Find A Christian Man

Author: findchristianman

  • On My Own Terms

    On My Own Terms

    Proverbs 13:12(NLT) says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.” This is one of those yummies of truth that every single woman who desires to be married should digest completely. It will require us to ponder this wisdom very carefully. It is necessary that we begin by examining the word ‘hope’; it ought to be one of every Christian’s favorite words. Hope is a joyful expectation, and if we’re being honest, a lot of us single sisters don’t have it. We have an expectation when it comes to the type of partner we desire. We may even have an expectation about the details of the wedding, but for many of us the joy is missing in action. It is imperative that we get on the case pronto with this one, because if our hope is in Christ, joy must be its defining characteristic.

    Many of us that have been praying to cross paths with our future marital partners would say we know a little bit about ‘hope deferred’. We may even go so far as to say we’ve kissed our fair share of toads, and none of them have turned into a prince. In our estimation, the elusive Mr. Right is our hope deferred, and we can attest that after a few years of waiting, it can make the heart sick. There’s very little worse than having your expectations raised, only to have them doused. This is what makes many of our sisters in Christ reluctant about putting themselves out there, as they might have in the past.

    Here’s the thing that our Precious Heavenly Father wants us to chew on, when our hope is in Christ, the desire of our hearts is never indefinitely deferred. If what you and I desire is according to the Will and Word of God, it WILL come to pass. Some of us are not sure it’s the Will of God for us to be married, and this is the hurdle that we have to get over in order to cultivate faith in our quests.

    Marriage is God’s institution. He ordained it. Heavenly Father could have left Adam by his lonesome, but God didn’t do this. In Genesis 2:18(NKJV), He said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” It is very important that Christians learn the deep connection of a union, and one of the reasons God set up marriage is to teach us the greatest lessons about unity in Christ. For those who desire to marry, God desires it for them more than they can ever desire it for themselves.

    God is not withholding the blessing of a spouse. So, we have to ask ourselves a hard question that requires a brutally honest answer. Are we deferring our hopes because we want everything on our own terms? One of my sister-friends said this to me the other day. She said that she’s been willing to accept so much and make so many concessions for men in the past, and it still doesn’t work out. Now, because of the disappointments in her past relationships, she believes she’s entitled to have things on her terms, and has adopted an approach of inflexibility. This is certainly understandable, given that we sometimes exhaust a lot of emotional energy and time into the wrong situation. But it could be that she is backing herself further in a corner and putting more separation between her and the blessing she expects.

    Isaiah said in Isaiah 64:8(NLT), “And yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter.” When our hopes are in OUR dreams, and not in the dream God has for us, disappointments are likely to happen. The dream Heavenly Father has for us is a tree of life that keeps on giving. It’s a dream that we ought to be joyful, excited, and fully invested, because God is going to make it happen. Proverbs 23:17-18 tells us that when our hearts are anchored in obeying His Word and honoring Him, He will reward us and our hope will not be disappointed.

    The psalmist wrote in Psalm 25:11-12(NLT), “11 For the honor of your name, O LORD, forgive my many, many sins. 12 Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose.” God knows best when it comes to your future, and He requires that Jesus Christ is at the center of your desire to marry, so that you will follow the path that He has laid before you. When Christ is our focus, it means that our desire is based on the call to be a loving example of his love. The Holy Spirit will produce joy within because our hope is in Christ, and because our heart is to please God by being the kind of wife He desires us to be. Sign over your quest for marriage to God’s terms, and let your terms take a backseat; then your hope will change from deferred to fulfilled, because Jesus Christ will make your dream a tree of life.

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “On My Own Terms” written by FACM, Finding A Christian Man.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

  • Building Love and Keeping It Strong

    Building Love and Keeping It Strong

    One of the most sound pieces of advice that I can give to single women is to be as discreet and private as possible when it comes to your personal life; especially at the very beginning of a new relationship. I’ve counseled many women in this area, many of them have lived to regret being so open and candid to their friends about the new man in their life. If you heed my advice, it’s very possible that you may come across as secretive to some. That’s ok! Discretion is very important to God. We know this because there’s a lot He has placed in His Word for us to know, but there are many more mysteries that He hasn’t revealed; and He has good reason.

