Sharing the life changing Gospel message found in Jesus Christ
Tag: Love
Love encompasses a variety of strong and positive emotional and mental states, ranging from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection and to the simplest pleasure.
It convicts our spirit when we know that we’re wrong, and leads to our wanting to confess our sin so that we can be forgiven. Once we repent, the guilt should be lifted. We should feel joy and relief because of the promise that has been made to us and the sacrifice that was made for us, but the enemy will have you caught up in an everlasting guilt trip. It is one of the devil’s most powerful weapons against us and will leave you feeling defeated, unworthy, and low on faith. This sort of condemnation will keep you from spiritual happiness and freedom. It opens the door to depression, fear, and other negative spirits that will only hinder you, your spiritual growth, and your success — exactly where the devil wants you.
I only share with you all the things that I have experienced for myself. Just recently, the enemy had me caught up in a guilt trip. I was unwilling to forgive myself when my God had already done so. Constantly consumed with my mistakes and my sin, I had no time or energy to focus on serving God or the things that fill my spirit with positivity. Feeling so distant from God, I didn’t even feel worthy enough to read the Word, talk about the Word, or share the Word — and I’m sure the enemy loved every moment. But I thank God for keeping me and allowing me to realize that this feeling was nothing more than a lie from the one whose purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy. It may sound extreme to some, but it’s real. Be mindful that there is a fight going on for your life and your salvation. God is fighting for you and when the devil sees that he is losing, he will throw everything and anything in your way to distract you.
Here’s the bottom line: if God can forgive you, then you can forgive yourself. Your past is your past so let it stay there. Be obedient, listen to God, and try not to make the same mistakes; but don’t beat yourself up for being human!
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Have you ever used the words “if only?”I’m sure you have. It’s easy to think that if only your situation was different, then life would be better. You might think, “if only I got a new job, or a new house, had better friends or had better parents, then I would really be happy.”
I’ve learned that oftentimes, God changes us before He changes our circumstances. We are thinking, “if only my circumstances would change,” when God may be thinking, “if only your attitude would change!”it’s time to turn your thoughts around. Don’t allow negative thinking to direct your attitude, or affect how you treat others.
Today, thank God for what He has planned in you. Like the saying goes “bloom where you are planted.”Tend to what God has placed in your hand. If you will focus on what you have, instead of focusing on what you don’t have, then God can bless you, multiply you and lead you into the destiny He has for you!
“The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit”¦”
(Proverbs 27:18, NIV )?
Pray With Me Yahweh, thank You for Your goodness and grace upon my life. Father, fix my attitude so I can deal with my circumstances. God, please turn my thoughts around, so I can focus on what You have placed in my hands. I want to be faithful, knowing that You are faithful. Strengthen my mind so I can be happy no matter what plan You have in store for my life, in Jesus’ Name! Amen. …
In this graduation season, many across the world can’t help but focus on the African American billionaire who paid off the entire graduating class of 2019 student loans. Millions of dollars. Oh how we forget to give God at least the same praise or more, because He gives favour to millions daily. Today’s verse doesn’t say that the glory or favour of the Lord is going to come on you at graduation, or when the economy gets better. No, it says God’s glory is already on you! Hallelujah!
In context the word “glory” in the original language indicates that God’s favour, blessing and splendour is on you in a heavy way. It’s something that is tangible and has weight. Think about it this way: you are not weak; you are heavy with God’s favour. Furthermore You are dripping with God’s goodness. Your attitude should be, “there’s no telling what’s in my future! I am weighted down, not with burdens, not with problems. I am weighted down with the favour of God.” That’s the good news.
Today, when you really understand that you are heavy and dripping with God’s favour, then it’s easy to be heavy and dripping with expectation. It’s easy to believe for big things when you know God has favoured you in a big way. It’s time for you to arise. It’s time for you to shine. Let that sink down into your spirit today, because it’s time for you to arise and shine because His glory, His favour is heavy and dripping upon you!
“Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1, NKJV)
Pray With Me Yahweh, I come to You today with an open and humble heart. I know that Your glory is upon me. I receive Your enormous never ending favour. Father, I thank You for all You have done and will do in my life. God, I thank You for Your anointing power which breaks every yoke, and moves me into freedom and blessing, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.
There are two kinds of prayer – the prayer of form and the prayer of faith. The repetition of set and the customary phrases when the heart feels no need of God, is formal prayer.
We should be extremely careful in all our prayers to speak the wants of the heart and to say only what we actually mean. All the flowery words at our command are not equivalent to one holy desire. The most eloquent prayers are but vain repetitions if they do not express the true sentiments of the heart. But the prayer that comes from an earnest heart, when the simple wants of the soul are expressed just as we would ask an earthly friend for help, expecting that it would be granted – this is the prayer of faith.
The publican who went up to the temple to pray is a good example of a sincere, devoted worshiper. He felt that he was a sinner, and his great need led to an outburst of passionate desire,
“God be merciful to me a sinner.”
Luke 18:13
After we have offered our petitions, we are to answer them ourselves as far as possible, and not wait for God to do for us what we can do for ourselves. The help of God is held in reserve for all who demand it. Divine help is to be combined with human effort, aspiration, and energy. But we cannot reach the battlements of heaven without climbing for ourselves. We cannot be borne up by the prayers of others when we ourselves neglect to pray; for God has made no such provision for us.
The unlovely traits in our characters are not removed, and replaced by traits that are pure and lovely, without some effort on our part!
In our efforts to follow the copy set us by our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall make crooked lines. Yet let us not cease our efforts. Temporary failure should make us lean more heavily on Christ.
The more you pray, the more you will find to pray about, and the more you’ll be led to pray for others.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:12, 13
Pray With Me Heavenly Father, I look up to you in this time of change. Allow me to have the courage to change my life for the better. Allow all my burdens to be risen up to you as I know that You will see me through. Forgive those who have done evil and allow me to do the same. Teach me to love with an open heart and open spirit. Take time for me today to help with all the trials you have set out for me and allow me the strength and energy to follow you. Give me the blessings to find a new home, keep my family together, and bless those who are away, may they be strong and know how much love is out there. Let them know you and I are thinking of them and missing them dearly. Bless me with love, strength, wisdom, health, courage, forgiveness, and a willingness to learn.
Did you know?
Here are five facts about prayer, including survey data on Americans’ prayer habits and historical instances of prayer intersecting with the government:
A Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2014 found that 45% of Americans — and a majority of Christians (55%) — say they rely a lot on prayer and personal religious reflection when making major life decisions. The same survey found that 63% of Christians in the U.S. say praying regularly is an essential part of their Christian identity. In 2014 — in the case Town of Greece v. Galloway — the Supreme Court ruled that U.S. legislative and administrative bodies may begin their sessions with a prayer. On some occasions, however, the high court has rejected other types of state-sponsored prayer. For instance, in 1962’s Engel v. Vitale, the court famously struck down a policy requiring public school students to begin their day with a nonsectarian prayer.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation unsuccessfully challenged the National Day of Prayer in court. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2011 that the group, which aims to promote the separation of church and state, did not have legal standing to challenge the law.
