Alan and Anoosh Bullock
Study To Show Thyself Approved ~ 2 Tim 2:15
Freedom Fighters and Patriots
JOSHUA 24:15
Choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
In America, every July 4th brings with it festivities, fun, food, family and friends, and fireworks—all as a celebration of national freedom. But even with all the celebrating and joy-filled activities, many Americans are still caught in the web of bondage on a mental, emotional, relational, financial, vocational or spiritual level. Most often, we ourselves create the chains that bind us by making poor or sinful choices.
FREEDOM – Is there any better secular word in the English language?
But do you have a personal "Independence Day" – a day when Jesus freed you from the bondage of sin?
The Bible describes it this way…. "For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins" (Colossians 1:13-14).
The American Revolution freed our bodies – that is, our nation, from English government. But Jesus Christ set us free from a far more significant "servitude." He forever freed us from slavery to sin and its eternal destruction of not only body, but mind and soul as well. He freed us from all the vain things of earth that daily seek to trap and entangle us in false notions of "freedom" – snares that keep us from being happy, whole, healthy and filled with more of Him.
And when we have been thus set free, we in turn become true "Freedom Fighters." By His Spirit within us, we are enabled to help others truly escape the "surly bonds of this earth" and find the true freedom of life in Christ.
God forever bless George Washington, who put it this way: "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. Do not ever let anyone claim to be a true American patriot if they ever attempt to separate religion from politics." Ronald Reagan, beloved by another generation, similarly said, "Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged."
You see, Christians are free, yet, servant to Christ and his will go a step further – they become Patriotics. As born again, blood washed freedom fighting Patriots we realize that every day should be a celebration of Independence Day because of what God has done for us and our great nation. Perfect? No. For no nation of this earth ever has been. But we are represented by great men and women of old – and many today - who still hold freedom dear, and who recognize it as truly existing only under the rule of God.
Men and women who stood in the gate of harm's way, protecting us at great personal risk, and sometimes with their life's blood – from the enemies of God and America who would destroy us.
Consider the words Freedom Fighter and Patriot John Adams penned on the 4th of July, 1776, when he said, "This day will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America, to be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty from one end of the Continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore. You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of the toil, the blood, and the treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration and support and defend these states; yet, through all the gloom, I can see rays of light and glory; that the end is worth all the means; that posterity will triumph in that day’s transaction. . . ." So amid the fireworks and barbecue smoke this July 4, consider pausing for a moment to reflect on our one true Founding Father, by whose grace we are and continue to be the greatest country on earth.
Always be proud of your spiritual and natural heritage! Be a true Patriot: pray for yourself, your family, our nation and her leaders. Stand in word and in deed on the foundation that was laid in the beginning - "on Christ the solid rock."
And stand with dignity, strength and pride on the platform of the words of Daniel Webster (1782-1852), who himself served this country with great force and fervor: When my eyes shall be turned to behold for the last time the sun in heaven, may I not see him shining on the broken and dishonored fragments of a once glorious Union; on States dissevered, discordant, belligerent; on a land rent with civil feuds, or drenched, it may be, in fraternal blood! Let their last feeble and lingering glance rather behold the gorgeous ensign of the republic... not a stripe erased or polluted, nor a single star obscured, bearing for its motto, no such miserable interrogatory as "What is all this worth?" nor those other words of delusion and folly, "Liberty first and Union afterwards"; but everywhere, spread all over in characters of living light, blazing on all its ample folds, as they float over the sea and over the land, and in every wind under the whole heavens, that other sentiment, dear to every true American heart,— Liberty
At the River’s Edge of Gratitude
Exodus 2:1-10
You can tell a lot about a person by looking and listening to see if they express gratitude freely. Gratitude is the spiritual spokesperson for our inner value system, and helps determine the choices we make, and to some extent, our destiny.
According to the law of his day, baby Moses should have been put to death. That tells you a lot about the mentality of Egypt. They were an unthankful lot and their leadership was envious of anyone that might remotely remove him from power. Moses didn’t start life with a lot of advantages. He was born into the equivalent of a Hebrew refugee camp, or on an Egyptian plantation. He was a boy baby, and Pharaoh, looking a whole lot like King Herod in Jerusalem two thousand years later, had ordered that all male children were to be thrown into the Nile River. That tells you a lot about Pharaoh. Not a very thankful person for those around him. Simply put – he was selfish and only cared about himself.
As you recall, Pharaoh had instructed the midwives who might happen upon a Hebrew woman in labor to kill the male child as soon as they were delivered. If things would have gone according to his plans, Moses would have never made it to his first birthday. But in Moses’ case, there were three important people that Pharaoh didn’t count on: the midwife, the mother of Moses, and Pharaoh’s daughter. The midwife feared God, the mother loved her baby, and Pharaoh’s daughter had compassion on an abandoned child. They each had put their own lives on the line to save one child. That tells you a lot about each of them.
Like these three women, we’ve all been down to the river’s edge at some point or another. We’ve visited a dock and watched boats come and go. Perhaps, at a fisherman’s wharf, or sitting at a rushing river’s bank watching dead logs, and debris float by after a storm, or maybe a baby in a basket. You can tell a lot about someone by what they allow to float by, without assisting, in their own personal river. Keep in mind that the midwife and Pharaoh’s daughter could have taken the easy road and said, “I have more than enough of my own problems right now, someone downstream can help him.” Keep in mind -- Helping others is an outcrop of a thankful heart. Gratitude unlocks the richness of life and turns lack into more than enough.
