5 Perfectly Good Reasons You Might Be Single
by Scott Alden on May 26, 2011
For us single folks, it can get a little tiresome having our relationship status constantly framed as a problem. Sure, some may have issues that they’re unaware of that are keeping them out of the relationship they want, but, on the other hand many of us are just fine where we are.
Related: 15 Perks To Being Single and Dating
I recently spoke with writer, experienced dater and all-around-bad-ass Rachel Khona about the misconceptions that many people have about the unattached masses.
“Single women are often portrayed as marriage/baby hungry predators who are just looking to sink their claws into a man. Single men are often seen as non-committal and only out for some poon. The reality is there are men and women on both sides of the spectrum and in-between,” Khona says. “These days more women are interested in having a good time and I actually find a lot of men who do want commitment. I think people have a few bad experiences and they start to stereotype the opposite sex, but that’s just kookoo for cocoa puffs.”
Indeed.
Related: 7 Conversations You Have To Have Before You Commit
These misconceptions often affect the way that singles view themselves, too. They come to believe that their relationship status reflects poorly on them: They must be too desperate, too immature, or just too screwed up for relationships.
Take heart. You might be single for perfectly good reasons. Here are 5:
1. You’re not just looking for any relationship. You’re looking for the right one.
There are those people who get married right out of college and are 100 percent sure of that choice and live happily ever after. The rest of us might need to figure out what we’re really looking for before taking that next step. What you actually want may be very different from what you imagine, and it helps to know what’s really out there. According to Khona, casual dating is an excellent way to learn about your needs, desires and deal-breakers:
"You might think you’re OK dating a starving artist until you realize you’re tired of hanging out with someone who’s broke. Or you may start dating someone who’s really amazing personality-wise, but sucks in bed -- and realize that bad bedroom skills is a deal-breaker. Or you may realize you no longer want to date a guy who doesn’t share the same political views as you. Dating is a learning experience. You trip, you fall, you make mistakes, and you learn from them. Once you learn a lesson, your point of view shifts, and you start attracting different people."
Related: Your Friends Know Why Your Single. Do You?
2. You’re totally traumatized by your last relationship
In which case, OWN that. It’s really important that you don’t jump into anything you’re not ready for before you’ve put in some real time processing that loss. If you can keep one foot in the dating game, have some fun and build up your confidence? Power to you.
3. You’re enjoying dating multiple people
Absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s better to be upfront about it, but if that’s what’s working for you and no one else has a problem with it, why not?
Related: 6 Perfectly Good Reasons To Date Multiple People
4. You’re busy
Relationships are time consuming and you’ve got stuff to do. Maybe you’re focusing on your career, or your art, or school, or you’re a detective who’s this close to cracking that big case. Sure, it’s worth it for the right relationship, but if you’re someone who has a hard time balancing your work life, your love life and your social life (which is pretty much everyone, right?) then casual dating might just work better for you until you’re on more solid ground career-wise. Just be aware that if a relationship is something you want in your life, at some point you’ll have to put some energy into that.
Related: Don't Look For The Right Person, Become The Right Person
5. You have things to learn from being single
Often, you’ll hear single folk say that they’re “taking a break from relationships to work on themselves.” It’s become something of a cliche, but there is a lot of truth to it. I asked Khona for her take on what can be learned from being single that can’t be learned from a relationship:
“How to be independent. How to take care of yourself. It’s nice because you know that when you meet someone, it’s because you want to be with them and not because you need to be with them. Personally, I feel like I can be my own person rather than swaying to the will of a guy. Kind of like an oak tree, instead of a palm tree.”
Agreed. If you’re using your single time to get solid in yourself, you’re just going to be that much more solid in a relationship when the time is right.
Whether it's a means to an end, a phase, or a lifestyle choice, being single should never be a source of shame. Dating can be enjoyed for what it is, whether you're actively seeking a relationship, or not.
