Puberty can begin, with hormones raging full force, as young as preteen. Did you know that there are 6th grade, 12 year old children, who are sexually active? And, 60%  of teens have had sex, 25% have contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD), and 20% of the girls have unintentionally become pregnant before the age of 18?      Why?

Sex saturates the music media, while prime-time television  boasts blatant sexual content. Peer pressure also exhorts a very strong influence to experiment with sex. Teens think that digital and oral sex are  not 'real sex' and so they can’t get a STD doing it. Then there’s alcohol and  drugs that are almost always readily available at parties, which ends up in non-characteristic choices, as well as date-rape. Alcohol and drugs can give kids more courage and in some instances can make them so incapacitated that they become unaware of their actions.

The cliche is often, “If you love me, you’ll have sex with me.” Ah, but where’s the romance? Time spent  together getting to know each other is crucial to developing honest affection. Love is long and deep and wide - It can’t be imitated with lust's gratification. Relationships take time to nurture and develop.Quickie sex only leads to guilt and broken hearts. Respecting and knowing your partner, comparing and committing your goals and dreams to each other, is the way true love grows into maturity. And the Bible tells us that sex has no place outside of marriage.

So, in our current environment, how do teens keep their  faith and lives uncontaminated? It’s not as if you can hide under a rock until the right person appears upon your path, like a leaf casually falls from a tree branch.  Every day, some outside influence tries to make us think that casual sex is okay and children having babies and STDs are run of the mill,  Besides, there's always good old denial: “It couldn't happen to me.” But, reality dictates that there are no such exemptions - We truly do reap what we sow.

Psalm 119:1-3 reads: “Happy are people of  integrity, who follow the law of the Lord. Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in His paths.” Easier said than done, right? But, God wants only the best for His children and He wants you to remain pure. Remember, God’s Word is the only sure guide for living a pure life. The 9th verse of Psalm 119 both asks and answers a relevant question. “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying God’s word and following His rules.” … Is it easy? No way - Is it right? Absolutely!

Our culture is drowning in a sea of depravity. Everywhere we look, we repeatedly face temptation to lead sinful lives. What can a young person do in these terribly confusing times? Well first, know that  you are not alone – You can seek out counsel from the Holy Spirit and other believers. These resources can lead you to the strength within you that is more  dynamic than any tempting influences outside of yourself. Spend time seeking and nourishing that God given  strength. Ask for wisdom. Read the Bible and do what it says.

Most people, young or old, resist rules because we think  they will restrict us from doing what we want. At first glance, then, it may  seem strange to hear the psalmist talk about rejoicing while following God’s laws. But God’s laws were given to free us from doing what might cripple us and keep  us from being our best. God’s guidelines help us follow the path He has set for us and avoid those paths that lead to terrible consequences like STDs, a crisis pregnancy, a  devastating abortion and/or all of the above! Check out 2 Samuel 13:14-22 for a nice example of desolation as a consequence to impure relations. 

Keep that precious gift of your virginity for the most wonderful person yet to come, your future spouse. But, if you've made sinful mistakes, if you've already been sexually active, turn back to your loving, heavenly Father and pour out your heart to Him.  Ask Him for His never ending mercy. Make a decision today that you will reclaim yourself for your spouse - Abstain from casual sex from now on. 
 
May God bless your choices and your heart. Stay pure -  It’s great to wait!

 
 
  
Imagine a life primarily preoccupied with fashion, body size and outward appearances -  Sounds prideful and shallow, right? Well, I was guilty as charged.  Bizarre as it seems, I actually kept a closet full of small clothes in my guestroom. I constantly wished I’d find the perfect new diet which would magically change me back into my previously slender
self. Poof!


As much as I’d like to deny it, some things are not meant to be resuscitated, but rather altered, like the amazing way I was transformed, when Jesus finally got  my attention. The  Lord waited for just the right time to recreate me. Before I met Him, I had no clue what I needed. But, luckily for me, Jesus Christ came into my life and  helped me to quit playing tug-a-war with the spandex! Thankfully, God loves even some of us more extreme types. Go figure. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun.)