A loving mother, who couldn’t control the stony heart of Pharaoh, placed her baby boy in a basket in the Nile River; in hopes that someone would see and have pity on him. Today, you and I stand at the river’s edge in the cities where we live. If we allow gratitude and thankfulness to flow freely from our hearts, then we too, can provide a safe harbor for those less fortunate and in need of Christ’ love by demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. The story of baby Moses and the three women is there to demonstrate that life, and being thankful for all that we have, is important to our Lord. God wants to show us the value of gratitude. That by displaying thankfulness and allowing its power to flow into the streams of humanity; we can rescue many from the strongholds of modern-day Pharaoh’s grip. Living a life of gratitude, tells you a lot about us. Showing kindness and gratitude has the power to turn denial into acceptance, confusion into clarity, a meal into a feast, a stranger into a friend and babies into leaders and deliverers.
Walking the Royal Road
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-15).
Loving God with purity and passion from the heart is a kind of eye, and a lantern for the soul. Pure love scrutinizes all the thoughts and actions of a man; it is able to distinguish between right and wrong and sets aside anything that is not pleasing to the Lord. Pure love keeps one free of delusion, as well as illusionary superiority (1 Jn. 4:18). This Agape love surpasses status, race, creed, color and economics, and it values God above all else. Agape love transfigures one into a seeker, a traveler, unhappy unless walking the Royal Road toward Christ Jesus, the skilled Captain of the soul. Walking the Royal Road keeps one’s soul from self-destructive impulses, slothfulness and an unfruitful harvest (Prov. 20:4). Walking the Royal Road keeps one humble and divinely anointed with a fire that consumes the world’s grave clothes. The Royal Road (the narrow path) has a narrow gate, but there is another choice, a wide gate with a broad road. There are two different traveling companions, the few - or the many. And there are two different destinations – heaven or hell. The man that walks the Royal Road has left the sandy foundation behind and is now standing on the Rock. This believer stands, while the man on the wide path falls as soon as the last-days tribulation appears. Two very different foundations and walks, they either cause the house to stand, or to fall (Matt. 7:24-27). The winds, floods and the enemy’s storms are on the horizon. Make no mistake about it. When the tribulation comes upon the world (and it is already knocking at the door), only the believer who has been born again, washed in His blood; walking the Royal Road, has chosen correctly (Matt. 24). Jesus is the gate, he is that door; he is the ONLY way to the Father, to heaven (Jhn. 14:6). ONLY Jesus died for the sins of the world. Islam’s leader did not. Nor did Buddha, Sun Yung Moon or Confucius. No other leader, in all of history, shed his blood on a cross so that you and I could experience total forgiveness and know his Agape love that leads us along the Royal Road. One day soon, if we endure to the end, that narrow road will lead to golden streets (Matt, 24:13; Rev. 21).
Transition
Lord, remove our proliferation
of boastful pride and arrogance;
freed from Aaron’s indulging thousands
with religious song,
dancing around the golden calf of compromise.
May our outbursts of zealous, energetic
obedience bring inner courage
amidst religion’s bright lights of acclaim.
May our coveted assignment lead
us to Tarshish by way of Nineveh
(the narrow road), while we flee not by some exotic escapism,
counting ourselves worthy of Shangri-La;
while shunning our Nineveh-like assignment
in life’s traffic jam of virtue and sin.
Deaden our hearing of the propagandists
lying about “what could have been” if we had
taken the less challenging road.
Keep us from spiritual wanderlust.
Rather as hermits, gathered around exemplars
of austerity and contemplative prayer;
as spiritual stability builds its monastery of
noble-bound holiness and stability--
within our sacred souls of wholeness,
until we reach the streets of gold.
The Pathway of the Saint
Psalms 63:1 “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”
I see in David’s Psalm a passageway to finding the presence of God, and how it has an unavoidable impact on every level of one’s spirituality. David’s soul “…thirsted for God.” Isn’t digging wells of worship and service a better alternative to our human strivings? David knew that genuine intimacy with God ultimately bursts open the dam of lack, ushering in times of refreshing. There is a desire in the human heart best described as ‘cravings for inner satisfaction and wholeness.’ How wonderful the creativity of God, having made us unable to find rest or be satisfied with just earthly possessions and status. It is the price paid for our pilgrimage in this life. For us to find fulfillment, we must become smaller in soul as John the Baptist posited. Whoever is satisfied with what he has become or obtained, has, within his self, reached his culminating point in this life; he will progress no further. The genius of God, for us as his children, is that he has purposed that we become his “incarnation” -- his hand reaching, his feet going, and his love showing. Wading through the pain-ridden jungles, the parched land of society, among those in need of Christ’s unfailing love, in selflessness and self-surrender, finds us on - “the pathway of the saint.”
David the shepherd boy and David the King came to fully recognize this biblical principle as well; the need to become hard wired to God, utterly God-dependent – to know that our soul has been spiritually primed to know him and to be fed by our loving Creator Parent (Tim. 4:15; Jas. 1:16-18). As we grow older, if our heart grows wanton, lonely or despondent, the Holy Spirit primes the pump of the soul with a refreshing drop of heaven’s elixir, stirring within us a desire to seek more of God--to know and be assured He is always there for us. As we develop and grow in maturity (Col. 1:10), God helps us to see the world as an expression of His divine love in which we are called to participate by helping others with our gifts of prayer, and even our finances. This supernatural feeding of our soul from helping others elevates God to Supreme Parent, and gives meaning to our lives in a greater context of genuine spirituality. Being spiritually primed and feeding upon God-things enables us to focus on the positive, to see our existence as an expression of the divine attributes of love, power, strength, beauty and meaning. It uplifts and nourishes us in life’s journey (Psa. 92:12-14). As his sons and daughters looking at the world as the handiwork of our Beloved, we become wrapped in the loving embrace of his divine care. It elevates our thoughts and brings the importance of God to a new level (Col. 2:6-7). This is where we live to be a blessing to others, where we really become aware of a world in need (Col. 3:16). Having been born-again, we seek the spiritual inebriation that results from the Holy Spirit daily feeding and caring for our souls. Our senses are enriched by the knowledge of belonging to and being loved by - an Almighty, All-Knowing, and All-Wise God. All this and more, is the Pathway of the Saint.
