lord, I will walk with you no matter what" The moment I committed my life to Him was the moment paradise started. satan tried to keep me blind to it. he didn't want me to be happy. Happy people are contagious...depressed people are just annoying. I can say that because I KNOW I was annoying back then LOL.

Now, I can testify that people have told me I am contagiously happy. So BAM. there is the truth :)

But I've been the opposite. And for a girl who has known Jesus all her life, it even took me a little while to come out of that bubble of yucky thoughts. My hope is that by you hearing my testimony that you might realize God's Truth ABOVE what satan is telling you, and that you would know happiness wayy before I did.

Some people have different depression. Mine was internal, pure emotions. Some have outward depression, based off of something physical that's happened. Or verbal depression, based on unkind words spoken. Whatever reason...know that you are not alone...and you don't have to come out of it alone either. There are a lot of people who God has called to just be an ear for others to get things out. They are there for you. Look for them. If you can't find them, ask around. Then pray for God to bring you someone. Someone older, and someone involved in Church.

Nothing goes unnoticed by God. He cares about every little thing. He will provide a way for you to get better...but you have to keep your eyes out for it. Look around. Ask Him to show you.

THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW :)

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick...for I have not come for the righteous, but sinners" Matthew 9:12-13

"Come to Me all who are weary and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" Psalm 147:3

"Heal me O Lord and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved for You are the One I praise" Jeremiah 17:14

God's Leading

Looking back on my life (I have a lot farther to go), I can see times where God clearly lead me for things. I would pray and pray, wanting so desperately to follow His will for my life. The more I prayed...the more my life flowed without me even knowing. I remember exact times when God answered my prayers.

One day I prayed for God to show me what He wanted me to do. This was shortly after I graduated High School and I knew I wanted to be used, but I also knew my life was going to look different than the life of my friends. So I left it up to God to lead the way. I prayed that even if I didn't hear Him leading me, that He would use my parents to show me the way. My parents have always been diligent in prayer and seeking the Lord through all circumstances...so I knew He would speak to them as well. 

I was sitting at the kitchen table just finishing up dinner with my family. My Dad says he's been thinking...oh boy. He proceeds to tell me he wants me to go to Community College. This was the end of July, so I'd have to get moving to get in that semester. With a "are you serious" face I said "are you serious??" He proceeds to tell me he thinks it would be good for me. Of course, I thought I knew better! I didn't want to go to college. They don't have a college that specializes in being a wife and mother. There is no degree I could get that would pay for itself in the end. I stomped up to my room and prayed in tears. "I can't believe he would say that! Doesn't he know my life isn't going to be like others?" as I brought my face up God told me to look at my prayer journal. Sure enough, I prayed about this. Yup. I'm fighting the very thing I prayed for. God had spoken to my Dad, and I didn't want to hear it. As I gathered myself I decided to follow my Dad's leading (which was actually God's). Going there taught me a lot. Not with the classes I took, but I met people different from me. Christians who weren't as convicted, or life changed as me. It was interesting. I got called "outrageous", "teachers pet", "overachiever" just for doing my best and being myself. I realized through that experience that I was indeed an outcast. I realized that God had a big plan for my life and ministry. I realized that I might have to stand alone in the fight. And I realized that not all Christians are looking to follow God at any cost. 

God taught me a lot through that experience. And the people I met caused a chain reaction for meeting new people that changed my life. Some on a good note, others, not so much. If I had never gone there, things would be different now.

Another time God answered my prayers was not too long ago. I was asking God where my next step was. I felt done at the church I was at. I couldn't minister anymore there and I knew God had a bigger plan for me. I started attending the church I'm at now. I knew I wouldn't be going to there just to be ministered to, but also to serve. And every week He brings a new thing for me to do. And I'm happy and growing! :)

I still have prayers that God said "wait" on...but because of His track record of amazing things...I know He has my good in mind :)

So if you are waiting on the Lord...don't give up! He hears you. And if you keep seeking Him and what His will is...He will answer you and it will be good for you. :) just remember sometimes we have to get rid of our wants in order to see His will.

Romans 8: 18-30

^"18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

Always keep this in mind too...

2 Peter 3:9

^"9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Love always,

Mandy Scordino

The First Kiss Girl

For my girl friends

"The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit--a wife who married young, only to be rejected,' says your God. 'For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back." Isaiah 54: 6-7

I know that God had me start this blog to be able to encourage people, especially girls, in real life things that maybe they think they are alone in. And I'm here to say...you are not alone. 

