Today, we celebrate God deeply and truly loving us.  “God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”

Today, we celebrate miracles coming true.  Jesus was born from a virgin.  “Mary …while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of Holy Spirit.”

Today, we celebrate God is with us.  “Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel (God with us).”

Today, we celebrate God loving us right where we are.  “…grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Today, we celebrate, praise, dance, rejoice, love, give, cry, smile, laugh, hug, enjoy, eat, walk, run, sleep, smell, hear, taste, see, consume, live….because God gave and Christ our Savior lives.

Today, I wish you and yours a very Merry and Happy CHRISTmas!  And, all I can say to that is “THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY!!!”

Thank God It’s Friday by Sharnell Blevins for Elev8.com

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Hey y’all it’s Friday again and here we go.  The beautiful thing about Friday is it’s the end of the week.  I love the time of slowing down, reflecting on the yesterdays, and renewing for the tomorrows.  And, as I reflect over the last week, I begin thinking about the major happenings in our world today.  Yep, you guessed it…Tiger sinned and fell short.

Ok…ok…I know…because I am a Christian, you expected me to say something else….like the war in Afghanistan…or hunger…or homelessness.  Because as a Christian, I am supposed to be on a higher plane and forget about the gossip and intrigue of others.  But, guess what?  Yes, I am human, but that wasn’t what I was going to say.  But, I am really concerned with how we interpret the many things that those around us are facing.

See, there are many people who will surmise that men are no good for anything because of what Tiger did.  There are some people who will think that all men commit adultery.  There are some who will believe that they should commit adultery because it’s ok.  There are some who will believe that marriage will never work.  There are some who will believe that whatever Tiger and Elin decide they are fools.  These people will believe this all because we have been given a glimpse into the life of the Woods.

What’s amazing to me is that we all have sinned.   Each and every one of us has sinned.  Yep, you have sinned.  In fact, you probably just sinned a few minutes ago.  Have you ever told a white lie?  For instance, have you ever told a caller the person they wanted to talk to wasn’t home even though that person is facing you?  Well, that is bearing false witness which is one of the things we are told not to do in the Ten Commandments.

Have you ever seen what someone was wearing, driving, or who someone was dating, and said to yourself I want that?  Well, that is coveting your neighbors possessions which is one of those things we are told not to do in the Ten Commandments.  And, if I have not reached one of your sins, it doesn’t mean you don’t sin, it just means that I haven’t called it out.  But, you know what your sins are.

And, even better, God tells us in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”  And, God makes no distinction between which sin is greater or lesser than the others.  All sin is weighted the same.  Therefore, your white lies are seen the same way as Tiger’s adultery in God’s eyes.  As God tells us in Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death…”  See, when we sin there is a death that takes place – a spiritual death.  We are separated from our Creator – God.  Others view our sin and become separated from God.  And, only we can repair our relationship with God.

This death means the consequences of our sin.  There are consequences for lying.  It will be easier for you to lie again.  When you commit a white lie, you begin the slippery slope of determine where the boundary of white lies you will tell is.  You may keep moving the boundary.

But, as mentioned earlier we can repair our relationship with God.  God tells us in 1 John 1:16 that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.”   God will forgive us and cleanse us.  He will make us brand new in His book.  It will all be behind us once we go to God and ask for forgiveness and confess that we sinned.  And, just after confessing, forgiveness, and cleansing comes the hard part – dealing with the consequence of our sin.

You see, we have to begin with God’s help to hold our tongues against more lying.  We have to be content in all the things that we have now and not covet other’s things.  In Tiger’s case, he must regain the trust his wife freely gave him in the beginning but will be weary to give in the future.  And for us, Tiger must begin rebuilding the public’s trust in his brand.  But, it can be done.  It’s a long, hard road…but it can be climbed.

In all of this that has happened to Tiger, it is comforting to know that God will get the glory.  God knew before the world began that Tiger would commit his transgressions.  And, God placed His Son, Jesus to take on all of Tiger’s transgressions before they were committed.  God did this because He loves Tiger and wants him to be forgiven and be in right relationship with Him.  And, God did this for you.  So, that when Tiger fell short and became human again in your world.  You would know that God sees you and loves you and will forgive you.  All you must do is confess your sins, that’s it.

