Everyone wants to look good. Men want to be handsome. Women want to be beautiful. Do you know anyone who doesn’t?
Many people work towards looking good and being healthy – and yes there is a difference. That’s why when you see or hear advertisements for gyms and diet plans, very rarely is it that they promote good health. Think about it. Most of the time it’s about…
Being sexy…
Being attractive…
Getting into shape…
Buns and abs…
Right?
We groom. We work out. We watch our diets. We purchase clothes. We do what it takes to look and feel our best. We do what it takes to maintain our health and a good quality of life.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look good as long as we don’t become obsessed. Consider what the word of God says…
When you stop and take look, you can see God’s wisdom in everything…and I mean EVERYTHING!
God’s first institution established in His Kingdom was the family. He put man and woman together with a plan. He told us to be fruitful and multiply because God wasn’t going to continue creating men from dust or women from men’s ribs.
God gave us the gift of physical intimacy (sex) to bring children into the world, and to enhance our marriages. God wants us to enjoy one another just as much as he wants us to enjoy Him, and that’s very clear in the bible.
Proverbs 5:19 (NKJV)
As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be enraptured with her love.
Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV)
4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
He even told husbands and wives to ‘take care of each other’ intimately so neither is tempted…
1 Corinthians 7: 1-5
Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:
It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
God made sex a physical crescendo that builds to a climactic, brief culmination of intense pleasure sought after by both those who are married and unfortunately, unmarried….We will use the euphemism ‘THE BIG O’. Everything God did has a holy purpose. It’s not God’s fault that we misuse His gift…and what a perfect gift!
Here’s where God’s wisdom comes in.
God knew…
If we were going to ‘be fruitful and multiply’…
If we were going to have long, healthy marriages…
Our gift would need to be something we look forward to…something we crave and not something we dread.
Few people want the physical crescendo without the ‘BIG O’…
And, few people want the ‘BIG O’ to come too soon…
But, dig this!
As much as we enjoy…
As much we anticipate the ‘BIG O’.
As much as we enjoy reaching that brief moment of euphoria…God was wise enough to make it brief.
It’s brief enough for us to look forward to it, but it’s short enough for us to enjoy it.
Think about it…no one would be able to withstand 5, 10, 15 uninterrupted minutes of the ‘BIG O’. I don’t even know if our bodies could take it.
If the ‘BIG O’ was too big or too long…we would dread it.
If the ‘BIG O’ was too big we would avoid it.
There would be no ‘be fruitful and multiply’.
There would be a strain on marriages due to lack of intimacy.
Even the most holy person can admit that a well-timed ‘BIG O’ is just the pressure release valve needed sometime to relieve us of the stresses of life.
God knew just how good to make it…Just how strong to make it…and just how long to make it.
I told you when you stop and look at it, you can see God’s wisdom in EVERYTHING.
It’s easy to see why the apostle Paul proclaimed…
Romans 11:33 (NKJV)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
The older I get the more I realize that in so many ways, some of us never really grow up. This is especially proven every day in politics and on social media.
We all have our ‘immature’ moments.
But, when you think about it, it’s not difficult to see how we all sometimes have trouble acting our age.
Even though we have role models, some better than others, we can still have trouble progressively moving on to our next role in life.
One reason is that ‘Western’ culture not only values youth, but doesn’t value the blessing of getting older. Aging and maturing is looked upon with dread. People hate being told that they are acting like an ‘old man’ or an ‘old woman’.
However, I feel the main reason that people have trouble acting their age is simple…
As you get older, you’ve never been that age before.
Young adults have never been an adult before. Unless you were forced to ‘grow up’ through difficulties of life, we have all still been a ‘child’ for most our lives until we’re in our early 30’s.
As you approach middle age, you’ve never been 40 or 50 years old before.
As you become a ‘senior citizen’, you’ve never been 60 years old before.
And, many people who consider themselves ‘elderly’ will tell you that they don’t ‘feel’ as old as they are. Even with more aches and pains their minds don’t feel ‘old’.
