Tips For Godly Courtship

"A bowl of vegetables with someone you love

 is better than steak with someone you hate."

Proverbs 15:17 (NLT)

Since today is Valentine's Day, I have come up with a list of tips for godly courtship.

Here is my list of tips for a male wanting to woo a female's heart:

1. If you ask a lady out for a date and she agrees, pay for her expenses with great pleasure.
2. Help the lady to put on her coat by standing behind her and holding her coat open.
3. Always open the car door for the lady.
4. If you take the lady out to a restaurant, pull out her chair and then push it back again as she sits down.
5. When you take the lady to church, always let her go in the row first.
6. If the lady is cold, offer her your coat. If she bashfully refuses, take your coat off, and place it over her shoulders. You may suffer hypothermia in the process, but it will be worth it because you will have won her heart.
7. Be aware of the lady's emotions and feelings. In other words, try to "put yourself into her shoes."
8. If you have hurt the lady's feelings, whether unintentionally or intentionally, apologize as soon as possible.
9. Sincerely compliment the lady regularly.
10. Never allow your eyes to wander and gaze at other females. If you don't think she will notice, you're wrong. She will notice.
11. If it is the lady's birthday, or a special holiday, and you don't know what to buy for her, buy her a bouquet of flowers. And if you are strap for cash, buy her one red rose and write her a poem or a short letter.
12. Smile at the lady often, especially when you first see her.
13. Tie the lady's shoelaces. (This act won my heart.)
14. Ask your mother for advice when needed. No one better understands the female mind than another female.
15. Respect the lady by remembering that her body is not yours, until you have married her.

A man should remember to keep this up throughout his marriage to the lady who generously gave him her heart.

Technology!

On Saturday, my keyless entry remote for my RAV4 stopped transmitting, leaving Matthew and me stranded in a parking lot. I actually had to use a physical key to manually unlock the driver's door just to get inside. Aren't we so hard done by?

And that isn't the worst part of it. Once I got into my vehicle, I realized I couldn't start the engine — there's no place to insert a key!

Matthew immediately pulled out the owner's manual from the glove compartment and started reading, while I kept pushing the ignition button, hoping that the green light would turn on.

Finally, out of desperation, because we were already late to meet my other son, Daniel, at the music store — believe it or not I still don't have a cell phone — I bowed my head, closed my eyes, and prayed, "God, please start the engine." When I looked up the green light appeared on the ignition button. I was both relieved and thankful as I started the car and drove off.

Matthew was still reading the owner's manual, but he temporarily gave up trying to figure out how to start the engine manually to find the answer to a better question: what type of battery did we need for the remote?

When we arrived at the music store, I did what any intellectual person would do in my situation. I automatically turned off the engine. As Matthew looked at me in disbelief, I sat there dumbfounded at my stupidity. He looked down and started reading the owner's manual again.

Meanwhile, Daniel spotted us in the parking lot and came over to inspect why we hadn't gotten out of our vehicle yet. Once he found out what the problem was, he kicked me out of the driver's seat, and I stood outside shivering in the cold (chivalry is dead) while Daniel and Matthew worked together to start the engine. I, however, came up with a quicker solution. I opened the door and informed Daniel that I started the vehicle the last time by praying. Daniel looked up at me and said, "Then pray!" So I did, out loud, and lo and behold, the green light appeared again. I noticed a crooked smile on Daniel's face. The engine started and off we went to the Toyota dealership to get a battery for my remote.

In the meantime, Matthew was able to discover the answer to our perplexing problem, and he showed me how to start the engine if the battery in the remote were ever to die again. Here are the steps:

1. Put your foot on the brake.
2. Touch the Toyota symbol on the remote key to the metal rim of the ignition button on the dash.
3. When the sound of the buzzer is heard, remove your foot off the brake.
4. Wait five seconds and push the ignition button. The green light should appear.
5. Proceed as normal.

Technology!

I thank God that He cares even about the problematic little things in our lives. In fact, the very first miracle that Jesus performed showed His caring concern for such trivial things.

Jesus, His disciples, and His mother, Mary, were all invited to a wedding. But the supply of wine ran out, leaving the guests with nothing to drink. Out of embarrassment, Mary turned to Jesus for help. He told the servants to fill six large stone water jars with water and then pour some for the master of the banquet. When the master tasted the water miraculously turned into wine, he was delighted by its delicious taste.

"Everyone brings out the choice wine first

and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink;

but you have saved the best til now."

John 2:10 (NIV)

I can't help but imagine the nervousness of the servants when they were about to pour water into the master's goblet, and then their relief when the master tasted it and gave it his praise. The servants all probably had crooked smiles on their faces too.

The Wicked Are Always Cruel To Animals

Yesterday, Matthew and I, for the first time, went shopping at an absolutely huge and famous hunting store. It was totally awesome! We spent over an hour in the store, and Matthew and I left with a leather hat that I bought for him.

The most amazing part of the store, though, was the fifty or so exhibits of full-size, taxidermal animals. These were set up all throughout the store in displays that mimicked the animals' natural habitat: every creature that one might encounter out in the Canadian wilderness: polar bears, grizzly bears, black bears, deer, caribou, moose, wolves, antelope, mountain sheep, lynx, geese, and on and on. I couldn't help but stand close-up and stare.

I love animals. Being in the hunting store made me feel like I was out in nature admiring God's handiwork. I am so amazed at the beautiful creatures that roam our country. How can someone not believe in an intellectual Designer when they see the amazing creativity in the animals of this world?

The Bible says that godly people care for animals, but wicked people are always cruel to them.

"The godly care for their animals,

but the wicked are always cruel."

Proverbs 12:10

Don't get me wrong: I don't think hunting is evil. After all, I was in a hunting store. I just think there are some hunters who are evil and have little respect for wildlife, just like there are people in this world who are cruel to domestic animals.

When I was a teenager, my mother used to always tell me, "Never date a man who hates animals; it's a sign that his true character is bad." I didn't realize it at the time, but my mom was quoting Scripture!

I Have Summoned You By Name

When I graduated from Bible College, I was asked to read a passage of Scripture for the graduation ceremony. This is the passage I chose:

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour."

Isaiah 43:1b-3

As a child of God, you need not ever fear, because God has purchased you with the precious blood of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. God, who is the mighty and everlasting King, has summoned you by name. He knows you! He knows your name. In fact God knew you before you were ever born. You are of utmost importance to Him and a valuable part of His Kingdom. God had His eyes on you from the very beginning, and He has a perfect plan for you that lasts until the moment you take your last breath.

You belong to God. You are the King's son or daughter. God loves you despite all your flaws because He sees His Son Jesus in you!

If you pass through high waters, God promises to be with you. You will not drown. If you pass through the rivers, the torrential currents will not force you under, nor disable you from taking another breath.

If you walk through the fire, you will not burn. The flames will not touch a single hair of your body. You will not feel the scorching heat of the inferno.

Why is all this true? Because God is Lord, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour! Yes, your Saviour! He is with you always to give you strength and courage to go on in the face of life's difficulties. God lives inside you and you therefore have everything you need to stand with courage in any kind of battle.

You have been summoned!

Joy In Finding Lost Things

Yesterday, my son, Tim, found a white, feminine, crocheted tuque inside our couch downstairs. He came upstairs wearing it and said, "Finders keepers!"

Actually, the tuque belongs to the young girl who visited us at Christmas. The young girl told me that a neighbour lady made it specially for her, so I reprimanded my son for wearing it. Although, Tim is defiant and determined to keep it, I will mail it to the girl next week.

"I found it! It's mine!"

I enjoying finding lost things. It brings me great joy. I think Tim had some joy too, as well as some fun, when he found the young girl's tuque.

The Bible says that God and the angels all rejoice when one lost sinner comes to God and repents, because each person on earth is valuable in the eyes of God.

To explain Heaven's joy when a lost soul is saved, Jesus told the parable of a woman who had ten silver coins but loses one. She searches carefully all over her house for the lost coin, and when she finds it, she calls all her friends and neighbours together to celebrate. There is that much joy in the woman's heart, and also in the heart of God, when what was once lost is found.