Christians, Scriptures and Politics
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby:'' I Peter 2:2
Today, more than ever, Christians must seek to understand political theology, how religion, politics and culture intermix. The scriptures have examples of godly people who were also involved in politics like Joseph, Moses, various judges, David, Daniel, Esther, Mordecai, Ezra and others. These exemplary people, because of their relationships with God, were able to positively affect the politics and economies of their days.
For a believer to understand their role in the political arena, who to vote for, how, when and where to get involved, they need a thorough understanding of the Scriptures in order to evaluate those running for office. For the modern Christian, the need to conduct an honest evaluation of our own spiritual lives on a daily basis is also necessary in order for the church to impact the world in which we live with the power of the Gospel. The Gospel should penetrate people’s lives no matter what their occupation is. We must possess the knowledge and spiritual maturity found within the pages of the Bible if we hope to influence what is going on around us and affecting us. Time is short and we cannot afford to elevate political emotionalism over sound Biblical teaching, or we will elect officials to public office who do not follow the basic tenets of the Bible. God’s blessings and peace follow the enactment of his principles. Thomas Fuller, English churchman and historian wrote, “"Zeal without knowledge is fire without light."
Today’s believer needs a genuine commitment to the Bible to become Salt and Light to those around them, especially if they are a pastor or a politician. The Bible is God’s revelation to His people, and if we truly want to please our Lord then we will make the Bible our source of truth so that we can be a real and genuine expression of our Father in our daily living. There is nothing in this world on which we can rely with such absolute confidence as God’s word. If your Word is Your Bond, then your word must be based on HIS WORD. His Word provides all we need for our journey here on earth. For many it is Light for the Weary Traveler – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalms 119:105. For others, it is Strength and Courage for the Journey. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:4.
The Bible is a lot of things to a lot of people, but to Christians, especially, it is a source of Encouragement, Hope and Direction for daily living. One of the greatest politicians that ever lived – Abraham Lincoln - wrote, “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.” Next to Jesus, the Bible is the foundation of Christianity. It holds the teachings and expectations for Christians. The Bible was the only book Jesus ever quoted, not as a basis for argument, but as fact and evidence of the Father’s will for our conduct and morality.(Matthew 4:1)
John Adams, second president of the United States, signer of the Declaration of Independence, judge, diplomat, and one of the signers of the Bill of Rights, was not only a great politician, but a profound Christian. He once wrote, “Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. . . . What a Utopia – what a Paradise would this region be.”
While the Apostle Peter was not a politician, he lived in a time when the politics of the Roman Government established laws that were contrary to the Bible. In the midst of this, Peter said in 1 Peter 2:2 – ‘That we should as babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow from it.’ Charles Wesley said of this passage, “…That word of God will nourish your soul as milk does the body; which is sincere, pure from all guile, so that no one can be deceived by it.” To Wesley, there was no debate concerning the inerrancy (infallibility) of Scripture. As Louis Gaussen has asserted, ‘We are not afraid to say it: when we hear the Son of God speak on, or quote the Scriptures, everything is said by divine inspiration—we need no further testimony.’
Jesus himself believed that: 1. The Old Testament was historical fact (Matthew 19:4,5) 2. He believed the Old Testament was spoken by God Himself. (Luke 20:37) 3. He quoted Scripture as the basis for his own teaching. His moral and spiritual principles were the same as what we find written in the Scriptures. (Matthew 7:12). And equally important, ‘Jesus obeyed the Word of God personally. He was subject to God’s Word, and believed in the authority of it.’ (Luke 4:17-21). As regular food nourishes the natural body, spiritual food (Scriptures) gives us the strength to overcome the obstacles that come our way. The Scriptures help us maintain an intimate and vibrant relationship with our Father. The power of the Word can make Visionaries out of the Blind, give A Home to the Homeless, and bring Strength to the Weak, Hope to the Hopeless and Faith to the Faithless. In 2016, let’s study God’s Word, grow from it, build our faith by it, speak it and learn to enjoy and savor the lessons in it, thereby providing spiritual nourishment to the whole man -- Spirit, soul and body. Remember - Knowing the Word of God is powerful, but studying it to know the God of the Word is the Greatest Treasure you will ever find! Why? To the spiritual miner, the nuggets of God’s Word are Life Changing!
Lastly, the Bible is filled with people who were godly people and involved in politics in one form or another. God helped Joseph, Daniel and others to become leaders in order to change the course of history. Christians, when rightly informed and motivated, change the character of political debate. They bring the moral standards of God’s kingdom into the civic and cultural arena thereby becoming agents of His common grace — of His provision for those who believe as well as those who don’t. The church becomes a compelling force in all spheres of society when her people know the word, live by the word, and share views based on the Scriptures. Christians who know and live the Scriptures can keep government accountable. Throughout history God has called His people to speak out against all forms of tyranny, especially leaders who practice unrighteousness and live a life of iniquity. In the New Testament, John the Baptist was a mighty man of God who was quick to point out the ungodly life style of Herod regarding his brother Philip’s wife. While we are not all called to be of one persuasion, we are called to vote for those candidates who are as close to the Scriptures as possible. Each of us personally is called to study the Word in order to live it out on a daily basis. Only then can we ever hope to change the course of our nation, bringing her back in alignment with the God of the Ages - who changes not.
