View of Earth at Night from Space
Don’t Be a Superstitious Christian
So You Think You’ve Married the Wrong Person?
When I saw Roger’s Facebook profile photo, my first reaction, if I’m honest, was that he wasn’t good-looking enough for me. Yet when he sent a message saying I was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, I gave into his invitation for dinner, she says in regret.
“According to a new survey of more than 1,600 divorcees, 49 percent admitted they were worried on their wedding day their relationship would break down, and two-thirds considered leaving their spouse-to-be at the altar.”
“A sixth said they hoped their partner would change after the wedding, while others said they got married in the hope that it would “all work out” in the end.”
Lord, I’m sorry! I married the wrong man. Please forgive me, she cries out in agonizing prayer.
No couple should expect bliss every day and most couples know that perfection is not on the cards. Nevertheless, there are couples who display such deep-seated incompatibility, such heightened rage and disappointment, that most people will conclude that something else is at play beyond the normal scratchiness: they appear to have married the wrong person.
How do such errors happen, in our enlightened, knowledge-rich times? To avoid becoming a “statistic,” try to internalize these 7 insights.
#1. You picked the wrong person because you expect him/her to change after you’re married.
Many Christians may assume that non-believers are more likely to marry the wrong person because they lack God’s guidance in finding their one true love. But not so fast. Unfortunately, the number of Christians divorcing is no lower than that of non-believers.
“Singles today (and most married couples too) are searching for super-spouses that simply don’t exist.”
Movie star Mickey Rooney said, “Marriage is like batting in baseball; when the right one comes along, you don’t want to let it go by.” It sounds good, until you realize that Mickey was married eight times. He must have had a lot of “good pitches” to swing at!
Mickey Rooney has what might be called the “needle in a haystack” view of picking a mate.
But you won’t find a “wrong needle” clause in the Bible that gives you an “out” if you conclude that your spouse isn’t right for you. Instead you’ll find in Malachi 2:15, “Do not break faith with the wife of your youth.”
Surprising to many, the Bible never tells us to find the one God has chosen. It tells us how to live with the person we have chosen. It’s easy to take our thoughts to the extreme when we’re so unhappy. But lets not forget that God says in the Bible says, “Come, let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18). You didn’t marry a mind reader. Don’t fault him or her for that.
#2. You picked the wrong person because you focus more on chemistry than on character.
Many societies portray marriage as a temporary arrangement that can be adapted or forsaken at will. When first looking out for a partner, the requirements we come up with are coloured by a beautiful non-specific sentimental vagueness. All of us are crazy in very particular ways. All too many people say their vows without a real commitment to their spouse or to God.
Marriage is not primarily about finding the right spouse. It’s about being the right person. In his classic work, The Art of Loving, Erich Fromm declares, “To love somebody is not just a strong feeling—it is a decision, it is a judgment, it is a promise.
#3. You choose the wrong person because you do not share common life goals and priorities.
Biblically, a Christian should be looking to marry another believer who shares a similar commitment to following the Lord Jesus. Marriage to an unbeliever should be avoided (2 Corinthians 6:14). So, if a Christian marries a non-Christian, he or she may have indeed married the wrong person.
#4. You choose the wrong person because you got intimately involved too quickly.
“Do you know unmarried couples who attend church, have consensual sex, and may even live together? According to a recent study by the Barna Group,”
The Bible is filled with lots of info about sex, and believe it or not, God thinks it’s a great idea! And why shouldn’t He, He invented it and declared it to be “good.”
Many Christian couples also justify cohabitation with the rationalization that they are going to get married eventually. However, the Bible promotes complete abstinence before marriage. Sex between a husband and his wife is the only form of sexual relations of which God approves (Hebrews 13:4). Sex within marriage is pleasurable, and God designed it that way. God wants men and women to enjoy sexual activity within the confines of marriage.
If you believe Christ died on a cross for your sins and you are trusting in Christ alone for your salvation, Christ commands you to pick up your cross and follow him (Matt. 16:24). Sex outside of marriage is a sin, no matter how a person tries to interpret Scripture otherwise, and every Christian is called to obey God in this aspect of life. Jesus said.
Also consider this, if the Bible’s message on sex before marriage was obeyed, there would be far fewer sexually transmitted diseases, far fewer abortions, far fewer unwed mothers and unwanted pregnancies, and far fewer children growing up without both parents in their lives.
#5. You picked the wrong person because you didn’t put everything on the table.
Let’s start off with the big one. TRUST! When a spouse is persistently and relentlessly lying about dim-witted things, it causes worry and doubts to set up camp. The journey begins like this. A young man or woman identifies the person he or she wants to marry and begins the business of serious courtship. Time and money are no object. They have a worthy goal and are motivated, even if that means telling lies in the process.
“You look as beautiful today as the day I met you.” “Of course you don’t look fat in that.” “I’m not angry.” “I wasn’t looking at her, I was just noticing her boots.”
