The Doors God Leads You Through

And to the angel of the church of Philadephia write, "These things says he who is holy, He who is, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens." ' I know your works. See I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it: for you have a little strength, kept My word and have not denied My name."

Revelation 3: 7-8

It's not every day peoples lives change forever. Most days our lives stay the same. We walk through the same doors day after day and nothing ever changes. It makes me think of the story of Joseph in Genesis beginning in chapter 37. He was a boy who was somewhat cocky and arrogant and he was his daddies (Jacob) favorite kid. Started bragging about his dreams around the when they were gathered together. Naturally his brothers were extremely jealous of him and his attitude poured gas on the fire. So to shorten the story in fit of jealously they sold there brother into slavery and lied to there father to cover it up. He ends up in Egypt and bought by Potiphar pharaohs captain of the guard. With God watching his back Joseph excels at everything he does and ends being in charge of all the servants in the house. Naturally Potiphar's wife is totally infatuated with him and tries repeatedly to seduce him but he constantly says no and flees. Well the last time she gets his cloak as he runs away from her she lies about him trying rape he. He gets sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit.

While in prison he meets the pharaohs butler and chief baker and interprets the dreams of these men. He told the butler he would be restored to his former position in three days. The baker was all excited and spilled out his dream and Joseph told him he would be executed in 3 days. The butler was told by Joseph to remember him when he was restored to his position but the butler suffered from amnesia. Joseph spent another two years in prison and eventually ended working for Pharaoh and was governor of Egypt because he eventually was remembered by the butler when Pharaoh had dreams that terrified him and needed someone to interpret them for him. Now you're wondering why I am writing this today....

There comes a time in life when God says it's time to close the chapter on one area of life and move forward into another. Not many people can they are still working the same job they were when they entered the work force but I can. Since I was 18 years old I walked into a job arranged by my high school welding shop teacher. Didn't know what to do there but do what the guys I was working with told me to. As I grew and learned the job I became top notch welder by my work ethic and my willingness to do whatever is necessary to complete the tasks I was given. My work effort set me apart from the pack and earn a group leader spot after six years. Well after about 6 years and 11 months as a group leader I accused by another associate of discrimination because the person was female. Everyone knew it was joke but it was he said she said situation. Kind of like Joseph I ended up in trouble because of someone who lied on them. I stayed at my current job for another two years despite my demotion, put my best foot forward, and proved myself above reproach. Several other things happened in those two years that wasn't right but I stayed and remained until God started speaking to me through my wonderful bride. She nudged at me to try get my CDL. Well I had the books and I started studying. Between the books and free phone apps I passed all the test and the physical to land to get my CDL learners permit. I started filling out applications on Indeed. Out of 6 applications I received a phone call from one company for a phone interview. In 10 minutes of a phone interview the company I was offered a job and the person interviewing me said he has no reservations about giving me an opportunity. I am not a prophet but I do see the similarities between Joseph's story and mine. I believe that God has great things in store for me. After reading Coca-Cola's mission statement the day after turning in my resignation. It says Our Purpose is to honor God in all we do, to serve others, to pursue excellence, and grow profitably. To me that was God saying follow me and I will take you where I want you to go. God's closing one door and a major chapter of my life and opening another door where God opened it and all I have to do is walk through and work like His word says I should and He will take care of the rest. To quote Dr. Charles Stanley, Obey God and leave all of the consequences to Him." I pray that God clearly opens doors in your life as clearly as He opens them in mine. God Bless.

Lessons In Love and Sacrifice

 John 15:13-16

"13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." 

    It's not everyday you meet a hero. Sometimes you wake up and wonder what it's like. For those who call themselves Christians our hero is Jesus Christ. I will say that it's not everyday you take the time to stop and remember what it's like to really think about what it's like to have a hero that loves you so completely and unconditionally. Sometimes on this earth you have the privilege of meeting your childhood hero's but for some reason the real hero's get overlooked. It's not normal for people to sacrifice everything of themselves for others. Since this world health crisis began we have heard nothing but praise and glory for healthcare hero's from every news outlet or politician. I must say that everyone isn't as fortunate as me.

