#AlltheSingleLadies: Keep it Moving...!

Postponing life until marriage is one of the commonest traps singles can fall into.

You think, "When I'm married I'll do this…" or, "After I get married then I'll finally be happy…"

But marriage may be farther off than you think, and for some of you, marriage may not happen at all. Postponing life can start as a harmless wish but can turn into a self-limiting habit that keeps you from becoming the person God wants you to be.

For most singles, going places and doing things alone can be scary. One of God's best gifts is a good friend who's ready to go on the spur of the moment. Friendships like that have to be cultivated, which means you need to overlook others' faults. When you are honest enough to admit you have faults of your own, you can be forgiving of others. Simply practicing the Golden Rule can strengthen any relationship.

Your life gets bigger every time you trust God and step out in faith. At first you may feel apprehensive, but God can give you the courage you lack.

#AlltheSingleLadies: Getting It Straight

God's business is putting things right; 
      he loves getting the lines straight, 
   Setting us straight. Once we're standing tall, 
      we can look him straight in the eye.


Psalm 11:7 (MSG)

#AlltheSingleLadies: Defeat of the Enemies

I'm thanking you, God, from a full heart, I'm writing the book on your wonders. 
   I'm whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; 
      I'm singing your song, High God. 

The day my enemies turned tail and ran, 
      they stumbled on you and fell on their faces. 
   You took over and set everything right; 
      when I needed you, you were there, taking charge. 

You blow the whistle on godless nations; 
      you throw dirty players out of the game, 
      wipe their names right off the roster. 
   Enemies disappear from the sidelines, 
      their reputation trashed, 
      their names erased from the halls of fame. 

God holds the high center, 
      he sees and sets the world's mess right. 
   He decides what is right for us earthlings, 
      gives people their just deserts. 


Psalm 9:1-8 (MSG)

#AlltheSingleLadies: Can't Get By

Nobody gets by with anything. 
      God is already in action— 
   Sword honed on his whetstone, 
      bow strung, arrow on the string, 
   Lethal weapons in hand, 
      each arrow a flaming missile. 

Look at that guy! 
      He had sex with sin, 
      he's pregnant with evil. 
   Oh, look! He's having 
      the baby—a Lie-Baby! 

See that man shoveling day after day, 
      digging, then concealing, his man-trap 
      down that lonely stretch of road? 
   Go back and look again—you'll see him in it headfirst, 
      legs waving in the breeze. 
   That's what happens: 
      mischief backfires; 
      violence boomerangs. 

I'm thanking God, who makes things right. 
   I'm singing the fame of heaven-high God.


Psalm 7:11-17 (MSG)

#AlltheSingleLadies: Affection Starvation

Please, God, no more yelling, no more trips to the woodshed. 
   Treat me nice for a change; 
      I'm so starved for affection. 

Can't you see I'm black-and-blue, 
      beat up badly in bones and soul? 
   God, how long will it take 
      for you to let up? 

Break in, God, and break up this fight; 
      if you love me at all, get me out of here. 
   I'm no good to you dead, am I? 
      I can't sing in your choir if I'm buried in some tomb! 

I'm tired of all this—so tired. My bed 
      has been floating forty days and nights 
   On the flood of my tears. 
      My mattress is soaked, soggy with tears. 
   The sockets of my eyes are black holes; 
      nearly blind, I squint and grope. 

Get out of here, you Devil's crew: 
      at last God has heard my sobs. 
   My requests have all been granted, 
      my prayers are answered. 

Cowards, my enemies disappear. 
   Disgraced, they turn tail and run.




Psalm 6 (MSG)

#AlltheSingleLadies: Give Me Answers...!

When I call, give me answers. God, take my side! Once, in a tight place, you gave me room; 
   Now I'm in trouble again: grace me! hear me! 

You rabble—how long do I put up with your scorn? 
   How long will you lust after lies? 
   How long will you live crazed by illusion? 

Look at this: look 
   Who got picked by God! 
   He listens the split second I call to him. 

Complain if you must, but don't lash out. 
   Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking. 
   Build your case before God and wait for his verdict. 


Psalm 4:1-5 (MSG)

#AlltheSingleLadies: Keep Godly Relationships

How well God must like you— you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road,  you don't go to Smart-Mouth College. 

Instead you thrill to God's Word, 
      you chew on Scripture day and night. 
   You're a tree replanted in Eden, 
      bearing fresh fruit every month, 
   Never dropping a leaf, 
      always in blossom. 

You're not at all like the wicked, 
      who are mere windblown dust— 
   Without defense in court, 
      unfit company for innocent people. 

God charts the road you take. 
   The road they take is Skid Row.


Psalm 1

Getting Rid of the Flies in Your Relationships

Why would anyone allow flies to remain in their fragrance of anointment?  Maybe they have developed a familiar connection with the fly and are desensitized to the foul odor and behavior.  Some people never achieve full deliverance because they like a particular behavior and have a kinship and friendship with the unclean spirit; they refuse to abandon the relationship.  If you are in the midst of a filthy and foul odor you will eventually become desensitized to the stench and walk around in it as though all is well.  Someone else could walk in from the fresh clean air and as soon as the door opens they can smell the foul spirit of the house.  That is precisely what God's ministers do, they enter into the room of someone's spirit and smell the foul odor of the enemy even when the person who is in bondage cannot.