Legally, all you need for a wedding is a visit to the county clerk’s office, and whatever else your local government requires. Most weddings these days skip the garter toss; many skip the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and some even skip the flowers. But what matters most is that you tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
“If you tell the truth, it becomes part of your past, however, if you tell a lie, it becomes part of your future”. ~ Author Unknown”
Wow does that quote nails it, or what??!!
#6. You picked the wrong person because you use the relationship to escape from personal problems and unhappiness.
In many places in the world, a fantasy is promoted that marriage should meet all our needs—the emphasis being on meeting one’s own needs, not the needs of one’s spouse. However, people that are unhappy when single and expect marriage to fulfil their lives are greatly disappointed as their level of contentment will drop even lower when married. Unrealistic expectations are those demands you make of your spouse of which he or she is incapable of providing.
“When you’re single, you experience a range of contentment from low to high. However, when your married, that range becomes even wider in both directions. Greater contentment—or discontentment.”
God wants to destroy you, not the physical you, but the selfish you. Jesus taught us that if we don’t die to our selfish nature, we will never be able to experience all the blessings that God wants to bestow on us. Well, if there was ever an institution designed to kill the selfish you, it’s marriage. In fact, it is virtually impossible to succeed at marriage if you don’t learn how to let the selfish part of you die.
#7. You picked the wrong person because you did not consult with God
“I don’t think I can do any better. He or she said, It may sound clich, but if you don’t respect and love yourself, it will be difficult to respect and love another person.”
Surely we aren’t destined to fail. So maybe we have misunderstood the will of God. I know that sounds simplistic. Many people claim that is the problem with their marriage. If they could go back and press rewind, if they knew back then what they know now, they would have made different decisions. But remember that God promises us that if we ask, He will give. And while asking, request that the Holy Spirit guide you as your Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6).
How can a person prevent getting married to the wrong person?
The truth is, a successful marriage is not the result of marrying the “right” person, feeling the “right”emotions, thinking the “right” thoughts, or even praying the “right” prayers,
Instead, keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards,” is good advice (Poor Richard’s Almanac, June 1738), but even more helpful is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
Can We Find God Through Nature?
The world began with a story. A spoken word made material through the creator of the universe.
The Lord is good to all people and his tender mercies are over all his works.
All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. Psalm 145:9, 10.
We love to contemplate the character and love of God in His created works.
But what evidences has He given the children of men of His power, as well as of His parental love?
The vastness of the universe gives testimony to God as Creator. The Hubble telescope continues to reveal previously unknown galaxies. Our awesome universe simply astounds us. Under the night sky, King David of ancient Israel asked God:
“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! .When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is a man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”
“All thy works praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee” (Psalm 8:1, 3, 4; Psalm 145:10).
The Suitability For Life On Earth – An Example Of God’s Witness In Nature
- The physical size of the earth is just right to support life as we know it.
- The moon is just the right distance from earth. If it were much closer, tides which are now harmless, would completely submerge the continents twice a day.
- The composition of the atmosphere is about 78 parts nitrogen and 21 parts oxygen, just perfect, as too much nitrogen in the atmosphere would slow down all functions of the body so that death would finally result.
- The atmosphere of the earth also serves a protective blanket to shield us from deadly radiation.
- Water is colorless, odorless and without taste, and yet no living thing can survive without it. Plants, animals and human beings consist mostly of water (about two-thirds of the human body is water).
This Is Not A Coincidence!
It is difficult to believe that all of these things are a series of fortunate coincidences.
To Enjoy Nature, Is To Enjoy God
The prevailing cosmological view during the Middle Ages in Europe was that the Earth was flat, instead of round. However, had our world been formed on a perfectly flat surface the tediousness, lack of variety, variation and the repetitiveness and uniformity would have fatigued the eye and wearied the senses and created a lack of interest, excitement, and eventually dreariness.
Instead, God has dressed our world with hills, valleys, and ranges of mountains. The rugged granite and mountains decorated with evergreens, and valleys with their softened beauty make the world a mirror of loveliness.
We can never be lonely while viewing the grand scenery of nature.
The snow-capped mountain heights, hills, and valleys should be to us as schools in which to study the character of God in His created works. The works of God which we may view in the ever-varying scenesshould teach us lessons of the skill and love of God and of His infinite power.
Those who study nature cannot be lonely. They love the quiet hours of meditation, for they feel that they are brought in close communion with God while tracing His power in His created works.
24 of Bonhoeffer’s Most Challenging Quotes
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor, theologian, spy, anti-Nazi dissident, key founding member of the Confessing Church as well as one of the most influential spiritual voices across the globe for decades. It’s a good thing for the modern Church that Bonhoeffer was determined in his course.
