Because few CHOOSE Him!

Remember hearing this a million times when you were growing up ... "Just because everybody else jumps off a cliff, does that mean that you should jump too?"

IS THAT YOUR IDEA OF FUN?

Let me give you just one little scenario of what most women in today's world think is acceptable and ... Fun.

After work a married woman meets with two of her girlfriends for an adult beverage at a restaurant/bar. She adapts her work attire, a "business suit" with skirt 8 inches above the knee, 2 sizes too tight, by losing the jacket, which covered a silky spaghetti strap chemise underneath, with coordinating bra straps fashionably (?) showing. She wears a cross necklace as though it somehow justifies the promiscuous style she chooses. As she enters the establishment where she is to meet her two friends, she carefully takes inventory of the customers and squeezes through the crowded waiting area, which means brushing past at least 3 or 4 people and saying "excuse me" with a flirtatious smile, before joining her party. Once seated, the girls each share gossip about the people at their particular place of employment and she orders a drink and an appetizer with a wink to the waiter. Conversation continues with the telling of the newest dirty jokes that each heard over the week, laughing much too loudly, then personal and confidential topics (secrets which belong between soul mates only) are openly discussed, commented and advised upon by all three. Occasional glances to various men throughout the "happy hour" are exchanged (some even married and with their families), without shame or even the slightest feeling of wrongdoing. She suddenly becomes very aware of her wedding band, and so she won't lose any prospective attention, she sits on her left hand. The hour comes to a close and when she reaches her car, she puts her jacket back on before going home.

How very indiscreet ... From Jesus' point of view ... But harmless and innocent from today's woman's eyes. This is just normal behavior to most women. Now let's turn the tables and pretend that instead of this being a woman in the story, pretend it's your soul-mate. OUCH! The story suddenly takes on an ugliness that you probably didn't recognize a moment ago doesn't it? 

It's as if today people forget that they're married ... Or just plain don't care! Many people behave this way in the very presence of their mate. Guess what ... Jesus is right there watching, no matter who is present or absent.

It may still seem normal to you, or no big deal, because it is so commonplace, but one day, when you become sensitive to God's will for you as a woman ... For ALL women ... You will realize just how heart wrenching it is to your Father. (Oh yeah, and did I mention, you're a prospective Bride for His Son?!)

Remember, this is just a scenario of a "happy hour". You also know very well what goes on during the girl's night out, etc. You know yourself that you've even seen women at the grocery store behave in such a manner that it makes one ashamed to be a woman. The world has taught them such. Pray for them.

I know, I know ... You can't help but think that I'm just a little too cynical about the world and it's effect on people. You might think I need to take a chill pill or to "get with the times," ... be a "Today's woman," but the times, and being a today's woman are exactly what scares me for this generation. 

You know, it starts at a very young age, too. I've just given you a scenario involving an adult woman, but what about girls in their teens or pre-teen years. What do you think they're doing at slumber parties in this decade? Are they going on scavenger hunts to find a paper clip and a bobby pin and a 1982 penny, and playing scrabble, and croquet, and eating pizza and popcorn ... Or are they playing Truth or Dare, and inviting boys over to play Spin the Bottle, and sneaking out to get a tattoo or a piercing, or alcoholic beverages or worse? 

And where is their supervision?

 They had to get these new ideas from somewhere ... Where do you think they came from? 
(Answer: The world.) When little girls are three, four, five years old, they don't think about those kind of things. You go ahead and ponder on it for a while. Okaaaaaaay, I'll help you ponder on it. 

VIRTUE IS NATURAL

Think back to when you were a little girl again. I'm talking about as far back as you can possibly remember, like when you were a toddler, up until the time when you were introduced to the world, regularly. Normally this is when a child goes to day care, pre-school, or kindergarten. 

If you take a look at your innocent age, you probably had a little dolly that you loved and cared for so meticulously ... In fact, you were probably a better mother to that doll than most mothers are to their own living, breathing, children. You probably nurtured that little baby doll with love and tenderness that couldn't be matched by Mother Theresa. You didn't leave that baby out of your sight for a moment. All you thought about, was how to best take care of your baby, your pretend house, and all that went with it. You had virtue like nobody's business. In fact, if anyone did anything that compromised the virtue of your little world that you were protecting, you better believe, it was going to be challenged by your ferocious toddler righteousness, by golly, and that right quick!

WHERE IS SHE?

Where did ALL those little virtuous women go? I'll tell you where ... Impressed by the world and the things of the world, enamored and enchanted via television, school, friends, big sisters, advertising, etc. They certainly weren't influenced by the Bible, that's for sure. 

She's still in there, you know. Your innocence, your virtue, your strong faith, everything. It just needs polished. Here's a little test you can take, and you probably don't even know you do this, but I'll bet you do. The next time you go to the grocery store and you're standing in the checkout line where a new mother is holding her infant, asleep and swaddled in a blanket on her shoulder, notice that as you look at that picture of what you pretended as a child, you'll find yourself swaying back and forth slowly, as if you were holding that baby yourself. Your head will even tilt to one side and you'll lightly sigh or whisper to yourself, "Awwwwww". It's natural, I'm telling you. It is.

So why don't women follow their natural instincts to be virtuous? Because there is an enemy out there, that doesn't sleep. There is a crafty, tricky, persuader who's enticing words are "smoother than oil" (to steal a phrase that king Solomon used when describing un-virtuous women), and your enemy is persistent as a gnat that will NOT give up.   

The devil sees every instance as an opportunity to attack. His evil offerings will not appear to be bad, but he'll package them with ribbons and bows, and make them look like a gift instead of a curse. He is dressed in a tuxedo, not a red suit with a forked tail, a pitchfork in his hand and horns on his head.

He will try to make you think he and his ideas are romantic, fun, intelligent, captivating, honorable even. Be alert. Be careful how you walk. Use discretion. Walk in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Do not be deceived. He will use whatever means he can to lure you into his deceit: television shows, commercials, movies, books, magazines, billboards, food packaging, newspapers, mail, clothing, dreams, music, thoughts, even Christian holiday gimmicks such as Santa Claus and the Easter bunny. You name it, his purpose is to win your soul away from God, ANY way he can.

How can something as seemingly harmless as Santa Claus and the Easter bunny be the work of the devil? Well, you teach your children that these things, which they can see, are real, then later in life, they find out that they're not. What questions do you suppose arise in their subconscious minds about God and the Holy Spirit, who they can't see, but ARE really real? 

Here comes another one of those old sayings again: