a secular standpoint

i'm sure it comes as no surprise to anyone thst my philosophies come from a biblical understanding but this article makes some really great points...

http://firstthings.org/what-you-should-know-about-living-together

A Good Read

http://bemalleable.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/sincerely-one-of-many-girls-who-care/

I haven't posted on here in a very long time *hangs head in shame* but this posting that I'm sharing is very good and thought provoking.  Maybe juat maybe I'll start writing again .

Stories

I'm reading a book called "A Match Made In Heaven". It is a collection of love stories. I look forward to being able to share my own love story someday.

Does anyone have a love story they would like to share?

What an honor and privilege

Within the past 8 days I have had the great honor and privilege of witnessing 2 couples pledge their lives to the Lord and to each other.

Yesterday I sat with one of these couples chatting and sharing their great joys of being newly weds.

My heart was bursting with pride at the wonders God had done.

Temptation: A story of overcoming!

Temptation...it happens to all of us. The bible says even Jesus was tempted. "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." Matthew 4:1. What can we learn so that we can stand against temptation? Jesus quoted scripture back to the devil as His defense. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11. There are countless verses to call upon when temptation comes our way...

"Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it." Proverbs 4:23

"Be alert and of sober mind. 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 the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:8-9

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."" Deuteronomy 31:6

"Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable." Philippians 4:8

I could go on and on...

I have a friend who faced great temptation...had a man saying all sorts of sweet and leading things to her being very persuasive and was tempted to listen and turn towards him. She wisely sought council and encouragement and prayed her way through facing this man and clearly putting an end to his ideas of a "relationship". What happened after she confronted him was what I found to be the most amazing...She felt empowered and humbled. She had stood her ground and God rescued her from the claws of the evil one. Philippians 4:13 comes to mind, "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." Through Christ she overcame!

Again, we all face temptation and it's how we handle that temptation that matters.

I encourage you to:

• Put to memory Scripture you can call on in your time of need.
• Chose an accountability partner who you can share with openly.
• Seek out Godly wisdom and advice.
• Pray for guidance.

Some thoughts...

I haven't posted anything in a while and don't really know why. Right now at almost 3am isn't a great time for me to be deep but I thought I'd share a couple of thoughts...

I find it sad that recently when someone is talking about a couple their first instinct is to assume that they aren't married... Shouldn't we expect that couples with children are married and then be a little shocked when we hear otherwise?? Are we as Americans and even Christians that insensitive to sin?

On a different subject but marriage still...I received the 4th wedding invitation in 3 weeks today and I know I will be receiving another one shortly and there's another one coming up this summer too! I have known all of these brides for a long time...one I was actually present at her birth and dressed her for the first time ever! Another, I spent many a night at her house...all of us girls piled up on her sister's bed... The next is a girl who once visited my camp nurses station and took a snake bite kit to Mexico *hehe*. Still another I chaperoned a youth event that she attended. The next is a woman who I've cried with and for many times as she faced the death of her mother and I have had the pleasure of watching her learn to depend on the Lord and has triumphed over adversity. And yet one more, is a wedding I was completely shocked by...I didn't even know until I received the invitation! This is the girl who even at a young age exemplified Proverbs 31. It is with great pleasure and dare I say pride that I attend at least some of these weddings. I have watched each of these ladies grow up and mature into beautiful women. I will also admit to a twinge of jealousy...some day I want to be preparing wedding invitations, table decorations, wedding music and finding my very own white dress. Someday...

I guess it's time to buy a new dress for a bunch of summer weddings :)

Dreaming

I dream of:
-Someone tall but not too tall.
-Someone with an attractive smileand a strong jaw.
-Someone who loves God more than he will ever love me.
-Someone with strong hands.
-Someone who will play cards with me.
-Someone who reminds me of my Grandpa, both of them.
-Someone who knows that a brown belt never goes with black shoes.
-Someone who likes road trips.
-Someone who stop me before I say something I will regret.
-Someone who will always make sure I'm breathing before he leaves for work.
-Someone who understands that sometimes you need more than one pair of shoes for an outfit.
-Someone who 'gets' my family.
-Someone who makes me laugh.
-Someone who will sleep closest to the door and walk on my left side.
-Someone who I can respect.
-Someone who is waiting for me.
-Someone who will ride roller coasters with me.
-Someone who will tell me I'm beautiful even with morning breath and scarry hair.
-Someone who will reach out to hold my hand before I reach for his.
-Someone who will lead me closer to God.
-Someone who will change our babies diapers without complaining.
-Someone who is ok with never eating seafoodm
-Someone who's hand fits nicely around his Bible.
-Someone who won't complain if I pick a chick flick.
-Someone who will call my parents Mom and Dad.
-Someone who I can depend on.
-Someone who my friends like.
-Someone who is willing to admit when he is wrong.
-Someone who is committed.
-Someone who serves.
-Someone who my dad approves.
-Someone who will never cause me to doubt.
-Someone who will go shopping with me.
-Someone who likes my friends.
-Someone who understands that spending $100 on my hair is worth it.
-Someone who will read to me.
-Someone who won't go to bed without me.
-Someone who will explain things to me that I don't understand.
-Someone who is passionate about God's word.
-Someone who isn't afraid to express emotions.
-Someone who knows how to kneel before the Lord.
-Someone who wil share their passions with me.
-Someone who will hold the door open for a lady.
-Someone who will paint my toe nails for me.
-Someone who will teach me new things.
-Someone who will always love me.

