I am blessed to be in Guatemala on a mission trip with Global Infusion and fellow students from the Ramp School of Ministry Mission major. We have witnessed miracles and seen the hand of God touch lives and heart for His Glory. I am blessed to be apart of this great team. Pray for us!

I completed my first year at the RSM on May 2 and left on the mission trip May 6 so I have not had much time for anything other than training and preparing. I hope to update you all soon.
God has done so much in my life the past 9 months. 

Follow your dreams! Live for God with all you have in you. He is faithful He will bless you. 

His Faithful Servant,
Purity Girl

Scripture references for Godly Dating and Courtship. It's not about serving self - the flesh. We can glorify God in our relationships whether we call it dating or courtship it's about accountability and boundaries before marriage and remaining pure in that process of getting to know a person.

• 1 Corinthians 6:9-7:19 (command to be pure, seriousness of sexual sin and instructions regarding marriage)
• 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (do not wrong or defraud one another in relationships — by implying a relationship or commitment by your words or conduct that does not actually exist)
• Song of Solomon 2:7 ("do not awaken love before it pleases" — i.e. before the proper time, meaning marriage)
• Proverbs 6:20-7:27 (warning to avoid sexual sin and foolish relationships)
• James 1:13-15 (temptation is to be taken very seriously)
• Romans 13:8-14 (love others, work for their soul's good; don't look to please self)
• Romans 14:1-15:7 (favor others, not self ... value what's good to their souls)
• 1 Timothy 5:1-2 (treat single women as sisters in Christ, with absolute purity)
• Titus 2:1-8 (young men and women should focus on self-control/godliness)
• John 14:15 (if you love Christ, you will obey His commands — read: above your own desires — and live biblically)

His Faithful Servant,

Puritygirl

Oh Lord, let me be so focused on YOU that I only look up to see a guy because you whisper in my ear, "That's Him."

Guard my heart, oh Lord, that I would not play games with my brothers in Christ, but be an example of you in truth, modesty and in purity - that I would not cause my brother to stumble.

Purity- A set of Rules?

No. Purity is not a set of rules. Although, rules may help you remain pure that is not what purity is. Purity is a state of mind, it's where you set in your mind that you will remain pure and not waver from it. No matter what life throws at you!!! So, rules in the long run will help you maintain purity; but that is not what purity is.

Those that know me and my heart know this is how I truly feel. For years people said I would change..I would compromise, give in! I have learned a lot since I was a child and yes I do see some things differently, but I will not give up my standards that God has placed in my heart. I have discovered it is not easy..I do have to remind myself it will be worth it. I have learned NOT to ask God WHO & WHEN? But to simply trust He will direct my path & lead me to that special young man in His time & He will lead him to me in his time. I have prayed since I was a toddler for God to prepare my heart for him & his heart for me, so I know He will honor that if I am faithful to WAIT on Him. What the world sees as 'normal' is just a pit fall. I have never been seen as 'normal' why start now? I encourage you as singles to seek God with your whole heart & He WILL give you the desires of your heart. Love, Puritygirl ♥

[Jamie Grace] Boys, Boys, Boys

My girl Jamie Grace speaking up for Dating with Intentions. Love this girl.. Why do we waste our time with a guy or girl we have NO intentions of ever exploring a more serious relationship with in the future? I mean I know not every guy or girl you get to know is going to be 'the one' you end up in a courtship with, but if you know right off they are not the person you could ever consider for a courtship then why?!?!
 There is so much to do for God now while you are young before you are bogged down with work, family and all the responsibility of adulthood. The teen years are perfect for serving God and discovering what He truly wants for your future. I'm not saying - don't have a boy/girlfriend, that is fine as long as you've prayed about it and that person is a Godly person that can uplift you and not drag you down or keep you from building your relationship with your first love - GOD. We have to guard our heart and look out for our brother/sister in the Lord so that we do not cause them to stumble and fall. If we are dating without intentions  then we are setting ourselves up for a broken heart -WHY? For the sake of FUN like Jamie said? I don't need that kind of fun. I want to trust my heart to a guy that I believe will treasure it and I want to know that I am going to treasure his heart and not just play with it. Old Fashioned? Yes indeed and proud of it. The guy that gets me will get a real treasure because I am saving all I have for him. Like a gift no one else has ever seen or touched - a gift for him alone.
You can get to know a guy without jumping right into a 'dating' relationship before you even know you can be friends. Trust me if friendship doesn't work or you don't feel sparks or God's leading toward that person then he/she is probably not the one for you.