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1 Sam 22:1-4 David – The Might Agent of Change
David had become an overnight celebrity and favorite son in Israel after he had killed the Philistine giant, Goliath. Jealous Saul tries unsuccessfully to kill David, but he escapes to the cave of Adulam, where four hundred men who were in debt, in distress and disconnected from society joined him. These men were the outcast of society, black sheep no one wanted, and didn’t meet the standards or expectations of Society or the Religious Establishment
David hid in the cave and made it his stronghold until he could see what God would do with him. He enters the cave with a lot of blood on his hands. He was a fighter, and even in his teenage years was not afraid to fight a bear or lion, or the giant, but David needed to learn that to lead others, it takes more than a slingshot and a sword and sheer grit. His courage needed to be tempered with the fruit of the spirit in order for a new kind of leader to emerge. In the dark cave of solitude, with nothing but his harp, God engages David and implements a new season of change in his heart, sprit and soul. David now had four hundred men who looked to him for leadership and they too needed to be changed before they could emerge as the mighty men of valor God wanted them to become.
Day-by-day God’s spirit hones David into a new vessel teaching him to first Practice Patience – David needed to be willing to wait on God’s timing to inherit the throne and trust that God would take care of Saul without David’s interference or retaliation. David needed the patience to do simple things perfectly, in order to acquire the skill to do difficult things more easily. You see friend, like David, if we can ultimately experience a God-like Change we can Lead others, and if we Accept the radical Change that God brings our way, we Grow, but if we Resist Change there is the Potential to Die Spiritually.
Second - David needed to get into the Proper Position and Spiritual Alignment to receive God’s Promises. His time in the cave waiting on God taught him that the ignorance of hesitancy and procrastination could kill his dream, and murder any future opportunities that God might bring. God was telling David, “If your actions inspire others to dream and grow more, to learn more, do more and become more, you are on your way to becoming My leader and king.” Like David, we too need to learn subjection to a greater wisdom than our own.
Thirdly, David needed to learn to Prioritize his life with God in order to lead those whom God sent into his care. David was quick to fight, to defend the sheep and God’s name, but he also needed to be patient and learn to wait on God. Without these characteristics, he would have ultimately broken under the pressures of life and leadership like Saul did. If David adopted a motto while in the cave, it was probably something life this -- Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Like David, we too must Seek to become men and women of spiritual value; in order to become men and women of spiritual success.
While in the cave, David took time to be alone with God by spending quiet time worshipping and playing his harp before the Lord. David came to understand that he was a child of prophetic delay, and while going through a transitional season of change -- he learned to love the process as much as the reward. And most importantly, he learned that receiving the Incremental spiritual increases from the Spirit, is greater than the instantaneous gratification of the flesh that gets you ahead of God’s timing, before the God-changes take place.
Maybe you find yourself in a cave like David and the Lord is transforming you into a new creation. Remember dear friend, the Holy Spirit, God’s skillful surgeon has been commissioned to probe deeply on the inside of our innermost being and separate the precious from the vile and common. To receive all that God has for us, like David, we must give God all that we have that rightfully belongs to Him and embrace the spirit as He works His perfect will in our lives to mold us into a Godly vessel.
"And all of us, as with unveiled face, because we continued to behold in the Word of God as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into HIs very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another for this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit." (2 Cor. 3:18)
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Knowing the Joy of Freedom and Liberty
Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed. John 8:36.
In 1863, Princess Schahovskoy, maid of honor to Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress of Russia, was asked to speak to a group of important women in Chicago on the subject of liberty. She began by making the statement, “Yes, my friends, freedom and justice for us all, is there anything more desirable than that?”
America and our world are forever changed. The magnitude and implications of the horrific events on 911 made it so. From that moment on, we could never again take our safety and freedom for granted. Freedom is never free; it always extracts a heavy price. Neither status nor fame can make one free. Technological and scientific innovation can move a generation and a society forward, but they can never on their own keep a nation free. It is safe to say that a lack of social values and morals can weaken any society’s grip on freedom. From the first hand axe and knife crudely fashioned by the cave man during the lower Paleolithic time period, to today’s arsenal of nuclear weapons, man still struggles to gain and hold onto freedom.
Is it really possible to be truly free despite the numerous wars, famines, natural and man-made disasters, and with the economic situation our world is facing? The answer is a resounding yes!
Why? Because true freedom is of the heart, it is not a state of mind. It is not determined by external circumstances. When we dare to dream of a better future for ourselves, our families and our nation, God grants the ways and means to become truly free. A personal relationship with Jesus through sacrifice, brokenness, and humility is a healthy path that leads to complete and lasting freedom. Every day can be Independence Day for the Believer as we celebrate and hold dear the freedoms and liberties we have in Christ. We are free from the laws of sin and death, free to approach the throne of grace, free to worship God, free from the chains of demonic oppression, free to attend church, free to live apart from fear, anxiety and hopelessness. In Christ, we are free from the devil’s tormenting grip of sin and addictions. We are free from anything that would hold our life in a spiritual captivity or that would try to take away the liberties we have been given from our Savior.
Jesus, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, will grant you life and liberty by protecting your freedom as you guard your relationship with Him. You see friend, the Gospel is a Gospel of Freedom eternally etched in the feet and nail scarred hands of Christ, the Master Architect of Freedom. He bought and paid for your freedom by His death on the cross. No one can take that from you, but it can be surrendered by one’s slavery to self-satisfaction, which can cause you to fall short of God's best and lose your freedom from the sting of sin. Over the coming months, purpose in your heart by the power of prayer, and by the authority we have been granted in Jesus’ Name, that you will no longer live as slaves to your own appetites and longings. But rather, yearn for and seek the freedom that enables you to abandon all selfish motives for the power of brokenness found only at the foot of the cross.
