Jerusalem Tomorrow

The Bluegrass Gospel Blog

Posts tagged relationships

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Boy/Girl Stuff

Some of you are really foundering in this area, hurting deeply. I feel your pain; the opposite gender doesn’t come with an instruction book. Until recently.

I’ve mentioned Dr. Caroline Leaf before. Earlier this year, she made the rounds to talk about how we can use the latest research on neurological gender differences to get along better with the opposite gender — in romance and marriage, in the family, at school, work, or church. This is huge.

Dr. Leaf made two appearances on “Today With Marilyn and Sarah” to talk about what she found and to spill some huge secrets about why they act the way they do (you know who I’m talking about). I’m posting videos of both shows today. The people are old. The stage set looks like your grandmother’s living room. The videos are nearly 30 minutes each.

If that appals you, some overcoming may be in order. If you’re in pain over a relationship with anyone of the opposite gender, you will be comforted by the information in the two videos of Dr. Leaf that I’ve posted today.

Filed under relationship relationships romance marriage communication gender

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Statistics say that 10% of all people won’t like us, so let’s enjoy the 90% who do and stop worrying about the 10% who don’t!

— Joyce Meyer

As factoids go, this one is so crucial.

With its emphasis on a narrow, not to say anorexic, view of perfection, the media makes it seem like everyone hates us if we don’t measure up. That’s a lie from the pit of hell, as this statistic makes clear.

Recently, a few of you have been visited by some old demons. They have driven you to relapse into self-hatred and self-harm. Whatever you think of yourself for whatever reason, you are better than the future that Satan sees for you. The devil will use the 10% who dislike you to drive you away from the love of Jesus and everyone else who matters to you.

Don’t let it happen: Be gentle with yourself and let Jesus, the only just judge who’s ever lived, decide how, when, and if you need correction.

I know, I know, you’re too emotional, too involved, too easily hurt. I have learned that Jesus gave us those character traits to help us minister sensitively to others. Just because some folks are cruel or unappreciative doesn’t mean you’re wrong, bad, or hateful.

But we’re not meant just to fall into relationships with anyone, whether real people or fictional characters (I see you, voracious readers). Again, be gentle to yourself, put on the brakes, then ask Jesus if it’s safe to go ahead.

Filed under joyce meyer quote people pleaser people pleasing conformity popularity Jesus relationships healing emotions emotional self hatred self harm

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Asking For Directions By now, you realize that God wants you happy, healthy, and holy, but we live in a fallen world. God’s priority is to make us as Godly as possible, however, and suffering helps us get there. We can alleviate some of it by asking God to help us take inventory of our weak spots, and using the resources He’s given us to shore ourselves up. The problem with this kind of mental inventory is that it can degenerate into a list if qualifications that others must have to be the perfect church, spouse, friend, job, whatever. You can avoid the false hope that unrealistic expectations generate by tossing your list out altogether. If you delight yourself in the Lord, you inspire God to give you the desires of your heart (Psalms 37:4). Let Him keep the list, and you’ll get what you want as well as what you need. But what if that long list of yours is straight from the Bible, especially if you’re looking for a church? If you want a place that looks like the early churches that Paul and Peter founded, it most likely won’t be a big-city mega-church, but a little community church of the type you might find in Appalachia. Live near church and (tele-)commute to work or vice-versa, but a good church is worth its weight in gold. That said, remember that people are people and you will get hurt.People don’t always act out of spite or conspiracy. Remember the times that you have hurt someone without meaning to; you’ll mitigate the pain you feel. If it’s proper to confront someone, as in the case of an actual sin, do it privately and in love. Always forgive, and go the extra mile to patch things up, even if it’s not your fault. Finally, remember that one bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole genus. Always, always, always rely on God to guide you through, and you’ll mine gold wherever God takes you. bluepueblo: Ancient Archway, Lombardy, Italy photo by gio.dino3

Asking For Directions

By now, you realize that God wants you happy, healthy, and holy, but we live in a fallen world. God’s priority is to make us as Godly as possible, however, and suffering helps us get there. We can alleviate some of it by asking God to help us take inventory of our weak spots, and using the resources He’s given us to shore ourselves up.

The problem with this kind of mental inventory is that it can degenerate into a list if qualifications that others must have to be the perfect church, spouse, friend, job, whatever.

