I started this blog for every young lady desiring to be married one day. Hopefully it will challenge you, stir you, and delight you. More importantly, I hope to practically prepare both myself and you for one of the most important decisions of our lives. I want to be a 'loving big sis' to an online group of girls whose perceptions of love and romance have been seriously distorted . . . I am open to questions and will answer in a friendly, honest, and biblical fashion. Sometimes I will post a story of a Princess, sometimes answer questions, and sometimes give advice using examples of people I knew or read about. I wish to be helpful, so please, ask questions and comment! My basic desire is that young ladies realize a closer walk with their Lord will assist them very much in their journey towards radiant purity. I give Sarah Mally all of the credit for beginning the inspiration of radiant purity. Please feel free to visit my other blogs: maidenofvirtue, horsebackriding, and narniaexposed. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/radiantpurity/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:32:00 -0500 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:32:00 -0500 I'd like to explain before I go any furthur with this blog . . . I'm assuming that you already agree with the following presuppositions. I want you to know where I'm coming from. If you don't, then you may be confused by some of the things I say. 1. The Bible is the inspired Word of God and should govern every area of our lives. 2. There is a problem with boy/girl relationships in our society. In this book I don't think it's necessary to go into detail about the sin and devastation happening in many lives around us, but I'm makin ght eassumption that you agree there is a problem. The world's approach to relationships isn't working at all. Unhappy marriages, divorce, and broken, hurting families are not the way God intends things to be. 3. We want something different. I'm writing to young ladies (and young men) who are seeking the Lord with all of their heart and who genuinely desire God's best. For this reason, I'm goin gto be courageous and honest as I share what I have observed and learned. Some things that I encourage you to consider may not be easy, but because I believe you are sincerely longing for God's very best way, I have confidence that you are nor afraid to take the narrow road, to stand for righteousness, and to put Jesus first - even when it's hard. Another thing I need to tell you is that often I am going to mention parents and the benefits that can come from our parents' help. I realize that many of you come from broken families, and some of you only have one parent and some of your parents may not be Christians. Do not let this discourage you! I still can work for you! God has put you in exactly the family in which He want you in. He knows your parents' shortcomings and He will into neglect you for one second. If you are seeking the Lord, He will faithfully supply the help you need. Phillipians 4:19. When parents are not protecting or leading, He may choose to guide you through a wise older couple at your church or other godly mentors. Keep this in mind as you coninue reading. One last but necessary comment is that if you have already made mistakes, the enemy may try to discourage you. Satan wants you to think it's too late to change. He wants you to feel hopeless and dejected and give up. Do not believe his lies!!! It is NEVER too late to turn to Jesus and experience the joy, peace, and abundant life He offers. If you begin to think that it is too late for you, then I encourage you to KEEP reading this blog. I will get to some amazing examples of people who have changed when they never thought they could!  God can do what is thought to be impossible through the life of one who is truly repentant. "Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready." Revelation 19:7   ~ Mandy comments? questions? i'd love to hear from you! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/radiantpurity/728048/ Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:32:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/radiantpurity/728048/ "You  know what?" a fifteen-year-old friend told Sarah, the authoress of Before you met Prince Charming. "It's really true. God's plans are so much better than we could ever imagine. My older brother is planning to be a pastor. He had such a long list of specific requirements for his future wife that our family used to tease him. We insisted that he'd never get married - that such a girl didn't exist. But then he met Lori! She is so perfect for him. She not only fits every one of his qualifications - she far surpasses them! It's incredible how God has brought exactly the wife he needed. He wasn't willing to lower his standards, and God blessed his faith." Stories like this are exciting! They remind me that our God is powerful, faithful, and concerned about every detail of our lives. Now obviously, if we truly desire God's best in our lives, then we need to be willing to marry God's choice. It's equally important to recognize that a happy marriage takes two people. If we desire a godly, loving husband, we need to do our part by preparing to be the best marriage partner that