Today, look beyond the clouds, the problems, and as much as it is possible for you, beyond the economic storms of life and see the One who can bring freedom to your heart, mind and soul. The supernatural strength of freedom which Christ gives is resistant to the gross immorality and insolence of heart and soul we see all around. It is a freedom that springs forth from a personal relationship -- with more than a historical figure kept alive by mere formality, it’s rather a life style of liberty, with freedom and joy granted as you enter into the door of the Son of God’s Kingdom. Freedom – and all that it is-- can be yours. Seek God, seek all that He has for you, and freedom will be birthed in you that will set you free like the butterfly that was once held captive by a cocoon. John 8:36.
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Transformation into Champions
"...we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:17
The Greek word for biblical “transformation” is metamorphoo, from which we get the English word metamorphosis: i.e., a complete or thorough change, such as a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Biblical transformation applies to a believer’s progress in sanctification, becoming more like Jesus day-by-day. It is then, a dying to sin more and more, and living to righteousness more and more.
We see this lived-out in the life of Paul, the great Apostle. Once Saul of Tarsus, hater of the church, he was changed by the power of God on the road to Damascus. Tarsus was the intellectual center of the East, the seat of a famous school of learning in which stoicism was the dominant philosophy. Saul’s upbringing was of the strict order of the Pharisees, so his conversion and subsequent leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ is undeniably nothing short of the supernatural power of God. God is able to transform anyone and use them for kingdom purposes.
Because of his spiritual transformation, Paul immediately adopted a biblical approach to living for, and serving God. His conversion (transformation) was so dynamic, that many in the early church could not believe it had taken place. (Acts 9:21-26). But Paul never allowed what others said about him to change his opinion of himself. Like Paul, we must understand that it is not what men say about us that really matters in life. It is what we believe and know about ourselves – that we are still a work in progress. Remember, the ammunition selected by your enemy (Satan) is a clue to his fear of you and what God has in store for you. Like Paul, as God takes us from glory to glory, we must move beyond our scars. Critics will always be around, but God is our source.
We see in Galatians 1:15-18, that Paul understood too that ‘timing and preparation’ were key elements in getting closer to God and ridding oneself of the old carnal man. Those in training to become Champions need to never be in a hurry. Great concert pianists invest hundreds of hours of practice before each event. A professional boxer wouldn’t step into the ring on the eve of his title bout unprepared. He goes through the process of becoming a champion. Champions never become champions in the ring – they are merely recognized in the ring. Their becoming happens in their daily lives and routine. God wants to transform us all into champions.
Like Paul, many of us must overcome the stigma of a questionable background during our transformation process (Acts 8:1-3). Any would-be-champion-butterfly knows he can’t afford to build his future flights on his past failures, lest he never get off the ground. Always remember, God never consults your past to determine your future. One of the keys in becoming the champion God has intended for you to become, is to stop looking at where you have been, or what you never became, and start looking today at where you want God to take you. And remember friend, when the enemy brings accusations, it is usually the last stage in transformation before a supernatural promotion and breakthrough.
In Reader's Digest not long ago they published the seven characteristics of an Olympic champion, two of which were - they ‘aimed high’ and were always ‘fired up.’ Like Paul, there is a spiritual champion within you, and God wants you to aim high, allowing the transforming power of the spirit to make you into a vessel fit for duty and service. The ammo is the fire of God, once inside your heart it’s the fire of the Holy Spirit. Over the coming days, allow that fire to be fanned, fueled, and burning in your heart for the purpose of becoming a champion able to play at the championship level in God's Metamorphosis Olympics, the spiritual game of life.
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Things Aren’t Always What They Seem!
Mark 16.16 ~ and the angel said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the guestroom of the mansion. Instead, they were given a space in the cold basement.
As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem". The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel "How could you have let this happen!? The first man had everything, yet you helped him. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die." The older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem. When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."
Serving the Risen Christ - it is Finished!
Death on a Roman cross was a horrible one. Six hours of sheer horror. Now, in the tomb, at long last, Jesus was at rest! The long day of shame and torture was ended. The Son of God lay in quietude in Joseph’s tomb. His work was completed. His hands now folded in peace. Upon the very day of His death, three men, very different, had declared their faith in Christ: He who commanded the Roman Guard, He who had bore the cross of the Savior, and he, a lowly thief who had died on a cross next to him. But with His death, the hopes and dreams of his Disciples and closest followers lay lifeless on a cold, dead and dark rock-slab. They looked upon His closed eyelids, His hair matted with blood, His hands and feet with gaping, open wounds.
As yet, they were not conscious that Type had met Antitype. That an infinite sacrifice had been made, and that the Crucified One was the World’s Redeemer. “Things aren’t always what they seem!” On the first and second day, hosts of evil angels kept their watch, as the prince of darkness, laughed believing the Miracle Worker was dead and out of his way. But, ‘things aren’t always what they seem.’ But something dramatic happened – A mighty Angel of the Lord showed up and all others had to flee. The disciples and the women looked in vain for Him that was dead, but made alive. Still today, people look in vain places for something or someone that can bring them hope and rest for their weary souls. The Resurrected Christ stands ready to bring healing to a wounded soul. Rest assured you solider of the cross, that the ‘great stones’ seemingly standing in your way, can also be rolled away by the all Sufficient One.
The Voice that cried from the cross, “It is finished”, was heard among the dead, and it pierced the walls of the sepulcher and summoned those who were asleep to arise. That same voice has the power to penetrate the tomb of your life, and resurrect you and your family from what holds you in darkness! At the Savior’s resurrection a few graves were opened, but at His second coming, all the precious dead shall hear his voice, and shall come forth to a glorious immortal life.