You can avoid the false hope that unrealistic expectations generate by tossing your list out altogether. If you delight yourself in the Lord, you inspire God to give you the desires of your heart (Psalms 37:4). Let Him keep the list, and you’ll get what you want as well as what you need.

But what if that long list of yours is straight from the Bible, especially if you’re looking for a church? If you want a place that looks like the early churches that Paul and Peter founded, it most likely won’t be a big-city mega-church, but a little community church of the type you might find in Appalachia. Live near church and (tele-)commute to work or vice-versa, but a good church is worth its weight in gold.

That said, remember that people are people and you will get hurt.People don’t always act out of spite or conspiracy. Remember the times that you have hurt someone without meaning to; you’ll mitigate the pain you feel. If it’s proper to confront someone, as in the case of an actual sin, do it privately and in love. Always forgive, and go the extra mile to patch things up, even if it’s not your fault.

Finally, remember that one bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole genus. Always, always, always rely on God to guide you through, and you’ll mine gold wherever God takes you.

bluepueblo:

Ancient Archway, Lombardy, Italy

photo by gio.dino3

Filed under relationships church God Christian Christians Christianity Bible verse scripture

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Colossians 3:18-21, 23-25 KJV Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Hmmm, so we will be judged in how we treat our families. In fact, what we receive in heaven (or not) is directly connected to how we treat our families. 1 Corinthians 11:3, 11-12 NKJV But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God. Not exactly the conventional wisdom on gender roles in the Christian church, is it? It pays — now and later — to read the Bible. 1 Corinthians 3:11-19 NLT For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.” How do you want to enter heaven, cool, calm, and collected, or one step ahead of the raging fire? Life is short. Eternity is forever. Forever is a long time to go without rewards. We pay a lot of lip service to family here in America. Now you understand how to reap lasting blessings for yourself and your family in this life and the next. Go for it! Quilted Wall Hangings - Jeanette Durand - Fine Arts - Paintings & Textiles on We Heart It. http://weheartit.com/entry/27813983,

Colossians 3:18-21, 23-25 KJV

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Hmmm, so we will be judged in how we treat our families. In fact, what we receive in heaven (or not) is directly connected to how we treat our families.

1 Corinthians 11:3, 11-12 NKJV

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

Not exactly the conventional wisdom on gender roles in the Christian church, is it? It pays — now and later — to read the Bible.

1 Corinthians 3:11-19 NLT

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.

If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”

How do you want to enter heaven, cool, calm, and collected, or one step ahead of the raging fire? Life is short. Eternity is forever. Forever is a long time to go without rewards. We pay a lot of lip service to family here in America. Now you understand how to reap lasting blessings for yourself and your family in this life and the next. Go for it!

Quilted Wall Hangings - Jeanette Durand - Fine Arts - Paintings & Textiles on We Heart It. http://weheartit.com/entry/27813983

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Filed under family marriage husband wife children relationships jesus God Bible verse Christ Christian Christians Christianity tapestry fabric design pattern navy blue red tomato warm red

3,318 notes &

1 Corinthians 7:3-5 NLT The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control. It’s destructive for both of you to let anger and misunderstandings keep you apart. It’s also just how Satan likes it. That alone should fill you with such righteous anger that you pick up the phone and crush that sulfur-smelling maggot right this second.

1 Corinthians 7:3-5 NLT

The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

It’s destructive for both of you to let anger and misunderstandings keep you apart. It’s also just how Satan likes it. That alone should fill you with such righteous anger that you pick up the phone and crush that sulfur-smelling maggot right this second.

(Source: , via xn--n28h)

Filed under rust red warm red window Moorish wrought iron architecture Bible verse Jesus marriage sex intimacy relationships

41 notes &

1 Peter 3:8-11 AMP Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one another]loving, [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble). Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God—that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection]. For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good—whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips fromguile (treachery, deceit). Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] Who doesn’t want to enjoy life and see good days? The secret to those blessings is right here: When we in the household of faith agree on the important things, when we agree to bless each other, God blesses us with the peace, groundedness, happiness, and protection we seek for others. 2 Corinthians 13:11( ESV), Paul specifies the blessing we’ll have right now when we agree in the Lord, “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. You may not be making the progress you want in the way you want. But, if God is with you, you’ll get there faster because Satan won’t dare stand in your way.

1 Peter 3:8-11 AMP

Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one another]loving, [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble). Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them].