    Pretty much for a solid year the woman I have many pet names for ranging from Mama Bear to My Wonderful Bride has found the faith and courage to go into the fire call the Covid-19 Intensive Care Unit knowing that Jesus may call a patient in her care home. It takes a special kind of person to throw their heart and soul into their work when it seems like it's a no win situation. I have watched how she has sacrificed of herself to try to save those whom she doesn't know. Only a person that God has a hold on their heart can throw themselves into losing situation and continue to fight. I know that people say who that's admirable and I definitely will not disagree. There has been times I've had the pleasure of being the shoulder she's cried on, the ear to vent to, and the man to love her troubles away. I know that's what a husband is supposed to do but I can't take credit for loving her because as humans we can never love our spouses correctly unless Jesus has first put His love in us to understand and know what true love is. You have to know our story to understand why I am writing this.

    Our relationship began six years ago in October of 2015. We had been dating less than a month when catastrophe struck for my wife(girlfriend at the time); her hot water quit working. She called me crying and all upset and I asked if it was gas or electric. Well I told her that I would get the parts and fix it. Needless to say she doubted my handyman abilities at the time but once it was fixed and working she was very much impressed and surprised. I guess you can say I had the opportunity to "save" her. My humorous term is her knight with a shiny belt buckle. I noticed that this woman threw herself at me even though we hadn't been together that long and really pour out the love she had in her heart for me and I didn't know what to think because it wasn't what I was used to. She was so loving and so giving I felt undeserving and inadequate because I'm nothing special. What I loved about her then and now is that she might not be a theologian or Biblical scholar but she can love someone according to the scriptures better than I can and God granted me the opportunity to stand behind the sacred desk many Sundays in my life. The way she loves is amazing. Chris Young's song "Who I Am With You" speaks volumes to me because it came out right after we started dating and has been our song ever since. She shows me everyday how to be a better man because I get to be with her and be enveloped in her love. When I met her I thought I was getting a damsel in distress who needed a man to save her and sweep her off feet. As it turns she ended up saving me. She has constantly sacrificed of herself since before we ever said I do. 

    Since the beginning of this health crisis she has been given numerous accommodations for her willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty at work. I wasn't surprised that my respiratory therapist did. She has been that way since our first date. Things got even harder for her since December 2020. I found out I had a torn rotator tendon and bone spur on the tip of my collarbone and I had to have surgery and put me out of work for awhile. What does she do? What you would expect from a sweet Godly woman; she willingly started picking up extra shifts to make up the difference. The weekend of Valentine's Day this year she got me my favorite cut of meat to make BBQ out of. She ordered a whole beef brisket for me. Of course that weekend we had back to back ice storms which knocked out our electricity for 24 hours. She posts something on Facebook about me staying up most of the night to keep a fire in the fireplace going and what real love is. The funny this she's the one who showed me first. 

    

    Those who are reading this may wonder why I chose to take the time write this. To me it's simple. First my wife deserves praise for being the wonderful woman she is. The second is to take a minute to share what Jesus can do in and through a person that loves Him. You can save lives. Sometimes they might be in the hospital or they might be person you say I do too. Allison you are a not only a healthcare hero you're my hero, my lover, my confidant, my wonderful bride, and my best friend. Sweetheart just know that you are loved, cherished, and admired by those you live with at home.

    For those of you who have someone who loves you and treats you like my darling wife treats me and her children make sure you don't them for granted. It's rare to find someone who empties themselves willingly for others. Jesus did it for all of mankind on the cross and my wife does it daily for her family. I hope this touches your hearts in some way. May God bless you. I know that He has me.

Keeping It Between The Lines

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way that is easy leads to destruction and those who enter by it are many. For narrow is the gate and the way is hard that leads to life and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14)

   I must say it's been a long time since I have had the inspiration to write but it feels good to open up and share what's on my heart. It's been a tough year dealing with all of the changes I have had to endure but I am so very blessed to know that the God of this universe is still by my side and He sent me a helper to hold onto in the good times as well as the tough times. More and more everyday I continue to see how God has blessed me. Tonight God used an old country song while I was giving my two babies a bath to remind me that all I need to do is keep it between the lines.

    Tonight was a not a normal night for me. Usually my sweet children get the tired daddy and the leftovers from what my job has taken from me. I got a little more sleep last night than usual and actually took a power nap with my toddler that fell asleep on my lap. For dinner my two youngest children headed to out about 5pm to go run a couple errands and grab dinner from Burger King. Of course you have snap a couple of photos with cardboard crowns on their heads. When we got home I grabbed the double stroller and took them for a walk around the neighborhood. Since it's a Saturday night my babies needed to be cleaned thoroughly before we go to church in the morning. I was in the mood for some old school country music. Not this junk they call country music today. I had an old favorite song called, "Keep It Between The Lines" by Ricky Van Shelton come across my Youtube feed on my phone. Of course like everyone else I started singing along and at the end of the song the lyrics struck me at the core of my being. 

