The First Kiss

So in two days, I will stand before my groom in front of our families, our friends, and witnessnesses, and we will share our first kiss!

Am I excited? Yes!

Am I nervous? Definitely!

Will it be worth it? No doubt! (that's a big yes!)

People have heard me talk a lot through the years about purity and saving your first kiss for your husband/wife. I've said countless times that I do not believe it is a command from God (saving your virginity IS) but I do believe that saving your first kiss is an honorable thing. A couple of weeks ago, I was sharing my purity testimony with a youth group and I said that we need to begin practicing faithfulness, patience, loyalty, trust, committment, and honor - NOW! It IS attainable. It IS doable. And it IS beautiful! We have been conditioned to think kissing is not a big deal. People kiss on the first date, when they hardly even know the person. Teen shows on Disney channel show young people kissing on dates, and next thing you know, they break up. Yet, if you think about it, kissing is quite an intimate exchange. It’s foreplay that arouses our desire for more. But more often than not, it is viewed as an innocent recreational pastime. So many believe that they can go from one relationship to the next, giving away parts of their body and heart while promising so many great things, and then be faithful to their spouse once they say "I do." But it does not work that way. Committment doesn't happen when you put a ring on your spouse's finger. Committment and faithfulness begins now! Today!

Now, many people take my convictions (and the convictions of others) assuming that it is some sort of rule or law. Quite the contrary. I made the choice alone based on my feelings, my knowledge, and my desires; Not to be legalistic or to prove anything, but only because I felt called of God to go a step farther. There is no such thing as going overboard when it comes to holiness and purity.

Does that make me better than anybody else who has kissed? No way! Absolutely not. We are all sinners and we are all guilty of impurity. We all have certian areas of our lives that are filthy and unclean. And we all, including myself, need to work on cleaning our lives up every single day.

Far too many these days scoff at the idea of going above and beyond the call of duty where purity is concerned. Many agree that abstinence is the way to go, that it's God's way, but then they go ballistic on you and try to give you their "real world" lecture when you mention things like "I'm waiting for Mr. Right" or "I want to guard my heart" OR "I want to save my first kiss!"

**On a side note, It's strange how, the majority of the time, those words come up when you're trying to do all you can do to please God and keep yourself from harms way...from abstaining from the appearance of evil. Odd how people make such a big deal and give you a hard time about doing everything you can to be as far away from temptation as possible. Ironic that they spend their time trying to convince you to LOWER your standards. Anyway....

Throughout my life, friends, family members, and complete strangers have rolled their eyes at me (and dozens more like me) and have laughed at "those poor, sheltered children." They have exclaimed, "That is unrealistc!" I beg to differ. Granted, you will not find the few in bars, clubs, wild parties, dances or in Hollywood. You will not see them in the midst of the popular crowd. But you will find them in that certain group of people who are just....different. You will find them in Churches, volunteering at shelters or nursing homes, active with their youth group, witnessing on the streets - you will find them, but not hanging out with those who live for physical gratification and pleasure. You will usually only find it in those who are laughed at, jeered, made fun of, misunderstood, and misrepresented. Sounds like too high of a price to pay? Well, if you are one of the few, rest assured you are in good company. And FYI - it's worth it!

Those who scoff and say it is unrealistic, I would love to introduce you to my many friends who bask in the "impossible" and glory in the "unattainable." I would love you to meet countless boys, girls, men, and women (of all ages) who, through the grace of God, have gone the extra mile. Those of you reading who are among them, BRAVO and keep it up! :)

Now let me say this....for those of you who have not saved their first kiss, do not be discouraged! As I said before, it is not a requirement of God (although it must never be taken lightly that purity IS a command). Regardless if you choose to save your kisses or give them away (or have already done so), it's not about "right or wrong." It's about a DIRECTION of purity. Some go above and beyond the call of duty, some simply just obey orders. Regardless of who you are or what you chose, STAY PURE - in mind, heart, and body. That's the command of Jesus. I would encourage all to save their kisses, beginning NOW, no matter what has been done in the past. But above all, save yourself! Guard your heart and body. Keep the sacred things sacred. Remember that you, Christians, are a relfection of the Most Holy God. Remember that you are His light, His hands, His feet, His mouth, His love.

              Quotes by fellow nonkissers:

I want my kisses to mean something because with each kiss, I am giving part of my heart away, and I think a lot of times people don't realize that.

I have vowed to save my body, in -all- areas, until I stand by my spouse's side at the altar. Only then will I know exactly who I will marry, thus avoiding throwing away my first kiss to someone I will never marry.

 
I would like to challenge every person to save their first kiss until they hear the words, 'you may -now- kiss the bride'. Don't cheat your future spouse out of their deserved first kiss. And until I find my bride, I will save my first kiss for her. She will be the only woman I kiss....

I am 18 and have never kissed a guy. Purity is refreshing. :) I'm committed to keeping my mind pure as well as my body. It's not old fashioned, it's the way it was suppose to be. Satan has turned the norm into unthinkable in our society...


Leviticus 20:7
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.

1 Peter 1:15-16
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.