Labels

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Son Rise – Rising to the Call to Compassionate Service - Purity 566

Son Rise – Rising to the Call to Compassionate Service - Purity 566

Purity 566 11/03/2021   Purity 566 Podcast

Good morning

Today’s photo of a “a gorgeous morning” at John Boyd Thacher State Park in Voorheesville NY comes to us from a pair of friends who decided to rise early last Thursday to experience some of “God’s infinite beauty” and to enjoy the fellowship of a friendship that has similar trials of life and an appreciation for God as a foundation. Although it is the sun rise they came to see, they captioned it “SON” rise  because of the centrality of Jesus Christ in their lives. These two could testify to the beauty of this scenic location but remind their friends and families of the importance of God in their lives to overcome the challenges and adversity that life sometimes brings to our doorstep.    

Well, Its Wednesday and as we ascend the hump of midweek once again I am excited by the prospects of being used by the Lord in the days ahead by being a voice of hope and care for my local community.  Monday, I officially started training for my part time job as a Psychiatric Technician for a local mental health agency and was immediately pleased with my decision to follow this calling to practice and develop my counseling skills as I encountered a staff that was professional and compassionate in their efforts to help those who are reaching out for help in times of crisis.  I have only just begun but am excited by the prospect of helping others in whatever capacity I can and believe that this part time job will be my next “ministry” as my current series of discipleship classes will be completed in a couple of weeks.  

As Christians, I believe that we are called to be a voice of hope and a minister of compassion to our local community and that we should look for opportunities to help others.  The Lord has put a desire in my heart to help others and although I diverted from my career in human services by going corporate nearly 25 years ago it looks like we are going back to that original purpose, albeit in a part time capacity.    

Christ’s second commandment was to love our neighbors as ourselves and it is my hope that I can be used to help those in crisis. While I won’t necessarily be preaching the gospel like I would in my discipleship classes, I will be a minister of compassion that will try to assure those who are in crisis that there are reasons to hope for a better life and that help is available in times of need.    

So keep walking and talking with God. Enjoy the fellowship of your friends and family and take a minute today to look for the beauty of the Lord in the midst of your day.  If our focus is on the good things that the Lord has provided in our lives and will continue to provide, we can make it through any crisis and be able to take what we have learned in our journey through life to help others in times of need.    And if those we help along the way ask us for the reason for our hope, we can point to the “Son” that shines a light in the darkness and promises a new and abundant life to all who call upon His name.  

 

Today’s Bible verse is drawn from “The NLT Bible Promise Book for Men”.  

This morning’s meditation verse is:

Matthew 5:8 (NLT2)
8  God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

Today’s verse speaks of the importance of turning away from our wicked worldly ways and to seeking a simple and pure life.   

Recently, I was discussing the ability of the Christian faith and a discipled Christian lifestyle to make a significant difference in the quality of someone’s life, that through the application of our faith we can overcome all of life’s problems.  

The person I was speaking to seemed to agree of the importance of faith in Jesus Christ for one’s salvation but then started to criticize what they called the tendency of “the church” to push a lifestyle of “purity” on its parishioners. 

Little did this person know that they were preaching the gospel of “cheap grace” and that the problems that surround those in and outside of the body of Christ are largely not caused by one’s penchant to pursue purity. Our society’s problems can clearly be seen as a result of the vast majority of people to decide to abandon purity principles in areas of sex and substance abuse.  

Name an issue and purity, or the lack of it, lies at the heart of it. 

Abortion? If people were practicing purity, there would be far less unwanted pregnancies.

Addiction? If people were practicing purity, they wouldn’t abuse alcohol, drugs, or even food.  

Our society of license tells the tall tale of the evils of repression and has decided that because people have these physical urges or cravings that the only way to address them is to abandon any ideas about abstinence and to develop safety measures that will clean up the mess after the dam breaks.   So pervasive is this attitude of license disguised as liberty, that its attitudes of hopelessness and pragmatism is present in members of the body of Christ who should revere the words of Jesus as good advice.  

