Marriage Defined

God created this institution called marriage. It is a union that He takes very seriously. I personally believe that after accepting Christ as your personal savior this is one of the next most important decision that a person can make- choosing a life mate. For a decision that is so weighty, we MUST seek the Lord! I don't know any way around this. He knows all. He knows what's in the heart of man and He knows what lies ahead.

I was thinking about marriage this morning (which inspired this post). You have singles who desperately want to get into this union and married couples who desperately want to get out. We run from our single season not wanting to use it to sharpen us and in our married season want to run back to our independence and freedom. LOL, it is car-zy (not crazy) when you think about it! How can we bridge this gap? These two extremes suggest to me that there is a disconnect somewhere.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert and I don't have all the answers. As I inquire of the Lord on this matter, a lot of ideas and thoughts flood my head. What I deduce is that marriage should consist of: two imperfect individuals who have decided to rely solely on the Lord first in their own lives that then decide to unify and to rely solely on the Lord together. I don't believe this institution was created to function appropriately any other way.

We are now seeing the demise of many marriages both in the world and in the church. I believe that the Lord wants to revive and restore marriages especially in the church. But what will it take to get there?

We have to go back to a true dependence and personal relationship with God. It starts and ends there. This relationship includes reading his word to know what His thoughts are. Praying to Him, talking to Him, listening to what He has to say and waiting on Him for further instructions. When we get to this point and realize that we just can't do it without Him, then I believe, we will see true revival and restoration in marriage. The church should be setting an example to the world period not reflecting the same results or stats as it.

Instead of looking at our single season as a curse or not embracing it, use this time wisely. It's fleeting and goes by quickly especially when it's wasted. It can truly be one of the most beautiful time period in your life especially when you can see the treasure in it. Especially when you are able to view it from the Lord's lens. Remember the enemy wants to steal this truth away from you so he makes you want to reject it and feel that you are losing out on something. That is a lie. The fuel that you need to sustain a marriage starts in this single season.

So instead, build and strengthen your relationship with the Lord. Let Him love on you, heal you, talk to you and console you. He will, if you let Him. I'm learning that in our single season our relationship with the Lord should be a reflection of our earthly relationship with our spouse just like our relationship with our spouse should be a reflection of God's relationship with the church. And when we can grab on to that fact in our single season, we will be ready and able to ensure that our marriage will be reflective of what the Lord truly intended it to be.  Wowsers, I didn't intend to get this deep guys :) !

Stay tuned...

Waiting.........on the Lord

Waiting on the Lord to answer a question, a prayer or a need is never easy. We can believe, confess, pray and fast but when it comes to waiting on the Lord for something that we are desiring deeply...it can be challenging. First let me say, do not allow the enemy or people to make you feel bad about becoming frustrated with the wait. It doesn't mean that you are less holy or lacking true faith. If we are all honest with ourselves, we can admit that waiting on the Lord at times can become tiresome. I guess that's why so many decide not to wait for His best, His answer and/or His timing....

With that said, the Lord sees the bigger picture. He knows all the pieces to the puzzle. He also knows how to strategically put the pieces together perfectly in His time.

Many of us right now, have become weary.
Many of us right now, are debating giving up.
Many of us right now, are struggling to stand.

I want to encourage us all to Wait on the Lord! The writer of Psalms said:

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed 
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living (Psalms 27:13 NKJV).

The 21st century KJV says:

I would have fainted, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of 
the Lord in the land of the living.

It gets tough sometimes saints but through these tough times, let's decide to trust God. Let's decide to take a stand. God is building our faith as we wait. Let's decide to wait on Him until it is manifested. BE ENCOURAGED!

Be Still and KNOW

Be Still and KNOW that I AM GOD. 

Be still and KNOW that I AM in control.

Be still and KNOW, I know your needs before you need them.

Be still and KNOW that I care. 

Be still and KNOW, I AM Creator God of the Universe.

Be still and KNOW that I am still in control.

Be Still and KNOW that I will never leave you nor forsake. 

Be still and KNOW that I have made you sit with Me in heavenly places.

Be still and KNOW, I AM rest for your soul.

Be still and KNOW that I still answer prayers.
Be still and KNOW that my peace is not like the world's.
Be still and KNOW that I AM not surprised by your situation.

Be still and KNOW that I enjoy personal time with you.

Be still and KNOW that there is a bigger purpose and plan.

Be still and KNOW that in due season, you will reap if you faint not.

Be still and KNOW that I heal and deliver.
Be still and KNOW that this battle is preparing you for what lies ahead.

Be still and KNOW that I break free from bondage.

Be still and KNOW that I conquered death.
Be still and KNOW that I AM working it out for your good.

Be still and KNOW that as you take care of my business, I am taking care of your business.

Be still and KNOW that my Son is interceding for you right now.
Be still and KNOW there is purpose in your pain.

Be still and KNOW that I AM with you even until the end of this world.

Be still and KNOW that I AM protecting you from harms way even now.

Be still and KNOW that I see all.

Be still and KNOW that my love is everlasting.

Be still and KNOW that I hear your thoughts.
Be still and KNOW that joy comes in the morning.
Be still and KNOW that I AM building your faith.

Be still and KNOW, I AM the answer to all of your questions and all of your problems.

Be still and KNOW that this battle is not yours.

Be still and KNOW that it's not over until I say it's done.

