Being Married Isn’t Easy!!!

Most married couples spend a lot of time together and in doing so, they have to learn to set aside the small unimportant things that bother them.   

Everyone has little ways or habits that can be annoying, and even downright aggravating to another person!!!  Those little annoying ways can make life difficult, if you don’t learn to live with them!!!    

Sometimes, we have to be around folks for work or because they are family, but in most cases, we can eventually escape their company!!!  And when we get away, we can forget their bad habits and the little things that annoy us!!!

However, when you are married to someone, you can begin to feel like you’ll never get used to those little annoying things!!!  With GOD’s help, we can learn to live with the things that others do and in many cases after a while, we don’t even notice those things any more!!! 

Now, don’t lie to me!!!  Don’t even try to tell me that nothing ever bothers you!!!  Don’t tell me that no one ever annoys you, because I know that just isn’t so!!!  Everyone has those annoying or irritating habits that drive others crazy!!! 

You know good and well, that the minute I said bad habits, and annoying ways, at least one person popped right into your head!!!  I know that right now you are thinking of at least one person, that you feel this way about!!!  And you probably wish that I hadn’t reminded you of them!!!    

Well, let me tell you!!! 

You ONLY thought you had issues with someone until you get married to them!!!  The problem with being married to someone is that you see them all the time!!!  You actually live in the same house with them, and you have to deal with their little habits and their little ways!!!

No matter how wonderful someone is, even their perfection can become annoying!!!  It’s true!!!  Some folks are too perfect.  They are so perfect, that they never seem to make a mistake!!!  

I just hope you didn’t think you were going to have a fairy tale life when you got married!!!  I hope you weren’t one of those people who thought you’d never have any issues, because NOW you are married!!!

You better be doing a lot of praying, because if NOT, the war is just beginning!!! 

Truthfully, praying is a much better option that fighting!!! 

Don’t just pray that GOD change your spouse, pray that HE change what needs changing in you!!!

You know, I had forgotten all the little things that drove me nuts when I was married!!!  That is until THE LORD reminded me the other day!!!

I had forgotten what it feels like to be married to someone who always squeezes the toothpaste in the middle, instead of from the end!!!  And then there’s the person who always puts the toilet paper roll on backwards!!! 

What about the person who leaves the cap off the toothpaste?  Or leaves the towels in the floor? 

And what about the person who refuses to clean-up the messes he or she makes?  Like dirty dishes in the sink or the powder on the bathroom floor?

Doesn’t that just drive you nuts!!!

Here’s one for the ladies!!! 

How many of you have fallen into the toilet because he left the seat up???  The most disgusting and heinous crime of them all, is the man who pees on the toilet seat, because he can’t be bothered to put it up!!! 

What about how the hair in the sink from the man that shaves every morning and doesn’t rinse or wipe out the sink?  And what about leaving water all over the sink and counter!!! 

And for you guys, hmmm…  Well…

I know, I know!!! 

What about the lady who uses your razor and doesn’t tell you and wouldn’t dare dream of changing the blade for you?  Or maybe your wife hangs her bras in the bathroom to dry!!! 

And then there’s the lady who cleans out your tackle box and throws away all the smelly stuff!!!

Of course, I have also heard this complaint, as well. 

I work hard all day long and I come home to a dirty, messy house!!!  Or I come home and dinner isn’t even ready!!! 

I hesitate to even mention those last 2 things because, nowadays in a lot of homes, both the man and the woman work.  So, they have to learn to share the work load and clean the house together!!!

So, Mister Mister, if you wife works all day, too, then you need to help with supper, and with the laundry, and the kids!!!  And vice versa, ladies!!!  Cause I know there are some Mr. Mom’s out there!!! 
 
You know, living with that special someone, the one you loved so much that you married him or her, can be fun, once you learn to overlook the small stuff!!!  GOD wants us to remember why we married them!!!  He wants us to remember why we fell in love with them!!!  HE wants us to keep the flame of our LOVE and admiration burning!!! 

Proverbs 5:19 (AMP) …Always be exhilarated and delight in her love.


Proverbs 5:19 (NCV) Let her love always make you happy; let her love always hold you captive.

It can be fun to have someone to go places and do things with!  It feels good to know that someone is waiting on you to come home.  It’s nice to have someone who will comfort you, when you hurt and someone to share your secrets!!!