Bonhoeffer grew up amid the academic circles of the University of Berlin, where his father, Karl Bonhoeffer, was a professor of psychiatry and neurology and was awarded a doctorate in 1927 at the age of only 21. He also studied at Union Theological Seminary in New York from 1930–1931. During that time he attended Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem and became deeply interested in the issue of racial injustice.
Bonhoeffer’s involvement in a plot to overthrow Adolf Hitler led to his imprisonment and execution on the 9th April 1945.
More than seventy years after his death, Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s writings on faith, the Church, ethics and the nature of God serve as a touchstone for all of us who seek to understand a Christian’s responsibility in the face of injustice and have gone on to have a profound influence on Western Culture and the legions of Christian thinkers who’ve encountered them ever since. He also remains an important symbol of opposition to Hitler.
Here’s a look back at some of Bonhoeffer’s most powerful quotes.
ON GRACE
“Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”
ON JUDGING OTHERS
“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.”
ON LIFE
“Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is seemingly worthless and the infinite worthlessness of that which is seemingly so valued.”
ON SIN
“May we be enabled to say ‘No’ to sin and ‘Yes’ to the sinner.”
ON JUDGING
“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.”
ON SERVING GOD
“We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.”
ON GOD’S LOVE
“God does not love some ideal person, but rather human beings just as we are, not some ideal world, but rather the real world.”
ON GOD’S WILL
“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.”
ON SERVING OTHERS
“The Church is the Church only when it exists for others, not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell men of every calling what it means to live for Christ, to exist for others.”
ON OBEDIENCE
“One act of obedience is worth a hundred sermons.”
ON EVIL
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”
ON STANDING UP FOR INJUSTICE
“If I sit next to a madman as he drives a car into a group of innocent bystanders, I can’t, as a Christian, simply wait for the catastrophe, then comfort the wounded and bury the dead. I must try to wrestle the steering wheel out of the hands of the driver.”
ON GRATITUDE
“In normal life we hardly realize how much more we receive than we give, and life cannot be rich without such gratitude. It is so easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements compared with what we owe to the help of others.”
ON FOLLOWING CHRIST
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
ON INJUSTICE
“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”
ON PEACE
“There is no way to peace along the way of safety. For peace must be dared, it is itself the great venture and can never be safe. Peace is the opposite of security. To demand guarantees is to want to protect oneself. Peace means giving oneself completely to God’s commandment, wanting no security, but in faith and obedience laying the destiny of the nations in the hand of Almighty God, not trying to direct it for selfish purposes. Battles are won, not with weapons, but with God. They are won when the way leads to the cross.”
ON ‘DEFENDING’ THE BIBLE
“Do not try to make the Bible relevant. Its relevance is axiomatic. Do not defend God’s word, but testify to it. Trust to the Word. It is a ship loaded to the very limits of its capacity.”
ON REAL MORALITY
“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.”
ON PEOPLE
“We must learn to regard people less in light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.”
ON SPIRITUALITY
“When all is said and done, the life of faith is nothing if not an unending struggle of the spirit with every available weapon against the flesh.”
ON FELLOWSHIP
“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists of listening to them. Just as love of God begins with listening to his word, so the beginning of love for our brothers and sisters is learning to listen to them.”
ON PROOF OF GOD
“A God who let us prove his existence would be an idol.”
ON THE FUTURE
“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.”
She’s Interested and He’s Not Pursuing
Houston, we have a problem. It’s a problem that will require all of our effort, courage, confidence and creativity to solve.
Christianity is the largest religion in the world, claiming 2.2 billion of the world’s 6.9 billion people, as of last year and dating is a big deal for most young Christians. However, ask any young woman what the Christian dating scene is like these days.
“Christian men … ugh.” Grim. Impossible. Slim pickings they’ll say.
Young Christian men simply won’t commit, they’ll say and if you’re lucky they’ll call once – never to be heard from again.
And the churchgoing men who are available? Well, there’s a reason they’re single.
“Usually, he respects or admires the godly young woman (or, other people in his Church think he should admire her more), and yet he’s not physically attracted to her. She’s not his “type,” he says.”
So why are all the single Christian ladies having trouble finding single Christian guys for companionship and romance? A plethora of Christian dating websites, books, blogs, advice columns, and magazine articles have surfaced in the last few years, attempting to give Christian young women some helpful tips for snagging a godly man and achieving that much-desired state of wedded bliss.
- Date for at least a year.
- Don’t kiss before you’re married.
- Be careful how much time you spend together.
- Date a bunch of people before getting serious.
- Don’t unless you are ready to move in the direction of marriage.
It’s not terrible advice— waiting until marriage takes work. But here’s the thing: Relationships take work. However, while most Chrisitan ladies have internal regulations in the form of our Spirit inspired convictions and knowledge of the Bible, it does not seem to be enough?
Could it be that we screened all the godly young men out of church as boys?
Probably not entirely, as according to Mark Regenerus, a sociology professor at the University of Texas, young single women in the church outnumber young single men by a three-to-two ratio.
