The Lies of Sex

                                                               

              Nowadays sex is everywhere.  Literally.  You see on magazines on how to have sexy hair, clothes, body, and it even goes as far as to give tips on having sex with someone!  

             How did we ever get so crazy as a culture about something so sacred and private?

                                  

                                   It is God's will that you should be sanctified;  that you should avoid sexual immorality.
                                                                                1 Thessalonians 4:3

                       How did America become so sexualized?  Well, throughout history there were cities and countries that were obsessed with sex.

                        The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were crazy about sex.  If you want more details you can read chapters 18 and 19 from the book of Genesis in the Bible.
                         
                         Then there was Egypt where the people wore strips of clothing and the slaves were completely naked!  Yeah, it's hot there but sheesh;  no need to go that far.

                        Next there was the Minoens.  One form of entertainment was where men and women wore only loin cloths and they would jump over bulls!

                       I could go on.  The theme throughout history is;  everyone loved (and still does)  sex and violence.  Those go hand in hand in a way.  In this post, though, we're just focusing on sex.

                       In the beginning God made it to be sacred,  pure and just plain special.  It was meant to seal the bond of matrimony, signifying an even deeper commitment to the promise.  God still means it today.  It's just that our sin has spoiled it.

                                  The Naked Truth

                       Then the eyes of both of them were opened,  and they realized they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
                                                                      Genesis 3:7

                     Have you ever had a dream that you went to work/school/ the grocery store, etc., but were either in your underwear or completely naked?  How did it make you feel?  I've had a couple and I would feel embarrassed out of my mind!!  I'd wake up and say;
                    "Thank you, God; that wasn't real! Phew."

                     Why do we feel embarrassed being naked in front of others? Ever since sin came into the world, Adam and Eve became aware of their nakedness.  So, in a way they were like toddlers.  Toddlers and babies aren't aware of themselves and they could run around the neighborhood on a sunny blue summer's day without a care in the world (literally).  Adults and older children, on the other hand, are aware of their "private parts."  It's actually good to be embarrassed  about being naked in front of people.  (Then you know that you have a good head on your shoulders)  In a way, that's how God can protect us from just having sex with anyone and everyone.  God created sex to be a good thing. That's why when you get married and you take your clothes off in front of a man for the first time, it's a monumental moment.  You're not just saying, "look at me!"  Your saying, "I trust you."  

                                                         Crazy crazy

                In a book called Choices , authors Stacy and Paula Rinehart used findings from a study of at least eighty primitive and modern societies.  Respected Cambridge University Sociologist J.D. Unwin found there was an unvarying correlation between the degree of sexual restraints and the rate of social progress. 

              "Cultures that were more sexually permissive displayed less cultural energy,  creativity, intellectual development, individualism and a slower general cultural ascent."

             Sound familiar?  America and other countries are becoming so easy going about sex.  People tell their children; 

           " I don't want you to do it but,  if it does happen use a condom and be safe."

             What kind of advice is that?!  You say don't and do,  yes and no.  It's yes or no. Do or don't.                   
       
             I think the problem is the lie our culture believes.  We can't imagine that anyone can be abstinent from sex.  People think that they're like animals and they can't live without it.  What if I told you that you can live without it.

                                          Without me you can do nothing.
                                                                     John 15:5

             That verse is absolutely correct.  Do you know who that 'me' is?  That's Jesus.  He knows that our sins,  our obsessions are too hard to overcome.  That's why He gave us hope by telling us...

                                          "I have told you these things,  so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."
                                                                    John 16:33

              Jesus knows how hard it is.  He took it to the cross!  Now, your choice is to believe the truth.  If you had sex already, God can cleanse you spiritually and make you like new.

              Women young and old, teens and preteens and even children:  Tell each other the truth!  You don't show or gain your worth or find who you are through sex.  God is the one who shows you who you are and He knows you're more precious than diamonds.  Stop following the lies you see and hear on T.V. Movies,  magazines, music,  books,  at school, work and even in your own home.  BELIEVE THE TRUTH!!  It will set you free.               

                   

Men against woman?

 

                                          Anything you can do...

                      Do you have that attitude toward men?  

                     "Anything a man can do I can do.  I can probably do it better."  

                    Woman have that mentality now a days.  Where did it come from?  Is it bad for woman to think so highly of ourselves? 

                      We're just more confident now and we have equal rights with men.  That's the answer to that question.  You may think.

                    Well,  look into that.

                                     Girls rule Boys drool
                                                     

                       

                     "I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy,  and in pain you will give birth.  And you will desire to control your husband,  but he will rule over you."
                                                                    Genesis 3:16

                          Reading the verse above it looks like that's been going on since the beginning of sin.  When it says woman will want to control their husband it doesn't just mean when you're married.  It goes for all women.  

                           How did this really start?How did woman get the power to stand right beside men and expect to be able to do the same amount of work and do the same things?

                            Well, in 1920 women were given the right to vote.

                            In the 1940's women were pushed into the work force to help their fathers, brothers, uncles and husbands as they fought in World War 2.

                            The 1950's was all about stay- at- home mothers.  It was celebrated and exciting to have a suburban home and be able to cook,  bake,  iron,  sew, and take care of your family in  the home.

                             Then,  in the 1960's women became bored with staying at home and they were encouraged to join alongside men in the work force.

                            All these things that happened weren't bad but the thinking,  views and ideas that came after it is what got us all into trouble.

        Is one more important then the                                          other?
                             Have you ever thought that men were more important then women or women are more important then men?  Neither.  One sex is not more important then the other.  They're both important.

                                    For you created my inmost being;  you knit me together in my mothers womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  Your works are wonderful,  I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,  when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed body;  All the days ordained for me were written in your book  before one of them came to be.
                                                             Psalm 139:13-16

                             That verse says that God made everyone with care.  

                             Two of my sisters love to knit.  One of them found out the world of crocheting.  That's like knitting but with a hook.  One of my sisters is doing hats,  purses and other cool things.  When you watch them knit it's so intricate.  At first it looks like  braided  yarn but after a few minutes or hours it turns into a beautiful hat,  scarf or blanket.  It reminds me of how God knitted each of us with care and He added some cool things about each of us that is so different and unique.  

                            So,  men are not better then women or vice versa.   But,  God gave men and women certain qualities that only one or the other have.

                             Men represent God's strength,  power,  leadership,  the will to never give up,  and passion of pursuit.

                            Women represent God's beauty,  mystery,  gentleness,  compassion,  and the ability to create life(in a way).

                           Now think about that.  God have given men a purpose and women a purpose.  Then every single person has a specific purpose.  We need to stop claiming that we can do things just as good or better.  Think of this.  We have things that men can't do.  We can...

          1.  Comfort those who need it.
          2.  We're homemakers.
          3.  We can light up a room by wearing beautiful dresses and we can have more diversity in clothing.
          4.  As young ladies and women, people feel more comfortable having girls/women babysit their children.
              
                That's just a small list of things that women can do that men can't say they can do  better then us.  Have you ever seen a man wear a dress? Ugh.  Not a pretty sight!

               As women following Christ, we need to treat men with greater respect and stop putting them down with crude and low jokes and sarcasm.  Let's praise the men and thank them for what they can do that we can't do.  Then men might follow and start treating us women with respect and thanking us for what we can do.   Just remember;  nothing is impossible through Christ who gives you strength!            

       

How to Train for Divorce

                                       It's just not meant to be...
                                     

        The woman sat at her kitchen table thoughtfully watching the news on her phone.   She glanced up as her husband entered the kitchen, pouring himself a cup of coffee.  
                "Mornin' hon."  He said before taking a sip.
    
                She just grunted and turned away.

                Noticing this, he stands awkwardly holding his steaming coffee.  After a couple seconds he shrugs and begins putting a bagel in the toaster. 

