Charge It!

Today marks the last day of Black Friday Weekend Madness.

Starting the Friday after Thanksgiving including today, folks from all walks of life, some of whom even camped out in front of stores Thursday night, eagerly anticipated the opportunity to catch a deal at their favorite store so they can feel like they got the best bargain in town.  I’m sure a lot of them, in order to make their purchases, pulled out their credit cards and told the store clerk, “Charge it!”

Credit cards are so convenient, and credit card companies make them easily accessible and easy to use.  It’s not hard to fall into the trap of using them excessively or even get out of control.

I believe sometimes we, as single believers, use God’s grace like a credit card.  You know, instead of buy now, pay later it’s sin now, repent later.

Just like the shopper who knows beforehand what she plans to buy and what card she plans to use to pay for it, sin for some becomes a premeditated occurrence, with folks ready to pull out their “Repent” card even before the purchase of sin is made.

For instance, you KNOW if you call your ex he’s going to ask you to come over and if you do you’ll end up having sex.  Some even plan to have sex beforehand and say, “Lord, you know my heart, please forgive me for what’s about to go down later on tonight.”

Thank God we do serve a God who is full of grace, mercy, and compassion, but we also serve a God who’s smarter than the average bear and is fully aware of where your heart is when it comes to serving Him and doing what He says in regards to abstaining from sex until marriage.God will honor you once you make a premeditated, on purpose heart decision to serve and please Him and, from this day forward, not have sex again ’til marriage.

He will give you the wisdom and strength so that you will not place yourself in environments with the opposite sex where the opportunity for something to “just happen” becomes just too easy.

God is looking for a people who is ready to love Him like He wants to be loves and serve Him like He wants to be served so that He can get the glory from our lives and so we can be glorified as billboards for Christ through Him.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Romans 6:1-2

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 1 John 2:1-3

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  Psalm 119:11

Kim Brooks, author of bestselling novels, She That Findeth, He\'s Fine...But is He Saved? and more. www.kimontheweb.com

Featured Daily Devotional: “I’se Married Now!”

“I’se married now!”  “I’se married now!” Famous lines belted by Sug from The Color Purple.

We all could relate to her excitement and elation as she sang those words and showed off her ring to all who had an ear to hear and eyes to see.

As singles, we should be excited like Sug, because we’re married now, too, just not in the natural yet.

The New Living Translation of Colossians 2:10 states, So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Once you got saved a spiritual marriage took place in your heart as you became united in holy matrimony with the Lord.
When you said, “I do,” to Him, you said, “Yes, to Your will,” and, “Yes, to Your way.”  You promised to trust, honor, obey and serve Him with your whole heart because He first loved you (1 John 4:19)

You are now married to a man who loves you unconditionally, in spite of all your flaws and mistakes, He still cherishes and honors you and treats you like the queen you already are.

More than brag about the ring, you can brag about the Man, your High Priest “Sugar Daddy” who takes care of you now more than any man in the natural ever will.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37:25

For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.  Isaiah 54:5

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Kim Brooks, author of bestselling novels, She That Findeth, He\'s Fine...But is He Saved? and more. www.kimontheweb.com

How To Express Love Without Sex

datingcouple

When in a dating relationship, as it progresses and
feelings grow stronger, the two involved eventually
express a desire to demonstrate, or prove their sincere
love for one another.  A lot of times it’s the man
who initiates this desire in wanting to take the relationship
to another level in the form of having sex.

However, as Christians, we are not to engage in sex before marriage, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take your relationship to a deeper, more intimate level in other ways.

 

There are many ways to express that you love someone without
having sex.  One of those ways is spending quality time with the
other person getting to know their dreams, goals, and desires and
taking and active role in helping make them come to pass.

As you spend time with the person, be sure you’re dating
to encourage dialogue and collecting data about them
(as I often say, date to collect data).  Find out where they are
now, and where they plan to be 3-5 and even 10 years from now.