This one goes out to my girls. My friends who are struggling with waiting. Waiting for the guys, waiting for God, waiting for love.

"Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you, do not awaken love until it desires" Song of Songs 3: 5

It may not make it in the media, but this is something big going on right now, and I want to talk about it.
You hear married women tell you "if it's meant to happen, it will happen." or "just don't think about it and all of a sudden he will come when you least expect it" and us girls are like PLEASE STOP GIVING US THAT ADVICE. lol.

"Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subjective to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God" Titus 2: 4-5

I am not going to tell you to not think about it. Go ahead, think about it...pay attention to what goes on around you. This is my advice to you (and myself): Trust only God.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." Proverbs 3:7-8


Sometimes it's hard to trust something you can't see, and something you don't fully understand.
Or...to lay your desires at God's feet...you know...the desire you really don't want to let go of.
It isn't that God isn't good enough...or that you think He doesn't have something better.
But it's a control thing. Letting someone else decide. And the need for you to trust that person and wait.
We all don't like it. We want to know exactly when things are going to happen and we want them to go the way we want.

"For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11

But we are flawed. We are dirty. We are small. God is not.

Yeah sure. That last statement was convicting. But nothing new, right? We all know God is big, God is good, God knows more. Yet, here we are, struggling to trust Him.
Why are we so impatient? Why are we so self centered? Why must we be in control??????...

Oh...sorry...I don't actually have the answer to those questions lol.

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy  which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8

It's a daily fight! It's something we probably will never master. We may struggle for years before God actually does something before our eyes. but, He doesn't withhold from us. He doesn't wait for us to be "right enough" for His blessings. He just literally knows the perfect time. and only Him.

**In your head I know you are saying "God, the perfect time is NOW!" hahahaha I know because that's what I was thinking...

"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promises, as some of you understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

The art isn't in trusting God without any problem...Moses couldn't even do that.
The art is in knowing God is good.

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good His love endures forever" Psalm 136: 1

If you start doubting God's love or promises...you need to get re-focused.

Everything God does, has a purpose. Everything He did in the past had a purpose. Who He was then, is who He still is. He never changes.

When I get depressed about the things I don't have, or the things that have happened to me, or what others think of me. I remind myself...yes, I tell myself...who God is.

I don't trust God because of what He has done for me, or how many of my prayers He answers. I trust Him because of who He is. All throughout His Word He wanted the best for His people and He had to do hard things.

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" Deuteronomy 31: 8

We may not understand why He didn't send our husband at age 16. Or why Sally is married with a baby on the way...and she is 4 years younger than us and she never wanted kids. And here we are, we have wanted to married our whole lives and we know how to watch 15 babies all by our self. How much more qualified for the job can we get!?!!!

But God sees beyond what we see. There may be a crisis that we can't be distracted in. There may be families that need our help before we have to worry about our own. Or, God considers us faithful enough to have us wait.

Don't try and figure it out.
Don't change who you are.
Don't try a other woman's recipe for a husband...stick to the spices God gave YOU.

Trust your First Love <3

He knows what you need.

He hears your heart.

He knows you.

better than anyone.

"Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him" Matthew 6: 8

Just LOVE HIM.

Tell Him it's hard.

Cry out to Him

"Come to Me, all who are weary and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Hold your phone up to your ear and talk to Him rather than calling that one guy you know will always answer your call.

God is the ONLY one who can fill you.

"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but who drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" John 4:13-14

Don't throw away marriage.

It is still beautiful.

Don't beat yourself up blaming it on your sin.

Everyone sins.

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3: 22-24

If you are in constant pursuit of God...the pain won't be able to stay...but you won't loose your desire...your desire will be adorned, and a joy.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

Let go of what the world says about you.

Let go of what the movies say about love.

"Whatever is TRUE..." Philippians 4: 8

Study God's love.

Enjoy the marriages you get to see.

Takes notes.

Talk to your Daddy about boys.

Talk to your Mom about being a help-mate.

Go to school with JESUS. He will teach you.

Give Him your heart.

Not to change, but to care for.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" Psalm 37:4

Enjoy the brothers in Christ God has given you.

Love people.

Invest in people.

Talk to young girls.

Encourage others.

Be strong. BE COURAGEOUS. 

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1: 9

IT WILL BE OK.

"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own" Matthew 6:34

You don't have to worry about the future.

It isn't in YOUR control.

Your emotions, your mouth and your attitude IS.

Let God worry about the future.

You just follow Him.

p.s I love you

           ^^^you have to admit that was good ;)

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." Hebrews 10: 35-36