What helped you have a meaningful and real relationship with Jesus Christ?

The two most important things that have helped me are Bible reading and prayer--having my own walk with God. I like to have a notebook/journal and sometimes write down verses, things I learn or specific prayers. I try to read the Bible as if it was written just for me and look for what I can learn from it and apply to my life. When I find a verse or a passage hard to understand, I sometimes read it in the Living Bible which is very easy to understand. I also like to underline special verses in the Bible as it makes my Bible more personal and verses easier to find.
And then prayer--talking to God about everything really. Prayer makes God more real.
 

Its also helped me to read Christian devotional books and other Christian books, listen to good Christian music and watch good dvds.

For a few years, I taught Sunday School which was really good for me as it made me dig into the Bible and learn lessons that I could teach very simply.

I am also blessed to have parents, siblings and friends who have real relationships with God and who are open to talk to.

 Christian camps and conferences that I've been to over the years were helpful.

There are many things that have helped me in my relationship with God, but the most important is definately time alone with Him.

Why is it so important to stay pure until Marriage?

This post isn't to condemn those of you who have already failed in this area.
But it is my earnest prayer that this post would prevent someone from having to learn the hard way why God says to wait until marriage.
Thankfully I don't have to speak from experience. But from what I have heard from others who learned the hard way, I know it's true. By God's grace, I stayed pure and I wish this for every other unmarried girl. You don't have to learn the hard way!

Why is it important?

1) God says so
God has warned us so many times in the Bible. If God says it, it's important! God created us and He knows what is good. He has rules for our good.

2)It saves much regret
No one ever regreted staying pure. Doing right doesn't bring regret!
But from what I've heard over and over from those who've failed in this area, it brings regret that you have to live with for the rest of your life. God forgives and forgets when we repent, but we can't forget!

3)It saves unnecessary complications.
I'm talking here about getting pregnant before you are married. I went to a parenting course where the majority of the mums had children to different dads that they were no longer with. Listening to all the problems each week that this kind of lifestyle brings, I realized just how wise God is and how good the Biblical principles about marriage are. I heard about problems I never would have imagined. So many complications---children having to still see their dads etc. I am so glad I was kept from those problems.

4)Purity is the greatest wedding gift you can give your future husband

5)Once your purity is lost, you can never undo it.
It's permanent. You can be forgiven and put things right as much as you can, but you can't change it. It is a 'permanent marker.'

6)Being a parent is hard work!
Again about getting pregnant. I can't imagine trying to raise my children without my husband! It is hard and you need a husband's support and help. Children need a mum and a dad.

7) It is the 'easy' way
It may be hard to wait, but in the long run it is the easy way. So many people today do it the hard way!

8)It brings no shame
Sin brings shame. When you are married and you get pregnant, it is happy news. There is nothing shameful about it. But when you're not married, it brings you shame because it is a result of sin. If you call yourself a Christian it brings shame to God's name too.

9)It saves guilt
Sin brings guilt. Even when you are forgiven you may still struggle with guilt. Whereas if you wait, there is no need to feel guilty.

10) It brings joy!
How nice it is on your wedding day to know that you waited. You are brand new!

 
 
 
 

How Can I Read the Bible and Get Something from It?

These are just tips or ideas. This is actually my own question that I've been asking, as I've realized my Bible reading has not been so great lately. But I hope these ideas are helpful to you, too.

 

1)Have a Plan
Make a Bible Reading plan that will work for you and stick to it.
Lately I haven't been reading in a particular place in my Bible and it's not the best! Although God can use any verse in the Bible to speak to you, it's definitely better to follow some kind of a plan rather than trying to decide what to read every time you open your Bible.
I decided to use a plan in the back of my Bible which reads through the Bible in two years. So that means 2 chapters every day, one in the Old Testament and one in the New.
But there are different ideas:
Book by book
Bible Characters
Stories/Parables
Proverbs--1 chapter per day, as there's 31 chapters
A chapter in the Old and one in the New
'Read the Bible in a Year' plans

2) Make a specific time and place
Find a time that will work best for you. It's nice to do it first thing in the morning, but if you're more awake at night than in the morning maybe the evening would be better. What time do you concentrate best? 

3) Use a journal
Have some type of book that you can write down things you learn, verses that speak to you or a passage that stands out. It will help you remember.