Girls are Like Apples on Trees. 

 The best ones are at the top of the tree. The guys don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling & getting hurt. Instead they get the ones from the ground that aren't as good, but easy to get. So the apples on the top think something is wrong with them when in reality they are Amazing. They have to wait for the right guy to come along, the one who is Brave enough to climb to the top of the tree. If you are willing to wait for that brave knight in shinning armor to climb to the top of the tree, then you will be blessed by the guy that is right for you. *GUYS this could go for you too. Many guys are waiting at the top for that right girl to come along and capture their heart too. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 I've posted this before, but I always come back to it..it's just so true. Girls and guys, I know it's discouraging when you see guys or girls so often going after the wrong person or the wrong things. Take our relationship with Christ..it should be 1st in our life before ANYTHING else. He is our first love and always should be even when God does put that special someone into your life, he or she should never come before your God. He is constant He will be there when they will not be. As teens our feelings and emotions are usually all over the place and one day you may think OMG, he/she is so awesome it's all I can think about. If we are in the word of God and praying without ceasing then our first thoughts will still be of Jesus because he is our all consuming fire..the one that fills us from the inside out. Anyone else will always come second, I know a lot of teens don't want to be second in their boy/girlfriends eyes they want to be everything. I tell you if you are everything to them, then they are not seeking a holy God, they are not placing HIM as top priority in their life and your relationship will soon sink in despair, it can never be all God wants it to be. It does so often seem like guys and girls tend to go after the opposite sex that is easy to pick off the ground as this story goes, it's easy to see why..they usually flatter them, bat their eyes at them, make them feel like a million bucks because they are willing to give into any and every flirtation out there. God has a greater plan for us He has our life in His hands and He knows the one that is right for us. You may have been waiting, 'forever' it seems, but we have to be ready - spiritually, physically and mature enough to handle that kind of 'special' person in our life before He reveals it to us otherwise it will just be a passing fancy that will break your heart in the end. I've seen friends and family struggle with heartbreak to the point of depression and that is not of GOD. He wants what is best for His children. Allow Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts, your heart and your mind and ask Him to guard your thoughts, heart and mind that HE would be your first love and protect you from the enemy and all the nice looking guys/girls he puts in your path as a distraction from what Jesus wants for you. If you truly want that special guy/girl to find a place in your heart be patient and willing to wait for them, it will be worth it, I just know it will, because I know Jesus has our best interest at heart. Love Your Nazirite Sister in Christ, Puritygirl