    Jesus Christ gave us a warning in Mathew 6:1-4(NLT). This passage tells us, “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

    The context of this passage is about giving, sharing, and being of service. That sounds a whole lot like marriage, doesn’t it?!! Our Master Jesus cuts right down to the meat of the matter as he warns us about our motives for putting our kind deeds on blast. We’re very often motivated out of a need to be admired by others. We want them to be impressed with what we’ve got going on. Jesus has stamped this practice with a serious “NO!”

    Marriage is increase! It’s the most substantial investment in another’s life that a person can make. As a good steward, we should endeavor to show ourselves worthy. Part of this good practice is keeping quiet about certain details regarding what God is doing in this area of our lives. Jesus tells us that if we’re continually spilling the beans and showboating, that’s all the reward we’ll get. This is not what we want, Sisters. We should want God to reward us by preserving our relationships and causing them to flourish in every way.

    Jesus instructs us not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing. The wisdom of this is breathtaking. Jesus knows that the enemy can’t steal what he can’t see. As Godly women partnering with the Lord to protect our unions, we should not let our business slip out in the open; then we won’t let the devil see what is unspoken. A person can give the enemy eyes to see and ears to hear if they’re always speaking about their hidden treasures. The longer you keep it quiet, the more chance you give yourself and the relationship to grow.

    We also have to make sure that what we’re dealing with is truly a presentation of the Lord. There’s always a possibility that the person we think is Mr. Right is actually Mr. Right for Now, but not for the future. We need time to access and test.

    Being discreet about our new relationships has nothing to do with fear. God tells us in 1John 4:18(NLT) that “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”  Love obliterates fear, but we have a responsibility to walk in a spiritually mature Christ-kind-of-love. This means we must comprehend that being discreet is a discipline that goes with love. Again, being discreet helps us to build a relationship, and keep it strong. If you’ll pray about this, the indwelling Holy Spirit will help you stay on the right path. So make a conscious effort to have self-control in this area. Let the Spirit guide you regarding what you can, can’t or shouldn’t say regarding your new relationship. If the Spirit doesn’t release you to speak it forth, keep it quiet.■

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “Building Love and Keeping it Strong” written by FACM, Finding A Christian Man.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

     

  • Thank You for Forgiving Us

    Thank You for Forgiving Us

    Dear Heavenly Father,

    There is so much to learn about being a Christian. As I grew to understand more about what You require of us, I must admit that at first, I was very confused. I heard a lot about the forgiveness that You offer, and it seemed to be a perpetual theme. In 1John 1:9 (NLT), Your Word says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”  I was very naïve when I read this verse, and thought to myself, “I’m not a wicked person, so this doesn’t apply to me.” I think a lot of people think this way, because they don’t know the wickedness that all sin represents.

    You tell us in Romans 5:12(NLT), “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” Your laws teach us that for every action, there is a corresponding reaction. Everything has a price, and the wages of sin is death. If Jesus Christ had not rescued us from the kingdom of darkness, humanity would be doomed.

    The start of all our trouble is sin. It is the act of believing or trusting anything over Your Word. Any time that we sin, we bow to the ruler of sin, which is the devil. This is what makes it such an offense to You and Your love.

    We must be humbled enough to admit that we are not perfect, but we are being perfected through Jesus Christ daily. When we fall into sin, because of Christ, we can get back into fellowship and right standing with You by seeking Your forgiveness. We should always ask Your forgiveness for anything that we have said, thought, felt, or done against Your Will. Thank You for forgiving us, Heavenly Father!

    When I was younger, I never really understood why we had to ask for forgiveness for the sinful things we thought about. In my mind, if no one knows what you’re thinking, then your thoughts can’t do any harm, but sin begins with a thought, and is often followed by an action. This is why we should always be on guard against it. Song lyrics, television shows, videos…the devil uses all of these to plant seeds of sin in our heads. Please help us, Heavenly Father, to be sharp mentally and spiritually, so that we can resist these sinful influences.

