Bathing Suits: Giveaway

April 15, 2009 204 Comments

Lauren TankiniThis month’s giveaway, with a value of up to $75, and an additional special offer, are featured at the end of this article. Keep reading for details.

Yesterday we discussed the importance of modest swimwear, so today we’re going to get straight to the fun stuff––shopping!

We all know that bathing suit shopping can be stressful––it’s so difficult to find suits that are cute, modest, and affordable. Mall shopping can be discouraging, because those oh-so-cute bikinis are everywhere, tempting us to give into our fleshly desire to fit in, even when we want to do what’s right (Matthew 26:41). So, last year, I decided to avoid the mall completely and try my hand at online shopping! The task of finding a good web-store was very difficult, but I finally found a store and made my selection. The service and bathing suit were both so great that I want to share this store with you so you can possibly enjoy the experience too!

The chore

We all know how difficult it is to find a cute bathing suit that fits well and is affordable. Add modesty to the mix (which I hope we’ll all commit to do), and we’ve just given ourselves a seemingly impossible and very frustrating task! And who wants to order online, right? Buy a bathing suit you haven’t even tried on? Yeah, right! But that’s where, last summer, I proved myself wrong.

The store

Lime Ricki is full of cute, modest bathing suits at a reasonable price. They’re slightly pricier than the $20-per-piece bikinis I’ve seen in the mall, but I guess that’s because you’re paying for the extra fabric on them! The store was started when three sisters got together, frustrated about the lack of swimsuit choices available for themselves and their daughters, and decided to design their own suits. This year marks their third summer in business together, and this is one business that’s continually growing and improving. You can read more of their story on their About page.

Our experience

ss7I liked what I saw online, but I had a few questions about their suits, so I decided to contact the owners, hoping they would help me. Unsure of who to call, I dialed all three listed phone numbers. I received the voice mail at each number, so I left messages. Two of the women called back within the hour, and the third called back that evening. They were all genuinely nice and very helpful. One girl spent almost thirty minutes talking to me, and she helped me to choose a fabric that would suit my age as well as my taste. I chose the Emily Halter Top with their Brown Cinch Skirt, and, as promised, it arrived within the week.

Lime Ricki claims their suits don’t need tugged or pulled on to stay in place, and I’ll admit it, I was skeptical. What bathing suit doesn’t need adjusted often? Apparently, the Lime Ricki suits––even with a three-year-old to chase and carry around, plus other swimming equipment to deal with, I rarely had to adjust my suit.

I like my suit so much that when my cousin Lisa (also the assistant editor) e-mailed me in despair over trying to choose a cute, modest bathing suit for herself, I e-mailed her back with a note that said, “Buy a Lime Ricki suit!” I sent her a link to my favorite suit, the Signature Tankini Top (which was out of stock when I’d ordered), and she hesitantly purchased that top with the brown bottoms without ever trying them on. About a week later, I received another e-mail from her, raving about her new suit! She loved the fact that she could go out and look stylish––and modest––without tugging on her swimwear every five minutes.

Your (possible) experience

Lime Ricki suits are made to last, so there’s no need to buy multiple suits for one summer. If you want more variety, you could purchase one bottom with two tops to save money. To save even more, shop their sale page, which offers pieces for as low as $12.50 each. Many of the suits on Lime Ricki recommend a bottom to go with them, and some of them tell which body type would be flattered in that suit, which is very helpful for online shopping!

Their size chart doesn’t measure by inches, but it is very true to size. I ordered the size the website recommended, and my suit fit me perfectly. The only exception is their brand-new, upscale Key Lime collection (I love the Lauren top with the blue bottom!), which runs a size small, so be sure to order one size larger than normal if you choose to purchase a Key Lime suit.

Be careful to avoid suits that accentuate the bust, and wear shorts or a skirt over regular bathing suit bottoms (which don’t cover more than underwear!) the entire time you’re not in the water.

Giveawayss1

Lime Ricki is giving away a bathing suit to one of our readers!  The winner will be allowed to choose any one top and bottom (excluding the Key Lime collection) or a one-piece. To enter, leave a comment below by Tuesday, April 28, 2009, stating at least one topic you’d like to see covered in this magazine or you could simply let us know which suit is your favorite. You may enter to win the bathing suit for yourself, or to give away as a gift for someone else.