Dear Single Girls

Dear Single Girl, I don't know you personally, yet, but there are a few things I want to tell you with the hope that I will get to know you some day. Actually, there are 5 things I want you to know: How to get a man’s attention The guy that you are looking for isn't attracted to charm as much as he is Godliness because beauty fades but Godliness GROWS (1 Peter 3:3-5). I know that the culture will tell you that guys are turned away and intimidated by girls that love Jesus and have strong values and convictions. Culture is wrong; boys may be turned away by strong convictions, but men are not. Be the woman God has called you to be, and a godly man will notice. Run from “Prince Charming” Some girls seem to give attention to every smooth talker and cool dresser that comes their way. Please don’t do that; be patient and wait on a man who is concerned with pursuing Jesus, not another trophy. Only give the GROWING, God fearing man a chance to pursue you. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain (Prov 31:30). I am just a guy, not a god A guy will crumble under the weight of being your god. No other person can complete you or make you happy. There are lots of great physical and emotional benefits that come from a relationship, but none of it is enough to sustain a healthy loving marriage if your faith is not in Jesus. No guy will complete you, so don't put him on that pedestal (he will fall). Don’t wait on me, pursue Jesus From my male perspective, there is nothing more attractive than a woman being obedient to Jesus and taking the risk to follow Jesus wherever He leads. Too many times I notice girls in the church just sitting and waiting on a man to come and rescue them from a life of boredom. When it comes time for me to pick a partner, I want somebody that can follow me on an adventure, not someone that is used to doing nothing and complaining about the fact that no one is interested in them. Pursue Jesus and I will pursue you when He gives me the green light. Time is not running out Singleness is a gift, not a curse. You want to be beautiful? Put your hope in God and don't give way to fear; trust his timing (1 John 4:18). Don't waste your single years by always waiting on what is next and turning yourself into a man chaser. Let’s follow God right now and trust Him to take care of the next. God is sovereign and able to direct both of us to each other when the time is right. Until Then, A Single Guy This post taken from New Spring Church. DO NOT give up hope young ladies.. There's Godly young men out there. Also check out "An open letter from a Single Girl to a Single Guy" http://newspring.cc/blog/articles/dear-single-guys/

Dear Single Guy

I got this from New Spring Church. I did not write this, but it is my heart.
 Dear Single Guy, I’m often accused of being picky, unrealistic, and setting standards that are way too high for you. However, I don’t think that’s true at all because I have faith in you. I totally believe that you can be the man God created you to be. So let’s set the record straight.... 1) I do have a checklist that I’m looking for in a guy. But there is only one thing on that list: Is he madly in love with Jesus? Relentlessly pursuing Jesus will lead you to make good decisions about your future and about how you treat me (Matt. 6:33). If you’re who Jesus wants you to be, then you’re who I want you to be. 2) I want to be pursued (Ruth 3:11, 18)! However, pursuit does not equal spending extravagant amounts of money on fancy date nights. I just want to be pursued with intentionality. I want to know that you think about me, that you pay attention to what I say, and that you are taking the time to really get to know me. I want you to make me feel special and like I’m worth the time it took for you to plan a date. 3) I don’t need you to have all the answers and to solve all my problems. I have a mind of my own and the Holy Spirit does live in me (John 16:13), so I can make decisions and find solutions on my own. Instead of being my problem-solver, I just need you to care about how I feel and what I’m thinking. Just taking the time to really listen lets me know you care about that. 4) I want you to lead me closer to Jesus…and I want to do the same for you. I want my walk with Jesus to inspire you to be a godlier man rather than intimidate you (Heb. 10:24, Prov. 17:17). 5) What you say really matters (James 3:2-4). Because I do feel things deeply, I keep a guard up with most guys in order to protect my heart. However, if you’re special and I’ve let you in, I do ask that you be careful with your words, only say what you really mean, and be honest. I want to know that I can trust what you say. Bottom line is this: Pursue Jesus right now, so He can show you how and when to start pursuing me. Until Then, A Single Girl You can also check out Wednesday's post. "An Open Letter From a Single Guy to a Single Girl" http://newspring.cc/blog/articles/an-open-letter-from-a-single-guy-to-a-single-girl/

I have posted 2 songs/videos for you today. I hope you enjoy them. "Wait for Me" is by Rebecca St. James - she has been a huge inspiration to me in my journey to remain pure. This song is my theme song as many of you know, it is the song I sing for my future husband, even though I don't know him yet - God does. The 2nd song "Haven't Even Kissed" is a great song too. It is a song I look forward to singing one day when I do meet my Beau. ;) I thought many of you would enjoy this song. I hope you are saving your Kiss for that special person God has waiting for you. Blessings & much love from your sister in Christ, Puritygirl

Wait for Me-Rebecca St. James

Haven't Even Kissed- Moriah Peters (lyrics)

SWEET 16!!!!!