He is risen to save – be encouraged! He is risen to intercede – be comforted! He is risen to hold you in His arms of love and mercy, even though it appears the stone remains immovable. Take heart dear friend - The Resurrection power of God still moves among us today! Happy Easter!
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The Importance of a Healthy Love
I John 3:1,"See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."
There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts agree that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging notes of love and the rest is history. It is interesting to note that the meaning of the name Valentine in Latin means, worthy. May we each live a life worthy for His love to flow through us.
Jesus, the spotless Lamb slain for humanity sent an eternal valentine of love and hope to the world when He died on Calvary’s bloody hill. His death and substitution on the cross removed the veil of hostility and our unworthiness, thus providing a Doorway into heaven. (Ephesians 2:14, John 10:7). The Cross Shows us the Importance of Maintaining a Healthy Love. In shedding His blood for us, our Wondrous Redeemer bestowed upon us the greatest gift that He could possibly give – self worth and value. Christ’s valentine of love gives us a new identify, one in which He removed our cup of pain and granted us access to His boundless love and freedom in the here and now.
Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech said, “…We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others.” We see then that - a Healthy Love Helps our Lights to Shine during Tumultuous Times. Ecclesiastes 2:26 says, this kind of love pleases God. (Author’s emphasis). A godly life, filled with HIs love will authenticate the gospel we bear during the pressures of life. A Healthy Love is Devoted, Dedicated and Single Minded in its Pursuit of Pleasing Christ. Someone once said, “Between the great things that we cannot do and the little things that we won't do lies the danger of doing nothing.” A healthy Christ-like Love is Unconquerable and Unstoppable. Love is the ultimate guardian of the mind, soul and body for the Believer.
A Healthy God-style Love is the referee and the defining difference when it comes to the motive of how we act in our relationships. If we are single for example, God’s Healthy Love makes one feel complete until we are married, if that is our desire. Healthy Love Keeps One Pure While Waiting on our Mate. If we are married, the pure Healthy Love of Christ becomes the common thread in the marriage to Maintain its Stability and Provide an Antidote for nearly all marital problems. Whether we are single or married, the Good News is that while Christ was on the cross, He inexorably determined by His penetrating grace, that He would bestow upon us: the ability to pierce through any dark areas and bring the redeeming light of His love and purpose to bear in all of our relationships.
A Healthy Love that Flows through a Marriage or Relationship that lives up to Mutual Responsibility and Respect will Stand the Test of Time. This communion and intimacy between marriage partners is designed to reflect the image of God and provide the context for a lasting relationship of love and respect. An old proverb we would do well to remember about entering marriage: Marry a Man or Woman without a biblical mission and you will have no eternal vision; Marry a Man or Woman without his eternal vision and you will violate your biblical mission!
Whatever state you find yourself in, always remember that you are of great value and highly loved by God. This year, ask God for a Healthy God-like Love and spread it around! Why, because possessing and spreading God’s Healthy Love is our eternal mission!
David had become an overnight celebrity and favorite son in Israel after he had killed the Philistine giant, Goliath. Jealous Saul tries unsuccessfully to kill David, but he escapes to the cave of Adulam, where four hundred men who were in debt, in distress and disconnected from society joined him. These men were the outcast of society, black sheep no one wanted, and didn’t meet the standards or expectations of Society or the Religious Establishment
David hid in the cave and made it his stronghold until he could see what God would do with him. He enters the cave with a lot of blood on his hands. He was a fighter, and even in his teenage years was not afraid to fight a bear or lion, or the giant, but David needed to learn that to lead others, it takes more than a slingshot and a sword and sheer grit. His courage needed to be tempered with the fruit of the spirit in order for a new kind of leader to emerge. In the dark cave of solitude, with nothing but his harp, God engages David and implements a new season of change in his heart, sprit and soul. David now had four hundred men who looked to him for leadership and they too needed to be changed before they could emerge as the mighty men of valor God wanted them to become.
Day-by-day God’s spirit hones David into a new vessel teaching him to first Practice Patience – David needed to be willing to wait on God’s timing to inherit the throne and trust that God would take care of Saul without David’s interference or retaliation. David needed the patience to do simple things perfectly, in order to acquire the skill to do difficult things more easily. You see friend, like David, if we can ultimately experience a God-like Change we can Lead others, and if we Accept the radical Change that God brings our way, we Grow, but if we Resist Change there is the Potential to Die Spiritually.
Second - David needed to get into the Proper Position and Spiritual Alignment to receive God’s Promises. His time in the cave waiting on God taught him that the ignorance of hesitancy and procrastination could kill his dream, and murder any future opportunities that God might bring. God was telling David, “If your actions inspire others to dream and grow more, to learn more, do more and become more, you are on your way to becoming My leader and king.” Like David, we too need to learn subjection to a greater wisdom than our own.
Thirdly, David needed to learn to Prioritize his life with God in order to lead those whom God sent into his care. David was quick to fight, to defend the sheep and God’s name, but he also needed to be patient and learn to wait on God. Without these characteristics, he would have ultimately broken under the pressures of life and leadership like Saul did. If David adopted a motto while in the cave, it was probably something life this -- Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Like David, we too must Seek to become men and women of spiritual value; in order to become men and women of spiritual success.
While in the cave, David took time to be alone with God by spending quiet time worshipping and playing his harp before the Lord. David came to understand that he was a child of prophetic delay, and while going through a transitional season of change -- he learned to love the process as much as the reward. And most importantly, he learned that receiving the Incremental spiritual increases from the Spirit, is greater than the instantaneous gratification of the flesh that gets you ahead of God’s timing, before the God-changes take place.
