Here's to purity

Well, this post is going to offend a lot of people, I already know it.

But it's my blog and I get to say whatever I want, right :) One of my great American freedoms.... speech. Gotta love it :)

Ok here goes.

Our generation has totally lost any concept of purity. We've thrown it out the window with the bathwater and changed the rules. We've written our own agenda and rationalized our sins. We've crossed the line and called it normal. We've also shown the whole wide world how disgusting our morals are and have given America one big bad image. Thanks Hollywood.

Let's back up, reverse, and revisit.

The Bible. The inspired word of Father. Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Our life manual. Our guide. The commandments were given to us by Father not just so He could throw harsh rules upon us ... but rather to give us life to the fullest. Father specifically commands us as believers to save ourselves for marriage, to give ourselves physically only to the one we marry.

Here's my personal example. When you speed while driving, you are constantly watching for cops, and hoping you won't get caught. You drive anxiously and probably won't even arrive to your destination all that quicker. But when you don't speed, you don't fear driving past a cop, you aren't anxious, you're relaxed and enjoy the drive. Why? Because you have nothing to hide. You're following the rules.

When I was dating my husband, we were crazy in love. Seriously. We knew we had found the love of our lives in each other and couldn't wait to spend the rest of our lives together. Setting physical boundaries was hard. Really hard. Why? Because we as humans desire physical intimacy... it was His design. A few times during our engagement we had to sit down and talk about our physical relationship and change some things. We wanted to obey Father and save ourselves physically for marriage, and we didn't want to give in to temptation along the way. We knew it was going to be hard. Sometimes we had to evaluate our relationship and be honest if something was tempting us. We made sure that we hung out with friends as much as we hung out alone to help us guard ourselves from temptation. We also were extremely involved in our meeting place helping out with the youth group. We wanted to be together, but we made sure to be busy and active doing positive healthy things that would keep our minds off temptation lane.

I don't regret that decision and am extremely thankful for a husband (or at the time, fiancé) who valued our purity. I think it came down to one thing: wanting to please the heart of Father. He knows what's best for us.... like a parent... and sometimes we may get angry or impatient feeling like He's holding back something from us, when in reality He's actually giving us the best gift we could possibly imagine.

I want to encourage every young person out there, please don't let the world dictate your morals. His word has amazing truths for us today, and it's not just an old rusty book with old fashioned ideas and suggestions. Saving yourself physically for marriage is the most amazing gift you can give your future spouse (and yourself!) What's the fun in unwrapping your presents before Christmas? Saving the presents for Christmas day is something children look forward to all year long.... why? The excitement, the mystery, the wonder. You are a present wrapped up and carefully packaged by your Father and Creator. He took so much time in preparing you for your future spouse... why would you want someone else to unwrap you before your time has come? Saving this gift for your special day is one of the most amazing things you could ever do.

I once had a conversation with a young man on a plane. I was young, in high school I believe, trying to share about my love for Father with this stranger I just met. I was explaining to this young man my beliefs and morals, and he just couldn't believe that I was still a virgin. He laughed at me. He asked if I planned staying that way until marriage, and why. When I told him I was saving myself for my future husband, he looked at me with disgust in his eyes and remarked, "How in the world will you know for sure if you are physically compatible? It could turn out horrible if you wait. You're crazy." I was completely shocked and horrified at his thinking. Basically he was telling me that I should "try out" any potential husbands before saying the final "I do". I felt mocked, but I didn't let it get me down. A few years later after college I was working in a professional advertising agency and quickly my coworkers learned that my fiancé and I were both saving ourselves for marriage. They found out about it by asking what my ring was.... (it was my purity ring... which symbolized my obedience to Father in my purity). They didn't mock me. They didn't laugh. They contemplated for while, then commented, "Wow. That is amazing. I wish I would have waited...."

I once asked someone I looked up to if it was hard for them looking back in their past concerning this issue. They replied, "My first time giving up my purity was horrible. I hated it and felt guilty."

You see... the world wants us to think its normal. That everyone is doing it, so why aren't you? The world wants us to feel like the outcasts, the weirdo's. The world wants us to feel uncool and traditional and boring. The world tells us that we'll be happier this way, living to please our physical desires whenever they surface. But what they don't tell you is the hurt, the shame, the disappointment, the pain, and the guilt that comes with it.

This is why Father is so amazing and wonderful... He is merciful and full of compassion. He doesn't kick us out and slam the door the minute we make a mistake. If anyone messes up in this area He gives them a second chance. He wipes away they tears, and says, "My child I love you. I forgive you. I will heal your broken heart if you give me the pieces. Now, go and sin no more."

You see.... if we want to live under the umbrella of his love and protection, then we need to abide by His loving commands. If we walk away from His laws and commands, we experience hurt and pain that He never intended for us to experience. But if we love Him and desire to please Him by following His guidelines as set before us in His word, not only do we save ourselves from hurt and pain and shame, but we open the doors for joy and pleasure we could never have imagined otherwise! (and I'm not just talking physical pleasure). In all my short years on this earth, I can testify that when I was living for myself selfishly wandering away from His commands, I was depressed, lonely, angry, and bitter. But when I fell down on my knees in obedience and walked in faith, love, and purity, I experience more joy and excitement than ever before.

So I urge you, every one of you, don't loose hope, don't give up. Hold fast to the commands Father has set before us. Trust that He knows what is good, what is best for you. Please, please, save yourself for that special day when you can offer your gift to the love of your life. And if you've made mistakes, its not too late to start with a clean slate... to ask forgiveness and start anew! His mercies are new every morning, and none of us are perfect..... every single one of us needs His grace and forgiveness.

Save yourself. Keep your purity locked up tight and ask Him to help you. Guard your heart. Guard what you watch, listen to, and expose yourself to. What we surround ourselves with affects us more than we know...

I promise you, my friends, you won't regret it.