                The woman takes a spoonful of her cereal and shoves it in her mouth.  While chewing she mumbles, 
               
                "It's not going to work."

               Her husband turns, looking at her quizzically.

                "Did you said something.  Is everything okay?"

                 She pushes the bowl away from her with exaggeration and mouths out every word  slowly like she's talking to a naughty child.

                "I said...it's not going to work! It's just not meant to be."

                As a married woman have you ever felt that way?  You felt like your husband didn't love you anymore.  Thing's weren't "working out."  Can things still work after the fire burned out?  After you feel like you don't love or even like your spouse anymore.

                               Stand the test of time

               Just giving a heads up.  This post is for un-married woman just as much as married woman.  It's never too early to learn about things like this.  

               "...The commitment that the two of you are about to make is the most important commitment that two people can make,  you are about to create something new, the marriage relationship, the entity that never ends.   As you stand here today are you now prepared to make this commitment to one another?  (I am)  Have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?"  (I have)

               Recognize that?  That is a part of the marriage vow.  Read this slowly over again and ponder that.  This may sound brutal.  Does everybody really hear what the pastor is saying when he's reading this to the bride and groom?  He actually asks if they're ready for this kind of commitment.  He clearly explains that it is the most important vow that two people can make.  If you ask me,  I think people focus too much on the flowers,  gowns,  food,  dancing,  honey moon and so on.  

               Marriage isn't an exciting little get together.  It's serious.  More serious then we realize. 

                Let's see what commitment means.  It means...dedication,  allegiance,  devotion,  loyalty,  faithfulness,  duty and tie.

               Now let's see what entity means.  It means...being,  creature,  individual,  organism, and life form.  

               Now we'll see what vow and reservation means.   Vow means...Swear,  pledge,  promise,  oath,  bond, and guarantee.  And last is reservation.  Skepticism,  unease, hesitation and objection.

              Whoa.  This is kind of overwhelming to me.  If you put it plainly;  you are dedicating yourself to a man (individual) and swearing that you will be his and he will be yours and you're doing so without hesitation.

             I have to admit that I can understand how some people would say they would rather jump off a cliff then get married. 

             Marriage is supposed to be able to stand the test of time.  For better or for worse. In sickness and health.  Till death do we part.  

             How is that even possible?  How can two people stay together for so long?  You may be thinking.  Well,  what if I were to tell you that a large factor of the crumbling marriage or skepticism lies in your past.

                                 I have to practice!! 

         I have heard this from so many teenage girls in my community a couple years back.

        "You have to practice kissing and dating so when you get married you'll be able to kiss n' stuff really good!"

        Seriously?  That doesn't make any sense!!!  Dating is just about the only place where you should never practice kissing and all that stuff.

                           That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife,  and they become one flesh.
                                                    Genesis 2:24

       That verse talks about when a man leaves his immediate family (his parents)  and is joined with the woman who will be his family now, and they become one (sex).  Now tell me how can you practice becoming one with someone.  There is no practice required.  Only the world thinks its so.  The only thing you're really practicing for is ten different ways to tell someone "it's over."  

      If you had that mindset of practicing dating, this is what you would be saying if your actions came out as words.

                          "Do you know why I'm dating you?  It's only because I'm practicing for someone better.  Someone I actually want to spend the rest of my life with.  And I don't mean to sound mean but...that's not you."

    Oh man,  that would kill me!  How hurt on so many levels would you be to hear that?  The thing is our culture is screaming that.  Have as much fun as you can while you're still young.  And while you're doing that practice kissing and making out so when you actually find that nice family guy you'll be ready.  The only thing you're practicing is how to not stay with someone.

                                            It's not just you
                                                             

      

             Divorcing from your husband may only seem like it's affecting you.  That's not the case.  It affects acquaintances,  your  friends,  family and most of all your children.  Imagine how painful it is for a child to look through your wedding album and they see mommy and daddy happily and lovingly hold each other and then they turn to see they can't even stand being in the same room together!  What happened?

