A Topic of L-O-V-E

When you tell someone you love them we often forgot that such a strong word should be kept for only the man/woman we are to be with forever... but how many of us tell every boyfriend/girlfriend we get how much we love them, how we can't live without them, how were going to marry them? The majorities of us are doing it... but is it right? Honestly, how many friends of yours have given themselves up to their "love" and broken up? How many have been cheated on, used, or mistreated? Why do we keep falling into the same situations? Why is it we realize we didn't really love them after all until we've broken up? Why do we ignore the plan God has for us and what he wants us to do?
Think about it... we have our WHOLE life ahead of us, is it really the best decision to settle down, start being intimate, and spending every moment of our life with our boyfriend/girlfriend when were only in high school, still living with our parents, and cannot support ourselves? How do you think God feels about this? Are you leaving him out of the picture, replacing him, or drifting from him?
Why do we try to impress guys based on just our looks? Where is the beauty in that? I understand looking presentable but we go way beyond that! We wear shirts with our chests hanging out, and clothes that just show the guy our bodies. Of course any guy will look... but is it the guy for you or a guy that wants you? We get what we are in most situations... girls who dress loosely and non-conservative end up with guys that do not respect them and say they love them... but what kind of person are they? How are their morals? Are they an active follower of Christ? On the other hand, girls who wear conservative clothes usually attract kind gentlemen type guys who don't just look for cleavage and one night stands. Which are you? What would your guy do if you said "No more physical relationship until we get married?" Could you even do it? Would God approve of what you and your boyfriend/girlfriend do?
Now in love you do feel a wanting to have that physical relationship but what says "I love you" more than waiting and respecting each other? Does a purse, necklace, earrings, or any other gift say it more? Do you know how much trouble can be saved, how much anxiety you wouldn't have to go through if we remembered to not fall into these situations. Have you ever thought maybe God wants me to wait, not only for sex, but most every physical aspects in a relationship for certain reasons? Think about it, what are some of the consequences of pre-marital sex? Pregnancies, STD's, depression, anxiety, regret, cheating. Now look at some of the positive outlooks on waiting till you're married for sex! Honoring to God, not worrying about STD's, secured pregnancies, more fulfilling. Look at it deeply… is God telling us to wait for the better, or to make us suffer with temptation? God LOVES you, he wants the best for you, nothing he tells us is meant to be harmful in any way, it is for our own good and pleasing to him.
We don't know when God is coming back, we don't know if we'll die tomorrow, we don't know if we'll be in an accident… but we'd all like to go to heaven, right? Why do we procrastinate to love and honor God? What are we focusing on most the time… is it our boyfriends, new clothes, sports, God? You answer that in your heart and think about it… is that what God would want you to be focusing most on? You know, we keep procrastinating but when judgment day comes we can't take back what we did or did not do on earth. We can ask for forgiveness, and our God is a forgiving God, but we can't keep falling into these same situations. We must please God with out bodies; he designed them to be temples and made after his own image. We should keep them pure and innocent, even in a world where sex is so commercial and natural. God does all this for a purpose, remember that.

Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is true worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ask yourself these and be sincere to your HEART

1. Are you patient with your other?
2. Are you kind to one another?
3. Do you envy the other?
4. Do you brag about yourself in front of your other?
5. Are you rude to your other?
6. Are you selfish with the other?
7. Do you get easily angered or jealous?
8. Do you hold you're other accountable for things they've done?
9. Do you pay attention to the good or the bad?
10. Do you protect your other?
11. Do you trust your other with everything always?
12. Is there always hope in your relationship?
13. Do you preserve yourself for your other?
14. Are you doubtful?

-We often mistake love for infatuation as well, read these and carefully think through how you feel when seeing crushes, movie stars, or boyfriend.

Infatuation

Sees the other person as perfect
Wants to get own needs met; selfish
Spends all time with the other person
Quickly "falls" for the other person
Other relationships and friendships deteriorate
Dependence on the other person causes
Jealousy frequently
Lasts for a short period of time
Distance strains and often puts an end to the relationship
Quarrels are serious and common
Quarrels can seriously damage the relationship

Love

Sees the other person's flaws and still loves them
Wants to serve the other person; selfless
Still spends time with others
Takes time to build the relationship
Other relationships and friendships grow stronger
Trust and understanding results in less severe and less frequent jealousy
Encompasses a long-term commitment
Survives and sometimes is strengthened because of distance
Quarrels are less serious and less often
Quarrels can strengthen the relationship

Which relationship is YOURS?