For many Americans, every day is a day of prayer. More than half (55%) of Americans say they pray every day, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey, while 21% say they pray weekly or monthly and 23% say they seldom or never pray. Even among those who are religiously unaffiliated, 20% say they pray daily. Women (64%) are more likely than men (46%) to pray every day. And Americans ages 65 and older are far more likely than adults under 30 to say they pray daily (65% vs. 41%).
A photo of Lovie Hope Duncan reaching out to touch Tubman’s hand in the mural has already racked up nearly 12,000 likes and has been shared about 4,000 times on Twitter, where journalist Yashar Ali shared it May 18. The original photo was posted on Instagram by the account Maiden Maryland.
Sometimes the simple things in life mean so much as evidenced by a child high-fiving a mural depicting the freedom fighter. Awesome.
In the photo, the young girl, named Lovie, can be seen high-fiving Tubman’s extended hand in the painting.
According to the 3-year-old’s grandmother Tracy Kilgore Lynndee, Duncan was captivated by the painting after going on a walk with her grandmother.
Amazing photo
A little girl touches Harriet Tubman’s hand
This is a new mural on the side of the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center.
The original photo was captured by Lovie’s grandma, Tracy Kilgore Lynndee, at a recent visit to the new mural, which was painted outside the Harriet Tubman Museum & Education Center, Cambridge, MD.
“Lovie is only 3. She loves to walk around town with us on pretty days to look and explore,” Kilgore Lynndee told a local NBC station in an interview this week. “When she saw the mural it startled her for a moment because she wasn’t expecting it.”
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) was one of hundreds on Twitter who celebrated the photo.
Such a powerful photo of 3-year-old Lovie Hope Duncan at the Harriet Tubman mural in Cambridge. Can’t wait to visit and see Maryland artist, Michael Rosato’s artwork. Now, let’s make sure we also honor this great American hero by putting Tubman’s image on the $20 bill. pic.twitter.com/FP1OjreZAH– Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) May 21, 2019
In an interview with a viewer, Rosato talked about what he is trying to convey through this mural.
“The inspiration comes from that moment when a slave has to make a decision to go. This incredibly strong and compassionate woman is about to offer that hand for that freedom. And I thought, how do I capture that moment where it all happens, when the risk was taken to run from the slave owner, to a woman taking a risk to bring you through to the other side. This is that special moment when the hand is being offered. She has to be compassionate, but has to assert a certain authority.”
The mural was commissioned by the Dorchester Center for the Arts for the 50th Anniversary of the Maryland State Arts Council. It is a partnership project between Dorchester Center for the Arts, Alpha Genesis CDC, The Maryland State Arts Council, and the Harriet Tubman Organization, with additional support from Downtown Cambridge. As public art it represents a gift to the people of Cambridge, Dorchester County, and beyond.
The Tubman Museum & Educational Center, located at 424 Race Street in Cambridge, MD, is run by volunteers who have been working to share Tubman’s legacy for decades. The museum includes exhibits about Tubman and the Underground Railroad. . The museum is also the site of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Conference, coming up May 31-June 1.
I hate waiting. Nowadays there seems to be queues everywhere. What are you waiting for God to do in your life? One thing I’ve learned is that waiting should not be a passive thing. When we’re waiting, we’re on the lookout, we have expectation. We speak what we are expecting from God. We act like it’s going to happen. We spend time making preparations.
When you’re expecting someone special for dinner; you don’t wait till they show up before you decide to start cooking. Most likely you start early in the day. You make sure the house is clean, you go to the grocery store, and maybe you buy some flowers for the table. You make preparations because you’re expecting someone. Staying focused as you wait with excited expectation.
Today, the attitude we need to have while we’re waiting for God’s promises to come to pass, and our prayers to be answered, is one of excited expectation and preparation. Put your faith to work as you prepare for God’s answer to come. Keep standing, keep believing, and keep hoping because your answer is on the way!
“”¦faith without works is dead.”
(James 2:20, NKJV)?
Pray With Me Yahweh, I choose to put actions behind my faith today. Father, I trust that You are working in my life as I wait for Your promises to come to pass. God, I will wait the right way – with expectancy and without complaining and worrying, knowing that my faith in You opens the door for Your hand to move in my life, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.
When baby birds are ready to eat, they open their mouths wide, believing they will be fed. They expect it. They look for it. They are ready for it. It should be the same way with us. We need to keep our spiritual mouths wide open, expecting God to fill it and satisfy us.
Do you have your mouth open wide? Are you expecting God to fill you and increase you beyond measure? Are you ready for Him to satisfy your needs and desires with good things? Are you ready for new dreams and a divine breakthrough? Pray hard, trust God’s Word, open wide and position yourself for your blessing.
Some of us have spiritually closed mouths. Negative thinking is like closing your mouth. A closed mouth can’t be filled. But Jesus is saying today, “why don’t you take the limits off?” Why don’t you trust and believe Him for supernatural opportunities, and allow Him to fill you?
Today, be like that little bird waiting for food. It isn’t concerned about where the mother is going to get it from. It isn’t concerned about how she’s going to dig it up. No, that bird just opens its mouth wide, trusting and waiting. Why don’t you do the same today? Trust God, open your mouth wide. You won’t be disappointed. God is faithful to His Word, and He will fill you and satisfy you when you put your total trust in Him!
“”¦Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it”¦”
(Psalm 81:10, NLT)?
Pray With Me Yahweh, I come to You today thanking You for sustaining me, and asking You to continue to fill me. Father, I choose to open my mouth wide like a bird, trusting that You Father, will fill me with blessings and opportunities. Even when I don’t understand how everything is going to work out God, I know that You are a good God with a good plan for my life. Fill me with Your peace and patience, as I humbly wait on You, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.
Whiles laws governing abortion continue to be debated in many parts of the world, heated conversations around the issue of abortion has increased in recent months as countries have continued to pass “heartbeat bills” and other laws restricting abortions.
Voters in Ireland removed a 35-year-old constitutional ban on abortion, one of the strictest in Europe.
And in Poland, politicians are making a renewed push to restrict abortion.
From relief to regret: Readers’ experiences of abortion
Celebrities around the world have weighed in on the matter through sharing personal antidotal stories of relief to regret rallying for boycotts, and starting movements championing for and against change on social media.