we can be. This starts today. Right now. ~Mandy http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/radiantpurity/684618/ Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:21:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/radiantpurity/684618/ If you are reading this, I suspect you have commited yourself to wanting God's best in your life - God's best in your future marriage. Perhaps you're thinking, "Of course I desire the best in my marriage." But when it comes right down to it, are you truly willing to make the required sacrifices and to wait for the best? Since marriage is a picture of our relationship with Christ, God created marriage to be the most beautiful, joyful, and fulfilling earthly relationship we will ever experience. A good marriage is priceless. No one would want to trade it for anything - or would they? Countless young people are willing to forfeit the beautiful marriage God wants to give them in exchange for short-term thrills. If we could grasp how wonderful God's plan for us is, don't you think we'd be willing to wait? Don't you think we would purpose to enter into marriage pure rather than with emotional baggage and scars? Think of your favorite storybook romance. You know, one where the couple lives happily ever after. Mine are Snow White, Aladdin, and Cinderella. Those fairy tales are just a joke, right? I mean no one actually has a marriage like that, do they? That is what Satan wants you to think - that there are no happy marriages. He doesn't want us to experience the blessings and the fulfilling marriage God wants to give. Even though all marriages have trials to work through, God's design is for them to be successful, fulfilling, and joyous. Jesus says, "The thief cometh not, but to steal and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 By observing the reckless way most young poeople live, you'd never know that deep down in their hearts they desire to one day have a wonderful marriage. They actually do desire a good marriage, but they've lost sight of this dream because they've already done so much to destroy it. In an effort to defend their actions, they will claim that such a marriage is idealistic or impossible, but in reality, they are simply unwilling to pay the price. It is too hard for them to wait - too hard to trust God. Of course, your marriage will not actually be perfect. We live in a sinful world. But chose to desire the very best marriage, and refuse to lower your standard or settle for "average". Dare to live holy and God will supply with a young man made just for you. Many happy couples who faithfully prepared and waited can joyfully testify that God's blessings anad rewards are more than worth the sacrifice. ~ Mandy   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/radiantpurity/675399/ Thu, 2 Apr 2009 18:09:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/radiantpurity/675399/ Most princesses like to think about romance - and I suspect that you are no exception. As a daughter of the King of Kings, your heavenly Father has only the very best in store for you. A true princess must not settle for anything less. I have known many young ladies who were consumed with dating and thoughts about boys, and thus: wasted the years of their youth. I have seen many girls who had much potential for the Lord and followed the typical way of most teenagers and missed out on God's best. On the other hand, I have had the joy of seeing the Lord bring together some outstanding couples and bless them with beautiful marriages. What made the difference? The difference was not ultimately a result of how they met, how they got to know eachother, or whether they called their relationship "dating", "courtship", "betrothal", or anything else. Rather, the difference was the result of decisions made long before - decisions to put Jesus first in every area of life, to stand alone for what was right, and to patiently follow God's way even when the road was uphill or difficult. The decisions we make in our youth play a huge role in determining our future. Temptation in this area of boy/girl relationships is one of the biggest snares that the enemy uses to damage the lives of testimonies of Christian young people. Many lives have been destroyed. Many others have survived only with scars, pain, and heartache. I could give you my testimony, but I won't. It hurts too much to even think about it. I can't stress the point of keeping your mind PURE and thoughts UPRIGHT. I will say that I have had  (HAD = past tense)  "friends" who ran out in the world and had a "fling", coming back with husbands and babies . . . and heartache. It's NOT WORTH IT. God has just the PERFECT man or woman out there for you. DON'T WASTE YOUR JOY NOW FOR SOMETHING YOU WILL REGRET LATER. Moving on . . . . A TRUE princess realizes this danger and understands her own need to be protected. This is not evidence of weakness or fear, but rather it is evidence of true courage. It requires courage to do things God's way, to wait for His timing, and to trust that He will bring you and your life partner together according to His perfect plan. It takes couage to obey when you do not understand. For this reason, one of the widest decisions you can make now is to embrace specific safeguards of protection. Notice that I say embrace. Many young ladies will tolerate what they consider to be "rules" or "laws" made by others. But tolerating them is not enough; you must make them your own. It is your heart - your own internal commitments beofre the Lord - that will make the difference. Only those hwo have formed their own personal convictions will have the strength required to remain pure and the discernment needed to escape temptation. Purity: it's worth it. All those safeguards your parents put up? They are there for you to embrace. Don't let God down, and He won't let you down. And one last encouraging thought: Throughout my life I have watched young men, as all girls do. I think, "He is one I wouldn't mind marrying.", "He is good looking", or "His attitude is so sweet!" But, sadly, most of them turned me down by backsliding on God or turning out not-so-sweet. The encouragment? If you don't get the guys you think are so perfect for you, God will send you someone better. ~ Mandy ~ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/radiantpurity/660548/ Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:03:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/radiantpurity/660548/ "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lambis come, and His wife hath made herself ready." Revelation 19:7 "Come on, Victory," the sixteen-year-old girl said softly as she mounted her faithful horse and began the journey to the castle. Her blonde hair, highlighted by the sun, flowed behind her, and the crystals on her thin golden headband sparkled brightly. Cantering gracefully with his dark mane waving in the wind, the chestnut horse was nearly as beautiful as the girl. As they raced across green meadows colored by wildflowers, over small streams, and through the countryside, many people would stop their activities or conversations in order to watch them pass. "A lovely girl," one elderly lady commented as she was hanging out linens to dry. "A precious gem, if ever there was one, I say." A jolly old man sat on a bench in the mountain village with his young grandson by his knee. As the girl rode by, he turned to his grandson and declared, "You do know who she is, do ye not? She is none other but the daughter of the king." "Then she is a princess, Grandfather?' asked the little boy with wonder and delight, his eyes gazing at her until she had diappeared in to the distance. "Ahh, but she is more htan a princess," the wise grandmother who stood nearby interjected. "For not only is she a princess in lineage, but she is also a princess in conduct. We may admire her outward beauty, but I tell you that it is inner beauty that is worth one hundred times more - and inner beauty is a quality rare even among princesses." And so you see, this young lady was known and respected throughout the kingdom not only because of her royal birth, but even more importantly for her kindness, gracious words, and evident maturity beyond her years. No one doubted that she was  a princess indeed. Yet, lest you begin to belive that this princess was perfect, it must be noted that even though she was wise, she was not as wise as her father, the King. She was young. She had much insight and discernment, but she was nonethless still subject to the motions, fears, and longings that tug and pull at a girl's heart and mind. It was not easy to recall her father's words of wisdom in every situation. And sometimes the wrong advice of others was quite persuasive, sounding so close to the truth that it was easy to accept without due caution. "I wonder," the princess though aloud as she reached the top of the small hill from which the castle came into view, "why Father speaks so often of the dangerous ways and opinions of the people in the kingdom. They seem so peaceful and good." "And I wonder," she continued, "what my future will hold? I suppose Mother is right. It is not for me to know. I must concentrate on the work that God gives me to do each day and trust Him to direct my paths." "We'd best hurry," she said again to Victory as she gently pressed her legs against his sides. She realized that they had slowed their pace considerabley. Peering into the distant sky, the princess noticed that it seemed strangely dark, and she wondered if it was already past the dinner hour. Resuming her thoughts, she spoke again. "If the biggest enemies of the kingdom are not the seen but the unseen, and if the villagers are as easily led astray as Father says, I wonder what can be done in order to -" Suddenly hearing the sound of galloping, she forgot her question and looked up to see a horseman coming quickly to meet her. "How does it fare with thee, my lady?" he asked, coming to a halt. "All is well, sentinel," she replied. "What be thy hurry?" "Thy father sent me to look for thee. The wetern sky gives a warning of a brewing storm. He was concerned that thou hast been delayed at Sand Crossing." "Thou knowest how it is visiting Aunt Prudent and Uncle Justheart, the Duke and Duchess of Widomton," she chuckled. "It is always difficult to get away. And yes, the ride home took langer than expected. The rough parts of the mountain trail are somewhat overgrown. Also, I stopped to help an elderly lady who had dropped her basketful of vegetables in the midst of the trail." "I will report to the king and leave thee to enjoy thy quiet ride. Thy father will be glad to know that thou hast very nearly arrived at the castle." "Thank you, sentinel," she answered. "Please tell he stanble hand  to have hay ready for Victory." "As thou sayest," he declared as  he turned around and galloped away. You may be wondering hwy a princess was riding laone throughout the kingdom with no  guards or escort. It was a time of peae, and the land was well protected by the many good knights and warriors ascattered thorughout. In addition, the king desired that the princess follow  not the custom of royalty, who isolate themselves from the commonpeople, but rather that she learn to serve and minister to everyone form te greatest down to the least. He knew that the kingodm was in need of such examples. Yet, the king was by no means negligent to protect his daughter. On the contrary, because of his great love for the princess, he was committed to doing everything necessary to safegurard her in every way. Indeed, many considered him to be too careful. He often perceived as dangerous those activiteis that most people believed were quite harmless. And many times he took precautions that others mocked as extreme and unnessary. For you see, in his wisdom he understood that it was not the outward threats that were most deadly, the inward pollutants and evil influences that attack the heart and the mind. The princess, walking by faith, happily accepted this protection and guidance. Even so, it is questionable whether she fully treasured this most valualbe gift bestowed up on her. She loved her parents, but it is unlikely that she had a full understanding of what a significant part they played in her life. She appreciated their protection and  occasionally thanked them for it, but it is certain that she did not have any idea how much this protection would benefit her life, how vital it was for her future, and how much grief it had already spared her. Like most princesses, this young lady was full of hopes and dreams for her future. There were places she wished to vist, people she hoped to meet, and gereat things she wanted to accomplish. Most of all, she desired to use her life to nourish nad strengthen others. For you see, she understood (as few princesses do) that a true princess is actually a servant. But amidst her many noble dreams, the one most deeply rooted in ther heart and the oneshe though of most frequently, was . . . (you'll never guess) . . . yes, she dreamed of the day when she would fall in love with her Prince Charming and live with him forever. But , of course, she was only sixteen. She didn't need to be thinking about that yet! And so it was, on this quiet evening, that as the princess alighted from her horse and led him along the stone path outside the castle walls, she began to dream of her future. She stood still for a moment to kiss Victory's nose and to gaze at the distant mountains, which reminded her of the horizons that lay ahead in her life. The princess was enjoying these peaceful moments alone when her thoughts were unexpectedly interrupted by the low and soothing voice of the alligator swimming in the moat below the bridge on which she stood. "Good evening to thee, fair princess," he  began. "Why, thank you, and a good evening to thee as well," she answered. "What brings such a lovely young lady outside tonight?" "Oh, I be just returning  from a visit with my aunt and uncle, and I had a mind to capture a quick walk around the castle to enjoy the evening breeze." "Alone?" the alligator questioned. "I like to be alone. It gives me time to think and to pray." "Oh, I see," he said slowly. After a monment of silence and alligator continued, "May I ask what the princess enjoys thinking about when she is not interrupted by an annoyance such as myself?" "My father tells me that my time is precious and must be used wisely. I was just condsidering how many things I hope to do in my life, how I can best serve the kingdom, and how I might be able to bring hope and joy to those who have none." "My princess, thou art very amtitious and wise, but I fear thou art forgetting one minor point. You live in a castle. You live with your parents. You are sheltered. You have neither the knowledge nor the experience necessary to do the things of which you dream." "My father says I do." "Thy father is indeed a noble man, but dear Princess, he cannot possibly be right about everything. He loves you and therfore fears that harm may come to you if you are not constantly by his side. It is true he wants only your best, but Princess, I fear he is misguided. In the end, you are the one who will face the consequences of his unintentional yet serious mistakes." "What are you saying I should do?" "Nothing as of yet," replied the alligator. "But when the time comes, be ready to make your own decisions, or you will never survive in the real world." Feeling a few sprinkles of raindrops on her arm and hearing the first roll of thunder, the princess took Victory to his stall and hurried inside. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/radiantpurity/658012/ Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:02:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/radiantpurity/658012/