I begin the study expecting the usual challenges that I have encountered in diets past.  I really tried to focus on being obedient in my eating rather than losing weight.  I noticed, as when dieting, I had my weak times of the day.  I noticed the difference when I attempted to address my weakness through a desire to be obedient to God.  Suddenly it was like I had no control whatsoever. 

      I would tell myself that I needed to stop eating or that I didn’t need that last biscuit.  Each time it was like I was talking to a rebellious child and found I was completely ignored.  It seemed like my flesh had taken over and was on auto-pilot.  Thoughts came to mind like, “What’s the big deal?” “What are you going to do about it?” “But I want it!”  What a willful child!!

      Afterwards I felt horrible.  Did I not love God enough to pass up a biscuit?  The guilt I was feeling made me seriously consider giving up.  Maybe this just wasn’t the study for me.  Thankfully I have an accountability partner that I emailed about my challenges.  Just the act of writing out my guilt and frustrations helped me to look more closely at the situation.

      What is so different about this study versus diets I’ve been on?  Is there anything un-Biblical about the process the study is taking me through?  What I am discovering is that I have truly entered into battle to break the bondage I am in.  It’s not just about what I do or do not eat, it is about my relationship with food, loving it, lusting after it, and turning to it instead of God when in need of comfort.  I had not taken seriously the bondage I was in.  I expected Satan to just say, “Oh, okay.  I’ll leave you alone now.”

“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?  But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door.  It desires to have you, but you must master it.”  (Genesis 4:7)

      God would not have said this to Cain if Cain did not have the ability to master his sin.  Cain chose not to and instead killed his brother, Able.  We, too, can master our sin.  We must first make the choice.

      The first thing that really seemed to help after coming to this realization was confessing my sins to God.  Of course, He already knew my sin.  The act of speaking the truth to Him rather than trying to cover up my sin with lies, justifications, and excuses seemed to lift a weight. 

“But He gives a greater grace therefore it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’  Submit therefore to God resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  (James 4: 6-7)

      For the first time, I feel like the devil has fled – at least in this area.   This is not to say that things are now easy, far from it.  However, if God had given me over to my stubbornness before, I feel like He has now welcomed me back.

            What are the things that we need to confess?  What are those areas that we are yet in bondage?  Are we willing to engage in the necessary battle in order to place God in His proper place as Lord and sovereign, King of our lives? 

     Jennifer Young, LPC is a Local & Telephone Christian Counselor.  For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com

“Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. Again he sent out other slaves saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”‘ “But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’ Those slaves went out to the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.” (Matthew 22:1-10, NASB)

This passage came up in my Bible study this morning. It asked who the different people in the story represented. It seemed reasonable to say that the king represents God; the King’s son, Jesus; the original wedding guests, the people of Israel; the slaves are the prophets of God; and the other wedding guests represent the Gentiles.

The parable concludes:

“But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:11-14)

Who does this man who was thrown out into the darkness represent? He was one of the latter wedding guests, so a Gentile. The parable says that the slaves gathered both evil and good to come to the feast. Then the King comes in looking over the dinner guests, judgment. The King finds this man who does not meet His standard, sin. He asks him to give an account for himself, but he is unable. The man is then thrown out of the feast and into the darkness; “in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” hell.

This man accepted the invitation to come to the wedding. He was there along with all of the other dinner guests who apparently did not notice there was anything amiss. It wasn’t until the man was looked upon with the eyes of God that his unworthiness was revealed and he was thrown out. What does this mean? Who does this man represent?

“For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:4-6)

Give our hearts to Christ anew each and every day. Seek and love Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Remain focused on Him and His will rather than the things of this world. Pray that when God comes and looks upon us He will see us washed clean through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 25:14)

Father, thank You for the invitation into Your kingdom and for the gift of grace and forgiveness through Your Son. Let our hearts, souls, and minds be transformed into the image of Christ that we may be pleasing in your sight.