Fly Removal Exercise:  List Nine Possible Flies in Your Ointment

Excerpt from "The Spiritual Fragrance of a Woman" by Jerone L. Davison

Be Encouraged... You Were Made for the Man!

Men cannot live out God's original plan without you and you cannot live out God's original plan without the man.  We are co-laborers and co-dependants together in God's plan.  You can live a happy and satisfying life as a single woman, oh yes you can.  However, if you don't wan to why should you?  Be encouraged.  Wear your spiritual fragrance and attract yourself a man after God's own heart.

Stop feelig as though you have sinned or like you are not worthy to be called a child of God because you desire to be married.  Instead, exercise your faith for a husband.  Ask the Lord for more of the perfume that would draw him to you.  Stop fearing and don't panic.  God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of love, and of power and a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7).

Excerpt from "The Spiritual Fragrance of a Woman" by Jerone L. Davison

The Fragrance of a Wife

Declaration

Say these words in faith and agree with God's Word...!

Father, in the Name of Jesus I declare
I am saved and forgiven of all of my sins through the blood of  Jesus.
I am a child of God and I have the breath of God in me.
I agree with Your Word that I was made for the man and man will find me because he has Your breath in his nostrils.
I am anointed with Your spiritual and Heavenly fragrance.
I thank You for the institution and gift of marriage because You made me a wife.

This I declare in Jesus' Name...  Amen.

Excerpt from "The Spiritual Fragrance of a Woman" by Jerone L. Davison

Proud and Single

When you know you look good that can lead to an attitude of vanity.  Some women are too attractive for their own good.  They trust in their good looks to make things happen for them.  In most cases, when they think they have it altogether the spirit of pride begins to move; even upon the bold and the beautiful, especially if they have not humbled themslevs before the Lord.  Pride is a very deceptive spirit that can prevent your life from progressing forward.  Unless you examine yourself for evidence of conceit it can go unnoticed for many years, hindering your life.

Good Women with Bad Men

Good women have great things going for them but for some reason many end up with the short end of the stick in relationships.  It is not surprising to find most of these good women are very faithful, loyal, strong in spirit and mightily used of the Lord.  They encourage others and pray their sisters through but they themselves seem to attrack men who appear to be good first, yet turn out to be just like the last man they were involved with.


Some women start out well but end badly because they have been played and then become players themselvs.  Some women are sneaking around with married men and even celebrate that he treats her better than his wife.  In some warped say they feel special when married men prefer them, being so desperate they cannot think clearly.

Let me tell you this:  The road to Good Marriage Destiny is actually a series of decisions.  If you sleep with him you could lose him and if you don't sleep with him you might lose him.  What will you do?  If you decide to sleep with someone else's husband you have chosen to release a curse on your own destiny; when and if you get married, your man will be the type to cheat on you.  Be careful, even if the curse does not fall on you, your daughters are watching and learn by your example.

Excerpt from "The Spiritual Fragrance of a Woman" by Jerone L. Davison

Your First Dating Experience (#PowerandPurpose)

First and foremost, a true relationship means having a spiritual connection with God's intimate love, which flows through your life and then into the lives of others.  When Eve entered the scene, it was Adam's relationship with God that enabled him to know how to treat her as his friend and his wife.  In other words, his spiritual relationship with God was first set in order before any human connections were established.

So how is your relationship with the Lord?  Relationships are good for us because they show us where we are spiritually and what we need to do in order to get where God wants us to be.


Excerpt from "The Revelation of Your Relationships" by Deborah Dukes

Highly Sensitive Information

Even when you share your faults and frustrations with a true friend, you rest assured knowing that your reputation is protected and your secrets are safe with them.  If you did not trust a person, I highly doubt you would tell them sensitive information because you would be unsure of what they would do with it.  The reason you experience less hesitation in sharing things with true friends is because you believe in the love they have towards you...  Having someone trustworthy to talk to is a blessing to you because instead of using the information to gossip, spread your business, or judge you, a true friend will look beyond your faults, still see greatness in you, and go to God in prayer believing Him to turn your situation around. ~Deborah Dukes, "The Revelation of Your Relationships"

Establishing a Truthful Relationship (#PowerandPurpose)

Relationships are a major part of our lives.   However, friendship are one of the most influential relationships that exist.  In every person lies a spiritual tie or connection that will either pull us away from or push us towards our purpose in Christ.  For this very reason, a true friend is one of the most precious assets you could possibly have in your life.  Being connected to a person who genuinely cares for you and embodies the love of God, ultimately pushes you towards your assignment in Christ. ~Deborah Dukes



Excerpt from "The Revelation of Your Relationships" by Deborah Dukes

The Dating GPS (#PowerandPurpose)

It is important to know that the person you are dating loves God and they are going in the same direction in Christ.  You don't want to be connected to someone on a totally different course from where God is taking you.  That should be a clear sign that they are not the one for you.  Dating should be fun and enjoyable, but never compromising to your relationships with God.  So, if they are not routed into God's GPS system for your destination, don't waste your time... move on! ~Deborah Dukes, "The Revelation of Your Relationships"

Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Oneness

A woman should understand that it is inappropriate to pursue or engage in physical, emotional or spiritual oneness with a man to whom she is not married.