So, it’s that time again.  The time when I have ministered to myself and must go.  Because in the midst, I have realized that I must go and confess.  But, what is so great about that is I have been reminded that I am forgiven and cleanse too!  So, I am going to do just that now.  And, all I can say to that is “THANK GOD ITS FRIDAY!

*Sharnell*Blevins*

Articles about adultery  from Sharnell Blevins on Elev8.com

God’s People Have Entanglements, Too!

His Needs,  Her Needs, My Needs Need To Be Met

How Does Adultery Begin?

Adultery Is Easy, Especially When You’re Busy

Shopping And Your Job Is Adultery Too!

Everyone Commits Adultery

Here we go again….here we go again…it’s another Friday.  It’s another end to another week.  And, I am so thankful.  I can’t express in words how thankful I truly am.  But, it’s Friday y’all and I’m ready.

Throughout the week I have been thinking about how “all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose” which is found in Romans 8:28.  Paul doesn’t say some things.  But, he says that all things.  All things….wow.  In my life, that’s a lot of little things.  The friendly greeting I gave my neighbor this morning while getting the paper, the snide comment made about me in a meeting, the failed opportunity to impress the interviewer for the job I am applying, or even letting the old woman go ahead of me in line at the grocery store.

We sometimes forget that God is indeed in control of the universe.  We forget that He alone laid out how the world would work in six days.  He divided the waters from land, made two sources of light – day and night, and He created every living thing in the earth and in the seas – animals, plants, humans, and even bugs.  All of this, He created in seven days.   And, all of this, could not do exactly all that He created them to do without Him being in complete control.

What’s amazing to me is every time I get it wrong, I mean every time I get it wrong, God already knew I would get it wrong and He made provision for it.  He told me it doesn’t matter.   Stop bellowing around the things you get wrong and look that I (God that is) will make everything right.  He does not say perfect but right which is essentially good.  He will take every step of our lives, every peak and every valley, every time we are perfectly perfect and every time we hit a wrong note, and ensure that it will be good.

That means that the hurt is meant for something.  That means that the pain is meant for something.  That means that the sorrow is meant for something.  That means that the indifference is meant for something.  That means that the happiness is meant for something.  That means that the joy is meant for something.  That means that every feeling, every emotion, every moment, every day is meant for something.  And, that something is good.

People will be blessed by all of the things in your life.  People will be challenged to grow into better people by all of the things in your life.  People will be loved by all of the things in your life.  People will become saved by all of the things in your life.  And, most importantly, God will be understood and known by all of the things in your life.  His character and integrity will be demonstrated by all of things in your life.

Your life is important.  It is important to me and to everyone else you see today.  Yes, the good, the bad, and the ugly are important for others to see and experience.  So, don’t hide in your closet, lay in your bed, or stay in your house today.  Live today.  Live so that I can be blessed by your presence.   Live so that others can be better people tomorrow by experiencing you today.  Live. Live. Live.  Make mistakes, smell the flowers, and live.  I need you.  We all need you.  You must live so that God can be glorified.  That’s why He created us.  And, He made sure that whatever we do will always work for the good.

So, it’s time for me to go and live.  My life matters.  All of my life matters, every mistake and triumph in its wake.  And, so I go to live.  And, to that all I can say is “THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY!”

More article from Sharnell Blevins on Elev8.com:

Can You Change The World?

Rest Before It’s Too  Late

Enjoy The Harvest Season In Your Life

God’s People Have Sexual Entanglements Too!

Hey y’all…yep it’s Friday!!!  And, what a wonderful Friday it is.  I’ve been thinking this week and you know thinking can get you into a lot of trouble and then again thinking can keep you outta trouble.  But anyway, I’ve been thinking about the state of America, especially Black America.  It’s been under the surface for awhile…just bubbling there…percolating.  But, probably reading the book “The Audacity to Win” by David Plouffe did not help.

Not only is the election of an African American to the office of President of the United States of America profound but the tsunami wave of people who ground swelled his candidacy from infancy to the White House is simply amazing.  People, mainly the little people, you and I believed that this man was the man who should be our next President.  And, we told our friends, donated monies, and elected Barack Obama to be the 44^th President of the United States of America.  Amazing…this election is a miracle in today’s cynical society.  David Plouffe gives a down to earth, human account of the thinking of the Barack Obama for President Campaign.  You should read it to see the wondrous works of God’s hand on this campaign.