Rachel Khona is a writer, performer and real-deal dating expert living in Brooklyn. She is currently working on her memoir about growing up wild-at-heart in a conservative Indian family, Tales of a Dot Head. You can keep up with her on Twitter Facebook
Quoted: http://www.howaboutwe.com/date-report/1280-5-perfectly-good-reasons-you-might-be-single
Thursday, September 29, 2011
5 Common First Date Fears That You Really Don't Need To Worry About
5 Common First Date Fears That You Really Don't Need To Worry About by , on Tue Sep 27, 2011 12:13pm PDT
by Scott Alden for HowAboutWe.com
1. You’re not good looking enough
Look. I’m not going to lie to you and say that looks aren’t important. You already know that they are, because they’re important to you, right? But you have to remember that looks are very fluid. You rarely see yourself when you’re laughing, when you’re curious, when you’re talking about something you’re really passionate about.
More often than not, you see yourself in the mirror when you’re worried about how you look. Trust me. You look better than that.
2. You don’t know anything about anything
You’re convinced that all your date is going to want to talk about is contemporary art/the implications of Exxon’s recent deal with Russia/indie heist films of the 90s/which hot new startup has a real shot for success/fall fashion trends and you don’t know anything about that stuff.
Well. So what. It’s your date too, and if your date can’t be bothered to find out what you’re interested in, that’s not your fault. Don’t feel like you have to smile and nod all night -- you can just change the subject. Or if you really are interested in what they’re saying, listen and and then ask informed questions. The neuroscientist sitting across from you doesn’t expect you to know already know everything about neuroscience, and may enjoy talking about it to someone who doesn’t get it.
3. You’re awkward
One of the top qualities cited by all genders and sexual orientations as important in a potential mate is confidence. So, fearing that you’ll be penalized for your tendency to stumble over your words and knock over salt shakers isn’t crazy.
Please remember, however, that confidence is not the same as flawlessness. It’s easy to be confident if you’re Mr./Mrs. Smooth, but confidence despite the fact that you’re not the ideal specimen? That’s impressive.
Take for example, say, the President of the United States. He routinely stammers and trips over his words, but still comes across as confident and commanding. The point is -- how you rock what you got is as important as what you got.
4. You’re inexperienced
Maybe you ended a long relationship or a marriage and you haven’t been on a date since The Real World was worth watching. So what? The only mistake you can make is to apologize for your lack of experience.
The best dates are the ones where you’re both able to forget the rules, anyway. So you’ve got an advantage if you don’t know them to begin with.
5. You’re going to get something stuck in your teeth/spill on your shirt/have bad breath/do something else that will traumatize you forever
First of all, it’s very easy to avoid most of these feared faux pas. Don’t order certain foods, have some breath mints on you, a little bottle of Wine-Away if that’s how you roll.
More importantly, if someone really holds something like spinach in your teeth against you, despite all of your other wonderful qualities, then forget them. A minor dating accident is actually a great litmus test for shallowness. If someone reacts badly to a little thing like that, consider yourself lucky that you found out early.
Quoted: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/5-common-first-date-fears-that-you-really-dont-need-to-worry-about-2570155
by Scott Alden for HowAboutWe.com
1. You’re not good looking enough
Look. I’m not going to lie to you and say that looks aren’t important. You already know that they are, because they’re important to you, right? But you have to remember that looks are very fluid. You rarely see yourself when you’re laughing, when you’re curious, when you’re talking about something you’re really passionate about.
More often than not, you see yourself in the mirror when you’re worried about how you look. Trust me. You look better than that.
2. You don’t know anything about anything
You’re convinced that all your date is going to want to talk about is contemporary art/the implications of Exxon’s recent deal with Russia/indie heist films of the 90s/which hot new startup has a real shot for success/fall fashion trends and you don’t know anything about that stuff.
Well. So what. It’s your date too, and if your date can’t be bothered to find out what you’re interested in, that’s not your fault. Don’t feel like you have to smile and nod all night -- you can just change the subject. Or if you really are interested in what they’re saying, listen and and then ask informed questions. The neuroscientist sitting across from you doesn’t expect you to know already know everything about neuroscience, and may enjoy talking about it to someone who doesn’t get it.
3. You’re awkward
One of the top qualities cited by all genders and sexual orientations as important in a potential mate is confidence. So, fearing that you’ll be penalized for your tendency to stumble over your words and knock over salt shakers isn’t crazy.
