FIT Tip:
In a recent teleclass, this question was posed:
"I show kindness and minister to others every
opportunity I get. Why do I keep attracting
people whose negative qualities resonate with my
own? What's stopping me from attracting those
who are living in love?"
FIT Tip Answer:
When we become whole, we invite and attract
people who are whole into our lives. The more
people encounter the Spirit of God in us, the
more we attract people who are in the Spirit
...versus people who are fleshy and carnal. We
serve others best by becoming the best we can be
in Christ Jesus. For more FIT tips on
relationships,
go here. Or
sign up for this month's teleclass and pose your
own questions about relationship fitness.
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Hello Gems of God,
 In
last month's issue, we encouraged you to
check out whose playing in your life. I pray
you have benched the players that needed to be
benched so you can come up higher in the LORD.
I sure did.
Let's continue on with the relationship theme.
My husband and I have been on a 14-day fast. We
focused on the book of Hosea at the Lord's
leading. We learned and received so much on
this fast. One of the things we focused on is
gaining victory over the world, our flesh, and
the devil. It tell you I did not even realize
how much wordliness had crept into my mind,
eating habits, business/ministry, and soul. I
thank God for the spiritual cleansing. If you
haven't fasted in a while, seek God for His
chosen fast for you. Your life will never be
the same!
One relevant thing we learned on the fast about
being in relationship with God is that there are
two types of lovers. The first type of lover
is: Ammi - meaning, "My people who marry
me, let me restore them, and have entered into
an eternal contract of loving me forever" (Hosea
2:1). The second type of lover is: Lo-Ammi
- meaning, "Not My people. They love me, hurt
me, leave me, return, leave me, hurt me, but I
still love them eternally" (Hosea 1:9, 2:23).
Which type of lover are you to God?
Everyone will be celebrating love in some way
this month. So, let's take a look at "What I
did to Get My Man" [my Boaz ~ Ruth 1-4].
Thanks to all that attended the Singles
Teleclass. I know this article will spur you on
some more. If you were not able to attend the
class and want the recording, e-mail me and let me know. This month's F^REE
teleclass focuses on relationships-husband to
wife, parent to child, pastor to member, manager
to insubordinate. Sign up in the New Moves
section below.
Enjoy this issue!
Lavished with wisdom and grace,
Stanley and Karen Pina
P.S. - Last year I wrote my first love letter to
my husband for Valentine's Day. When is the
last time you wrote a love letter to your
husband? If you are single, God is your
husband. So, when is the last time you wrote
Him a love letter?
P.P.S. - We extend a hearty "GOD Welcome"
to each of the new subscribers! We know you are
going to love staying polished, staying brilliant,
and staying in your setting with Gem News.
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"What
I Did to Get My Man" |
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You gotta keep doing whatever you did to get
your man to keep your man. I know many of you
have heard this expression time and time again.
If you are anything like me, someone might have
told you this.
As a
matter of fact, my husband and I just celebrated
our 5th year wedding anniversary. I often
reflect on those first three blissful years. We
were both unemployed and had tons of money in
the bank. We were able to enjoy our time,
money, freedom, getting to know one another, and
traveling abroad. During these times, I waited
on my husband hand and foot, and likewise, he
did the same. Truth be told, I would get a foot
massage at least two times a day back then. As
I look back, we have grown so much together.
We've grown financially, spiritually,
emotionally, and in entrepreneurism. Today, we
have multiple avenues of incomes and time simply
does not allow us to "do all the things we did
back then."
The
more I reflect on the "what I did to get my man"
statement, the more I realize it is a lie. In
our case, I didn't do anything to get my man.
God sent me one of His sons. He divinely
put us together for His purpose and
His glory.
I
should not say I did not do anything. I did do
something, but it wasn't cooking, waiting on him
hand and foot, or engaging in sexual
intercourse. What I did was seek God and His
best for my life. My focus was completely
on Him [and still is] and the work He has
assigned my hand. I was busy serving God in
ministry when He prophetically spoke to me about
loving again.
You
see I had been married before, and it was not
good. It was not good because "I did it." It
was what I wanted, I choose, and what I had to
have. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about,
right? Well, what a mess I made. After that
mess, I purposed in my heart I was not good at
picking the people to be in relationship with.
This included friendships. I wanted God to
choose and to bring the people into my life that
compliment the gifts and calling He's given me.
This
is exactly what He did. All I did is fall
madly in love with Him. The more I loved
Him, the less I desired a man or any
relationship for that matter. So this is what I
did, and this is what attracted my husband to
me. Fast forwarding to this present moment, it
is the glue in our relationship. As a matter of
fact, it is the very thing my husband loves
about me the most . . . my love for the LORD.
So I
guess, in a sense, you do have to continue to do
what you did to get your man. The question is,
"What did you do to get your man?" Did you lose
weight, change your hairstyle, perform sexual
calisthenics, or walk and talk a certain way?
Then that is what you need to do to keep the
type of man you attracted. I hope you can
keep it up in season and out of season. Whew .
. . I'm exhausted just thinking about it. Thank
God, we don't have this condition-based
performance clause in our relationship.
Finally, love the LORD your God with all your
heart, mind, and soul and this is all you
need to do and continue to do to "get and keep a
true man of God."
Recommended Reading: Safe People: How
to Find Relationships that are Good For You and
Avoid Those that aren't by Dr. Henry Cloud &
Dr. John Townsend
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would love to hear how Gem News is
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ideas, and making a difference in your life.
Send your
feedback to us here...
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forward Gem News to any leader you
know could benefit from it!
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New Moves
GOD's Coach University (GCU)
GCU is now open and accepting enrollment
applications. If you have been called to or
even remotely thought about becoming a
coach, click
here to see if it's God's leading and
timing for you to become a GOD Certified
Christian Coach.
All You Want to Know About Relationships
Teleclass
Come and bring your most pressing relationship
questions and receive answers to ALL of them in
this one-hour didactic teleclass. Stanley and I
will answer all the questions you can ask in one
hour. The teleclass will be held on
Thursday, February 14, 2008 from 7:00-8:00
pm EST. Take a bold step to gain more wisdom in
the area of character discernment by signing up
for this teleclass. You have until this
Thursday to register!
Register now.
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Quotes of the Month
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"Whatever you lift up, that is what you will
attract. If you are lifting up flesh by the way
you dress, then you'll attract nothing but a
flesh eater for a mate. If you are lifting up
Jesus, you will attract one of His sons as a
husband. If you are not doing the things God
requires, you are not qualified for God to give
you one of His sons." - Stanley Pina
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