…spreading the fragrance of His knowledge…
A few days ago, it suddenly struck me, “Deborah, it’s been a loooong time you’ve been depressed!”
Momentarily sad, unhappy or upset due to circumstantial happenings? Oh, sure.
But depressed? It’s been ages. Literally years.
This was a miracle because, many years ago, I used to be depressed. Really depressed..
Scenario 1:
Until I left the area, I used to attend an amazing weekly service a few years back: awesome music, relevant and uplifting word – and the tangible presence of God.
The head pastor – while not as ‘extremely famous’ as some other ministers – is still well known in the country. He is also regarded by some other leaders as a ‘father’: not really in terms of age or spiritual status – but with regards to his heart…
(continued from last post)
(4) Limit Your Communication
A certain man once fell deeply in love with a lady – but there was a major problem. He was far, far away at war. To show the seriousness of his intentions, he decided to write her a letter and mail it – every single day.
At the end of 365 days and after 365 letters, the lady got married – to the mail delivery man…
(3)Don’t Pray With – Or For – The Person. Rather, Pray About The Person.
I know this sounds very strange, but since I am predominantly talking to Christians, this has to be said – and it is so important that I am dedicating this whole post to it.
Usually, before you become emotionally attached – before a person gets past your walls and into your heart – you know. There’s an awareness. It might be gradual or swift, but you know there’s ‘something’ going on.
Years ago, I ‘fell in love’ with someone. I put the phrase in quotation marks because, even though it sounds normal and healthy, it is a gross, laughable understatement.
My feelings were neither normal nor healthy.
I was obsessed. Crazy about him. Overwhelmed and consumed with emotion. Possessed with thoughts of him.
Two points for our groundwork:
(1)A recurring lesson throughout these bootcamps will be: The foundation you both lay as singles in the army will greatly influence – positively or negatively – your marital impact as a unit.
(2)As stated in an earlier post, a major part of any bootcamp is indoctrination. Therefore, as God works in certain areas of your life, He deals with your mindsets and belief patterns in that area…
I had always known I was going to write on this topic – experiences and lessons learnt as a mature, single Christian. I had already jotted down the outlines, but I was going to write it (1) as a book, and (2) ‘safely behind matrimonial walls.’
When it dropped into my heart a few months ago to write it now – I thought, “No way. What will people say?! No, Lord.”
(It’s strange how we can join two words that do not belong together: ‘No’. ‘Lord’.)
Debby Osa 