          The questions I would like to ask is...

           When you decided to get married was it genuinely because you unselfishly loved them and wanted to continue loving them.  Or was it because you were so physically into each other that you mistook it for love. 

          Now ladies.  All of us are born into a family.  God chose those parents and siblings for you because he had a purpose for it.  When you got angry at your family did you say,

          "I'm going to disown myself from this family because..."  

         I don't think anyone thought that way.  We would just say I'm running away but only reach the corner of the block or the front lawn, then feel bad and go back and apologize.  As children we knew that there wasn't a choice in leaving your family.  But, as we got older the world told us we had a choice.  

        Have you considered that part of the problem is you?  Now hear me out please.  All of us have sin, yes?  So all of us are prone to mess up sometimes.  When two people are married that's when they see the most cruel and kind sides of each other (just like family too).  

                         It was just before the Passover festival.   Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father.  Having loved His own who was in the world,  He loved them to the end.  
                                                       John 13:1

         It says that Jesus loved his own.   The human side of Jesus  belonged in the world. That means Jesus, human and God sides, loved the world until He died (and He rose again three days later!).   What example is that for us?  God calls us to love Him with all our soul,  heart and mind and to love all people as well.  Are we doing that if we consider divorcing them just because of silly selfish reasons?  At some point in our lives we don't feel like we love our siblings,  parents,  friends, family members,  children and husbands.  Does that mean that you don't love them any more?  No!  Of course not.  Never base love solely off your emotions.  Base it off of God's standards.

      I challenge all the women young and old:

Those of you that are married look at your husband and make a list of why you married him in the first place.  Now make another list of why you want to stay married to him.  I would even suggest showing him.  Who knows what he'll say and how much it would touch him.

   Now those of you who are in a relationship with a man right now.  If you're engaged or of you know that your heading for marriage I want you to make a copy of the marriage vow and look over it.  Talk to God about it and talk to your soon-to-be-husband and discuss how you feel.

      If you're in a relationship with a guy and you don't know where it's going,  I suggest you seriously think about what your purpose is for that relationship.  Talk to God and your boyfriend.  Ask him where he wants the relationship to go.  If he doesn't really know,  think and talk about that with each other.

      Last but not least; the ladies who are single:  Wait on God to bring the right man for you.  Pray for your future husband and develop your relationship with Jesus.  

    
         
        
       

What should I follow?

                                 Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.
                                                                   Psalm 119:142

                                                        What's true? 
                            
                   Have you ever felt confused about what you believed?  
                    
                   Buddhism,  Islam,  Christianity,  Catholicism,  Scientology,   Mormonism,  Atheism,  and the list keeps going and going.  People even pick and choose what they want to believe so they can make it fit to their lifestyle.  

                    Can we pick and choose?  Do all paths just lead to one outcome?  Is there really one truth?


                                               Play by the Rules  
                                                                           

                      We are a generation that has many people and religious groups to bombard us with claiming that their truth is real or that all religions are true.  What would that look like if there wasn't one truth. 

                       "Hey Sam you wanna play a game?"  Joanna asked as she pulled out her favorite game.
                        "Sure;  as long as Caitlyn and John can play."  Sam replied gesturing with his thumb to his friends coming into the room. 
                        
                          After setting up everything Joanna was going to explain the rules of the game and how to win.  Her mouth was open and she didn't get a word out when John picked up his game piece from the 'start'  square and counted three squares down the little road.  
                          "Go ahead Caitlyn,  your turn."

                          "Um,  John.  That's not how the game goes.  You didn't use the dice and I'm supposed to go after you because I'm to your left."  Joanna said,  wondering if John ever played a board game before.

                            "Oh no.  That's not how I play.  I play by my rules."  John said with a smirk.  
                           On hearing that, Caitlyn rolled the die.  She got a four.

