Moments_Friendships

"If only I had a close friend... nobody seems to like me."

If you were in trouble or facing a difficult situation, who would you talk to about your problem? 

A teacher, your parents? 

Most teenagers like to talk to their friends.

What is a friend? 

There are acquaintances, casual friendships, close friendships, and intimate friendships. 

We all have acquaintances, faces we recognize, and people we greet by name. Casual friendships happen through continued contact. 

Close friendships are developed through sharing of interests and spending time together in certain activities. 

But intimate friendships are what everyone desires and needs. 

These are friends that stay with us and are genuinely interested in what is best for us. They always tell us the truth, even if it hurts sometimes. But that's okay because they are interested in our well-being.

Who are your friends? 

Are they just acquaintances, or intimate friends? 

Sometimes our friends may let us down, but there is one thing that is sure. 

Jesus wants to be your friend and if you accept His friendship, you will never be disappointed.

My Prayer:

Lord, I need a friend that I can count on no matter what. You said in the Bible that you would be our friend and would never leave us. Would you be that friend that I so desperately need? Thank you, Jesus, for the assurance of that promise.

#Friend,

#Friends,

#CasualFriends,

#CloseFriends,

#Acquaintances,

#IntimateFriends,

#istariray23moments,

Read More

Moments_What Children says....

Just click the picture for a larger view....

Read More

Moments_Sex

"If it feels good do it, right? 

Besides, we're in love."

Sex. 

It's in the movies, commercials, and the music we listen to. It's suggested by the way people dress. 

Sex is here to stay and it is a part of our life.

Believe it or not, sex was designed by God. God not only created man and woman differently physically for sex, but he also created them differently from other forms of animals. Men and women have the ability to think rationally and to feel emotional. Although sexual relationships result in children, God also intended for sex to be pleasurable.

Everything that God created has a purpose.

But everything that God created also had ordered. God's design for sex, therefore, needs to be understood in the context of marriage, love, and lifetime commitment. Otherwise, the relationship results in confusion, conflict, and chaos. Sex that is practiced out of God's plan often results in unwanted pregnancies, abortion, rape, and other forms of sexual abuse and various tragic diseases, including AIDS.

Jesus honored the marriage commitment. His first public miracle was performed at a wedding. Shortly afterward, he met a woman at a well who had led a very promiscuous life. She had been married five times and was living with a man who was not her husband. Jesus told her that there is an inner thirst that can only be satisfied by the "Living Water" that comes from God. He explained that seeking to fulfill inner desires with outward pleasures will never truly satisfy.

The good news is that Jesus does not condemn us for our past lifestyles not living in keeping with God's purposes. Those who choose to have sexual relations with their marriage partner for life will certainly receive lasting joy and pleasures.

My Prayer for this...

Loving Father, I thank you for creating me with purpose and order. Today I choose to live my sexual life in accordance with Your plans and will keep myself pure until marriage. Keep me from impure thoughts and temptations and help me to make the right choices based on Your Word and not to be influenced by what I hear and see in the world around me. 

In Jesus' name

Amen

#Sex,

#SexualDesire,

#SexualRelations,

#SexOutOfMarriage,

#istariray23moments,

Read More

Moments_Love

"I really love this music."
"I'm in love."
"Let's make love."

There is a lot of talk about love. We use the words in different ways. 

But what is love, really?

There is no power greater than love. 

Psychologists say that the most basic human need is to be loved. 

Love can motivate people to do things for people that they wouldn't normally do. 

Love can cause young people to do foolish things at times. 

Love gives meaning to people who would otherwise have no purpose in life.

But if love is such a beautiful thing, why is there so little love in the world? 

Why is there so much hate? 

The answer is simple. 

True love is more than sentimental, gushy feelings. 

It is a choice that each of us makes. 

And true love can only come from GOD.

The greatest demonstration of love is to give our life to the person we love. 

What loving Father wouldn't give his life so that his child might live? 

God loved mankind so much that he sent Jesus. 

His only Son, to die on the cross for our sins so that we might have life.

Love is the very essence of God. 

So when men and women rebel against God by setting up their own value system and rejecting the authority of God, they lose the very source of true love, which is God.

Without love, even our religious activities become a lot of meaningful exercises.

God's love, however, is much greater than man's view of love. 

While we love those who love us, the Bible tells us that we are to love even our enemies! God's love is giving love, and if we want true love in our hearts, we must be willing to give ourselves.

The greatest commandment is this: Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your soul.

My prayer... 

Thank you Father God for loving me. 

I accept the demonstration of love YOU expressed through Jesus Christ. 

Change my heart to be more loving of others and help me to show that love to others. 

Amen.

#Love,

#WhatIsLoveReally,

#istariray23moments,

Read More