I'm not picky, I just know what I want!

Have you struggled in this area? Are you thriving in this area?

I would love to start conversation about how other girls/women have and are dealing with this subject. Anyone wanting to either share thier story or to maybe even be interviewed by me please email me...

iamlabocagrande@gmail.com

What are people hearing?

Have you ever over heard a conversation that might be very innocent but sounds dirty or inappropriate? Have you ever had a conversation that has implied things that you really weren't meaning? Or have you in fact let your words take you into conversations where inappropriate thoughts, images or feelings are brought to the surface?

This has happened to me, with me, around me and because of me and it is very easy to just brush off any wrongness with a statement like "ohh, we just let things get out of hand" or "I just took that too far...". Either response is wrong! The Bible is clear on this subject: Matthew 12:34b, "for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

If you're not doing anything inappropriate then don't let people think you are. A reputation is easily formed and difficult to reconstruct if you have made a bad impression on somebody. Be above reproach so that no one has reason to think negatively of you.

I challenge you, myself even, to live by 1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

two quarters

I remember my youth pastor having a sandwich bag with 2 quarters and a his own busines card sitting in a prominent place on his desk. I asked him what it was...

They had been returned to him by the bride at a wedding he had attended because they were no longer needed. He told me that he had passed out these sandwich bags to all the girls in his youth group. They were to be used if you were found in a situation where you needed to get away because your date wanting to go to far. The quarters were for the payphone and the card had his number on it with a promise that he would come and bring you home.

This bride had kept her quarters and was able to return them unused on her wedding day, she had kept her promise of purity.

Who are you?

I'm just wondering who all is reading? Send me a comment, let me know what you think. What would you like to see a future post about?

shopping...coffee...words...and how they all fit together

I did something new this year! I went Black Friday shopping! Don't get me wrong, I've spent many a Friday after Thanksgiving out shopping like the crazy shopper I am but I had never been there when the stores opened. This story begins on our second round of shopping...

Armed with Starbucks (Venti Peppermint Mocha Hot) and our sale fliers we head out. When pulling into the parking lot we notice that the lines have stretched halfway across the parking lot already! It was about that time when my shopping friend and I realized that we had left our heavy winter coats at home! So we sat in the car and stayed warm while waiting knowing that the lines were getting deeper and deeper. Just before 5am my friend breathed a prayer that the particular item she was after would be ours and at exactly 5am I jumped out and headed towards the police guarded doors. Using my well honed skills of getting through large crowds I beat a huge portion of the shoppers in the door. Once inside I make my way, along with a large number of other electronics minded shoppers to the back of the store. I quickly locate the item we were after but notice that there are easily between 25-35 people in the same isle and there appear to be 4 of our desired items key secured to the display rack. I can only give the credit to God for making me number 3 wanting that item!

Now that our door-buster items have been obtained we work our way through the store. We have been through toys, shoes, house wares and are in the juniors department when our story takes a turn:

Three teen girls join us in the juniors department and are oo'ing and ah'ing over clothes they hope their parent's will get them for Christmas. I smile as I think about the young lady my friend is shopping for and hope she has the same feelings towards what her mom is picking out for her. It is then that I hear one of the girls talking and realize that she's using cuss words to describe the clothes. My heart breaks for now instead of a beautiful young woman before me I can only see ugliness.

The Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:7b "...People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." and then in Luke 6:45 it says: "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." James 3 talks about how controlling the tongue is. Loosely quoted it says "The one who is able to control their tongue is perfect!" I know that it is impossible to be perfect but we are certainly to make that our aim.

In a previous post I talked about the "garbage in, garbage out" concept and this situation brings this back to mind. I close with this last verse from Psalms. I encourage us all (me included) to meditate on the Word so that our words are pleasing to Him.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart  
be pleasing in your sight,  
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Who am I?

     Are you wondering yet who I am and why I care so much about this thing I reefer to as "my precious gift"? Let me tell you a little about me...

     I am Andrea, known by most everybody as Anje, and I am a 33 year old single woman. I have dated one man and that relationship only lasted about a month. I am a nurse by profession and have worked for countless years in youth ministry.