That’s right ladies, you’re not imagining it: there’s a severe shortage of single men in the church. Not just here in the U.S., but also around the world.
“There are almost no men in my country who are following Christ. And French men will not marry a woman whose faith in Jesus is so strong. She is a leper in their eyes.” – Christian woman from France
A young godly man knows he’s a catch – particularly if he’s dedicated to his faith, good looking and works out and there are hardly any other man is his Church. With each week that passes, he’s presented with a congregation full of single women. Most haven’t been on a date in a while. He has his pick of the bunch.
There’s even a joke about the gender imbalance. It goes like this:
“Men in the church are like parking spaces. All the good ones are either already taken, or they’re handicapped.”
Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the supply of young women grows with each passing year.
So whats the solution?
God Will Orchestrate the Love Story
Do you find yourself becoming resentful that God is withholding something from you?
- Still waiting to find the man of your dreams
- Your greatest desire is to have a baby
- You want to experience the joy of being “equally yoked” with a godly husband
Desperation is dangerous because it focuses on self: What I want. What I must have. What I cannot live without. Firstly, if and when the time comes for you to be married, God will orchestrate the love story. But in the meantime, your focus is to be on serving God and pouring your life out for God, not on getting serious about getting married. The timing is up to God, not you.
Singled Out in Church
Secondly, research shows that single men are more likely to attend churches that fit the following profile:
- Large
- Headed by a male pastor who’s bold and outspoken
- Offers intentional male discipleship
- Worship service is done in under 90 minutes
Apart from salvation, there is perhaps a way that the concept “God helps those who help themselves” is correct. We’re not suggesting you switch churches over this issue. It probably wouldn’t hurt to visit another church once in awhile – especially if your church offers nothing for singles.
Also remember that there are actually some Christ-men out there who are praying and hoping for a set-apart young woman – one who is not following after the trends of the culture, or who are not wallowing around in discontentment or on the constant prowl for a guy.
Any pastors who are reading, have you ever stopped to listen, really listen, to the women in your church about how they feel they are treated or perceived?
Any other advice?
What Should Be Different about a Christian Marriage?
You get a lot of advice before you get married.
“Never go to bed angry.”
“Keep dating.”
“Make your partner your first priority.”
“Don’t walk out during an argument.”
“It’s all about communication.”
So why on earth do so many marriages fail?
Reasons Why Couples Break Up
Marriage has gotten quite a bad reputation over the years. The butt of a seemingly infinite number of jokes, matrimony is a source of endless social commentary, gender politics, and governmental debate.
According to recent University of Maryland divorce research, you’ve got about a 50/50 chance of growing old with your spouse. If the statistic did not shock you, the reasons many couples decide to separate will not either.
“The relationship was built more on lust than a true partnership.”
“I wasn’t present.”
“We were together 15 years, I was unhappy for 11 of them.”
“We were co-parents, not lovers.”
“We didn’t choose to work on the marriage, day in and day out.”
“It was like we were on opposite teams.”
“Married too fast”
“Bedroom boredom”
I was a full-time manager in the marriage.
“There was no respect.”
“There was no real intimacy.”
Many people mistakenly believe that most marriages end almost exclusively because of infidelity, however, while this certainly is a major factor, the decision to terminate a marriage is much more complicated.
“Conventional wisdom tells us that those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”
A marriage is a lot like buying a new car. Driving it out of the showroom is bliss. As you cruise off you can hardly believe your luck. Everything feels, sounds, smells and looks perfect. You coast through many months—sometimes even years— of happy driving before the car needs an MOT or service. But like a car, when a relationship eventually breaks down, it’s flabbergasting; you’re left stuck on the side of the road trying to figure out what on earth went wrong and realise that no car or relationship comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Christ-centred Marriage
“Our culture still shapes our thinking and conduct regarding marriage to an incredible degree.”
It’s easy to think that only “other people” get divorced. That your own marriage is somehow immune to heartache, infidelity and fights over who gets the house, car and dog. After all, how many of us would walk down the aisle if we knew for sure that our relationships would end up in divorce court.
Viewing Marriage Realistically
Christian or not, marriage is difficult for any couple to sustain over a lifetime. Life’s trials—the pressure of making a living, of parenting, of resisting temptations to unfaithfulness or selfishness. But Christian marriage offers hope.
“We have to stop asking of marriage what God never designed it to give — perfect happiness, conflict-free living, and idolatrous obsession.”
Christians marriages should be shaped by the cross of Christ, the Word of God, and the Spirit of God.
“Above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’ ” (1 Peter 4:8).
“Her husband ”¦ praises her” (Proverbs 31:28).
“She who is married cares ”¦ how she may please her husband” (1 Corinthians 7:34).
“Be kindly affectionate to one another ”¦ in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10).
“Pray for one another” (James 5:16).
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself” (1 Corinthians 13:4).
Successful marriages don’t just happen; they must be developed.
Serving Our Spouse
Another key component in a Christian marriage is selflessness, as described in Philippians 2:3-4. The principle of humility outlined in these verses is crucial to a strong Christian marriage. If happiness is our primary goal, we’ll get a divorce as soon as happiness seems to wane. With greater awareness of the principle of thought, many marriages can be saved and even strengthened.
Becoming “one” is about more than sex. It requires a level of vulnerability that opens the door for deep hurt. Both husband and wife must consider their partner’s needs before their own, which requires a selflessness that is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells them.
“Focus on your spouse’s strengths rather than their weaknesses.”
“Encourage rather than criticize.”
“Pray for your spouse instead of gossiping about them.”
“Learn and live what Christ teaches about relating to and loving others.”
It is a partnership of love, made richer and deeper through sex. Continue—or revive—your courtship into your married life.
Marriage isn’t always easy and the sad reality is that not all “I dos” end with a happily ever after. However, the primary difference between a Christian marriage and a non-Christian marriage should be that Christ is the centre of the marriage. With a Christ-centered relationship, an other-centered attitude and an unwavering commitment to making it work, your marriage can flourish — just as God designed.
Which of these reasons is most true in your marriage? Please share with me below.
Married to Their Smartphones (Oh, and to Each Other, Too)
Neither Joe or Willy are having an affair. But one of them has found a new object of affection, which has become a new companion and inspires a surprising amount of jealousy among her spouse – its the new relationship buster: the smartphone. “It helps me wake up,” she said.
“Experts say that smartphone use is meddling in our marriages in ways that are sometimes benign, and often forcing couples to address an ever more important question: At what point are we choosing to spend more time with our smartphones than with our spouses? (Christian Marriages, Too)”
Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the warmth and intimacy of marriages are ebbing away with a culture of dings, beeps and buzzes as most people manage everything from bank accounts to fantasy football teams on mobile phone devices.
It’s almost at pandemic levels now. Married or not, most of us sleep with our phones right next to us, pocket them as we go from place to place and think nothing of using them whether our partners are talking or not.
“Therapists say that when a marriage hits a rocky patch, they’ve seen one or both partners hide behind their phones.”
If you’re still reading this article then we can safely assume you know what we’re talking about. The US divorce rate hovers at 40 per cent, but that’s not the whole story. Many sound relationships are on life support. According to a survey by the National Opinion Research Centre.
You’d think this problem would exist only outside the church, wrong.
Pope Francis says most marriages today are ‘invalid’ because couples don’t go into them with the right intentions. This is a disaster for the Church much less society as a whole.
“When a Christian marriage unravels, many questions rise to the surface.”
It’s a shame that most of our relationships are in shambles. However, its time to put down the Smartphone and save your marriage. But how?
1. The first year of marriage is hard”¦really hard.
In an increasingly individualistic, “me” culture, weddings create a potentially dangerous situation for a newlywed Christian couple. If you are empty, broken, or insecure, and you believe a spouse is the silver bullet to your a problems”¦buckle up. The marriage will be bumpy-ride.
Don’t buy the wedding day lie. Marriage is not about you. Take this as a warning”¦the first year of marriage is difficult and you will never be able to enjoy the beauty of marriage if your spouse’s job is to complete you.
In Saudi Arabia, a newlywed husband filied for divorce after his wife stopped his attempts at consummation to reply to wedding messages. Whiles this is simply over the top. Yes, it can be partially about not texting on your wedding night!
We know marriage is hard, but walking away from it will have a lasting impact. Marry a Christian, yes. But maybe go even further and marry somebody with similar passions and dreams.
2. Prioritize Your Partner Over Your Phone
“Marital bliss is fictional, but marital happiness can be a reality.”
This is an obvious point, but it’s still one that most people tend to disregard. Sex is a gift from God. So explore It. Make no mistake”¦God created sex. But through the years, God’s people allowed Satan to steal this gift. Without a fight.
God created sex. If your married, here’s a challenge. Explore sex. Explore the fullness of it and pray for sexual intimacy with your spouse.
3. There is more than one person out there for you.
Marriage is a huge choice, and so is divorce. Soul mates are made”¦not born. We are not sure where this idea of a soul mate originated, but it is false. Maintaining a healthy relationship is more about commitment than perfection. Marriages are complex – they’re filled with compromise, balancing expectations and maintaining a foundation built on trust. A successful marriage is one where you serve your spouse and both of you serve God. You see the closer you get to God the closer you will be to each other.
“The success of marriage comes not in finding the “right” person, but in the ability of both partners to adjust to the real person they inevitably realize they married ” – (John Fischer).
To God be the glory forever. Amen!
Born Again Through the Living and Abiding Word
We are born to make manifest the glory of God. In a moment of grace, a man is changed.
