Seasons Change – Will You? 8 Ways…

Fall is here! Fall is one of my favorite seasons because I get to enjoy the beauty of God’s creations as leaves change from bright yellows, to dark oranges and even deep reds, squirrels scurry to save food for the winter, and birds flee.

Fall is a season of change.

It’s a perfect time to re-evaluate our lives and see areas where we can
improve, or even change if necessary.

Written as affirming statements, this month’s eNewsletter focuses on 8 things in your
life that can be changed right now.

1. My attitude. I will change my attitude about life and how I define true happiness.
Happiness is not defined by my present circumstance, marital status, bank account, or
station in life, happiness is defined by simply knowing that my life and lifestyle
pleases my Master, Savior, and Creator, God. Happiness is defined by that inward witness
that comes with knowing I am at peace and at one with God, and knowing that God loves and
accepts me for who I am and that I love Him with an everlasting love because He first
loved me.

2. My outlook on life. God has prepared and laid out a great future for me. The plans
He has for me are of peace and not evil, so that I can have an expected end.
The goodness God will bring to me during this season of change is to be expected,
because I realize that every good gift comes from above. As I continue to run to Him
in prayer and praise, seeking guidance and direction from above and not because of my own
selfish ambition, He will reveal His plans, purposes, and the secret things He has for my
life as long as I continue to have faith and believe that He wants what’s best for me and
has my best interest at heart.

3. My walk. No longer shall I walk with my head down in shame feeling “less than”
because no one is claiming me as their significant other. I will change the way I walk.
I will walk with my head up and shoulders back, knowing that I am a child of the most
High God and part of a royal priesthood. I don’t have to settle for relationships with
unbelievers because whoever I walk with, we, two shall walk in agreement and harmony.
My relationships will compliment who am I and help bring out the best in me – the God in
me. If they don’t, and if they hinder me and my relationship with God, then I chose to
walk alone. Then again, with Him I’m never alone, and me and my God can walk alongside
each other, hand in hand, fulfilling His perfect will and the plan that He has for my
life.

4. My talk. I will change my words, which changes my environment and my outcome. I will
put away lying, swearing, and foolish, unfruitful conversations that only berate others.
I will no longer make negative confessions such as there are no good men out here, or
all the good ones are already taken; I will instead confess that there are plenty good
men out here and who God has for me is for me! I speak life over myself and others,
I see myself as God sees me, and I call myself wonderfully and fearfully made because He
says so. I am beautiful. I am a woman after God’s own heart. I am desirable. I am
lovely. I am all whom God says I am.

5. My mind. I will continue to allow the Word of God to transform my thinking into the
way God thinks. No longer will I allow society or others dictate how I should formulate
my opinion on certain issues. As I read and meditate God’s Word, then His will becomes
my will. I love what He loves, and I hate what He hates. I hate lying because He hates
lying. I hate a proud tongue because He hates a proud tongue. I value and treasure life
because He values and treasures life. I hate sin because He hates sin. I will change
my mind and believe that God’s perfect will in regards to my life and relationships is
the best for my life because I believe Him and His Word to be true for me.

6. My perception of myself. No longer will I perceive myself to be, “not wife material,” or not worthy of God’s love or love from someone else. I forgive myself and I
forgive others from past mistakes and pain, and I will go forward knowing that my past
does not define me nor dictate my future but that God defines me and determines my
destiny based on His Word. No longer will I be in bondage to past self perceptions or
self-esteem issues or perceived failures while growing up. I am free to forgive those
who hurt me or failed to teach me and lead by example, and I will allow the Comforter,
in the form of the Holy Ghost, to teach me how to become that virtuous woman and
eventually that virtuous bride who is a crown to her husband and will do him good and
not evil all the days of his life.

7. My relationship with God. I will grow stronger and get closer to God with each
passing day. The more I read His Word, the more I become like Him. I will begin, and
not end my day with God. I will start off by praising and thanking Him, which will
lead into prayer. In my personal prayer closet where I normally meet with Him, I will
receive and fulfill instructions from Him which I will carry out to the full.
I treasure and protect my relationship with God more than any other relationship
in my life, and will put Him first in everything.

8. My destiny. Day by day, as I seek His face and allow Him to order my steps, I
realize that with each day that I am one step closer to my destiny. I will not
participate in sin for a season which will cause my destiny to be placed on hold or
get off track, but I will continue forward in the plan that God has for my life,
remaining sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and being prayerful about
every relationship along the way. In doing this, my destiny will become His destiny,
and the ultimate plan for my life, and I have joy knowing that my path is like a
shining light, that shineth more and more, brighter and clearer unto the perfect day.

Recite This Over Yourself Today!

