Chapter Ten- Reserved for One

The Story

"Well, Well. Here is the pitiful little princess coming back from the village," the alligator's cocky voice rang out as he sunned himself on the shore. "Pitiful? Is that what thou thinkest of me?" asked the princess as Victory came to a stop. " I may be an acorn who needs to learn to die, and a rose who must stay closed until the proper time, but you do not need to feel sorry for me. If I could plan my own life, I would choose it to be no other way." "You will continue, then to tolerate your predicament of peril and distress?" questioned the alligator. The princess is confused by what the aligator means by peril and distress and the gator answers that it is the state of all unwed daughters. The gator then smirks.

The princess neither answered or smiled so the gator continued: "When your nonexistent hero does show up, he will think that because you have never been kissed, never been loved, never been swept off your feet, that apparently you are not worth the effort. No one has sought after you before-so why should he? Thou wilt be looked upon as a second-class, unwanted maiden."

"As far as I am concerned, any fellow who thinks that way may just as well go after some other maiden who is more loveable, more popular, more easily caught- and who already has given her heart to a dozen other Prince Charmings," she said stroking Victory's mane. " Listen to me for once," said the alligator in a more serious tone."You say you will be pure-and perhaps you will be, living in this sheltered little prision. But, I tell you, your dreams will be shattered when you learn the magnificent knight hath not done the same. Do you see? You live in a changing world; there is not even one man alive who has saved himself for you. Search the whole world and I guarantee it, you will not find a single one." "Even if you prove to be right, even if no true gentlemen yet exist, I still choose that way of purity. It is not an earthly knight for whom I ultimately save myself, but a heavenly One." "Fine with me. Why should I care?" retorted the gator. "I am going swimminh."

The princess then went inside and sat down on the velvet cushion in her favorite window seat and opened her Bible. The sun shown on itas she opened to Psalms and tried to read but she soon found herself daydreaming of Prince Charming. She wondered if he would ever come, or if the gator was right, or if no godly man exist. Unable to concentrate she closed her bible and went about her normal activities. That night she lie wide awake. Even though she knew the gator was a lier, she could not seem to forget his words, and fearful thoughts about her future floded her mind. Signing deeply and wiping a tear from her eyes, she decided to talk to her parents. Sometimes she felt uncomfortable discussing her struggles with them, but she always felt better afterwards. I'm not going to really go into too mcuh detail because Sarah explains the scenes and what the princess is dressed in. I personally could care less the story needs to finish sometime so anyway she goes to ses her parents and the guard smiles at her (why did that need to be added? because she is so loved?) Her parents have their own quarters and when she got there they were still awake talking (Is this what it is like in the Duggar home when the children come in to share their hearts?) Her parents are wondering if something is bothering her because she was quiet during dinner. The princess tells her parents about the recent chat with the gator. The king says there are many lies from many voices and not to listen to him. Thats what I don't get either. Why does the princess CONTINUE to go to the gator if he is telling her lies? I mean really if she doesn't like her FRIEND the gator sdhe should just stay away. Am I right? The king says something about I Kings 19: 14-18. The princess thinks the liers are hiding because she has not met many knights. The queen tells her not to be discurraged by all the imperfect young men because after all it takes only one to get married. They continue saying the gator is lying about a knight not wanting a pure princess. But I guess a knight does a true gentleman wants to your hear. He does not want a princess to come running up to him and pour out freely. He wants to earn respect and admiration, but you must give him the chance to try.

The queen then says "It is not such a changing world as the gator wants you to believe. Wickedness has thrived since the beginning of history. Young ladies have been trying to chase after boys since the time of Genesis. By their anxiousness, they drive away the very men they would most like to catch. But the ones who are patient-who are willing to be soght after, who are willing to be a rosebud closed until the proper time-they are the most appealing, the most beautiful, the most treasured."

"And it is the same way for the men," her father added. "We must show patience as well. Think of how utterly foolish it would be if one went through the whole garden opening flowers one by one, trying to enjoy the fragrance of all of them, and pulling apart each bud. Would they not be ruined?"

"God created mysery," explained her mother, as she gently pushed back the hair that was falling in the princess's face. "Things must be discovered. The most valuable treasures come through waiting. The mystery is part of the excitement. Many young ladies are far too ready to open their hearts before the time is right." "Wait for the one who will fully appreaciate the gift you have saved for him," the king advised.