Children’s lives outside the womb matter just as much as those inside. I won’t pretend I’m fully educated on the policy nuances or women’s experiences. I just don’t seem to hear the voices crying against the murder of children inside the womb, that are crying about those outside the womb.
Lecrae Devaughn Moore
Recently, Christian rapper Lecrae Devaughn Moore took to Twitter Social Media to share his conventions about what it means to be pro-life, arguing that children’s lives inside the womb matter just as much as those outside which prompted ‘amens’ and ‘hallelujahs’ in support across Twitter
Lecrae also admitted that he paid for an abortion in the past which went from being a relief to a lifetime of regret. Lacrae also said:
“I found a photo of the girlfriend I asked to abort my baby and I ‘just broke down”.
Lecrae Devaughn Moore
Lecrae’s public message sparked a wide range of responses, both from those who agree and disagree and felt the comment was completely out of line.
“Haven’t seen the same support for the marginalized communities I’ve served in for 15 years. Most of my friends in urban ministry lack support. They are dealing with the families and societal injustices AFTER the kids are born.”
Many were surprised and grateful when they saw the video clip from Passion Life Ministries on January 9th described as “A conversation with Lecrae, John Piper, and John Ensor on the story behind Good, Bad, Ugly, the remorse of abortion, and the healing of the gospel of Christ.
Lecrae is seen by millions as a relevant leader with a voice worth listening to. John Piper and John Ensor are powerful leaders as well. Both Christian ministers have faithfully spoken out against abortion for years.
In the video, Lecrae shares the meaning behind the lyrics of his song “Good, Bad and Ugly,” which shares his personal experience with abortion. Live Action wrote about this song when it was first released. Lecrae goes even deeper in this new video clip, sharing details of the pain he suffered years after the abortion of his child. Lecrae tells of the time he found a picture of his ex-girlfriend, the mother of his aborted child.
NFL tight end Benjamin Watson also joined in on the conversation and said in response to Lecrae’s comment:
here I am bruh “In the womb, outside the womb, conception to grave count me in. Standing for life does not have to be a mutually exclusive event.”
Benjamin Watson
Watson has also been a vocal opponent of abortion and spoke at the 2017 March for Life.
As a husband and father of seven children (two currently in the womb), the NFL star explained that men should “step up and lead,” which could “eradicate” many of the abortions occurring today.
He added that abortion is “the ultimate form of sexism against women.”
“And that’s a challenge to myself, that’s a challenge to all men who are listening, that’s a challenge to men everywhere to step up and be men.
“A lot of the issues that we face in our country, whether it’s the abortion issue, or education, or whatever it may be, sometimes incarceration, whatever it may be, if men were doing their job, these things would be eradicated.
“My message to men is a lot of times, me looking in the mirror and encouraging myself as a father, as a husband, to do what it takes to stand in the gap, to step out, and to lead, because manhood is really falling by the wayside.
“The crazy thing is that abortion itself is really the ultimate form of sexism against women. And if men were standing up doing what they were supposed to do, much of this would be eradicated.”
The battle between life and choice is being fought one story at a time.
Abortion facts:
Abortion i`s the #1 cause of death for African-Americans. Abortion disproportionally targets minority babies. Whatever the intent of the abortion industry may be, by functional standards, abortion is a racist institution. In the United States, black children are aborted at 5 times the rate of white children and Hispanic children don’t fare much better. Abortion is the leading cause of death among black Americans. We can debate the racial intent of Planned Parenthood past and present, but we cannot debate the results. Abortion is by no means an equal opportunity killer.
Every new life begins at conception. This is an irrefutable fact of biology. It is true for animals and true for humans. When considered alongside the law of biogenesis — that every species reproduces after its own kind — we can draw only one conclusion in regard to abortion: every single abortion ends the life of an innocent human being.
Abortion is more dangerous than childbirth. Among the physical risks of abortion are infection, perforation of the uterus, hemorrhage, cervical incompetence, cancer, and even death. Among the psychological risks are depression, nervous disorders, sleep disturbances, sexual dysfunction, alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders, child neglect or abuse, divorce or chronic relationship problems, and suicide. The Elliot Institute. “Research on the Psychological and Physical Effects of Abortion.” Accessed October 17, 2013.
The 8 week+ unborn baby feels real physical pain during an abortion. Yes, every abortion kills an innocent human being. Even more alarming is the fact that beginning at the 8th week of development, an unborn baby that is aborted feels pain during the abortion. The baby feels both psychological and real physical, organic pain. Let that sink in. Of course, whether or not abortion is a painful experience to the unborn child being aborted, the child is left no less dead as a result. In talking about the question of fetal pain, we must remember that it ultimately has no bearing on the morality of abortion.
70,000 women world-wide die each year from back-street abortions.One in three women in the UK have an abortion in their lifetime.
Abortion has become a form of gendercide, shrinking the global female population at an alarming rate. On top of the fact that every abortion kills an innocent human being, abortion has also become the driving force in eliminating females around the globe. Estimates put the global gender gap somewhere between 100 and 200 million people. Abortion has become the most effective means of sexism ever devised, ridding the world of multitudes of unwanted females.
Around 180,000 abortions a year take place in England. About 10,000 are on women from other parts of the UK including Ireland, where it is illegal. 10,000 are performed in Scotland. Source: Abortion Rights, UK
Women between 20- and 24-years-old are the largest users of abortion services. Source: Abortion Rights, UK
Since being legalised under the 1967 Abortion Act, on average around one fifth of all pregnancies in the UK have ended in abortion.
World-wide, around one quarter of pregnancies end in abortion – nearly half are illegal. Source: Abortion Rights, UK
Almost 90% of abortions take place in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
76% of adults in the UK are pro-choice. Source: Abortion Rights, UK
The NHS is not required by law to perform abortions. Source: Abortion Rights, UK
In England nearly a quarter of women pay for their abortions because NHS services are restricted. Source: Abortion Rights, UK
Abortion on request is the general rule in most European countries and in the US but not in the UK where the permission of two doctors is required. Source: Abortion Rights, UK
In a saline abortion, amniotic fluid is removed from the uterus and replaced with a saline solution, which the fetus swallows. The fetus is killed by salt poisoning, dehydration, brain hemorrhage and convulsions. Saline abortions, typically performed in the second and early third trimester, are rarely used today, due to the risk of particularly serious health complications to the woman. Clowes, Brian, PhD. The Facts of Life. Front Royal, VA: Human Life International, 2001.
Suction aspiration, the most common abortion method, is typically performed at 6-12 weeks gestation, but can be used up to 16 weeks. The cervix is dilated, and a hollow plastic tube with a sharp tip is inserted into the cervix and then into the uterus. An aspirator attached to the tube tears the body of the fetus apart and suctions the pieces through the tube. Willke, John, MD and Barbara Willke. Abortion: Questions & Answers. Cincinnati: Hayes, 2003.