People believed that they could effect change.  It had been a long time since people, us little people, believed that we could make a difference.  But, God knew.  God knew before He created the world that we could make a difference.  He made humans different than any other creature.  He made us in His own image.  God creates so we create.  God speaks so we speak.  God is spirit so we are spirit.  God knew that we are different and make a difference.

In fact, God wants us to stand up and make a difference in people’s lives.  He tells us in Genesis 12:2-3 that “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all people on earth will be blessed through you.”  But we can not make a difference if all we want to do is sit on the fence and criticize others who are doing something.

God also does not want us to be concerned with those who try to tear us down.  He says in Luke 6:29-31 that “if someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.  Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.  Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”  So many people have said that those scriptures are stupid but Paul writes to the believers at Philippi saying “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” in Philippians 4:19.

We need to take hold of these words and remember that we are sent here to be a blessing.  God has our back and will curse anyone who curses us.  And, we are to give everything that God has given us to improve another’s situation.  This is not to say that we are to neglect ourselves.  But, if God blessed you to be the top in your field, then take a hold of someone else and guide them through the minefields that you have conquered.  If someone has nothing to eat, feed them and then teach them how to find food to eat.

We can do it.  We don’t have to just look out for us and ours.  But, we can reach out to others in our community, in our state, in our nation.  We can effect change in tomorrow today.  Maybe it’s as simple as helping a child with homework, or giving the person who wants to get in your lane the right of way.  It could be a simple smile at the checker in the grocery store.  Or, even we can help feed the homeless on Thanksgiving.

As I am writing this a song keeps popping in my head, “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson.  Michael got this so right…”I’m gonna make a change, for once in my life, it’s gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right…As I turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat this wind is blowin’ my mind I see the kids in the street with not enough to eat who am I, to be blind?  Pretending not to see their needs…”

We need to start making that change in our lives.  We need to live up to God’s expectations.  We need to live up to our potential.  We need to start blessing others with the gifts and talents that God has given us.  Help someone else.  Not everyone is at the level you are but you can help another get there.  As we enter into the Holiday Season, look around and bless another.  As Michael says “its gonna feel real good.”

So, that’s it.  I’m done with the writing.  Now I am going to listen to some more MJ and make some more change in the world around me.  What about you?  Are you ready to begin?  Let’s start with the man in the mirror together today.  And, to that all I can say is “Thank God It’s Friday!”

More articles from Sharnell Blevins on Elev8.com

Rest Before It’s Too Late

Enjoy The Harvest Season In Your Life

God’s People Have Sexual Entanglements Too

I Am Selfish, Aren’t You?

It’s Friday y’all and I need a Sabbath.  I know you have thought those same words. Ok, so maybe you have not said you needed a Sabbath but how about a vacation, a mental health day, a something away from the things that are currently going on.  This has been a long, drawn out week.  I loved it on many different levels because it seemed like I could get everything done that needed to be done.  But, on a completely different level because I got everything done I need a Sabbath.  Say it with me…Sabbath here I come.

In Genesis 2:2 – 3, God says “And on the seventh day God ended his work which He had made; and He rested won the seventh day from all His work which He had made.  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it:  because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.

And in Exodus 20:9-11, God says “Six days shall you labor, and do all your work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord you God: in it you shall not do any work, you nor your son, nor your daughter, you manservant, nor your maidservant, nor you cattle, nor you stranger that is within your gates:  For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day, wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

These few verses are where God establishes the Sabbath day for all to observe.  But, when you turn to the New Testament and venture into Matthew, Mark, or even Luke, you will find the Pharisees confronting Jesus about his disciples picking corn to eat on the Sabbath and Jesus healing a sick man on the Sabbath.  In Mark 2:27-28, Jesus says “…The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath:  Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.”  And, as Jesus healed the man at the synagogue, He says in Mark 3:4, “…Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil?  to save life, or to kill?…”

In America today, we do not know when to slow down.  We want to run, run, run.  And, soon we are running on empty.  We can’t accomplish the many different things God has placed on our agenda because we have not rested.  While I was reading the Bourne book series, a central idea in Bourne warfare stuck out…sleep is a weapon against your enemy.  One must rest to be able to be on top of your game.  God says we must rest.  God made my body to demand rest.  Jesus said the Sabbath was made for me and you, not us for the Sabbath.  Isn’t that sort of a demand for us to utilize resting?

