Have You Made a Pledge for Purity?
Day 57 of Photo Inspirations — Have You Made a Pledge for Purity?
Yesterday, out of the blue, I started looking at old Staci Michaels Ministries “Above & Beyond” newsletters that we sent out monthly, 20 years ago in 1995. I was reminded about the Pledge for Purity Program that she created and taught back then — and led many young people to living a life of purity — not just sexually, but in a lifestyle commitment of character, integrity, prayer life, devotion and pure relationships before God. Recalling how passionate she was, I was reminded of how our culture has continued to lower its standards over the years, even to the point that living a life of purity “is just weird — just not normal”. To say that “it doesn’t matter”, is saying “my marriage, my friendships and my relationship with God doesn’t matter either”. Staci was teaching the Pledge for Purity Program before she and Larry met and they proved it was possible to live a life of purity. In fact, they never kissed until their wedding day, and their beautiful marriage, today, continues to be a role model for others. They are leading by example. They are STILL out their Pledge for Purity And, it really is proof of the scripture that she based the title of her newsletter from “And God will do exceeding abundantly ABOVE AND BEYOND, all you can ask or think, according to the power that works within you”. Ephesians 3:20
As an absolute nudge from God to post this today, AFTER I had her newsletters laid out on my desk, a neighbor called. She said, “I didn’t realize you were Staci Michaels’ Mom, until I saw your post about her being Mrs. North Carolina.” She went on to tell me about coming to Staci’s Bible Study and bringing her niece with her. Her niece went through, and graduated from, the Pledge for Purity Program. And her niece kept that pledge in her heart until she later married. That conversation led me to go check out her niece’s FB page. When I did, I saw who her “besties” are, still today — other graduates from the Pledge for Purity Program.
In a world of lowering standards to accommodate the “new way of thinking”, it is such a joy to see how blessed we are when we realize how much God wants to use us and flow through us, and the most effective way to do that is to remember to strive to live a life of purity — in every area of our lives. “The Purer the Vessel the Greater the Flow”. That’s a line that Staci coined and I still pray that I am that vessel. He wants to pour Himself through us and as we strive to live a life of purity in word, thought and deed…..the more He’ll be able to do just that! And, a final word….if your vessel is a little clogged with “stuff” — it’s okay. We can start fresh and new today. God promises He’ll make ALL THINGS NEW. So why not YOU? Why not TODAY?
#PledgeForPurity #AboveAndBeyond