    Sweet 16!

And never been Kissed?!?!

IT’S MY SWEET 16 EVERYONE!!!!  Well not quite… but almost!

I don’t feel any different yet… But it does seem like a big jump. Like when I went from 14 to 15 I was like… “whoa” it was kind of like moving from older preteen to full blown teen… now it’s like “dude” I’m fixing to be 16!! It’s kind of like being stuck between two different worlds again like you were when you were 12 or 13 except now I’m between teen and young woman/adult.

I can’t wait for another year in my life! Not that it’s interesting or anything. But I can’t ever wait to see what is going to happen in the next 12 months. For me, my birthday is the start to a new year. It’s always felt that way. And it is. It’s the day you came into this world! It’s the start of your life. It’s the start of another year for you. It’s exciting and nerve wrecking all at the same time. Especially turning 16…. It’s probably just all hyped up. And it may not meet our expectations. But that’s alright. We can make it the best year of our life if we want to! It may not seem like the best now or 4 months from now. But when you’re 40 you may look back and say: “yep that was a great time in my life.” Just because you have a few bumps or maybe even mountains you have to make it through, over or around doesn’t mean it’s not going to be great. I’ve always heard ‘whatever doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger’ your hard times are going to give you character.

I’ve heard many people say this is going to be the best time of your life! I can see that in a way. You’re still young enough to have all kinds of fun that you may not be able to enjoy when you’re older. But you also will have more responsibilities. This can both be a good and a bad thing. (Not like horrible bad.)  It means that your parents and others are going to start to see that you’re growing up and can handle a little extra responsibility. But it also means you are going to start losing some of your young freedom and will not have time to just goof off and be crazy every minute of the day. You are now expected to start acting like a young adult at times. (I know - sounds boring right? But it’s all a part of growing up, I guess.)

Now let’s see…

 I’m 16 and………

Never been kissed! Well…. Actually I did receive my first kiss from my, Beau. He’s so handsome! He stands over 6ft tall…

His kiss was all wet and slobbery…. It just about covered my whole face!!!

Did I mention, Beau, was a horse?? =D

Never held a boys hand…… Does this seem innocent in your eyes? Well if you’re cool with it- sure thing go right ahead! But I feel that it’s a very romantic gesture. Call me old fashioned all you want. ‘Cause you know what?! I AM! ;P I am so very old fashioned in soooo many ways!

Never had a boyfriend. (shocker right? I like it this way actually.)

I MUST be deprived right??? Or maybe I have really mean and strict parents!  In my opinion; not really. I quite like the way my life has turned out so far. And my parents are definitely  NOT mean. They set standards that they would like me to live by. Nobody’s perfect so of course I’m not going to hit the mark every time. But I sure like to try!!  I have never once regretted not having a boyfriend.

While most of the girls around me have been with guys since we were like 11 or 12 all it ever seemed to do to them is break their hearts and they’re left to try and pick up the pieces of their heart… or what’s left to pick up. And me? Well I’m always there if they need a shoulder to cry on, or someone to vent to, or just make them laugh and forget whatever happened. I always thought the whole idea was pretty stupid. In modern dating all that ever seems to happen is heartbreak! Why is that? I don’t know. Maybe because some don’t take the time to get to know each other before they get together or in some cases “hook up”… Now I’m not saying this always happens! But sometimes it does. And it seems to happen way too often.

But I’m 16 now! I can date!!!..... Says everyone else. I still don’t want a boyfriend. It’s way too much to deal with while I’m still in school and trying to get my life on the right track. I want to concentrate on graduating high school, then college, and working on my dancing career (If there is one… I just want to share my love for dance with others!) Boys would be waaay to much time and effort. More than I’m willing to put in at the moment.