Join me.  Let’s stop running around in circles.  Let’s turn some of these cooler days into rest and relaxation days.  Let’s take some mental days.  I sure sometimes need them, especially when I begin to be short with those I love and those who are just being friendly.  That’s when I can see the Angel of Heaven looking at me and saying “My child it is time for rest.”

So jump on board, let’s go.  It’s time for us to rest before we bite someone’s head off.  Clear your calendar and snuggle up with the loved ones.  That’s your instructions for today.  Do it now, not tomorrow, not another minute.  Rest is needed to accomplish the all God wants to do with you.  And, now I go to take my own advice.  Rest is calling me and here I go.  And, all I can say to that is “THANK GOD ITS FRIDAY!”

More articles from Sharnell Blevins on Elev8.com

Enjoy The Harvest Season In Your Life

God’s People Have Sexual Entanglements

Are You Your Brother’s Keeper?

Help!  My Husband Makes Me Crazy!

It’s Friday and its Harvest season y’all.  That means the air is now crispy and cool.  The weather is no longer burning summer baking hot.  It’s time for a little hot chocolate, apple cider, and eating warm cookies from the oven.  Coats are being pulled a little closer to the body.  Earmuffs and thermals are coming out of storage.  Apple and pumpkin picking is happening.  It’s Harvest season y’all.

God calls many of us to the Harvest but the laborers are few.  We get tired along the way.  We try to pull too many weeds out of the fertile ground of the Harvest and instead pull the fruit instead.  Others of us refuse to get our knees dirty and don’t pull any weeds at all; therefore, our Harvest is hidden from us through the mess of weeds.

Then, there are some who wait patiently on the Lord.  And, prune and maintain their Harvest by listening to the Father’s whispered instructions.  These people don’t pull too many weeds and don’t let them over grow.  They hear The Master Gardener tell them just how to go about ensuring that the Harvest comes to fruition exactly how it was made.  Their Harvest is bountiful without spot or blemish.  Their Harvest produces more fruit in the future not just what was picked today.  They are taught how much to leave behind to be harvested on another day.

As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, slow down, child of God.  Be still and know that “I AM” is God.  And, listen to His still small voice about the Harvest.  He wants your Harvest to be plentiful and bountiful because when it is, He is glorified.  Spend the time with your families, they are not promised.  Spend time with your loved ones, they might not be here tomorrow.  Spend time enjoying one another, the coolness of the evening is meant to drive us indoors and to snuggle with our loved ones.

Enjoy the beauty of Harvest time.  Enjoy the richness of colors, crispness of the air, and the gentleness of the breezes.  Know that the Harvest is ripe and God is waiting for you to do your part for His Kingdom Harvest.  Everybody’s part in the Harvest is important whether we deem it big or small.  God sees them all the same – essential.

As Harvest season draws near, do your part right where you are.  Do it for you, do it for the Harvest itself, and do it for God.  I wanna do my part.  I wanna be a part of the Harvest.  I wanna honor God with my stillness, familiarity, and obedience.  I want the beautiful memories of the Harvest time.

So, I am going to enjoy my part. I am going to join Harvest Season.  I am going to listen to God’s still voice.  Right now in fact.  Here’s to being still and enjoying those around me and participating in the Harvest.  And, to that all I can say is “THANK GOD ITS FRIDAY!”

More related articles on Elev8.com

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This is the sixth article in a series about adultery

Friday…. Friday…. Friday….Ok you know its Friday and I know its Friday…but what does that have to do with a hill of beans.  Now, that is a saying from way back.  Not today.  I am not even sure my children have heard that one.  How high is a hill of beans anyway?  Is it the same height as a regular ‘ole dirt hill?  Is there even such thing as a hill of beans?  Where can I visit one?  Do the beans slide and one never reaches the top when one is trying to climb it?

You know, if more people would ask details and everlasting questions (on and on and on and on), then people would not get so hung up in the wrong predicaments.  What type of predicaments am I talking about?  Well the sexual kind of course because its Friday night…just got paid…party huntin’…place is right…ok so for all of you lyric purist I mixed up the lyrics but you get the point…It’s Friday and people get into trouble come the weekend.  All kind of sexual entanglements happen on the weekend.  There are no going to school, work, or major commitments for most.  So, they live up their sexual fantasies on the weekends.