    I remembered what Dr. Charles Stanley often says, "Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him." The lyrics brought tears to my eyes and I nearly cried. I just looked my two babies and thought how they look at me like I'm perfect and I can see in their sweet eyes that they look at me as their hero. Then I had a thought that's how God looks at us through His Son Jesus when we choose to believe in His death, burial, and resurrection. How my kids look at me melts my heart and it is humbling because I see myself next to the true measuring stick of my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. It's so hard to know that you're the measuring stick for your kids and when you look at yourself in the mirror you see all of your flaws and faults. Thank God for His saving grace and forgiveness because I know that if the way to heaven was based upon my good works I know that I wouldn't stand a chance. The lyrics in the song Keep it between the lines talks about walking with God essentially. Keeping it between the lines is walking in and meditating in His word will transform your life. I need to be a better example for my wonderful bride, our sweet children, and for everyone that God allows to cross my path. I've got a long way to go but as i run this race of faith it's a marathon. It's not a sprint. One thing that I am learning to do is cherish every moment with my kids. They are growing up so fast. They are changing day by day. Who you are and how you are living today might be how your kids remember you for the rest of your life. Your legacy is your children. Keep it in between lines because Jesus died because of His love for you. Keep it between the lines because you love wife/husband and you're supposed to demonstrate who Jesus is in the home. Keep it between the lines because you want your kids to grow up to love Jesus and be better person in society that what you were. Just remember that those little eyes are studying every move you make. I hope and pray that it honors God. It's getting late and I have children and a wife I take to Sunday morning worship. May God bless you all and goodnight.

Lessons Learned at Midnight

For I know the thoughts I have towards you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

         Tonight after returning home from my first cruise I seem to be struggling with sleeping tonight. Maybe it's because my dinner wasn't as large as it was on the cruise ship or it could be Good wanted me to take the time to jot down some things He has been saying for a long time. 

         A few nights before we were to leave on the cruise my aunt called me to tell me she was proud of me and said that I have a pretty good understanding of the sovereignty of God. Looking back over things maybe I do and maybe I don't. I do believe that I learned something tonight in the middle of my struggle to relax and sleep how God is continually reminding me of how much I am already blessed. I have learned that living in the past only leads to lots of depression with all the would have, could have, and should have thoughts. God took me down a trip of memory lane. I got to thinking about how He brought my wife to me and I wasn't even looking for her. 

          Flashback about three years and it was probably the first time my now wife ever saw me. It was Vacation Bible School at Fincastle Baptist Church. I was working with the kids as I was accustomed to doing most of the week every year. I didn't know who she was and I didn't even remember her face but she remembered mine. Flash forward October 18 she happened to oversleep that morning and didn't make it to first service and ended up going to second service where I was accustomed to ushering and helping people find seats. Of course when you are the guy passing the offering plate at church and you are one of only eight people standing you are easy to spot. My now wife became that much more determined to find out who I am. Naturally the easiest route to stalk people is Facebook and of people to hunt you down through is your pastors friend list. Later that afternoon I received a friend request on Facebook and a message about how this woman knew me from somewhere and had couldn't remember where. Naturally being myself I am always up for making conversation and a new friend so I corresponded. Looking back at everything tonight after two and a half years of marriage, one inherited son, and one handsome baby boy (that's what everyone on the cruise ship said about him) borne to me, I'm finally starting to understand who God is and how He works. 

           This is something that you never see coming or predict. I know that I am blessed beyond measure. Don't get me wrong marriage is tough especially when you have kids. The Bible says when two people get married they become one. Guess what when blend two things together it's really messy but when brings it together no matter how messy life gets He holds the two people together but only if you do Jeremiah 29: 12-13 which says, "Then you will call upon Me and go pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for me with all of your heart." 

         When I was working at VBS and ushering on Sunday morning I was doing what was accustomed to me. I wasn't looking for a wife. I had been praying for one for years. No one ever seemed to fit the bill. This past Mother's Day a friend of mine who is like a mom to me I wished her a happy mother's day P31. For those of you who aren't Christian or might be knew to the faith P31 is short for Proverbs 31. She responded back by saying that she was happy that I have my own P31. If it wasn't for God's handy work in this whole deal I wouldn't have met her. In God's sovereignty He brought this life I live about. Without Him I wouldn't have my wouldn't have my wonderful bride(my P31), my two sons, or the loving support system I have gained by God laying it on one sweet woman's heart not to give up until she found the other person that God made for her. I'm so blessed that person is me .