“A transformed life is the greatest of all miracles. Every time a person is “born again” by repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ, the miracle of regeneration is performed.” ’- Billy Graham
Through salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured. The change of heart by which we become children of God is compared to the germination of a good seed sown on good ground. God draws illustrations from nature to help us better to understand the mysterious truths of spiritual life. With all Man’s wit and ingenious, we still can not give life. It is only through the life which God Himself has imparted, that either plant or animal can live. So it is only through life from God that spiritual life is created in the hearts of men.
How Are We Born Again?
“Regeneration denotes a new birth. This new birth has two elements; it includes being born of water and of the Spirit.”
When truth becomes an abiding principle in the life, the soul is “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and reigns forever and ever.” This new birth is the result of receiving Christ the word of God which became life. Then by the Holy Spirit, divine truths are impressed upon the heart, new conceptions are awakened, and the energies that lay dormant are aroused to cooperate with the creator of heaven and earth. Christ was the revealer of truth to the world. By Him the incorruptible seed—the Word of God—was sown in the hearts of men.
God’s Part in the New Birth—And Ours
When God speaks, His words are binding—they’re like an unbreakable contract. He always says exactly what He means, He never lies, and He never says, “Whoops, I’ve changed My mind.” The Word destroys the natural, earthly nature, and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes to the soul as a Comforter. By the transforming agency of His grace, the image of God is reproduced in the disciple; he becomes a new creature. Love takes the place of hatred, and the person becomes like Jesus. Henceforth you are not your own; you are bought with a price.
“Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18, 19.
Through this simple act of believing God, the Holy Spirit has created a new life in your heart. You are as a child born into the family of God, and He loves you as He loves His Son Jesus Christ
What Mother’s Day Is About?
Sunday, March 11, Mother’s Day — called Mothering Day in the U.K. — can be traced back to ancient pagan practices, but it has gone through a lot of changes to get to what we know today.
The Bible does not command us to dedicate a special day to honour our mothers, nor is there anything in the Bible to condemn it.
Today, people celebrate the day by giving gifts to their mothers, including flowers, chocolates, spa breaks, days out, afternoon teas and thoughtful cards.
Mothers Day Is Not Primarily about Being a Mother and Receiving the Honour, but Thanking God for the Mother He Gave You.
Mothers are a gift from God, and every last person has at least one. So Mother’s Day is really a holiday for everyone, a day for thanking God for his goodness in giving us mothers, and an occasion for letting that gratitude play itself out in tangible expressions of love.
As with all issues not specifically addressed in Scripture, we have the freedom to celebrate or not celebrate Mother’s Day, according to personal preference.
We hope you’ll take some time this weekend to pay respects to your mother—or if that isn’t possible, to somebody in your life who embodies the grace and wisdom we associate with godly mothers.
Here are 26 great Christian quotes about mothers.
- “Mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.” – Marion C. Garretty
- “The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.” – Author Unknown
- “If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.” – Stevie Wonder
- “Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother – Author Unknown
- “Do Not Forsake Your Mother’s Teaching.” – Proverbs 1:7-9
- “A mother – when you’re a child she walks before you to set an example. When you’re a teenager she walks behind you to be there should you need her. When you’re an adult she walks beside you so that as two friends you can enjoy life together.” – Author Unknown
- “Motherhood: All love begins and ends there.” – Robert Browning
- “Everything I am you helped me to be.” – Author Unknown
- “Mother’s love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved.” – Erich Fromm
- “Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.” – Author Unknown
- “The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom.” – Henry Ward Beecher, US Congressional clergyman
- “I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars.” – Author Unknown
- “Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” – Jill Churchill
- “A mother’s arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them.” – Victor Hugo
- “A mother is clothed with strength and dignity, laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks her words are wise and she gives instructions with kindness.” – Proverbs
- “Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.” – Lin Yutang, Chinese writer
- “To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power.” – Maya Angelouother’s Day 2017
- “To the world, you are a mother, but to your family, you are the world.” – Author Unknown
- “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my mother.” – Abraham Lincoln
- “The sweetest sounds to mortals given are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.” – William Goldsmith Brown
- “A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” – Proverbs 31:30
- “She’s on duty 364 days a year, so when that special Sunday in May rolls around, give Mom her due respect.” – Author Unknown
- “My mother taught me about the power of inspiration and courage, and she did it with a strength and a passion that I wish could be bottled.” – Carly Fiorina
- “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” – Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President
- “She was of the stuff of which great men’s mothers are made. She was indispensable to high generation, hated at tea parties, feared in shops, and loved at crises.” – Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
36 Reasons Why God is So Wonderful
The glorious work of God is everywhere. The universe is a testimony of the wisdom, the greatness, and the power of our God and his greatness. God always has been, and He ever shall be.
The darker the night, the brighter the stars, The deeper the grief, the closer is God!
According to most philosophers, God in making the world enslaved it. According to Christianity, in making it, He set it free. God had written, not so much a poem, but rather a play; a play he had planned as perfect, but which had been left to human actors and stage-managers, who had since made a great mess of it.