It can be fun to be married!!!  Marriage can be really good, but you have to work at it!!!

Marriage isn’t a bed of roses and it isn’t easy!!!  That is simply the truth!!!

Mark 10:6-9 (ESV)

⁶ But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’

⁷ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,

⁸ and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.

⁹ What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”


If you read that verse, you’ll notice that it says, “They are no longer two, but one flesh.”  That means that you are to act as one unit (a couple), NOT 2 different individuals!!! 


You are to make decisions together!!!  You are to work together and treat each other with respect!!! 


It should no longer be my decision or your decision, but instead it should be “our” decision!!! 


Eph. 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.


We must each remember, that we are no longer supposed to think, “What am I going to do?”  It is what are “WE” going to do? 

If you’ll learn to join forces and work together, marriage can be fulfilling and rewarding, and yes, fun!!!  It can be enjoyable!!!

Ephesians 5:21 (KJV) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.


Ephesians 5:21 (CEB) and submit to each other out of respect for Christ.


It is nice to have someone who is on your side!!!  That someone special is your other half and as your partner, they have your back!!!

Gen. 2:18 (KJV) And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.


Gen. 2:18 (AMP) Now the Lord God said, “It is not good (beneficial) for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper [one who balances him—a counterpart who is] suitable and complementary for him.”


If a man and his wife, as one flesh, meet the world head on, allowing GOD to lead and guide them, they can become unstoppable as they walk together in FAITH and LOVE!!!!   

Deut. 5:32-33

³² “Therefore you shall be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

³³ You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days…

GOD’S perfect will for us, as a COUPLE CHOSEN and PUT TOGETHER BY THE LORD is that WE SERVE AND WORSHIP HIM BY WALKING TOGETHER IN LOVE AND IN AGREEMENT, AND IN THE AUTHORITY THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US!!! 

Deut. 4:39-40 (KJV) 

³⁹ Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

⁴⁰ Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, for ever.

Waiting On That Someone Special…

Do you know that GOD has someone special for you?  Do you know that GOD will bring you that special person? 

If you allow GOD to do the choosing and you wait patiently on HIM, you’ll be so glad that you did!!!  The person that GOD has for you is well worth the wait!!! 


Evidently, the concept of waiting on GOD to bring you a mate isn’t taught in many churches, and it is seldom taught in our homes!!!  


Being married to someone means to be yoked to that person, or in other words, bound or tied to them in marriage!!!    


One of the reasons that this subject concerns me so much is that I see how hard it is for folks who have married unwisely!!!  I see the struggles that they go through!!!  I see the heartbreak, as well as the needless pain and suffering!!! 


And I know that there is another way!!!  It is GOD’s Way!!! 


Finding a spouse God’s Way means allowing GOD to bring you that special someone!!!  It does NOT mean that we are to be out looking for someone!!! 


GOD loves us very much and HE WILL CHOOSE A MATE FOR US, if we will allow HIM to do so!!! 


This is what I want for each and every person I know and even those I don’t know!!!  I would like for every person to have that perfect someone who GOD has chosen for them!!!   


I think one of the biggest myths or lies told today, is that if you marry the right person, you won’t have any problems!!! 


That’s a lie from the pits of HELL!!!  It just isn’t true!!! 


It doesn’t matter who you are married to, there are going to be problems!!!  Even when you marry the person GOD has chosen for you, there will be issues or conflicts!!!    


In most cases, GOD wants us to hang in there and work things out!!!  HE WANTS US TO LIVE AND LEARN!!! 


HE wants us to continue to LOVE that person, and NOT throw that relationship away!!!  HE wants us to pray for our spouse and for ourselves, so that we can learn to get along!!!  HE wants us to see the good in each other and remember why we fell in love with that person!!!


Mark 10:7-9 (NKJV)

⁷ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,

⁸ and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.

⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

 

Don’t Be Unequally Yoked!!!

What does being unequally yoked mean?  What does GOD say in HIS WORD about being unequally yoked??? 

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (ESV)

¹⁴ Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
¹⁵ What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

THE WORD tells us that we shouldn’t marry someone who isn’t a CHILD OF GOD – someone who isn’t a follower of Christ!!!  We shouldn’t marry an unbeliever!!! 