Jennifer Young, LPC is a Local & Telephone Christian Counselor. For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com

“Be of sober spirit, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing   into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6: 6-11)

     The disparity between what we have and what we want leads us off the path of righteousness. It seems so simple and harmless at the time; but, as each desire is obtained, our appetite grows. Soon we are trapped in the devil’s snare and enslaved to our various appetites: toys, jewelry, electronics, cars, houses, social status, career, friends, sex. The list gets larger and we are never satisfied, never content, never at peace.
     How do we avoid the trap? How do we escape once ensnared?

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” (Philippians 4: 11-12)

     I think the goal is to not want for yourself beyond what you are provided in order to do God’s will. How would our lives change if we rid ourselves of everything that did not fit into that description? What if the only thing we wanted in life was to do God’s will? Could we be content with that?

“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”
(1 Timothy 6:6)
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:20-21)

     Where does our treasure, our heart lie?
     Father, open our eyes to the traps the devil has laid for us, the traps that move our focus away from You and Your path and onto the things of this world. Help us to escape the snares in which we have already become entangled. Let us instead run from those things that tempt us and be content with what You have provided for us so that we may be obedient to Your will.

Jennifer Young, LPC is a Local & Telephone Christian Counselor. For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com

“Do not worry about how to what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.  For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”  (Matthew 10: 19 – 20)

      If you only had two minutes to explain the purpose and importance of setting aside time for God in prayer, what would you say?

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”  (Romans 8:26 – 27)

      That’s one of the many beautiful things about prayer, I don’t have to have words for what my heart wants and needs to express.  I so want to help others to know the wonder and awesomeness of prayer.  If they only knew the transformation that is inevitable when you spend time regularly and attentively in the presence of the One and Only God Most High.  He reveals such beauty to our souls when we stand in His presence, especially when we intercede for others.  It is like Christ places His love for them in our heart.  How can you not be changed by that?

      There are so many questions, so many things that we don’t understand.  Why am I here?  Why is there pain and suffering in the world?  Why pray?

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.  (Deuteronomy 4: 29)

“I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me.”  (Proverbs 8:16) 

     God promises us that if we seek Him, we will find Him.  How precious is the time spent seeking the face of God?  What reward do we imagine there is in finding Him?  Can all of this be communicated in the span of two minutes? 

            “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  (Matthew 19:26)

      The two minutes I was given to speak was only a very small part of the work God has been doing in their lives.  Some would be ready to take their relationship with Christ to a deeper level, some would not.  It really had little or nothing to do with anything I said. 

      What work do you suppose God can do through you in two minutes?  Or less?  God uses His people to accomplish His will on earth.  Very few of us will be the one person that makes all the difference in a person’s life, whether it be leading a person to salvation or encouraging someone to go deeper in their relationship with Christ.  We only plant the seeds.   God causes them to grow.

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”  (1 Corrinthians 3: 6-7)

     How many “Two Minute” opportunities is God placing in your life? 

Jennifer Young, LPC is a Local & Telephone Christian Counselor.  For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com

Then Christ comes along and adds a new level of understanding and clarity.  The question becomes, “When I am speaking to others, do they hear the voice of Christ or the voice of Satan, The Accuser?”

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.”  (Revelation 12:10, NASB)

“But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.”  (Matthew 15:18-19)

“He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.”  (Luke 11:23)

“So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.  See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.”  (James 3:5-6)

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

When you are talking to others, whose voice do they hear?  We must bridle our tongue so that only those thoughts, those things that come from the heart of Christ are heard by others.  Change your words and your thoughts from “How could you?” to “I love you…”  Express the love that is in your heart, not the anger, bitterness or resentment.  “I would really like to see you do as well as I know you can.”  Rather than, “Why don’t you do better?”  Our spouse, our children hear enough of “The Accuser” from the world.  Let the words that come from our mouths reflect that Christ lives in our hearts.  Would Christ say these words?