If they have a certain aspiration that they’re working on right now
(for instance, if he’s starting a small business on the side) take
an active role in his vision by offering to assist in any way, even
if it’s assisting with assembling paperwork, making phone calls to
potential clients, or proofreading documents.  The more actively
involved you are not only in the other person’s life but also their
dreams (which is tied to who they are as a person) the closer
and more intimate you become with one another – without
having sex.

“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the
swift, nor the battle to the strong…” Ecclesiastes 9:11a

Be sure and run your race together.

Recommended Reading:  How To Date and Stay Saved 

Kim Brooks, author of bestselling novels, She That Findeth, He\'s Fine...But is He Saved? and more. www.kimontheweb.com

If Boaz Knocked On Your Door Today Would You Be Ready?

If Boaz knocked on your door today and asked for
your hand in marriage would you be ready?

Not saying it’s wise, in any way, to not get to know
a person for a length of time before accepting a
proposal, I’m just making a point that a lot of women
want to get married like yesterday, and think they’re
ready – but are they really?

Are you ready to serve someone?

Most people look at marriage as what they want to get out of it,
but it’s really a call to serve someone else for the rest of your life.

Once you’re married, it will be about pleasing your spouse because
in pleasing your spouse God will be pleased (1 Corinthians 7:33).

Marriage is a ministry. You pour into the other person the love
and encouragement you receive from God. When he’s down,
you’re expected to lift him up.

He wants to trust you with his heart, his dreams and desires, and
know that you won’t run and tell his secrets (Proverbs 31:11).

Marriage for men means, R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Are you ready to respect him by your words and acts of submission,
even when you feel you’re right? (Ephesians 5:22) Are you ready
to trust him with the direction of your life, and if you don’t agree
you take it to God in prayer instead of debating with him?

In other words, are you really ready for marriage -if that’s what
you really want? If not, then take this time to prepare your
heart and mind for the journey ahead.

However, let each man of you [without exception] love his wife
as [being in a sense] his very own self; and let the wife see that
she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him,
regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems
him; and [that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and
admires him exceedingly]. Ephesians 5:33 Amplified Bible

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Kim Brooks, author of bestselling novels, She That Findeth, He\'s Fine...But is He Saved? and more. www.kimontheweb.com

How To Get GOD’S Husband For You (Featured Daily Devotional for Single Women)

God loves you so much that He promises to never leave
you nor forsake you.

The awesome thing about God’s Word, is that it stands –
heaven and earth shall pass away, but His Words shall
never pass away. (Matthew 24:35)

Because of His love for you, you have confidence
knowing that He has your best interest
at heart and that He will never lead you astray.
Which is why it’s so important that you
stay connected to the vine in daily prayer.

He is the vine, we are the branches. (John 15:5)

The answer to every question in life, including
answers pertaining to your own personal
life which may not be etched out in the Bible, can
be made known to you through His Spirit as you
constantly stay in regular communion and
constant fellowship with Him.

God’s Spirit can also lead you when it comes to who
you should decide to date and marry.

Before you start dating or start a relationship with
someone, consult the Father first.
Pray, then sit still in your quiet time with the Lord
and see what He has to say about the person.

As you date someone, all during the dating process,
continue to seek God about the person – daily.

Leave your heart open to God – open to God’s
correction and instruction.

Don’t ignore any warning signs or red flags about
the other person brought to you by the Holy
Ghost, and as I say in a section of my book,
How To Date And Stay Saved, follow peace at all
times.

If at any time peace about the person starts to flee,
don’t ignore it.  No matter how wrapped up in the
other person you may feel at the moment, God loves
you so much that He’ll warn you and reveal the truth.
Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit by turning your cheek on
His divine guidance and admonishment – it’s
only to help and protect you in the long run.

However, if you continue to have peace while dating
the person, and you find that he lines up with what
you’re believing God for and more (Ephesians 3:20),
then continue moving forward in faith, believing,
and enjoying the journey.

God loves you too much to not give you the desires of
your heart, as you consistently seek His face and
delight in Him.  (Psalm 37:4)

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emailed to you personally from Kim
each morning, Click Here

Kim Brooks, author of bestselling novels, She That Findeth, He\'s Fine...But is He Saved? and more. www.kimontheweb.com