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (CEV)

¹⁴ Stay away from people who are not followers of the Lord! Can someone who is good get along with someone who is evil? Are light and darkness the same?

¹⁵ Is Christ a friend of Satan? Can people who follow the Lord have anything in common with those who don’t?


If a child of GOD marries an unbeliever (someone who doesn’t follow Christ,) then the believer is unequally yoked with the unbeliever!!!  They are tied or bound by marriage to the person!!!  They are NOT equal in their faith, because they do NOT both believe in GOD!!! 


Unbelievers hinder the prayers of believers and because they do NOT know any better, they do NOT speak in FAITH!!!  They speak doubt and unbelief (because they do NOT believe in GOD or in HIS WORD!!!)


GOD is very clear in HIS WORD!!!  GOD doesn’t want HIS children to marry someone who doesn’t believe in HIM or worship HIM!!!  HE didn’t want the children of Israel to be lead astray and HE doesn’t want us, as HIS children to be lead away from HIM!!!


Deuteronomy 7:3-4 (NCV)

³ Do not marry any of them, or let your daughters marry their sons, or let your sons marry their daughters.

⁴ If you do, those people will turn your children away from me, to begin serving other gods. Then the Lord will be very angry with you, and he will quickly destroy you.


This is the very reason that GOD tells HIS people NOT to intermarry!!!  HE didn’t want the children of Israel following after some man or woman and worshipping idols and man made gods.  And HE doesn’t want us to do that either. 


GOD wanted HIS children to stay pure in their hearts and to love and worship HIM!!!  That’s why HE specifically told them NOT to marry people from other nations who worshipped other gods!!! 


Any time, the Jewish people married people from other nations who didn’t follow GOD, it caused problems!!! 


Judges 16:4-10 (NCV)

⁴ After this, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Valley of Sorek.

⁵ The Philistine rulers went to Delilah and said, “Find out what makes Samson so strong. Trick him into telling you how we can overpower him and capture him and tie him up. If you do this, each one of us will give you twenty-eight pounds of silver.”

⁶ So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me why you are so strong. How can someone tie you up and capture you?”

⁷ Samson answered, “Someone would have to tie me up with seven new bowstrings that have not been dried. Then I would be as weak as any other man.”

⁸ The Philistine rulers brought Delilah seven new bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied Samson with them.

⁹ Some men were hiding in another room. Delilah said to him, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” But Samson broke the bowstrings like pieces of burned string. So the Philistines did not find out the secret of Samson’s strength.

¹⁰ Then Delilah said to Samson, “You made a fool of me. You lied to me. Now tell me how someone can tie you up.”


First of all, it is never a good idea to get mixed up with someone who doesn’t follow Christ!!!  And secondly, you don’t play around with GOD or with the devil!!!  If you do, you’ll lose out in the end!!!  When you are anointed, you should know better!!! 


Judges 16:15-21 (NKJV)

¹⁵ Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies.”

¹⁶ And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death,

¹⁷ that he told her all his heart, and said to her, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

¹⁸ When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.” So the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand.

¹⁹ Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.

²⁰ And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.

²¹ Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.


Any time a believer marries someone who doesn’t worship GOD, it causes problems!!!  That’s why GOD tells us NOT to marry unbelievers!!!


Solomon was one of the greatest and wisest kings that ever lived, but because he did NOT obey GOD!!!  His many unbelieving wives turned his heart away from GOD.  Solomon lost all that GOD had given HIM!!!  HE literally threw away his inheritance!!! 

1 Kings 11:1-4 (NKJV)

¹ But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— ² from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.

³ And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. ⁴ For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.


ONLY because of GOD’s love for his father, David, and GOD’s promise to David, was Solomon allowed to keep his kingdom.  GOD was merciful and told Solomon that HE would take all, but one portion of the kingdom from his son!!!


1 Kings 11:9-13 (NKJV)

⁹ So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, ¹⁰ and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded.

¹¹ Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.

¹² Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son.

¹³ However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.”


The wisest men surround themselves with even wiser men and woman because they know that the folks around you influence you and your actions. 


As the children of GOD, we need to be wise!!!  We need to understand that those we keep company with always influence us!!!


If we would keep this in mind, we would be careful who we spend time with and even more careful about who we marry!!!