The rationale of “cheap grace” is that since Christ paid for all sins, sin is not only forgiven but is completely understandable and permissible.  Efforts at purity would cause too much mental anguish and only result in failure anyway, so we might as well just give in to our base natures but do so safely.   Satan completely agrees with this rationale and encourages its acceptance.

What the world would call freedom, the word of God would rightly identify as bondage.  The word says that Christians are given a new life and have been set free from the power sin and it advises that light is to have nothing to do with darkness.  

 

The word of God tells us to be holy as He is holy.  We are not to fear purity but are to pursue it.  The solution to the problem of sin is not to compromise with it but to turn from it and turn to a pure life that simple and good.

The testimonies of Christians that believed the word of God and put their trust in the Lord and were able to overcome lifelong cycles of sin show the truth of today’s verse.     

Those whose hearts are pure will see God.  They will see God in their new lives. They will experience the power of God as they live a pure and righteous life free of the shame, guilt, and defilements that come with a lifestyle of sin.  

So don’t try to be like the world that will tell you that “everybody’s doing it” when it comes to sin. The testimonies of overcomers, like myself, show that the world is lying to you and that the biggest lie the enemy tells us is that a life of purity is “impossible”.  

When we trust in the Lord and walk in His ways, we can discover that nothing is impossible with God and that choosing to purse purity is the path that leads to seeing the manifest presence and power of God in your life.

As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk. 

 

Today we continue sharing from June Hunt’s Dating: Secrets to Great Relating When Dating  

 

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase June Hunt’s books for your own private study and to support her work. If you need this title you can find it online at several sites for less than $5.00:

 

F. How to Relearn Dating the Second Time Around

Erin was married for 27 years, and now she's nervously curling her hair...laughing at herself because there's a pile of clothes on her bed as a result of changing her mind three times about what to wear. She resists the urge to call her best friend for a dose of courage, but then she gets an encouraging text message from her with a quick prayer of blessing and encouragement. She's as nervous as a teenager preparing for her first date. In a way, that's exactly how it feels because this is her first date in more than three decades!

She knows it's time for her to "get back out there." She's finally tucked the past away in a special place in her heart and memory, and she's looking at a bright future ahead. She's cried plenty of tears, she's been to counseling, she's filled all that extra time with Bible study and bridge, and the kids are grown and gone and on their own. Now it's time for her to live...to laugh, and maybe even to love again....

"Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." (Ephesians 5:2 NLT)

Signs That Show You're Ready to Date Again

Whether you're reentering the dating scene because of death or divorce, many adults must relearn dating skills that have been dormant for decades. The amount of time between your last relationship and when you're ready to start dating will be different for every person. The prophet Isaiah declares the majesty of newness found in the Lord....

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:18-19)

These signs show that you're ready for a new relationship....

  • Your past is in the past.
    • —If you're bereaved, you've done the grief work necessary to process your sorrow.
    • —If you're divorced or have experienced a breakup from another serious relationship, you also need to deal with loss, but perhaps also feelings of anger, hurt, or betrayal.
  • You're ready to date for the right reasons.
    • —If you are seeking to date for any reason other than to meet someone and move toward the future, you're headed for heartache.
    • —If you want to start dating for revenge, security, an ego boost, or out of desperation, ignoring the issues won't fix your problems.
  • You know who you are.
    • —When you've been in a relationship for a long period of time, you've been part of a couple. It's important that you separate your identity from being a part of that "union" and know your identity in Christ.
    • —Know yourself again—your likes, dislikes...your interests. Those unique attributes that make you you can get lost over time.
  • You know who you're looking to find.
    • —Give some thought as to what you want from a relationship. What characteristics and qualities are important to you? What attributes do you want to avoid?
    • —Don't expect a carbon copy of your last relationship, but do consider what was good and what didn't work.
  • You can take your time.
    • —Don't rush the process. You're not likely to fall in love at first sight with the first person you meet. (It could happen, but it's not likely.)
    • —You might not be the right person immediately, either. If you experience setbacks or even rejection, chalk it up to experience and hang on to hope. You're never alone when you have the Lord.

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Introducing Dates to Children

Question: "I've been a single parent for over a year now and I'm ready to start dating. When should I introduce a date to my kids?"

