Fireproof Your Marriage!

"Fireproof" is a movie about a fire fighter named Caleb and his wife Catherine, who are on the verge of breaking up. His Christian father gave him a book called a "Love Dare," and asks him to delay divorce proceedings for forty days until he tries the "Dare." 

One of the entries spoke about "parasites," describing them as anything that would suck the life of the marriage and steals one loyalty away from one's spouse. One of the parasites mentioned was "pornography." Caleb cringes, for he is addicted to porn.  Indeed. this is one of the bones of contention between him and his wife, leaving Catherine feeling dirty and ugly and wondering when she stop being "good enough" for her husband.

A few years ago, Trinidad and Tobago had the dubious honor of being in the top countries in the world that watched the most porn. Children are not exempt from this pernicious habit. A while back, the big news was that female students of a certain school were receiving nude pictures of the school's male teachers. 

What people don't realize is that sex is not just a physical act, but it is spiritual. God did not intend it to be done just anywhere or by just anyone. In Genesis 2: 21 - 25 God made woman for man and instituted marriage. They were both naked and yet were not ashamed. Shame for nakedness only came when sin came into the world (Gen3: 7- 11, 21).In Leviticus it was considered a sin to look at some other naked   body except your spouse's body. Sex is the 'glue' that binds two people together on their wedding night. They actually become "one flesh" (Gen 2: 23 - 24). So if sex is the 'glue' that God designed for marriage, and it is a sin to watch naked bodies that is not your wife, then we start to see the danger and sin hat pornography is.

Matthew 18:7-9

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Woe to the world for such temptations to sin and influences to do wrong! It is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the person on whose account or by whom the temptation comes!   And if your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you; it is better (more profitable and wholesome) for you to enter life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the hell (Gehenna) of fire.

Your Deepest Desire

The tips I gave yesterday that showed teens how to avoid getting into premarital sex can also be effective for adults. As a Christian single woman, I know it can be easy to succumb to the pressure from both physical desire and worldly coercion.
Personally, I have stopped looking for a mate. Not because I don't want to be married. I'm a normal woman and as I grow older, I want the companionship and fulfillment of marriage. But it's a perilous game, especially if the person you are dating (or you yourself) like to 'go to the edge and see how much you can do without actually falling off' in terms of sexual contact.
It is "the thing" these days in my country that you must be 'with' someone and having sex if you are a woman (or man, as the case may be). If not, something is wrong with you. As far as I can see, this goes for the Christian as well. This puts pressure on Christians from 25 years up (nowadays 25 is considered old ) to get married, or at least have a partner. I have chosen to jump off that treadmill. Instead I have told God to choose a husband for me., and let him do all the . seeking.' I've even reached to the mindset that if I don't get married, I would not 'kill myself' about it.
So to my dear fellow single Christians, young, old and in between, I say this. Be strong and be of good courage. Stand your ground, Dare to be different from the crowd. Touch not, taste not, handle not! It's not always easy to stand alone, and you may tumble. under the strain  But if you do tumble, arise, get up, ask Jesus forgive you, and keep walking. God is our strength, and He will help us to overcome all.

"If you desire to be married, if it in your deepest of hearts you desire a mate, then God will satisfy that desire. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband."

I Corinthian 7:2 (KJV)

Teens Guide To Avoiding Sex

This morning I heard a Government radio program that so surprised me that I had to stop and listen. I didn't know what was the title of the program. If had to put a title to it, I would name it"Teens Guide To Avoiding Sex."  The advice being given by this secular institution was plain and practical, quite unlike the usual rubbish that implies that children can't control their sex drives.  I was so happy that I clapped loudly, saying, "very good, Information Unit. I'm proud of you."
The speaker suggested:

•  that teenagers should not watch movie with sexual overtones while laying together on the couch alone.  These kinds of programs incite sexual contact.
• No kissing or touching of each other's personal parts 
• No skin-to-skin contact. This type of contact tend to stimulate the body and leads to sex.

If a young person is unable to handle such contact, avoid being alone! Hang out in public places like pizza parlors or the mall where there is hardly any likelihood of such physical contact occurring.  At a time of raging hormones and changing bodies, adding sexual contact to such a volatile mix can only end in disaster.

"Flee youthful lusts." 2 Timothy 2:22 (KJV)

Someone Needs Your Help!

Long ago, a bully was some big kid in the schoolyard that beat up the younger ones and took away their money, their food, or call them names. Or a big burly man who figures that he's Romeo and tries to cut in on the smaller man with the pretty lady. There are so many story books and TV and Cinema movies that have this topic for a theme. Usually the underdog or underdogs get the better of the bully in some way or the other. Some use the "save the bully and become best friends" scenario. Others use the "beat the bully up and become the hero" idea.

Think of this set-up. A lie is spread about someone. The victim is threatened by persons living nearby. The quarry is followed, her home phone and cell phone are somehow tapped into, and her computer hacked. Then someone started walking around showing naked pictures they say is of her doing all kinds of nasty things. But all these things are done so that the target's family is unaware of what's happening, and she cannot prove that she is being harassed. This has been happening for over ten years, and shows no sign of stopping.

If that were you, what would you do? Would you run away?  What you go to the police? Would you try somehow to get revenge? What if you are a Christian? Read more about Adult bullying at Adults Bullying Adults - A Best Kept Secret

N.B.THIS IS A TRUE STORY. ADVICE NEEDED!!