     I am learning every day to be more and more dependent on Jesus Christ's saving grace and knowing that without His hand and direction in my life I would be utterly lost and be bumbling along in life.

     I am passionate about physical purity and that comes from so many different sources:

~1) I was raised in a family where it was expected that we would keep ourselves pure.

~2) The bible is clear in it's teaching about sexual purity and that sex is reserved for a marriage relationship (I'll go into more of that in future posts).

~3) I have watched friends of mine who have given up their purity and the consequences they have paid.

~4) I long for the day when I can stand in my wedding dress and give my heart to the man that God is preparing for me and know that I will only and forever be his; that I will be able to physically give myself completely to him.

     The more I study about physical and sexual purity I realize that it's so much more than not having sex. It involves the things I fill my heart and mind with. It involves how I present myself to others. It involves both a level of respect for myself and of my future husband.

     I want to use this blog to encourage young women to keep themselves pure. I am a living testimony of the reality that it can be done! I am praying daily and with every posting made that someone is encouraged and challenged by the words shared. I want this to be a forum where girls can share their thoughts, concerns and victories.

Gotta love the shirt!

Super Proud of these girls!

Watch this and send the comments my way!

For your viewing enjoyment :)

http://www.youtube.com/mhcseattle#p/c/FF2901348C7C8047/1/Hluo9nyHBSs

http://www.youtube.com/mhcseattle#p/a/496CCD40BD32B389/0/sLW0bybrxCk

http://www.youtube.com/mhcseattle#p/c/FF2901348C7C8047/9/kb3bH6bCZXU


What are some of your thoughts?

As I was reading...

An excerpt from a book I'm reading:

"I have so much saved up inside my soul that I'm sure it will take a lifetime to fully express physically my love to my husband. I want to save all of that until we enter into 'holy matrimony'. I think that's part of what makes it holy. I think God honors virginity in a special way. When He chose to send His Son to earth, He did it through the body of a virgin. I want my marriage to be holy before God. For the first time I've begun to think that maybe I need a plan instead of just assuming that's how everything will go. At this point in my life, I assume I'll marry Todd. But I don't know for sure. It's as if I need to save myself FROM him to save myself FOR him.", Christy Miller

This was taken from Until Tomorrow by Robin Jones Gunn

I've become a bit addicted

One of the things that bothers me about our society is the pull to get women to dress provocatively. Is there a easier way to say, "I'm for sale"? I can hear the applause of father's agreeing that we girls need to cover up....I'm the girl who grew up in a home where my skirts had to be knee length and that didn't mean touching the top of the knee but covering my knee! I argued with my parent's all the time and will admit to being a bit rebellious at times when I finally was in charge of my own clothing shopping.

I learned this vital thing...I look much better, more attractive and even more appealing if I am properly covered! This in no way means I'm wearing turtle necks and ankle length skirts, in fact I tend to be fairly fashion forward, I get compliments on my clothes and general appearance all the time!

I love clothes, fashion, style, accessories and have recently been watching old episodes and clips of TLC's What Not To Wear. Be careful girls, it can be addicting! I like what they do, they encourage you to look your best, not to create something that isn't who you are and the keep things modest but super fashionable! Take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB_bV1ac9o0

What do I fill my heart with?

I remember getting into arguments with my youth pastor about how music effects you. I was convinced that since I was a country music fan that the messages of the songs were just about life... It wasn't until years later when I went back to some of that music and realized in more depth what they were singing about and somethings about the different artists that I began to start understanding what he was trying to get us to see. That whole phrase, "garbage in, garbage out" really is true. I find that if I am reading, listening, watching things that are not uplifting they are filling my mind. If I watch a scary movie I have have a night mare. It happens every time. How can I justify watching something like that if it's going to mess with my mind. The movie probably didn't even scare me when I was watching but it will scare me during my sleep. And then there's the times when I would hear myself humming a song that I know is promoting things that I don't agree with.

I am particularly interested in staying away from things that are geared at encouraging young women to not focus on the  wonder of their purity. I make it a conscious effort to filter what I allow into my mind and heart. I block apps on facebook that promote an ungodly idea of who I am; I don't read magazines that encourage women to look at themselves as sex objects.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I have a gift

     I have a gift that only I can give, it can only be given once and though I have no idea when I will be able to this gift away I know what I will wear on that day. I don’t know exactly who will receive this gift but I know that on that day that man will also be giving me the same gift. It is the most personal of gifts, the most precious gift I can ever give.
     This gift I have is something I value more highly than any other treasure I have. It is more important to me than any Christmas or birthday gift I will ever get or receive.

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Proverbs 4:23

     I have a desire to teach and encourage single girls and women on the gift and treasure that they hold in their grasp. This blog is set up to  encourage, entice conversation and mentor in this area.