Don't SAY a word; LIVE the Word

FROM MY HEART, TO YOURS! ❤
Your witness and your ministry are only as powerful as you are DIFFERENT. Stand apart. Because, when you blend in, the world no longer sees you. More importantly, you dim Christ's light in you.
 
Search your heart and ask yourself this question: When the world looks at you, do they see Christ ... OR ... do they see a mirror image of themselves (sin) looking back at them? Are they challenged to raise the bar in their own lives Or are they reassured and made comfortable in their sin? Do they see a better way OR a wide gate?
 
The thing that sets YOU apart - is RIGHTEOUSNESS in Christ Jesus. Be unwilling to compromise. Live by the Word of God and your LIFE will minister without you EVER having to say a word. Lastly friends,

★ Lessons in LOVE ★ Celibacy

I was once told by a spiritual leader who I respect greatly, that as a single celibate Christian woman, it would be in my best interest to partner myself with a single celibate Christian man. A man who is celibate in obedience to Christ vs. a man who is “willing” to be celibate with or for me.

At the time, I’m not sure I fully understood or received the magnitude of his advice. I also recall thinking, "Really? With my current list of expectations, the pool to choose from is already SMALL enough… Now, according to your advice, I am to lessen it even more by adding yet another requirement?"

You see, in the past I’d always felt that the REASON a man was willing to be celibate was irrelevant. As long as he was willing to wait and respected my desire to wait, then that was good enough to me.

Although if I was honest with myself, I’d have admitted then, that he had a point. Many times a man will SAY (and even mean it when they say it), that they respect your celibacy… until X amount of time goes by and they fully never expected you to “really” “actually” mean that you are celibate…. Or until they decide “this is ridiculous, we are in a committed relationship”… or you guys are going to be married “someday” so “what’s the harm”… or they decide to respect YOUR celibacy by not having sex with YOU… but ummm, celibacy was never really “for them” so they are having sex - just not with you, somehow justifying it in their own head that they are doing it FOR you… or … there is just a constant weight on you and your relationship, constant pressuring and/or conflict… him not truly being content or satisfied, because he decided to do the “celibacy thing” for you, and not because it was his heart’s desire to please God. You can see how this can present as a problem.

What I failed to realize is that,

Have You Marked Yourself Down?

My dear sisters, stop marking yourselves DOWN; stop putting yourselves on the clearance rack. (That's right. I said it.) When will we realize, as Christian Women, we cannot conform to the ways of the world? We have our own set of STANDARDS to adhere to, given to us by our Heavenly Father. He cares about EVERY detail of our lives, yes, even down to how we dress. That's why we must read our bibles and write His word on our hearts. We can't LIVE what we don't KNOW. 

Ladies, YOU communicate your worth (in how your carry yourself, what you accept, how you dress/cover yourself, the company you keep, your attitude, etc).  

If you market yourself poorly (spiritually), you will attract (spiritually) broke buyers with nothing to offer. 

You can't seriously tell me it is a God-fearing, righteous man... a man of integrity and character, a man who prays, respects women, and is looking for His God-sent WIFE, that you are hoping to attract..... by attempting to lure him in with your half-naked seductive clothing, worldly antics, promiscuous lifestyle, and God-less and faith-less methods. 

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
 Amos 3:3-8
 
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 
2 Corinthians 6:14-18

You want a man to say "yes" to your dress... when it should be your HEART that draws him. You attract him with your SEX APPEAL and then tell him you are "celibate". Huh? Enough with the confusion, mixed signals, and double-mindedness.

Be real. You are ONLY deceiving yourself. A MAN OF GOD (if that truly is who you are seeking), will NOT look at you and see his WIFE underneath all of the worldliness you are wrapping yourself in. Don't make it hard for your husband to recognize you. Wrap yourself in GOD. Wrap yourself in His word. Clothe yourself in modesty, virtue, humility, kindness, compassion, and love. Renew your mind to Christ. Trust in His word. LIVE YOUR FAITH. Let your price tag read WIFE... Put yourself behind the glass, with the other valuables. This way, only serious buyers, credit worthy applicants, who know what it is they are looking for and can/will appreciate your worth and rarity, need apply. Make it EASIER for your husband to recognize you when He sees you. STAND OUT by letting your INNER BEAUTY be the attraction and the appeal. STAND OUT by letting God's light in you SHINE. STAND OUT by being willing to STAND APART. STAND OUT by going against the grain. STAND OUT by standing for the righteousness of God. 

STAND OUT; stop letting it all FALL OUT.

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 

1 Peter 3:3-4  

God is calling us to BRING VIRTUE BACK. Stop the madness. BE the woman of VIRTUE He created and purposed you to be. I'm rooting for you. I'm praying for you. We are becoming better - together.