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  • Self-Worth

    Ephesians 2:8-10(NLT)
    8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

    1 John 3:16 (NLT)
    16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

    Psalm 139:14 (NLT)
    14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

    1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)
    7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

    Psalm 139:13-15 (NLT)
    13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
    14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
    15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

    Titus 3:5 (NLT)
    5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

    Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
    11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

    Luke 12:6-7 (NLT)
    6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

    Colossians 3:12-14 (NLT)
    12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

    Matthew 7:7 (NLT)
    7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

    Mark 12:31 (NLT)
    31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

    Matthew 5:5-9 (NLT)
    5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
    6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
    7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
    8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
    9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

    New Living Translation (NLT)
    Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

  • No Point in the Look-Back

    No Point in the Look-Back

    I was going through some of my old emails over the weekend and came across a few that made me chuckle and reminisce about the old days. In one of them, a classmate had forwarded a picture he kept from our high school days. Here it is, over twenty-five years later, and he still has this picture of me. He even shared what I wrote on the back of it, “It’s not one of my favorite pictures, but I hope you like it.” I was fourteen years old and in the ninth grade at the time. Looking at that picture, I thought to myself, “Oh, if I could just talk to the girl in that picture and tell her what I know now.” 

    Some of the most profound words of wisdom was spoken to me this week. The pearl I received was “God wants us to get comfortable with trusting and relying on Him and not relying on man, money or anything else the world has to offer.”  The earth is grooming ground for our faith. No matter what we go through in life, it is the trying of our faith that brings out the best results, because we must trust God through it all.

    The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT), “12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” This has always been one of my favorite passages. There is no point in looking back at what used to work or making ourselves miserable by reliving the embarrassment of past mistakes. There’s no need to even look back at old relationships. Let what happened in the past remain just that…in the past.

    We need to keep our focus and attention on God, and what He has in front of us! God wove the wisdom of age and maturity into our growth. He designed it to be a process instead of an instantaneous event. Our faces may look different, but if we’re in Christ, we’re a better version of ourselves than we could have ever hoped to be.

    I really wouldn’t trade anything that has happened in my life. Every circumstance, every tribulation, every heart-break and every great moment that has been afforded to me, has deepened my well of gratitude for the love of Christ. There’s no point in the look-back if it isn’t to celebrate the goodness of God and the reality that the best is yet to come!■

    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.

    “No Point in the Look-Back”, written by FACM, Finding A Christian Man.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

     

     

  • Right Shoe, Wrong Fit

    Right Shoe, Wrong Fit

    They’ve got videos now that supposedly teach you how to walk in five and six inch heels. Every time I hear about one of them, I chuckle to myself. Used to be that I could cut a stride with the best of ‘em back in the day, but now…what? Staying vertical is extremely important, and a sister is looking out for them ankles. I’m not trying to fall, and the older you get, the more important avoiding a mishap becomes. But keeping it real, I’m not opposed to pulling out that special pair of high-heels I keep in a box in the back of my closet. With the right outfit on the right occasion, I’ll suffer a little bit, but it’s got to be worth it. Anything over an hour and the dogs be barking; my feet start to hurt, and all I can think about is giving them a rest. Those heels might be the right shoe for the occasion, but they’re the wrong fit for long-term comfort. This is sometimes true when it comes to our relationships.

    My friend Gloria has been in a relationship for five years, and when I tell you she desperately wants to be married, trust, it’s an understatement. But here’s the thing about sister-girl, for all the years that she’s talked about her boo, she has never shared any of the details about their relationship—not even his name. And because we know that’s how she is, we’ve learned not to ask questions. Recently, and to my surprise, she shared a little bit, and because she did, I knew that she was hurting.

    Gloria finally told this man how she truly feels about him, and after that, crickets! Hadn’t heard from him in months. She made the statement, “Love chose me, I didn’t choose love, and he just happen to be the man that I fell in love with.” She told him that she wanted to be the woman he chooses to marry. This is a situation when it boils down to whether we will believe what God’s Word says about love, or we’ll believe what we’ve seen in movies or on television.

    God’s love is extraordinary. It gets expressed through us as we live by the example of Jesus Christ. 1John 4:16 (ESV) says, “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” To come to know and believe God’s love isn’t a suggestion; it’s a must! When everything is said and done, the love we have for ourselves is an extension of the love we have for Him. The two go hand in hand. 1John 4:19 tells us that our ability to love at all exists because He first loved us. We couldn’t love ourselves if God didn’t love us. And because He loves us, He teaches us to love Him back.

    Understanding this is critical, particularly when it comes to your desire to marry. It is important for us to comprehend, in the greatest way possible, that we cannot love another person beyond the level we believe ourselves to be loved. If you love God and love yourself, you will not emotionally invest in a man that does not assure you confidently of your worthiness to be his wife. Five years is just too long to wait for this kind of assurance, and you certainly shouldn’t have to ask for it.

    Self-love and self-care is more than a spa-day and pedicure. There’s not a hint of arrogance or pride in it. Self-love is loving God through Christ with all that we have, and doing it with the understanding that loving Him is the same thing as loving ourselves. This is why Jesus Christ said in Matthew 6:25 (ESV), “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.” We don’t have to worry about these things because when we put God in the number one spot, He will take care of everything we need and then some.

    So just as loving ourselves is an extension of our love for God, we will know the right fit for us because this man’s love will be an extension of God’s love for us. There are occasions where we may not love ourselves well because we haven’t yet learned to honor God’s love. In those instances, we might emotionally invest in a man that seems like the right fit, but he’s all wrong. We will outgrow him as our love for God expands. A sure indication that he’s the wrong one is feeling a need to prod him to make a commitment. Be confident that God loves you way better than this. ■

    English Standard Version (ESV), The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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

  • A Woman with Standards

    A Woman with Standards

    Proverbs 31:10(NLT) says, “A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.” We might be tempted to overlook this jewel because so much has changed in modern times, but then again, so much has remained the same. It should never be lost on us that men are just as concerned about finding a good quality woman as women are about partnering with a good and Godly man.  According to Proverbs 31:10, a good woman is hard to find but once a man does find her, she’s going to be the blessing that God promises in His Word. The spectacular thing is that this woman is you! You’re the promise that God has made to the man that is worthy of a woman with Godly standards.

    We’ve spent a good deal of time in our conversations with others in our respective workplaces and everyday life talking about the state of being single. It is so far from how things used to be back in the day that it’s mind boggling. To think that technology would change things to such a degree that for a huge amount of people, the initial stage of dating now begins online. The upside is that with these modern changes, we’re understanding much more about the importance of preparing for marriage mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We’re more strategic about positioning ourselves for what we want.

    Many single people have adopted this dating strategy of sitting in front of their computers, joining a dating website, taking the time to complete questionnaires, and trying to be thoughtful and transparent about the answers they are being asked to provide. When it comes to allowing God to point us in the direction of His divine destiny for our lives, we must not do less. Even more thoughtfulness and transparency is required.

    If our aim is to be a woman with standards, and to be the blessing that God promises in Proverbs 31:10, we must understand that the Lord is the orchestrator of our preparation process. It’s His good pleasure to help you partner, because your future union is part of His plan. One of the ways that God helps us is to reveal the areas where our standards might need some tweaking.

    So before we embark upon anything else, priority one of our strategy for crossing paths with the person that is to be our marital partner must be to keep an eye out for what God is revealing to us. We’re not perfect, but God’s plan is that we love completely through the perfect love of Christ. This is the love that binds the unity of our relationships, and there may be areas in your life where you need greater revelation and understanding in order to love completely.

    The mark of a standard-bearer is one who learns from her mistakes and grows in God’s love. 1 Corinthians 13:1 (ESV) tells us, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”  This verse is referring to the love of God in Christ. It must be anchored in our hearts, because if it isn’t, there’s no glue to hold a union in place. 1John 4:8 tells us that anyone that does not love with the unconditional, overwhelmingly good, patient, and everlasting love of God in Christ does not know God, because God is love. Surrender your dating strategy to His guidance. Let Him tell you what you’re missing, then let Him prepare you to receive the promise by teaching you to love according to His standard. ■

    English Standard Version (ESV), The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

    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.

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

  • Desire Is What You Need

    Desire Is What You Need

    Isaiah 57:10 (NLT)
    “You grew weary in your search, but you never gave up.  Desire gave you renewed strength and you did not grow weary.”

    How many Christians do you know today that are tired of life and are constantly feeling like there’s no good left in the world? I know quite a few of them. More than ever, a number of us are complaining about the state of conditions today. God has a remedy for this. He tells us in Philippians 2:13 that we should constantly remind ourselves that He’s in control, and He is working in us through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. So, we have to ask ourselves if we are tired because we’re not leaning on the Holy Spirit like we should. Could it be that we’re not allowing the Spirit to be at work within?

    Through the Spirit, God has given us the ability to please Him. He tells us in Philippians 2:14(NLT), “Do everything without complaining and arguing.” This is where our heads and hearts ought to be. Some Christians are complaining because they have erroneously believed that God’s grace exempts them from trials and tribulations. Romans 11:6 (NLT) tells us, “And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.” God’s unmerited favor is His grace. It’s free, and we didn’t do anything to deserve, nor could we. It is His gift to us, but it does not mean that life is always going to be easy.  Life has a way of moving at a pace that we’re sometimes not prepared for. Sometimes we wish it would speed up a bit faster, and sometimes we want it to slow down. We want life to meet us at our comfort level. That’s not how it works.

    There are so many people that are saved, but are mad and angry on the inside because they know down deep in their gut there’s something they need to do, or something they need to stop doing. They just simply won’t get out of their own way, because they want to keep doing what they’re doing. Instead we complain, complain, complain!

    Rather than all this murmuring and complaining, God’s word plainly instructs us to be thankful in all things and in every circumstance. In 1Thessalonians 5:16-22 The Message (MSG), He tells us, “16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 19-22 Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.”

    When we go in the opposite direction of being thankful, we stifle the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and open a door for the enemy to come in. This is the last thing you want to have happen in your life. Keep in mind that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ knocks at the door of our lives and waits for us to invite him in. The devil doesn’t do this. If you give him an opening through disobedience and doubt, the enemy will knock down the door and try to crush everything in sight. This is not something we want to happen, and by aligning ourselves with the plan of God we can prevent it.

    In Revelations 3:2, Jesus Christ calls on us to wake up and strengthen what remains. We must have a deep and yearning desire not only to please God, but to demonstrate our gratitude. Only then will we prioritize the things that are important to Him, and begin to shut down negativity. Desire is what we all need! Isaiah 57:10 tells us that the right desire will renew our strength. Desire is the very strong feeling that motivates us to action. We must stop using our minds, hearts, and mouths to add to the darkness of satan, and switch on the light of Christ by believing, trusting, and acting upon God’s Word.

    Feed your mind, heart, soul and spirit the right stuff.  Light dispels darkness, and Jesus Christ is the light of the world. God tells us in Romans 15:13(NLT) that HE is the SOURCE of HOPE. He’s our hope!!! He never fails or disappoints! We must let the practice of pleasing God take over our desires, and stop allowing our feelings and emotions to control us. Let’s stop all this complaining and switch it out for speaking constantly with gratitude and thankfulness for how good God is, and how good He has been to us. When you do this, you will let Him “fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”■

    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.

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

    “Desire Is What You Need”, written by FACM, Finding A Christian Man.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

  • He Will Do the Rest

    He Will Do the Rest

    A couple of weeks ago, I was coming out of the grocery store on the way to my car when a homeless man approached me and asked if I could give him anything to get food. Like most folks, I’m extremely careful whenever I’m approached, but it was in a well-lit area, lots of folks around, and this man seemed to be cognizant that keeping a safe space would better his chances of receiving; he made sure not to appear threatening in any respect. I had slipped a few dollars in my coat pocket and felt that giving them to him would be well with my soul, but before I did, I asked, “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?”

    As Christians, we miss enormous opportunities to witness the Word of God to people every day. Either we’re too proud to open our mouths, we’ve made the horrendous mistake of devaluing and overlooking others, or we are persuaded that our two-cents will not have a significant impact. Whatever the case, we’ve created a culture within Christianity where many are quiet when they should be vocal, and they are vocal when they should be quiet.

    Without hesitation, the man quickly answered, “Yes, I sure have. When I was a child, I went to church all the time.” He said. I could’ve taken his word for it right then and there, and given him the money, but I sensed that I was to say a bit more. I didn’t want to take a chance on losing a divine opportunity, so I said to him, “Before I give you this money, would you mind repeating this scripture with me.” I quoted Romans 10:9-10, and he repeated every word I said. After encouraging him with more of the Good News, I then gave him the money.

    There was a time when I, along with other of my Christians friends, did a fair amount of this, but this was years past. We would be unwise to ignore the dangers that are present today, but this doesn’t mean that we abdicate our obligation to the call of God. It means that we are to be even more committed to walk by the Spirit, so that we can hear His voice and heed His call.

    In Revelation 3:20(NLT), Jesus Christ said, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” This invitation from Jesus Christ should come through our lips to the hearts and minds of others as we introduce, or reintroduce, them to his love. God’s Word is alive! He said in Isaiah 55:11(NLT) “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” Our responsibility is to be a beacon of light in the earth, and extend to others what has been so freely extended to us. We are not to be concerned about how we are received. Our only obligation is to put God’s love in the atmosphere and be a witness. He will do the rest. ■

    Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    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.

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

  • Ouch…This Hurts Too Much!

    Ouch…This Hurts Too Much!

    From sun up to sun down, you can tell a person all day long that you love them, but if your actions don’t prove your love, it will be difficult for them to believe what you say. I had an up close and personal view of this when I saw my friend, Josh, the other day. I ran into him grabbing lunch at a nearby eatery. After we greeted each other, without hesitation he began telling me of the turmoil he’s going through with his fiancé. They got engaged a year-ago and have called off the wedding twice in six-months. He says that he loves her very much, but “if one more thing goes wrong in this relationship, I don’t know if I can hold on to it any longer. It just hurts too much!” I thought it was an amazingly candid statement on his part, but candid doesn’t mean that it came from a place of truth.

    I was blessed to grow up around strong matriarchs and prayer warriors that made sure my siblings and I never missed Sunday School or church, unless we were too sick to get out of bed. Back then they didn’t play, and you couldn’t get away with pretending. If you were sick enough to miss church, you knew a round of laxatives or the worst tasting medicine ever was coming your way. So, we almost never pretended to be sick, and thankfully, the Word of God was indeed the backdrop for our childhood and adolescent years. I can’t tell you the number of times I heard our seasoned soldiers in the Word say, “When you’ve done all you can, trust in the Lord and He will carry you through.” This was imbedded in my mind and heart, and I’m so glad to have learned this powerful battle strategy so young in life.

    Jesus Christ said in John 16:33 (NLT), “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” He wanted us to have confidence in the gifts that he’s made available to us. They are of such high quality that we can’t fail in life when we use them. God’s love never fails. All the spiritual weapons that He’s given us are fail-proof. We must trust this truth, because it will give us endurance through tough times. Jesus Christ wanted us to be clear that while we’re on this earth, yes there’s going to be trials and tribulations, but he had overcome them through God’s love, and by doing so, he laid the blueprint for our victory as well. We can follow his steps and conquer anything the enemy throws our way.

    1Corinthians 13:7 (NLT) assures us, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” Not only are these beautiful words, they are the truth regarding the love of God in Christ. It has no equal. 1Corinthians 13:8 tells us that love never fails. This is what we’re working with as sons and daughters of the Most High God. There is never a problem that God’s love cannot solve.

    Our Lord and Savior tells us in Matthew 11:28-30 to give our burdens to him because only he is able to carry the heaviness of them. He invites us to trust in him, and as we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, our roots grow deeper in His love.

    It is vital that we come to our relationships from a place of truth, not our truth, but GOD’s truth! Your brand of love may not be able to hold on, but God’s love is a glue that sticks forever! His love changes things! It creates, and it produces good results. It stands to reason that the trust you have in Christ will create a stronger commitment and love for God, and it will also strengthen your relationships with others. So, whatever the issue is in your relationship with that special person in your life, THINK before you speak! Don’t make a statement that gives the devil a foot-hole into your union, but do two things: #1 Study God’s Word and commit yourself to learn greater lessons about God’s love through Christ, and #2 invite the presence of the Holy Spirit into your heart and into your relationship. If you will let him guide you, through Christ, he will usher in healing and peace in your union.■

    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.

