PURITY – The Will of God

Originally from Jim Phillips, Biblical Counseling Center, Arlington Heights, IL

Patient Wait on God’s timing – it is always perfect (Isaiah 40:31)
Understand God’s purpose/place (Gen. 2:18-24; John 10:10; Heb. 13:4)
Run from lust and temptation (Psalm 101:3; Rom. 13:14; 2 Timothy 2:22)
Intimacy with God first (Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:28-30)
Trust GOD! (Psalm 56:11; 118: 8-9; Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 Corinthians 10:13)
Yield thoughts, plans, actions to God (Jer.29:11; Rom.6:12-13; 12:1)

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 clearly says that God wants us to pursue moral purity in our lives: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality.” For those who are unmarried, it means saving your intimacy for your spouse. For those who are married, it means enjoying God’s gift of intimacy with your spouse alone. Sadly, many people blindly accept the culture’s unprincipled attitudes in this crucial area.

1 Thessalonians 4:5 tells us not to live in “lustful passion” like unbelievers, but in “sanctification and honor.” Paul’s words in verse eight make it clear that this is not a matter of man’s opinion or changing social norms.

When we reject moral purity, we are rejecting God’s loving and protective guidelines for healthy and fulfilling relationships. When we choose to yield to the cravings of our flesh we make ourselves servants of sin unto death (Romans 6:16). When we reject moral purity and buy into the message expounded over the airwaves, we reject God’s good will. When we make our feelings and our pleasure our gods, we assure ourselves of heartbreaking consequences (Proverbs 5:15-23).

Do you want God’s best? Our decision to honor God in this area contributes to a lifetime of enjoying sexual love in marriage as God planned, if He chooses to bring you into a marriage relationship. Sexual purity before and during marriage is the will of God; therefore, it should be the desire and will of every believer.

Ultimately, it is about ownership and worship.
Who owns you? Who are you worshipping?

On the Road: 1st Calvary Baptist

Sunday brought us to 1st Calvary Baptist in Inver Grove Heights. We had a wonderful day sharing a purity message [here] with the moms and teen girls and sharing the ministry. The teens and whole church provided 20 bags of diapers for the Center. Thanks so much for being a blessing!



A family from the church shared their story of parenting 3 children with disabilities and also raising a daughter who had been conceived after a sexual assault. The daughter has been a blessing to the family and a “protector” for her brothers. What a testimony to God’s grace for each moment and situation! Truly a story of taking your challenging circumstances to the Lord in prayer and watching Him work EVERYTHING out for good!

Watch the March for Life in Washington DC right now!

You can watch the March for Life in Washington DC right now!
Click here.

March for Life - St. Paul, MN - January 22, 2011

What a great day! Praise the Lord for opporunities to share the Gospel with people! God allowed some wonderful interactions today, and I was so encouraged that churches sent buses of marchers to the rally.



Silent No More men and women shared our testimonies about how abortion did not help us, but harmed us. Praise the Lord for two new women who spoke out about their past abortions. There are men who also speak out about how abortion has affected them. No matter who you are, it takes courage to share, but the Lord gives grace! We speak out so that others who are hurting in silence will have courage to come forward and receive spiritual help.

If you or someone you know is suffering from a past abortion, man or woman, below are links to helpful, first step Bible studies by Linda Cochrane. If they are helpful to you, I would encourge you to find a good Bible teaching church and connect with people who can encourage you and support you in your spiritual walk.

Forgiven Set Free Post-Abortion Bible
Healing Father Heart Post-Abortion Bible



As the legislative session in Minnesota continues, please be in prayer that our representatives and congressmen and ALL public servants would affirm a culture of life in the legislation they put forward. [Congressman John Kline pictured above.]

For the first time since the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision, the Minnesota House and Senate are controlled by pro-life legislators. They have already introduced a bill that would bar public funding for abortions. This bill would directly challenge Doe vs. Gomez, a 1995 Minnesota Supreme Court ruling that said the state must provide abortion services for low-income women.

MN man accused of trying to kill wife's baby

Information from The Brainerd Daily Dispatch
AITKIN, Minn. -- A 24-year-old northern Minnesota man is charged with attempted murder of an unborn child after he allegedly kicked and punched his pregnant wife in the stomach. Rory Northrup was arrested at his rural Aitkin home last Thursday. He is charged with first-degree premeditated attempted murder of an unborn child and third-degree assault.

The 29-year-old woman reported that Northrup had beaten her. Investigators learned that the woman was pregnant and that Northrup allegedly had threatened to kill her fetus. The woman was taken to a Brainerd hospital.

Aitkin County Sheriff Scott Turner tells the Brained Dispatch he has heard that both the woman and her unborn child are going to recover. Bail for Northrup is set at $500,000 with no conditions or $100,000 with conditions. He remained in jail Tuesday.

Web post: MN man accused of trying to kill wife's fetus

Comment:

Wait a minute! It’s ok for a pregnant woman to pay to have someone terminate her fetus via abortion, but if she is assaulted by someone else, there is a charge of first-degree premeditated attempted murder of an unborn child? When a woman makes an abortion decision, both she and the abortionist “premeditate” (plan to make an appointment, pay money) and “murder” (terminate the life of the fetus). What is the difference?

This is similar to the pregnant woman in Fargo (1992) who was facing “reckless endangerment” charges because she was addicted to smelling paint fumes. Read the New York Times article here. After she was arrested and jailed, she chose to have an abortion (paid for by the state, mind you). After the abortion, the charges of “reckless endangerment” had to be dropped because there was no longer a child in danger.

Are we really foolish enough to not see the hypocrisy in this situation? Neither women or their children deserve to be assaulted by anyone, be it the father of the baby or the abortionist.

Mark your calendars now
for the
2nd Annual Amazing Grace Walk
Saturday, May 7th
Clifton E. French Park
9:00 a.m. - noon

More details to follow!

Great Day at Normandale Baptist!

We had a wonderful time sharing the MWC ministry at Normandale Baptist Church in Bloomington on Sunday. We thank the Lord for churches that speak the truth about life in the womb from the pulpit, openly welcome those who are recovering from the devastation of abortion in their lives, and that also support ministries like MWC which provide peaceful, life-affirming services to individuals in the larger community.

Thanks, Normandale Baptist, for being a pro-life partner! And thanks for giving us Dave Sebald, MWC Board President, and new board member Pastor Chuck Raichert, your pastor!