Ahnie's Letter

Installment 2 letter to Ahnie from my talk at Big House

Ahnie,

Your eyes are those of your mom’s and I know they will e trouble some day, so this is why writing this letter to you is important. Like I told your brother, this won’t be the last time we have a conversation, probably we will talk again when you are 18 and I finally let you out of your room. A lot of what I wrote to your brother is equally important for you to be a part of your life. However there is a different dynamic as a Girl and a teen girl in which you are going to have to navigate through and this is what this letter is for.

The first thing that is of the most importance is your pursuit of Christ and not just the Idea of it but actually pursuing and following him. As a family 1 Tim 4:7b-8 needs to be a family verse for us. Pursuing Godliness, I am convinced Ahnie will provide strength and direction for your life, and it will directly influence the type of Guys you attract and how you respond to them, as well as helping you navigate through relationships and your view of them.

You see Ahnie there are a few lies that have been ever more creeping in to the culture of Young Women, that have greatly skewed God’s intended plan, and frankly skewed the way Girls thinks of themselves and what is important to them. Teen Magazines, shows like the Bachelor, Jersey Shore, pretty little liars will teach you that the way to attract attention is by what you wear, what you say, how you treat others, and that true beauty rests on the outside, and not the Heart. Thing is Ahnie if you must decided at a young age or at some point what your source of truth is going to be. Is it going to be those show and magazines or will you look to the bible for truth? Proverbs 31 talks about the qualities of an excellent wife starting in Verse 10-31, some of those qualities are Trust, Grace, wisdom, kindness, and giving are things that men should cherish. Ending with a verse I am sure you will here many times, and I hope that you commit to your heart Proverbs 31:30 “charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the lord is to be cherished.

What the magazines fail to do very well is tell you about the pain that comes form never being satisfied with how you look, the insecurities that build when we chase worldly recognition, or the type of guys that we attract when we live in this world. It’s never enough, there is always someone prettier or more experienced a never ending pursuit that ends in pain and regret. Ahnie God wants you to rest in him, take hold of his scripture; He gives us verses like Proverbs 4:23 which Say “keep/guard your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life” Life and satisfaction comes from pursuing God and the love He Gave us through his Son Jesus.

Now I want to look at purity with you Ahnie, because as much as anything this will be a huge issue in relationships and you preparing your heart for Marriage. As much as Seventeen, Cosmo, Glamour, and Jersey Shore , or what ever Crazy reality show is popular when your 16, I can only imagine, that the way to a man’s heart is through sexual advances, experience and technique. These truths supposedly are reading hearing or watching are nothing but lies for the Devil who is out to destroy God’s intended place for Sex, within marriage.

What message that is not being told you is that there is much more control and power in being modest and pure. The question that you are going to have to answer at some point in your life is whom are you trying to attract, the boy who is lacking in Character, and maturity and only seeking out his own lustful desires? Or are you choosing to seek out a Man of Character and are you willing to hold out as long as it takes until God blesses you with that man? A man that is pursuing Christ will then in return pursue your heart.

Be careful because there will be those out there that will say the right things and do anything to make you cross boundaries that you have. I know this because when I was apart from Christ I was one of those guys and have had to repent of that sin in my life. Here is the deal Proverbs 4:23 talks about guarding your heart, protecting yourself from those guys. 1 Thessolians 4:3-4 tells us not to give in to those temptations and to be able to control our sexual desired. in holiness and honor to God. I know it will be hard and there is a chance that this guy may leave, and that will be hard, but in all reality that is probably a good thing although painful at the time. By taking charge of your modesty and purity the hope is he will honor that and mature in to the man of God you deserve, and if he can’t respect you and leave, tell me and daddy will take care of him.

It will be difficult navigating through dating and relationships, there will be pain but take hold of this advice I once heard, “there will be pain in life, the pain of regret or the pain of sacrifice, my hope and prayer is you choose the pain of sacrifice, because I am convinced that sacrifice in the end will lead to Joy. Even if that sacrifice means you don’t date in high school, or you are single for a long time, God’s timing is much better than our timing. Another quote I read that I really feel is important when you feel like some of your choices or things God calls in purity you feel like you are missing out. “When God prohibits something now, he is not robbing us of Good; it’s most likely he is preserving something for us for a better time”

So as many young Girls do Ahnie dream about your wedding, your marriage, and know that your mom and I will support you all the way through, no matter what. But dream that dream, as big as you want, but in return pursue Christ with all your heart, draw that finish line and hold firm to the decisions you make, hold out for that man of God as long as it takes. You deserve him to come and pursue you and win your heart, and treat you like the women of God you are. Don’t be anxious about when it will happen be sure of God’s timing. Hold true to Philippians 4:6-9 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Lastly remember 2 things I love you more than you know, and Romans 5:8 “God shows his love for us in that while we where still sinners Christ died for us”

Love dad