Comments are moderated, so they may take a day or so to appear. Make sure to include a valid e-mail address in your information (this will not appear in the post). The winner, who will be announced on April 30, will be e-mailed with simple instructions on how to claim her new bathing suit. The winner must contact us back within seven days of our initial contact, or the free bathing suit will go to someone else.

Special Offer

In addition to their giveaway, Lime Ricki has generously offered a special coupon code for Pierce My Heart readers! If you purchase an item from their web store by May 15, 2009, you will receive 10% off your total order just by using the coupon code HEART10 at the checkout.

We want to give a special thank you to the owners of Lime Ricki for their generosity!  This summer, have a safe and modest swimming experience.

By Davonne Parks

Visit our Monthly Issues page to see all of our past themes, and visit our April 2009 page to read our entire current issue about caring for God’s creations.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Style Sense Tagged With:

Bathing Suits: Modesty Matters

April 14, 2009 4 Comments

ss2This month’s giveaway, with a value of up to $75, and an additional special offer, will be featured in tomorrows article, so stay tuned!

Last month, we discussed the importance of modest clothing, no matter what the occasion. We’ve also previously discussed modest bathing suits and the topic of mixed swimming. If you haven’t read those articles yet, please take a look, then come back to read the rest of this article!

The definition

While many females try to rationalize why they think it’s okay to wear bikinis in the summer, it’s important to take a true look at what God thinks about the issue. 1 Timothy 2:9: “Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly…” That verse may not sound like much yet, but it’s more loaded than you probably realize. We’re just going to look at one word in that verse. Dictionary.com defines modest as “having or showing a moderate or humble estimate of one’s merits, importance, etc.; free from vanity, egotism, boastfulness, or great pretensions.”

Let’s take a closer look at that definition (click on the links to read the full definitions). As much as we may want to deny it, bikinis aren’t free from vanity, especially since most girls wear them to look good and show off their bodies, or to fit in. Wearing immodest clothing also demonstrates that we’ve chosen to not consider how much this makes guys struggle, which displays a bit of egotism. Wearing bikinis can be considered boastfulness, since we’re showing others that we are glorifying our own bodies by showing them off, and it is also pretentious, since we’re saying––either consciously or unconsciously––that we’re important enough that it doesn’t matter how our suit (or lack thereof) may make others feel.

If that’s not enough…

ss6It would be completely inappropriate for a girl to walk around the mall wearing nothing but her underwear. She’d probably be escorted out by the mall police! Yet, that same girl could walk around outside, just a few miles away from the mall, wearing something that covers the same amount of skin that her underwear covers, and that’s socially acceptable because she’s at a swimming pool.

Think about this––if you were changing in your room and someone walked in on you while you were in your underwear, you’d probably be furious. But, that same person could see you at the pool wearing a suit that covers nothing more than the underwear you were seen in, and somehow that seems okay.

Socially, bikinis are acceptable, but spiritually, what’s the difference between strutting around in a bikini, and wearing underwear out in public? I’ve yet to find one!

If you’re struggling with the issue of wanting to wear a bikini (or any other immodest clothing) this summer, please pray about it and speak to a mature Christian woman who can guide you. You can be stylish while still looking like a Christian, and having someone to hold you accountable for your wardrobe may be just the nudge you need to dress in a way to glorify Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Coming up

Later, we’re going to explore a great web-store that’s full of really cute and modest bathing suits! In the meantime, pray hard about your wardrobe, ask God to convict you of your sin, find a mentor if you need one, and begin thinking about the possibility of wearing a modest bathing suit this summer.

By Davonne Parks

Filed Under: Style Sense Tagged With:

The Great Outdoors

April 13, 2009 Leave a Comment

hh1“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31

Have you ever wondered what the Garden of Eden must have looked like? It was a place without sin, the perfect place God originally intended for us to have. It was cared for by God Himself. How beautiful! I can just imagine the quiet flowing waters, flowers of every kind and color and scent, birds with the most beautiful song. And then sin entered (Genesis 3). And since then, although God’s hand is still in every part of His creation, it has never again been so perfect, so ideal.