Read, study, ransack, think, speak, listen – and let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us. He is our Father. He is accessible to all who will seek Him.
Here’s a look at 36 major attributes and qualities of God that the Bible teaches.
- “God is a Family.” (Ephesians 3:14-15).
- “God Is Eternal.”
- “God is Holy.”
- “God is Wise.”
- “God is Wonderful.”
- “God Is Righteous and Just.”
- “God is CEO of the Universe.”
- “God is Supreme Lawgiver.”
- “God Is Omnipresent (Present Everywhere).”
- “God was not voted in and he cannot be voted out.”
- “God Bestows His Blessings without Discrimination.”
- “God Is Self-Sufficient and Self-Existent.”
- “God Is Omnipotent (All Powerful).”
- “God Is Omniscient (All-Knowing).”
- “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us..”
- “God in His love always wills what is best for us.”
- “God proved His love on the Cross.”
- “God Is Unchanging or Immutable.”
- “God loves us too much to indulge our every whim.”
- ‘God Is Infinite.”
- “God is Sufficient.”
- “God Is Faithful.”
- “God Reveals Himself in His Word.”
- “God Is True and Truth.”
- “God Is Good.”
- “God Is Merciful and Gracious.”
- “God Is Love.”
- “God is Devouring Fire.”
- “God Is Spirit.”
- “God Is Light.”
- “God Is Triune or Trinity.”
- “God Created the Complete Hierarchy of Angels.”
- “God is Alpha and Omega.”
- “God is God.”
- “God is the Great Healer (Matthew 9:12).”
- “God is Wonderful.”
At God’s command, amazing things happen. And because He is wonderful everything He does is wonderful. Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. The Word of God is an absolute necessity. (For further reflection, see Luke 24:45; Acts 16:14; 2 Kings 6:17; Matthew 16:17; 11:2-6; 11:27.)
Not an Act of God: Phil Robertson Say’s that America is “Focusing on the Wrong Weapon”
A football coach. An athletic director. And young, eager and forward-looking students were killed in the deadly school massacre in Parkland, Florida.
Chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) arrived in Parkland, Florida, within hours of Wednesday’s school shooting that killed at least 17 teens and faculty members.
In recent weeks, this act of terror has served as a catalyst for an army of activists across America to advocate for social change. This includes cries for more government intervention and increased gun laws, however, that surely can not be the answer?
‘It is the gun, it’s the person behind the gun and it’s about helping people before they ever reach that point,’ said a mother whose son died at Sandy Hook elementary
While the rest of the country seems to be focusing on earthly weapons and assault rifles, Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson is redirecting attention to the only weapon he truly believes in capable of stopping murder: the Word of the living God.
My heart is heavy over the school shooting in Florida. Keeping all affected in my thoughts & prayers.
— Melania Trump 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) February 14, 2018
God doesn’t want your thoughts and prayers.
God wants you to know that you are responsible to care for and protect other people. And to take action to do so. https://t.co/T8IL8uKBwm
— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@TheRaDR) February 15, 2018
Phil Alexander Robertson is an American professional hunter, businessman, and reality television star on the popular television series Duck Dynasty. He is also featured on the television show Buck Commander, a hunting program on the Outdoor Channel.
“WE CANNOT PRAISE GOD FOR DIVINE ACTS OF JUSTICE AND MERCY WITHOUT HEARING THE CALL TO IMITATE GOD THROUGH OUR OWN ACTIONS.” —RABBI JILL JACOBS
Robertson says that without Jesus, these horrific acts will continue to occur on the earth. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
At times of tragedy, Christian churches and ministries rally to remind survivors of a God who the Psalms tell us “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
“There are two characteristics of mass murderers: no Jesus, and the work of Satan.” “Satan is the problem.” “The wrath of the evil one is falling upon us,” Robertson adds.
Phil Robertson’s one-minute message may be brief, but like the sword of the spirit, it’s sharp and powerful. Since it was posted on Wednesday, Phil’s video has been watched over 16 million times.
Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister says “Christianity is Europe’s last hope”
BUDAPEST, Hungary, February 18, 2018 – We are living in a day in which most people have a general feeling of hopelessness regarding the future. Under the pall of terrorism and talk of biological, chemical, and nuclear warfare, fear has engulfed our planet.
However, against this pessimistic and fearful backdrop and brushing aside any semblance of political correctness, Hungary’s Prime Minister boldly proclaimed in a national speech that, “Christianity is Europe’s last hope”.
Voters have responded favourably and Orban is a clear leader of all polls.
In a passionate speech, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán addressed his country and the world and warned that European nations which have encouraged migration have now, opened the way to the decline of Christian culture and the advancement of Islam.
Viktor Orban aged 54, stated that his government will reject efforts by the European Union and United Nations to ‘increase migration’ around the world.
Mr Orban claimed Islam would soon “knock on Central Europe’s door” from the west as well as the south.