Colossians 3:12-14 tells us about some pretty gorgeous attire. "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one
another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Did you notice that phrase, “over all?” (Not to be confused with “overalls” – that’s an entirely different look!)


God instructs us all to put on love.It’s not something we fall into, like a free-fall off a cliff into the ocean. And love doesn’t fall on us, like a bucket of cold water over the head. Putting on love is a deliberate decision. It’s like choosing what to
wear and then dressing for the day. There are personal things to remember when getting ready. Things that you’d rather others not see. You know, unmentionables, like underwear or deodorant. (Gosh, I can’t believe I just mentioned those!)  But, and this is the super-neat part, the child of God gets to put on “God’s love” and wear it so that His love is the very first thing that others see when they look at you. They’ll notice that you seem to sparkle and smile a lot.



Even ignoring the God sparkles for now, I can still stand almost comatose, carefully contemplating the contents of my closet. (Besides being an outrageously contrived tongue-twister), this contemplation is still not always a happy task for me. I bet you’ve already guessed that the guest room closet has been cleared out and my current bedroom closet holds, once again, some clothes that are a bit snug. Fitting my “current version.” is ever-challenging.


Not to worry, though: Pride has a way of simmering down when thrown into the refiner’s fire. God’s not especially into our clothes, but He does want to supernaturally transform us through faith in Jesus. We can evolve,  incrementally, into more loving people who shine with the joyful assurance that God grants whoever would earnestly seek him.


Whoever you are, whatever shape you are currently in, you can still rely on His perfect love every time. You see, when it’s from God, there are no physical qualifications or strings attached. He gives freely to all His children. And, (drum roll), His love even comes in an expandable fit!


Yeah, come to think of it, His garment of salvation grows right along with me. Christ’s unmatchable act of sacrifice wraps around me no matter what, so that even in my swollen state, (head included), He’s got me covered.
It’s a most luxurious fit. But the absolutely incredible part is that my Savior calls me His own“beautiful bride!” You gotta love it! 
  
In Isaiah 61:10, the bible tells us what the well-dressed child of God is sporting these days: "He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness." I know one thing, I’ve
never had to squirm and fight my way into God’s garments. (You know, I’ve always suspected that spandex is not of God!)


Anyway, my garments of salvation and my robe of righteousness came straight from God, through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. It’s Jesus’ robe I get to wear. I must say, I feel like a real winner in it.

Love  is the ultimate accessory. It just kind of pulls it all together. Christ’s robe to cover me, God’s great love within me and His Holy Spirit to fill me, these garments surpass anything I could ever come up with.
(And Barbie has nothing on me.)

  Our bible tells us that God knit us together in our mother’s womb, where life began the instant He declared it. We know God gives life to man and He places tremendous value on it because He used His own image and glory to form us. (Gen 1:26, 27) This sacred act of creation comes directly from God to us.

Though many argue that an unborn fetus is not a real person until birth, there is so much evidence to the contrary, biblically and otherwise. Still, for the most part, man chooses to ignore the process of gestation and claim it invalid evidence of life.

We are called to take on the opposition of secular society, which in our own strength would be impossible – But the one who calls us is faithful to allow Christ in us to stand firm against this legal murder of the unborn. These precious children are unable to defend themselves.

We minister to the unborn and their conflicted mothers because we are their sisters in Christ. We know that our Father, God rejoices over each child of His creation and tells us in His Word to hold back those staggering towards slaughter. As women of God, indwelled with His Holy Spirit, we are meant to rescue those being lead to death. "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mathew 25:40 NIV)

When Jesus lived among us, people brought their little children to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples tried to turn them away, Jesus saw this and he was indignant - He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:13, 14)

There is no doubt that God loves every child of His creation, born or not yet born. We must be their voices and gently council their mothers in crisis. We can tell them the truth, which is the Word of God. We can love them through the power of the Holy Spirit, as He leads us.