As you get older, that age never seems to be what you though it would be. You don’t suddenly feel older.
That’s why so many middle-aged and older people get injured during physical activity because they still feel as though they can still be just as athletic as they used to be. They still feel they can work as hard. They still feel they can lift just as much, but sometimes our bodies will let us know that we must make some adjustments. This happened to me when I was 42 years old while playing flag football with several people in their teens, 20’s and 30’s. I was ‘hanging with them’ really well, but after a couple of hours, even though I still felt great, fatigue had set in and I completely ruptured my Achilles tendon.
I learned a valuable lesson. We aren’t always able to do what we feel like doing. Our bodies can remind us how old we really are. Yes, we can maintain a great quality of life through taking care of ourselves, but we still must be realistic.
As we get older, we must mature mentally, physically and most of all spiritually. But, let us learn to be patient with ourselves and one another through the transition.
Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV)
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Sex in marriage between a man and a woman is a beautiful blessing from the LORD, but it can also be the source of frustration.
One of greatest frustrations is when couples aren’t ‘on the same page’…when they aren’t in the mood at the same time. If this goes on and isn’t handled in the right way it can cause a huge strain on the relationship.
Now, I know there are many reasons why couples clash sexually, but God has revealed something amazing to me through 30 plus years of marriage.
There is a hidden blessing in when they aren’t on the same page that can actually enhance a marriage and sex life.
One of the things that makes dating so fun is the mystery. Some people even step outside their marriage to relive that excitement and mystery…
If you haven’t already had them they’re coming…those days you DON’T want to hear or read the Word of God.
Do you love God? Yes!
Do you love His word? Yes!
Do you trust Him? Yes!
Are you turning away? No!
But, some days you feel…
So heavy…
So dark…
So busy…
So distracted…
So discouraged…
So apathetic…
So numb…
So upset with God…
That you know you need to read…need to pray…need to hear a word from God, but when you’re honest with yourself…You just don’t feel like it. You just don’t want to.
Someone may come to you with an encouraging word, and you just aren’t in the mood to hear it.
It’s time to go to church, but you just don’t want to go.
Were you always in the mood for a pep talk from your parents? Of course not, but that doesn’t mean you don’t love…
So many times as Christians we love to proclaim, “I’m more than a conqueror”, but we find ourselves dreading Monday.
It’s not danger…or nakedness…or famine…or nakedness…or the sword…but Monday morning, the 2nd Day of the week.
Sometimes we might not even sleep well on SONday night thinking about…
The trouble,
Hardships,
Projects,
Debts,
Dead-end jobs,
Supervisors,
Managers,
Subordinates,
Customers,
Exams, D
Doctors visits,
Test results, etc., waiting for us on Monday morning.
Whatever may make Mondays cloudy and dreadful in our minds doesn’t diminish the fact that every Monday is a blessing from God.
We are blessed to have a family, a job, a business, or however God is sustaining you, and that no matter what we are going through…God IS sustaining you, and has equipped you to conquer anything that you encounter on Monday to His glory.
One of my greatest disappointments in growing up was realizing how much we really don’t. As a kid, I thought adults had it all together.
I’ve found that one of the areas in which some of us refuse to grow up is insulting one another.
There will always be at LEAST two sides to every issue, but most of the time there are many more. And, most of the time people are passionate about their opinion or position.
Politics
Wages
Business
Sports
Race
Relationships
Religion
The list goes on and on.
Of course, these opinions and positions will lead to disagreements. What’s important is that we learn to disagree without insults.
From social media, to demonstrations, to conference rooms, to private conversations…people allow their disagreement to be expressed with insults.
It’s natural to want to hurt someone back who’s hurt or insulted us, or someone we love, care about or…
Are your children ever disobedient or disrespectful? Come on, now even ‘good’ kids have their moments.
Are your adult children ever unappreciative, disconnected or disrespectful?
