The Honey Bee Press October - December 2013 | Page 8

Page 8 Honey Bee Press The Purpose of Male and Female Relationships—by A C Nelson As stated in my previous article, having a relationship with a male is unavoidable. As single women, we just want to carry ourselves in such a way that we don’t diminish who we are just to catch a man’s eye. off the phone, I felt so much better. We connected in prayer and God was able to move with power through our agreement. After he prayed for me, I prayed for him and God got the glory. So why even bother having relationships with men when you’re single? I’m not pressing you to go find male friends if you don’t have them already, but I am suggesting that men are placed in our lives for reasons. Haven’t you noticed that men have different perspectives? Sometimes when I confide in one of my male friends about a situation, his insight into the male psyche helps talk me down off a cliff of disaster. God designed men and women differently. When we work together with men, the different aspects we bring to the table help to cultivate something that has the potential of greatness because of the differences we bring to the table. Why share this story? God can use friendships we have to help build us up regardless of gender. Every male in our lives is not our husband and we should not view them as such. We should view them as our brothers in Christ. If God chooses a male that is in your life to be your husband, He will let that man know and then once it’s made clear to you, your feelings for him will shift. One time I was really going through something and it just seemed like no one could understand. I got a call from a friend and he just began to share what the Lord had laid on his heart concerning me. He gave me a song that God had laid on his heart for me and from that moment, I knew that God had specifically spoke to him about me. He had no idea the same song he gave was the same song I was singing on my way home the previous rough day. He continued to encourage me and then he prayed for me. Now, I have been around a lot of Christian men from church and work, but none of them have ever prayed for me with such fortitude except my pastor. After I got Don’t stress over the idea of, “If I don’t show my interest or put it all out there, he won’t know he has the green light.” Men were built to pursue. If he’s the one, you’ll know and the feelings will be mutual. What I have learned from the married women in my life is men who really feel you are the one will put in the work to win your heart. Scripture that has been keeping me lately is Psalm 84:11, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. “ My focus is on living uprightly. I want to please Him. Whenever God looks upon me, I don’t want Him to be disappointed by my actions. Looking upon the single men in my life as my brothers in Christ, keeps me focused. I would never want to cause my biological brother to stumble or go against God’s plan for his life. Now, I treat the single men in my life this way. I set necessary boundaries so that neither of us “go there” and I am sure to keep our conversations pure. Anything I’m uncomfortable talking about, I make known. This helps to keep the boundary and keep the relationship from going down a path of no return. If you look at a man and just get the feeling in your gut that he’s the one, put him on the altar before the Lord. Don’t be afraid to talk to Daddy about him. When I get those mixed signals, I immediately go into prayer mode, because what I don’t want to do is overstep any boundaries. I am a woman; I get pursued. My goal this time is to allow God to fully have control over my love life. I got nervous even after I typed that out. However, He’s the best one for the job. When I did it myself, I ended up hurt and wounded. The one With this new perspective of who they are to me, I’m no longer scared to be a real friend to a male. As always, God wants His best for us. Be encouraged! Marital Bliss God’s Idea of Ideal— by Vinicia McNeil Joyner “Let ever ??????????????????????????)????????????????????????????t??$) ????????????)=??M???????????$???????????????????)?????????%?????????????????????????)???????????????I????????????????????????????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????????????$??????????????????????)??????)]?????????????????????????????????????)?????$?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????=???)?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????()]??????????????1????????????????)?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)???????????(????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????????)!??????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????)?????????????!????????????????)????????????????????????? ????)???????????????1??e???????????????)??????????????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????????)??????????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)????I???????%???????????????????????()??????????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????????????)$????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????????) ??????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????)????? ?????????????????????????)]????????????????????????????!???????)?????????????????????????????????)?????????!??????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????????)????????????????????????q???t??????????)???????????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????((