Ephesians 5:3-4 says "But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.  Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting - all of which are out of character - but rather thanksgiving." 

You see, SISTAHS, it's more than just abstaining from sex; to be a true and respectful woman, it's also about watching what you say and how you believe.

For many women, the struggle in relationships isn't a physical issue; rather, it's of a spiritual and emotional matter.  Therefore, to avoid developing spiritual ties, you must conduct yourself appropriate with men whom you consider "friends".  Be careful about praying with or sharing other spiritually and emotionally intimate experiences one-on-one with men whom you consider "friends".

You also need to be cautious about whom you express your hopes, dreams, and fears.  Women have been designed to "naturally" connect with men, but you must always use wisdom and be on guard about your interactions with the opposite sex.

Will a Man Ever Love or Care About Me?

Do past relationships and disappointments prevent you from believing that a man will ever love you or care about you?

SISTAHS, God wants to be your guide in finding a new place – a place where those close to you care for you and admire you.  He wants to demonstrate great love for you, by entrusting your well-being one to one of His sons.  But in order to take advantage of this joy, you have to trust in the Lord God Almighty that something new, something different, and something better will happen for you.

I invite you to trade your sorrows for the joy of the Lord.  Life is not always fair, and some things happen to us that are unjustifiable.  But that doesn’t have to stop you from having a future that is bright, beautiful and rewarding.

God wants to heal you and make you whole, so that you can enjoy life and love once again.

Excerpt from "Lord, I'm Ready to Be a Wife" by Christine Pembleton

She Trains Her Thought Life Not to Lust After Men

A woman should dress modestly so that she does not cause men to stumble, and she trains her thought life not to lust after men.

Excerpt from "When Love's In View" by Dr. Conway & Jada Edwards  

Romans 14:13 underscores this principle: “Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister.”  To put it simply, women must be very careful about what they wear.  The focus of men’s interest is physical by nature.  They don’t need any help from us in conjuring up physical desire.  If this happens to be a struggle for you and you often feel convicted, earnestly pray and ask the  Lord to show you how to make the appropriate changes in your dress and lifestyle.  God will respond by giving you the grace to help you make the necessary adjustments in your behavior.

As you pursue the heart of God, you will find that what may have been acceptable in the past is no longer acceptable to you.

And SISTAHS, let’s not forget our duty to lovingly, yet boldly encourage and challenge younger ladies as to what they wear – not just talk about them as they walk by.

Choosing Happiness

One reason many people are so anxious to find a mate, is because they believe it is the doorway to happiness. They have fallen for the illusion that happiness will be achieved when their prince or princess rides in on a white horse and whisks them away to marital bliss. So, instead of embracing life's precious moments, and living life with passion and purpose each day, they sit in the holding pattern of discontent. This is a choice.

You have heard the expressions - seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, finding the silver lining on the dark cloud, or viewing the glass as "half full" not "half empty". But this can be difficult at times. Each day we have to make that conscious choice to be happy, to focus on the positives, not the negatives. Granted, there are times when sadness is justified. Accept that the human experience can be challenging, difficult, and flawed, but don't dwell on misery. Sometimes when we feel blue, it is because we are transforming and "shedding our old skin" and growing into something better. We don't understand what is happening, and we temporarily feel a loss of our old selves. It is ok to feel a little blue during periods of transformation and contemplation of the self, especially when it means letting go of our old comfort zone, even if it wasn't serving us a positive purpose.

I am not going to promise you a cure for unhappiness, but my intent is to help you open your mind and soul to happiness and to invite it in. Here are a few activities for you to do while you consciously choose to be happy.

• Dwell daily on the things that make you happy.
• Make an effort to really make someone else happy.
• Think about the things you are grateful for - list them, count them, say them aloud.
• On occasion, or even frequently, find the time to do the things that gave you joy as a child such as drawing or other creative pursuits (without self-judgement of the outcome), blowing soap bubbles with a bubble wand, swing on a swing, play in the sand or dirt, lie in the grass and look at the clouds. 

Just thinking of these things may make you happier. Although this is not a scientific method of achieving happiness, it may just make you feel lighter, happier, and appreciate the simple things in life more..

But perhaps you are thinking that you really want to be loved and that will make you happy. It might be a wonderful accessory to go with your life, but love alone cannot make a miserable person happy to their inner core. But if you wish to add romantic love to your life, start by loving yourself, because happy, caring, loving people attract happy, caring, loving people.

Also, don't give up on yourself if you don't feel happy the moment you make the choice to live this way. You may have years and years of negative programming to re-write. Begin by believing in yourself.

Excerpt from www.SingleGoddess.com