                            "One-two-three-four-five-and six.  Your turn Sam."  

                             "Caitlyn,  you said you played before.  What are you doing?"  Joanna started to feel heat rising from deep down inside like a furnace was kicking up the heat.

                            "I have!  It's just that last time I lost, soooo,  I'm going to add two to the number of die I get every time I roll so I can have a better chance at winning."

                            "Caitlyn,  What?!  That doesn't make any sense and that's not fair!"

                           "I think it's fair.  I wanna win this time.  Or maybe we could play in such a way so we all can win!  Now that's what I call fair."  Caitlyn exclaimed excitedly as she gave the dice to Sam.

                           "Sam...tell them the rules.  You know this game just as well as me."

                           Sam looked at his sister then at his friends.  He looked uncomfortable.  Then the look on his face changed and he said with a mocking smile.

                          "Joanna,  come on.  Maybe the rules aren't even accurate.  I think it'll be a lot more fun making up different rules and doing what we want to do."

                         Joanna stared at her brother in horror.  He loved this game.  What happened?  They continued to play the game.  Joanna read the rules over and over committing them to memory while they laughed, joked and acted crazy.  Finally Joanna ran to her dad to seek his advice in the matter.  She said she wanted  to beat them up and smack the sense in their stupid heads.  Her father looked at her intently.

                         "Joanna don't say things like that.  Don't worry I'll go talk to them right now."  
  
                            Calmly, he went into the living room.  He explained to them the rules of the game and made it clear that everyone had to follow the same rules.


                            That is exactly the same for us.  Sam represents people who want to follow their own way, making up rules that best suite their own wants and desires.  Caitlyn represents the people who accepted Christ but they didn't get the answers they liked or wanted so they turned to a religion.  Sam represents a follower of Christ who is weak minded.  He couldn't even stand for his faith because he couldn't remember God's word and didn't really know God personally.  Joanna represents a true follower of Christ.  She did not waver.  When she was reading the rules that represented us having to read God's word.  We need to read,  study, meditate and think about it throughout the day.  Finally,  the father represented God.  We need to run to Him and and seek His wisdom,  counsel and advice,  through trying times when we forget what the truth is.

     The whole Truth and Nothing but the                                       Truth

              "In fact,  though by this time you ought to be teachers,  you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again.  You need milk,  not solid food."
                                                           Hebrews 5:12

                             What does that verse even mean?!  You may wonder.  At first I wondered about what it meant as well.  Then God showed me.

                              This verse was a part of a letter to the early Christian church.  This was a section of the letter that was written to warn the followers of Christ about  falling away.   What does falling away have to do with the truth?  EVERYTHING!!

                              When it talks about living off of milk that signifies infancy.  Infants have to drink milk until they get their teeth in when they can then take on solid food.  Just like us,  once we accept Jesus He provides us milk for the first couple day,  weeks or months but;  you can't live off of that forever.  As you get older you need solid food to nourish you.  That's why it's a good idea to listen to Christians who are further down the road then you.  God showed them what they now understand and what they learned about God's truth. Then,  if your open to the Holy Spirit he will  expand your (and my) narrow mind to grasp the bigger picture on what truth exactly is.

                             If someone where to ask you,  "What is truth?"  How would you respond?  Just earlier this year I would have thought really hard and shrugged my shoulders in defeat. It actually says what truth is right in the Bible.  
                                   Jesus answered,  "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through  me."
                                                     John 14:6

                              That's the wrong question.  We shouldn't ask,  
                              "What is truth?"  
                               We should ask, 
                              "Who is truth?"
                               I don't know about you but that really makes me think.  It also says that He is the way and that no one can get to the Father except through Him. That answers the question or statement the all paths lead to one God.

                             Did you know that God's truth and 'rules' are there to protect us from ourselves?  When we obey Him and stand strong in the truth we  have more freedom then we do when we follow our own way.  
               
                              Dear reader,  what will you  choose today?  Will you choose to follow your way or the truth?