"But cowardly, unfaithful, and detestable people, murderers, sexual sinners, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."Revelation 21:8.(God's Word Translationn (@1995)

Vive La Difference! For We Need Each Other!

I boiled some green fig for lunch today. Green figs are unripened bananas. When I was peeling them I remembered my two years studying in Jamaica. "People in Jamaica call green figs "green bananas,!" I reminisced to my aunt as we peeled the figs. "The first time I said, 'green figs" my Jamaican schoolmates ribbed me for saying it! They laughed and said, Is "green banana, girl!" I recalled with a smile. I admit though, that at the time I was both embarrassed and annoyed at their laughter.

It reminded me of an interview that I heard on our Christian radio station yesterday evening. Trinidad and Tobago's  two athletes for the Special Olympics, also held in London, were being interviewed by the two announcers. One of them, Kern, is blind. I listened to the young woman as she said that the people in London did not consider the Special Olympians as "different" but treated them as superstars, just like the London Olympians. 

This is wonderul, as the treatment of "differently-abled" persons by "normal"persons is not always as caring. But we thank God for the "angels" that are all around us.

God made us in His image and likeness. No matter if our bodies are healthy and well-functioning or not doesn't matter. What matter is that we believe in Jesus and that we ask Him to come into our hearts, become our Savior and wash is from our sins. And just as in a human body, each member has a different function, let us celebrate our differences and do the "good works that God has foreordained for us to do" since before we were born.

Listen to this song, sister and brothers. With all our different faces, races, talents, opinions, we need each othe to survive.The song "I need you to survive" by Jason Dennis

"Because of the kindness that God has shown me, I ask you not to think of yourselves more highly than you should. Instead, your thoughts should lead you to use good judgment based on what God has given each of you as believers. 4Our bodies have many parts, but these parts don't all do the same thing.5In the same way, even though we are many individuals, Christ makes us one body and individuals who are connected to each other. 6God in his kindness gave each of us different gifts." Romans 12:  3 - 6a) God's Word Translation (@1995)

 

If Loving You is Wrong...Naaah! It Feels Too Good!

I read a post this evening in which a man was telling of his conversation with his friend. His friend was involved with an unbelieving lady, and he was just recovering from a relationship with an unbelieving lady. Joe knew that his friend was in a relationship that would not work. His friend, however protested,saying that his girlfriend was beautiful and that they  connected at all levels. But Joe only knew that he and his ex-girlfriend were still recovering from the hurt and disappointment of their failed relationship.

Being in any relationship with an unbeliever, especially a dating relationship or a courtship, is dangerous for both parties. The believer runs the risk of being drawn back into the "world." Believe me, the world system is very attractive with its  craving for physical pleasure, the craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. A Christian may be so drawn back into the world system that he or she may not realise it until it's too late. Its very difficult or almost impossible for a backslider to come back to the kingdom of God.

On the other side of the coin, a believer realises that the special friendship cannot continue.  When they tell that someone that it is over and gives Christian scruples as a reason, the unbeliever may be very hurt and angry. Contempt for the Christian and his or her values can embitter the person, especially if they were involved sexually. People have turned away from ever believing in Jesus Christ based on those kinds of experiences.

As a single middle-aged woman I know how it can feel being lonely.  You look around and you seem to see happy couples everywhere. Those who are "shacking up" or having premarital sex may look as if they are not suffering any consequences. But in the long run, there ARE fconsequences! That's why I try as much as possible to guard my heart, not allowing any feelings or attractions for unbelieving men  to take any root in my heart. It's not always easy, for I am human. But with God's help and A LOT OF EFFORT, so far I have won the battle. I take no credit for my success; it is God and God alone.

"Stop forming inappropriate relationships with unbelievers. Can right and wrong be partners? Can light have anything in common with darkness? ¹⁵ Can Christ agree with the devil? Can a believer share life with an unbeliever?" 2 Corinthians 6:14 &15 (God's Word Translation (@1995).

Ice-Cold Hearts

 Last night on TV I saw the plight of a woman who was unceremoniously put out of the Housing Project apartment that she had been illegally squatting.  She has six children, the two oldest teenage boys of fifteen and fourteen respectively.  These two young men shared their hurt and disappointment that those in authority had been so hard-hearted as to put all their belongings on the street without first informing them of what they had planned to do.
The poor woman told of how she had tried so many times to regularize her situation, but to no avail. Even after eviction, she is still trying to get some help from the Housing Authority. Thank God for the help of sympathetic neighbor, a couple who have given the family temporary shelter until hopefully they get another place to live.
Another disturbing story on the news. An elderly man was burnt to death in his house. When the burnt remains of the house was combed, the police discovered that the kitchen had been ransacked. Implements like a brand new whacker, and other things that the man kept under lock and key were now outside. Perhaps the perpetrators didn't get what they were looking for and decided to burn both the poor man and his house.
The Bible says that in the last days people will get really selfish and hard-hearted. I can tell of the storiesI have seen on TV and on the papers, heard on the radio, and have been told to me about cruelty of one form or another. It makes me know and believe more and more that we are indeed living in the "last days," because of the signs of the last days is that the love of many will grow cold. Please, let not our hearts grow cold. Let us love one another.

And because there will be more and more lawlessness, most people's love will grow cold. Matthew 24:12 (God Word's Translation (@1995)