There is an old saying that goes like this!!!  THE HEART WANTS WHAT THE HEART WANTS!!!  


But I say to you, Don’t keep company or spend time with unsaved folks!!!!  If you don’t hang around unsaved folks, then your heart will NOT want someone who is unsaved!!! 


BE CAREFUL AND GUARD YOUR HEART!!!  GUARD YOUR HEART, SO THAT YOUR HEART WON’T BE ENTANGLED WITH SOMEONE WHO IS UNSAVED!!! 

Did You Find A Good ‘Un???

Have you ever heard someone use this scripture??? 


Proverbs 18:22 (NKJV) He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the Lord.

If you have read my post (He Who Finds A Wife…) then you know that I don’t believe that any child of GOD should be seeking or searching for a new wife or husband!!!  And here is why I believe what I believe.   


This scripture says, He who finds a wife finds a good thing…, but that doesn’t mean that GOD is sending us out to hunt for a wife or a husband!!! 


What it means is that the person who marries a good mate – the one that GOD has given them – is very, very blessed!!! 


Let’s read this scripture in the Amplified Bible!!!


Proverbs 18:22 (AMP)

²² He who finds a [^[a]true and faithful] wife finds a good thing
And obtains favor and approval from the Lord.

Do you see the brackets ( [  ]  ) after the words, “finds a”?  Those brackets and that little “a” indicate that there is a reference or a note in regards to this verse or part of this verse. 


He who finds a [^[a]true and faithful] wife…


I am sure that a lot of you have used Reference Bibles before and you know to find out what the note or scripture(s) says about this verse.


So, that’s what I did!!! 


And here is what I found. 

 
When I read the reference, I found that there was actually a very interesting footnote shown in the Amplified Bible for this particular scripture and I want to share it with you!!!


Footnote:

Proverbs 18:22  In Jewish tradition it is said that in Israel, they used to ask a man who had married, “Matsa or motse?” “Matsa” is the Hebrew for “finds” here, where a good wife is in view, and “motse” is the word for “found” (NASB “discovered”) in Eccl 7:26.


What does this mean???  It means that after a man married, the other men of the city would ask him if he had found a good wife.  It’s like saying, Did you find a good ‘un????


In other words, have you found that you have married a good woman, a true and faithful woman?  


So, this verse isn’t saying that if you found a wife, you have found a good thing!!!  That would mean that any wife would do!!!


It is saying that if you have married a good and faithful woman, a godly wife, then you have found a good thing!!!


That’s why I am saying that each and every single child of GOD needs to seek HIM, and ask HIM to bring them the right person!!!


Getting married to someone that GOD hasn’t sent you, is like rolling the dice!!!  You are gambling and just hoping that you find the right woman or man!!!


Truthfully, I know that it isn’t GOD’s WILL for you to be hunting for that woman or man.  It is GOD’s WILL for you to seek HIM and allow HIM to bring you a spouse!!! 


It is HIS WILL that you wait on HIM!!!  If you trust in GOD, HE will bring you, your soulmate!!!


Jer. 29:12-13

¹² Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

¹³ And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.


When GOD HAS GIVEN YOU THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE, you will know that you are truly blessed!!! 


Let me be real honest!!! 


You can’t just choose someone or pick out someone and say, I’m going to marry that man or woman!!!  You can’t expect GOD to bless you, when you make a decision without HIM!!! 


Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct^[a] your paths.


I don’t care if you have known someone for years, or so you think!!!  It’s too easy to think you know someone!!!  The best thing that you can do is to ask GOD about that person!!! 


Proverbs 3:5 (CEB) Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t rely on your own intelligence.


Unless GOD reveals the truth to you about an individual, then you really have no idea who they are or who you are dealing with!!! 


No one is ever going to be perfect, but the one that GOD chooses for you, will be suited to you!!!  They will right for you!!!  They will be a person that you can fall in love with, live with, and enjoy!!!    


The reference for this verse in the NKJV noted by the little [a] says, “Or make smooth or straight.” 


When you marry someone, you want your path to be smooth and straight!!!  You want that path with your new spouse to be an easy road to travel. 


And most of all, when GOD chooses someone for you, that individual will be someone you can trust!!!  Someone you can feel safe with!!! 