    “Ouch…This Hurts Too Much!”, written by FACM, Finding A Christian Man.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

     

  • God’s Contagious, Ever-Abiding Love

    God’s Contagious, Ever-Abiding Love

    I’m sure you’ve heard people make the statement, “You can’t help who you love” or “The heart does what it wants to do.” It’s true that the heart can be untamed in its desires, but God has given us something called free-will. He has also given us the responsibility to exercise the gift of free-will when it comes to what goes in our hearts, and what comes out of them. So, He wants us to take a different approach when it comes to love, because love is serious business. 1 John 4:8(NLT) tells us “But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” This verse lets us know definitively that love is a choice. We choose who we want to love and how we want to show it. To love God’s way is, and will always be, the key to success in all relationships.

    The world has a completely different formula and approach; it’s take what you can when you can, and if its anything left-over, take that too. As Christians, this sometimes unconsciously filters into our mindset and affects our relationships. Those that have been single for a long season have a pretty good idea of their likes and dislikes. Through both bad and good experiences, they’ve learned what irritates them, and what makes them feel valued and appreciated. It is good to know what we want, but we can make the mistake of holding so tightly to these things that they get rooted in our hearts.

    1 John 4:13-16 The Message (MSG) says, “13-16 This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.”

    Jesus Christ made it crystal clear in Luke 16:13 that we don’t have the capacity to serve two masters at the same time. James 1:8 tells us that a double-minded person is unstable in all his or her ways. We have the responsibility and privilege to make choices, and staying in the middle is not an option. God is a jealous God. He alone must be worshipped and adored. His love must take centerstage in our hearts and minds, because fear and love cannot occupy the same space. We determine which one rules based on our free-will choice.

    1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT) tells us, “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” The love that this verse is pointing to is the all-encompassing, overwhelming, unconditional, unselfish love of God. Our relationship with God must come first, and we must participate in this relationship with Him by embracing His brand of love through the life, ministry, and example of Jesus Christ. This is what attracts blessings like a magnet.

    We live in a world that is riddled with fear, lust, envy, jealousy and pain, all symptoms of the cursed dominion of the devil. It’s in plain sight and gives us an ever-present reminder of what life without God and His love looks like. We have to be ever so careful about the things that we allow to dominate our hearts. God’s love is a huge reality. His love is so awesome that we don’t need to give anything else room. It’s so large that it will consume every crack and crevice of our existence if we allow it. As we make the choice to understand and express it in the way that He desires us to, 2 Thessalonians 3:5 tells us that God will take the wheel and lead us into this kind of contagious, ever-abiding love. ■

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

    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.

    “God’s Contagious, Ever-Abiding Love”, written by FACM, Finding A Christian Man.Com ©2017.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

     

  • Training in Godliness

    Training in Godliness

    Like many others, I have been glued to the television watching athletes from around the world compete for the gold in the Olympics. I happened to see a segment the other day on what it takes to be an Olympian. Three female athletes were interviewed. They explained the grueling, yet rewarding, preparation and training for the games. They have to pay close attention to what they eat and put into their bodies, and they spend hours working out daily to build their athletic ability. Even their sleep patterns must be regimented. There’s no question about it, to get to the Olympic games requires hard work and pure dedication, and the desire to be the best must be deeply embedded in your DNA.

    As we look at the requirements to be a top-notch athlete, we have to ask ourselves if we’re willing to give our Christians walk with God this same level of dedication and effort. God deserves and desires our best. That’s what He’s given to us. John 3:16(NKJV) tells us, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God gave His Son, a perfect Savior and Lord, to redeem the world and pay for our sins. He nailed them to the cross and crucified them. He didn’t have to do it, but he did. Through Christ, God has given us the best, and gratitude for this gift should fuel our every endeavor.

