Chapter Eight- Have a Life Purpose Bigger than Marriage

The Story

We continue the story with the gator and the princess. The gator informs us the princess did not go to the Merchants' Fest but has listened to her fathers old-fashioned ideas. He says he keeps trying to help her out but the princess is never willing to listen. He says she will be eighty years old still sitting around dreaming of her Prince Charming. The princess insists she is not listening to him and will not be governed by fear (but she will be governed by her father?) no matter how many fiery darts the gator throws at her, The princess makes the gator laugh because she is getting feisty. He asks her what she will do since she is not going to the Fest- "sit here and cry?" "I do not know," The princess signed.

Enter the king. He says to the princess (he couldn't help overhearing) her problem is her life is not filled with what is most important so she is falling into despair and self-pity. However, she should take courage for she is doing well. He goes on to say that she only has a short time of singleness life and she should use it wisely. The work she is doing is just as important as the work of the bravest knights in the kingdom only instead of using a sword of metal she uses one of gentle words and helpful hands. She should life up a banner of truth and conviction and it will attract the young ladies of honor. They are the princesses work. She should train the young ladies of the kingdom, the future mothers and wives-the heart, beauty, and soul of the kingdom. She should continue to charge and fight the good fight and not give up when it is hard. She should also persevere and never forget the One who is a rewarder of all who seek him. Okay I have to put my two cents in- this sounds like what Sarah Mally is doing herself- she is teaching the future mothers of the world.

The princess loves her fathers speech and thinks he should tell the whole kingdom. She smiles and says she will try to do as he says because it is truly her desire. She tries to tell the gator about his foolish threats but apparently he disappears whenever the king is nearby. Heck I would leave too and besides maybe the gator had a lunch appointment or something- gators are busy too! Okay sorry I just love that's gator

Back to the story a king's servant comes up and says that a knight is outside requesting to see him. WOW THAT WAS QUICK! The king says he will be happy to meet with him and the servant should escort him to the Great Hall.. The king gives her princess a hug and goes inside to meet the knight who is none other than- Sir Valiant (I really could not see this coming ha ha). I have to add this because I laughed. I don't know why I laughed... anyway. Sir Valiant respectful goes, "My lord, the king" and is on bended knee. I think the king will be impressed by that move. Pretty slick there Sir Valiant. The king is all happy to see the knight and wants to know why he is there. They talk a bunch of Old English and finally get to the point that the kingdom is in trouble because there is two enemies invading the land- a dragon and a giant. But they are no ordinary dragon and no ordinary giant. Sir Valiant is confident the king already knows of them (Then why is he telling the king if the king already knows? Lets read on and see...). I guess they will do great damage. The king who I said before is not the brightest crayon in the box wants to know which dragon and giant. Sir Valiant replies that it is the dragon called Lies and the giant names Temptation. The dragon's very breath is venomous. He lurks from village to village in the darkness, poisoning people with his deceptions. Some get eaten alive. Believing his words, they are straightway snatched in one bite between his sharp teeth. Others are not immediately taken in; nevertheless, sooner or later, because they do not resist him, they are squeezed in the coil of his tail. Many a village hath been set ablaze by his fiery words-coming from the flames of hell. They kindle false concepts in house after house, and as these spread through the village they leave whole families unprotected.

"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" said the king , quoting the eleventh Psalm. Sir Valiant continues to talk about the giant. the giant is ruining entire towns with his lusts. He stirs up men's appetites during the day, and in the evening he swings his club. It is a magical weapon that appears not as a club but as many forms of enticing attractions. At first they are painless, but soon they bring grief, bitterness, guilt, and destruction. Sir Valiant thinks that although he has fought many enemies that the giant and dragon are formidable indeed and he has come for the kins counsel. The king paced back and forth while in deep thought and then spoke. "When the enemy attacks with force, a banner must be lifted up. A standard of truth, a banner of righteousness, a flag calling men to action. A standard to mobilize the men of conviction, the men of God." Sir Valiant replies that the dragon can't face truth and will flee and the giant loves darkness and will retreat from the light. He then says the kings counsel is good. The truth must be proclaimed. Leaders must be trained. Anyone else think this knight is a suck-up?

The king thinks that the knight is a faithful warrior and should be rewarded. The most able knights and squires will be found in the kingdom shall be at his command. Sir Valiant says he will go search out the best in the kingdom. There is this weird paragraph from the king about how he is brave and how he should train young men of the kingdom to be future fathers and husbands- heads of marriages, the foundation of families, and the strength of the kingdom. He says Sir Valiant should fight the good fight. It is pretty much what he told his daughter. This part of the story ends by Sir Valiant replying that the whole kingdom should hear his wisdom and he will do what the king commands.