Please remember, however, that confidence is not the same as flawlessness. It’s easy to be confident if you’re Mr./Mrs. Smooth, but confidence despite the fact that you’re not the ideal specimen? That’s impressive.
Take for example, say, the President of the United States. He routinely stammers and trips over his words, but still comes across as confident and commanding. The point is -- how you rock what you got is as important as what you got.
4. You’re inexperienced
Maybe you ended a long relationship or a marriage and you haven’t been on a date since The Real World was worth watching. So what? The only mistake you can make is to apologize for your lack of experience.
The best dates are the ones where you’re both able to forget the rules, anyway. So you’ve got an advantage if you don’t know them to begin with.
5. You’re going to get something stuck in your teeth/spill on your shirt/have bad breath/do something else that will traumatize you forever
First of all, it’s very easy to avoid most of these feared faux pas. Don’t order certain foods, have some breath mints on you, a little bottle of Wine-Away if that’s how you roll.
More importantly, if someone really holds something like spinach in your teeth against you, despite all of your other wonderful qualities, then forget them. A minor dating accident is actually a great litmus test for shallowness. If someone reacts badly to a little thing like that, consider yourself lucky that you found out early.
Quoted: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/5-common-first-date-fears-that-you-really-dont-need-to-worry-about-2570155
Monday, September 26, 2011
帮助我们成长的十种人脉
帮助我们成长的十种人脉
1. 恩人：给你知识
2. 敌人；帮你清醒
3. 友人：与你携手
4. 亲人：伴你远行
... 5. 贵人：给你力量
6. 能人：治你毛病
7. 小人：使你谨慎
8. 爱人：送你春风
9. 贤人：解尼迷津
10. 众人：助你成功
1. 恩人：给你知识
2. 敌人；帮你清醒
3. 友人：与你携手
4. 亲人：伴你远行
... 5. 贵人：给你力量
6. 能人：治你毛病
7. 小人：使你谨慎
8. 爱人：送你春风
9. 贤人：解尼迷津
10. 众人：助你成功
Interesting Facts
A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes. (O.M.G.!!)
A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death. (Creepy. I'm still not over the pig.)
The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off. (Honey, I'm home . What the...?)
The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field. (30 minutes. Lucky pig! Can you imagine?)
The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds. (What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)
... Some lions mate over 50 times a day. (I still can't believe that pig...quality over quantity.)
Butterflies taste with their feet. (Something I always wanted to know.)
Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump. (Okay, so that would be a good thing.)
A cat's urine glows under a black light. (I wonder how much the government paid to figure that out.)
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain. (I know some people like that.)
Starfish have no brains. (I know some people like that, too.)
Polar bears are left-handed. (Talk about a southpaw.)
Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure. (What about that pig? Do the dolphins know about the pig?)
Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread these crazy facts
A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death. (Creepy. I'm still not over the pig.)
The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off. (Honey, I'm home . What the...?)
The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field. (30 minutes. Lucky pig! Can you imagine?)
The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds. (What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)
... Some lions mate over 50 times a day. (I still can't believe that pig...quality over quantity.)
Butterflies taste with their feet. (Something I always wanted to know.)
Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump. (Okay, so that would be a good thing.)
A cat's urine glows under a black light. (I wonder how much the government paid to figure that out.)
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain. (I know some people like that.)
Starfish have no brains. (I know some people like that, too.)
Polar bears are left-handed. (Talk about a southpaw.)
Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure. (What about that pig? Do the dolphins know about the pig?)
Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread these crazy facts
SECRET TO LONG LIFE & SUCCESS
SECRET TO LONG LIFE & SUCCESS
A German group of psychologists, physicians and insurance companies who cooperated on a research project, designed to find the secret to long life and success, made a surprising discovery.
The secret? Kiss your wife each morning when you leave for work!
...
The meticulous German researchers discovered that men who kiss their wives every morning have fewer automobile accidents on their way to work than men who omit the morning kiss.
The good-morning kissers miss less work because of sickness and earn 20 to 30 percent more money than non-kissers.
How do they explain their findings? According to West Germany's Dr. Arthur Szabo, "A husband who kisses his wife every morning begins the day with a positive attitude."See More
A German group of psychologists, physicians and insurance companies who cooperated on a research project, designed to find the secret to long life and success, made a surprising discovery.