Now if God puts the right guy in my path and says ~ HEY! Look there’s your man!~ And if he tells me it’s the time then I’ll go for it. Other than that- nope I don’t have any plans of starting a relationship till later on. =D

Everyone has told me my WHOLE life… you’ll change your mind… You’ll change your mind when your 12.                               You won’t feel that way when your 13… Just WAIT till your 14. Well your 15 now I’m sure you’ll change your mind. Just wait you’ll see…

I am now 16 and can still proudly say with my head held high that I have never had a boyfriend. Maybe I’ll go scream that from the rooftops on my birthday. Why you ask? Because it will be funny and I am proud that I have made it 16 years without a guy in my life. I don’t need someone else to hold me up or to tell me every second of the day that I’m beautiful.(I am also not implying that is all a boyfriend is for. I know they can be there to love and protect you. But that’s not my point right now.)  I’m not saying I don’t need that reassurance every once in a while. But that’s what my Heavenly Father is for. He tells me every single morning just what he thinks!

 When I wake up he’s like~ Good mornin’ darlin’, how are you feelin’ today? You know you’re beautiful right? You may not always love every part of yourself. But I do. You want to know why? Because you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You were made in my image. I never made a mistake with you. You are perfect in my eyes. Don’t ever forget that.

God’s trying to tell you this- sweetheart you know that birthmark above your lip that you hate so much? I put it there for a reason. You may not see it now… But everything I do has a purpose. I think it looks cute on you. I love you! Never forget that.

No matter what it is that you don’t like about yourself. Just remember this- you are not made to look like the supermodels in the magazines. They are not made to look like that either! If you ever saw them up close you would see they have imperfections just like you and me. And also remember this- you don’t need a guy to tell you you’re beautiful. Because you have a Father in heaven that loves you just the way you are. No matter what. He’ll always be there for you!

You probably think I’m the slightest bit crazy right about now, huh? You’re probably right! ;D I am a bit crazy at times! But you still love me! Don’t bother denying it. One day I will meet the right guy and when I do..well who knows? I pray we both seek God in keeping it real & putting Him first. <3

Anyways guys! I love you all! Thanks for readin’! Tell your friends. Share please! Put it on Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace (do people still use that?). Whatever it is you use! Word of mouth works just fine too!

Peace, Love, and Happiness,

Puritygirl ☮ 

P.S

So far I have 13 followers… But I think we can get a few more than that. My goal at the moment is 20. That’s just 7 more. Think we can do it? I think we can. I think we can go over and beyond!

ANNNNDDD!!! Our total page view as of right now is 648! For a small town girl that just seems huge!

Again love everyone and Thanks for taking the time to read this it means a lot to me!

Peace and Love from me to you! <3

What Christian Guys think of Sexual Purity

Hey guys I saw this video on Project Inspired and was so blessed by it! Just to hear guys around my age say things that I believe in is so encouraging! We're not alone out here girls. There is also guys we just have wait and pray for God to place the right one in our path. 

**** Remember to pray for your future husband! Because in this world he's going to need it...

Love you guys!