    Colossians 1:13 (NLT) says, “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.” Thank You for saving our souls, for rescuing us out of the hands of satan through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank You for Jesus, and thank You for the Holy Spirit. Please help us to be a blessing to Your Kingdom, and let Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “Thank You for Forgiving Us” written by FACM, Finding A Christian Man.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

  • Red Flags and Flashing Lights

    Red Flags and Flashing Lights

    It isn’t enough to tell you not to do something that will adversely impact your quest to get married. In order to provide you with substantive tools that will greatly aid your quest, you have to know WHY you should or should not do something. The right knowledge is power, and the source of all right knowledge is God’s Word. It is the definitive authority on everything that there is. Heavenly Father tells us in 2Peter 1:3 that through His divine power, He’s given us everything we need for living a good and Godly life. He’s provided us access to this kind of life through the knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ. So, everything that you and I could possibly need to be fulfilled, accomplished, and happy can be obtained by living our lives by the example of Jesus Christ. Whenever we veer away from living our Christ reality, red flags go up and flashing lights appear. When it comes to your quest for marriage, you have to ask yourself if you’re ignoring the warnings.

    In Romans 12:1(NIV), God tells us, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” God wants to live through us so that we are more effective in introducing His Kingdom on earth, and so that our experience of life on earth is more fulfilling and abundant. He desires to work in us to will and do of His good pleasure. He never takes from us, but gives continually; and in Romans 12:1, He’s asking us to give Him greater space in which to work in our lives. He’s asking that we present ourselves before Him as a living sacrifice. This informs us right off the bat that sacrifice is a very important piece to living through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is also a very essential component to preparing for and maintaining a marriage.

    In order to rescue believers from the pit of hell and purchase us back from the ruler of darkness, Jesus had to offer his life as a sacrifice for our sins. He had to die the most horrific death imaginable. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that this was a price he paid gladly because of the joy that was set before him—the joy of having us, you and me, in God’s family. He did it to please the Father, and because of his great love for us all. You and I were not capable of ransoming ourselves from the devil. Our sinful nature kept us locked in his dungeon of darkness and despair. But although we could never have paid the price that Jesus paid, we should understand the pattern that he’s set. Through his example, Jesus Christ has demonstrated pure faith. He showed us that sacrifice is endured gladly when the joy of the reward is believed wholeheartedly.

    Do you believe God will bless you with a good and Godly husband?
    Have you sacrificed fleshly pleasures because of the conviction of your faith?

    There can be no question that there are going to be some things we have to give up in order to gain more and go higher. Some of those are things we find pleasurable. Everything in life, and when I say ‘everything’, I mean EVERYTHING in life is spiritual. If you want to understand the ‘why’ of things, you must put them in the context of spiritual. God is a Spirit. He created everything there is, and everything that He created was intended to flow harmoniously with His divine Will, which is good and perfect in every way. Whenever the intention of our minds and hearts seeks to step outside the Will of God, we will experience in life what amounts to red flags and flashing lights. These come in the form of interrupted peace, mistakes, missteps, and hiccups. We would do ourselves the greatest favor by taking corrective spiritual action before things become worse.

    In Matthew 16:19, Jesus Christ declared that He’s given us the keys to the Kingdom, which means whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven; whatever we bind on earth, will be bound in heaven. When it comes to the choices and decisions we make daily, we have only these two buckets of which to cast our energy and resources. We either bind or loose. SIN binds, OBEDIENCE loosens.

    It’s important to understand this because we don’t always make the best choices when it comes to honoring our temples. We can’t partner with sin and expect a Godly result. Heavenly Father is a God of order, and obedience to Him requires that we follow His Word. Women hold the keys to a happy and fulfilling marriage through being obedient to God’s Word. You represent the greatest asset in your own quest to partner in marriage, but understand that God can’t help you partner in sin. He’s helping you prepare for what you’ve been about by loosening the walls around your heart, so that you love freely and unconditionally, through HIM! Red flags and flashing lights in your circumstances are queuing you in that disobedience has reared its ugly head. Don’t ignore the signs. Line up your actions and decisions with God’s Word.■

    Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

    “Red Flags and Flashing Lights” written by FACM, Finding A Christian Man.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

  • Jesus Christ Has Given Me the Keys

    Jesus Christ Has Given Me the Keys

    Dear Heavenly Father,

    I was asked today if I was ready to get married. I found it to be an interesting question because I find myself thinking more about my future these days, particularly as I get closer to finishing Nursing School. Things like where I may want to apply for a job, the environment I’ll be in, and who or how I’m going to meet my husband, are swirling around in my head.