This column is called Helping Hands, and this month, rightfully so––we are going to put our hands to work! In many past articles, we’ve been using our talents to serve others; this month, we’re going to serve God by cleaning up His creation. “For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete” (Deut. 16:15).

This month’s project is simple––clean up. That’s it. It doesn’t require back-breaking labor, expensive tools, or money––it just involves what God has already given you––a little time and a little energy. And what better time to get outside and clean up His creation than spring, when the weather is warming and everything is coming alive again?

There aren’t any major procedures to go through for this task. One thing I will mention is that you be aware of your surroundings when setting off to work. Although I recommend gathering a group of friends to do this project with you, it is important that you work in an area in which you are familiar, and that is safe. Make sure you respect people’s property and stay out of restricted areas. Choose a local park, or your neighborhood or a friend’s, and set to work cleaning up during the daylight hours. Not only is this for safety, but also practicality––have you ever tried to clean up trash in the dark?

hh2Very few things are needed for this project, but what is needed is important. Gather several trash bags; if you’re taking a group, make sure each person has one. Also make sure that each person has several sets of disposable gloves. We may be using our hands to serve God, but that doesn’t mean we have to get them messy with stale drinks and chewing gum––gross! The gloves are important because there are a lot of germs and disease, and we need to protect ourselves in whatever ways we can. (Taking some hand sanitizer isn’t a bad idea, either.) If you want to carry a poking stick with you to pick up paper, that’s fine, but not necessary.

And now it’s time to get started. It’s as easy as taking a stroll in the park or a hike on a trail and picking up trash. You can be as picky as you want––any little bit helps. Remember that whether you work for only an hour or two or dedicate an entire day to it, you are doing something that wasn’t being done by someone else. And because this project is so simple, it can be done continuously, whenever you get the chance.

When you’re finished cleaning, or your gloves get too soiled to use anymore, you’ll need to keep your hands protected while taking them off. Here’s how:

Gently peel the glove off of one hand, starting with the wrist. Pull it down over your hand so that it ends up off your hand, inside out. Hold that glove in the other hand and use your bare hand to do the same with the opposite glove, pulling it down over the hand so that it ends up inside out, containing the first glove inside.

Remember that we’re not working to please man, but to glorify God who “…has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands” (Genesis 31:42).

Job well done! Now go treat yourself to an ice cream with your friends––just wash your hands first.

By Lisa Grimenstein

Filed Under: Helping Hands

Earth Day

April 12, 2009 2 Comments

jft5Earth Day is on April 22, and while it is good to take care of God’s creation, just as Adam was to do (Genesis 2:15), we also need to know that God is ultimately in charge of the universe: “Yours is the day, Yours also is the night; You have prepared the light and the sun. You have established all the boundaries of the earth; You have made summer and winter” (Psalm 74:16–17).

Many people are concerned about global warming, and the earth burning up, but the Bible tells us otherwise in Mark 13:31–33: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.” God already knows when the end of the earth will be, and it’s going to be when He decides, not at any other time. The earth was always intended to be temporary, not eternal, so if the earth does get warmer (and I think this past winter proved that the earth is plenty cool enough!), it will still be here until our heavenly Father sends Jesus back.

Humans can do a lot, but we do not have the power to make the earth end. That’s a power that God alone possesses. So, this year, instead of worrying about the earth’s future, rejoice in the One who created the earth (Genesis 1:1), and take care of His creation out of love for Him and what He’s made.

By Davonne Parks

Filed Under: Just for Today

Something New (And Better) For Your iPod!

April 11, 2009 1 Comment

mm1If you’re like me, you love good, clean, positive music, and whenever you find it, you listen to it over and over. But, like any song you really like, it eventually gets over-played. I’m always looking for new music that a young person in Christ can enjoy. However, I found something on iTunes that’s better than any song I’ve ever heard and it’s free!

The Memphis School of Preaching is one of the strongest Christian schools for young preachers that I have ever had the privilege to visit. (A friend of mine attended a training program last summer and I got to visit.) The men who work there are more dedicated to teaching the young men who go to school there than any other staff I have ever seen anywhere. I know that the students are able to get sound teachings of God’s Word, and I know they gain an in-depth understanding of it, as well.