The secret? Kiss your wife each morning when you leave for work!
...
The meticulous German researchers discovered that men who kiss their wives every morning have fewer automobile accidents on their way to work than men who omit the morning kiss.
The good-morning kissers miss less work because of sickness and earn 20 to 30 percent more money than non-kissers.
How do they explain their findings? According to West Germany's Dr. Arthur Szabo, "A husband who kisses his wife every morning begins the day with a positive attitude."See More
Friday, September 16, 2011
What Is Taking So Long?
When raising children, it is important to address wrongdoings and bad behavior right away. If you wait to discipline your children, they will not make the connection between bad behavior and the resulting consequence. Children need to make an association with bad behavior and consequences.
If this is true for raising children why doesn't God do the same with us? Humanity commits sin after sin, and it seems like we go mostly unpunished. If we are so evil and ungodly, why doesn't Christ come back already and bring us the punishment we deserve?
As 2 Peter 3:9 declares, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
Thomas Vincent writes, "First, the wrath of God has not yet come. Had it already come, who could have stood before it? ... In this world, God exercises His patience towards the wicked. He is angry with them, and His anger smokes against them; but He withholds His wrath from breaking forth into a flame, which would quickly devours all the wicked of the earth." God's wrath will come, but only when God sees fit. For the moment, God is still patient with us. He still allows us to make our own decisions, and He continues to withhold His full judgement.
God's impending wrath and judgement are much like our impending death: one of them will happen to you, and it might be sooner than you expect. Tomorrow will not always exist.
Living Life
If this is true for raising children why doesn't God do the same with us? Humanity commits sin after sin, and it seems like we go mostly unpunished. If we are so evil and ungodly, why doesn't Christ come back already and bring us the punishment we deserve?
As 2 Peter 3:9 declares, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
Thomas Vincent writes, "First, the wrath of God has not yet come. Had it already come, who could have stood before it? ... In this world, God exercises His patience towards the wicked. He is angry with them, and His anger smokes against them; but He withholds His wrath from breaking forth into a flame, which would quickly devours all the wicked of the earth." God's wrath will come, but only when God sees fit. For the moment, God is still patient with us. He still allows us to make our own decisions, and He continues to withhold His full judgement.
God's impending wrath and judgement are much like our impending death: one of them will happen to you, and it might be sooner than you expect. Tomorrow will not always exist.
Living Life
Hell Is Very Real
The Bible is very clear on the teaching of hell. Revelation 20:15 says, "Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire." Our name is either in the book of life, or it is not. Non one gains automatic entry into God's book of life. Our nationality or heritage has little to do with our destiny. It determines where we were born, but we determine where we will go. We cannot assume we will go to heaven because we come from a Christian family. These are not the requirements for going to heaven and escaping the second death, which is God's wrath in the form of hell. There is one way: trusting in JEsus Christ. Don Fortner writes,"I must wwarn you who are yet without Christ, if you will not trust Christ you must be forever damned! Soon, you shall be 'cast into the lake of fire!" All who are found guilty of sin in that great and terrible day of God's wrath and judgment shall ber cast into the lake of fire. There you shall be made to suffer the unmitigated wrath of almighty God forever!"
This is not a very nice message, but it is a good remindar: the consequences of rejecting Christ are very sever. This hold true for us, our friends, our families, and anyone else we know. We should not take the message of God's wrath lightly.
Living Life
This is not a very nice message, but it is a good remindar: the consequences of rejecting Christ are very sever. This hold true for us, our friends, our families, and anyone else we know. We should not take the message of God's wrath lightly.
Living Life
It Gets Worse
Over the course of history, men have created clever instruments of destruction. We have developed swords, guns, and bombs that can destroy cities in an intense inferno of heat and radiation. For all our ingenuity and malice, we possess nothing that compares to the strength or devastation of natural disasters. Tornadoes blast through houses and earthquakes level cities. This world and all that is in it is God's, and He is entitled to do whatever He wants to it. Yet for all the horrible disasters we have seen unleashed on earth, nothing compares to the wrath that is still yet to come. 2 Peter 3:10 states, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare."