Be still 

and 

remind yourself.

The other side of pain is purpose

Imagine for a moment that God is really working all things out for your good. That even in the midst of your trials and pain, He is allowing it to bring about a greater good. Maybe, there is purpose on the other side of pain. If we can change the way we view our struggles, does it make it less afflicting? 

Just know ~ the Lord does not waste a thing; all of our experiences, our trials our every day encounters ~ is not wasted. It is a part of a bigger plan. And for those who love Him and are called by Him rest assured that even though you can't see it right now, He is working on a bigger picture. No matter the battle fatigue, Keep Looking Up.

When Life Happens

The last couple of months feels like a whirlwind. Everything that could have happened did. I found myself in an unfamiliar place a new place with so many decisions to make and fast.

Go back to what was familiar

Panic

Trust God

What I can say is that going back to what was familiar was no longer an option. And now looking back, I can marvel on that area of growth. You truly do not know what you will do, or what's really in you until you are tried and tested.

Panic tried to move in but I quickly shut the door cuz in the words of Sweet Brown "aint nobody got time for that!"

My only other option was to really trust God. 

For the past couple of months, it feels like I have been walking in a tunnel. To be quite honest, I don't want to go back but I also don't necessarily like where I am either. It is scary, it feels dark and it's unpredictable. All I can do is keep walking knowing eventually I will make it out.

I don't know how many of you can relate to my experience. Some of you may be in this very place right now. I am here to encourage you to hold on and TRUST GOD. No I mean really TRUST GOD.

There comes a time where we have to move from saying that we trust Him to actively trusting Him. 

Our dry place, winter season, dark tunnel or life happened place is a place where:

We build a closer intimacy with the Lord. 

It's a place where we surrender our will and wants and allow Him to have His way. 

It's a place where we learn His heart. 

It's a place where we stand on the word and allow it to comfort, guide and direct us. 

It's a place where we truly realize that no one has the answer but Him.

Its a place where the Lord is hand crafting us, writing our script and molding us in to His greatest master piece.

I just want to encourage you that if you are in this process, stop trying to fight it and just fall into the arms of your Heavenly Father and just REST!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

ReJecTion

Everyone knows or has heard the verse ~ ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened unto you (Luke 11:9). I was quick to quote this verse especially when I was believing the Lord for something major. And as time went on and I didn't receive what I was praying for I moved on. On to something else. Or maybe, I became disappointed and decided to take a break from the "believing thing." Other times, I became upset with the Lord. My hope was crushed and instead, I decided to do things my way. Which usually led me nowhere fast because deep inside of my heart, the yearning for what I really desired was still there. What a dilemma? Can you relate to this experience?

As time went on and I received more biblical teaching, continued to establish a personal relationship with the Lord, started confessing my real hurts and disappointment in Jesus to Jesus; it's like He opened my eyes of understanding. This verse ~ ask and it shall be given, seek and you shall find, knock and the door WILL be opened unto you was not a one time thing. We get stuck, stop or become sidetracked when we don't receive (especially in the time frame that we expect) what we believe and just give up. Its like someone has stamped on our request -REJECTED! And that can be a blow.

However, what we do in that moment is very crucial. More important than we even realize. Instead of becoming consumed with feelings of rejection and giving up, maybe we should continue to ask of the Lord until it is given, continue to seek until we find and continue to knock until the door is opened to us? 

You decide.

THAT OLD FAKE

Lets talk about that old fake for a moment. You may be wondering what I am referring to. It is also known as a counterfeit, an Ishmael before an Isaac, the imitation before the gift. Yes, some of you may have experienced this. And this can be applied to anything whether it's a job, an opportunity or a mate. Today, I'm focused on that old fake, in regards to a mate.

There are men and women of God right now who are trusting and believing Him for their God ordained mate. We have made a u-turn from our sinful ways and made a decision to live upright before the Lord. To include no longer having sex, setting standards for ourselves, spending time with the Lord and walking out His word. We decided to no longer waste time chasing our tails but instead preparing ourselves to be the same qualities that we are looking for. We stopped to say, wait a minute, let's see what the Lord has to say about this. What is a godly mate?

See if we don't know what the real should look like, we can become easy targets for that old fake- looks like, talks like, smells like but it ain't! Think about it, in order for one to recognize what a counterfeit dollar bill looks like, they must first know what an authentic dollar bill looks like.


It is not the Lord's will that anyone of us should perish or be tricked by the enemy. He gave us His word as a guideline and as the standard of measure. He gave us His Spirit to dwell in us and to guide us into all truth and understanding. We can not want the gift more than we desire the Lord. If so, you are at risk for accepting Ishmael. We are in a time where we must know our opponent and what we are really dealing with.

Sisters lets stop being deceived and giving our hand away to Ishmaels. Ignoring the prompting of the Holy Spirit, the confirmations and nagging feeling in the pit of our stomach telling us No when a brother shows up. Brothers, lets not forget to slow it down enough to hear what the Lord is saying as you wait to hear if the Lord has given His seal of approval.

Being connected to the wrong person can not only lead to a life time of pain but interrupt the destiny and plans that the Lord has for you. Someone needs to see a godly union. Your wait and right choice will effect the decisions that the next generation will make. Someone needs you and your mate's testimony to break that long line of generational curse of no marriages in their own family. It's so much more bigger than you. A generation is waiting on YOU to choose wisely.