4) Keep track of what you're reading

You could write down which chapters you've read in your journal so you remember where you're up to. Or else use bookmarks.

 

5) Pray first

Before you start reading, pray for God's help. There is a prayer in the psalms that says "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." Psalms 119:18 That's a good prayer to pray.

 

6) Ask questions as you read.
Here are some ideas:
What does this passage teach me about God? and about myself?
Is there a command, promise, warning or fact/truth in here? What can I apply to my life and how?

If reading a story about someone, you can ask...
What can I learn from this person?
What did they do right?
What did they do wrong?
What consequences did they get for their sin or what reward did they get for doing right?

7) Underline verses that speak to you.

I have found this really helpful. It makes the Bible more personal for me. It helps me concentrate and it helps me to find verses that I know.

8) Write down a prayer in response
In your journal you could write a short prayer as a response to what you've read. A prayer that is somehow appropriate to something you've just read.

9) Mix the hard with the easy

If you're not familiar with the Bible, it would be best to just start somewhere easy, like Genesis or Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.
But if you're more familiar...if you read a difficult took, read an easier book at the same time so you don't get discouraged and give up.
I remember hearing an Israeli telling my mum he had started reading the New Testament for the first time. He was reading Revelation! Mum told him that Revelation isn't a good book to start with. He replied, "What's wrong with it?" Mum explained that there is nothing wrong with it, but it's just a very difficult book!"

10) If possible, read aloud.

You have to concentrate when you're reading aloud!

11) If you have time, read it twice.

Sometimes you can miss things when you only read it once.

 12) Read a paraphrase/easy version/ or commentary alongside your regular version.

I have the Living Bible which is a paraphrase. My regular Bible is a KJV, so I sometimes find it handy to read the chapter I've just read in my Bible in the Living Bible, especially if what I'm reading is difficult to understand. There are some verses I never understood until I read them in there. Now I know what those verses are talking about!

13) Listen to the Bible being read.

My Dad isn't a very good reader, so ever since he's been a Christian, he's listened to the Bible on tape. Now he can listen to it on his phone. It's also quite handy if you're doing something quiet, like scrapbooking or cleaning. You can listen at the same time!

I have just downloaded the whole audio Bible from

http://www.bible.is/download/audio It's free and I got the dramatized one which is good if you don't concentrate very well when listening, like me! You can choose which version and language you want. It's quite amazing really!

Is Dating Wrong?

Is Dating Wrong? (dating Christian guys)

It's not wrong to go on a date with someone. But...I strongly discourage it.
Why?
Here are 9 reasons why I discourage dating.
(By dating, I mean having relationships with guys you have no intention of marrying--Dating for the fun of it. It's different when your purpose is marriage)

1)It's a waste of time

The time spent going on dates could be spent doing something profitable—serving God. Maybe you will learn lessons from broken relationships, but you don't have to learn the hard way! What's the purpose of dating anyway? Is it really using your time wisely?

2)It can lead to doing things you will regret.

Dating can lead to sin.

 

3) Most guys will become someone else's husband.

If you could choose between a guy whose been out with tons of girls and a guy who has waited for the right one, which one would you choose? Which type of girl do you think a good Christian guy would prefer? Do you really want to go out with someone else's future husband?

4) It doesn't prepare you for marriage.

God only has One person for you. If you are used to having lots of relationships before marriage, it will be harder for you to stay faithful to your One man after marriage. What will stop you from leaving when/if you don't feel like loving him anymore? Keep your heart for the one person God has for you.

5)It's really not necessary.

You don't have to date in order to find a husband. God is much bigger than that.

I have never dated anyone other than my husband! It's possible for you to find the right man without going on a single date with anyone else.

Ask God to bring the right person across your path at the right time, and get busy living for God and making the most of your single years.

6)It can bring a lot of hurt.

You might really like someone you date, but that person may not be serious about you and start dating someone else. Surely broken relationships must hurt!

 

7)It's more difficult to stay pure.

Going on dates bring temptation that could be avoided.

8) Once you are married, you will have the rest of your life to date!

You will be able to date your special man as much as you like! Why not wait for that special one?

 A recent date--celebrating our 6th year Wedding Anniversary

9)God created marriage not dating.

God created a wife for Adam not a girlfriend! And He only created one! The right one. The idea of dating many different people is not Biblical. But marriage is.