The day that Jesus will return to earth is entirely unknown. But when the Lord does return, everyone will know because we will see the full measure of His wrath. Thomas Watson writes, "If it is so dreadful to hear the lion roar, what must it be when he begins to tear his prey?...'Who knows the power of His wrath?' What fools are they, who, for a drop of pleasure-drink a sea of wrath!"
We tend to see sin as a batch of brownies with a hint of poison in them. We know it is bad for us, we know it could have terrible consequences, but for a moment that sin will taste sweet. Instead, we should view sin as the exact opposite: toxic sludge with chocolate on top, minus the chocolate.
Living Life
The day that Jesus will return to earth is entirely unknown. But when the Lord does return, everyone will know because we will see the full measure of His wrath. Thomas Watson writes, "If it is so dreadful to hear the lion roar, what must it be when he begins to tear his prey?...'Who knows the power of His wrath?' What fools are they, who, for a drop of pleasure-drink a sea of wrath!"
We tend to see sin as a batch of brownies with a hint of poison in them. We know it is bad for us, we know it could have terrible consequences, but for a moment that sin will taste sweet. Instead, we should view sin as the exact opposite: toxic sludge with chocolate on top, minus the chocolate.
Living Life
Thursday, September 08, 2011
One and Only God
God is extremely jealous, and He has declared that we are to have no other gods but Him. There were no other gods before Him, and there will be no other gods after Him. This means that God was not a man from another planet, who was good enough to reach the level of godhood, as Mormons believe. This means that God does not have a wife, as some cults believe. God is quite emphatic that He is the one and only God who ever was and ever will be.
God declares in Isaiah 44:6, "This is what the LORD says- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God." God is the beginning and the end. He is not a beginning or an end.
Acts 4:12 also states, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." If there were other gods, it would mean that there are other gods through whom we might be saved. But this is not the case. This is very important because there are many who cannot accept this. They twist Scripture to their own destruction because of what they want to believe.
J.C Ryle says, "I say calmly that a religion without Christ, a religion that takes away from Christ, a religion that adds anything to Christ, a religion that puts sincerity in the place of Christ-all are dangerous."
God's wrath remains on those who twist Scripture. In fact, God declares His wrath on those who twist Scripture in Revelation 22:18-19. So do not twist God's word; He takes it very seriously.
Living Life
God declares in Isaiah 44:6, "This is what the LORD says- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God." God is the beginning and the end. He is not a beginning or an end.
Acts 4:12 also states, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." If there were other gods, it would mean that there are other gods through whom we might be saved. But this is not the case. This is very important because there are many who cannot accept this. They twist Scripture to their own destruction because of what they want to believe.
J.C Ryle says, "I say calmly that a religion without Christ, a religion that takes away from Christ, a religion that adds anything to Christ, a religion that puts sincerity in the place of Christ-all are dangerous."
God's wrath remains on those who twist Scripture. In fact, God declares His wrath on those who twist Scripture in Revelation 22:18-19. So do not twist God's word; He takes it very seriously.
Living Life
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
God's Wrath on Complacency
Complacency is a smug or uncritical attitude of satisfaction towards one's accomplishments or achievements. This is nothing more than a hardening of the heart, an excess of pride, and a lack of love for the Gospel of God. It is easy to be satisfied with our walk in God, but this often puts us in a critical spiritual situations. Many Christians cry out to God in the midst of trials. When amazing things happen, we often praise God. However, there are times that are seemingly in between ,when life is ok and nothing short of satisfactory. When everything is going according to plan, do you still turn to God for ALL your strength? Beware the danger of becoming indifferent when life is "just fine".
Gardiner Spring writes, "What is indifference to the gospel, but a refusal to love it?... Though multitudes do this, who have no just impressions of the wickedness of so doing, yet is it their great sin, their damning sin, and the sin that binds the guilt of all their other sins upon them."
You will be judged for how much you know. Jesus declares in Luke 12:48, "But the one who does not know and does things deserves punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Your walk with God should be different five days, five weeks, and five years from now. Do not be satisfied with what you already have.
Living Life
Gardiner Spring writes, "What is indifference to the gospel, but a refusal to love it?... Though multitudes do this, who have no just impressions of the wickedness of so doing, yet is it their great sin, their damning sin, and the sin that binds the guilt of all their other sins upon them."
You will be judged for how much you know. Jesus declares in Luke 12:48, "But the one who does not know and does things deserves punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Your walk with God should be different five days, five weeks, and five years from now. Do not be satisfied with what you already have.
Living Life
What God's Law Reveals
There is no such thing as a perfect person. We all make mistakes at some point or time in our lives. No one, not even the smartest person in the world, will score 100% on every test ever taken in life. This, however, is exactly what the law of God requires us to be: perfect in all our ways and thoughts (Matt. 5:48). Technically, we are without excuse. God has given us very clear directions on what to do and what not to do. God laid down laws for everything from what kind of clothes to wear and what type of animals to eat, to how to deal with murderers, thieves, and adulterers.
Anyone who does not fulfill the law perfectly is under the curse of the wrath of God. This should not come as a surprise to us. Those who are familiar with Christianity know that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). If people are so aware of the consequences of sin, why don't people live their lives differently? J.C. Philpot writes, "And the very law of God itself, which threatens a solemn curse against all who are found guilty under it, revealing the wrath of God against all transgression and all transgressors-has it ever restrained men from evil? ... We thus find that no law, whether the law of the land, or the law of Moses, can restrain or subdue sin, or bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness."
The Law of God shows us who we really are: sinners before the Almighty God. It is important to remind ourselves of this so that we are humble and sober0-minded (self-controlled and alert) before our Mighty King.
Living Life
Anyone who does not fulfill the law perfectly is under the curse of the wrath of God. This should not come as a surprise to us. Those who are familiar with Christianity know that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). If people are so aware of the consequences of sin, why don't people live their lives differently? J.C. Philpot writes, "And the very law of God itself, which threatens a solemn curse against all who are found guilty under it, revealing the wrath of God against all transgression and all transgressors-has it ever restrained men from evil? ... We thus find that no law, whether the law of the land, or the law of Moses, can restrain or subdue sin, or bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness."
The Law of God shows us who we really are: sinners before the Almighty God. It is important to remind ourselves of this so that we are humble and sober0-minded (self-controlled and alert) before our Mighty King.
Living Life
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Running from God
The book of Jonah describes how Jonah ran away from God. But wait a moment, isn't God everywhere? How then can you run away from God?
While it is impossible to run away from God physically, our hearts often run away from Him. That is one reason why Jesus quoted Isaiah in Matthew 15:8 by declaring, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Terry Virgo states, "When you're determined to go your own way, not only do you turn your back on the revealed will of God, you also become vulnerable to putting significance in coincidences."
We might be God's heirs, and we might have experienced the healing power of His grace and the hope of salvation that Jesus gave to us. But, that does not mean that we are always doing the will of God.
Unfortunately, there are times when we are not simply stuck in the mire of flesh. There are, sadly, times when we are walking right with God, but then we just simply don't like what He has to say. This was instance that Jonah found himself in.
There are moments where God challenges us. He asks us to move in ways that are not comfortable for us, so that we might grow and experience the power of his grace and blessings. God's will will be done; God will bless those He has chosen to bless. When God challenges us with something that is difficult to accept, we have the choice to participate in His blessing or to risk that blessing being passed on to someone else. Is running from God worth the risk?
Living Life
While it is impossible to run away from God physically, our hearts often run away from Him. That is one reason why Jesus quoted Isaiah in Matthew 15:8 by declaring, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Terry Virgo states, "When you're determined to go your own way, not only do you turn your back on the revealed will of God, you also become vulnerable to putting significance in coincidences."
We might be God's heirs, and we might have experienced the healing power of His grace and the hope of salvation that Jesus gave to us. But, that does not mean that we are always doing the will of God.
Unfortunately, there are times when we are not simply stuck in the mire of flesh. There are, sadly, times when we are walking right with God, but then we just simply don't like what He has to say. This was instance that Jonah found himself in.
