Soldiers in God’s Army

Soldiers standing at attention

The following excerpt was taken from Developing Godly Character by Vinne Carafano:

“It’s easy to continue in the revealed will of God as long as things are going smoothly. If we have immediate proof that we’re on the right track and have instant success, we’ll keep on. We’ll also become spiritually soft and weak. Tough times make strong believers. In the Body of Christ, we have too many Cub Scouts and not enough marines. A missionary friend of mine once said, ‘Christians need to learn how to take a punch.’ Marines don’t go through boot camp at Disneyland. They go to Parris Island, where conditions are intentionally tough to make them tough. God calls us by many names in the Scriptures. We are His children, disciples, servants, and friends. Let’s not forget that He also calls us soldiers. What hardships have you endured for the sake of the gospel?”

I find this quote very interesting because it can be applied to your life right now. What have you done recently that has been hard or stretched you outside your comfort zone? Often we think doing something tough means going without food or being physically persecuted for the sake of the gospel. But there are everyday things and circumstances that we can willingly take on or endure right now, even from our homes and current situations. Some of the hardest things you will ever do are things that go against your will. Have you ever had to apologize to someone, and you didn’t WANT to do it? Or have you had to do a chore right away and you really wanted to watch a movie instead? Those things can be pretty hard. Do you do them anyway? The Lord said “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). We don’t always realize this, but simply by doing the right thing that goes against your will is denying yourself, taking up your cross, and following the Lord. This is a good thing! This is very pleasing to God because it says “I really don’t want to do this, but I’m doing it because I trust that you have my best in mind and because I love you more than I love myself and my will”.

I challenge you to find something that you know is right and honoring to God (obeying your parents even when you think they don’t know best is a good example) and ask the Lord to help you do that thing. It’s ok to admit to God you don’t want to do something, but be sure to ask Him for help.

Following God has many parallels to being in the military. We don’t always know why we are being told by our commanding officer (God or a God-given authority) to do something, and we might often think our ideas are better, but in the end we must obey. And the faster we learn that God’s will is far superior to our own, the easier it will be to lay our will down and pick up God’s instead. If you want a really hard challenge, ask the Lord to give you opportunities to deny your will and do His instead.

~Megan

Tempted: The Film

Jonas Brothers coming to Denver

Pop superstars The Jonas Brothers are taking a quick trip through the mile high city this month. You know how these concerts go: the masses flock to swoon, the decible level soars, and the purity ring sales…explode. Wait! Am I missing something?

Its no secret that The Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus and Jordin Sparks have been long time advocates of purity rings. As your wearing and purchasing these symbols of purity, remember this: no matter what happens to Hollywood, no matter what choices these well meaning celebrities make- keep your commitment to stand strong. Don’t be swayed by the stars that are here today and gone tomorrow. And when you are ready to make a commitment to purity, click here for the best selection of rings at the best price…anywhere in the world.

Purity Rings from Generations of Virtue

It’s how a generation of virtue expresses itself

Purity is Intentional, Day 7

STOP worrying about the differences between guys and girls. There is so much emphasis in our society on how different we are. The self-help section on this is endless. However, I honestly believe that if you’re worried about how the opposite sex thinks, or how to relate to them, you should go to God first. If you want to “figure out” the opposite sex, start getting to know the One who created them.

Purity Is Intentional: Day 6

This post was contributed by Annie, Generations of Virtue’s warehouse manager and mother to three young boys. Annie gives her top 15  tips to help you in your battle for purity. Her advice is both practical and encouraging. Enjoy!

1. Live with the end in mind. Not just the end….where you get married and now you can do whatever you want….I mean the end, when you are standing with Jesus Christ, in heaven. Living pure is a constant battle. It doesn’t end when you get married.

2. Really watch your thoughts. Watch what you are looking at. One of the things I stopped doing was watching any shows or movies where I knew I would be tempted to get involved emotionally with the characters. I hope that makes sense. Especially being married, I try not to watch shows where I get gooey over one of the actors.

3. Don’t go to a place where you know it will be a temptation to flirt. Better to stay home that night or that weekend.

4. Stay emotionally pure. This will help you so much in your fight for purity. Giving your heart away hurts. The hurt doesn’t go away when you get married. Sometimes it’s even harder because it tends to turn to guilt. You feel guilty about your past or the times your thoughts wander to someone else. We’re not talking about physical actions in this case, but the memories where you stayed up late talking to so and so, or when so and so said this really great thing to you. Those thoughts carry feelings with them. Our feelings affect how we act today.

5. Be proactive by setting boundaries. Some examples are setting a curfew, especially with the opposite sex. Like, you won’t stay out with a person of the opposite sex after 8 pm or something like that. It’s like when you decide before hand what you are going to order when you go to a restaurant, you maybe call ahead to get a menu and then when you go, you’re not as tempted to order that really high calorie dinner at the spur of the moment because it looks good. You’ve already made a choice.

6. Have an email accountability partner. If you start emailing a person of the opposite sex, have them CC (carbon copy) every email they send to you, to someone else you trust—a parent, mentor, relative or pastor. You will be less likely to say things or hear things that will cause you to become emotionally attached.

7. Be careful about texting someone of the opposite sex. We tend to write things in texts that we wouldn’t normally say in a group of people, being that the conversation seems really private. It’s almost like an inside joke, where only you and the other person know what’s so funny. Be careful when texting the opposite sex.

8. Don’t be afraid to be up front about your stand for purity. Any person not willing to stick around after they know where you stand isn’t someone you want to spend your time with.

9. Spend a lot of time with Jesus. He is your best friend and ally. Spend a lot of time reading the Bible. Someone once told me “It never hurts to read the Bible”. I heartily agree. It NEVER HURTS to read the Bible. It is always a good use of your time. God is able to speak to you through the words written on those pages and it will always be time well spent. It will always produce a good harvest.

10. Remember that we are all farmers. We are all sowing seeds everyday. Try to remember that what you do today, will be your tomorrow. Our actions today have a tremendous impact on what happens in our future.

11. Wear a purity ring, necklace, dog tag, bracelet…something that reminds you of your commitment to purity. We need to be reminded on a daily, hourly, sometimes minute basis that we are fighting for a worthy cause.

12. Listen to great Christian music. Listen to the Bible on CD.

13. Write letters to your future spouse. Write letters to Jesus.

14. Keep busy with activities that are helpful to your family, community, church, etc. Mainly because you don’t have a lot of free time to do whatever you want. I’m not just talking about social activities, in fact I’m not really talking about them at all. I mean like, doing extra chores, babysitting, cleaning at the church, or helping out with the ladies or men’s meetings, volunteering in the nursery. Offering to babysit your siblings ON A FRIDAY NIGHT…..so your parents can go out and have a nice evening.

15. Realize that you are fighting in a battle. I know it’s hard. It is really. But it’s so worth it. Finally, I’d like to leave you with an encouraging verse that highlights the fact that we are in a battle. Galatians 6:9 says “And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.”

~Contributed by Annie, GOV Warehouse Manager (Visit our Team page for Annie’s bio)

Purity Is Intentional: Day 5

A Closer Look at Intentions

What are your intentions versus God’s intentions? If a girl expresses interest in you is your head turned? If a guy shows you attention more than the other girls around you do you start thinking what ifs? If you thinks someone is cute do you let them know it? Do you continue even though you know if a relationship developed it wouldn’t end up going anywhere? You just think they are nice and it is fun to have someone paying extra attention to you, what harm can it do right? Don’t play with someone’s heart or your own because the end result can be very painful. Be very honest with yourself and watch your intentions. Leading someone on, boy or girl, can be very hurtful. If you know this person is not who God has for you don’t kid yourself or them that anything could develop. Be friends only and don’t show any extra interest other than friendship alone.

Storytime at the GOV booth