THINK TWICE
1. Think twice if they do not possess a passionate desire to give back to you. I'm not just referring to gifts, money or clothes, etc... a listening ear, their walking, talking, fixing cars, watching t.v, is a great sign that they're not interested in you or what you're talking about. A willingness to be corrected is one of the greatest gift one could give.
2. Think twice if your personal achievements have not created excitement in them. When good things happen, who is the first person you desire to tell? Pay attention to that. Celebration is compass. Watch their reaction. Those you love to celebrate with are clues to the puzzle of your life. If it does not fit, please don't force it. When uncommon love exists, uncommon celebration is normal. Real love does not compete with the success of another. It enjoys the pleasure of another.
3. Think twice if they have lost their desire to impress you. You are a walking message system to those you love. Would you drive a car with only three wheels on it? Of course not, because that's VISIBLE DAMAGE! One would have to ask, "what else needs to be corrected". Something is wrong when your mate no longer desires to impress you.
4. Think twice if they have not been captivated by what captivates you. What captivates you? What captivates them? It is not enough for your mate to be captivated by you; "They must be stirred by the same thing that stirs you." You cannot know a person by studying them, you know them by studying their passion.
Several years ago, there was a lady who excited me (Mike Murdock), yet the relationship struggled. Something simply could not seem to "catch fire." She did not enjoy sitting with me when I wrote my books. She enjoyed play far more than the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Secret Place. A minister friend explained gently to me< "Mike, she simply has not been captivated by what has captivated you." They must be stirred by the same thing that stirs you.
5. Think twice if they show little respect for the agenda and schedule of others. I (Mike Murdock) dated a girl for a long time. One night I waited 45 minutes in the restaraunt for her. She finally showed up and explained, "Well, I met some friends I had not seen in a long time and I just simply forgot the time. Sorry!" I replied, "I understand. I have been waiting 45 minutes. I regret that the presence of others made you forget me. I am sure God has someone else exciting for your future." It was over. Your respect for the schedule of others reveals much about you.
6. Think twice when it is obvious that you will never become their focus and assignment. They may enjoy you, laugh with you, even like you. They may even be truly trustworthy as a confidante, but a Mate is a different matter.When God brings you a mate, that person becomes your Assignment. Example, a young preacher's wife was obviously agitated and frustrated. As we drove home from a crusade late one night, she looked at me with great exasperation and said, "I must find out what my Assignment is!" I replied, "He is there beside you. God calls him your husband. He is your Assignment. You are his Assignment.
7. Think twice when they embrace an accusation against you before they have heard your side of the matter. Loyalties will be identified and exposed eventually. The weakess of a very important relationship was exposed to me (Mike Murdock). Late one night, my telephone rang. The young lady tore into me like a hurricane. Not once did she ask me if the details of a situation were accurate. She never assumed that those around her might be lying or misinformed. It was absurd. What did I realize? Truth was not her focus. My opinion was unimportant. It was a heartbreaking revelation, but I realized that others could lie about me and my explanation would never be valued nor believed.
8. Think twice if they refuse to find a job. It is a sin not to work. I would never allow my daughter to marry a man unwilling to to earn his living. Money is a reward for solving problems. If you never have any money, you are probably refusing to solve the problems nearest you, or for someone you should. You often hear of a multimillionaire marrying a waitress he saw in a small cafe. Why? He observed her work habits. At 3:00am, she was there bringing pancakes and eggs to truck drivers... with a smile on her face. It was one of the secrets of Solomon. He only hired happy people. It is important to marry someone who is happy before you enter their life. Paul warned, "This we command you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10
9. Think twice if they are uncomfortable in the Presence of God. As I told one of my sisters, you can date a man who is handsome, has developed muscles and throws you a rose to watch you dive... but if he hates the presence of God, there is little hope of greatness ever being birthed within him. The man you see will never be more than what he is today. Every Man or Woman of God will become his rival. He will become intimidated by your church attendance. When you come home late after a Tuesday night service, he will accuse you of meeting someone "on the side." Unsaved men are often intimidated by believing men because they know in their heart that a man who walks with God has something they lack.