Peace Love & Prosperity,

Puritygirl <3


Video Link~ http://youtu.be/4cmJW_eQxSw





~~~ And if anyone is interested in checking Nicole's (who is a model who became a Christian) site- Project Inspired- here is the link for that also!~~  http://www.projectinspired.com/

Before You Meet Prince Charming- Chapter 1

"Come on Victory," the sixteen year- old girl said softly as she mounted her faithful horse and began the journey to the castle.  Her blonde hair, highlighted by the sun, flowed behind her, and the crystals on her thin golden headband sparkled brightly. Cantering gracefully with his dark mane waving in the wind, the chestnut horse was nearly as beautiful as the girl. As they raced across green meadows colored by wildflowers, over small streams, and through the countryside , many people would stop their activities or conversations in order to watch them pass. 
"A lovely girl" one elderly lady commented  as she was hanging out linens to dry. "A precious gem, if ever there was one, I say."

A jolly old man sat on a bench in the mountain village with his young grandson by his knee. As the girl rode by, he turned to his grandson and declared , "You know who she is, do ye not? She is none other but the daughter of the king." 
"Then she is a princess, Grandfather?" asked the little boy with wonder and delight, his eyes gazing at her until she had disappeared into the distance.
"Ahh but she is more than a princess" the wise grandmother who stood nearby interjected. "For not only is she a princess in lineage, but she is also a princess in conduct. We may admire her outward beauty, but I tell you that it is her inner beauty that is worth one hundred times more- and inner beauty is a quality rare even among princesses." 

And so you see, this young lady was known ans respected throughout the kingdom not only because of her royal birth, but even more importantly for her kindness, gracious words, and evident maturity beyond her years. No one doubted that she was a princess in deed.

Before You Meet Prince CHARMING- Chapter 1 page 15-16 By Sarah Mally

Now wouldn't it be wonderful to be thought of like that? For people to go around saying - maybe you were not a princess by earthly lineage- but you were certainly a princess by your conduct. By your actions! That you were a true lady. I personally think that would be wonderful! I want to be a princess in others eyes.

You know, in today's world; in the worlds eyes a princess is not always a good thing. We think to much about stereotypes- and over the years the lines have been blurred when it comes to stereotypes. 
~A princess according to Merriam Webster "Princess" means~ 1. A woman having sovereign power, 
2. A female member of the royal family, 3. the consort of a prince, 4.one likened to a princess; especially: a woman of high rank or of high standing in her class or profession.
Once again what do we see a princess as?-  "Princess is symbolic conception for a feminine figure who is fragile, delicate, and need protection from stronger ones. Little girls love to be called as that, as much as many women."  
Now this is what we tend to think of our Medieval princesses as, delicate.. like a flower.

This is what (or more so - who) we see as a princess. Someone who is stuck up and rude, one who thinks they are better than we are. Someone who is so fragile who can do nothing for their selves Now is this who a princess really is? Well, maybe, in today's world that tends to be what a princess is or made out to be.

But what/who is a princess in GOD's eyes!?
A princess in God's eyes is someone of uppermost respect. Someone of grace someone of elegance! God thinks of you as HIS princess and as HIS daughter. This does not mean you have to be some helpless girl who can't do anything for herself and has everyone do her work for her. But it does mean that you should be someone that a young girl can look up to and say- I want to be like her one day!- That you should be someone a person can count on. Someone when people confide in you they know without a shadow of a doubt that you are not going to go all about telling everyone!

Don't get me wrong- You are not suppose to be perfect! Nobody can be perfect. But you can strive to be the best you can be!

I highly recommend reading this book and moms read it with your daughters. Girls are never to young to learn about purity. 

Waiting for MY Prince,
Purity Girl

Thank you, Lord, that you are preparing MY Prince for me and for preparing me for HIM. 

~Waiting..

Huffs Mission Trip

Huffs Mission Trip

Would you like to help support our mission trip? Click the link and help us out. God bless!

Pondering's from my recent readings

I have read some interesting books lately that I would like to suggest. 
"Before You Meet Prince Charming" by Sara Mally, "Preparing to be a Helpmeet" by Debbi Pearl, "Wait For Me" by Rebekah St. James, & "Boy Meets Girl" by Joshua Harris.


Sara, inspired me to dedicate my youth to serving Christ while waiting for him to prepare my heart for my future mate. Mrs. Pearl, inspired me to discover the kind of gal I am, while learning the differences in guys; Kingly, Priestly or Prophet. Rebekah, has always been an inspiration to me, and her book has challenged me to not compromise my purity. Joshua, inspired me to not awaken love before it's time as in Song of Songs.  


