non-negotiable.

I need a man whose faith in, love for and dedication to God matches and/or exceeds my own. No exceptions.

warning signs.

When it comes to relationships, we often times ignore God to get what we feel we need at the time. We want someone cause we are lonely, or we want to marry because everyone else is getting married. Many times people seek marriage or engagements because they need to feel wanted or they are trying to prove something to their family or friends.

But no Christian on earth should ever form relationships until “GOD gives the thumbs up!” I know that’s hard to swallow because we like to feel in control of our own relationships. But only God knows the end as well as the beginning, so his advice is priceless when it comes to marriage and family. And God will always give you warning signs before you ever commit to the wrong person.

He will show you what’s up, but you must take heed and listen to him. If your fiancé’ is abusive to you now, then it will get much worse when you marry them! If your boyfriend got a little sugar in his tank now, marrying him is not gonna make the sugar go away! If you can’t stand them now, chances are, you won’t be able to stand them after the wedding!

We must learn to ask God before we decide to do things like marry, date, or even search for a mate. God has the answer and he will show you very clearly. But you must learn to hear him and obey what he says.

God does not take us through bad relationships to teach us a lesson or give us a powerful testimony! God does not glory in divorce and he would that no man put asunder their marital vows. So, he is in the business of warning us before we ever get into these situations. God wants to protect you from a bad relationship, so he sends warning signs. But because of loneliness, low self worth, or stubbornness, we decide to go our own way and ignore God’s warning signs.

The saddest part is that we get ourselves into a place where we have ignored the voice of the Lord so much, we can’t hear him anymore. And at that point, we are seemingly on our own, bumping our heads, trying to fix what we have messed up. Children get involved and destroyed, our home gets torn apart, and drama begins to follow us everywhere, all because we did not heed the warning signs, Please, do not ignore God’s warning signs about your relationships.

You must understand that God wants the best for you and he does not glory in you being abused and hurt from a bad relationship. You deserve better and you must allow him to bring the best to you. If you see yourself as God’s child, then you must allow him to choose whom he feels is right for you.

Suggested Reading
Jer. 6:10, 2Cor. 6:14 , Matt. 5:32, Matt. 19:6
by G. Craige Lewis

faith is the evidence of things unseen.

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

stop questioning God.

Something that I have learned to stop doing: questioning God.

I'm telling you, there have been countless times that I've sat back, analyzed a situation and had no choice but to be completely real with myself and with God. "God, really I don't understand what you're doing here." "Lord, I am genuinely confused. Your word says that we can ask you for wisdom, well I'm asking that you please supply it to me in abundance because I need some understanding." I've come to realize, in retrospect that is, that I usually think that I know what is best for me when I truly don't. There's been so many situations and individuals that I have sown myself into through my own will -- not God's and I reaped accordingly. Fruitless. I have had to learn, and I urge every believe to learn, first of all, to seek God's Will in everything that you do. That's first and foremost. As basic and cliche as it may sound, it literally will save you so much hassle down the line. Ask Holy Spirit for guidance. Secondly, don't question God. The word clearly states:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you ways my ways," declares the Lord,"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9


Translation:

Sometimes we're not going to understand. We simply will not understand. But knowing that you have the grace of God in your life -- knowing that you are living under a promise and a covenant that God literally cannot break -- should ease your mind a bit. Knowing that God loves you, he has a perfect will and plan for your life builds the faith that you need to trust him -- no matter what confusion may be taking place in your life. Living a God-centered life is truly all about trust. Once you trust God, your life becomes a bit more care and worry-free.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6

Stop questioning God and start trusting him. I promise you'll see an immediate change in your walk.

Remember: Romans 8:28

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."

Identity Theft - Joyce Meyer

beautiful message. enjoy :)

Christian dating?

"If you have already met someone, patience is just as important was if you were still waiting to met someone. Don't rush it. Take your time and get to know the person without any pressure or commitment. Don't be in a hurry to move forward with the relationship. If this is God's best for you, then he or she isn't going anywhere. Don't let him or her push you to move too fast, either. Hold your ground. Remember: If this is God's best for you, he or she will be willing to slow down and get to know you at your pace. God has a plan. You can trust him because he's proven to that he is trustworthy. Take your time getting to know someone. Limit the physical aspect of your relationship until you are sure about him or her."
- (an excerpt from "Patience" by J.J.)

Should Christian dating be approached differently than regular dating? Yes, it should. How? That's where I'm at right now. I mean, I guess I do know "how" but generally speaking, the answer to "how" is quite unpopular in today's society. But, the beauty in it, is that once we stumble across the right person - "God's Best" - he or she will not question your wanting to approach relationships differently. And if they are opposed, then you simply know that you know -- #YoureNotForMe. It should not be the question: "What can we do and get away with?", instead, it should be: "What can be do to ensure that we are honoring God?" How beautiful is that?