Answer: Much depends on the ages and stages of your children and your situation. Have your children had time to process grief over the end of your marriage or the death of your spouse? Although you might be ready to date, give careful consideration about the delicate balance involving when it will be appropriate to introduce a date to your children. Some questions to consider:

  • How far has the dating relationship progressed? If you introduce your kids to a date too soon and it doesn't work out, they could be easily confused about another "loss" in their life. If you wait too long, you might become too emotionally invested only to discover your date doesn't like your kids or vice versa.
  • Depending on your relationship with your children, you will know how and when to involve them in the dating process—when you're getting serious. If you're looking at a future with this person, that future will include your children.

"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18).

Biblical Counseling Keys: Dating: Secrets to Great Relating When Dating.

---------------------------more tomorrow------------------------

 

Join our “Victory over the Darkness” or “The Bondage Breaker” series of Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247 podcast!

at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154). The mt4christ247 podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio, and Audible.com. 

Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and to be encouraged.

 

Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Cleaning Out My Closet – Establishing Intimacy and Making Room - Purity 565


 Cleaning Out My Closet – Establishing Intimacy and Making Room - Purity 565

Purity 565 11/02/2021     Purity 565 Podcast

Good morning

Today’s photo a bird flying into a rainbow over Lake Ontario comes to us from SUNY Oswego’s FB page who testified that Monday morning brought a brilliant display to the sky as some areas near their campus reported seeing as many as a triple rainbow!  

The Bible states that the rainbow was a sign of God’s promise to never flood the earth again and its appearance should remind us of our ultimate dependence on the Lord for all that we have.    

As the next two months promises the changes that come with the progression of a holiday season that ushers in a new year, I would like to remind my friends of the benefits of being proactive to do what we can to change unpleasant circumstances and that the best way to navigate through a season, and a world, that is in a constant state of change is to draw close to God and to make room for Him in your experience by sharing all the aspects of your life with Him. 

As I have recently become engaged and my fiancé and I have promised to be married and spend the rest of our lives as husband and wife, we have agreed to draw close and to make room for one another in our lives. 

Over the last several months my fiancé and I have established intimacy as we, who started as friends, have “unpacked” ourselves to one another by sharing our stories, hopes, and dreams. We have grown closer and when we made room for the possibility of being more than friends, we realized that our love for one another would be best expressed in a marriage covenant.  Every day we seem to have a deeper bond of love growing between us as we get closer to our wedding day and make room for each other in our lives.  

I have already confessed to all who will listen that the love I have with TammyLyn is unprecedented as she makes me feel accepted, desired, and cherished like no other person ever has.  Her love humbles me and because of my dysfunctional past makes me wonder if I am worthy of it. Because it is unlike anything I have ever experienced I wonder if I am dreaming as TammyLyn continues to find new ways to express her deep affection for me. Her messages, notes, letters, and words are a continual reminder that I have been truly blessed by God with a woman who shares my faith and loves me without reserve.   The intimacy we enjoy is amazing as we are both perfectly content just being in silence in one another’s presence and look forward to our marriage.

The latest expression of TammyLyn’s love for me has been her literally making a place for me in her home as she recently made some Herculean efforts to clear out some space in the closet in her bedroom for a desk where I can pray, study the Bible, compose my blog, and record my podcast when I stay at her place in cow country.  

As much as her words of affirmation and her hugs and kisses tell me of her love, this latest labor of love shows me that TammyLyn’s love for me knows no bounds and is the real deal.   To clean and get rid of things to make a place for me speaks volumes to me as I know how sacred a woman’s closet can be and how much work was involved in reordering her life to make me feel accepted into her home and into her life.  In fact, we both stopped referring to our separate residences as our “homes” because our sense of home now comes only when we are in each other’s presence. Regardless of the locations where we find ourselves,  when we are together, we are at home.

I have shared that I believe that TammyLyn was sent to me by God and that the love she has for me is an expression of God’s love poured out into and through her. If I didn’t know the love of God for me already, the love TammyLyn is the latest reminder of how God cares for me and provides for all my needs.  

I knew God’s love and presence in my darkest hours of loneliness and now I know it in the midst of the love that He sovereignly directed to come in my life in the person of TammyLyn.