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one.

Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says,

 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'

In the same way, I tell you,

there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God

 over one sinner who repents."

Luke 15:8-10

When a sheep goes astray, the rest of the flock should follow this woman's example and do everything they can to find the lost and bring him/her back to the Shepherd. In other words, a church should never turn its back on a rebellious teen, a wayward adult, or a disheartened or disgraced pastor who leaves the ministry. Instead, a church should turn on all the lights in the building, go out into the streets and highways, and search carefully for the one who is lost, doing everything they can to bring that person back to God and His family. If the church did this, I believe there would be a lot less people in the world who once knew God and are no longer serving Him.

His Clothes Will Burn and His Feet Will Scorch

"Can a man carry fire next to his chest

and his clothes not be burned?

Or can one walk on hot coals

and his feet not be scorched?

So is he who goes in to his neighbour's wife;

none who touches her will go unpunished."

Proverbs 6:27-29

How many rising leaders do you know of today who were forced to leave their campaign trail because of exposed adultery? Or how many leaders do you know in our era who were once respected and esteemed, only to end their power disgraced and humiliated because of sexual immorality? Or how many past historical leaders do you know who were having multiple extramarital affairs and were later assassinated and/or had one or more of their children die at birth or later? Do you ever wonder if the tragedies could have been God's punishment for their sexual adultery? Remember King David?

When a leader dishonours God in such sexual sins, negative consequences will follow — evidence that God is still on the throne, sees all, and will fulfill His Word in the Holy Scriptures.

The Bible says in Proverbs that an adulterous man will not go unpunished. He is like a man carrying fire next to his chest: his clothes will surely ignite, burning his delicate flesh. God also goes further and says an adulterous man is like one walking on hot coals: his feet will scorch, causing agonizing pain throughout his body.

God is still ruler of this world! If leaders think that they can get away with sexual sins because of their power and popularity, they are deceiving themselves. Nothing is hidden from God and He is still in control, not man.

The economy may be in dire need, the world falling apart, the future bleak, and the leaders incompetent and hypocritical, with little or no integrity, but we do not need to fear: God is in control and He is working hard to bring the nations back to Him. God's upmost desire is for people to turn their hearts towards Him and put their complete trust in His character, knowledge, and ability. If God allowed sin to go unpunished, then the world would continue to do evil in the sight of God, and people would never turn from their wicked ways.

As we are entering the last days, more and more sins that were once hidden, ignored, or covered are being exposed to reveal the vileness of the idolized and ungodly leaders of this world. The second coming of Christ is near and God is revealing the ugly truth to all, so that the people of this world will finally be so sickened by the depravity of man that they will start to seek the holiness of God.

When a man commits idolatry, he will be left licking his wounds. God indeed forgives, but man must first humble himself with a true penitent heart, like King David did in the Bible. However, David still had to suffer and accept the consequences of his sins.

Do Not Run From The Sword

Here is another picture that Tim drew when he was a teenager. This one he drew for me for my birthday.

I love watching horses out in the meadows as they graze on the long grass. Whenever we lived near a farm field and I was feeling depressed or overwhelmed by stress, I would go for a walk and look at the horses out in the fields. Immediately, I would be uplifted and energized by these majestic animals. My melancholy state would vanish and the fighting spirit within me would arise because of the strength and character that the horse typifies.

"Have you given the horse its strength

or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?

Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust?

Its majestic snorting is terrifying!

It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength

when it charges out to battle.

It laughs at fear and is unafraid.

It does not run from the sword.

The arrows rattle against it

and the spear and javelin flash.

It paws the ground fiercely

and rushes forward into battle when the ram's horn blows.

It snorts at the sound of the horn.

It senses the battle in the distance.

It quivers at the captain's commands and the noise of battle."

Job 39:19-25 (NLT)

I believe God wants His children to be like a horse, ready and willing to do battle on our Captain's command. We are to be strong and courageous for God as He rides with us, directing all our moves. We are to never be afraid, because the Lord Almighty is with us.