What's The Deal With Purity?

Best picture I could find that would represent purity

Purity.  What's the deal with it?  Isn't that just for single people or those who have claimed a life of celibacy?

Usually when you hear that word it's used in the same sentence as a youth ministry Wednesday night lesson.  It certainly is a battlefield that seems to have few victories in the lives of teens and singles.   But in my study of this word, I had to accept the fact that purity isn't meant for a selected few.    

...I must lead a life of purity.

God calls us all to lead a life of purity in all things.  So what does that mean?  It means ALL are responsible to seek it.  In the widest, deepest and most real day to day living of a holy life.  The book of Titus is power packed with purity truth!  

“To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.  Titus 1:15

“ . . . that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored.”  Titus 2:5

“ . . . in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine . . .”  Titus 2:7

“ . . . our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself up for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession . . .”  Titus 2:13-14

Living a life of purity means that we offer our bodies as living sacrifices to the ways of God.  It's about a moment-by-moment, hour-by-hour, day-to-day offerings of obedience in doing right and godly behavior.  It's about honoring God with our thoughts, attitudes, words and actions.  It's about choosing the path of righteousness and fleeing from the stumbling blocks that the enemy so easily entangles us with.  It's about not looking temptations in the face and saying your stronger.  It's about turning your back on what you know is the wrong thing to do, it's about saying "no", for the first time and again and again.  

It's about not being broken over pleasure but about being broken for purity.  

It's about learning the truth about purity, what it means to live it and then applying purity truth to your life.  It's about the life-changing truth of God's Word transforming you to be a vessel of holiness.  It's replacing bad behaviors of sin and breaking the chains of sin defiling your soul, and allowing God to give you a new life of cleanliness.  

Starting right now.  

It's about resisting and not giving your innocence away.  It's about keeping it close for God to guard and protect.  It's about renewal, restoration, and sanctification.  It’s about resisting the enemy’s schemes to tempt us back toward the impure, ungodly behaviors, in all its forms.  It's about not flirting with the things you know you shouldn't have.  It's about confronting your ungodly behavior like King David did, and then once hearing the truth of what he had caused, changing and not turning back.  It's about repenting your sins and making a new start.  It’s about taking our minds that were once defiled and renewing them with the purity of God's Word.  It's about the enemy not stealing our innocence.

Purity is the spiritual fabric that reaches our souls.  Sin is sin.  Once sin taints it stains.  Impurity sets in one small tiny shift at a time.  It escalates fast and soon becomes slippery slope of darkness that you want to keep secret and hide.  And it infects with underlying deceit that erodes our soul, affects our walk with God and dims our witness for Christ.  It’s an incredibly high standard that Christ calls us to live, and in knowing that, HE knows we can't do this on our own He gives us His word to show us the way.  

We can't live a life of purity without Christ.  We can't live a life of purity apart from Christ.  And in finding Christ we find purity, and the fellowship of Holiness.  So press forward towards purity. 

So where do you start?  Read Ephesians 5.

Write out a list of your sins, your struggles, your weakness, your temptations.  Ask God to show you truth that confronts it and defeats it.  God will reveal His answers so that you can make changes, because HE desires your purity!  It's His will for your life that you find satisfaction in Him.  

Not in the inappropriate images you are tempted to look at.  Not in that ungodly relationship you know you should end.  Not in the approval of your parents that they will never give.  Not in the next chocolate bar you want to eat because you feel shunned by your friends.  Not in any house, technology gadget or trinket this earthly life can offer.  Not in your bottom line finances or stocks, bonds and 401Ks.  Not in the false sense of security or fame.  Not in anything this world has to offer.  Nothing in this ungodly place we dwell.

We seek to fill ourselves with all the wrong ungodly goop that kills our quest for purity. 

Pray through Ephesians 5.  Over and over.  If you need something to pray for..pray for a purity passion that penetrates to your deepest parts.  So that you may know the perfect, good and pleasing will of God our Father.  A Holy life waits.

Monday Mania - My Clean House, Spiders & Possums

This is not my house, thank goodness!

This weekend I had a list of things I wanted to accomplish.  I got half them done.  Then I shut down and said..."that's it!"  I wish cared more about keeping my home clean.  I used to.

Not that I live in a pit or anything but I could use some help here, as there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to do it all.  Don't get me wrong, my wonderful hubs does what he can to keep my house "spotless".  There are just so many hours in a day.  This might seem like complaining to you, but I am just stating a fact.  So reading between the lines, I guess you could say that I have dropped the priority of having a spotless house and keeping constant vigilance in the fight on grime.  There are other things right now that are more important.  I am trying not to care about that.

What's important to me:  Relationships and writing.  And writing about both of those.

"Take the sun, take the moon, everything is under your control, the earth on which is moves..." God has been teaching me that He is into my tomorrows, my dreams, my daily things.  But first I must dedicate my day to Him.  I make time for meeting with God to see what He has to say about my life, as you should too.  Your day goes waaay better when you do.  God is teaching me to carry Him through each day-part.  Sometimes easy, sometimes not.  I can remember the time when I didn't.  I am not who I was.

I opened my blog up for your topics and Levi Taylor was the first to respond to it.  His request was about purity.  Levi, I hope you read my thoughts tomorrow.

There will be other topics discussed, but mostly I just want to keep you guessing as to what they are.  If you have any ideas then please leave a comment.  I can try but I am not an ultimate authority on anything remember that.  Also remember that I am the funny one.  Always.

I still have some thoughts about my trip to Honduras, what it was like to meet another sponsor's child.  That was amazing.  Oh little Christian!  Would you like to hear more?

The other night there was a huge spider that was crawling up my bedroom wall.  I had a little meltdown.  I don't normally do over spiders but this one was a mini-tarantula.  And I had to rescue myself, everyone else was asleep.  At least it wasn't a mouse, or rat or something larger like a possum in my house.  At least.  That happened to my daughter once.  She was sleeping, and a giant possum jumped right in the middle of her.  Talk about a nightmare!  She was living in the Possum Palace at the time.  Still one of the funniest stories I have ever told on the radio.

Because I haven't been focusing on my cleaning my house, God has been cleaning my spiritual house so to speak by continuing to teach me more about living this life as a forgiven child.  That's worth putting my dusting rag down.  Some days, it's a show stopper with lots of tears.  Again I value relationships and it's worth spending time with the One who loves me deeply.

And did you know that Monday's post is always the lowest in numbers?  I am trying not to care.

What are you trying not to care about?

Someone Throw This Dog A Bone

Wilson needs a friend and a bone.

Have you ever lost a good friend?  Lately, it seems that God is calling some of mine to different seasons in their life. And honestly...it feels like giant, huge, chasm-like void since they have left because I connected with each of them on a more significant level of friendship. 

Friendships are something that have to be built. Companionship is built on trust. That inner-circle-trust-type-of-bond through adversity junky stuff that sticks with you closer than a brother type of friendship. I have the comfort in knowing that a listening ear is just a call or text away.  That really helps as I try not to think about the distance their move has caused.

These shifts have caused me to think about what I value in relationships.  Making friends doesn't come so easy as it looks for me, so that's why I need to pray for godly relationships so that God will surround my heart with His goodness, ones that will encourage, build up and not tear down, and will love me like I am.  

Are long distance friendships or relationships easy for anyone? 

It's tough when you have to bridge friendships over miles. There are some lonely dog-day times.  There are those days when you feel left out and excluded from every great friendship in the world, or at least feel like the last dog sitting alone in your living room with no one else around.  So empty inside.  Bewildered and overwhelmed and not to mention....lonely and you can't remember where you buried your best dog bone either.

I am not friendless but I will only confide in a few. For me, there has to be a certain level of protection to my private stuff. I will share in the most personal way, but you don't need to know everything about me. I tell God most of my secrets. It's a blessing to have friends, those that wear the skin of Jesus.

So look around and count your friends. And then thank them for being one to you. Think about this...you could die your whole life alone with um...say 21 cats and no friends. That is a mental image I just soon forget. And what about those feelings of loneliness?  God didn't create us to be alone or to be friendless. He created us to need each other. He has given us each different friend skills. To one of my best friends, He gave her the gift of listening. That's a great thing...because every time we are together she gets an ear full from me. Another friend has the uncanny gift of prayer and encouragement...yup, guess what I heepin' dose of...those attributes too.

See how this works? If you want friends you have to be a friend. And to maintain friendships you have to work hard through the tough rough adversity times when you won't agree, or see issues the same. And you have to build the bridge of relationships that matter and choose godly ones that will edify the body of Christ in the process.  Ask God to show you the trusty and friendly bonds He would have for you because you need friends you can depend on.  There are some deep-seated and godly relationships and friendships waiting for you.

Be willing to go the extra mile for them.  Be an investor in relationships.  It's the one of the unspoken need of most humans.  One day...you will need them to span the miles for you. Make time investments in building long lasting community. Be real, be a real friend that brings love to their troubled waters.  Love....them like they are, so they will love you like you are.

Believe me...it's hard work but worth it. The next time you need a kleenex because life slapped you hard in the face, you will wish you would have a few more friends. They will come running with their hands open wide,  carrying coffee and a muffin to make things better.  They are willing to help you get back up, and dust the dirt off.  It's nice to have a hand up out of the pits of life.  And then extend the hand of friendship to the lonely, the alone, the needy, the afflicted, the journeyman, the watchman at the gates, the missionaries, the concert-lovers, the life givers.  Surround yourself with those who will follow you to the mission field and back.  

Explore the gift of friendships, of investing in community. Befriend, be a broken vessel for God's friendship to flow through. Listen, be patient, love. It's needed and wanted. By each and every person you meet.

Be the friend you want to meet, be the friend you need in your own life.

S-L-O-W-D-O-W-N

Watch out..lawn mowing season has begun.  If you are frequent reader here, you might be acquainted with the fact that I have a lesson that sometimes emerges out of my time spent with the mower and God.  For me, it really can be a time to listen to God, process and learn.

This past week's message for me was S-L-O-W-D-O-W-N.  

When I mow, I'll admit that I want to get it done and fast.  I really don't like to spend time doing it.  So when it's time, I like to get the mixture of fumes, sweat and grass clippings over with.  Another confession, some spiritual lessons learned are harder than the actual mowing process.   With either point it takes most of my afternoon.    


While mowing last week it was challenge because the grass was really high.  My pasture-grass-yard had transformed into a jungle during the first two weeks of March.  The season of Spring was here for about 10 minutes and then we said hello to summer.  With the high grass, there were some hard inanimate things that were laying hidden.  Unfortunately, I found such hidden objects with the mower.  There was an awful collision of the blade and the junk in the tall grass...then the mower stopped.  


Upon careful inspection, it was revealed that the blade was bent.  Not just a little bent, but bent down in such a way that it would churn up the ground every time it rotated.  It was like mowing with a garden tiller. It didn't work very well.  The blade had hit something HARD!  I continued to limp the mower along to finish the yard.  It was taking twice as long since I had to slow down because of the bent blade.  It was frustrating at best.  As I was mowing, God reminded me that I also might need to slow down.


I realized in the moment of churning the turf that I cause my own churning chaos.  I create it, in fact, I am an overachiever in this category.  So now....I need to have a collision of God's blade and some hard things hidden in my heart.  And that hurts.  I need to slow down to find rest in God.
  

1 Corinthians 7:17 "Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him.  This is the rule I lay down in all the churches."

I need to find my place that the Lord has assigned to me and has called me to.  I need to find that "sweet spot".  Why is this so hard for me?  Because I like to do.  I like to do a lot of ministry things.  I like to serve, I like to move, I like to progress and help.  I like to accomplish.  I don't like standing still or becoming stagnant in my service.  I feel guilty if I am not serving enough.  And I need to look to Jesus for my example of ministry and service.  


Jesus' ministry on earth was only three years.  In comparison to today’s church standards, Jesus probably wouldn't have been very effective.  He kept a pretty low profile, he healed people and then told the healed to not tell what had just happened.  He liked to be by himself, to seek the Lord and pray.  Jesus often stopped and took time to teach the children.  He would retreat on top of mountains, and go deep in the olive groves.  Even though He was very relational, He didn’t care much about making the most of his time talking to huge crowds.  In his three short years, he accomplished great things and yet he still took lots of breaks.  He didn't have a 3-year-world-tour plan calculated out for each and every stop and how it could be most impacting.  


He just sought the will of His Father.
He paused.
He prayed. 
He listened. 
He obeyed.  
He rested.  
He knew God.  

So here you are...you work, you have a family, you are active in church, you attend church on Sunday, Wednesday brings prayer meeting and kids zone, you attend or lead a women’s Bible study, teach Sunday school, sing in the choir, play an instrument for some special concert during Easter.  And your list goes on and on.  You accomplish a lot.  We don’t have time to think about how busy you are.  You just go, go, and go some more.  You don’t take time to rest.  You don't take a break.  And then your spiritual blade hits something hidden in your heart and you stop.  

The church needs us right?  How could we say no to the church?  If we don’t do it who will?  Can we really say no as a Christian and not feel guilty about it?  Taking time off makes us feel guilty.   That's why studying Jesus' ministry is so important for us overachievers and chaos causers.  The difference is that Jesus knew his limits.  And when he knew it was time to take a rest, he didn’t let anything get in the way of that.  Jesus was intentional with everything, so when he rested he did so with a purpose.  He said no.  Jesus didn’t assume the guilt either.  When he spent time alone, he knew he needed it.  He chose to do it and knew that if he didn’t he would soon be spread thin.

Doing with focused, rested intention... impacts. 

If you are overwhelmed with life and have a lot of chaos swirling around in your head and house, then slow down.  Start creating some time margins that help you breathe a little.  It’s okay to say no.  Go ahead…rest.  Jesus thought it important, why don’t you?  Don't kid yourself into believing that you can't take a break. This is the kind of thinking will only drive you to exhaustion.  And it's prideful to think if you don't do it no one else will.  Even God the Creator rested on the seventh day. Jesus constantly withdrew from the crowds to connect alone with the Father.

R-E-S-T!!!  S-L-O-W-D-O-W-N...  Jesus had the most important and perfect ministry of all.  Yet he still had time to accomplish His purpose on earth.  Whatever Jesus has called you to; don’t you think he has taken care of your rest breaks too?   He didn’t intend for you to scurry around with a crammed-packed-schedule with His calling on your shoulders only to wear you out for the sake of the gospel message.  He does ask us to be faithful to our calling and to trust Him for the results in what He has called us to do.  He has planned some seasons of rest and refreshing, because He knows we can't keep up with the break-neck speed the world tries to conform us to.  I need time to refresh and rejuvenate my soul.  Jesus knew you were going to need some rest too, so he showed you how He did it…He retreated and drew close to his Father.  He said no...because he truly understood a key ingredient of a powerful ministry--constant refueling by God's strength.

God commands you to rest. 

What do you find so hard about resting?  What is your "sweet spot"?