Since the legalization of abortion in 1973, there have been approximately 56 million abortions performed in the United States. Guttmacher Institute. “Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States.” July 2013.
Science
* The average length of a full-term pregnancy is 38 weeks. Obstetricians normally use a figure of 40 weeks, but this is actually the time between the first day of the last menstrual period and childbirth. On average, the first day of the last menstrual period occurs 2 weeks before fertilization.[
* The following scientific facts about human development are organized according to the number of weeks since fertilization. The number of weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) are shown in parentheses.
Fertilization (2 Weeks Post-LMP)
* Fertilization normally takes place within one day of intercourse but can occur up to six days later.
* At fertilization, the genetic composition of humans is formed.[ This genetic information determines gender, eye color, hair color, and facial features. It also influences characteristics such as intelligence and personality.
* The medical textbook The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology states that “fertilization” creates “a new combination of chromosomes that is different from that in the cells of either of the parents,” and this “is the beginning of a new human being.”[
* The four defining characteristics of life are present at fertilization:[
growth
reproductioN
metabolism
response to stimulI
* Genetically speaking, with the exception of identical twins, once a woman conceives a preborn human, the odds against her conceiving the same one again are greater than 10600 to one.[ In comparison, there are roughly 1080 atoms in the known universe.
* Identical twins are biologically unique from each other due to epigenetic differences that affect the expression of their genes.[
3 Weeks After Fertilization (5 Weeks Post-LMP)
* The eyes and spinal cord are visible and the developing brain has two lobes.
4 Weeks After Fertilization (6 Weeks Post-LMP)
* The heart is beating and a circulatory system is in place.[ Specific brain components and internal organs such as the lungs are beginning to develop and can be identified.
7 Weeks After Fertilization (9 Weeks Post-LMP)
* Muscles and nerves begin working together. When the upper lip is tickled, the arms move backwards. The cerebrum has divided into hemispheres.
* More than 90% of the body structures found in a full-grown human are present. The medical classification changes from an embryo to a fetus. This dividing line was chosen by embryologists because from this point forward, most development involves growth in existing body structures instead of the formation of new ones. The preborn human moves body parts without any outside stimulation.
10 Weeks After Fertilization (12 Weeks Post-LMP)
* All parts of the brain and spinal cord are formed. The heart pumps blood to every part of the body. The whole body is sensitive to touch except for portions of the head. The preborn human makes facial expressions.[
11 Weeks After Fertilization (13 Weeks Post-LMP)
12 Weeks After Fertilization (14 Weeks Post-LMP)
* Electrical signals from the nervous system are measurable. After an abortion, efforts to suckle will sometimes be observed.
13 Weeks After Fertilization (15 Weeks Post-LMP)
14 Weeks After Fertilization (16 Weeks Post-LMP)
* The preborn human makes coordinated movements of the arms and legs.[
* The preborn human sleeps, awakes and can hear sounds.[
* For detailed facts about the capacity of humans to feel pain at this stage of development, read Just Facts’ article, “When Do Humans Begin to Feel Pain?”
* Up through approximately this point in time, according to the Supreme Court’s rulings in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, a pregnant woman can abort at will. (More details in the section on Constitution and Law.)
24 Weeks After Fertilization (26 Weeks Post-LMP)
* The blink-startle reflex and taste buds are functional. The preborn human will swallow more amniotic fluid if a sweetener is added to it. The grip is strong enough to hold onto an object that is moving up and down.[ If born and given specialized care, the survival rate is more than 80%.
28 Weeks after Fertilization (30 weeks Post-LMP)
* If exposed to an 85 decibel noise while sleeping (about as loud as a blender), preborn humans exhibit the “motor behaviors that accompany the crying state.”Premature infants born at this time are more sensitive to pain than infants who are born at 38 weeks, and infants who are born at 38 weeks are more sensitive to pain than infants at 3—12 months after birth.[
* If born and given specialized care, the survival rate is more than 95%.[
32 Weeks After Fertilization (34 Weeks Post-LMP)
(Premature infant 3 days after birth)
38 Weeks After Fertilization (40 Weeks Post-LMP)
* Average point in time when humans are born. At birth, the medical classification changes from a fetus to a neonate.[
* At any point prior to birth, according to the Supreme Court’s rulings in Roe v. Wade, Doe v. Bolton, and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, a pregnant woman can abort to preserve her “health.” One example from Roe v. Wade of what may be considered harmful to a mother’s health is the work of caring for a child. (More details in the section on Constitution and Law.)
My mum is a lovely person — she’s kind, fun to be with and very supportive. Se runs fast for a 61-year-old. She’s small – 5.2 ft – and clocks in at just over 100 lbs. She’s been a wonderful mum to me and is a fantastic grandma. My mom is about to turn 62 this year, so here’s 62 REASONS WHY I LOVE MY MOM AND SHE IS AMAZING.
You have always supported me.
You are preceptive.
You persists in prayer at all times.
You keep it real.
You have helped deter me from making bad decisions.
You taught me to dance like no one is watching.
You always find the good in people around you.
You let me follow my dreams and always support everything I want to do.
You cultivated a joyful environment when I was a kid.
You taught me patience.
You show me how to treat a woman.
You taught me how to love myself.
You’re strong and taught me to stand up for others.
When life gets so stressful that I practically forget who I am, your always there to reminds me.
You’re independent.
You’re honest.
You take my call no matter what.
You make me laugh.
You-always tried to give me honest answers to the hard questions.
You’re humble.
You’re selfless when it comes to your children.
You exhibit steadfastness in the Word of God.
Your always my No. 1 fan. Ya!
You work hard.
You taught me compassion.
You had to carry me around for like 9 months.
You took me to church every week so faith would be a part of my live.
You always believed in me.
You are obedient to God.
You make the lives of everyone you touch happier.
You give me a kick in the ass when I need it.
You-always made sure I knew I was loved.
You have showed me how to be the best version of myself.
You always pick me up when I’m down.
You still wake up early just to warm up my breakfast when I visit you.
You have a great taste in music and know how to get a party started.
You have supported me when I didn’t know what I wanted for my future.
You always call me to make sure I’m OK.
You’re always thinking of what’s best for my future.
You taught me humility.
You’re intelligent and direct.
You raised two amazing children.
You let me choose my path in life.
You take your responsibilities very seriously.
You always tell me to be happy and look on the positive side.
You have taught me the power of giving and receiving advice.
You make amazing cakes.
You find fascination in the little things.
You call me silly nicknames.
You give me love but also enough space.
You listen to me when I have problems.
You have shown me what it takes to make a good marriage work from experience.