Jennifer Young, LPC is a Telephone & Local Christian Counselor.  For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com

Then came the day I’ll never forget.  I don’t remember what I wanted to do, but I can remember asking my grandfather repeatedly to let me.  He patiently told me that I couldn’t because I was in my good clothes.  I argued with him, in my sweet granddaughter way, that the clothes weren’t special and that it would be okay.  I was not used to him telling me no. 

According to my mother (his daughter), he was not used to children, much less a 7 or 8 year old, arguing with him.  I found this out when he finally became frustrated with me and sternly told me “no” in a tone that I knew meant the discussion was over.  I ran off crying because “my feelings were hurt”.  In truth I think I was more startled and shocked because he had never used that tone with me before.  I may have also been embarrassed that I had pushed him to that limit.  If I wasn’t then, I am now.

I would like to say that I came to my senses and realized in how many different ways he spoiled me, loved me, and said yes to me.  I’d like to say I went and told him I was sorry for arguing with him, but I didn’t.  I kept waiting for him to apologize to me.  He didn’t.  By the end of the day my childish mind had forgotten about it all and the next day I probably had M&M’s in my hand again.

I was so spoiled by my grandfather that I did not recognize the authority he had over me as an adult and protector.  I took for granted our relationship at that point and became caught up in the intoxication of getting what I wanted and doing what I wanted to do.  I felt like I was in control and I liked it a lot.

How many of us have become intoxicated by everything we have been given and all we are able to do that we have lost sight and understanding of God’s sovereignty and authority over us?  It is almost like we are in bondage to our freedom and affluence.  How much more are those, who have so little, able to recognize the many blessings and provisions of God?  I still fall into a pouting fit when He doesn’t do what I want.  I still lose sight of all of the many ways He has said yes to me.

Father forgive me for being selfish and wrapped up in those things that I want and the way I want my life to work.  Forgive me for losing sight of your authority and sovereignty over me and all that is.

Am I willing to pray to be less spoiled so that I have a clearer image of who God is and what He is doing in my life?  I want to say that I am, but then again I don’t.  I guess I am still in bondage to my M&M’s.

Father, continue your work in me.

Jennifer Young, LPC is a Local & Telephone Christian Counselor.  For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com

• Because I go to church?
• Because I listen to the music?
• Because I do nice things for people?
• Because I am a “good person”?

Is anything different about me since I became a Christian?  Or my life and my heart continuing to change because of being a Christian?  Am I any different from those around me who are “good people” but not Christians?

Why be a Christian?  To get into heaven?  To be last?  To be a servant?  To sacrifice everything?  For what?

Why would anyone die rather than to renounce their faith?  Why would anyone allow others to be tortured and killed rather than renounce their faith?  What is so ALL IMPORTANT about faith in Christ??

Why is it so “easy” to be a Christian in some countries and not in others?  Are we blessed because it is “easy” to be a Christian here?  How is our faith like those being tortured for their faith?  How is their faith different?  How would we respond if suddenly it wasn’t so “easy” for us to be a Christian?  Would our faith remain?  Do I have the faith that it takes to die for it?  Or to watch others I love suffer and die for it?

What is the point of being a Christian?  How is the world different because I am a Christian?  How are people around me affected because I am a Christian?  Am I the servant who increases the talents returned to my master or the one who buries them so as to not risk and loose what I have been given?

What do I fear?  Why do I fear?  What are those things I fear losing?  What is mine?  What if I had nothing but my faith?  Would I curse God?  Would I feel blessed?  What would I have to give others?  How would I view those things that sustained me and my life?

What do I have a right to?  What do I deserve?  Do I believe what the media tells me?  Do I buy into what the culture tells me I should do, what is okay to do, what is expected of me to do?  What if I don’t?  Will I lose friends?  Respect?  Status?