Scripture References:

1. 1 John 4:19
2. Jeremiah 29:11, James 1:17
3. 1 Peter 2:9, 2 Corinthians 6:14, Amos 3:3
4. Ephesians 4:22-27, Psalm 139:14
5. Romans 12:2, Proverbs 6:16-19
6. John 14:26, Proverbs 12:4, Proverbs 31:12
7. Psalm 63:1
8. Psalm 119:133, Hebrews 11:24-25, Proverbs 4:18

Kim Brooks, author of, How To Date and Stay Saved, and, He's Fine...But is He Saved? www.kimontheweb.com

Sweet Contentment

Some people think their lives would be so much better if only they had a spouse.
Some feel like if they only had a spouse, they would be much happier, life would be
much sweeter, and there would be more reason to live and move on. Some think that if
only they had a spouse, all of their worries and cares would seemingly disappear –
emotional distress would disappear because now they have someone they can call their
own and be there as a shoulder to cry on, loneliness would disappear because now they
have someone to come home to, financial worries would disappear because there would be
more than just one household income, and physical needs would be met because the now
have someone to have sex with on a regular basis, and have it be sanctioned by God.

For these reasons and maybe even more, some people get stuck in a rut, day in and day
out, wondering where is their mate, and why has God seemingly forgotten or forsaken
them in this area.

Sometimes it can feel as if maybe God is punishing you by not giving you a spouse, or
that he has deemed you not worthy enough to have one.

It has been said before but it bears repeating, as a single saint, right now, you must
learn to be content during this season of singleness in your life. You must practice
true contentment.

The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want:
for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

The Word content in this passage of Scripture in the original Greek translated to
English means, self-complacent, or self-satisfying.

As a single saint, you have to learn how to be satisfied with yourself.

You have to learn how to be satisfied with keeping your own self company, and
enjoying time with just you and God, instead of coming home from a hard days
work and immediately turning on the television because you feel a need to hear
background noise so you won’t feel all alone.

The word content in Webster’s Dictionary, 1828 Edition, means, rest or quietness of
the mind in the present condition; satisfaction which holds the mind in peace,
restraining complaint, opposition, or further desire, and often implying a moderate
degree of happiness. As a single saint, now is the best time to have all the “me”
time you want, without having to answer to no one but God, and while celebrating
yourself at the same time.

Personally, I love going to the park early some mornings just to pray and meditate
the Word of God by the lake. I love it when Daddy – God – whispers sweet nothings
in my ear and tells me He loves me over and over again, and then tells me about the
plans He has for my life. Also, I have no problem going to a restaurant and having
a meal alone while reading the Word, the newspaper, or a book, because I view it as
spending quality time and enjoying time with myself.

If you can’t enjoy your own company, what makes you think someone else will?

God wants us to walk in peace. He sent His Son not only to save us, but so that our
joy might be full (John 15:11).

He wants us to be careful or anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving; He wants us to make our request known unto God
(Philippians 4:6).

Our request may be for a mate, but once we pray, He wants us to give thanks and
simply leave it in His hands and trust Him. Like the sayings go, He wants us to,
“Let go and let God,” and “Let God do it.”

Sure, we can do it ourselves and end up with Bozo instead of Boaz, or Rooftop
instead of Ruth, but if we truly want the mate that He has for us, the Ephesians 3:20
mate who will be more than what we could ever hope for or desire, then He wants us to
simply trust Him.

While God’s working on bringing the manifestation of your mate to pass in His season
for your life (notice I said in His season and not your season), He wants you to be
fully aware of your worth and who you are in Christ, focus on doing His will and
serving Him, and, while you’re waiting, He wants you to become the blessing,
instead of waiting for the blessing.

Ladies, He wants us to become the crown to our husbands -right now. He wants us to
learn how to respect our men by respecting our natural fathers, pastors, and other
male figures in our lives.

He wants us to become that Proverbs 31 woman now, as a single saint, instead of
waiting for the blessing to show up.

Women of God, we must realize that at the same time we’re believing God for a
mate and wanting to be blessed, God has a son, a mighty man of valor He wants to
bless as well.

Can you honestly say that you are that blessing right now?

We must realize now, as single saints, that only Jesus can be the true source
of our joy, and that it is no one else’s job to make us happy. We must realize that
with Him we are never alone. Just because one is married does not mean there won’t
be times of feeling alone, so, as singles, we have to realize now that Jesus is our
ultimate Comforter.

We must allow God to be our Jehovah Jireh, our Provider, and not just wait for some
knight in shining armor to come rescue us and cancel out all our debt, or fellas,
wait for a some “Sugar Momma” to supply all our need.

As single saints, we must seek true fellowship and true intimacy with God, so that
we may know Him, and the power of His resurrection. We must be open and honest and
crawl in Daddy’s lap and let Him know our true feelings, and we must worship Him
simply for who He is in true holiness and in truth. We must learn how to experience
true intimacy with God before we can ever learn how to properly love on, praise,
edify and encourage our future mates.