There are moments where God challenges us. He asks us to move in ways that are not comfortable for us, so that we might grow and experience the power of his grace and blessings. God's will will be done; God will bless those He has chosen to bless. When God challenges us with something that is difficult to accept, we have the choice to participate in His blessing or to risk that blessing being passed on to someone else. Is running from God worth the risk?
Living Life
I Will Never Leave You
God is with us at every single moment. God is with us in this life. He will be with us in the next life, and God is with us through that transition, often referred to as death. Everyone you know will die, and some will die before you. This is a hard realization.
So comfort people when death occurs. God never glossed over death, and He knows how painful it is for us. God weeps with us. Shortly before Jesus went to His own death on the cross, He raised a dear friend from the dead. But God did not approach the family with, "Good news! You'll see him again one day. I'll just raise him from the dead." Instead, Jesus realized the condition of their hearts, and "Jesus wept" (John 11:35).
Grieving is a process, and we are not meant to grieve forever. Grieving is absolutely necessary, but so is restoration. When death strikes, mourn and weep bitterly. Don't forget that God is right there with you, weeping has lost its power, and one day, death itself will be cast into the lake of fire. You should not expect to see deceased loved ones again in this life, but you should realize that you have One who will never depart from you.
Henry Law writes: "You will find that while a friend on earth is gone, your Friend in heaven cannot die. You will realize the sweetness of the truth: '[Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you]' - Heb. 13:5, "So when you can, rest in the truth of God's eternal through-thick-or-thin presence.
Living Life
So comfort people when death occurs. God never glossed over death, and He knows how painful it is for us. God weeps with us. Shortly before Jesus went to His own death on the cross, He raised a dear friend from the dead. But God did not approach the family with, "Good news! You'll see him again one day. I'll just raise him from the dead." Instead, Jesus realized the condition of their hearts, and "Jesus wept" (John 11:35).
Grieving is a process, and we are not meant to grieve forever. Grieving is absolutely necessary, but so is restoration. When death strikes, mourn and weep bitterly. Don't forget that God is right there with you, weeping has lost its power, and one day, death itself will be cast into the lake of fire. You should not expect to see deceased loved ones again in this life, but you should realize that you have One who will never depart from you.
Henry Law writes: "You will find that while a friend on earth is gone, your Friend in heaven cannot die. You will realize the sweetness of the truth: '[Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you]' - Heb. 13:5, "So when you can, rest in the truth of God's eternal through-thick-or-thin presence.
Living Life
When We Don't Know Where We Are
God is with us, even when we don't know where we are. Life comes at us from many different angles, and some Christians seem to think that life should somehow be easier once Jesus is in our lives. While it is true to a certain extent-because God is the omnipotent source of our strength-we still have to come to Him and have a relationship with Him.
Life is complicated, however. It is easy to assume that people are either with God or against Him. They are either sinning, or they are worshipping Him. But there are other types of people too. There are people who are nothing short of lost.
God is with us in all the storms of life. Even when we don't see the point of life anymore, God has a plan. Yet in the midst of trials, we can lose sight of this. So it is all the more important to remember that God is greater than our hearts, emotions, and circumstances, and He is present with us in each.
James Meikle writes: "Be always under the impression of God's omnipresence and omniscience. You can never wander out of the hollow of his hand or swim beyond his cognizance...Beware that you live not to yourself, the world, or for time. But live above the world, for eternity, and to God."
Struggles are a part of life, but walking with God makes a difference. At no point should we ever give up on life, because we were created first and foremost to live!
Living Life
Life is complicated, however. It is easy to assume that people are either with God or against Him. They are either sinning, or they are worshipping Him. But there are other types of people too. There are people who are nothing short of lost.
God is with us in all the storms of life. Even when we don't see the point of life anymore, God has a plan. Yet in the midst of trials, we can lose sight of this. So it is all the more important to remember that God is greater than our hearts, emotions, and circumstances, and He is present with us in each.
James Meikle writes: "Be always under the impression of God's omnipresence and omniscience. You can never wander out of the hollow of his hand or swim beyond his cognizance...Beware that you live not to yourself, the world, or for time. But live above the world, for eternity, and to God."
Struggles are a part of life, but walking with God makes a difference. At no point should we ever give up on life, because we were created first and foremost to live!
Living Life
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