You embraces a spirit of contentment.
You gave me life and brought me into this world.
You love me just the way I am.
You love me unconditionally.
You taught me to go above and beyond in my career and personnel endeavours.
You trust in God and have kept the faith.
You taught me how to preserve through the toughest of times.
You always try to bring order to chaos in the family.
You generally hold to what is right and are generous as well as lovely and kind.
Most of all”¦ I love you for who you are and who you’ve helped me become”¦ you’re my role model, my mother and my friend. I love you more than life itself and would do anything for you! You’re the best Mom and deserve so much more than I can give you. Happy 62th Birthday!
My mother was crazy about us. And that unconditional love was expressed by helping us to engage in many, many shared, complex, and flexible activities that helped us learn, express ourselves, and play well with others.
Of course there are still many other reasons why our loving, caring, forgiving, and very supportive mothers deserve our love more.
So what are you waiting for? Go and tell your mom how much you love her.
With murders in the UK hitting an all time high, prisons are bursting at the seams, divorce is still over 50% and mental health is growing at an alarming rate. Oftentimes when life has challenges, the natural tendency is to seek comfort in things that are familiar. It may be drugs, work, an activity or relationships; and of course, we all know about “comfort eating.” But those things only bring temporary comfort.
I believe true comfort is only found in a relationship with Jesus. According to Webster’s dictionary, comfort means to give strength and hope; to ease grief or trouble. No matter what difficulty you may be facing today, God wants to bring you comfort. Like a mother cares for her child, He longs to give you strength, hope and confidence.
Today, turn to Him. Receive His love. Let go of things that would hold you back. Let God heal your heart and mind, let Him give you strength and comfort for the road ahead. Let Him empower you to rise up and overcome every obstacle in Jesus’ Name!
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you”¦”
(Isaiah 66:13, NIV)
Pray With Me Yahweh, I come to You today and invite You to fill my whole being. Father, please heal my community. Give me and those that are mourning Your comfort and strength. Empower me by Your Holy Spirit during these challenging times, so that I can live in the victory You have planned for me, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.
When my first son was born I was so happy I couldn’t help but talk about him. Have you ever been so in awe by something that you just couldn’t help but talk about it? Maybe you were excited about a new relationship, a job, or the birth of a child. None of those can compare to what God wants to do in your life. He wants to amaze you with His goodness, and overwhelm you with His love.
He wants to do exceedingly, abundantly above all you could ever ask, think or imagine. He wants to do things in your life that you’ve never seen before. He wants to impact you in such a way that you can’t help but talk about Him. It starts with our faith in God – that’s what opens the door for Him to move and set the blessing in motion in your life. Every person has a measure of faith. God has given us all the ability to believe and receive from Him. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
Today, as you meditate on His Word and receive His promises by faith, you will find that God will move mightily in your life. He would give you blessings way beyond your wildest dreams, and it won’t be long before you just can’t help speaking about His goodness everywhere you go!
“We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
(Acts 4:20, NKJV)?
Pray With Me Yahweh, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life that excite me. Father, I receive Your promises by faith. I choose to meditate on Your Word as I receive Your exciting blessings. God, thank You for working in my life and giving so many wow moments that I just can’t help but talk about them everywhere I go. At all times I will keep my heart and mind open to You, in Jesus’ name! Amen.
“Would it be wrong for a Christian married couple to engage in sex on the Lord’s Day?”
This topic was raised at a bible study last week. They weren’t addressing this specifically, but I decided to see what the internet had to say. A participant raised an issue: “I am struggling with a sin,” he confessed. “I am tempted to have sex with my wife on the Lord’s Day.” Another member said “I feel guilty going to church after having sex, so is having sex before going to church godly or ungodly?”.
The topic is not uncommon, and it raises a diversity of opinions, although little has been published. The word sex is not found in the Bible. The numerous mentions of the word in society, and the world’s tendency to sneer, have given the word a certain amount of notoriety. But God never intended it to be a dirty word.
What does the Bible say on the subject? First, although our title says “Sunday” I thought if anyone has an opinion on this, the Seventh Day Adventists may be more schooled than most in the area of “Sabbath” and found this article:
”¦There are a couple of schools of thought:
(1) Yes it is a sin.
The leading argument against engaging in sex on Sabbath is based on Isaiah 58:13: “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day” (KJV). Since sex is pleasurable, scriptural injunction against engaging in intercourse on Sabbath is seen as obvious.3
Another significant argument against sex on Sabbath is that it is distracting. For this reason, some ministers boast that they sleep in separate beds from their spouse on Friday nights.
Another is that the Bible also says in Exodus 20:8 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
(2) No it’s not a sin.
Social Psychologist and Seventh-day Adventist Preacher Philip C. Willis gives us the answer in detail. Willis say’s:
It would appear that somebody is misapplying Isaiah 58:13 & 14. They take one text and forget Mark 2:28.
Why?
Philip C. Willis then say’s:
The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath!
Now get this. Who made sex? God made male and female and then he told them Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. And on which day did he say this on. At the end of the sixth day and the sixth day is what day? Friday!
So they went into the Sabbath on their honeymoon! And the Bible says they were naked and they were not ashamed. Shame only came with sin. You forget that God made sex for you to enjoy.
You need to understand what God did when he gave us the Sabbath. You need to understand because some of us haven’t learned it yet and we have people who’ve been around for a long time and they don’t know what it is to really enjoy the Sabbath like God wants us to enjoy it.
God says I want your undivided attention so since you’re meeting the king of the universe I want you prepared an hour before sundown. I want all your work done. House cleaning put aside. I want to meet with you. Everybody’s ready to welcome in the Sabbath. You’re there with your Bible and your worship book and the children are singing and everybody’s happy and your wife is looking good and the husband is alert.
The supporters of this view contend that both the Sabbath and Marriage were instituted by God and as such sex is definitely sacred, especially since God only sanctioned sex in the institution of marriage. They further argue that since Adam and Eve were married on the sixth day, God would not require them to wait a whole day before consummating their marriage. A whole book (the Song of Solomon) celebrates the sensuality of erotic love. He understands how it works and knows exactly what it’s good for. He tells us how to use it–and how not to.
Next stop – and the internet is filled with arguments against whether or not it is appropriate to have sex during Lent? However, there was a longer answer on whether a couple could have sex during days of fasting:
“”¦I think we often fail to focus on the one time it is permissible to mutually decide not to have sex: When you have decided to devote yourself to prayer and fasting, for a time, you MAY decide, mutually, to also refrain from sex. To deprive each other, again, mutually. This doesn’t mean you can say to your spouse “well, I’m praying and fasting, so no sex”.
So, if you cannot unilaterally decide that you cannot deprive your spouse of sex, but you may unilaterally decide that you, yourself, are going to pray and fast, then by simple logic, it must be that a couple can pray and fast, and still have sex. So, should Christians have sex while fasting? It’s up to you, together. No one gets veto rights. You have to both agree to not have sex, or else it’s back to business as God intended: frequent and awesome.
But, I want to bring up another point: I think there is a reason why this is the only acceptable time to decide, together, not to have sex. I’ve done some fasting in the past. I once did a 16-day water fast (nothing but water). The most startling thing I noticed: I had absolutely no sex drive half way through it. Seriously, it was gone. I was shocked. I’ve never not had a strong sex drive, for as long as I could remember. In fact, I wrote about it in this post. I think Paul must have known about this. Why else say that every other time that you deprive each other, you are leaving them open to temptation, but during prayer AND fasting, it’s okay? From my perspective, it’s obvious: you’re not as tempted when fasting because your body goes into survival mode. It’s not interested in sex, it’s more interested in surviving until the next day.”
So, in the end, I think you have to decide as a couple. If you are praying AND fasting, have the conversation about what to do with sex.
The article linked in the above excerpt is from Ministry Magazine and offers a lengthy, historical discussion on this topic:
The next stop was a Jewish perspective, sourced at Yahoo Forums:
There is no textual evidence to indicate that sex was forbidden on the Sabbath or the Day of Atonement. Rene Gehring argues that in the Hebrew Bible, sexual intercourse within marriage is not ritually defiling at all.
In Jewish law, sex is not considered shameful, sinful or obscene. Sex is not thought of as a necessary evil for the sole purpose of procreation. Although sexual desire comes from the yetzer ra (the evil impulse), it is no more evil than hunger or thirst, which also come from the yetzer ra. Like hunger, thirst or other basic instincts, sexual desire must be controlled and channeled, satisfied at the proper time, place and manner. But when sexual desire is satisfied between a husband and wife at the proper time, out of mutual love and desire, sex is a mitzvah.
Sex is permissible only within the context of a marriage. In Judaism, sex is not merely a way of experiencing physical pleasure. It is an act of immense significance, which requires commitment and responsibility. The requirement of marriage before sex ensures that sense of commitment and responsibility. Jewish law also forbids sexual contact short of intercourse outside of the context of marriage, recognizing that such contact will inevitably lead to intercourse.
The primary purpose of sex is to reinforce the loving marital bond between husband and wife. The first and foremost purpose of marriage is companionship, and sexual relations play an important role. Procreation is also a reason for sex, but it is not the only reason. Sex between husband and wife is permitted (even recommended) at times when conception is impossible, such as when the woman is pregnant, after menopause, or when the woman is using a permissible form of contraception.
Probably the most interesting answer came from Nigeria. I’ll include the question from a pastor’s wife (implied) and the answer that was given:
Dear Praise, What is your take on a couple having sex before going to church. For instance, I discover my hubby doesn’t like having sex any time we have to go to church or the Saturday before Sunday because he feels it would reduce his anointing. I am not finding this funny at all and it is beginning to look as if I am sent to destroy his ministry by trying to have sex with him. Please what is your take on this matter sir?
Sesi A — Ghana
Dear Sesi, Thanks for your question and the trust you have in us at TheCable to be able to do justice to this issue. I wouldn’t know the paradigm your man is operating with but I have met a number of people with the same beliefs. It is quite common among some religious leaders and it could have been part of the ministerial ethics that they were taught from the Bible school or it could have been borne out of personal revelation.
As a professional counsellor, there is no justification for a spouse’s inability to have sex with his wife except the two of them have come to an agreement to abstain for some time. I am not also sure I have read any passage of the Bible to back up his action.
Having said that, however, I would also want to believe he must have his reasons and since he is a minister as explained by you my humble suggestion is for you to allow him be. If he claims sex before ministration negatively affects his performance on the pulpit would you rather insist he engages in sex and performs poorly?
People are doing the best they can with what they know and until he catches a new revelation you may not be able to change the present one. I’d worry if you had said he starves you of sex but it is looking like the only time he is asking for space is before his spiritual exercise and I’d advice you let him be as long as he is willing to adequately service you after his ministration.
There are several religious taboos that people have and I have learnt to respect people’s choices and decisions because I am not in their shoes and couldn’t have known the motive and the revelation behind some of these decisions. I know pastors who never talk to anyone before they preach because they believe talking drains the anointing. So let’s learn to respect other people’s model of the world so that we can all experience peace. If you can discuss it once again with him to know if there are other reasons behind his abstinence from sex before preaching but should he insist it is a personal revelation I would advise you allow peace reign. God bless and do let us know about your progress.
I tried to get a Catholic perspective and apparently the sex before going to church is a theme in some marriages.
Interestingly a recent survey conducted in the UK asked 2,000 adults when they were most likely to get busy. Their results, reported by the Daily Mail, suggest that the most popular time to get down and have sex is 9am on a Sunday morning, which gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘easy like Sunday morning’!
Concluding observations
The topic of sex on Sabbath is a deeply personal decision that should be prayerfully discussed between a husband and wife. But a general answer to this question would be, yes. It is fine to have sex on the Lords Day (within Marriage). It only becomes sin if it is out of wedlock or before marriage. The very fact that God created humanity as “male and female” reveals that we are created as sexual beings. And God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply” cannot be fulfilled without sex (Genesis 1:28). Sex is a God-given mandate, so there is no way that sex is a sin if done with one’s lifelong marriage partner of the opposite sex. The Song of Solomon follows a loving relationship between a husband and his wife through the betrothal period, wedding night, and beyond. The description of the husband and wife’s pleasure in chapter 4 is discreet yet unmistakable in its meaning. That description is followed in 5:3 with God’s approval: “Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love.”
Why marriage? Isn’t a really committed relationship close enough? Nope. According to the Bible, only the commitment a man and a woman make in the ceremony of marriage counts. Marriage is the only place to experience truly committed love, love that echoes our relationship with God.
That’s the ideal, the dream, as the Bible sees it: total nakedness, total unity, total love, total sexual satisfaction within marriage. Plenty of marital problems parade the pages of Scripture–God is no fool. But the ideal stands above the failures.
On April 16, I get to vote in a new government. Or vote back in the current government. Obviously, not just me. All of Alberta will put an X on the box corresponding to their political party of choice. They will decide if the New Democratic Party will govern for 4 more years, or if the United Progressive Party will rise to power.
I’ve been having discussion, eaves dropping on Twitter rants and feuds, thinking about the issues and who will best handle them since the writ was dropped.
As Election Day nears, I feel more and more compelled to say this to the Christian Church: Return to your first love.
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.”