Sarah's Advice

A Purpose Worth Living For

God does desire for us to be happy, but our focus should not be trying to be happy, but on doing God's will-which brings true happiness.. Don't focus on your own needs but others. AKA The O is J-O-Y.

The Potential of Your Youth

If your single years are spent simply waiting around for Prince Charming, feeling sorry for yourself, and dreaming of being married, your life will be miserable. But if your fays are spent serving the Lord, each day will only get sweeter as you abide in His presence, more joyous as you see His plans for you unfold, and the more fulfilling as you learn that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).

Teenagers today seem to have the idea that the teen years are a time when it's okay to be irresponsible. Many parents seem to expect that these years will be full of problems, rebellion, and struggles. This mindset is completely opposite to what the Lord desires our teen years to be like. She quotes I Timothy 4:12. The years of our youth are some of the most valuable ones of your life. If you catch a vision for how for how much potential these years have for the Lord, you will begin to feel that your life is a race-a race against time to accomplish as much as you possibly can for the kingdom of God. Once the years are gone- they are gone forever. Remember also that your youth will determine your future. The decisions you make now will affect your entire life. Not only are these years valuable, but they are also powerful. The world will often listen to young people more quickly than they will listen to adults. Mature and wise youths stand out in today's culture; They are noticed and their voice is heard. Devote yourself to the work of the Lord and realize your power. They do not yet have the responsibilities of marriage; you have energy; you have time. You will develop diligence. Learn to rise early, to establish good personal disciplines, and to use each minute wisely in order to do as much as you can to further Christ's kingdom! Do not waste this time of singleness! She quotes I cor. 7:34-35. Sarah was 26 when this book was written and she was enjoying her singleness then at 30 she still is. So what about those young girls who never marry? There is no need to fear a life of singleness. Rather, we can be excited to know that if it is God's plan for us to be single, He is calling us to some special ministry for the Lord. Therefore, in that sense, singleness is a gift that is very profitable and fulfilling. Remember also that many who are married are unhappily married. Marriage, in and of itself, is not what gives purpose and meaning in life, but rather fulfillment comes from walking with and serving the Lord.

Run the Race With Perseverance

Run the race for God's glory. Keep doing stuff for others. Time is short (didn't I read that before?") (Heb. 12:1-2, Eph 5:16. Acts 20:24). Have a plan if you don't you won't go anywhere, Don't give up. Fix your eyes on the finish line. She mentions Proverbs 24:10 and I Thess. 5:24 in this paragraph.

Your Life Purpose

Without a purpose in life we wander aimlessly, either allowing slothfulness to take control or finding ourselves "busy" but accomplishing very little. Maybe you are confused about your life and have no idea what the Lord's plan is for you. (isn't this book for pre-teens?). Walk by faith- trusting the Lord with all our heart, acknowledging Him, and knowing He will direct our Paths. It requires obedience on our part. Obey now and you will reap the rewards later. Even though most young ladies want to be mothers. Which is Nobel Sarah says you must have a life purpose bigger than marriage. If you don't, you won't be fully prepared for marriage. Of course, Sarah doesn't mean just any "life purpose". She is definitely not referring to seeking after a career. Our culture, driven by the modern feminist movement, is pressuring us as girls to be successful in the world's eyes, get graduate degrees, be independent, move up in the business world, have small families, and do men's work. This standard of success that the world pushes does not compare to the calling God has for our lives as wives and mothers. God made us to be helpers to our husbands and to bear and train little ones for the kingdom of God. This is far more important and fulfilling than any career could ever be. So what does Sarah really mean by "a life purpose bigger than marriage"? She means that our life purpose must be to serve the Lord, to give our entire lives to Him, and to bear much eternal fruit in order to bring God glory (John 15:8). Unless we are focused on this "great work" (Neh. 6:3) for god, we will never be fulfilled in either singleness or marriage. There are many people God brings into our paths each day who desperately need the gospel, teaching, and encouragement. Purpose to have a ministry mindset everywhere you go. We should minister to people through a tract, a smile, a kind word, a bible verse or a personal testimony

In conclusion to this chapter, here are five main points to remember:

• Your youth can be a productive time. When Jesus was twelve, He was already focused on being about His heavenly Father's business (Luke 2:49)


• Be Successful in singleness, how can you ever expect to be successful in the new trials and challenges that marriage will bring? (Mt. 25:23)


• Ministry will prepare you for marriage. In more ways than you can imagine, serving the Lord now will prepare and equip you one day to be a godly wife and mother.


• Experience in ministry will give you greater discernment. Ministering to others gives you a new ability to discern spiritual needs and develops the wisdom required to understand and evaluate a potential marriage partner.


• Put God's work first and He will take care of everything else.

Suggested Memory Verse: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33)

Then there is a assignment.

Everyone has been waiting for the next chapter- Dreams Must Die. Stay tooned.