GUEST BLOG POST: Cleaning Out My Fridge by Lauren Martin

On the 4th Friday of each month, we invite someone to write a Guest Post on our Blog (www.conniefirmin.com).  This month, we are honored to have Lauren Martin share her heart with you.  We believe you will enjoy this month’s guest.  Feel free to leave questions or comments.  We love feedback!

I grew up like most kids having chores.  You know, chores like cleaning your room,washing dirty dishes, folding laundry, that kind of thing.  There was one chore that I hated… no,despised, and it always seemed to be my responsibility: Cleaning out the unattended leftovers hidden in the refrigerator.  Ugh!!  I’ve always hated dumping out the old stuff quietly growing in back of the fridge.  Sometimes those once delicious meals would splash grossness of the now science experiment on me.  One word:  Gross!

No longer do I live with my mother, but, of course, I still have to clean the fridge.  This got me to thinking one day.  Our sins are a lot like the mold that grew in those leftovers. The sin starts out in secret, growing inside of us, always in a place where no one is looking or suspecting. It expands from the inside out and eventually consumes us mind, body and soul.  Bit by bit, it breaks us down and pulls us further and further away from our friends, our family and, most importantly, God.  We may be able to hide our sin from the people around us, but it’s never, ever hidden from God.  It says so in Hebrews 4:13.  “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Tucking things away and allowing them fester and grow inside keeps us from enjoying and growing in our relationship with God and with others.  It holds us back from seeing the great joy and experience that God has planned for us.  I love what Proverbs 28:13 (MSG) says:  “You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.”

How awesome is it that God gives us all we need to release ourselves from the sin we’ve tried to so hard to hide?  We just need to admit our sin and do our best to walk away from it.  God’s mercy is right there waiting.  Friends, mentors (of course, Sparkle leaders) and God’s Word are the best tools to strengthen us and keep us on His straight and narrow path in growing.  Don’t ever feel like something you’ve said or done can’t be made right.  At times, I’m guilty of hiding things and acting as if no one could find out or even believing I wouldn’t be affected.  Living like this doesn’t benefit you or me, and it doesn’t glorify God.

God has princesses (you and me) that He is raising up and teaching to be queens.  As His princesses and queens-in-training, wouldn’t we want to wear our crowns knowing we did everything possible to keep them as sparkling and beautiful as we always imagined it could be?  It’s up to us.  Talk to your mom, talk to your leaders and friends.  Let’s agree to step out, clean out the fridge and get the ‘mold’ out of our lives.  It’s time for a start fresh.

-Lauren

Lauren Martin is a  Sparkle Tribe Leader.  She walks out a lifestyle of purity daily and is an inspiration to students and leaders alike.  Lauren is a breath of fresh air and offers encouragement and valuable advice to our team and girls. 

Google Alert: Purity

Have you ever heard of Google Alerts? I love them. I have a few set up to email me with the daily buzz for random topics. One particular alert I watch closely is Purity (yes, did you expect anything else?). Every day I receive an email summary of the news and posts regarding purity on the web. Some days I read precious posts about one’s journey of finding it.  There are days where it seems an all-out assault has been launched on purity.  And other days I see articles about Disney Stars and if they are wearing their “purity” rings (honestly, they seem to make more of a joke of wearing a purity rings than anything…something purity is far from).  Just like a wedding ring doesn’t make or break the marriage, it’s just a reminder to yourself and others that you are married and of the commitment you made.  One thing is certain… purity is more than a ring, and it can be one hot topic.

Purity seems to be misunderstood on many levels.  It pains my heart to see articles promoting purity as myth or a thing of the past and even uncool.  Comments seem to pile up on these posts from individuals bashing purity and ripping apart any comments from people trying to live pure lives.  The first thought I have every time I read these comments is do they really know what purity means? followed by how can I make a difference?

With those questions in mind, I began a quest.  In August 2011, my first book was released titled Sparkle by Connie S. Firmin.  This book was written to help others discover what I believe is the truth behind purity. It is so much more than a decision not to have sex before marriage.  This book was written over a 6 year span as I searched for the meaning of purity recalling my own struggle as a pregnant teen and as a parent raising 2 teen daughters with my husband (one daughter becoming a pregnant teen herself).  In short, the book is broken down into 3 sections.  The first simply defines purity.  It breaks down what the Bible says, covers a few myths of purity and then helps the reader define it.  The second part deals with the view.  Sometimes our perception just needs a little alignment or fine tuning so our own real beauty and worth can be revealed.  The final chapters are loaded with practical tips regarding purity.

Once you know the truth about purity, it doesn’t make it easy or fool-proof.  It doesn’t mean you become exempt from temptation.  It doesn’t mean you won’t make a mistake or worse, completely slip up.  Purity will help you see the value of WHO you really are.  When you KNOW who you are, you’ll see yourself as valuable and precious.  Then you’ll want to protect the real you.  Don’t get caught on the thought of being unworthy.  It will only lead to decisions you may soon regret.  Remember you are a treasure!  God created you with a purpose, and He thinks you are beautifully and wonderfully made (check it out in Psalm 139).  If you don’t know what purity is, I hope you’ll invest in yourself.  

Here’s your challenge:  Don’t make a decision about purity without researching it.  I don’t mean finding out what Disney star is or isn’t wearing their ring -or- what the hottest magazine says about purity.  I mean find out details by reading good books about it.  I’ve begun to compile a list of resources on my website (not even near finished) to help you in this journey.  Pray about it and dig in the Bible for answers yourself.  Talk with those you respect.  Of course, I suggest you read Sparkle because I think it will help you discover purity for yourself (you can check out some of the reviews on Amazon.com or the book trailer at www.conniefirmin.com). Most of all, let God speak to you about His version of purity and the truth.  Purity opens the door for you to be the person you were meant to be.  Whole, happy and free!

This summer we will once again host our Summer Sparkle.  If you are a teen girl in the Baton Rouge area, you can join our connect group where we’ll gather together, study the meaning of purity, dig deep into God’s Word, and have lots of fun.  We’ll finish off the program with a celebration for the girls choosing to live pure lives.  Consider joining us.  If you are a teen girl in the Baton Rouge area (or the parent of one) and want to know more, email conniefirmin@gmail.com.  We’d love to have you join us!

Guest Post: You Are Worth It by Darelle

You can check out our March Guest Post by visiting www.conniefirmin.com and clicking Teen. On the last Friday of each month, we will feature a guest blog post from leading authors and leaders in the area of purity on the Sparkle by Connie S. Firmin website.  This month we chose an outstanding leader in our Sparkle Tribe.  Darelle is a faithful and dependable leader that is a shining example of a lifestyle of purity.  Take some time to check out her post.  Click, read and enjoy!

Chicken Spaghetti

This weekend, we had an idea to cook Chicken Spaghetti to help raise funds for our mission trip to Swaziland & Mozambique, Africa.  Evidently the food was a hit, and we prepared and sold nearly 20 trays.  It was especially neat how the entire idea started out as a fund raiser, and actually turned out to be a huge blessing.  Life stories were shared with us.  A few of the incredible opportunities we were able to be a part of due to simple trays of food were:  Missionaries from Africa shared supper with friends, a dinner for a daughter to meet her mom for the first time was held, and an ill friend of a friend was blessed with a meal and compassion.  Wow, God is always up to much more than we think.

Every Saturday throughout April (excluding Easter weekend), we will prepare Chicken Spaghetti dinners.  Each tray feeds 6-8 people.  It’s ready to bake or freeze.  If you’d like to reserve a tray, simply email us at conniefirmin@gmail.com and let us know how many trays you would like, your address for delivery (delivery only in BR/Prairieville area) and a phone number to contact you.  Thanks so much for helping out a great cause. If you’d like more information on the Care Points in Swaziland and Mozambique, Africa, go to childrenscup.org.  To follow our journey, check us out at youcansend.me/dougandconnie.

GUEST POST: Pure Worth by Nikki Washington

GUEST POST:  Each month, we will have a Guest Post from a leader with a passion for purity and teens.  Keep watching for it the last Friday of the month.  This month, we welcome Nikki Washington.  Enjoy!

She boasted, “I told him all about you!”  In her best southern accent, she squealed, “I told him you’re saved, sanctified, spirit-filled and never touched by man’s hands.  That’s right honey, I told him you’re a virgin!”  I’ll never forget when a church friend and mother came to me after a gentleman expressed some interest in me.  I know she meant well, but it was simply an awkward moment for me.  In short, she was selling me to this male suitor like I was some shiny new Geo Metro.  I could hear the commercial, “Brand new! No miles! All credit is approved! Everything must go!” Okay now I’m being silly, but you get the picture.

Early in my walk with God, I began to learn about my worth as a woman in Christ.  I began to understand what my mom couldn’t teach me and my dad wasn’t there to say to me.  I found my value far exceeded any monetary amount.  I learned I was a gift, and my body, a temple.  I was too valuable to give “it” up in exchange for dinner and a movie, or sly grins and whispers of sweet nothings.  I learned how to honor God with all of me so that He would receive glory.  And don’t get it twisted, I’m not saying it’s always been easy… but it has always been worth it.

Let me challenge you to begin to study and find out what God says about you.  Don’t let someone who didn’t create you define you.  Knowing who you are in God comes with endless benefits.  When you know your worth, you won’t give away what God has ordained for your spouse.  When you know your worth, you won’t allow someone to treat you with disdain or disrespect.  When you know your worth, you won’t settle for less than God’s best for your life.  Make a decision today to not give yourself to anyone who’s not your spouse.  Wait for God to unite you with the one He has for you.  I know it’s easier said than done, but I’m talking about what I know, not just what I’ve heard.  Even if you haven’t waited, you can make a decision to give all of yourself to God.  Try it, and watch Him wipe the slate clean.

The old saints use to say, “God will keep you if you want to be kept!”  I can attest to that.  Truthfully speaking, there were times God kept me even when I didn’t want to be kept (thank you Jesus).  And it doesn’t matter if you’ve made mistakes in the past, the wonderful thing about God is that you can start over again.  Sis, you don’t have to give yourself away anymore, you’re too good for that.  When God made you He made you fearfully and wonderfully.  There’s something to be said about the glow of a woman who has been in intimate worship with the Father.  Allow God to give you a different type of afterglow.  Take it from me, a 33 year old virgin: purity’s so worth it and you are too!

Nikki Washington is an abstinence advocate and the founder of thechastitybelt.org, a blog site dedicated to purity.  For more information, you can contact Nikki at thechastitybelt2010@gmail.com.

Thanks Nikki for sharing your heart with us this month.  I love the challenge you issued to our girls to search for their true worth.  Great message!