Maybe you find yourself in a cave like David and the Lord is transforming you into a new creation. Remember dear friend, the Holy Spirit, God’s skillful surgeon has been commissioned to probe deeply on the inside of our innermost being and separate the precious from the vile and common. To receive all that God has for us, like David, we must give God all that we have that rightfully belongs to Him and embrace the spirit as He works His perfect will in our lives to mold us into a Godly vessel.
"And all of us, as with unveiled face, because we continued to behold in the Word of God as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into HIs very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another for this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit." (2 Cor. 3:18)
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Knowing the Joy of Freedom and Liberty
Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed. John 8:36.
In 1863, Princess Schahovskoy, maid of honor to Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress of Russia, was asked to speak to a group of important women in Chicago on the subject of liberty. She began by making the statement, “Yes, my friends, freedom and justice for us all, is there anything more desirable than that?”
America and our world are forever changed. The magnitude and implications of the horrific events on 911 made it so. From that moment on, we could never again take our safety and freedom for granted. Freedom is never free; it always extracts a heavy price. Neither status nor fame can make one free. Technological and scientific innovation can move a generation and a society forward, but they can never on their own keep a nation free. It is safe to say that a lack of social values and morals can weaken any society’s grip on freedom. From the first hand axe and knife crudely fashioned by the cave man during the lower Paleolithic time period, to today’s arsenal of nuclear weapons, man still struggles to gain and hold onto freedom.
Is it really possible to be truly free despite the numerous wars, famines, natural and man-made disasters, and with the economic situation our world is facing? The answer is a resounding yes!
Why? Because true freedom is of the heart, it is not a state of mind. It is not determined by external circumstances. When we dare to dream of a better future for ourselves, our families and our nation, God grants the ways and means to become truly free. A personal relationship with Jesus through sacrifice, brokenness, and humility is a healthy path that leads to complete and lasting freedom. Every day can be Independence Day for the Believer as we celebrate and hold dear the freedoms and liberties we have in Christ. We are free from the laws of sin and death, free to approach the throne of grace, free to worship God, free from the chains of demonic oppression, free to attend church, free to live apart from fear, anxiety and hopelessness. In Christ, we are free from the devil’s tormenting grip of sin and addictions. We are free from anything that would hold our life in a spiritual captivity or that would try to take away the liberties we have been given from our Savior.
Jesus, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, will grant you life and liberty by protecting your freedom as you guard your relationship with Him. You see friend, the Gospel is a Gospel of Freedom eternally etched in the feet and nail scarred hands of Christ, the Master Architect of Freedom. He bought and paid for your freedom by His death on the cross. No one can take that from you, but it can be surrendered by one’s slavery to self-satisfaction, which can cause you to fall short of God's best and lose your freedom from the sting of sin. Over the coming months, purpose in your heart by the power of prayer, and by the authority we have been granted in Jesus’ Name, that you will no longer live as slaves to your own appetites and longings. But rather, yearn for and seek the freedom that enables you to abandon all selfish motives for the power of brokenness found only at the foot of the cross.
Today, look beyond the clouds, the problems, and as much as it is possible for you, beyond the economic storms of life and see the One who can bring freedom to your heart, mind and soul. The supernatural strength of freedom which Christ gives is resistant to the gross immorality and insolence of heart and soul we see all around. It is a freedom that springs forth from a personal relationship -- with more than a historical figure kept alive by mere formality, it’s rather a life style of liberty, with freedom and joy granted as you enter into the door of the Son of God’s Kingdom. Freedom – and all that it is-- can be yours. Seek God, seek all that He has for you, and freedom will be birthed in you that will set you free like the butterfly that was once held captive by a cocoon. John 8:36.
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Transformation into Champions
"...we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:17
The Greek word for biblical “transformation” is metamorphoo, from which we get the English word metamorphosis: i.e., a complete or thorough change, such as a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Biblical transformation applies to a believer’s progress in sanctification, becoming more like Jesus day-by-day. It is then, a dying to sin more and more, and living to righteousness more and more.
We see this lived-out in the life of Paul, the great Apostle. Once Saul of Tarsus, hater of the church, he was changed by the power of God on the road to Damascus. Tarsus was the intellectual center of the East, the seat of a famous school of learning in which stoicism was the dominant philosophy. Saul’s upbringing was of the strict order of the Pharisees, so his conversion and subsequent leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ is undeniably nothing short of the supernatural power of God. God is able to transform anyone and use them for kingdom purposes.
Because of his spiritual transformation, Paul immediately adopted a biblical approach to living for, and serving God. His conversion (transformation) was so dynamic, that many in the early church could not believe it had taken place. (Acts 9:21-26). But Paul never allowed what others said about him to change his opinion of himself. Like Paul, we must understand that it is not what men say about us that really matters in life. It is what we believe and know about ourselves – that we are still a work in progress. Remember, the ammunition selected by your enemy (Satan) is a clue to his fear of you and what God has in store for you. Like Paul, as God takes us from glory to glory, we must move beyond our scars. Critics will always be around, but God is our source.
We see in Galatians 1:15-18, that Paul understood too that ‘timing and preparation’ were key elements in getting closer to God and ridding oneself of the old carnal man. Those in training to become Champions need to never be in a hurry. Great concert pianists invest hundreds of hours of practice before each event. A professional boxer wouldn’t step into the ring on the eve of his title bout unprepared. He goes through the process of becoming a champion. Champions never become champions in the ring – they are merely recognized in the ring. Their becoming happens in their daily lives and routine. God wants to transform us all into champions.
Like Paul, many of us must overcome the stigma of a questionable background during our transformation process (Acts 8:1-3). Any would-be-champion-butterfly knows he can’t afford to build his future flights on his past failures, lest he never get off the ground. Always remember, God never consults your past to determine your future. One of the keys in becoming the champion God has intended for you to become, is to stop looking at where you have been, or what you never became, and start looking today at where you want God to take you. And remember friend, when the enemy brings accusations, it is usually the last stage in transformation before a supernatural promotion and breakthrough.