Mark 7:8-13 (NKJV)
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men[a]—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” 9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’;[b]and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’[c]11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God),12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother,13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Most if not all Christian parents love to remind their children of what the bible says about being obedient to parents…
Ephesians 6:1 (NKJV)
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Colossians 3:20 (NKJV)
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
And, most parents get frustrated and angry when their children…
Disobey them…
Disrespect them…
Deny them…
Embarrass them…
Don’t appreciate them…
Don’t ask for their advice…
Don’t take their advice…
Don’t talk to them…
Respect others more than them…
Or, even rebel against them.
Have you ever had, or are you going through any of these situations as a parent? Did you put your parents through any of these situations?
All parents want their children to listen to them…to honor and respect them. And, they don’t want it to be a ‘burden’ to do so. They want them to do it freely out of love for them.
So, parents, the next time you are frustrated because your children aren’t listening, or aren’t giving you the respect you deserve, remember this verse…
1 John 5:3 (NKJV)
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Then, I ask you to join me in asking yourself, “Is this how God feels when I…
Disobey Him…
Disrespect Him…
Deny Him…
Embarrass Him…
Don’t appreciate Him…
Don’t ask for His advice…
Don’t take His advice…
Don’t talk to Him…
Respect others more than Him…
Rebel against Him…
Don’t listen to Him?
Why should we expect any more out of our children than we give to God?
Maybe, just maybe, God is sometimes trying to teach us a lesson through our children.
Welcome to my first blog post. I’ve been going back and forth for years trying to decide if I’m going to jump on the blog bandwagon. New year, new me right? I should probably let yall know a little something about me. I’m Chasity Noel, I’m 31 years old and I’m probably one of the […]
No matter how holy you strive to be, there’s nothing wrong with romance in your marriage. In fact…it’s necessary. I would even go as far to say that well-timed romance in marriage is holy.
After all, when God appealed to Israel concerning their unfaithfulness, He often used the metaphor that they have gone after other lovers, yet He still loved them…
Hosea 3:1 (NKJV)
3 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover[a]and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.”
And, doesn’t this sound like intimacy and anticipation comparable to two lovers who can’t stand being apart…
Psalm 63:1 (NKJV)
63 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts…
We have all done things of which we are ashamed. Sometimes we feel we have done things that God will never forgive, especially when others won’t forgive or we are living out the consequences.
Sometimes we can commit sins after we’ve been ‘saved’ that make us question our salvation.
Especially when God has allowed YOUR SECRET(S) to remain secret.
But, let me give you a short encouraging reminder that not matter what you’ve done, God WILL forgive you. No matter how low you have gone, God can reach down and save you. He can even deliver you from the consequences of your sins, bad decisions and weaknesses.
Here is the one caveat. We must always come to Him in humility and never belittle or speak in disrespect or irreverently of His Holy Spirit…
Mark 3:28-30 (NKJV)
And remember, you don’t have to ‘curse’ or ‘cuss’ to do this. Be careful that you’re never disrespectful to the authority, convicting power, intercession of or work His Holy Spirit in your life or the life of anyone else. But when we stop and think before we speak, this isn’t difficult to avoid.
The reason many people can’t swim is because they were taught
fear of water rather than respect for water.
I remember as a child when at the lake as I went near the water
being told, “Get away from there!”
I was taught at an early age to be afraid of the water.
The disciples became afraid for their lives as the storm
raged while Jesus slept in the lower parts of the boat. When Jesus woke up,
before He rebuked the winds and the waves, He rebuked their fear and lack of faith…
Matthew 8:23-27
(NKJV)
23Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.24And suddenly a great
tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He
was asleep.25Then
His disciples came toHimand awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save
us! We are perishing!”