Revelation 2:1-4
God had something to say to the church, and it was good and bad.
God knew what they were doing. He knew they were fighting the good fight. They were standing up against evil people, men and women that consistently did what was wrong. They did not put up with fake Christians, confessing one thing but acting another. The church had endured hard times, persecution and trials, all because they had believed in the name of Jesus Christ.
All of that, God was proud of. It was good. He was glad they had stood their ground. The same can be said for many Christians when it comes to election season.
Christians stand up for what they believe matters to God. They want to see children’s’ lives saved, not extinguished by abortions. They want to see kids protected rather than harmed, either by damaging ideologies or practises.
Some Christians stand up for protecting and preserving the Earth. Others get being the poor and the immigrant, citing the Sermon on the Mount as their reason for putting their flag on this issue.
All good things. All worthy causes to stand up for.
But we need to return to your first love before you put a check mark on the ballot.
As Christians, we’ve sworn allegiance to Jesus. Or we claim that we have. We have called up His name for salvation, calling Jesus our Lord and Saviour.
Not the Conservatives. Not the NDP. Not the Liberals. Not some other political party in Canada. (For Americans, the Democrats or Republicans or third parties.)
But it is very easy to get caught up in the political banter and rhetoric and fanfare, and forget our first love. We are to wholeheartedly and unequivocally follow Jesus, not a shade or shape of government.
You might this the Conservatives are the ones that have the best political platform. Maybe the NDP have the programs that will help the next generation best. Perhaps the Liberals have the agenda that will see the Earth saved from climate change.
Great, but none of those political parties, none of their promises or platforms will save you. None of them are the author of our faith or salvation.
Christians increasingly talk as if these political parties were. As if everything, faith, salvation, the second coming of Jesus, all hinged on whom you vote for and who gets elected. That a poorly cast vote could be the damnation that Christianity fears.
We need to stop and do some self-examination.
We need to be very careful with how we go about voting, how we go about talking politics, how we go about as Christians during election season. Because our actions and attitudes, the words we speak and how they are spoken…
I’m seeing less Christians in churches and more advocates for political parties.
Return to your first love, Jesus Christ.
He is the one that called you out of darkness and into the light (1 Peter 2:9).
He is the one that offers life and life more abundantly, more abundantly than NDP, PC, or Liberal can promise (John 10:10).
He is the one that gives us his Spirit, his righteousness, his body for our healing (John 14:26, Isaiah 61:10, Isaiah 53:5)
He is the one who has done so much more for us that we can possibly understand. He is the one that we say we love, we say we serve, we say we obey…
Remember who you love. Return to your first love, our hope and salvation, Jesus Christ.
There are many things that I hope that Jesus says to me when I see him face to face. There are many things I hope he speaks to me by his Holy Spirit. I pray none of them are “Yet I hold this against you…”
Return to your first love before you vote.
This article first appeared on Christian Thought Sandbox.
I share this for somebody who woke up, fed up, messed up and tired. I am sharing this for you who feel as if nothing you do, works and no matter how you pray, you cannot seem to get ahead. You’re staring at your vision board and the anger coursing through you, wants to rip it up. You’re reading over your book, for the tenth time, and it still doesn’t feel right. You’re counting the ticket sales, of your event, and they’re still at the same low as when you counted them ten minutes ago. You’ve paid for advertisements, you’ve shared the plans, you’ve spent the money and still nothing. You stepped out on faith and the enemy wants to make you believe, it was a mistake. You’ve given up the alcohol and now you’re contemplating taking one drink. You’ve deleted all the folk in your phone but the mindset, you’re currently in, has you thinking about calling somebody to take the pain away; only if it is temporary. Don’t do it. Don’t give up. Don’t throw in the towel. Don’t stop believing in the purpose God has placed the inside of you. Why not? Because I’m praying for you.
And beloved, my prayer for you today is simple ”¦ As you stand under an open Heaven, may you receive a fresh wind of anointing that shall hit your house, so heavy the windows shake. May the grace of a living God, saturate you like you’ve been caught in the thunderstorm without an umbrella. May God’s will for your life, be so clear, you’ll think it’s your new glasses when it’s all God.
May this week be the beginning of everything your faith has worked for. May God show up, in your life, so fast and on time, it’ll have you speaking in tongue; for the first time. May God allow the blessing, only He could perform, be so big that it’ll feel like an earthquake that shifted your house. May this minute, for all that are in your rightful place, be your last minute of minimum.
May this Monday, be the last Monday you find yourself missing out. May this be your last memory of having to ask people to borrow. May this be your last time going to bed hungry, unless it’s by choice. May this be your last time ever thinking God doesn’t hear the cry of the righteous. May this be the moment you walk, boldly, into the open door of your harvest. I’m praying for you, my brother and my sister because there shall be no soul left behind.
But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
Yesterday I was lying in bed, listening to my Spotify and the song, “Same Love” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis came on. And normally I just let the music play, usually I have a good dance or sing, but in this moment, I felt like I was being called to listen closely to the words. The song is about homosexuality, which I will talk about in a future blog post. But, as the song came to the end, “Love is Patient, Love is Kind” were the words that were sang as the music faded out. These words reminded me of what my God is; patient and kind. But is also reminded me of the thing I struggle to show to those around me. It reminded me of the second most important lesson in the Bible, the underlying theme in a large amount of Jesus’ parables, the thing I wished the world would show – LOVE.
LOVE. Different from the love that you feel in romantic relationships. It’s such a hard word and it’s sometimes really hard to show love to people you don’t think you should show it to. People who have hurt you, made you angry or upset, annoyed and frustrated you. But Jesus’ second most important lesson was to love your neighbour as yourself. I have had to face this dilemma multiple times when something hasn’t gone how I have planned it, or someone has hurt me whether it be through a breakup, an argument between mates or just by someone who has not thought about their words before they say them. And still loving them after this has happened is definitely a challenge, honestly.
When life gets hard, I retreat. I put walls up around my heart and I don’t want to let anyone in, especially if I know they’ll challenge me. Maybe it’s because I’m a tad introverted, or maybe it’s just because I’m afraid of anything unfamiliar or potentially messy, but I’m good at pushing away when I feel vulnerable. It can be easy to classify people (sometimes without even realising it) and therefore not love others truly as our neighbours. At these times, it can be easier to withdraw from community when times challenge us instead of building relationships with people who are different than us. If everyone had the same view as us, there would be no argument against it to challenge us, no open conversations.
“It’s not community until someone you don’t like shows up.”
I read this quote yesterday. This simple and powerful quote made me think hard. A lot of the time, it’s easy to want to extend love and mercy to the ones who seem needy and helpless, but it can be so much harder to extend that same love and mercy to the people you don’t see eye to eye with or don’t get on. You’ve got to think of it like this; if someone speaks up about their beliefs or opinions than look nothing like mine, I’m tempted to shut down or push back… but true community looks like pressing in and engaging them.