Just because a person loves THE LORD, and is saved, sanctified, and filled with the HOLY GHOST, doesn’t mean that that person is for you!!! 


And IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU ARE FOR THEM!!!


I can guarantee you that the person that GOD has chosen for you is 1000 times better than any other person you could possibly find for yourself!!! 


GOD knows better than you or I, to whom we should be married!!!


GOD KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED and WHO WE NEED!!!

What Does It Mean To Be Yoked?

GOD showed me some things about what it means to be yoked together with someone, so I know that HE will help me explain it!!!                                                                   

I want you to think about this!!!  To be yoked to someone or something means to be tied or harnessed or bound to that person!!! 


Yoke - A wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull. 


Harness - A piece of equipment, including straps for fastening it, used to control an animal such as a horse or attach it to a load to be pulled.


In our day and age, we find the following definition of a harness used most often.  A harness is a set of straps that are put on a horse so it can be hitched to a wagon or a carriage. 


When folks went everywhere on horse back, in a buggy, wagon or by stagecoach, their teams (sometimes horses, sometimes mules, and sometimes oxen or cows) were harnessed together.  You know, like when you watch old westerns and see the horses that are pulling the stage coaches.  Those leather reins and lines are harnesses that distribute the weight of the stagecoach and keep the teams of horses pulling together.   


Back then farmers used oxen, horses, and mules to plow their fields.  In some of the old shows, you will see a wooden yoke fastened across the top of the shoulders of 2 oxen.


That’s where we get the term, “To Be Yoked Together”, as well as the term “To Be Unequally Yoked.” 


You never hear of animals being equally yoked because that is included in the concept of yoking a team of animals together!!!  A wise farmer would never even consider yoking 2 animals together that weren’t equal in strength and ability!!! 


When you take 2 animals and yoke them together, they both need to be very strong, so that they can pull together with equal force.  If one is weak or hurt or sick, that makes it harder for them to work together!!!  It means that one of them will have to work harder than the other one, even though they are yoked together!!!  As a matter of fact, it would be much easier to take the yoke off of the weaker animal and just allow the stronger animal to pull the load!!!


Strength and compatibility are NOT based on the color of the animal, or on how it looks.  With the exception of how tall or big an animal is, its appearance has nothing to do with how strong it is or whether it will work well with another animal. 


The only reason that an animal’s height or size matters is because you can’t easily yoke or harness a smaller animal to a larger animal!!!  Doing that would cause a problem because the animals would be mismatched in strength, and ability!!!  As a matter of fact, if you look at the horses that are pulling a stage coach, you will see that in many cases, they are different colors, but they are very closely matched in size. 


And if you look closely at the horses’ harnesses, you will see that each horse has a blinder or blinker next to each eye.  This blinder keeps the horse from seeing all around them and getting scared or distracted.  It keeps them focused on what’s ahead of them and the work that they are doing. 


GOD showed me that when you are married, you need to be married to someone who can and will help you carry or pull your load!!!  They need to be willing to help you fulfill or complete whatever assignment GOD has given you.  That’s where compatibility comes in.   


It doesn’t matter what that other person looks like and because GOD doesn’t use a physical harness, or yoke, it doesn’t even matter how tall or big a person is!!!  What matters is that GOD knows what you need in a partner and if you allow HIM to do the choosing, you’ll be equally yoked with that person!!!  


The person that GOD chooses for you will be the best partner you could ever have imagined!!! 


Mark 10:7-9 (NKJV)

^{7 “}‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,

⁸ and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.

⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

C'est la vie!!!

Just A Note!!! 


I have busy days like anyone else!!!  So, there are times when I miss a day and don't get a post written. 


As some of you know, I often try to make up for missing a day!!!  But sometimes, that is simply NOT feasible!!! 


Sometimes, I must just say, C'est la vie!!! 

Not to be rude or anything, but if you are like me, you don’t read french!!!  So, just in case, you have no idea what that is or means, I’ll explain!!! 


To start with, in “Texan” this is pronounced “Say lah vee!!!”  And in this post, C'est la vie means these things happen sometimes or “Stuff Happens!!!” 


Anyway, here is the true meaning in French!!! 


"C'est la vie", a French phrase, is translated as "That's life" or “Such is life!!!”