We all have circles of friends and circles of influence. There are circles that we want to be in, and circles that we don’t. Even Jesus had an inner-circle of disciples who were given greater access into His life and ministry…
Matthew 17:1-2 (NKJV)
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
Matthew 26:36-38 (NKJV)
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
Most of the time we think either you’re in someone’s circle or not, but there is one more space that one can occupy…
IN someone’s circle…
When you’re IN someone’s circle, you are a part of their lives. Some are closer to the ‘center’ and some are not as close, but still they’re IN your circle. You’re important to all of them and vice versa. You have access to them pretty much when you get ready. And, most of the time the access and influence is mutual.
When your OUTSIDE…
of someone’s circle you’re not important to them at all. You don’t have access to them when you get ready. And, most of the time they don’t want access to you, nor do you have any influence in their life.
But, when you’re ON someone’s circle…
You’re important to them WHEN THEY GET READY. They have access to you when they’re ready, but you don’t have access to them. Being ON someone’s circle most of the time means you’re available to for their use, but they have no real desire to be close to you, to know you or at least to know you intimately. You are there at their disposal.
This is the thing. When you’re on someone’s circle, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t see value in you. It means that they do, they only want a relationship with you on their terms.
Are you ON anyone’s circle? Is anyone ON your circle?
Manage your circle wisely. Give everyone respect no matter where they are relative to it.
And, thank God that once we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we’re all in His circle…
Ephesians 2:13-18 (NKJV)
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Have you ever heard anyone make this statement, or have made it yourself?
“You won’t go to Hell for doing it.”
Too many Christians feel as though as long as they are paying their tithes and going to church regularly that, ‘they’re good’.
Sometimes times there will be an issue or behavior that is questionable or vague, or maybe not even addressed directly in the bible. Many times there will be an issue or behavior that we really enjoy, but there is reason to believe it might be displeasing to God. Then there are issues that are addressed, but many people either don’t make the connection, or don’t care about how those issues relate to us today.
There are many Christians who don’t only define themselves as children of God, they also define themselves by ‘their’ zodiac sign.
How does God feel about someone asking, “What’s your sign?”
I may lose some readers and/or ‘followers’ for making this post, but it’s my prayer that God will gain some.
Okay, I know this is a morbid unpopular subject, and most people don’t like to talk about or preach about it any more, but as I read Matthew Chapter 7, I can’t read past verses 13 and 14 without drawing the conclusion…that most people will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15).
Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV)
13“Enter by the narrow gate; for wideisthe gate and broadisthe way that leads to destruction, and there are MANY who go in by it.14Because[a]narrowisthe gate and difficultisthe way which leads to life, and there are FEW who find it.
The LORD says, “many go in by it” meaning the gate to destruction, and then He goes on to…
I can only speak for myself, but I think we’ve all experienced it. We have prayed to God…we have made a specific supplication…we have interceded for someone else. Then, sometimes immediately, sometimes shortly after and sometimes much later we see God answer that prayer…that supplication…that intercession, just as we asked.
Sometimes it’s exactly as we asked. While others it may not be exactly as we asked but, we can still clearly see it was an answer to our prayer.
Then it happens. That emotion that reveals our true level of faith. I’m not saying an absence of faith, but the true level of our faith. Our emotional response to God answering our prayer.
SURPRISE
Have you ever been surprised when God answers your prayer? Surprised when we already know what He promised…
John 14:13-14 (NKJV)
13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father…
There are many atheists and skeptics who say that religion was created to control the masses.
As a Black man, I often hear others say how can you believe in a God that was forced on your ancestors by the slavemaster.
Once some people are convinced their particular view is correct, they claim everyone else is BRAINWASHED.
It’s amazing how one can assume you haven’t studied history for yourself and that you’re being naive.
There are plenty of believers like myself who are educated, have studied history, have studied other cultures and still choose to believe in the Lord God of Israel from Everlasting to Everlasting through His Son and our Savior Yeshua, Christ Jesus, The Lamb of God.
The history of the bible goes beyond and before European influences.
Besides…Those who are truly connected with God don’t have ‘religion’…we have relationship.
It’s amazing how the moments I would have called boring when I was younger, I now call relaxing.