    1Timothy 4:8(NLT) tells us, “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” People will give their whole lives towards physical training for an earthly trophy. God requires us to give our whole lives to train in Godliness for a heavenly crown. Through the letters that the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, God was training Timothy and us to be the leaders He has called us to be. We learn that physical training is good, but the rewards don’t compare to training in Godliness. Yes, there are certainly benefits to being in the best physical shape, and it’s important to stay healthy, but training in Godliness will greatly benefit us in this life and in the life to come.

    Psalm 19:7-8 (NLT) tells us, “7 The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.” As Christians, we’re training for strength and endurance to run the race that God has placed before us. The equipment that He’s given us to work with is perfect. We will never faint from exhaustion because His Word will continually revive our souls.

    Athletes work hard at being the best in their respective sports, we should place no less effort to put on Godliness so that we represent God’s Kingdom well. We need to spend time in His Word, learning His precepts so that we grow strong spiritual muscles in faith.

    1Corinthians 4:20-21a (NLT) says, “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. 21a Which do you choose?” We all have to choose whether we’re running a marathon for God or for the world. At the end, our life’s journey will be measured by the time, energy, and devotion we’ve put forth to make God the number one priority in our lives. He’s given us the example of Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and His matchless Word to help us train in Godliness. If we follow His instructions, our victory and success is guaranteed. ■

    Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    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.

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

     

  • Everyone Had Just Enough‌

    Everyone Had Just Enough‌

    When the Children of Israel were in the wilderness, God fed them manna from heaven. It nourished them to such an extent that none fell to sickness or disease during the entire season of which they ate it. Exodus 16:16-18 says, “16 These are the LORD’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.” 17 So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. 18 But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.”

    God has given us His Word so that we will know the truth, live by it, and walk in it. His truth is unfailing, and there are patterns that He has set forth in His Word for our living and learning. These patterns do not ever change. Numbers 23:19(NLT) tells us, “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind.” When He does something that is revealed in His Word, He allows us a window into how He moves. In Exodus 16:16-18, we see the mind and heart of God at work. Manna fell from Heaven, and this demonstrates God’s exceedingly abundant provision; however, you and I must take note that neither greed or lack was tolerated. Everyone had just enough.

    As women, many of us have an innate yearning from youth to be partnered up. We desire a good man that will sweep us off our feet. I believe that God has woven this desire within our make-up as part of His divine plan that we be fruitful and multiply. It’s a beautiful thing, just as He intended it to be. Spiritual maturity demands that with the promise of provision of a good and Godly spouse, we also examine the discipline that God set forth in Exodus 16:16-18. Sometimes our expectations are out of balance. We want a husband to possess attributes and qualities that over exceed what is needed to keep us grounded in God’s plan.

    The Reset of Expectations
    This doesn’t mean that we aim low. Jesus Christ tells us in Mark 11:24(NLT), “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” We absolutely should desire to meet a man that will be committed to us, and love us with the heart of Christ.  But when you pray, you cannot have thoughts that all men are the same, or that you’ll never meet a good man because all the good men are taken. These thoughts do not speak the truth about God’s provision, and therefore, cannot support your faith.

    When we go to Heavenly Father with low expectations, our unbelief is revealed, and this is not helpful to the cause. We can’t have an attitude of ‘maybe God will answer my prayer’, because this is contrary to the truth that Jesus spoke in Mark 11:24. We have to know beyond knowing that God desires to bless us because He wants to see us happy and fulfilled, more than we want it for ourselves.

    Equaling Out the Scale
    While it is a blessing and a treasure to become someone’s wife, we must understand the other side of the equation, which is the capacity to satisfy the responsibility of caring for another person’s heart and well-being. The degree of your expectation must equal your preparedness and commitment to walk by the example of Christ, to love and serve out of a heart filled with his love.

    Galatians 6:7(NLT) tells us, “Don’t be misled:  No one makes a fool of God.  What a person plants, he will harvest.” This verse reminds us to be cognizant of the balance upon which God has established His laws. He is a God of order, and order demands that we walk in alignment and harmony with His Word. He instructs us to pray with faith, and to have our expectations appropriately aligned. If we’re not quite there yet, we need to pray to God for guidance and direction through the Spirit of Christ, so that we can experience the fulfillment of our desires. ■

    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. 

    “Everyone Had Just Enough”, written by FACM for FindChristianMan.Com ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!