That being said, sometimes I have several things on my mind and I feel to write about them all, but of course, I can ONLY write about one thing at a time!!!  And at other times, GOD says, Write this, and HE gives me a message!!! 


Anyway, no matter how it happens, I know that GOD has made this blog a success!!!  I say that because I am seeing links to my posts show up in searches!!!


I truly believe that if I can help just one person by writing these posts, then every moment I spend doing this, is well worth while!!! 


So, now you know that when I say that GOD is good, I truly mean it!!!  And I can tell you how GOOD GOD IS ALL DAY LONG!!!  But anyway, I better NOT get started because I have 2 posts to finish!!!   


I want to THANK EVERYONE!!!  I want all of you to know how much I appreciate your patience, and your continued support!!! 


I ask one last thing of everyone.  Please be patient in the upcoming month, because I have to send my laptop off!!! 


My great friend, and prayer partner, a truly godly woman in Christ Jesus, has come into agreement with me over this matter.  Therefore, I know that everything will be just fine!!!


I will be posting from another computer and possibly from my phone (well, maybe), so please, just bear with me as I go through laptop withdrawals!!!  LOL  NOT!!!

Never claim anything you don’t want to see happen!!! 

So, again everyone, THANKS!!!! 
Kathy 

The Word, “Yoke” in The Bible

What does the word, “yoke” mean?


I started my search by looking up this word.


And here is some of what I found on Dictionary.com.  http://www.dictionary.com/browse/yoked   


”Yoke”

noun (pl) yokes, yoke

    1.   a wooden frame, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two
         bow-shaped  pieces, for attaching to the necks of a pair of
         draft animals, especially oxen, so that they can be worked
         as a team

    2.  a pair of draft animals fastened together
         by a yoke: five yoke of oxen.

   
    3.  something resembling a yoke in form or
         function, such as a frame fitting over a
         person's shoulders for carrying buckets,
         one on each end

    4.  something that ties or binds together; a bond or tie.

verb (used with object), yoked, yoking.

    1.  to put a yoke on; join or couple by means of a yoke.

    2.  to attach (a draft animal) to a plow or vehicle:  to yoke oxen.

    3.  to harness a draft animal to (a plow or vehicle):  to yoke a wagon.

    4.  to join, couple, link, or unite.

    5.  to be or become joined, linked, or united.

When I did a search for the word, “yoke” in the Bible, I found information on a site called, ChristianAnswers.net.  You can go to this site by clicking on the following link.   http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/yoke.html


This site featured the WebBible Encyclopedia, and that is where I found the following information.


YOKE -

   1.  Fitted on the neck of oxen for the purpose of binding to them the
       traces by which they might draw the plough, etc. (Num. 19:2;
       Deut. 21:3).  It was a curved piece of wood called 'ol.

   2.  In Jer. 27:2; 28:10, 12 the word in the Authorized Version
        rendered “yoke” is motah, which properly means a “staff,” or as
        in the Revised Version, “bar.” These words in the Hebrew are
        both used figuratively of severe bondage, or affliction, or
        subjection (Lev. 26:13; 1 Kings 12:4; Is. 47:6; Lam. 1:14;
        Lam. 3:27). In the New Testament, the word “yoke” is also
        used to denote servitude (Matt. 11:29, 30; Acts 15:10;
        Gal. 5:1).

    3.  In 1 Sam. 11:7, 1 Kings 19:21, Job 1:3 the
         word thus translated is tzemed, which
         signifies a pair, two oxen yoked or coupled
         together, and hence in 1 Sam. 14:14 it
         represents as much land as a yoke of oxen
         could plough in a day, like the Latin jugum.
         In Isa. 5:10 this word in the plural is
         translated “acres.”


I looked up these scripture references, and found some really good scriptures!!!  However, ONLY some of these scriptures fit what we are talking about!!!


You see, there are all kinds of people who come to Jesus!!! 


Many times, people will tell you that they found GOD at just the right time, but the truth is that GOD was there watching and waiting all the time!!! 


They didn’t find GOD!!!  No one finds THE LORD!!!


Truthfully, this is what happens!!! 


We run and run until we are exhausted!!!  Sometimes, we don’t even know that we are running from GOD because we have been taught that everyone is supposed to just do their own thing!!! 