God is pretty straight forward about how He wants us to approach sex.  He wants us to reserve it for marriage.  Now, many people are fine with that.  But, they also have sex with others besides their spouse.  They say because they are married its ok to have sex.  Unfortunately for them, God wants us to have sex with our spouses only.  God doesn’t want us to allow sex to drive us to places that He has not ordained for us.  Sexual entanglements will mess us up big time.  And, in many cases, sexual affairs (entanglements) cause death.

God gives us many examples in the bible.  David and Bathsheba are one.  David was supposed to be out at war.  David was supposed to be fighting with his trusted men including Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah.  David was supposed to be doing what God called him to do.  But, David, a man after God own heart, tarried and remained in Israel instead of going to war with his troops.  And, David arose one evening from his bed and walked his roof top.

Now, evening is when people would wash themselves after being with others.  Rooftops were secluded places that people thought no one would see them.  So, baths were on rooftops.  And, of course, Bathsheba was bathing this very evening.  And, David thought to himself, she is one fine and beautiful and voluptuous, and sexy lady and I got to try that.

Of course, David being king got with that and now she is pregnant.  Enter in her husband who David sent for from the war.  Uriah wouldn’t sleep with his wife even after David nearly tried to force him.  Uriah was loyal to what God told him to do.  Uriah rushes back to war and David sends the man’s death sentence unknowingly to Uriah with him.   Uriah is killed because David commands it and David becomes Bathsheba’s husband.  God tells David that he sinned. David repents.  But, a death still must occur, their child is born and becomes ill and dies.  David comforts Bathsheba and they have Solomon after David re-orders himself with God.

Samson and Delilah is another one of the biblical stories of sexual entanglement ending in death.  Delilah was a harlot.  Samson was using her to satisfy his sexual fix.  He is seeing her so much that she believes he loves her.  So, she starts to ask all kinds of questions.  She decides to ask questions that others have posed to her.  When Samson eludes her questions, she tells him that he doesn’t love her.

She keeps nagging Samson about his love, his strength and their relationship.  Samson gets so tired of the tirade that he finally gives in and tells her his innermost secret.  This secret allows the Philistines to destroy Samson who was their most wanted enemy.  As they are celebrating to their god about Samson’s capture, they ask Samson to perform.  Unbeknownst to them, Samson’s hair has started to grow back.  Samson destroys them and also asks God to allow him to die along with them.  God came back to Samson once he re-orders himself with God.

Eli’s sons decided to have multiple sexual partners with as many women as possible, especially the ones who lay at the tabernacle doors.  See, Eli’s sons were supposed to be the next priest of God’s people.  But, they wanted their sexual appetites satisfied instead of God’s work done. So, God destroyed them and no ancestor of Eli is upon this earth today.

These different sexual entanglements represent the ways we get involved with others. David and Bathsheba is the one night stand.  David would have left Uriah and Bathsheba alone if she hadn’t gotten pregnant.  How many people are up that creek?  And, Samson and Delilah is that all entangled affair.  She was so sexual good to him that he kept going back.  She enticed him and destroyed his relationship with God all at the same time.  And, Eli’s sons were just addicted to sex.  They couldn’t get enough of it and did not care with whom or how.

God doesn’t want any of this for us.  He wants us to live victoriously not in defeat of our sexual appetites and fulfillments.  He wants us to stop and ask the questions and keep asking them until we hear His true answer.  Stop.  Stop, my children.  Honor Me by holding true to my command to engage in sex in marriage with your spouse.  Stop allowing the world to destroy you and set you apart from Me.  But, know this beloved that if you fall, I will pick you up and set you right…all you have to do is ask with repentance like David.

It’s interesting that David and Bathsheba’s story did not end with the death of the adulterous child.  They go on to have Solomon who was Jedidiah, beloved of the Lord.  God loved and cherished their son in righteousness.  He blessed their union and blessed all of the people of the earth through their seed.  So, never think that your shortcomings involving sexual entanglements will destroy you.  Look up, child of God, and allow God to right you.

So, its that time…time for me to begin enjoying my weekend.  Of course, I will be asking question after question to make sure that I am on God’s path and not my own.  So off I go into the weekend.  And, all I have to say to that is “THANK GOD ITS FRIDAY!”

Check out the entire adultery series on Elev8.com

His Needs,  Her Needs, My Needs Need To Be Met

How Does Adultery Begin?