For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God—that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection]. For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good—whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips fromguile (treachery, deceit). Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]

Who doesn’t want to enjoy life and see good days? The secret to those blessings is right here: When we in the household of faith agree on the important things, when we agree to bless each other, God blesses us with the peace, groundedness, happiness, and protection we seek for others.

2 Corinthians 13:11( ESV), Paul specifies the blessing we’ll have right now when we agree in the Lord, “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

You may not be making the progress you want in the way you want. But, if God is with you, you’ll get there faster because Satan won’t dare stand in your way.

(Source: kingdom-of-colour)

Filed under peace harmony agreement relationships Bible verse church Christian Christians Christianity parrot blue gold tropical bird

149,399 notes &

Gotta love it when a youth pastor gets resl. In other words, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ( 2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV) . Yes, Jesus restores even the vilest sinner. Anyone who acts this way is seeking everything BUT Jesus. Steer clear. sweetneeychur3: broken4thekingdom: the-stars-begin-to-fall: iwillsingtothelord: iamthedesperate: respect yoaz. hahahahahaha Hahaha Whut!? Lol YES! OMG thats amazing!!!!!!! :D

Gotta love it when a youth pastor gets resl. In other words, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ( 2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV) . Yes, Jesus restores even the vilest sinner. Anyone who acts this way is seeking everything BUT Jesus. Steer clear.

sweetneeychur3:

broken4thekingdom:

the-stars-begin-to-fall:

iwillsingtothelord:

iamthedesperate:

respect yoaz.

hahahahahaha

Hahaha Whut!?

Lol YES!

OMG thats amazing!!!!!!! :D

(Source: christina-choe, via myfunkymonkeyfetish)

Filed under dating relationships Jesus responsibility maturity marriage Christian Christians Christianity

3 notes &

Is Abstinence Possible?

You asked:

iam-sisgohard:

This was the second time this week that I had this conversation with someone, so now I’m wondering: Is it really unrealistic for me to believe that as a young Christian, I can be in a relationship and still wait until I’m married to have sex? Everyone says its not possible, but I refuse to believe that. I think it depends on the two individuals and where they are in their walk. Thoughts?….

If you want to vacation in Paris, can you keep yourself from buying, say, every new nail polish that OPI comes out with in order to save for the trip

If you want to lose weight (or maintain your ideal weight), can you swap seasonal fruit for Krispy Kreme?

If you want to hang out with friends, but need to finish a huge project in order to graduate or get a promotion at work, can you say no to your friends?

If someone makes you so angry that you want them dead, can you avoid killing them?

If everybody else is doing it — whatever “it” may be — can you go against the grain if doing “it” is contrary to your principles?

Of course you can. You can do all those things because you can rise above your brain chemistry to be who you are.

So, yes, abstinence is possible, but we don’t practice it because we have long-term goals, because we’re trying to be mature, or for the sake of our social status. We don’t practice abstinence because we have standards or because we’re afraid of what will happen if we violate someone else’s standards.

If we avoid sex outside of marriage for any of those reasons, we are doomed to fail.

Yeah, that just happened: I said, “Doomed to fail.”

We’ve seen it a million times, and so has every non-Christian who tells us it’ll never work.

We practice abstinence because Jesus — knowing before He even created us that we would minimize Him, deny Him, ignore Him, devalue Him, ostracize Him, reject Him, mock Him„ be ashamed of Him, and treat Him like trash — loved us.

He loved us so much that He died a hideous, agonizing, humiliating, and public death on the Cross, thrown outside the city gates with the rest of society’s garbage.

He loved us so much that He “became sin,” a scapegoat who abandoned His Godhood and His royal position to live sinlessly among us just to show us it could be done. Just to buy for us — with His own blood — eternal life with Him, in spite of knowing how we would treat Him in this life.

We don’t practice abstinence to get Jesus on our side. We practice it because He has proven without doubt and without fail that He was, is, and will always be on our side.

And if He — being so completely with us and for us, and having such an intimate understanding of who we are — says we shouldn’t have sex outside of marriage, we understand that He wants the best for us, and we’ll do whatever He asks in order to have the best.

Will we be tempted? Of course. But, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (I Corinthians 10:13)

Excuse the text spam, but there’s such an atmosphere of confusion around how and why we Christians do what we do that I always think too much information is better than too little.

Filed under abstinence sex Jesus commandments laws rules grace sin relationships bluegrass gospel blog