Orbán started public life as a crusader against communism and attended Oxford University on a Soros scholarship. Soros, who expatriated from Hungary, also funded Orbán’s political organization, the Alliance for Young Democrats.
Although Viktor Orban is popular in Hungary, he is increasingly at battle with mainstream European Union politicians mostly centred on migration, since people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa flooded into Europe in 2015.
Domestically, Orban has successfully reversed an economic slump in Hungary and has controlled its public finances. However, to achieve he has used methods that opposers have labelled authoritarian. However, Eastern leaders, most notably in Poland, have followed his lead.
Today, migration is the dominant theme of the prime minister’s agenda. ‘Absurd as it may sound the danger we face comes from the West, from politicians in Brussels, Berlin and Paris,’ Orban said to loud applause.
At the peak of the migrant crisis, he ordered a double razor wire fence to be built to keep people out of Hungary.
Orban has conflated the issue of immigration with the image of Soros, 87, whose name was used in a tough anti-migrant bill sent to Parliament on Wednesday 14th of February 2018. Soros, for his part, compared Orban unfavourably to both the Nazis and the Communists, saying his rule evoked dark memories from the 1930’s when Hungary was a partner with Nazi Germany.
However, Victor Orban remains firmly committed to his agenda, claiming that Soros and his supports of migration will lose the fight.
‘We don’t think the fight is hopeless, on the contrary, we are winning,’ Orban said. ‘The V4 is firm, Croatia has come around, Austria has turned in the patriotic direction, and in Bavaria, the CSU has created a resistance.’
Mr Orban will seek a third consecutive term in an April election.
When Willpower Fails: How to Build Your Resistance to Temptation
Wise believers determine ahead of time to resist temptation—before it enters their consciousness. If we want to avoid being misled by Satan, our hearts must be preoccupied with the truth of the word of God.
The Word of God will provide our minds with weapons of divine power, to raise up a standard against the enemy. Happy is the person, who, when tempted, finds their soul rich in knowledge of the Scriptures, and who finds shelter from the promises of God.
“Thy word,” said the psalmist, “have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
The Word of God is ever-present in our hearts and minds. “It is written” is to be our foundation.
Those who make God’s Word their counselor already realize the weakness of the human heart and the power of the grace of God to subdue every unsanctified, unholy impulse, thought and temptation. Their hearts are ever prayerful, and they have the constant guardianship of holy angels who excel in strength. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God lifts up for them a standard against him.
There is harmony in the heart, for the precious, powerful influences of truth bear sway. The scripture is a channel of communication with the living God. He who feeds upon the Word will become fruitful in all good works. He will discover rich mines of truth and hidden treasure. When he or she is surrounded with temptations, the Holy Spirit will bring to their minds the very words with which to meet the temptation at that very moment when they are most needed, and they will be able to use them effectually.
We must be better acquainted with our Bibles and commit to memory passages of Scripture in order to close the door to many temptations. Let us hedge up the way to Satan’s temptations with “It is written.” We shall meet with conflicts to test our faith and courage, but they will make us strong if we conquer through the power and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What Does It Really Mean to Be a Child of God?
Becoming more Christlike is the result of freedom from sin. The influence of grace is to soften the heart, to refine and purify the feelings, giving a heaven-born mindset and sense of property.
A Christian cannot be self-exalted, for this is not Christlike.
The world’s Redeemer, the sinner’s saviour says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)
But let us continually bear in mind that the meek and lowly Jesus has the spirit and the ambition of a conqueror. The vast dominions over which God holds sway form no adequate theater for the exercise of His grace, the expression of His love, and the manifestation of His glory.
He who loves the Lord Jesus Christ in truth and sincerity will love those whom Christ died to save, and will eagerly embrace every opportunity to minister of Christ to non believers.
We must look at our lives as sons and daughters of God, as laborers with Jesus Christ, living for a higher purpose. We are representatives of Jesus Christ in character and are to serve Him with our undivided affections. Not only will we reveal the fact that we love God in our actions, but will, in accordance with His holy character, live a pure and perfect life.
We must live in perfection because Jesus is the embodiment of perfection, and the great Center upon whom our hope of eternal life and happiness is centered will lead us to unity and harmony.
The life we now live must be by faith in Jesus Christ. If we are Christ’s followers our lives will not be moved by little actions according to circumstances, envious faultfindings, jealousy, and selfish vanity. These put us out of harmony with the life of Jesus Christ, and we cannot be overcomers if we retain these defects.
When exposed to the unfolding scenes in life, and words are spoken that are calculated to cut and bruise the soul, speak the following to yourself:
“I am a child of God, an heir with Jesus Christ, a co-laborer with God. I must not, therefore, have a cheap mind, easy to take offense, always thinking of myself, for this will naturally produce an inharmonious character. It is unworthy of my calling. The heavenly Father has given me my work to do; let me be worthy of the trust.” Amen