I am preparing to read Passion & Purity by Elisabeth Elliot. 


It is neat how God uses such books and their authors to inspire & make us aware of so many things. For the most part these books confirmed things I have known & desired for my life since a small child, but some helped me to see things I was doing wrong that could possibly compromise myself or friendships with guys. I have several guy friends & I would never want to be a stumbling block for them in their christian walk. I do not wish to cross or even come close to a line I have created for myself either. I have learned being friends with guys is different from being friends with girls even if it is a "Just Friends" status, we still have to treat the friendship with caution & care. We have to treat them as our brothers in Christ & in turn they will treat us as there sisters in Christ(or the other way around). It is very easy to get emotionally involved with a guy friend without even realizing you are forming emotional ties. With girls we tend to form emotional bonds that can last a lifetime & that is good. When those ties are formed with the opposite sex though we can end up giving away a piece of our heart that we intended to save for our future mate. It all seems so innocent & it is but we have to ask our-self, "am I giving something that does not belong to me?" Or "am I taking something from my friend that belongs to his future mate?" We just have to be very careful to find a casual balance to our friendships with guys. 
Be careful of long in depth talks that may cause you to have emotional ties. If that happens then you have to ask if you are ready to move that friendship to something more, if not then you need to step back before you or your brother in Christ begins to fall. Of course it may be you are ready to move forward into a more serious friendship perhaps a time of getting to know each other with the possibility of courtship. As stated in "Boy Meets Girl" it should be the guy that makes that move not the girl. Allow them to be the initiator in the relationship. We girls tend to get controlling & liking that lead roll if it is given to us. 


Sure, I have dreamed of the day that special someone would approach my dad about getting to know me on a personal level & exploring the possibility of a courtship. I am trying harder these days not to dream of that day so much, but to simply serve the Lord in my youth & trust God with 'the one' he is already preparing for me. 
For me it is my hearts desire to one day have a beau that will lead me in a Godly courtship with Christ as the head & the two of us as faithful followers. 


I have learned so much from all of these books and really encourage you to read them if you have not already done so. For you guys there are many greats books for you as well. Some of the ones mentioned are for both guys & girls but there are others such as: The Mark of a Man by Elisabeth Elliot & Michael Pearl is coming out with the guy version of "Preparing to Be a Helpmeet" it is called, "Created to Need a Helpmeet" I know my dad is looking forward to reading that one. 


Brothers & Sisters in Christ, I encourage you as, Sara, did in "Before You Meet Prince Charming" & Joshua did in "Boy Meets Girl & I Kissed Dating Goodbye" to use this time of singleness to do the things for Christ that you may not be able to do once you are committed to marriage.Discover what it is he wants to do in your life - this could determine your future & possibly even the kind of man or woman you one day marry. I want to serve my future mate with my whole heart, & I think by first serving Christ in my youth I will be better equipped to do that for my future husband.
Let's honor our brothers & sisters in Christ so that we can one day stand before their future mates & be proud we did not rob them of something that did not belong to us. 


Your Sister in Christ,
Hannah

My Recent Bible Study

Ma, and I have started a new Bible Study. It's 'a Pocket Bible Study & Journal' on Sex by Hayley DiMarco. I am just going to share a few things that I have found interesting.


1. What is abstinence? According to Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, abstinence is "the voluntary, self - imposed, and deliberate denial of certain pleasures, such as food, drink, and sex." 


2. "When you abstain, you abstain from good things, not bad things. So abstinence is giving up doing what you would like to do." 


3. "Abstinence serves a holy purpose. It teaches, purifies, and proves who you are to yourself, to others, and to God."


4.  Proverbs 25:27 
"A person without self control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls."


5.  Colossians 3:5
 " So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry." 


6.  Proverbs 5:15 
"Drink water from your own well- share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in public, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Don't share it with strangers." 


Staying pure isn't just about not having sex. It's about keeping a pure mind and a pure heart! You should also avoid temptations that could lead to sex. Such as kissing and cuddling. 
I know this may seem extreme for some people. BUT to keep it pure you need to avoid all temptations! 
Ephesians 5:3 "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity." 