In Reader's Digest not long ago they published the seven characteristics of an Olympic champion, two of which were - they ‘aimed high’ and were always ‘fired up.’ Like Paul, there is a spiritual champion within you, and God wants you to aim high, allowing the transforming power of the spirit to make you into a vessel fit for duty and service. The ammo is the fire of God, once inside your heart it’s the fire of the Holy Spirit. Over the coming days, allow that fire to be fanned, fueled, and burning in your heart for the purpose of becoming a champion able to play at the championship level in God's Metamorphosis Olympics, the spiritual game of life.
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Things Aren’t Always What They Seem!
Mark 16.16 ~ and the angel said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the guestroom of the mansion. Instead, they were given a space in the cold basement.
As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem". The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel "How could you have let this happen!? The first man had everything, yet you helped him. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die." The older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem. When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."
Serving the Risen Christ - it is Finished!
Death on a Roman cross was a horrible one. Six hours of sheer horror. Now, in the tomb, at long last, Jesus was at rest! The long day of shame and torture was ended. The Son of God lay in quietude in Joseph’s tomb. His work was completed. His hands now folded in peace. Upon the very day of His death, three men, very different, had declared their faith in Christ: He who commanded the Roman Guard, He who had bore the cross of the Savior, and he, a lowly thief who had died on a cross next to him. But with His death, the hopes and dreams of his Disciples and closest followers lay lifeless on a cold, dead and dark rock-slab. They looked upon His closed eyelids, His hair matted with blood, His hands and feet with gaping, open wounds.
As yet, they were not conscious that Type had met Antitype. That an infinite sacrifice had been made, and that the Crucified One was the World’s Redeemer. “Things aren’t always what they seem!” On the first and second day, hosts of evil angels kept their watch, as the prince of darkness, laughed believing the Miracle Worker was dead and out of his way. But, ‘things aren’t always what they seem.’ But something dramatic happened – A mighty Angel of the Lord showed up and all others had to flee. The disciples and the women looked in vain for Him that was dead, but made alive. Still today, people look in vain places for something or someone that can bring them hope and rest for their weary souls. The Resurrected Christ stands ready to bring healing to a wounded soul. Rest assured you solider of the cross, that the ‘great stones’ seemingly standing in your way, can also be rolled away by the all Sufficient One.
The Voice that cried from the cross, “It is finished”, was heard among the dead, and it pierced the walls of the sepulcher and summoned those who were asleep to arise. That same voice has the power to penetrate the tomb of your life, and resurrect you and your family from what holds you in darkness! At the Savior’s resurrection a few graves were opened, but at His second coming, all the precious dead shall hear his voice, and shall come forth to a glorious immortal life.
He is risen to save – be encouraged! He is risen to intercede – be comforted! He is risen to hold you in His arms of love and mercy, even though it appears the stone remains immovable. Take heart dear friend - The Resurrection power of God still moves among us today! Happy Easter!
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The Importance of a Healthy Love
I John 3:1,"See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."
There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts agree that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging notes of love and the rest is history. It is interesting to note that the meaning of the name Valentine in Latin means, worthy. May we each live a life worthy for His love to flow through us.
Jesus, the spotless Lamb slain for humanity sent an eternal valentine of love and hope to the world when He died on Calvary’s bloody hill. His death and substitution on the cross removed the veil of hostility and our unworthiness, thus providing a Doorway into heaven. (Ephesians 2:14, John 10:7). The Cross Shows us the Importance of Maintaining a Healthy Love. In shedding His blood for us, our Wondrous Redeemer bestowed upon us the greatest gift that He could possibly give – self worth and value. Christ’s valentine of love gives us a new identify, one in which He removed our cup of pain and granted us access to His boundless love and freedom in the here and now.
Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech said, “…We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others.” We see then that - a Healthy Love Helps our Lights to Shine during Tumultuous Times. Ecclesiastes 2:26 says, this kind of love pleases God. (Author’s emphasis). A godly life, filled with HIs love will authenticate the gospel we bear during the pressures of life. A Healthy Love is Devoted, Dedicated and Single Minded in its Pursuit of Pleasing Christ. Someone once said, “Between the great things that we cannot do and the little things that we won't do lies the danger of doing nothing.” A healthy Christ-like Love is Unconquerable and Unstoppable. Love is the ultimate guardian of the mind, soul and body for the Believer.
A Healthy God-style Love is the referee and the defining difference when it comes to the motive of how we act in our relationships. If we are single for example, God’s Healthy Love makes one feel complete until we are married, if that is our desire. Healthy Love Keeps One Pure While Waiting on our Mate. If we are married, the pure Healthy Love of Christ becomes the common thread in the marriage to Maintain its Stability and Provide an Antidote for nearly all marital problems. Whether we are single or married, the Good News is that while Christ was on the cross, He inexorably determined by His penetrating grace, that He would bestow upon us: the ability to pierce through any dark areas and bring the redeeming light of His love and purpose to bear in all of our relationships.
A Healthy Love that Flows through a Marriage or Relationship that lives up to Mutual Responsibility and Respect will Stand the Test of Time. This communion and intimacy between marriage partners is designed to reflect the image of God and provide the context for a lasting relationship of love and respect. An old proverb we would do well to remember about entering marriage: Marry a Man or Woman without a biblical mission and you will have no eternal vision; Marry a Man or Woman without his eternal vision and you will violate your biblical mission!
Whatever state you find yourself in, always remember that you are of great value and highly loved by God. This year, ask God for a Healthy God-like Love and spread it around! Why, because possessing and spreading God’s Healthy Love is our eternal mission!