Your post caused my past to fly right into view! I cannot begin to share my entire sorid past with you, but I can tell you that the road you have been on, and are now tempted to walk again leads only in one direction: self-loathing!!! I also involved myself in less than desireable relationships for over 15 years, claiming lonliness. I also grew to "hate" men...by there was a root that birthed all that pain and confusion. I know you have to have a root also....you need to discover it. My twisted road of misery was abruptly halted once I trully committed my life to God. It was then that He was able to speak to the heart of my unsuccessful relationships. In my case, the pattern stemmed from having and unenvolved, and unloving earthly father, and having been raped by my grandfather when I was 12 years old. I believe they call the pattern that of "acting out": trying to regain control over something that you lost control of, or never had, or quite possibly don't need to have at all.
Anyhow, the Lord spoke this to my heart, "You will never be happy with a man on earth, until you have learned to love me, and accept my love". It was true!!!!
I am now committed to Christ and to my wonderful husband (the 3rd I've had, I might mention)
Relationships are meant to come through the love of God, outside of His love relationships will most often be very disappointing.
I do pray you will seek the Lord, and allow him to minister to your needs. You are not alone, for Christ himself said, "I am with you always, even unto the end.
God bless you indeed!

God is omnipotent; therefore He alone held, and still holds the power to define exactly what is considered as sin. I would think that he defined sin as all of the things that He himself would never do.
Just my 2 cents worth.

A bit of background: I gave up my career to stay home with my granddaughter 4 years ago, as I could not bear the thought of her coming to any harm in the care of strangers. I have stood by my daughter through her divorce 3 years ago, and have supported her in all ways through college which she is due to graduate from in May. She is walking outside of grace at this time, and I have watched her go from one man to another: moving each in turn in with her and then dumping them once they proposed. She is now with a 27 year old man, that cannot speak without baby talking...I just cannot stand him!!! She has moved him in and since he recently lost his job, has started leaving the baby home with him. I cannot tell you why, but I have a gut feeling that this guy is not what he lets on to be. My daughter dropped a bombshell on me a couple weeks ago by telling me that she is now trying to become pregnant with this guy!!!! They have no plans of marriage, as they say they will just depend on Medicaid to pay for any babies they want to have!!! I cannot beleive my daughter has lost her mind like this.
Please help me to know if I should risk alienating her by speaking to her about him, and PLEASE PRAY for her!!! Her name is Tiffany.
I welcome wise counsel on this matter ASAP!!!!!

Deep fried turkey
We cook at least 2 each Thanksgiving.One is done by melting a stick of butter, adding 1/2 c. strained italian dressing and 1/2 c. dry white wine. Shoot the turkey up real good and let set in fridge overnight.
The cajun one: stick melted butter, 2T. cayenne, garlic powder and salt (to taste)--shoot up turkey and put in fridge overnight.
You do not have to purchase the oil new each time you deep fry. We strain ours thru cheescloth after it cools and put back into jugs. It keeps just fine. Use it over & over until it gets to turning dark.
It is absolutely delicious!!!!
Those deep fryer pans also come in handy for large summer gatherings, as you can boil 2 dozen ears of corn in one of them babies!
You can take it camping and have a big ol fish fry too.

I would just drive home stinky, or do a quick armpit cleaning at the sink (if available). Spray a little febreeze on the clothes if you have to stop somewhere on the way home.

I am of the opinion that a woman, who professes Jesus Christ as her Savior, should dress modestly unless she is in the provacy of her own bedroom.

Shylynne,
How beautifully said. I was admonishing my 14 year old son just yesterday in Walmart for complaining about all the old folks blocking the aisles.
May we slow down enough at this time of year, if no other, to realize there's a whole world full of God's children.

This post is a results from my reading on other posts about Christians being forbidden to give cards of a christian nature, or wishing others Merry Christmas, as it refers to Christ. Here's my proposal: Every Christian should put on display in their yard, window, car....whatever...a sign saying " Celebrating Jesus" for the entire holiday season. It doesn't matter if you have limited funds and have to write it big on an old cardboard box, or if you can create a magnificent display....DISPLAY!!!
Let your light so shine before man, so His light can shine forth!!

I don't think Paul meant for women to literally remain silent...I think that was a warning for women not to be busy bodies...gossips, etc. One way to find out, is for all women to cease verbal expression in the church...no Sunday school teaching, no choir singing, no praising outloud....just think on that for a bit!!!
It would be a sad day in the church of Christ.