    Whenever I think about my husband, whoever he may be, I visualize the type of man I see myself spending the rest of my life with. I think about the kind of man with whom I would like to a start a family. Like many women, I have my list of wants and qualities I’d like him to have, but Heavenly Father, I don’t want to make the mistake of being so stuck on what I want, that I back myself in a corner. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 16:19(NKJV), “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” This is such a big deal, Heavenly Father! Through Christ, You’ve given us keys to open many doors, but those same keys can lock up some stuff as well, and God, I don’t want to lock myself out of blessings.

    Sometimes, our desires are spun from negatives like selfishness, arrogance, pride, greed, and ignorance. In 2Timothy 3:1-5 The Message (MSG), You tell us, “Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.” You are telling us the kind of folks we should stay away from, and as Your children, You certainly don’t want us to have these kinds of qualities ourselves.

    When it comes to the qualities we desire in our future husbands, some of us place more value on his wallet than we do on the condition of his soul. Proverbs 28:25 says that greed leads to fighting and strife, but trusting You leads to prosperity. Many women are overly concerned about appearances. We feel that as a couple, we’ll have to look a certain way, with designer this or that. Your Word warns against such attitudes. It informs us of Your vehement dislike of a prideful heart, and in Proverbs 11:2, You tell us that arrogance will lead to disgrace and destruction.

    Motivations that stem from negatives will yield more negativity, and that’s why You warn us to guard our hearts against such things. Again, Jesus gave us the keys to the Kingdom. If our motives are wrong, we might bind the wrong thing or loose the wrong thing, and that’s not what You want. You want us humble, so that we’re pliable to Your Divine Will, because Your Will encompasses the very best for us. I stand in Your correction, Father, and say with as much conviction as I can muster, “Not my will but Your Will be done in my life!”

    In my mind, I may picture a man that I believe is perfect for me, but Father, You hold my tomorrows. Only You know what is best for me, and if it doesn’t come from You, I don’t want it!

    Heavenly Father, as so many of your daughters are making important life decisions and choices, please help us to be loosed from any obstructions or darkness that seeks to blind us from wonderful opportunities. Let us be loosed into purpose according to Your divine Will, and please help us to bind anything the devil sends to create confusion, havoc, dissension, and all manner of evil. You want us to have the best in life. Thank You for helping us to abstain from sin and be our best for You. Help us to make good decisions and store up treasures in heaven. According to Your divine Will, help us to recognize the man that You have ordained to be our husbands.

    Thank You for helping us to be a blessing to Your Kingdom, and let Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “Jesus Christ Has Given Me the Keys” written by FACM, FindingChristianMan.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

  • Let’s Wait Until We Get Married

    Let’s Wait Until We Get Married

    Dear Heavenly Father,

    this week I came across a video about two young married couples that abstained from sex until they were married. It immediately caught my attention because they were very young, in their early twenties. In our generation, it is very rare for a young couple to decide to wait until they get married to share themselves intimately. I love to see young couples live for You, Father, and choose to do it Your way. It shows that Your Word is on fire in their hearts. I pray that this level of commitment to Christ increases all over the world, and that because of it, many of Your children will be rewarded with strong marriages and families.

    One of the couples shared that they both, husband and wife, grew up in Christian homes, and were taught to be obedient to Your Word through abstinence. The young man’s story really intrigued me the most because he was very honest about the temptations he personally faced. There had been many times that he came close to having sex outside of marriage. He said that each time You kept him. This reminded me of what my grandmother tells me frequently about You. She says, “The Lord will always keep you if you want to be kept.”