Adultery Is Easy, Especially When You’re Busy

Shopping And Your Job Is Adultery Too!

Everyone Commits Adultery

Hello Friday…Hello Friday Morning… Hello Friday Evening…Hey y’all its Friday.  And, it’s a wonderful Friday, it is.  As you know, Fridays are the start of my kick back weekends (ok if you believe my weekends are totally kick back then you don’t have kids).  But anyway, the beginning of my kick back weekends begins today!  Yea! As I reflect on the weekend that has happened, I look at all of the things that I have done and the people I have met.  I am pretty satisfied with the things that I have accomplished and the way I have presented myself with the people I have interacted.

But, that gets me to thinking.  Is God satisfied with the way I acted and the things I have done?

See, I serve God totally, completely, every minute of every day.  This makes it important to me to make sure that I am doing the things in my life the way God wants me.  Now, see here, just because I am totally in it for God to get the glory, this does not mean that I totally get it right. People make me mad so I therefore act unholy or ungodly to them.  And, when God calls me out on that I ask for forgiveness and repent.  Then there is something else that I did not do according to God’s standards.

Of course, the process repeats itself.  But know this, I am not afraid of the process because God says in His word that I will fail but He will love me anyway.  And, that I am forever His.  I carry these truths with me wherever I go. But, where did I go this last week?  WHERE DID I GO THIS WEEK?  Ok, that is in capital letters because I don’t mean go as in went as in physical places.  But, I mean go as in what entered my spirit – became a part of who I am today.  Many people interact with people and don’t evaluate the experience they have had.  Does God approve the interaction with that person?

Did you know that adulterous, sexual, love affairs begin because people ignore this innate truth – God is interested in where we went?  Ok, let me break this down.  A meet me at the Ritz affair does not begin at the Ritz.  I love the movie “Regarding Henry.”  People were giving him ritz crackers after his shooting.  But, he was talking about his meeting place with his lover.  Ok, I digress let’s back up. Affairs have three stages.  The first stage is the conversation stage.  The conversation stage is when you are just talking to someone.  “Hi, how are you doing?”  “Is Janney in the office?”  “Did you finish that project?”

There is nothing wrong with conversing with people, even of the opposite sex.  BUT, there is a problem when you begin to have intimate discussions with this person. Intimate discussion includes things that reveal who you are, what you are really thinking deep down inside, where you want to go with your future, how your marriage really works.  Those discussions are best between a husband and wife.  No one should know you intimately but your spouse.  Save yourself from the next stage, keep those discussions for your spouse.

The next stage is the friendship stage.  Once you start giving up intimate information about yourself, now you have established that person as a friend.  A friend becomes emotionally wrapped in you life.  Sometimes you don’t realize that you have jumped from the conversation to the friendship stage.  BUT, you know you have when you are inviting the person to lunch.  You want to experience things like the movies, amusement parks, walks on the boardwalk with this person.  You begin to seek out this person for conversation or good company.  You genuinely like this person.

Now, if you have fallen into this stage, don’t be alarmed.  BUT, stop it now.  Back-pedal, it’s ok to back-pedal.  Cut this person from your spirit.  Yea, I do mean your spirit.  See the friendship stage is when the person becomes an imprint onto your spirit.  You are thinking about this person waaaay too much.  So, cut it clean now – start being unavailable for lunch.  Stop looking for that person to have a conversation.  Stop constantly thinking about that person.  Give that person over to God and stay far away.  And, yes, if you must do it cruelly, then so be it.  Nothing is more important than honoring God by honoring your spouse.

Now, the final stage is the sexual stage.  This is the one everyone associates with adultery.  This is two people rolling around in the sheets stage.  This is the big one.  The having sex with someone other than my spouse stage.  I will not talk about what constitutes sex here.  But, give me some leeway – it’s sex and all that sex encompasses is what I mean.  So, sex is the final stage. The sexual stage can not be reached without proceeding through the other two stages.  An affair has an arch.  The arch includes the conversation, friendship, and sexual stages.  When one who looks at the beginning of the sexual part of their affair, they will notice that they cleared the hurdles of the first two stages.  If you happen to find yourself in this stage, get out now!!!  Find a good Christian marriage counselor and let God heal your marriage.  He can and He wants to do it for your and especially for His reputation.  Enough said there. So, it’s time for me to reflect.  Did I please you Lord this week?  Did I entangle my spirit?  And, please forgive me for and save me from where I did.  Now, of course it is time for me to try these stages out on my spouse.  Here I come honey.    And, all I have to say to that is “THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY!”