Recently I visited their website and found podcasts! On iTunes, MSOP has 94 lectures available to download to your iPod (again–for free!). I only downloaded about fifteen to start out with; I’ve listened to three so far, each of which has been eye-opening, heart-warming, heart-wrenching, and completely and solidly based on God’s Word. If you have the time (and an iPod)–especially if you are a young person looking for something worthwhile to listen to on your iPod–I strongly recommend you check out the lectures available. I promise you, you won’t be let down.

To download if you already have iTunes:

mm2-go to http://www.msop.org/
-click on “Podcasts” on the left-hand side near the bottom
-click on the “Click Here” beside “Already an iTunes user?”
-choose which ones to download!

If that doesn’t work, you can always:

-open the iTunes store on your computer
-type in “Memphis School of Preaching podcasts”
-click on the logo that appears at the top of your iTunes window
-choose what to download!

By Hannah Smith

Filed Under: Media Matters

Caringly Created

April 10, 2009 Leave a Comment

gg12Caring for God’s creation also involves caring for each other. This month we are going to learn how to sew several items that will bring comfort to people and demonstrate our love for them by using or discovering our own gifts (1 Peter 4:10). These service projects make both those receiving and those giving feel good! It can often lift our spirits when we focus on other peoples’ needs instead of just our own.

These items will be made with a sewing machine and involves very little money. We will be making stuffed bears for children in hospitals (or anywhere), and bibs and lap blankets for elderly people in nursing homes. Several congregations in my area make the bears and donate them to the local children’s hospital. They bring comfort to the little children in the emergency room or those who have longer stays in the hospital.

Getting Started

One idea is to get together with some of your girlfriends and make these items as a girls’ night activity. Meet at the friend’s house––preferably one who owns a sewing machine, or someone else needs to bring one––and get a production line going. Someone can cut out the patterns, another can sew, and others can stuff the bears, if that is your project. You could also do one or more of these projects with your mom or grandma, a sibling, or by yourself since none of them are difficult.

My sister’s congregation made the bibs and blankets for the elderly in the nursing homes. The bibs help the men’s and women’s clothes to stay clean while they eat. Sometimes as people age, they get cold easily, so the lap blankets that tie onto their wheelchairs are very helpful. The bibs are easily made out of new bathroom hand towels. The towels that I purchased were only $2.50 at the neighborhood superstore. The lap blankets are made out of cotton material.

The little bears can be made out of fabric remnants that you may have at home––any material can be used, but cotton works best. I have used fluffy material before, which makes really cute bears. I suggest avoiding silky material as it is difficult to work with.

Project materials and instructions
(Click on photos to enlarge images)

gg7Material needed for the bears:

Bear Pattern
Two square pieces of material, 12 inches x 12 inches
Small pieces of felt to make eyes, nose, and tongue (you can also draw them on with permanent markers)
Ribbon, optional for hair bow or neck tie
Stuffing (Polyester Fiberfill)
Thread to match the materials used
Straight pins and a sewing needle

Instructions:

Pin the bear pattern onto two pieces of material, wrong sides together. Cut out around the pattern. Cut out eyes, nose, and tongue from the felt material. Sew the colored part of the eye to the white of the eye. Sew the tongue and nose onto a rounded, triangle shaped piece of felt. Then sew all facial parts onto the face of the bear. For safety reasons, I recommend sewing them on securely and not using buttons or anything that a small child could choke on if it fell off. Make a small bow out of the ribbon and secure by hand- sewing it onto the bear.

With right sides together, machine stitch around the edges of the bear, leaving part of the outside of one leg not sewn so that you can stuff it. Turn right-side out, and using an eraser end of a pencil, stuff with the Polyester Fiberfill. Then hand stitch the opening.

gg5Material needed for bibs:

1 new hand towel
bias tape
thread to match
Velcro

Instructions:

Cut a deep circle from one end of the towel, being sure to keep the two ends large enough to attach the Velcro (see picture). Pin bias tape to area just cut. Machine stitch in place. Sew Velcro onto the loose ends, making certain to put the Velcro on opposite sides so it will fasten easily.

gg10Material needed for lap blankets:

2 pieces of material, 1 yard x 1 yard; can be a different color or pattern on each side
thread
yarn – optional

Instructions:

Put the right sides together and machine stitch all 4 sides of material, leaving an opening to turn it right-side out. After turning it right-side out, press with iron, making sure that the seam is turned inward. Machine stitch, width of presser foot, from seam edge. Press again.

