Tag: growing in the Holy Spirit

  • Shoes ain’t Right, Hair ain’t Tight, Teeth ain’t White

    My friend, Erica, has been spending a lot of time with a guy that, for anonymity’s sake, we’ll call Jason. They’ve been getting together casually after work, and if it were up to Jason, he’d spend every day with her. Erica, on the other hand, thinks he’s a very nice guy, but finds Jason almost…

  • Sweet Friendships Refresh the Soul

    Proverbs 27:9-10(NLT)9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. 10 Never abandon a friend—either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away. August is the month…

  • Building Love and Keeping It Strong

    One of the most sound pieces of advice that I can give to single women is to be as discreet and private as possible when it comes to your personal life; especially at the very beginning of a new relationship. I’ve counseled many women in this area, many of them have lived to regret being…

  • Don’t Long for the Good Ol’ Days

    “Those were the good ol’ days.” It’s a saying we’ve all heard at one time or another, and most of us agree that times of the past seemed to be a little sweeter—maybe a lot sweeter. We’re of the mindset that what we use to do and have is better than where we are today,…

  • Red Flags and Flashing Lights

    Sometimes, it isn’t enough to tell a person not to do something, but they have to know why they shouldn’t do it. The same premise applies to the do’s and don’ts of partnering. It isn’t enough to tell you NOT to do something that will adversely impact your quest to get married. In order to…

  • Living Life on God’s Terms

    Ephesians 5:1-2(NLT), “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” There’s 24-hours in a day, seven days in a week, and 365…

  • I Want to Have a Marriage – Not Just BE Married

    Recently, a wonderful young woman stated to me very emphatically that she is tired of being single, but she followed this statement by also affirming her conviction to wait on the Lord. She said she doesn’t want to just be married for the sake of saying she’s married. She wants to have a real marriage.…

  • Dust It off and Keep It Moving

    John 3:20-21(NLT) “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” I had a conversation with my nephew a couple of weeks…

  • New Opportunities and Connections, Don’t Let’tem Slip by

    Something pretty wonderful is happening, and although many people are not talking about it yet, they will. A spiritual shift has occurred. In Acts 2:17(NLT), God told us through the Apostle Paul, “In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young…

  • Resist the Craving

    Galatians 5:16(NLT) “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.  Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” A craving is defined as an intense desire for something.  Some people have a strong craving for a particular food. With all the hormonal changes, this is especially true for pregnant women. The…

  • List, Lust, and Lost Potential

    This week, I met up with a fellow sister-in-Christ to talk about some ideas on coordinating a weekend getaway for singles. While having lunch, she mentioned she’d just recently met someone. She met him at a car dealership when she went for her routine maintenance. He’s a mechanic there, and they struck up a conversation while…

  • Centered on Christ

    Centered on Christ

    Relationships between men and women can feel conditional at times. You may feel that if you don’t do something to his or her liking, their level of love and affection for you might decrease. Most of us realize that relationships involve give and take. The optimum balance would be 100% from both partners, but if…

  • Married and Unfulfilled

    Stephanie was nineteen years old when she married her husband. Surprisingly, she doesn’t have the most positive attitude about it. In fact, she often says that it wasn’t the wisest move to make. She said that if she had to do it all over again, she doesn’t think she would ever have gotten married. Preparing…

  • Old Feelings Creeping Back in

    Ephesians 4:23 tells us to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. We are to continually read, study, and ingest the Word of God so that our minds remain sharp with wisdom and revelation. If our minds are not renewed with the knowledge of God’s Word, they might revert back to what they’re used…

  • The More Ground We Gain, The More the Enemy Loses

    Jesus Christ said in Luke 10:19(NLT), “Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.” This verse caught my attention big time the moment I read it. Anyone who knows me is aware there’s one thing…

  • The Juggling Act

    The Juggling Act

    There’s a constant juggling act concerning exactly who should be doing what when it comes to finding love. Is it the responsibility of the woman, or is it the responsibility of the man? It’s a very important question, particularly now, when it seems there are more women interested in marital partnership than men. Should the…

  • Is Mr. Right Saved?

    Someone said to me the other day, “You’re the only saved person I know!” When I heard this, I was instantly put on notice that my actions and conversations were on display; not only for this person, but for anyone that I come in contact with. They say that one represents many, and I have…

  • God’s Iron-Clad Guarantee

    Many single Christian sisters would very much like to be married. Getting married has held the number one spot on their prayer lists for quite a while. Some of them are crying out to God with a sense of urgency because of their age. They’d like to start a family and fear that if another…

  • Covering Your Child in Prayer

    Sometimes parents, mothers especially, are like bears with cubs about their children. We’ll do just about anything to protect them. When something happens to one of our kids, our hearts drop and those protective instincts can go into overdrive. Some of us go a little overboard and find it difficult to pull back. We try…

  • Reprioritize, Revitalize, and Optimize Your Agenda

    Can you believe we’re almost six-months into the new year already?  This year is whipping right past us. Do you remember how you started it? Can you recall where you were or what you promised yourself you’d do or stop doing? When we’re making those New Year’s resolutions, sometimes we forget that they can be…

  • Train Your Mind for Victory!

    Have you ever lost something of value or had it stolen or taken from you? If you have, you’ll probably take measures to ensure it will never happen again. At the very least, you’ll become more appreciative of what you have and be mindful of its care. This is how precious we should regard God’s…

  • You’re Stronger Than You Think

    The pain of a broken heart is no joke. Whether it’s because of the death of a loved one or because the person you love has chosen to move forward in the journey of life without you, it’s a hurtful and difficult thing. Emotionally, situations can be further complicated by the fact that sometimes we’re…

  • Revved Up Emotions Can Be Costly

    Feelings of betrayal cut deep to the core, there’s no question about it. Whether the hurt came from your husband, special person in your life, friend, or your own child, the betrayal can be devastating; all you think about is the pain. Usually, this emotional tornado is brought about by an event or action that…

  • The Yardstick Lesson

    My daughter asked me the other day, “Mom, when people grow up, do they live by themselves?” I said, “Well, yes, sometimes they do. Some grow up, get married, and have families.” She replied, “No, not me. When I grow up, I want to stay at home with you.” As the old saying goes, “When…

  • “I Don’t Think I Will Ever Get Married”

    There may be areas of your life where the challenge is too great and you feel like giving up. Perhaps you feel as though your resources are too limited, it’s too emotionally exhausting, or you’ve expended too much time. It’s good to know your limits, and it’s wise to recognize when all the signs are…

  • Be Aware of the Small Foxes

    It’s the small foxes that spoil the vine, says Song of Solomon 2:15. When we think of foxes, words like stealth and sly come to mind. Most of us would not entertain a mature or large fox because we are well aware of the damage they can cause. Small ones might be unsuspecting, but they…

  • This Is No Walk in the Park

    What do you do when you find yourself in a place in life that you never expected? Ephesians 1:3 tells us that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings, so He’s given us everything we need to be equipped for anything the enemy throws our way. Still, life has a way of delivering some…

  • So What’s It Going to Be?

    Deuteronomy 30:16(NLT) “For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.” In…

  • After the Fall

    God tells us in 1Corinthians 4:20 (NLT), “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.” Heavenly Father has to remind us of a few things in His Word, because sometimes we allow life to get in the way. We forget that He’s given us access…

  • The Source of Our Strength

    2 Chronicles 16:9(NLT) tells us, “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” This scripture in the Old Testament speaks to the vacillating hearts of men and women when it comes to their commitment to God. King Asa was the third King…