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This is the third article in a series about adultery.

Ok…what day is it?  Friday Night…It’s time to partay…What time is it?  Friday Night…It’s time to partay… Ok now you realize that I am singing this crazy song in my head.  It might have no rhythm that you know but I am very excited that it is Friday!!!  Another Friday, another week has gone by.  And guess what?  This was a great week.  So, now it’s time to partay!

How do you party?  Some people party one day a week.  Others party several days a week.  And, then there are some who party 7 days 24 hours a day.  Whew!  I don’t know how they do it.  But, they do.

All of us at times have been the life of the party.  We are so busy that we don’t know if we are coming or going.  We are caught asking ourselves did I buy the bread that we need.  I remember going to the store.  But, did I buy everything on my list.  Then we remember, oh wait a minute.  I went to the store last week when we were out of milk but not this week when we need bread.  So, off we go to the store to get bread.  Then our cell phone rings to remind us that we have choir rehearsal tonight.  Now, don’t forget that ministry leaders’ meeting is tomorrow.  And, when we put all of that on our calendar, we see that usher board meeting is three days away.  With all of that going on, how do we connect with our spouses?  Let alone how do we connect with God?

Well, we don’t really.  When we are so busy that we forget whether or not we picked up a loaf of bread, we are too busy to spend intimate time with God or our spouses.  And, when we are too busy to spend intimate time with God or our spouses, we are committing adultery.  Yep, you got that right adultery.  As you know, adultery is committed when anything keeps you from fulfilling God’s purpose for marriage.

It’s all well and good to serve God in the church.  But, if you are not first serving God by serving your spouse, you are out of order – you are committing adultery.  In Ephesians 5:22 – 33, God outlines the way a husband and wife are to serve God by serving our spouses.  God does not tell us in His word to forget about our spouses and lay them aside for worldly riches.  In fact, in Matthew 6:24, God tells us that “no one can serve two masters. The person will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches.”

God wants us to spend intimate time with our spouses.  This is how we continue to learn, grow in, and cultivate our relationship.  Our marriages are like gardens that need weeding, watering, fertilizing, and care.  We are responsible for participating in the care of our marriages.  God will ensure that we have all we need to ensure a Godly marriage.

What about those people who aren’t too busy?  The ones who don’t really fill up their plates with stuff, what about them?  Or, maybe they are busy but they are busy to hide from the responsibilities of marriage.   Yes.  There are some of us who don’t want to participate in our marriages.  We don’t care if our spouse rises in the early morn or come home in the evening.  We are just apathetic spouses.  In the Merriam Webster dictionary, apathetic means to be having or showing little or no feeling or emotion, basically spiritless.  A second definition is having little or no interest or concern or being indifferent.  Being apathetic in your marriage means you have no passion.

Wow, having no passion.  Why would one move away from passion?  God created marriage to share in His gift of the rich emotion of passion.  A marriage must have a little passion to survive.  Passion is to have a deep interest or desire for something.  Passion is what gets us tumbling around on the bed with our spouse.  Passion is what keeps us up at all hours of the day and night enjoying our spouse.  Passion is the intense feeling we get when we see our spouse coming through the door.  Passion is the sexual desire that we have for our spouse.  God did not create marriage to have no passion.

So, how does one conquer being an adulterer by busyness and spiritless in a marriage?  If you are too busy to enjoy your marriage, you must first hand over your schedule to God and take back only those things that God give you.  And, the first thing He will give you is your spouse.  So, make your spouse a priority and get back to basics (more on that in a moment).

And, if you are that person who is apathetic, get back to basics by remembering the reason you fell head over heels in love with your spouse.  Stay there.  Mediate on the person who caught your eye and heart.  Spend a long time right there.  Then, while you have that goofy in love grin on your face remember time changes over time.  Tomorrow will not be the same as today.  So, step back into your marriage with yesterday’s beautiful memories on the tip of your spirit.

When you begin to commit adultery again with busyness and apathy, repeat the back to basics philosophy again.  Don’t be afraid when you end up in adultery.  Everyone does but God always gives us a way out – back to basics.