TammyLyn’s evidence as a Christian is all over her house and I recently saw this saying on an index card mounted to a cabinet in her kitchen that ties in with today’s photo, It says:

“Sometimes God sends the brilliant light of a rainbow to remind us of His presence, lest we forget in our personal darkness His great and gracious promises to never leave us alone.”   And it references,

Romans 15:13 (NKJV)
13  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

In believing in God and seeking His presence, we can have peace and joy in our lives and because His Holy Spirit indwells us we can abound in hope even in the bleakest of circumstances.  

 

So if you think you are walking all alone in your walk of faith, I would remind you of the love God has brought into your life in the form of a life partner, family, or friends  that you had in the past or who are in your life presently.  All those love relationships are a reflection of God’s love for you and if you find yourself in a lonely season on this second day of November, I encourage you to keep walking and talking with God because His love for you knows no bounds and is an ever present reality for those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.  

 

(There is more content to help you walk out your journey of faith at MT4Christ dot org. You can also subscribe to the mt4christ247 podcast to hear this message, our discipleship classes, and our weekly Bible Study, on Apple, Google, Spotify, and Amazon Podcasts, as well as Audible and Podbean).

#Christian #christianity #encouragement #freedominchrist #christiancounseling #jesuschrist #mt4christ #discipleship #victoryoverthedarkness #Dating #mt4christ247podcast 

Today’s Bible verse is drawn from “The NLT Bible Promise Book for Men”.  

This morning’s meditation verse is:

Matthew 5:5 (NLT2)
5  God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

Today’s verse speaks of God’s counterintuitive plan for His eternal kingdom.

 

Today’s verse also reminds me about the man who was so humble that his church presented him with a humble award one Sunday. The man’s unassuming manner and selfless service to the church community caused the pastor, the elders, and all the members of the congregation to unanimously decide to honor him by presenting him with a “medal” for his humble nature and humble service.  Unfortunately, the church ended up taking the medal away the following week when he proudly wore his medal to the next worship service, demonstrating that he wasn’t so humbler after all!    

But seriously, the reason why that little joke is amusing is because not only would humble people not do such a prideful thing as boast about a commendation they received, in our world the truly humble would most likely fail to be recognized in the first place!  

If nice guys finish last it is only because the humble are too humble to draw attention to themselves by having a position that would stand out or are too humble to compete in the first place!

So the fact that Jesus proclaims that the meek, or the humble as the NLT puts it, will inherit the earth it was undoubtedly a proclamation that would have been received with skepticism by some and hope by others, because His statement promises something that would have been considered unlikely.

In our dog eat dog world, the meek generally don’t inherit anything. The meek would generally be forgotten as others, who are not been shy about receiving rewards, would work toward a position to gain favor or would use other cunning means to get what they want or would simply take what they desired by force if they should not receive what they want through legitimate means.   

But Christ who came to earth the preach the gospel of grace, let’s His audience know that the new earth in God’s kingdom will be distributed to the meek, pointing to an economy that is different from the current world system. 

Christ’s proclamation that the meek shall inherit the earth points to the doctrine of salvation by faith alone as it is only through the humble surrender of putting one’s faith and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior will one inherit eternal life and a place in God’s kingdom.  

So humbly come before the throne of grace and rejoice that if you know Jesus as Lord and Savior, He has bestowed upon you a blessing that is so valuable that it cost the Son of God His very life and it comes with an assurance that comes from the Creator of existence itself.    

We don’t have to worry that we will somehow lose our reward or that someone will take it from us. God has graceful chosen us to receive it and it’s a promise we can stand on because the One who made it is faithful and true.   

 

As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk. 

 

Today we continue sharing from June Hunt’s Dating: Secrets to Great Relating When Dating  

 

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase June Hunt’s books for your own private study and to support her work. If you need this title you can find it online at several sites for less than $5.00:

 

E. Dos and Don'ts for Dating

Penny keeps trying...and keeps trying...and keeps trying. Just like the proverbial penny, she turns up time and time again. She asks her friends and family to "fix her up." She dates and goes on blind dates. She tries speed dating and group dating. She registers online with every matchmaking site, and she scours personal ads day after day. Penny won't give up. She knows her soul mate is out there...somewhere.