What are those things God wants me to change?  What would God say I am placing before Him?  Would I agree with Him?  Am I willing to make the changes in my life that He wants me to make?  Am I willing to ask Him to show me those things that He wants me to change?  Am I willing to ask Him to remove those things from my life that are not of Him?  Why does the thought of that scare me?

What will define my life?  What will be remembered of me after I am gone from this earth?  Will I have left anything truly Good behind?  What will God say to me when I see Him face to face?  What do I want Him to say?  What am I afraid He will say?  How can I live the life He wants me to live so that our meeting will be glorious and joyful?

Father, will you shape us and transform our hearts?  Will you make us into the image of you son who gave all so that we might truly live?

My child, will you give absolutely everything over to Me?

Jennifer Young, LPC is a Telephone Christian Counselor.  For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com

      My husband and I started trying to have children 10 years ago.  We have been through testing, a miscarriage, and different adoption agencies.  I am now 38 and seeking meaning for us not having children.  “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”  (Luke 11:9)  I believe I have been the friend in Luke 11 verse 5-8 who is persistent in asking God.  So what have I received?  What have I found?  What has been opened to me? 

     I have cried out to God, “WHY?!?  I don’t understand!  Why don’t we get to have children??”  God answered me.  “My child, don’t you think that if you knew my reasons you’d agree with me?”  Sigh.  Yes, I suppose I would.

      I have also asked for God to take the desire away.  The result has been me hardening my own heart to the love I have for children.  He helped me break through that and showed me that denying His love is not the answer.

     I don’t have an answer yet.  Right now I believe I’m in the place of trusting that He won’t give me a snake or a scorpion when I ask for a fish or an egg.  There may be something harmful that would occur in my life if we were to have had children already.  There may be some spiritual learning and development that God wants in place in order for us to be the parents that He has designed us to be.  Or, He may be helping me to develop the faith that His grace is sufficient enough for me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)  I don’t know His reasons and I may never know.  But I am eternally grateful for the faith and the comfort that I have received from seeking the answer.

     What have I received?  Faith & Grace.

     What have I found?  The heart of Christ living in me.

     What has been opened?  The Kingdom of God.

      There are some things we may never know the answer to.  Why certain things happen, why other things don’t.  But through the process of seeking and wanting to understand, God gives us His gifts through the Holy Spirit. 

     “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  (Romans 8:26-28)

     Father, let us accept the plan you have for our lives.  Let us have faith that you know what is good for us, and what is not.  As our hearts seek, let us be drawn in closer to you.  Amen.

Jennifer Young, LPC is a Telephone Christian Counselor.  For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com

      With this in mind I began my day.  Then my husband got up to get ready for church.  I went into the bathroom to wish him a good morning as he was standing at the sink.  Then I stopped and stared, looking at his neck.  More specifically at the small bruise-looking mark, okay series of marks, on his neck.  NO-NO!!  38 years old and I am trying to think of how to cover up the hickies on my husband’s neck, before church!  I felt so embarrassed!  What will people think? 

     Sometimes God changes your perspective in unexpected ways.  What will people think?  That we have a healthy and passionate marriage.  Is there anything wrong or unbiblical about that? Not at all.  In fact, anyone who has read the Song of Solomon has been privy to much more intimate expressions of love and passion than hickies.

“Your neck is like the tower of David,

         Built with rows of stones

         On which are hung a thousand shields,

         All the round shields of the mighty men.

    ”Your two breasts are like two fawns,

         Twins of a gazelle

         Which feed among the lilies.

    ”Until the cool of the day

         When the shadows flee away,

         I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh

         And to the hill of frankincense.”  (Song of Solomon 4:4-6, NASB)

Yes, this is in the Bible!  Look it up if you don’t believe me.  (It gets better.)

     God created marriage to be a passionate, loving, and enduring relationship.  So why is it taboo for there to be evidence of this?  I mused over this on the way to church, my husband in a high-collared sweatshirt.  I thought of the different things being done across the nation in an effort to promote healthy and strong marriages.  “There should be a ‘Give your spouse a hickie day’ during National Marriage Week,” I suggested jokingly.