We must get it right now, as singles, and learn to be content instead of needy,
self-satisfying instead of desperate, and happy instead of anxious and impatient
so that we don’t attract the wrong kind of person into our lives -- the kind that
God may not have intended for us to be with in the first place.

Once we practice a daily lifestyle of true contentment, that is when we are
positioned to receive the mate that God has for us.

The mate that God has for you should be an added blessing and an added joy,
not the source of your joy.

If you were an ice cream sundae, then your mate should be the extra cherry.

He shouldn’t be the cherry on top, because that would denote something that is missing,
but he should be another one -- to make it taste even sweeter.

Complete in Christ

Some singles believe their life is lacking or incomplete
because of the absence of a spouse.

Some may feel God has given them bountiful blessings
in some areas, but when it comes to blessing them with
their mate, God has somehow forgotten or forsaken them.
For this reason, many singles respond hastily by “doing it
themselves” and going out and getting somebody,
anybody, just to say they have someone to call their
own.

And once they get that coveted engagement ring,
they’re ready to run out and tell the world, “Look what
the LORD has done!”

Single believers must realize that your life is complete, right
now, even in the absence of a mate.

Colossians 2:10 states, And ye are complete in him, which is
the head of all principality and power: The him this passage of
Scripture is referring to is Jesus. Notice that it says you are
complete in him, and not just with him.

There is a difference.

In Him you live, move, and have your being. In Him, and in His
presence, is the fullness of joy.

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

To be complete because of a union with Christ means to be one
with Christ.

Your heart must be one with God before it can ever be one
with another man.

To be one with Christ means to become more like Him every day.

It means to think like He thinks, speak like He speaks, love what
He loves, and hate what He hates.

This is why it is so important to read the Word of God daily,
because the more you deposit His Word into your spirit, and
the more you speak the words that He speaks in His Word, the
more you become more like Him, and the more you become
one with Him.

You ever notice how a happily married couple who has been married
several years start finishing each others sentences, dressing alike,
and sometimes even looking alike as they begin to look more like
brother and sister rather than husband and wife? It is because that
as they have gotten to know each other, over the years, they have
become more one with each other. Sure, on the day they got married they
became one as they entered a covenant relationship according to God,
however that oneness became more evident and clear to all as they
interact with one another and come to know each other even more
throughout the years.

It can be the same way with a believer.

Once a person gets saved according to Romans 10:8-10, they become
a new creature in Christ Jesus. But he or she has to develop his or
her relationship with God daily in order to grow spiritually, and become
more one with Him. When it comes to the things of God, you’re
either growing spiritually, or decreasing spiritually -there is no
in between.

A lot of times feelings of loneliness, impatience, or fear come from
not spending enough time reading, meditating and believing
God’s Word, praying, worshipping and praising God, and not
spending enough quality time with Him.

Once you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior into your heart,
your heart belongs to Him.

Once Jesus knocked on the door of your heart and you decided to let
Him in, His Spirit, His Love, His Joy, His Peace, His Happiness,
His Completeness, and His Fullness took up residency in you.

You are not incomplete because you don’t have a man.

You are complete because you HAVE a man, and His Name is Jesus!

He loves you so much.

He wants you to call on Him in your time of need.

He’ll never miss you when you’re away, because wherever you go,

He is always right there, with you and in you, holding your right hand.

He loves you so much that He even watches you while you sleep, and

He has His angels surrounding you 24/7, keeping and protecting you
from harm’s way.

It is time for us, single believers, to walk in true contentment.

The Apostle Paul states in Philippians 4:11, Not that I speak
in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content.

It’s a learning and ongoing process, and it starts with a decision.

Speak contentment over yourself -daily if you have to.

Say out loud, right now, “I’m single, I’m content, and I’m complete
in Him!”

Make a daily decision to be and remain content by consistently
abiding in His Word, and by becoming more one with Him each day.

Kim Brooks, author of, How To Date and Stay Saved, and, He's Fine...But is He Saved? www.kimontheweb.com

Springtime Love! Where's Mine?

It’s springtime! Birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and love is in the air.
Couples are walking hand-in-hand, sharing laughs, and creating memories. Folks are
breaking out the shorts as men in clean rides try to holla at sisters walking down the
street. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle in this so-called season of love,
where does this leave the single saint? Left out? Alone? Depressed? Like Homie the Clown
used to say on In Living Color, “I don’t think so!”

Let me assure you that this season of singleness for your life, notice I said season
(Ecclesiastes 3:1) is actually a gift from God. “A gift?” you might ask,
“How is being single a gift?” Well, number 1, it allows you to use this time to please
God and serve Him exclusively without distraction.

The Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 7:32, But I would have you without carefulness.
He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please
the Lord. But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he
may please his wife. A single believer’s main focus should be to please God. The word,
please, in the original Greek means, aresko, which means (through the idea of exciting
emotion) to be agreeable, or to seek to be so. As a single believer, your goal should
be to live a lifestyle agreeable to His will and His Word. In doing so, God will be
pleased and He will bless you because He is Good and Faithful. Whereas, a married
person’s aim should be to please his or her spouse. In the marital covenant,
pleasing your spouse actually pleases God. Once you’re married, it’s no longer
all about you any more, it’s about whether or not your actions and your words please,
edify, encourage, and excite agreeable emotion within your spouse. This isn’t always
an easy task seeing as though now you’re dealing with two entirely different,
imperfect human beings and two entirely different sets of opinions who may not always
agree. Like my pastor always says, marriage is work.

The Apostle Paul goes on to say in I Cor. 7:35 And this I speak for your own profit;
not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may
attend upon the Lord without distraction.

The Word, distraction, in the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary means, “A drawing apart,
separation. Confusion from a multiplicity of objects crowding on the mind and
calling the attention different ways. Confusion on affairs; tumult; disorder.”

God is a God of order.

Anything, or any one in your life who takes your focus away from God and causes your
mind to be cluttered, or any one who has you consistently thinking of ways to please
that other person instead of pleasing God is a distraction, and a hindrance to your
spiritual development. You want whoever you decide to be in a relationship with to
cause you to enhance your relationship with God, and to further propel you to walk
into your purpose and destiny.

God created and designed each and every person with a purpose in mind. Just like
Jeremiah, each person has a divine assignment given by God (Jeremiah 1:5). Those
gifts and talents He has given you are not just for your own profit, but so that
He can be glorified and that others can be blessed.

Another reason this season of singleness is a gift from God is that it allows you
time to pray about and pursue your purpose. Once you know your purpose, and as you
begin to walk in it, you will be able to better recognize the mate that God has for you,
as you discover that the spouse that He has for you will have a compatible calling to
your own -your callings will be in sync, and the two of you will fit together like hand
in glove.

So instead of moping around feeling sad, bad, and disgusted because you don’t have
someone else to take you out for ice cream, accept this season in your life as a gift
from God and embrace it, live to please Him, and find out what He would have you to do
in life and just do it! Once you do, you’ll be blessed and fulfilled in knowing that
the Father is pleased with your life.

3 Ways to Keep Your Joy Tank on Full

(Please note:  This was originally published in the summertime)

It’s summertime and it looks like gas is going up again. Well thank God that He supplies
all our need according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus, so that we, His sons and
daughters, don’t even have to worry about not having enough money for gas. We can keep our
gas tanks on full! Glo-reh! However, what about that other tank -- as single believers,
how do we keep our “joy” tank on full?

I mean, it is summertime and we are seeing more couples out and about, enjoying longs
walks hand-in-hand on the beach, in the park, or in the mall. During this time of year
how do we, singles, keep our joy tank on full and not on E?

Well, there are several ways -- and I’ll share three.

1.  Serve God, and serve His people.

For example, join a local church which teaches the Word (I always say, “Go where you grow!”)
and sign up to serve in an auxiliary. This way you can have fun pleasing God by serving Him
and blessing His people.

2. If you haven’t figured it out already, pray about your purpose in life and pursue it as
the Spirit leads.

A year after I got saved at 18 I asked God, “Why am I here?” In other words, out of the
billions of people in the world, why did He create me, and what is my divine assignment?
I believe so many people end up confused and in wrong relationships at the wrong times
with the wrong people because they, themselves, do not know their purpose in life, so
they let other outside influences determine who they are. Pray about your purpose, know
that God isn’t withholding that information from you, and receive it by faith. Once you
discover it ask God what He would have you to do right now to start heading in the right
direction, then get to work. You’ll soon discover that it’s fun pursuing the perfect
will of God for your life! Though it can be challenging at times, there’s joy knowing
who you are in Christ, why you were created, and that you’re blessed to be a blessing.
God made each and every one one of us with His very own special, unique purpose in mind.
Discover and pursue yours today!

3. Do what you love as often as you can.

For example, I love music as much as I love books (I also write songs) so at any given
moment you may find me at a gospel concert for one of my favorite artists having a good
‘ole time because I love music, and I love being around God’s people. To me, doing and
being around what I love adds joy to my life, and you can do the same whether it’s a
hobby, an interest, or even spending time with family or having fun hanging out and
laughing with friends.

There is no reason for single, saved believers to be mopin’ around talking about,
“Woe is me, I don’t have a boo.” It’s okay to desire a boo, while patiently waiting with
cheerful expectation knowing that God will bring that desire to pass in due season, but
in the meantime, get yo’ praise on!

Kim Brooks, author of, How To Date and Stay Saved, and, He's Fine...But is He Saved? www.kimontheweb.com