Penny wonders, Why would God pair up all the animals on the ark, but He won't send me my mate? She's tired of being alone and she's even more tired of being single. She's tired of living her life halfway and she wants to feel complete. Instead, Penny should know her worth and value in Christ. She should understand that one is a whole number. She should learn to trust in the Lord and to be content in whatever circumstances she finds herself....

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." (Philippians 4:11)

A couple may believe that the two of them are truly in love, but instead they could simply be "in love with love." Even if their dating leads to marriage, they still could be in real trouble if they haven't waited long enough—for God.

What if they are deluded by the fantasy of love? What happens when they are challenged to allow the relationship to mature, but they are too impatient, too impulsive, too impetuous? They would be wise to consider the words of the psalmist. ...

"How long will you love delusions...?" (Psalm 4:2)

Don't date non-Christians.

"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Do...Trust God's plan for your life.

'"I know the plans I have for you, ' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Don't focus on romance but rather on friendship.

"A friend loves at all times" (Proverbs 17:17).

Do...Be aware of both the benefits and dangers in dating.

"Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course" (Proverbs 15:21).

Don't lie if you don't want to accept a date.

"Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment" (Proverbs 12:19).

Do...Be under the authority of your parents (if living at home).

"Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching" (Proverbs 1:8).

Don't dishonor God.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Do... Follow wise counsel of trusted advisors.

"Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise" (Proverbs 19:20).

Don't confuse lust for love.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Do...Reflect Christian values on your dates.

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27).

Don't wait to determine your standards.

"Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways" (Proverbs 4:26).

Do...Become a good and honorable date.

"Honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10).

Date Rape Drug

Question: "What can I do to prevent someone from slipping me a date rape drug?"

Answer: Someone may plan to immobilize you with a date rape drug by putting it in your beverage without your knowledge. However, if you are wise and discerning, you can avoid being caught in a covert sexual trap. You would be wise to take the following basic precautions:

  • Be observant, making sure that any beverage handed to you is poured from the original container.
  • Don't drink a beverage handed to you by a stranger.
  • Don't date a man unless you or someone you respect can attest to his character.

"Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you." (Proverbs 4:6)

WARNING: A victim of date rape may not be aware of being raped due to the nature and availability of date rape drugs, also referred to as club drugs. For example, a very small amount of GHB (Gamma hydroxybutyrate) slipped into a drink can quickly drug a woman to such an extent that she loses the ability to resist unwanted sexual advances. She not only loses complete control of her body, but she also loses consciousness of her surroundings. Once under the influence of what is called "liquid ecstasy," she becomes a prime target for date rape and, for some, this "ecstasy" literally leads to death.

"Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them." (Proverbs 26:24-25)


Biblical Counseling Keys: Dating: Secrets to Great Relating When Dating.

---------------------------more tomorrow------------------------

 

Join our “Victory over the Darkness” or “The Bondage Breaker” series of Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247 podcast!

at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154). The mt4christ247 podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio, and Audible.com. 

Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and to be encouraged.

 

Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship

Monday, November 1, 2021

Like a Flood – A New Month and Changes Coming - Purity 564





Like a Flood – A New Month and Changes Coming - Purity 564

Purity 564 11/01/2021  Purity 564 Podcast

Good morning

Today’s photo of flood waters underneath a calm blue October Sky comes to us from a friend in East Syracuse who just had to share the aftermath of heavy rainstorms that rolled through their area last week, commenting that in 19 years they had never seen “Manlius Center Road THIS flooded!” causing it to be closed just past their neighborhood.



It’s Monday again, and if you are too overwhelmed from the aftereffects of too much Halloween candy from yesterday to realize, I am here to announce that just like a flood the month of November has rolled on in and promises to bring with it changes both expected and unexpected.

On Saturday, I finished some ministry work and decided to celebrate by buying a few treats in the spirit of all Hallows eve eve but was shocked to discover that my local Walmart had already moved on to the next seasons as there was little evidence of Halloween left, even though it hadn’t arrived yet, and the shelves were already being stocked with Thanksgiving and Christmas items! So just like a flood the holiday season is being pushed before us whether we like it or not!