Now, with all of this back to basics talk, I am starting to remember.  So, I must surely go and find my spouse and expound on the back to basics philosophy.  Therefore, here I go again and believe me I love to go again into the arms of the man I love.  And, you know what?  All I can say to that is “THANK GOD ITS FRIDAY!”

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This is the first article in a series about adultery.

It’s another one of those Friday days.  It’s the night that the weekend begins.  It’s the day that the sunshine shines in.  It’s another beautiful Friday.

It’s also the day that many people begin getting in trouble.  They drink too much.  Party too much.  Or even indulge too much.  But, oh, not I!  I never get myself into trouble.  I am never out of order.  I never indulge too much.  I never commit adultery.

“YES YOU DO!” says the Lord, my God.  And, of course, I asked Him, “How do you figure that Mighty One?”  You see during this select conversation with the Lord, I figured He could not trump me on this one.  He knew me but I also knew me too.  And, there has been no other but my husband.  But, guess what?  He knows me so intimately that God started to reveal to me all of the ways I commit adultery and what adultery really means.

Right!  You are right!  And, yes I do know that adultery means voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man and someone other than his wife or between a married woman and someone other than her husband.  And, I do know that intercourse means physical sexual contact between individuals that involves the genitalia of at least one person.  All those definitions come from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

But, see God’s definitions are so different.  He looks at the world quite different than you or I.  He looks at the inner man.  He holds us to a higher standard than we would even hold our enemies.  He wants those who are called according to His name and that of His son to be on a higher plane, a different playing field.

So what does this playing field encompass?  What are the rules for this higher plane?  How does God view adultery?  In answer to that question, God does view adultery the same way as the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.  And, He has the same view of intercourse that Merriam Webster Dictionary does too.  But, God has a bigger view of adultery.

You see, adultery to God is anything that you do which interferes with His plan and purposes for marriage.  And, of course that could be just about anything.  But guess what?  He actually has about 6 groupings for adultery.

For instance, the very first one is the love slash adultery thang.  Yes, as mentioned above God does view you having intercourse with anyone besides your spouse adultery.  He also views intimacy with anyone who is not your spouse to be committing adultery.  Now get this being intimate with someone does not have to include intercourse.  Did you hear me?  I mentioned that getting intimate with someone does not have to include intercourse.

Intimacy comes in many different forms.  Holding conversations with someone about your hopes, dreams, failures, and purposes in life is being intimate with that person.  You are giving them insight into your inner being.  And, giving someone insight into who you are at your essence is being intimate with them.  Sharing your secrets, speaking about the failures or joys of your life is being intimate with someone.  Enjoying hobbies, movies, new foods, and experiences with someone is being intimate.  Planning trips, discussing finances, and even just spending time with a person is being intimate.

Now don’t jump on me here.  I know some of these intimate things are just being friendly.  But see here, being friendly to people who are not your spouse and going overboard will lead to adultery.  You can have friends.  But, when you begin thinking about the next time you get to be in that person’s presence, you have now found yourself in the throws of being intimate with another person besides your spouse.  And, intimacy with others beside your spouse is committing adultery in God’s eyes.

Whew, that plane is definitely higher than one I would place myself or even my enemies, let alone my friends.   Does this mean I can’t go to lunch with the people at work who are mainly of the opposite sex because I could become intimate with them and commit adultery in God’s eyes?  Maybe it is.  Do you expend all of your energy for those at work but not for your spouse?  Would you rather go to that new restaurant with your work buddies than your spouse?  Does your friend understand you better than your spouse?  Then, you are in the throws of an intimate relationship with someone other than your spouse.

One thing I do know is intimacy and the feelings of it are the things that draw us closer to our mates.  It is the thing that caused us to get married in the first place.  It’s the reason we are on this path of marriage, especially God’s way, anywho.  It was that drawing together of two souls, intertwining them, and seeing how perfect they fit that drew us to our spouse.

And, by the way, all of this intimacy talk is remind me that it’s time for me to get a little intimate with my honey.  It’s time for me to listen to his hopes, dreams and cares.  And, time for me to share with him mine.  So, here I go.  I am plunging into the intimacy pool.  A little candle light, apple cider, and soft jazz is in order.  The kids are in bed before bedtime.  And, now it’s time to commune.  So, all I can say to that is “THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY!”

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