When God gave me food allergies at age 38 to curb the binge eating I'd begun as a teen, I had to give up just about every food I'd ever loved. Six years later, I still whimper as I pass Little Debbie Banana Twins, Swiss Rolls, and Pumpkin Flips or Little Caesars Pizza. When I … Continue reading How to Stop Doing Pretty Much Anything: Yield to God and Be the Hero of Your Story
Last Wednesday, I shared that 20+ years of binge eating caused kidney disease. Some Christians would blame the devil for that, but long before "Truth or Consequences" became a radio and television game show, it appeared in the Bible: Ron Carpenter drew my attention to the latter passage after church yesterday when I flopped in … Continue reading Truth or Consequences (The Wrath of God)
I hate daytime talk shows such as "The Talk," "The View," and "The Real," but I got sucked into TBN's "Better Together" before work July 19 because Laurie Crouch, Victoria Osteen, Deedee Freeman, and Holly Wagner were discussing bad habits. The fact the show aired the day after my birthday, when Charles Stanley started a … Continue reading My Default Settings (Part One)
As last night's post stated, repentance is one of the keys to getting God to answer your prayers. Below, Bishop T.D. Jakes explains how to repent and how not to repent. How Not to Repent "Esau did something stupid. Now, everybody in here has made a dumb choice about something or someone or some moment, … Continue reading How to Repent (God Wants You to Change Your Default Settings)
Today on TBN, John Hagee provided seven possible reasons God isn't answering your prayers. First, it might be helpful to know what prayer is and why you should pray. What Is Prayer? "Prayer is not getting God prepared to do your will. Prayer is getting you ready to do God's will," Hagee said. "Not my … Continue reading 7 Possible Reasons God Isn’t Answering Your Prayers
In April 2017, I began working for Marshalls despite graduating summa cum laude as an English and communication double major and having a letter of recommendation that described me as one of five or six of the most naturally talented writers my university's creative writing program director had met in 20 years of teaching. People who … Continue reading A Post About Cats to Men Who Don’t Like Them
Last Friday, Facebook page "Humans of New York" reminded me of two more reasons God sends us to scary places. Reason 1: He Wants Us to Know Him A woman told "Humans of New York" photographer Brandon Stanton that she wants to meet her father, but her mother isn't volunteering information about him. “I hardly … Continue reading Two More Reasons God Sends Us to Scary Places
A lot of people ask why God would do this to a child or why God would do that to a child. After I returned home from a trip to Maui in 2013, I wrote the following Facebook post about my brother, whose August 1 birthday didn't just make him an outlier in my family, … Continue reading The Outlier – Why God Put My Brother on This Earth
Thus far, dozens of people have read the previous two posts, but very few people have liked them. I get it. We don't like to think that God would send us back to someone who hurt us or might hurt us. But as Joyce Meyer said during a program that aired July 4, 2019, the … Continue reading Why God Sends Us to Scary Places
Despite graduating summa cum laude as an English and communication double major in 2009, I worked a $10/hour retail job for the last four months. To make the best of a bad situation, I used my creativity and organizational skills to improve the store's appearance because, pre-me, Google reviews described it as sad, decrepit, and … Continue reading Judgmental Christians (My Story – How God Led Me to Become a Christian)
Several years ago, to celebrate July 4th, I flew to Philadelphia with an ex who complained every night because I wouldn't sleep in the same bed with him. Weeks later, at a Cleveland Indians game, I discovered he'd been sexting a coworker in another city while we were there. This morning, as I walked to … Continue reading How Happily Single Cat Ladies Celebrate Independence Day
As I've said before in this blog/memoir, people have strange ideas about God. For example, some would dispute yesterday's "God Still Speaks to Us" post by saying he gave us the Bible so he wouldn't have to. Others say God doesn't have the same rules and expectations he had in the Old Testament because Jesus … Continue reading God Is God. (Part 1: Signs and Wonders)
I titled Monday night's post "God Probably Wants You to Finish What You Started" and repeated the word "probably" three more times because it's possible you're dating someone that God doesn't want you to be dating, as I did two years after I became a Christian even though God showed me who I'm supposed to … Continue reading Commitment to God’s Will for Your Life May Mean Breaking up with Your Boo
Just when I was about to turn off and delete a T.D. Jakes sermon I'd recorded on TBN because I heard it on Radio 1000 a long time ago, he said something that pertains to last night's post, "God Probably Wants You to Finish What You Started." Since everything happens for a reason, here's the … Continue reading God Promised Not to Leave You Nor Forsake You