Allison I love you Momma Bear. Thank you for always being that P31 I need and our family needs. You're truly a heaven sent blessing. You're amazing and very much appreciated by me. 

The Sweetest Blessing This Side of Heaven and One More

And the Lord God said, "It is not good that man should be alone: I will make him a helper comparable to him. Genesis 2:18

         I must say that as I get older every year I think life goes by faster and faster. I think deep down everybody wants somebody. I have spent the majority of my first 27 years in this life as a bachelor. Being a single man has it's advantages. I had my entire life set up in a daily routine. I loved it. No one to answer too but myself. I will say that when the lights would go out and there was no fun to be had or chores to do the walls seemingly closed in. I am very much a people person and love talk and get to know people but the nights alone and staring at the walls trying to sleep. I would be lonely. I truly believe that there is a man for every woman and a woman for every man and they are supposed to spend this life together until death do they part. I am a firm believer that God designed marriage to be between a woman and a man for a lifetime. I wanted that with someone. I searched for several years because I believed that God didn't mean for us as His Word says that we aren't meant to go through this life alone. Now for some they can but the majority of us don't have that calling. I knew in my heart from when I was a teenager I wanted a family of my own. At the young age of 16 a beautiful sweet little girl came into this world my niece. Holding that precious little angel for the first time changed my life. From that day on I wanted to be a dad someday. I didn't know when that day would come but I often prayed for the my future spouse and thought I might be staring at her a few times before but for some but for some reason it just never quite worked out. Now I know why.

         Looking at my life since last October it has underwent rapid change and been turned upside down. I went from being the male bachelor to the old married man with a seven year old son. Needless to say it wasn't what I had planned. I started looking at myself and praying that God I am definitely not ready to be a husband or a dad. I didn't think I was mature enough or responsible enough to lead a family just because I doubted myself. Sure I can handle the pressure of being in a leadership role at work but it doesn't mean I am ready to be husband or especially a dad. The truth is no one is ready to be a dad but the odd thing is that's when God shows up.

         I was visiting my parents and watching tv with them when I received a friend request followed by a Facebook message. The message was from someone claiming that she knew me from somewhere but couldn't place me. That person being Allison Whitlow. A 29 year old single mom with a seven year old son. I found out later she just saw me at church a few times and thought I was a tall drink of water and was looking for an angle to get my attention. Well me being me I continued the conversation just being my normal self. She hinted she wanted to go see the new Left Behind movie with Nicolas Cage. I was like well if you want to go I wouldn't mind taking you to it. I found out later that my Allie couldn't believe that it would be so easy to get me on a date. I figured that it would be one and done. I had no expectations and actually thought it would never go anywhere but at least it just might be fun. Well I must say it went surprisingly smooth. We one date turned into two, and then more followed. I remembered thinking in November that this is going to smooth and can't be right. I didn't see any red flags and her parents were really nice to me which hasn't always been the case. I was looking for a reason to run but something in me said stick it out. Well I came down sick and needless to my Allie was a good nurse. She took care of me. By the time December rolled around I started seeing the reasons why I should stay. It wasn't to get more Christmas presents I assure you.

           I realized who and what I had. Allison Whitlow had/has one of the sweetest servant hearts that I have ever seen. It was the first time I found someone that I couldn't out do. Then I started thinking I might want to keep this one. Well I must say that I am glad I did. I went to Kay Jewelers after figuring/finding out what ring she would love. I was standing there in the store at the mall trying to make up my mind if I was sure. Well I said to myself this will be the final time I purchase a ring for the purpose of asking a woman for her hand in marriage. I purchased it and then asked her parents for permission. To hear her dad say to me that I was answer to prayer touched my heart. I have been a whole lot of things but that isn't one I hadn't heard before. I proposed on December 27, 2015 at the Mill Mountain Star I knew that I was going to have the privilege of being a husband and a dad. I must say that I didn't know how quickly my life would change.

           We said I do on May 2, 2015. Allison Whitlow Mullins and Courtney Landon Whitlow became my wife and son. Looking back at life since October 2014 I must say that I wouldn't want to change a thing. I love being a dad and I thoroughly enjoy every minute with my son. I adore my wife. She is the sweetest blessing this side of heaven. What inspired this was hearing the song a sweet little girl named Grace sang at our wedding. The song was by Matthew West entitled, "When I Say I Do." Allison all I want to say to you is I can't thank you enough for loving me. I can't thank you enough for what you and Court have added to my life. You and our son are answers to my prayers and have added a whole new dimension and purpose and meaning to my life. I have no doubts that there is a God in heaven because without Him I never would have met you. I love you so very much my wonderful bride and not to mention our stinker butt.