Finally, we reach the end of our rope and find that we have messed our lives up!!!  When we find that we are in a world of trouble, and we can’t get out of it by ourselves, we come to the realization that we desperately need for GOD to intervene!!!


So, GOD steps in and HE saves us from ourselves and HE gets us out of our mess!!! 


This isn’t the way that everyone gets saved, but it is pretty true for most people!!! 


And yes, I know that there are some folks who have lived for Jesus most of their lives, and I applaud them!!!  I think that is wonderful!!!


But then there are some folks like me that really needed saving!!!  They were on “The Highway to Hell.”  I can guarantee you that that is where I was headed!!!  And I knew better!!!!


Many ears ago, after I got saved and began living for THE LORD, I ran into a girl that I had known back in the day!!!  She had hung out at the same bars!!!  When she found out that I had gotten saved, she said, “Kathy, if GOD can save you, HE can save anybody!!!”  And she was absolutely right!!!


I thank GOD that HE stepped into my life and saved me when HE did!!!  If HE hadn’t, I truly don’t think I wouldn’t be alive today!!!


You see, I had yoked myself to a lot of things, and I couldn’t get loose!!!!  NOT by myself!!! 


But I found that when GOD saves us, HE SETS US FREE!!!  And HE tells us NOT to go back into sin!!! 


Galatians 5:1 (KJV) Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.


Christ tells us that HIS YOKE IS EASY AND HIS BURDENS ARE LIGHT!!! 


Matthew 11:28-30 (AMP)

²⁸ “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].

²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls.

³⁰ For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.”

We must realize one thing!!!  When we become one of GOD’s kids, we give our lives over to HIM!!!  It is then that GOD wants us to begin giving HIM all our burdens!!!  And HE wants us to continue giving them to HIM every day!!!


Truthfully, everyone goes through trials and tribulations.  If you are living and breathing, then you are going to have problems!!!  NO matter what!!!  Rich or poor, male or female, no matter what color you are, no matter where you live (in the city or in the country), you will always have problems and you will always face trials and tribulations!!! 


But let me tell you, when GOD is with you, those trials are so much easier than facing them by yourself!!!


When you have GOD on your side, you have someone to fight your battles for you!!!  The Bible says if GOD is for us, who can be against us?  Christ has made us more than conquerors!!! 


Exodus 14:14 (KJV) The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

2 Chronicles 20:17 (KJV) Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.

Romans 8:31, 37 (KJV)

³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Made NEW!!!

CHRIST SAVED ME!!!  HE made me NEW IN HIM!!!  HE CHANGED ME!!!  HE CHANGED MY LIFE!!!  And all that OLD STUFF is gone!!!  (It died when the OLD MAN that was me died.)
 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When Christ died on the cross for us, HE took our sins, sicknesses, our human frailties, and our all that was the old man with HIM!!!  ALL those old things died with HIM on the cross!!! 

When HE rose from the dead, HE brought forth new life!!!  HE brought forth NEW LIFE for each and every person who has declared Him as Savior and LORD of their life!!!

With the NEW Life that HE has given us, HE has given us HOPE!!!

Romans 15:13 (KJV) 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 Ghost.


GOD LOVES US!!!  GOD IS LOVE!!!  And if we are GOD’s KIDS, then we LOVE others!!!  HIS WORD says, that if we don’t LOVE others then we don’t know GOD!!!


1 John 4:7-16 (AMP)

⁷ Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience].
⁸ The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]
⁹ By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him.
¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath].
¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us [in this incredible way], we also ought to love one another.
¹² No one has seen God at any time. But if we love one another [with unselfish concern], God abides in us, and His love [the love that is His essence abides in us and] is completed and perfected in us.
¹³ By this we know [with confident assurance] that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given to us His [Holy] Spirit.
¹⁴ We [who were with Him in person] have seen and testify [as eye-witnesses] that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

¹⁵ Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
¹⁶ We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him.


GOD’s LOVE perfects us and it sets us apart from others!!!  We show LOVE and we have compassion when others don’t!!!


John 13:34-35 (AMP)

³⁴ I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another.

³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”


***
The song below and the video that is linked to the title of this post are both inspired by GOD!!!  Don’t just listen to the words, but hear them in your heart!!! 