When you think about it, trouble, turmoil, conflict and drama are never boring.
So many times we can let the desire for or pursuit of excitement let us take for granted those peaceful moments that we can easily call boring.
I like to equate those moments to what the bible called ‘a season of rest’…
1 Kings 5:4(KJV) 4 But now theLordmy God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence.
This is when Solomon focused on building the temple.
But he later used the peace God gave him as a time to backslide…
1 Kings 11:5-7(NKJV) 5 For Solomon went afterAshtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and afterMilcomthe abomination of theAmmonites.6 Solomon did evil…
What? What are you talking about Aldtric? When God causes division in your relationship?
Well check this out…
Matthew 10:34-36 (NKJV)
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’[a]
Wow! Why would Jesus say this? I thought Jesus was all about peace…harmony…agreement. I have to admit that years ago I used to let this scripture trouble me.
Let’s read one more verse that brings it all home…
Matthew 10:37 (NKJV)
37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy…
Have you ever caught yourself complaining about something that you asked God for? You hoped for it. You prayed for it. You thanked God for it when you got it, but now, for whatever reason…you’re complaining about it.
Your job.
Your spouse.
Your child.
Your car.
Your house.
Your __________. You fill in the blank.
It may well be a blessing from God that you didn’t ask for, but God gave it to you. One great example is peace. How many times has God-given you peace and you complained that you were bored?
A few years ago my Senior Pastor, W. Michael Martin, did a series of lessons about faith. He shared a powerful revelation and revealed how many sincere Christians have erroneously taught that God is pleased with just ‘a little faith’. That is not true. They misquote and misapply Matthew 17:20… Matthew 17:20 (NKJV)
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief;[a] for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith AS a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Many have taught if you have faith OF, but the bible says AS. It would take great faith for a seed as small as a mustard seed to grow into a great tree. So, Jesus is saying if you have GREAT faith you can move mountains…not little faith.
God is a forgiving God and He is willing to forgive us of
all our sins as long as we truly repent and have a forgiving heart towards
others.
But, sometimes we can wonder if we will ever recover from
the consequences of our bad decisions.
Let me give you a quick reminder that God loves us and He is
bigger than or bad decisions.
Any parent who has punished or disciplined their child will
look on them in pity and remove the punishment or give them relief from the
consequences if It’s in their power to do so.
God does the same thing…
Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)
5ForHis angeris but fora moment,
His favoris forlife;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But[a]joycomesin the morning.
Psalm 103:9-11 (NKJV)
9He will not always strivewith us,
Nor will He keep
It’s no question that our society today values appearances. Many people today love to look good and they want to be seen with people who look good.
Some men and women even consider some people to be ‘beneath them’ or ‘not in their league’ because of their appearance.
Some people expect their friends, associates and even their pastor to have a certain appearance or status.
Be honest with yourself. How receptive are you to people who look less attractive or not groomed as well?
The bible let’s us know that Jesus wasn’t what was considered that times’ standard of ‘good looking’.
Isaiah 53:2 (NKJV)
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no [a]form or [b]comeliness;
And when we see Him, There is no [c]beauty that we…
The other day as my wife and I were getting ready for work, she asked me to get her clothes out of the dryer for her. We were both getting ready, but I stopped what I was doing and did it. The simplest gestures can be the most powerful, especially when both husband and wife are working.
Do something simple every day to make life easier for one another. Bring him a cool beverage. Watch something that she wants to watch…with her. Iron his clothes for him. Go shopping with her.
These four gestures can make your marriage better. Nothing deep or romantic here, but doing it will make romance come easier.
HELP EACH OTHER OFTEN…
DO WHAT COMES EASY…
HONESTLY WORK ON WHAT’S DIFFICULT FOR YOU…
BE PATIENT WITH WHAT’S DIFFICULT FOR ONE ANOTHER…
Following these simple tips will make each day better, and difficult days more bearable.
“YOUR WINTER FUN IS SOMEONE’S WINTER FEAR” maj 
