What is Wrong with Me?

When a boy doesn't respond back after your first date. When a boy doesn't text or call you back after you hung out one time. When you find out your husband has been looking at porn. When your husband cheats on you physically or emotionally. What do we as women do?

We may get upset, may get angry, may even cry about it, and then we stop and begin to wonder. We question and doubt ourselves and our adequacy.

We wonder a lot of things, but mostly, 'What is wrong with me, and what did I do wrong?'  What is wrong with me? Am I not pretty enough? Am I not skinny enough?

We single ladies wonder all the above, and may also wonder: Was I too forward? Was I not forward enough? Does he think I am going to contact him first? Should I contact him first? Isn't the male supposed to plan the next date? Is that still the norm? We need to try and not get hung up on these questions, they can ruin a day, a week, even months if we let them. We must rest assured that God has a plan, and that He will reveal that plan and that man all in good time. 

I read an article, in fact, a couple of articles popped up with a similar message. I don't need a man to complete me, that is Jesus' job, I need a man to compliment me. Finding said man may take time, and some effort, but God has a plan and a purpose. No, I don't plan on hermit-ing in my house for years expecting God to bring my Mister Forever to my front door, to ring the bell, and drop to one knee saying God led him there. No, I don't think every Mister Right Now is 'The One.' But, what I have to keep reminding myself, is no matter what, God has a plan, and I need to keep my head up.

So, meanwhile in the waiting, I will keep praying, and I plan to keep this smile on my face, even while I struggle (mentally and emotionally) with dating and the single life. I plan to keep bringing joy to others with my quirkiness, and helping others out in any way I see necessary or am able.

Don’t get me wrong, a relationship with the right guy will someday prove to be a wonderful sweep-me-off-my-feet experience, well worth the effort and patience required to get there. But I know that if I'm looking for a guy to fill an empty spot in my heart, I'm asking for the impossible and will end up disappointed.

And you married folks dealing with porn addiction or cheating. No one quits anything alone, everyone who has a true addiction needs help, whether it just be you and God, or you, God, and your spouse, your Mom, a support group, a prayer/Bible study group, your church family. Whomever and whatever it takes, your spouse and your marriage are worth it, you decided that when you said 'I do.' So don't give up or give in now, keep fighting, keep your marriage bed holy, your marriage will be stronger after facing and battling through this. Take note of the warning signs of what led you to where you are today, hindsight is almost always 20-20, and now you know what big or little things you did, saw, or feelings you acted upon that led you to that low point, avoid those. Take the high road every time, you will never regret it. Maybe busying yourself and your mind with your spouse, your children, your tasks, your God will help.  Read your Bible; I find the more I dwell in His Word, the more I think on Him and the more I pray. Use Him to occupy your free time, rather than letting your mind wander, yield yourself to Christ rather than that porn site or that relationship that went too far with someone other than your spouse.

The struggle is real, always will be. So is God, and He ALWAYS will be. I find that when I pray, even when I may not be getting the answers I think I need in the timeframe I think I need them, just simply talking to God still helps lower my stress levels and anxiety. So chat it up with Him y'all! He wants to hear from you! I will never have all the answers to all of life's dilemmas, but I rest assured in knowing my God does! 

Here is a perfect song for those of us struggling to find completion without and/or before we find our significant other:  Completely- by Among the Thirsty

My Sin is No More Clean than Yours...

This world thrives on political correctness. I completely disregard it. If it is not what I feel or believe, (or illegal) then I in no way shape or form am required conform what I say and do to fit the world's vision of correct. The world is full of people who will tell you everything you want to hear, just the way they know you would want to hear it, well I am not one of those people, I would rather have you hear the truth. The enemies of God would love for you to be deceived, but God only wants the best for your life, He wants you to know the truth.

You and I, we may be very alike, or very different, but NO MATTER who you are, we have one thing in common for sure, that is that--according to God, our creator--we are all sinners. He made us, and loves us far beyond what we can even begin to imagine and comprehend. But we, all of mankind, have a problem, which the Bible calls sin. Sin is anything that we do in disobedience to God's laws, and this disease has infected the souls of the entire human race, from birth to death, we all will have this one thing in common.