"Guard your heart until you find the one to whom it may be wholly entrusted, "The queen added. "Allow your hero the privilege of winning thy hand. In the end, he will value you more." "And remember," said her father, placing his arm around her shoulders, "that you are set aprat, first and foremost, for your heavenly Father-who loves and treasures you more than any knight ever could. Continue to delight thyself in His love."

Sarah's Advice

A Purity So Bright the World Marvels

Sarah tells a story about how her mom said how wonderful it would be to save her first kiss for her wedding day. She wishes she did. So that what Sarah is doing-savig her first kiss for her wedding- just like Josh and Anna. Sarah says that your first kiss is one of the most valuable gifts you can give. Save it. Treasure it.

The Cake

There a story of a cake and someone taking a piece from it... it is now ruined...

Sarah then brings up Proverbs 31:12. She says one of the best ways that you can do good to your future husband today, even if you don't know him yet, is by protecting your heart so that it will be completely his. Your heart is a priceless treasure that you are saving foe one. How will your future husband feel is you have already given pieces of your heart to others and can offer him only a party-eaten cake? (It is not a real cake it is a medafor) He wants a cake baked just for him, not one with pieces missing that others have tasted first. He wants the whole thing-not just part. One day you will long to give him your whole heart-but in order to give it later, you must protect it now.

Emotional Purity

I am putting in a disclamir again. This book is repetitive so excuse me if I do not write out every thought Sarah has but just give you the just. I feel bad but it is nearing the end and I don't want carpel tunnel haha.

Being reserved for one includes not only physical purity but emotional purity as well. This reqires guarding our hearts, our minds, our thoughts, our words, our emotions, and our eyes. It means saving that close, intimate friendship for one man only, avoiding premature emotional attachments, and staying free from the intimate binds that can form so easily, but are painful to dissolve. Emotional purity includes guarding our eyes from those "fun" romantic glances and stares, keeping our hearts from being poured out until the right time, and taking captive thoughts that want torun wild with fantasies and dreams.

Sarah says we see this concept throughout the Bible. Holiness means "being reserved for one." She then goes on to alk about Rebekah reserving her heart for Issac the way the church does for Christ in Genesis 24:16. I'll do the King James Version And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. and then if that made no sense here is the New American Standard Version The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, and no man had had relations with her; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up
Just for your reference.
Emotional Purity is hardly even considered possible in our present society. But think of it this way: How would your future husband feel if he knew that some other guy had known your deepest thoughts, dreams, fears, and emotions? What would he think if some other man had known you even better than he himself knows you? Or how would you like if some other girl had dozons of long, deep, intimate conversations with your husband and knew pratically everything there was to know about him? Sarah says to save all your "firsts" not just your first "kiss". Some girls think casually and think they might be having fun now but how will that affect their marriages later? Her eis a list of some meaningful "firsts" that could happen and should be shared with that special someone:

• First expression of interest


• First words of affection or love


• First gift given or recieved


• First romantic look into his eyes


• First trip together


• First special song, place, event, or memory


• First ring


• First dinner date


• First personal letter expressing emotions


• First "I love you"


• First piece of your heart given


• First serious or ongoing correspondence with a young man


• First special affectionate nicknames or actions


• First kiss
  
  

That is not a list of rules but a list to make you think. Many young people seem to want to get close to the line as possible and still remin pure. But looking atr the big picture of our livesought to motivate us to have the opposite perspective. The question is how much can I save foe him, how many little specialand meaningful "firsts" will I have to share with him? It is not that we are mearly trying to avoid the worst, but rather that we desire to achive the best!

The Gift

Sarah has to continue to drill it in our heads to remain pure so she has this what if story about the king giving you gift that you have to be careful with. You have to give the gift to someone special, at the right time and it is easily damaged. You notice others are not doing what the king has told (the servants no doubt). This other dude is protecting his gift and you exchange yours and it was meant for you two all along. The "gift" is "the first time". It is all the many different assortments of "first times" that are part of a romatic love relationship that God brings together for marriage. "First times" are special, but a "first time" ocurs only once. This gift is also called purity. Purity is destoyed by the premature use of "first times," and with it is lost the very best gift one can ever give a spouse.

Does it Belong to You?