There are numerous passages to the ballroom of God, where He fits us with slippers too good for earthly feet.
As He lovingly dries the tears form our face, His son, Our Savior begins to unlace the painful reminders of shame and disgrace.
The angels then, at our Father's command, weave us a garment of glory and grace. We prepare to dance in this heavenly home, with God smiling down form His celestial throne.
We've finally made it through the fire and the flood. Our sins are all hidden under Christ's holy blood. Our burdens are lifter as we twirl and we leap, for the Spirit of God is the shoes on our feet.
Never again are we to know the pain of abuse, of sorrow, or of defeat, for we are dancing with Jesus to a song of His love, as softly whispers, "I've waited so long".

As Always,
Lenny Too

If you spend more time worrying about what to wear to church, than you do on getting there early (or on time) then I think you need some time on the knees. Myself, I like to be comfortable, and as long as what I have on is clean, then I wear what I can worship God in without fear of exposure least I should fall out in the Spirit. Save the lap robes for someone else.
As Christians, we need to not obsess with the physical; we are after all just visiting this earth, and even our bodies are put on....

 hope you all get a good laugh out of this shared event in my life. I'd like to blame this on menopause, but I blame everything on that, so let's just say I lost it....you'll see what I mean.
This afternoon I had to make an unplanned trip into town (about 12 miles away) to go get my grandaughter's bag, as her Mom forgot to leave it when she did the kid (very early morning) and the child had no panties and no shoes!!!! Ever the resourceful Nana, I cut an old velour balnket  into large squares, layered them on the child's feet, tied them at the ankles, and consoled her protests by telling her she was going to be an eskimo baby for the day. Maybe this started the chain of forgetfulness for the day? We went into town, got the bag, and her Mom decided to go to lunch with us. I had to go to the bank, forgetting it is Friday, and that my bank is owned by the workers of a major car manufacturer, whose employees all got paid today....the lines were LONG!!! As we're waiting our turn, I double over in pain with stomach cramps. I almost dropped the grandbaby (weighs 40 pounds). Grabbing hold of the velvet ropes....offered to comfort...so I started to pray!!! Oh please, Lord make this stop and hurry these lines. Waves of pain about floored me. Made it out of the bank, load the baby into the van as my cell starts to ring...the Momma, "where are you"....duh, she saw me go into the bank as she turned to go to BK!!!! I shoot across the street, slide into BK, and the pain is unbearable. Get the food, sit down, and say I think I'm getting the flu. Oh Lord, I've gotta go to the bathroom....see if I can get some relief.
Now here's the good part....As I sat on the borrowed throne, a monsoon occured!!! Sparing you the grossness....but I must have let go 5 pounds.
It is at this point that I remember that I had taken a double dose of a gentle, ladies laxative at 5"00 am !!!!
Now, tell me, how in the world do you forget taking a major dose of laxatives?
Could it be menopause? The screaming little angel who spends her days here? The 14 year old whose home as he schools here??
Someone please get my Red Hat and purple coat, I think I need to go bye-bye for awhile!!!

Crystal,
My daughter, who is now 24, and professes her faith in Christ has put herself in the postion you are now in time and time again. As I counsel with her, I share with you. First of all, I think dating a non-believer brings temptation into your life, and the word tells us to avoid temptation. Secondly, dating someone who has no respect for God, or the word, also brings into play a worldly quality to your relationship:ie// presure to have sex. I have told my daughter time-and-time again, God is not going to bless an unholy relationship, neither is he going to turn a blind eye to a Christian knowingly entering into the sin of sex outside of marriage. So why waste time dating unholy people? While you're tied up with them, you might just miss the perfect mate God has planned for your life.
I don't know if this helps, but I hope you will remember to always put God first in your life, then you are sure to be blessed in all things.

The Reverend Billy Graham puts it best,
"If you were to die today, do you know where you'll spend eternity?"

Grace,
I don't think the female best friend is the real problem. The root of your emotional distress is that you don't TRUST your fiance'. As any wise, or even half-way bright person will tell you: TRUST is the foundation of any relationship. It is the foundation of our relationship with Christ and the same holds true for our earthly relationships. After reading through all of your posts, I guess my question would be, "why, after two years, are you still only engaged to D"? I think you should get out of the relationship, and go stand on your own 2 feet for a couple years....you will then be better equipped to chose a good mate.
Beyond that, read the word, and know that God is not going to bless sin: living with a man before marriage is just that, so God is not going to bless your sinful relationship....think about it.