    This young man expressed his gratitude for saving himself for his wife, because it was such a beautiful time for them both. He said the feelings and connection he experienced with his wife was so special, and “What if I had shared myself with someone that wasn’t my wife, and then a week later we never spoke again.” The sad part about this statement is that it happens all the time in today’s environment. Society has ‘normalized’ premarital sex to such a degree that hardly anyone thinks about how it displeases You. Your Word tells us in 1Corinthians 6:18 (NLT), “Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.”

    We need to realize that You’re not telling us to abstain from sexual sin to make our pleasure any less. You are telling us how to protect our unions, so that we don’t give the enemy any ammunition to sow seeds of division, evil, and disharmony in our relationships. Sin causes a separation between You and us, and this isn’t what You want. In James 4:7, You tell us to humble ourselves before You and to resist the devil; because if we resist him, he will flee. James 4:8-10,17(NLT) says, “8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. 17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”

    It is dangerous to be fully aware of the right way to please You, and purposely choose to ignore Your Will. Help us, Dear Father, to always choose love—Your love, because it will draw us closer to You, so that You can protect us and keep our relationships bound in the unity of Your peace. Please help us to remain strong in our convictions to honor our body temples, because 1Corinthians 6:19 tells us that our bodies are YOUR temple; they house Your Precious Holy Spirit. Thank You for blessing every believer with a wonderful and loving marital partner should they desire it. Thank You for helping us to be a blessing to Your Kingdom, and let Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “Let’s Wait Until We Get Married” written by FACM, Finding A Christian Man.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

     

  • Dust It off and Keep It Moving

    Dust It off and Keep It Moving

    facm-keep-it-moving

    John 3:20-21(NLT)
    “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

    I had a conversation with my nephew a couple of weeks ago, and he said something that was really astounding to me. It was a revelation, and immediately drew my attention to John 3:20-21 like a lightning rod. For a while, he noticed something about some of his friends. Whenever they’d stop by, they would only go as far as the front steps of his home. He was kind and courteous, and of course invited them in, but they always decline and say they’ll catch up with him later. He mentioned that although he’d spoken to them about Jesus Christ, they never really had an interest, and didn’t care to know more about our Lord and Savior.

    My nephew concluded that some of his friends were refusing the light and as a result, could not tolerate what the light of Christ exposes. Based on the truth that our Blessed Lord and Savior shared with us in John 3:20-21, my nephew is exactly right. When you love the Lord, and carry His love in your heart, it will either attract the light to you or it will certainly dispel the darkness around you. The truth of this passage in John 3 declares it emphatically, and says that all who do evil hate the light.

    God has given every Christian the responsibility to discern what is of His Kingdom, and what is from the kingdom of darkness. Most of us are able to do this, but we sometimes shut-off our spiritual senses. We want to maintain our associations with darkness, and we enjoy the company of those who do not hunger for righteousness. As single women desiring to be married, we must be incredibly careful about this. The enemy knows our weaknesses, and he knows how to lure us in and trap us. We should not make the dangerous mistake of assuming he will be merciful in his attack. If we have not properly guarded our hearts, and have made an emotional investment in someone who secretly hates the light, the consequences are very painful and last longer than any of us would care to imagine.

    Our Lord and Savior didn’t mince words when it comes to light and darkness. The Pharisees were an extremely arrogant group of people who hated Jesus Christ. They were blinded by satan, and would try and trap Jesus Christ with questions. If he gave an answer against their beliefs and laws, they would attempt to imprison him, but he was so razor-sharp that they were never able to manipulate his wisdom. In John 8:43-45(NLT), he told the Pharisees, “Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me!”

    The devil hates the light, and so does his children. God is not telling us to isolate ourselves from those who desperately need to hear the truth, but He has told us in Romans 12:2 that we must never let anything or anyone in the world conform us. Instead, we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We are beacons of light and love. 1Thessalonians 5:5(NLT) tells us, “For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.”  So our responsibility is to share the gospel with those who thirst after it, but for those who deny it or want no parts of it, we’re to dust off any residue of their darkness and keep it moving.