Many young people ask if "such and such" kind of affection is okay. Sarah thinks the question ought to be "Does this affection belong to me? If they are not married, the answer is no. It is not theirs to give or theirs to recieve. It does not belong to them. Sarah asks, "Did you know that we do not own ourselves?" We belong to two individuals: to God and our mate, or our future mate (I Cor. 6:19-20,7:4). She goes on to say kissing a boy is taking something like stealing. stealing a first you are stealing away from future wives and husbands. Deb Her you go this is what she says next The Bible calls this defrauding. (I Cor. 7:1), I Thess. 4:1-7)Defrauding is decieving or taking advantage of someone. Young people do it all the time in their dating relationships. Sarah gfoes on to say "we as young ladies do exactly the same thing. We are flattered when a young man gives us attention and are often tempted to lead him on even when we know we'd never be interested in marrying him. Defrauding can also take place when we dress in a way to get attention for ourselves. We most likely don't intend any harm to guys; we;re simplyy following the patternes of the world. Yet many of the fashions of the world are sensual and immodest. By dressing immodestly and causing him to notice us, we are stirring up desires in him that we are not able to righteously fulfill. This is defrauding. It is selfish. It is the opposite of true love.

The Bigger Picture

We as humans frequently make the mistake of basing our actions on our present feelings than thinking of the future outcome. This can have lifelong consequences. We should step back and look at the big picture. It takes some effort and a lot of patience, but the rewards are worth it.

But Can it Be Done?

Purity is possible! God always gives the power and stength to fulfill His commands. Some people save their first kisses and even their first touch and everyone Sarah has talked to has said "it was worth the wait" Sarah wants to explain one more thing about pupose of purity. She has meantioned the pain and heartache but our goal in life should not be simply to avoid pain. Our primary motivation must be to please God. Immorality os sin. We must have a resolute commitment to purity because God commands it (I Cor. 6:18-20) We will stand before God one day and it should be our deepest desire to please him. The second reason we should desire purity is not to avoid loss, but to achive gain. Of course it's difficult. But think of what you will gain. Imagine the rewards> Here are just two of the incredible treasures attained by purity:

1. The conditions for the best marriage!
   
2. A powerful testimony! In this generation of darkness, you will be a shining example of the purity God intends. Your bright light will not go unnoticed.
   
   

What is I Already Messed Up?

Even if you screwed up all things are possible with God. The God we serve is a God of forgiveness and a God of second chances. He is able to heal the deepest wounds and change the hardest hearts. Many have failed but who have truly and fully repented of their sin are now the ones who have the strongest testimonies and the most powerful life messages to others. I know a number of couples who, despite many past scars, have wonderful marriages today (Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar)

She gives TONS of Bible examples-

1. Woman who was caught in adultery (John 8:1-11)
   
2. Samaritan woman (John 4:39)


3. Mary Magdalene (John 20:1-18)


4. Bathsheba (II Sam.11) (Prov. 1:8; 4:3-4) (Proverbs 31)


5. Rahab (Josh. 2-6)


6. Ruth- Boaz was a descendant Matthew 1:5 part of the royal line
   

She then quotes II Cor. 5-17. I'm sorry I wasn't going to type the 1 1/2 page summary of the stories and her fundamentalist view of it. Sarah says to repent

Tooth Decay

Some crap about tooth decay. I'll get to the point. Sarah suggests you examine your life for any decay that needs to be removed. If you have sin you have been hiding from your parents, confess it.

To be a vessel the Lord can fully use, our relationship with him must be unhindered. We are in a spiritual war. The enemy is prowling around as a hungry lion seeking those he must destroy. We must be on our guard, allow no compromise, and seek His best in every area. Sarah is writing this book believing that you are one who has chosen the way of wisdom. Proverbs exhorts us that it is beneficial to instruct those who are wise because, even though it is difficult, they will be able to relieve instruction and increase in wisdom. The Lord never fails to give us strength.

Make a commitment that from this day forward you will keep yourself pure as a clean vessel of Jesus Christ. He is waiting for you to come to Him. He is ready to forgive and cleanse. He knows the plans He has for you- to bless you and to give you a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11, Rom. 8:32)

Suggested Memory Verse:

"For this is the will of God, Even you sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor" (I Thessalonians 4:3-4)


There is a suggested assignment and a testimony... on to Chapter 11