Optional: Throughout the blanket, pull pieces of coordinating yarn through with a large sewing needle, tying ends on just one side of the blanket (you will want to do this especially if you make a patchwork blanket). Sew a piece of material or yarn to one end of the blanket so it can be attached to a wheelchair.

A pretty, alternative way to make a blanket is to make it a patchwork blanket on one side. Just cut out whatever size squares you want, and sew them together; proceed as above. You will tie the yarn to each edge of the squares.

If you can’t sew…

These are really simple projects that can make a big difference to someone. And don’t worry if you don’t have a sewing machine––you could make a no-sew tie blanket. Check your local Jo-Anns or other sewing/craft store for kits, or ask an employee for help.

This month, let’s focus on caring for God’s creation––specifically the sick and elderly. No matter how young or old, sick or healthy we are, we all appreciate thoughtful things others do for us. Let’s lovingly give to the ones He loves so much who are often unable to give back (Matthew 25:34-46).

By Carol Gartman

Gifted Girls is featuring cooking next month, so please send recipes or photos of baked goods to Info @ PierceMyHeart .com (remove spaces) by April 28 for use in next month’s article.

Filed Under: Gifted Girls

April 2009 Desktop Image

April 9, 2009 Leave a Comment

If you’d like to have our theme image on your desktop this month, simply click on “standard” or “wide-screen” underneath the photo, then right click on the image and select “set as background.”  Note: laptops are generally wide-screen, and desktops are usually standard images.

Pierce my heart to care for Your creation, Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen…”

desktopapr09thumbnail

April 2009, Edited by Davonne Parks – Standard or Wide-screen

Filed Under: Desktop Delight

True Sacrifice

April 8, 2009 Leave a Comment

jft6“But [King David] replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.’” 2 Samuel 24:24

True sacrifice. What is it? The above verse, one that I only recently discovered, is one that most often sticks out to me in Scripture when I think of sacrifice. In the context of chapter 24, King David, the man after God’s own heart, goes to Araunah to buy his threshing floor to build an altar to God. However, Araunah offers King David whatever he wants for free. This is when David states the above quote.

How often do we really sacrifice something to God? Many times I think that I’m sacrificing something for Him, or for time with Him, when in reality, it costs me nothing to do it. I think it’s important for us to remember that true sacrifice costs us. When the Israelites sacrificed in the Old Testament, they did so of the best of their flocks. One of the greatest tests of sacrifice was when Abraham was told by God to sacrifice his only son. “Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love…. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about’” (Gen. 22:2). Now that is a cost to think about! And, of course, God Himself made the greatest sacrifice so that we might be redeemed to Him. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

I challenge you to think about the cost of spending time with Him and serving and obeying Him. Although I hope we ultimately enjoy serving and obeying Him, He never told us it would be easy. On the contrary, He said that we would often be persecuted and hated for it “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matt. 24:9). Let us all pray that God will work in our hearts to desire to give Him the best we have to offer, whatever the cost.

By Lisa Grimenstein

Filed Under: Just for Today

Strength

April 7, 2009 Leave a Comment

ts2For the topic for this month I decided on something that is very personal and close to my own heart. I decided to talk about the month of April. To you this may just be another month in the year. But to me it is so much more. No, my birthday isn’t this month and there are no special holidays, yet it is still incredibly important to me. The reason I love this month so much is because it is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Every day I will put on a small blue ribbon that represents my pain and my freedom. As a little girl I was abused by my father, and that is my pain; but as a growing Christian woman I have been given my freedom. There are a lot of approaches that I could take when talking about this subject, but what I’d like to do is encourage you and show by example that good can come from evil if you ask God for direction.