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “Dust It off and Keep It Moving”, written by FACM, Finding A Christian Man.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

  • New Opportunities and Connections, Don’t Let’em Slip by

    New Opportunities and Connections, Don’t Let’em Slip by

    Something pretty wonderful is happening, and although many people are not talking about it yet, they will. A spiritual shift has occurred. In Acts 2:17(NLT), God told us through the Apostle Paul, “In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.” We are witnessing this incredible outpouring today. There are some individuals that are still going about business as usual. They haven’t noticed a change because their eyes are blinded to it, but there are others that are right smack in the thick of God’s glory. They are taking His promises by faith, and the Holy Spirit is manifesting in powerful ways. Some of the byproducts of this dynamic move are new commitments, new opportunities, and new connections.

    Make no mistake about it, God has heard the prayers of men and women who desire to be partnered with someone that is truly special. He has not withheld the blessing, and sometimes this is the underlying thought of many people with this prayer request. In their hearts, some people believe that God is in heaven withholding the blessing of a spouse. It is the responsibility of every single person to look under the hood, examine what’s really in their hearts, and begin to chip away ferociously at any blockages in their beliefs.

    We know that God doesn’t violate free-will choice. He’s not going to violate the laws that He’s put into place to govern the universe and everything in it. In Old Testament times, after the Children of Israel were delivered by God through Moses from the tyranny of a hateful pharaoh, they camped out in the wilderness for a while. God promised to give them a land so lush and bountiful that it was called ‘the land of milk and honey’, and is formally known as ‘The Promise Land’. Heavenly Father made this promise to them. He gave them this beautiful land. If Heavenly Father gives you something, then you can trust with everything in your being that its YOURS! But we must also note that God would not pick up the Children of Israel and supernaturally plant them in the Promised Land. Even though they did not have the bible in written form, and they didn’t have the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and direct them internally, they had to take the Promise Land by faith. If they, having access to far less than us, were expected to do this, how much more are we?

    Two Godly people coming together to formalize a union in Christ is ordained of God. You are not capable of desiring this for yourself as much as God desires it for you. So, it cannot be that He is withholding this blessing. And believe it or not, the devil is not the greatest foe in this quest. Internal resistances are more than likely the greatest contributing factors. This will require a person to look inwardly and be incredibly (and sometimes brutally) honest about aspects of the love of God they’ve not allowed to reign in their hearts.

    Galatians 5:6(MSG), tells us, “For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.”  This means that we individually have the privilege and honor to wrap our believing in the love of Jesus Christ. Part of clothing our faith in love is ensuring that we’re not harboring unforgiveness and resentment. When we don’t forgive, we deny others the thing that provided us access to God. This will place a shield over our eyes and block us from accessing opportunities and gateways to marital partnership.

    1John 4:18 tells us that there is no fear in love; absolutely none. The greatest blocker to God’s love is fear. Fear is the root of all sin. There are no exceptions to this truth. Just as faith expressed through love is a magnet that draws blessings, fear expressed through sin is a repellent of blessings.

    Faith works through love. The way to capture the momentum of faith as it brings our hopes into fruition, is to see ourselves and others through the eyes of God’s love. 1 John 4:7-10 (MSG) says, “My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love.” There is no power greater than God’s love. His outpouring is available to you right this moment. If you will make a greater commitment to seek Him diligently, He will help you bulldoze internal blockers. Your faith will be perfected, and your eyes will be opened to see and make the most of new opportunities and connections.■

    Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

     “New Opportunities and Connections, Don’t Let’tem Slip by”, written by FACM, Finding A Christian Man.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

  • Centered on Christ

    Centered on Christ

    Relationships between men and women can feel conditional at times. You may feel that if you don’t do something to his or her liking, their level of love and affection for you might decrease. Most of us realize that relationships involve give and take. The optimum balance would be 50/50 between both partners, but if we’re honest, it doesn’t always turn out this way. In fact, you might have been in relationships where you did most of the giving, and he did most of the taking. Not cool. That’s why it’s so invigorating to know that our Heavenly Father’s love isn’t like that. His love is unconditional; He loves us no matter what.