Sometimes “loving your neighbour” will mean loving those who have been the first to accuse, humiliate or abandon you. 1 John 4:12 puts it really clear one how to be the bigger person, to forgive and to carry on loving. It says, “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.” While loving other through heartache or anger, you will bridge a really scary (but conquerable) gap between pain and life.
If there is one thing I have learnt about His love is that it casts out fear. His love draws life. His love is life. God’s love is patient and kind. If He can extend that to me, then I can extend it to everyone else, most importantly those that have hurt me.
We hear about the
saying ‘age ain’t nothing but a number’, but that only seems to apply to some
situations. When you’re a single woman past the age of twenty-five, your age
becomes a topic of discussion, especially if you do not have wedding bells on
the horizon or even the perfect job. Before you know it, ‘age ain’t nothing but
a number’ transitions to ‘you’re getting on in years’ in a blink of an eye.
I’ll be attending
the wedding of a relative in just under two weeks. As many women would agree,
finding the right outfit to suit the colour scheme of the wedding, settling on
the perfect hairstyle to compliment your outfit, and whether or not it is wise
to wear heels are the topics of discussion right up until the day of the
wedding. The day after and the following few weeks are usually reserved for
those who believe themselves to be the fashion police, commenting on the myriad
of outfits worn at the wedding. Of course, the anticipation of what the bride
will wear and look like is the main reason for our attendance (well, it is for
my large family), followed by other reasons such as showing support, joining in
the couple’s happiness, and hopefully catching the bouquet to stand a chance of
being the next bride. Now, you will likely not find me anywhere near the bride
when it is time to catch the bouquet. I will either excuse myself and rush to
the restroom until the commotion is over or busy myself with a task that
requires me to stay put, such as quickly picking up a relative’s fussing baby
to calm them down. You see, when you’re single and nearing thirty, people
cannot help but turn to look at you when all the single ladies are called up
for the bouquet-tossing, because when you get to my age, it appears to be a
downright shame to not even have the sound of wedding bells in your near
future.
The thing is, I
don’t live my life according to the rules or recommendations of the world. In
fact, I’m considered to be a strange woman by many for the beliefs I have
concerning dating and marriage. As a Christian woman, whether single or
married, you are always aware of Who you serve and your commitment to Him. His
ways are not the worlds’ ways, so must be our ways as well. However, seeing as
I know nothing about being married and everything about being single, I’m
sticking to what I know!
Whenever I meet an
old friend or family member (usually in passing), the topic of marriage and
children will be brought up 90% of the time. I try my best to steer clear of
the topic, but when you’re a certain age, it becomes near impossible to avoid
the discussion. Whenever I reveal my single status, they usually look at me
with sympathetic eyes and tell me ‘don’t worry, you’ll meet someone soon’. It
then becomes challenging for me to either not laugh or become annoyed by the
insinuation that I need a husband to complete my life. If I tell them that I’m
not concerned about marriage or having children, they look at me as though I
have taken leave of my senses!
Marriage is a
beautiful covenant between a man and a woman, and having children is a
blessing- there is no doubt about that. However, to imply that the primary
existence for all women is to get married and have children by the age of
thirty at best, or pushing it at thirty-five is ridiculous to me. As Christian
women, our first reason for existence is Jesus Himself. We are to put Him first
in all that we do, that includes whether or not we get married. I have met far
too many distraught single Christian women because they cannot seem to find the
right man to marry. That’s our first mistake- worrying about who we are going
to marry.
When I turned
twenty-five, I still had no urge to find a man and settle down. Of course, I
received a few side looks and whispered words about my single status, but that
didn’t affect me. I suppose back then people believed that there was still hope
for me yet. Nearly five years later, and those same people think my case to be
hopeless. Even some Christian women have something to say, which I find odd
considering the fact that we know Who the Author of our lives is. I have no
doubt in my mind that if I am meant to get married, then I will, and if I am
not, then I won’t- I’m not about to force the situation and end up unhappy. GOD
has the perfect plan for our lives, and that includes a life-changing event
such as marriage. I believe that many Christian women forget this and try to go
at it alone, and when they realise that they have made a mistake, they either
try to blame GOD for not improving their situation or take the divorce route.
Getting married is
a serious matter, and who you get married to is incredibly important. I believe
that GOD has this matter in your life sorted before you’re even born! It is
essential to marry the man that GOD has set aside for you, whether that man
comes into your life at the age of twenty or fifty. It’s no use going hunting
for a husband at a church or anywhere else that you believe you’ll find him
because you’re going about it the wrong way. When the right time comes
according to GOD’S plan for your life, your intended will enter your life. We
waste a lot of our time worrying about this aspect of our lives when we should
be devoting our time to GOD. In 1 Corinthians 7:25-40, the Apostle Paul gives
advice to the unmarried as a man whom the LORD in His mercy has made
trustworthy (vs 25). The particular verse that struck a chord in me was verse
34: There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman
cares about the things of the LORD that she may be holy both in body and in
spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world- how she may
please her husband. As single Christian women, our attention is on the LORD
(or should be), we don’t have to worry about pleasing a spouse, making a home
for a family, or doing other wifely duties. While there is no wrong in any of
this (a shout out to all the wives and all that they do for their families), we
should appreciate our single status more rather than fret about it. You can
serve the LORD without distraction, give Him more of your time, and in return
experience the sweetest joy of communion with our Heavenly Father. Instead of
wasting your single state on worrying about getting married, rather use it to
further your relationship with the LORD.
Stop looking at
your age as an indication for where you believe you should be in life. GOD does
not work according to man’s time, but His own. Most importantly, stop comparing
yourself to the Christian sister who just got married, or the one who is about
to get married or you may fall into the sin of coveting. The devil has the
ability to strike you where it hurts the most, and if you’re stressing about
your single status, he will most definitely use that to his advantage. Your
stress indicates that you do not trust GOD’S plan for your life, that He does
not have your best interests at heart when in actual fact He knows you better
than you know yourself. Some of us are just not ready to get married yet, and
forcing marriage will undoubtedly prove disastrous. Also, marriage is not for
everyone. There are people that GOD has set apart, those that will not get
married. It is not to say that they never wanted to get married, but they would
rather obey the Almighty than their own wants and needs. I would rather remain
in GOD’S will for my life than take a route that He never intended for me.
Be happy in your
position. It is not people that you should listen to, but GOD. Place your focus
on Him, get busy with the work of the LORD. You never know, you might look up
one day and see your intended standing before you with no help from you. I
would take GOD’S best over my own choice any day, how about you?