10. Think twice if you are not excited about introducing them to those you love. When you are truly in love, that's all you want to talk about. Are you ashamed? Why? Be truthful with yourself.
11. Think twice if they show little respect for the battles you have won throughout yur lifetime. Have you mastered prejudice, fears or poverty? When somenone loves you, they admire your victories.
12. Think twice if conversation with them has become burdensome.
Right people energize you. Wrong people exhaust you. True love energizes.
13. Think twice if they make major decisions of their life without pursuing your views or counsel.
14. Think twice if your time spent with them always ends with personal guilt or disappointment.
Do You Need A MIRACLE?
We've all experienced relationships-- happiness, pain and perhaps even love... Maybe you can recall bonding with a person, a time or a place that touched the components of your soul: your mind... your will... your emotions... your intellect and even your imagination. To be in relationship with someone or something is to be connected -- to the point that, that connection exists no matter how much time or distance may rest in between, an "imaginary umbilical cord" ...
Maybe you need a miracle today, right now-- this very moment, to heal the place where that "umbilical cord", once connecting you and that person, time or place that touched your mind, your will, your emotions, your intellect and your imagination was jaggedly cut or even vanished....
So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man. (Genesis 2:21-22) The connection between this man and this woman was in fact a miracle, designed specifically for them!
The first female mentioned in the Bible was created mature, without a childhood or an example to define her role and relationship to her husband. The first female was created a woman while Adam was asleep. That the Lord "brought her to the man" is the first hint of marriage, I believe it would be better if we still allowed God to bring to us what He has for us. The only biblical evolution I can find is the woman, who evolved out of man. She is God's gift to man. When God wanted to be praised, He created man in His own likeness and in His imagel Likewise, God gave man someone like himself. Adam said that she is "bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh" (Gen. 2:23). His attraction to her was her likeness to him. He called her "womb man" or woman. Like the Church of Christ, Eve was his body and his bride.
What a connection-- that goes so deeply beyond anything physical, that the root of its joining is at the bone and the connection is the consummation of that relationship, without, prior to or aside from any sexual contact!
• For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: for we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones
• For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:29-32.
Close Your Eyes and Listen to the Words as Abraham McDonald Sings "Miracle" & Then Read the Words Below...
They were made of the same material. Adam says, "She is bone of my bone." He says nothing of her size, body, build or hair color. These superficial componensts are like placing a product in an attractive container. The container may get the consumer to try it. But only the product will keep the consumer coming back, his attraction goes much deeper than externals. These outward attractions are certainly an advantage, but be assured that when it comes to marriage, no one ever stayed togetherw simply because they were attractive. I don't know whether I agree with those who say there is only one person in the world for you. I would be afraid that, out of billions of people on this planet, I wouldn't be able to find them. However, I do know that when you find a person with whom you are compatible, there is a bonding that consummates marriage and that has nothing to do with sex. I also understand how you could feel this person to be the only choice in the world. Let's face it, everyone you meet isn't bone of your bone! It is so important that you do not allow anyone to manipulate you into choosing someone with whom you have no bond. When Ezekiel speaks about the dry bones in the valley, he says, "The bones came together, bone to his bone" (Ezek. 37:7). Every person must pray and discern if the other is someone they could cleave to the rest of their life.
When two people cleave to one another, something miraculous happens, they breathe the same air and their hearts beat to the same rhythm, on one rythmic accord. The term cleave is translated from the Hebrew word debaq. It means "to impinge, cling or adhere to; figuratively, to catch by pursuit or follow close after." There is a great need in most of our lives to cleave, to feel that is where we belong. It is sad to realize our society has become so promiscuous that many have mistaken the thrill of a weekend fling for a knitting together of two thirsty hearts at the oasis of a loving commitment.
Now go back and listen again to the words of the song above, "Miracle."
I Found Love ( Take a moment and listen to this song)
