All Things New - A Story PART 4 - Purity Challenge

Surprise encounter

     

     On school Monday morning, my backpack isn't the only thing that's lighter. I really do feel better. It's as if God spoke through Ellie at the Valentine's banquet. That message was totally for me.

     I meet up with Kelsey at the lockers and pull out my English notebook.

  

   "Hey, Jordan."

     I turn to find Devin Terrell, looking amazingly beautiful and oozing charm from his every pore.

  

   I'm so over that.

    

 "Hey." I shut my locker and step around him.

    

 "Wait---."  His hand reaches for my shoulder. "Can't we talk?"

    

 I stop and look into his face. "About?"

    

 "I've missed you." a smile hangs on his lips. "I thought we might hang out tonight or something."

   

  I stare into his chocolate brown eyes and see the cute boy I fell for the last few months. "Devin, I---."

     His arms draw me in closer. " We can hang-out at my house. Watch a movie."

   

    "No."

   

     He blinks. "What?"

    Wow. That felt pretty good. "I said no."

    "Are you busy tonight?"

    I start to make up something but change my mind. "Actually I don't have a single thing to do. But even if I did, I don't think 'be a doormat for Devin' would be anywhere on my agenda."

    

    He stands there, mouth wide open.

   "This weekend I was reminded I can have a crown of beauty." I stare him down. "What can You give me?"

    He says nothing.

    "That's what I thought." And I walk away. Slipping my hand into my pocket, I pull out a silver ring. The same one I tossed in the trash a few weeks ago. It slides onto my finger, shining once again. For me, for God and for the guy I'm going to wait for.

    

And his name ain't Devin.

Written by: Jenny B. Jones

Brio mag 2009

The End

Hope you guys enjoyed the story! God bless!

~ Stephanie ~
    *Phil. 3:13-14*

All Things New - A Story PART 3 - Purity Challenge

A Different Message 

“Hey, Guys. Happy Valentines Day!” Her voice is soft but confident.

We all mumble something in reply. Personally I think it’s the dumbest holiday ever created. A day to celebrate love? Look where “love” got me---a broken heart and an arthritic hand from gripping my phone 24 hours a day.

‘My name is Ellie. And tonight I want to talk about love.”

Kelsey and I share a grin. Here we go again.

“I grew up in a youth group a lot like this,” the girl says. “And I know—every year you get to hear someone go on and on about how love is pure, love is patient, and love is kind.”

The guy next to me mumbles a disgruntled amen.

The speaker smiles and continues. “Or maybe how true love waits? Sound familiar?” We all nod our heads. “Or how a guys should treat a girl. How a girl should be Virtuous.”

Yeah, I probably should have taken better notes.

“I don’t want to talk about any of that.” Ellie looks around the room, and for a second I feel her eyes upon me. “All of those things are important, but tonight God laid it on my heart to tell you—you have to love yourself.” She smiles broadly. “How can you love someone else if you don’t even love yourself? There are some of you tonight who don’t like the way you look, the way you act, or maybe you don’t like the way you’ve become. But you know what?”

I find myself leaning in closer.

“God wants to turn your mourning into laughter. He want to trade your shame for joy.” Ellie opens her Bible. “In Isaiah it says he wants to comfort those who mourn. He wants to give you a crown of beauty...Instead of ashes. Beautiful clothes instead of despair.”

I feel a tear slip down my cheek and quickly brush it away. Lady, you don’t know where I’ve been. I don’t really think God wants to give me a pat on the back and a new sparkly, tiara.

“ A long time ago I thought my value was dependent of other people,” Ellie says. “I wanted to please others so badly. I would put everyone else before me---and before God. I wasn’t a bad person. I went to church. I read my Bible. I prayed. But . . . I made mistakes. Can anyone here relate to that at all?”

Me, sister, Right here.

“I got to where I couldn’t even talk to God anymore. I was so disappointed in myself for choices I had made. But you know what? In this same verse, it says that God wants to take away all that despair and ugliness and make us like righteous trees—trees He has planted himself to glorify Him. How cool is that?”

God wants to make me a tree? Um, kinda uncool, actually.

“Do you get it?” Ellie takes the microphone and walks closer to us. “God’s saying, ‘I see that hurt your trying to hide. And I understand. And I’m here to forgive.’ He says, ‘ You know that shame and ugliness you’ve been carrying around? I want to take that off your hands. And in return...Here’s some joy and beauty. Yours for the asking, so you can glorify me.’ “

I clench and unclench the napkin in my hands.

God how is it possible You can see what I’ve done and still just stand there with open arms? I want to give You all this junk. I want my happiness back. I made a huge mistake. But if You’re really willing to take that pain for me, You can totally have it. I don’t want to be the girl that is checking for a stupid guys text every five seconds.

The speaker continues for another 20 minutes, but I just stare toward the floor and finish my one-on-one with God.

Lord, I’m sorry for messing up. Will you forgive me? Thank you for reminding me that You’re going to love me anyway, and I can start new. I don’t want to keep going on like this. You can have my guilt, my tears, my shame. I don’t think I’m going to need them anymore.

Check tomorrow for part 4.....

~ Stephanie ~ 
    *Phil. 3:13-14*

All Things New - A Story PART 2 - Purity Challenge

Tough Entrance

When I walk into the youth building of the church, I feel like I have a big sign on my forehead. One that lists every sin, even the ones I thought about committing this year.

Kelsey squeals when she sees me. “ I knew you’d come!” She pulls me into a tight hug and leads me to one of the decorated tables.

I take my seat beside Kelsey and give a half-hearted wave to the youth pastor across the room. Long time no see.

Without even thinking I reach into my purse and check my phone. No call. No text.

The thing is, I really loved this guy. Or I sort of did. And I thought he really cared for me. But I guess I wouldn’t be myself on Valentine’s Day if he did. Unless he’s playing hard to get. And if that’s the case he’s doing a fabulous job.

The youth pastor leads us in prayer and blesses the meal. I make small talk with those around me as I eat my chicken and potatoes. It’s everything I can do not to text Devin again. How could he just use me and then…nothing? No goodbye, no e-mail, not even a paltry, “I’ve been busy.”

And whom can I tell? Kelsey? She’d be so disappointed in me. I don’t even want to think about her reaction. And God?

Hey, God, you know how you tell us in the bible to save sex for marriage…Um, kinda messed that up. But now that I’ve totally ticked you off, I’d like some help and support, please!

Right, not happening.

Sometime later I push away my chocolate cheesecake with a groan. I can’t eat another bite. The dessert alone might of made it worth coming tonight, though I have to hold a eye roll as the guest speaker takes the podium. Every year we do the same thing---dinner, some one comes and yammers about the true meaning of love, followed by 45 minutes of awkward mingling.

I rest my napkin in my lap as a petite blonde girl introduces herself. She looks a few years older then I. Maybe college age.

Check tomorrow for part 3....

~ Stephanie ~ 
    *Phil. 3:13-14*

All Things New - A Story PART 1 - Purity Challenge

All Things New~ Second chances are NOT over-rated

A Valentine Story~ By Jenny B. Jones 

I check my phone for a text message or missed call. That would be the millionth time today. The count would be higher, but I took a short break for lunch.

I stare at the ceiling and sigh as my mom sweeps into my room.

“Look what I found in the bottom of the trash can.” She holds up a small silver ring and smiles. “That was close, huh?”

With a laundry basket on her hip, Mom places the ring on my bedside table, runs her hand over my hair and disappears.

I stare at the silver object until it’s a blur in my vision.

This ring didn’t accidentally walk to the trashcan. It didn’t accidentally fall into the trashcan. O threw it in there. Weeks ago. Though obviously not very well.

There seem to be a lot of things I don’t succeed at. Like boys. And relationships. And commitments. And that whole purity business.

My name is Jordan Spencer, and the only thing I do well these days is make mistakes. And for some mistakes, there’s no going back. Putting that Purity ring back on my hand will not make things better, will not erase the events of my sophomore year. Won’t erase the pain.

My phone trills, and I answer without checking the display. “Hello?”

“Hey, it’s me.”

My hearts sinks at the voice of my best friend, Kelsey. When am I going to get it in my head that Devin Terrell is not going to call?

“It’s the youth groups Valentine’s Day banquet tonight. You should come with me." I’d rather eat nails. “Thanks, but I have other plans.” Like watching “Gilmore Girls” reruns and feeding my goldfish.

“Jordan, come on. You haven’t been in youth group like all year. Are you honestly going to sit at home on Friday night and wait for what’s his name to call? It’s 4:00pm. Do you really want to be that girl who desperately agrees to a last-minute date?”

Um, yeah. I do. “I’m bust Kelsey, OK?” On top of everything else I have going on, I need to squeeze in some more time to feel sorry for myself. And frankly, that’s exhausting.

My best friends laugh is hollow. “You’ve changed, you know? You went from wanting to conquer the world to spending all your time chasing this guy.”

“I’m not sitting around waiting for him.” I pause, expecting a lightning bolt to crack through my roof and strike me for the lie.

“Prove it then. Come to the Valentine’s banquet with me. We’ll eat, we’ll talk, then totally OD on some chocolate.”

I laugh despite it all. “So tempting.”

And in a way it is. I used to go to the banquet every year and all the other youth group events at the church. But lately, I’ve kinda dropped out. And I can’t say that going my own way has been a ragging success.

“If Devin Terrell calls, it would serve him right to find out you already have plans,” Kelsey says.

And this gets me. She’s right. Maybe if he finds out I went out tonight and didn’t wait around for him, he’d be jealous.

“Kels, I’ll see you there.”

“And you’ll hang-out? And eat chocolate until we barf? And----“

“Goodbye.” I laugh and hang up.

Check tomorrow for part 2...

~ Stephanie ~

   *Phil. 3:13-14*