     I wonder what kind of impact that would have.  Maybe our youth would see an indication that a Christian marriage is fun, passionate, and secure.  It may give them something to remember when they are being bombarded by the message:  “Why bother with marriage if it is boring, confining, out-dated, and usually ends badly?”

     Those of us who feel we have a healthy Christian marriage have a duty to model that relationship by mentoring youth and young couples, and having healthy public displays of affection towards our spouse.  Nothing steamy mind you, but fun, playful, tender, and appropriate affection.  Why hide it?  If we do, the only role models will be those presented in the media which are certainly not healthy or Christian.

     So, maybe I was kidding about the “Give your spouse a hickie day,” maybe…

     But more than that, I think it is time for all of us to engage in the battle for healthy Christian marriages.  Flaunt and be proud of your marriage, as you are of your faith.  Broadcast the things you are doing to build and strengthen your marriage.  Show how wonderful and precious this joining is when God’s plan for marriage is followed.

“Like a lily among the thorns,

         So is my darling among the maidens.”

    ”Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest,

         So is my beloved among the young men

         In his shade I took great delight and sat down,

         And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

    ”He has brought me to his banquet hall,

         And his banner over me is love.”  (Song of Solomon 2:2-4)

Jennifer Young, LPC is a Telephone Christian Counselor.  For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com

Just over a year ago my husband and I moved from “in town” onto a few acres in the country.  As we were looking for our new home, one of the things I told my husband was if we found a place that had little or no traffic, I wanted to get some “farm cats”.  Soon after we moved in to our place on a dead-end road, I began keeping an eye out for those wonderful “Free Kitten” signs.  Then for Valentine’s Day, my husband let me bring home two 12-week old kittens – “Little John” (the largest of the litter) & “Tucker” (short for Friar Tuck).

My husband and I discussed at length that these were to be outside cats ONLY.  We would under no circumstances make them into inside cats because we already had 3 of those.  I had convinced him of how much fun it would be to have the kittens around and regaled him with stories of playing with the farm kitties at my Grandmother’s house growing up.

We no sooner got the two home before I began to realize what an act of faith it was going to be to leave these two little ones outside, alone, in the country.  I don’t know of anywhere in the Bible it talks about praying for pets, but these kitties got a whole lot of prayers.  They seemed to do pretty well on their own and they had our two dogs trained in no time.  “Cats rule dogs.”  They all seemed okay with that.

Once the dogs were tamed, the next domain to be conquered was the climbing, especially of the trees.  The following are some of the lessons I learned – along with the kittens.  It was through this that I discovered that God still speaks through parables and proverbs. Can you hear His message?

• Just because you begin to climb a pole does not mean that there is a place to perch at the top.

• If you chose to experiment with climbing trees, it must also be followed by learning to climb down.

• If you decide you don’t want to climb down, you’ll be stuck up there in the rain for a while and you’ll still have to climb down eventually.

• If you hear your brother stuck up in a tree and decide to go up after him, unless you know how to climb down, you’ll be stuck up there also.

• Sometimes when you are afraid to come down out of the tree, it can be helpful to get a “nudge” from a big stick to get you moving off the branch, even though it doesn’t seem helpful at the time. (This was my husband’s idea.)

• Falling out of a tree isn’t fun. In fact it is really scary, but God made me with the ability to survive the fall and learn from it. This does not mean that I won’t fall out of a tree again.

• When I am stuck in a tree too high for anyone to reach they can encourage and talk to me all they want, but in the end I have to come down on my own.

God speaks to us in the language we will best understand: farming, children, pets, cars.  The point is that He is speaking to us all the time.

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

Stop for a moment and ask Him to make clear what He is telling you in this moment.  You might be surprised what you hear.

Jennifer Young, LPC is a Telephone Christian Counselor.  For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com .