Lauren Barlow BarlowGirl on Purity

Purity-Girl's Plan for Courtship

As a very young girl - 3 years old, I heard a youth group speak about purity and courtship. This changed my life. I know it seems impossible for a 3 year old to really grasp this idea but I did. God really spoke to my heart on this issue so much that I talked to my parents and told them I never wanted to 'date' (at least not in the traditional way) that I wanted to one day have a courtship with the right guy that God is preparing for me.

That day I began praying for my future husband, asking that God would prepare my heart for him as well as prepare his heart for me. I have never stopped praying that prayer. 

My parents dated and they are very happy together and have been for almost 21 years now. I'm not here to say dating does not work or to judge anyone. We all have our own path to follow and this is mine.

God is my authority above all and first place in my life. I also believe my parents have a place in my life and helping me to make wise choices especially when it comes to choosing a future beau or mate. Parents know us best of all therefor they see and know things sometimes before we do ourselves (even if we choose not to admit it) so they can be a big help in keeping us safe and in God's hands. I desire my parents approval of the guy I enter into a courtship with. 

My parents do not keep me in a bubble or anything like that. I do homeschool but don't worry, I get plenty of social interaction with kids my own age as well as people of all ages. 

Courtship is not something my parents decided for me my Father God did and I gladly follow Him. My parents do support courtship and feel it is a great alternative to 'traditional dating'. It does not have to be called courtship of course if that sounds to old fashioned you may call it 'dating with God in mind' or whatever just be sure it is Christ centered if you are a christian which I pray you are. As Christians we should seek God's direction in ALL things especially one that will last a lifetime! Even if it doesn't end in marriage, it will still affect your life in someway. 

My daddy teases me a lot.. he is an old biker so he may be a little intimidating to some guys but the right one will not be scared so easily! He tells me when a beau comes a courtin' he will be sitting on the front porch with his gun and knife! I know my daddy loves me and will protect me as much as possible and I love him for that, but I also know that he is a Godly man that is led of the Lord and will prayerfully consider a guy for courtship or a more serious friendship when he comes to state his intentions. 

When I was 10 my daddy took me on a special date. We went to a nice Italian Restaurant and he presented me with a Purity Locket. We talked about keeping myself pure for the man I would one day marry, both physically and emotionally. He has taught me how a man should treat a lady. He shows me this in the way he treats my mama as well as me and my sister. My mama also teaches us how to properly honor the future man in our lives. She is an example of what a christian wife should be. 

I tell my mama, I will know when I meet my husband, because he will look at me the way my daddy looks at her! I love that look..

I have always wanted to find a guy that is a good friend and is like minded and shares a lot of the same interest as me. If that friendship leads to stronger feelings then I would like to explore a closer friendship with that guy where we would talk more in depth - learning more about each others interest and thoughts to see if this may be the guy the Lord would have me to one day enter into a courtship with. I prefer to spend more time in group settings or with our parents on outings. If our friendship continues to grow I would take this to the Lord in prayer seeking His wisdom for our future. I would ask myself several questions such as, am I mature enough for our friendship to be more involved? Do my parents approve of the guy? Would his parents approve of me? Can I be spiritually uplifting to him and him to me? Could I see myself one day marrying this person? If these are positive answers and I felt led of the Lord then I would be willing to move into a deeper friendship not yet courtship though. I think we can be attracted to someone by their charm & looks and I would not want to prematurely enter into a courtship based on that. If the 'special friendship' grows and our feelings are mutual, growing in a positive way not just physically, then I would feel comfortable entering a courtship. I would also like our courtship to go slow and be filled with prayer - seeking counsel from our parents, pastors and other mature Christians that know both of us. I want my life and courtship to be centered around Christ. 

I do feel at this time it is okay to go on 'dates' - if you want to call it that (as long as you are in public places) without a chaperon. I don't feel a couple should ever be alone together with the exception of driving to the theater, restaurant or wherever you will be spending your time. A public place just holds you accountable respectable couples will not overstep the rules of their relationship with others around. However if you are alone there is more of a temptation to do so, not that all will but why be tempted.