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Renewing my mind — to resemble the good, acceptable and pleasing will of God and not what is good, acceptable and pleasing to the general society — is easily one of the hardest yet most necessary decisions that I have made while deciding to live a God-centered life. I’m talking a life that is truly fashioned after His principles and standards - not one that just flirts with the idea of doing so. When you finally commit to it — there may come a point where you are feeling completely misunderstood by those around you. People will make you feel as though you are silly for doing, or not doing, the things you do. For speaking the way that you do, for believing what you do. Abstaining for sex? Prude. Speaking out of faith? You sound crazy. There may come a time where you feel as though there’s no one to turn to that can hold you spiritually accountable. Or no one to kick back and have a truly spiritually gratifying conversation with. Honestly, living by God’s Word truly is not a popular thing to do in today’s society — and definitely not within the undergraduate college culture. But, that’s okay. Once you realize God’s plan for your life, things become a bit easier and bit clearer. I much rather please God than please the world. If living a life that is honorable before God means taking the path less traveled — be it the unpopular route or any other route, I will take it. Gladly.

All my single ladies, All my single ladies... press play :)

vulnerability.

You never truly realize how much the last person hurt you until someone new attempts to walk into your life. That person unknowingly walks into the prison in which you have locked yourself — greeted by the brick walls that tower around your heart. They are stuck trying to bulldoze through deep-rooted walls and trying to pry into the dead-bolted steel box that you have locked your emotions into.You find yourself wanting to let the person in but something deep within you just won’t let you go there… you feel apprehensive… you’re confused. Been there? It’s that one moment of vulnerability that makes you realize that the last person who hurt you is still hurting you by affecting your relationships. You’re “over” them, yet in still, they have a hold on your life. And hopefully, it’s that same moment of truth that opens your eyes and helps you realize that you cannot let past disappointments of life affect the way you live in the present. Going through life with your heart guarded is a safe place to live but it’s not a happy place to live. All that you will do is end up pushing away the very people who care the most about you. Take risks. Be vulnerable at times. Live your life openly. Love freely.

smile.

let the past remain there.

Forget the former things,
Do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Isaiah 43:18-19

hope vs. faith

“We need to make sure we are not saying “I hope God will do this, I prayed for Him to do it, I know the Word of God says He can and will, but I hope He will.” – That is NOT faith. We do not receive anything from God through hope, it is by faith that we please him and receive from Him."

Sandra Hersey (click quote to read the full article)

Oftentimes, God places people, things and opportunities directly in our pathways but we are too busy seeking things & doing things our way that we walk right past what God has intended for us.

It reminds me the story that I often hear preachers tell:

“While out at sea, a large boat became shipwrecked and there was only one survivor. The man prayed and asked God to save his life. Soon after he prayed, a boat came by and offered the man some help.

“No thanks,” he said, “I’m waiting on God to come and save me!”

The men on the boat shrugged their shoulders and continued on their way. A few hours later, another boat came by offering him help. Again, he politely declined their offer.

“It’s okay,” he told them, “God is going to save me.”

The man was beginning to grow more and more concerned as the hours continued to roll by. Soon after, a helicopter appeared in the sky. The man waved them away, yelling to them, “I’m waiting on God! He’s going to save me!”

After some more time had passed, the man began to lose his faith and soon after that, he died. Upon reaching Heaven the man asked God, “Why did you let me die? Why didn’t you answer my prayers? I had faith and I knew you would save me.” God turned to him and said, “Son, I sent you two boats and a helicopter. What else did you want?”

Of course, this is meant to be comedy but the message behind this story is so relevant. We often pray to God to answer our prayers about something in particular – but because we are so set on receiving our “answer” the way that we want it, we miss out on God. It’s important to lean on Holy Spirit for guidance instead of going through life using our own understanding and relying on things to happen based on our own expectations. God knows what’s best for us, which makes it so vital that we learn to recognize his voice. God is faithful… he loves us and yearns to bless us. He’ll strategically place the answers to your prayers right into your path but if we are not in tune with Him, discerning His voice in our lives, then we can end up like the man in this story (figuratively, of course).

“Trust in the Lord & lean not on your own understanding…” I keep referring back to Proverbs 3:5-6… it is one of my favorite scriptures. Trust God, lean on him for understanding & guidance and make it your purpose to stay in His Will for your life – being who He has called you to be, living the life He wants you to live, receiving those blessings that He desires for you to have. When it comes to answered prayers, He has got you so covered.

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” – Mark 11:24

…just don’t be like the man in this story! God may not always answer us in the way that we want him to but he will always answer with what is best for us. That’s beauty of it.