As far as major changes go, with plans to married on January 1st, I and my future bride only have  61 days to work out the details of our nuptials and “get er done.”  

If the holiday season and an upcoming wedding weren’t enough, I also start a second job this evening that may prove to lay the groundwork for the next steps towards a change in career somewhere down the road in the unseen future.  

The new month and all prospect of all these changes frankly is freaking me out a little but I would like to remind myself and all my friends that although the days and the times are a changing once again, the one thing that we can count on no matter what changes this month may bring is the fact that God is good, He doesn’t change, and He will be with us through whatever twists and turns that may come in the month of November.  

Changes are sometimes referred to as “little deaths” as one thing ends and another thing begins but when we have a vibrant relationship with the Lord though faith in Jesus Christ we can know that no matter what comes, we will survive and make it to the other side.

This morning I am reminded of

Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)
4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.


When we have God in our lives, we don’t have to fear those “little deaths” of change because His care is constant and His love for us endures.  And as long as we are walking and talking with God we can bravely walk through the valleys of changing times and proclaim

 

Psalm 23:6 (NKJV) that says:
6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.


Today’s Bible verse is drawn from “The NLT Bible Promise Book for Men”.  

This morning’s meditation verse is:

Matthew 5:3 (NLT2)
3  “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Today’s verse speaks of being spiritually poor and assures us of the blessing that comes when we depend on the Lord. 

One clear purpose of the earthly ministry of Christ was to remind mankind of their need for reconciliation with the God.   Christ’s messages spoke of the need to repent  and to seek entrance into the kingdom of God through faith in Him. 

Jesus challenged the religious systems and ideas of the day that claimed that someone could be declared righteous with God by their efforts or by their cultural heritage.  Christ’s teachings made it clear that it didn’t matter what your background was because all men sinned and fell short of God’s holy standard. 

Jesus’s teachings, miraculous works, and death and resurrection showed mankind that He was the Son of God and God the Son.

Only in realizing our need for Him as a Savior, seeing that His work on the cross can cover our sins, and placing our faith in Jesus can we be made right with God. 

When we see how spiritually poor we are, that we can’t save ourselves, and we see our need for Jesus,  and make that choice to trust in Him, we are blessed, and the kingdom of God is ours.  

So rejoice that you know the Truth that saves and gives you eternal life and remember that your need for God doesn’t stop when you become a Christian. We need God’s presence, wisdom, strength, and love at all times, and it is only though Christ that we can receive it.   So walk with Him in the spirit and let those around you know that they need Him, and they too can be blessed and enter into His kingdom by when they make Jesus the Lord of their life.

 

As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk. 

 

Today we continue sharing from June Hunt’s Dating: Secrets to Great Relating When Dating  

 

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase June Hunt’s books for your own private study and to support her work. If you need this title you can find it online at several sites for less than $5.00:

 

D. How to Develop Godly Dating Practices

Ken and Amanda strive to raise their three daughters so that they understand their value and worth. Knowing that Christ died for them, that God gave His Son for them, that the Holy Spirit resides in them, they know they are special—they are daughters of the King.

Their earthly father sees them as princesses too. Ken demonstrates daily how a godly man treasures a godly woman by the way he treats their mother, his "bride," as he still calls her. Both Ken and Amanda agree and make it clear that the girls will be allowed to date only after they turn 16 and only after a young man receives the stamp of "parental approval." Character counts and the girls' hearts are too precious to entrust to just anyone. Ken and Amanda make it clear they've poured plenty of blood, sweat, and tears into each of their darling daughters, and they have every intention of "protecting" their investment.

Rather than feeling restricted, all three of the daughters feel respected. The dating rules have been clearly described and discussed. They each know their parents want only what's best for them...and they each long to have the same long-lasting love they have seen lived out in the lives of their mother and father. They have learned this biblical truth...

"Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." (Colossians 3:20)

Dating can be an exciting adventure of the heart leading to marriage, but fragile hearts should be treated with care. In Deuteronomy 6:5 we are called to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Therefore, protect your heart because it belongs to God first... before it belongs to you. When a dating friendship grows into a love relationship, your heart still belongs to God, but you share it and entrust it to someone else....

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart." (1 Peter 1:22)

Your body was also designed with a purpose for purity (to demonstrate your devotion to obey God, as a gift to your future spouse, and to protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases). Safeguarding yourself sexually until marriage is another reason to date cautiously and prayerfully. So it is critical to:

  • Be Wise—Ask the Lord to...
    • —Guide your decision to date
    • —Guide the decisions of your date
    • —Guard your heart, mind, body, and soul during the dating process
    • —Confirm your choices with His peace as you date.
      (If you don't have His peace about the person you are dating, do not date that person again.)
  • Be Safe—You deserve to be treated well and to be safe.
    • —Allow trusted friends and family to introduce you to someone who shares your beliefs and interests.
    • —Don't be afraid to "check out" your date by looking them up online and on social media.
    • —When you begin to date, spend time together with a group as you get to know each other.
    • —Meet in public places as you build trust and observe character. (Only if you respect the character of the one you are dating should you date that person again.)
  • Be Real—Just as you want to get to know the person you are dating, be transparent and real with your date.
    • —Share the basics: faith, family, friends, background, education.
    • —Talk about interests: hobbies, sports, music, movies, pets.
    • —Don't be afraid to go deeper: Talk about previous relationships, career, and financial stability.
    • —Discuss your expectations for the dating relationship. What do you hope to give and get from it?
  • Be Honest—Talk to your date about what you do not enjoy or appreciate.
    • —Don't "go along with whatever" just because it's what your date wants.
    • —By the same token, don't refuse to try something new—as long as it's not illegal or immoral.
    • —If your date says or does something that makes you uncomfortable, speak up and say so.
    • —Don't cave in to peer pressure—be willing to say no when you know you should say no. (If you respectfully speak the truth, in the end you will earn respect.)

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)

The Initial Ask

Question: "I would like to start dating, but how do I make the first move to ask someone out?"

Answer: The first step is often the hardest, but once that first step is taken, each successive step becomes easier. Start slowly with a casual group invitation where there is less pressure on each person. Then move forward with a casual invitation for coffee, ice cream, or lunch. Once you've established a level of comfort with each other, progress to a dinner invitation.

  • Group invitation
    • —"Several of us are going to a ( concert, picnic, theme park, movie, etc. ). Would you like to join us?"
  • Lunch invitation
    • —"I've been thinking about what you said regarding ( subject ). Would you be interested in talking more about it over coffee/lunch?"
  • Dinner invitation
    • —"I've admired how ( mention a character trait—kind/thoughtful/encouraging ) you are, especially when you ( mention a specific incident ). May I take you out to dinner?"

The Bible explains that having what we want often begins with simply asking for what we want, and it's always best to start by asking God....

"You do not have, because you do not ask." (James 4:2 ESV)

Matchmaking

Question: "Is it scriptural to participate in matchmaking services?"

Answer: Since the 1990s, Internet dating and face-to-face subscription dating services have mushroomed in popularity among non-Christians and Christians alike. As with any major decision that relies on judgment and integrity, a decision to use dating services should be approached with great caution and care.... and great prayer. Opportunities abound for fraud, and the ability to get to know others is only as effective as their willingness to reveal their true, authentic selves. Before you decide to participate in a dating service, examine yourself.

  • What are your motives?
  • What are your goals?
  • Do you have a contented spirit?
  • Do you have the peace of God?
  • Will you involve your Christian community (small group, Christian friends, and family) to offer advice and accountability in your online dating decisions and experiences?

Always remember, God is your source....A dating service is not. Scripture says...

"No good thing does he [God] withhold from those whose walk is blameless" (Psalm 84:11).


Biblical Counseling Keys: Dating: Secrets to Great Relating When Dating.

 

---------------------------more tomorrow------------------------

 

Join our “Victory over the Darkness” or “The Bondage Breaker” series of Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247 podcast!

at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154). The mt4christ247 podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio, and Audible.com. 

Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and to be encouraged.

 

Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship