Everytime I speak of this ministry, the question comes up, "Well, what is virtue?"  Virtue has been defined as a beneficial quality, a commendable trait, and conformity to a standard of right.  All of these are great definitions, but my favorite is, as Webster's dictionary puts it, "a particular moral excellence."  Ahhh...excellence...I love this word (and not just because I am a perfectionist)   There is something to be said of someone with a spirit of excellence.  What does it really mean to have moral excellence though?

Philippians 4:8 says, "...whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things."   Pure, lovely, good report, virtue, praiseworthy.  What are such things?  To live a life of moral excellence, we should live by this very guidline set forth in this verse, but how do we do that?  Think about every minute of your life.  Those cozy moments on the couch with your boyfriend, or at the theater watching that scary movie, are those moments pure and praiseworthy?  That cute skirt that you keep tugging at everytime you step one leg in front of the other...is it causing pure thoughts in those around you?  Oh yes, that matters too.  It's not just what you think or do, it's what you are causing others to think as well.

I know what you are thinking now too, girl, "it's not my fault if he keeps looking!  It is not fair that I can't wear what I want, just because he can't control himself!"   I have been there, thought that, not going back!  Let me put this into perspective for you if you get a gorgeous 2 karat diamond ring, are you going to go hang it from your locker and just leave it there?  It's not your fault if everyone else is jealous of your beautiful ring and can't stop looking at it!  It's not fair that you can't hang your ring on the locker because everyone else can't control themselves!  NO!  That's ridiculous, anyone with any amount of brains knows that if you put something valuable and beautiful out like that, it will get stolen!  You are beautiful and your purity is priceless!  Don't hang it out there for someone to steal!

When getting dressed in the morning, try that skirt on with a cute ruffle underneath it to add some length.  You will be surprised just how adorable it will make your outfit, while adding a trendy new style that others haven't rocked yet and still keeping it modest.   Don't forget, before leaving, bend over in front of the mirror to make sure that nothing is showing (you might need to add some more ruffles). 

Love and Blessings!

Rachel