Today I am part of a strong, confident, and God-centered family, but we didn’t come this far on our own. It was my mother’s unbelievable strength and faith in God that helped us through. Mama never once questioned us when we first told her what was going on; she trusted us and immediately got the three of us out of that situation. Every now and then I will try to imagine how she must have felt during those difficult times. I imagine fear, confusion, anger, and hopelessness, but when I ask her what it was like she rarely mentions those emotions. She tells me with honesty that yes, sometimes she felt some of those feelings, but she was never hopeless. Instead, she drew strength and comfort from her family and her faith in God, and without their help we would not have been able to get through it all.

ts1Mama passed her strength and wisdom on to her children, and we were able to grow up and have a relationship with Christ despite our past. She taught us that we had nothing to be ashamed of and that we should never, even for a second, think that we deserved to be abused. Our past was something that was always open for discussion, not something we should hide. She helped us see that God loves us and never wanted that evil to happen to His innocent children (Matt. 18:6).

If it wasn’t for my family and their faith in God I probably wouldn’t be writing this article for you today. It is likely that I would have become the typical statistic of an abuse victim. Possibly acting out or running away and doing many things wrong. It wasn’t by luck that I became the content Christian I am today but by God’s grace and healing. It was a daily effort to reassure myself of God’s unfailing love. There was a time, not long ago, when I was constantly angry and confused about everything. I had issues trusting and seemed to doubt others’ sincerity. But one day I came upon a great chapter of the Bible that began my transformation. It changed how I saw my relationship with God and caused me to start trusting Him and looking for His permanent place in my life. Psalm 34 is the chapter that I so fondly remember.

ts3I will not include the chapter in its entirety, but will instead share my favorite verses. “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (4). “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him” (8). “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (18). These three verses are just highlights of the chapter and I sincerely urge you to read the rest of this chapter. It was so amazing the think of God as an everlasting shoulder to lean on. He allows us to give Him our burdens (Matt. 11:28). This was a turning point in my life and made me seeing everyone and everything differently. It didn’t cause me to automatically stop fearing life but it gave me the courage to begin to live. It gave me the courage to look at myself as someone deserving of love.

I hope those words touch your heart and help you to feel loved by God and know you are special in His eyes; after all, the good news is for all of us (Matt. 28:18-20). Those were the words I needed to hear to make me truly understand that God loved me. He doesn’t think I’m ugly, but beautiful. He desires my obedience as well as my happiness. I am His child and He is my Father. There are still times that I cry because of the pain I feel inside but it’s okay because now I know God is by my side. He is with me always (Matt. 28:20). I hope you realize that God wants you to feel the same way and that if you have not begun the right relationship with Him that He will pierce your heart. There is no greater comfort in this world than to know that you can always draw strength from God!

By Shelby Garrett

Filed Under: Tough Stuff

Flirting: Innocent or Not?

April 6, 2009 Leave a Comment

aag1I have a lot of guy friends. We hang out and flirt with each other a lot, even though we’re not dating. One of my friends said that I’m tempting and leading them on. I think we’re just having innocent fun. Who is right?

Coming from a guy’s perspective, you very easily could be turning your guy friends on and sending them the wrong messages. Guys are very visual and respond to touch very easily. In fact, I think guys, as myself, respond to touch much like girls do. For example, if one of your guy friends frequently gave you back massages, you might be likely to want to be closer to him in all the wrong ways. It is very similar with guys when you give them the attention they might be needing and the sensual or sexual touch they might be desiring, even though you think it is innocent and playful. For example, sitting in his lap would definitely be a bad idea, as well as frontal hugging.

You should never let your body get too close, intimately, to another guy’s body. You should keep it pure until marriage, no matter what the cost, even if it means going against your feelings and controlling your flirting and playing. Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”

Self-control is very important here. Whatever you’re thinking may not always be the right thing or the pure thing to do. Think of what pleases God. Pray for discernment. If you think there is any chance your actions or comments could be sending your guy friends the wrong messages or introducing impure thoughts, they probably are. Paul says in I Corinthians 10:32: “Do not cause anyone to stumble.” Therefore, you should control your feelings and spontaneous actions. Think before you act. Consider how much control you have over guys’ thoughts, and keep God’s word in mind when it comes to your behavior with the opposite sex.

It’s fine to have close guy friends who you can have fun with, but remember that your actions and decisions not only affect you but others as well.

By Adam Grimenstein

Filed Under: Ask a Guy
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