These days, people often break up with boyfriends or girlfriends or file for divorce because they aren't happy, as T.D. Jakes said during a sermon titled "Defying the Urge to Quit." But if you're a Christian, God probably wants you to finish what you started. After all, as Jakes said, the Bible says, "Love beareth … Continue reading God Probably Wants You to Finish What You Started
"I believe that fathers are ... the most valuable players on the home team," Pastor Matt Hagee said during a sermon that aired on TBN before Father's Day. "We need you to remember that the home team is the important team. Your home team is not the people you work with. Your home team is … Continue reading God’s Fundamentals for Husbands and Fathers
Over the past five years, people -- and I mean heathens as well as Christians who attend church regularly -- have said to me some variation of, "God wouldn't want you to be in an unhealthy relationship. He wants you to be happy." That never ceases to astound me. God didn't put us on this … Continue reading How God Wants You to Fix Your Family
My last post revealed two types of people to avoid dating. But sometimes God puts those people in your life and won't let you run from them. This morning, Joel Osteen explained why during a sermon titled "Don't Fight It." "We all face situations that we don't like," he said. "Somebody's not treating us right. … Continue reading People God Won’t Let You Avoid
Earlier this month, I began sharing Christian dating advice, including how to tell if you're dating a Christian. Here are two types of people to avoid dating. You may be one of them, according to a Dr. Charles Stanley sermon that aired on Sunday. The First Type: People Who Lack Self-Control "Is there any area … Continue reading Two Types of People to Avoid Dating
Did King David have an affair with Bathsheba because he was immature? If so, he wouldn't be the first. "He doesn't know how to control the kid in him," T.D. Jakes said during a sermon TBN aired May 28. So, he slept with Bathsheba "a lot. For quite a while." When she got pregnant, King … Continue reading The Affair: A Story of Sex and the Immature Man
Last night, I offered Christian dating advice from Pastor Matt Hagee. Tonight's tips come from Bishop Noel Jones. If you're in a relationship, pay attention to the person's words and actions to determine whether you're equally yoked. Six Quick Ways to Tell If You're Dating a Christian "You can't tell me that you really love … Continue reading How to Tell If You’re Dating a Christian
Recently, a fellow Christian blogger asked for dating advice. I could -- and am about to -- spend days writing about the type of man she shouldn't date. Here's the man she should, according to Pastor Matt Hagee who provided the following "Six C's of Masculinity" last Wednesday. A Confident Man "The first C is … Continue reading Christian Dating Advice
Today, Pastor John Hagee shared the following reasons you don't hear from God. You Don't Hear from God Because You Consult Other People Rather Than Your Conscience What is conscience? Conscience is a God-given instrument so that we can determine right from wrong in a spiritual matter. Conscience is the lamp of God saying, "This … Continue reading Why You Don’t Hear from God
Life would be a lot easier for everyone if people listened to what God says via the Bible, a pastor, or another person he's opted to use. Sometimes, I just want to throttle people. God undoubtedly felt the same way about me during my buttercream frosting phase this summer, but as I shared with my … Continue reading The Most Obvious Reason You’re Suffering: You’re out of the Will of God (I.e., You.Don’t.Listen)
If you feel like God is punishing you, it's possible if you disobeyed him, complained about what he gave you, or plotted evil against someone else. But it's also possible -- though not probable -- that you did nothing wrong. Below, Pastor John Jenkins tells the story of Job, a wealthy man who lost everything … Continue reading Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen to Good People? (The Story of Job)
If you feel like God is punishing you, he may be molding you like clay, spinning you 'round and 'round on his potter's wheel to remove the impurities you've picked up throughout your life. Here are a few well-known pastors' words about the process. Dr. Charles Stanley "When clay is placed on the wheel, the … Continue reading Why Is God Punishing Me? (He’s Molding You Like Clay)
In John 16, Jesus warned his disciples that they'd have trouble in this world. If you're wondering why you're having more trouble than other Christians, here are three possible reasons God's allowing you to suffer. Reason 1: God's allowing you to suffer because he's testing you. Now that "the glitter is gone," as Bishop Noel … Continue reading Three Possible Reasons God’s Allowing You to Suffer
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