Within the Bible, which is the Word of God, lies the standards by which God says we should live. It says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." {Romans 3:23} It also states quite clearly that the penalty for us sinners is death {Romans 6:23}. The human race is under a death sentence because of sin, it is what we deserve, but because we have a loving and gracious God, He sent His Son, Jesus, from Heaven down here to this earth on a mission to save each and every one of us. This means you, because God does love you. No matter your past, all God cares about is your future, which He (and I) hope is spent in and with Him.

How did His Son save us from this death sentence? Don't all humans die? Yes, we do. But He sent his Son Jesus, who not only drug his own cross to Calvary to be hung, but also carried each and every one of our sins as well. He carried them to the cross, took them to the grave, was buried, and on the third day, God raised His Son from the dead. He is alive! He can come into your heart and life today if you let Him. The Bible tell us, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." {John 3:16} God wants all of us to be in heaven with Him for eternity, but our sins are blocking the way.

I am a sinner too. What my sins consist of, is not even a speck of dust cleaner than those of my neighbor, or yours, or anyone else's--they're just forgiven. Sin is sin is sin. No sin may look alike to the human eye, but my lie in God's eyes, is just as terrible as another man's murder. I found this picture as a good example, to us humans, some sins look bigger, and of different severities, but all God sees is sin. To Him, sin is sin. And it separates Him from His creation that He loves.

When I was a young child, I repented of my sins, and asked God to forgive me and save me. I asked Jesus to come into my life and take control. I live this life, happy and thankful, because I know that He forgave me of those sins, past, present, and future. I live today, knowing not what my future on earth holds, but from the future that lies beyond the second I take my last breath, that is guaranteed for me. I will be in heaven, in the glorious realm of my God. 


I rest assured in this, because in the Bible it teaches us, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." How great is this promise?! I want you to know this today! That you too can be forgiven, cleansed, and set free from the power sin has held over you, by believing and trusting in Christ, as Savior and Lord.  The Bible says that "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" {John 8:36}.

All it takes is you, wherever you are, to say a prayer, inviting Christ into your heart and life, asking Him, from your heart, to help you turn from sin. To believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross for you, carried your sins to His deathbed, and was raised back to life on the third day, and reigns now in heaven with God the Father. And turn, turn towards the Bible, do as He says, strive to live a life pleasing to God from this day forward. Let the Holy Spirit come and dwell within you. And then go, tell your best friend, tell your neighbor, tell your mom, because this is news worthy of sharing, this is amazing news, and read your Bible! If you don't have one, one can be purchased at your local Walmart or dollar store for cheap, or just make a trip to a local church, as I am sure they would gladly give one to you as a "welcome to the family" gift!

Positively Positive

Happy Thursday! There once was a time in my life when everything was awesome and the sun came up everyday just for me to have another day of fun and money grew on trees and everyone was nice and there was not one thing wrong in my world. That was not yesterday, nor the day before, though if there is a money tree around I call dibs! No, this was me as a small child. As a child I was so greatly naive, not just to the good things in my life like my constant loving parents or the home I lived in, but also blind to the negativity of the world, to terrorism, to bullies, to slavery and torture, to stealing, to getting lost, to abuse, to sin, etc. I knew right from wrong, when it came to going to a friends, or eating more cake. But beyond that, my world was perfect, or so I thought.

Honestly, I can't imagine being a child again! My life today, perfect. Yesterday? Perfect. Today I am hanging out with family, and my newest nephew Andrew, he is just over a week old. When you hold a baby and he falls asleep in your arms, you know all is right in your world at the moment. All the bad horrible things that seem so huge and problematic fade away. You are lost in the here and now, and how perfect and unique this small creation of God's is.

There is not a single day for as far back as I can remember that I didn't laugh. At some point every day, God has brought something into my life that always makes me giggle. Sometimes it is when I am having a bad day, sometimes when my day is awesome and I have laughed a hundred times already, sometimes over the same thing! Or sometimes when I want to be mad or am feeling sorry for myself, then He will put someone in my face or have an event occur, or photo arise that just makes me giggle so hard I can't control the joy rolling down my cheeks. Those are moments I love. 

The only thing I love more than laughing is making others laugh, even if it is at me instead of with me. :) If I just fell and busted my face on the floor, you let that chuckle escape. If I just told the coolest joke ever, that was only funny because of how lame it was, let your belly jiggle! If I tease you, slap that leg. Just let it out! Joy should be overflowing when we are blessed with a Savior and Father as awesome as our God! 😃

 

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!" ~Philippians 4:4

"Until now, you have asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." ~John 16:24

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit." ~Romans 15:13