"Made New"  -  Lincoln Brewster

You're calling me over
You're pulling me close

With love You surround me
You give me hope

Yeah, Yeah

Yeah…

You're taking me deeper
You're making me whole
With grace You redeem me, Yeah
You restore my soul

Now I'm made new
Because of You

Yeah!

You hold my head up
You remind me who I am

You hold my head up
I'm alive in You again

I'm made new
I'm made new

You're making me stronger
You're healing my heart

With Your hands You hold me
And…  You set me apart

Now I'm made new
Because of You

Yeah!

You hold my head up
You remind me who I am

You hold my head up
I'm alive in You again

I'm made new
I'm made new

You are my salvation
I will not fear
You're the strength of my life
I won't fear

You are my salvation
I will not fear
You're the strength of my life
I won't fear… No

You hold my head up
You remind me who I am

You hold my head up
I'm alive in You again
… I'm alive in You again (in background)

I'm made new
I'm made new

Whoaaaa…   Yeah…

You hold my head up
You hold my head up
You hold my head up

He Who Finds a Wife…

For many years, I have heard, “The man who finds a wife finds a good thing.” 


Hmmmmm…


None of the Bibles that I looked in said exactly that, but maybe I am splitting hairs at this point!!! 


We will see!!! 


Here is what the King James Version says, Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing…


So, I guess that saying, “The man who finds a wife finds a good thing” is NOT too far off from the original.


However, I believe that the Amplified Bible gives the truest and best interpretation of this scripture. 


Proverbs 18:22 (AMP) He who finds a [true and faithful] wife finds a good thing…


If a man wants to find a true and faithful wife, he should be praying and seeking GOD. 


He should be asking GOD to bring him just the right one.


After all, isn’t “finding” the right woman that important!!!  Isn’t finding the woman that you want to spend the rest of your life with, so important that you want to seek GOD!!!


And ladies this goes for you, too!!! 


A long time ago, I began praying and seeking GOD because I wanted to make sure that I married the right man.  I decided to trust GOD to pick out my new husband, because who I spend the rest of my life with, is that important to me!!!  I’d rather be by myself, than be married to the wrong man. 


And to be truthful, GOD promising to bring me the right man, has nothing to do with some man deciding that “he has found me.”


I am NOT a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow to be sought after!!!  I am NOT a fish to be lured with bait and I am NOT big game to be hunted down!!! 


However, I have, at times, felt like a deer that someone has spotlighted, so they can shoot and kill it!!!  And on occasion, I have felt like I am caught in the headlights of someone’s pick-up truck!!! 


Guys, you can’t just decide that you want a certain woman!!!  You shouldn’t decide that some woman looks good or that she seems good!!!


If you do, you could find yourself in serious trouble!!! 


Ecclesiastes 7:26 (CEV) Here is what I discovered: A bad woman is worse than death. She is a trap, reaching out with body and soul to catch you. But if you obey God, you can escape. If you don’t obey, you are done for.


Ecclesiastes 7:26 (AMP) And I discovered that [of all irrational sins none has been so destructive in beguiling one away from God as immoral women for] more bitter than death is the woman whose heart is [composed of] snares and nets, and whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God will escape from her, but the sinner will be taken captive by her [evil].


The wrong woman can lead you away from GOD!!!  Falling in love with the wrong woman can actually destroy your life!!!  You may think it is love, but whatever you call it, it can destroy everything you have worked so hard for!!!


The same goes for women!!!  Falling in love with the wrong man can destroy everything you have, even your self respect!!! 


This is why THE WORD of GOD tells us NOT TO DEPEND ON what we see, think or feel!!!  That is what GOD means when HE says, Lean NOT to your own understanding. 


We need to seek out THE LORD’S PERFECT WILL FOR OUR LIVES IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES!!!  We need to learn to depend on GOD for everything and that includes bringing us the right spouse!!!


Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.


Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP)

⁵ Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

⁶ In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].


Let’s be real.  Being married to the wrong person can make your life miserable.  The wrong person can make your life a living HELL!!!


We all need to stop looking around at every Tom, David, Harriet and Jolene that walks by!!! 


The bottom line is that each and every child of GOD should be praying to GOD and seeking HIM, and TRUSTING HIM to bring them that special someone at just the right time!!!