    We don’t have to be perfect, but one of the things that is required of us as God’s children is to have faith and trust in Him. Even when we do things that fall short of His love and grace, He still loves us the same, and it is important that we understand that only He can give us a love like this.

    I’ve witnessed actions of women who have such a desire to be loved that they will forgo all sense of reason for the sake of having the attention of the man in their lives. This is motivated from fear, and not love. Any relationship worth having will require a lot of work, and it can be very challenging, but if we keep our eyes on the Lord, He’ll help us through tough times. We begin to spiral downward in our relationships when we take our focus off God. That’s when our priorities get out of whack.

    Heavenly Father doesn’t stop loving us when our emotions are all over the place. He comforts and teaches us. We see this in Isaiah 43, when Jacob and the Children of Israel got out of hand, and wouldn’t walk in the ways of God. They were stubborn, lost their zeal for Godliness, and treated Heavenly Father horribly. This landed them in a ton of trouble, because their priorities shifted away from God, but He did not abandon them. He told Jacob in Isaiah 43:1(NLT), “But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.””  God continued His love and care for Jacob and Israel. Romans 5:20(NLT) says, “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.”

    God looks at our hearts, and they must be anchored in Him. We really have to be careful in our relationships with men, that we recognize they can’t give us the kind of unconditional love that fills the emptiness in our souls. Only God can do this. God loves us all unconditionally, and when our focus is on learning to love as He loves, our relationships with others will blossom, because they will be centered on Christ and not on ourselves.

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    Centered on Christ” written by FACM, Finding A Christian Man.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

  • Please Help Me Remain Obedient to Your Will

    Please Help Me Remain Obedient to Your Will

    Dear Heavenly Father,

    Thank You for placing people in my life that know Your Word and can offer me words of Godly encouragement and wisdom when I need it most. Recently, I had a very informative conversation with a close family member. Her counsel was so spot on and razor-sharp that it cut through all my reservations and doubts. It revealed the heart of Your desire for my life. In Proverbs 27:17(NLT), You said “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” You’ve made a way for us to be friends like this—friends that sharpen. I’m so thankful that You’ve provided us with truthful wisdom and knowledge that never fails.

    As sisters in Christ, we need people that will be honest with us, and tell us the truth when we might not want to hear it. This is especially true when it comes to new guys that we meet. We can become so excited about someone new that we lose our way. We forget that the Lord Jesus Christ will guide us through the right relationship with the right person. As a young woman, not only am I blessed to witness women of God that are obedient to Your Word, but I have also witnessed the blessings they receive because of their obedience to You.

    The Godly woman whose counsel I sought was single for a while, but has recently been blessed to meet a man that does many kind and generous deeds for her. On some occasions, she has been moved to tears by his acts of kindness. In our conversation, I asked if she was emotional because he made her feel so special. She answered by telling me that she was overwhelmed by how You moved through the man to bless her. It’s the favor You’ve shown her by working through this man that delights her heart. She is witnessing Your favor and Your faithfulness to Your promises.

    Psalm 5:12 (NLT) declares, “For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.” Thank You, Father, that Your favor is a reward of obedience to Your Will. This is what happens when we please You—when we seek the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit to make decisions and choices that honor You. Please help us to remember that the way to have the life we desire is to follow the example of Jesus Christ, because he is the way, the truth, and the life!

    Some of my other friends make compromises to please their boyfriends. In many ways, they are idolizing the man, making him their everything. This is never okay. It injures our relationship with You and causes us to go backward instead of forward. You want us to be loving and kind to those we care about, and You want us to show them our gratitude, but we must do so according to Your loving standards, not our own. Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek You first in all things. This is the way to make sure that our new relationships become lasting ones. All blessings flow from You! Please help us, Heavenly Father, as women, to trust that obedience to Your Will and Word will always be rewarded.

    Thank You, Holy and Glorious Heavenly Father for helping us to be a blessing to Your Kingdom. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “Please Help Me Remain Obedient to Your Will” written for Finding A Christian Man.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!