           To my in-laws Bob and Jane thank you for raising such a wonderful daughter and helping her with our son until I came into the picture. Thank you for the love and kindness you have shown me. I love you both mom and dad. 

            To anyone who might read this my prayer is that it isn't just a love story but it's how God answered the prayers of many to make a happy marriage and complete a home that was missing a daddy. I'm so thankful that I am that daddy. Lastly to those who haven't met the right one, just be patient. God is omniscient meaning He knows everything and He knows who the right person is and when you two will meet.

May God Richly Bless You

Life Beyond The Rio Grande

 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matthew 28: 18-20

       Hello my friends. It has been awhile since I posted on here but I felt lead to talk about my latest adventure south of the Rio Grande. I recently was gone on a mission trip to Rio Bravo Mexico. I must say that it was life changing experience. Here in America I enjoy everyday what the average family enjoys(smart phones, laptop computers, WIFI internet, Starbucks, climate control, satellite television, and so on). I was able to enjoy a some time spent without any modern technology or should I say modern conveniences. After this trip I don't know that I want these modern conveniences anymore. I am beginning to think that they are modern inconveniences to be honest.

        I was preaching this morning a sermon that I called Fearless Following Day Nine. God gave me this while I was laying sick in bed with the stomach flu on Day Seven of an eight day mission trip. Tom and Debbie Turner granted me some time to lead a devotion in the airport while we were waiting to board our plane Monday morning. The passages of scripture were Joshua 1: 1-9 and Matthew 28: 16-20. Joshua was commanded by God to be strong and very courageous three times in the first nine verses and the way to be prosperous was to meditate in the book of the law day and night. God was commissioning Joshua to lead the people of Israel into the promised land. Jesus commissioned us to go tell the whole world who He is and what He did for us on the cross. I started asking myself why don't we go?

       God hit me with a song called "If We Are The Body" by Casting Crowns. I am being convinced that a lot people don't go because they don't know. Then I started asking why don't they know? God revealed something about myself and I am sure many of you can relate that we are too busy with our daily lives. What I really mean is our modern conveniences have us distracted. I love sports, movies, and keeping up with my friends but the danger is that can consume your time and you leave your first love out of the equation. In Mexico I had little to no cell phone service, no television, no Facebook, no air conditioning, but what did I have? I had my favorite Bible, a book by David Platt called "Follow Me", and my prayer journal. To be able to have the time I had to commune with God and develop my relationship with my Savior is something that I didn't know that I was missing. The only way to be strong and very courageous is to pour God's word into you. It's what gives you courage. You read what God did in the lives of the Bible saints and it inspires us to trust and go forward in faith that God will do the same thing for us today. The Bible saints were ordinary humans with extraordinary faith in a great God. Maybe that's what the church needs is a transformed heart especially myself. What can God do in us and through us if we would take the time for Him to prepare us for it. It's like the story of two farmers. Both of them desperately needed rain, and they prayed for rain but only one of them prepared his fields for it. Who really trusted God to send the rain? Who received the rain? The one who had the faith to prepare his fields. We need to start preparing for rain in our lives and realms of influence. Do we really want to serve Jesus and follow His commandment to love one another as He loved us? It would cost us something but the cost for Him was much greater. It may cost us some time and money but it cost Jesus His life. If we were worth dying for how much more would the church be able to impact the lives if we loved like He did. God will open the doors for us to witness but we need to prepare ourselves first. Right now I would love to give up all of my modern conveniences in able to continue growing my faith and in my walk with the Lord like I was in Mexico. I felt a peace that I can't even begin to describe. I can honestly say that it is well with my soul. Sometimes you are the one that ends up being the most blessed when you go somewhere on mission for God. To be honest I saw how happy these people were and some of them live in houses that I wouldn't call a good barns but they were happy and they had Jesus. I am beginning to see that all of our modern conveniences are really just inconveniences. Maybe what we really need is to lose these modern conveniences and be left only with Jesus for awhile. For me I can honestly say that it changed my life in eight days. I am striving and planning on living my life like everyday is Day Nine. Live as if the mission trip never ended. Live with purpose of pouring out His love on those around me. Maybe it would change your life if you were to have the same experience that I had too.

      Lastly, to all my friends I made on this trip and some of you I already knew I thank my God upon every remembrance of you(Phil. 1:3). I consider myself blessed beyond measure to have been able to spend this time with you. The memories I have from being on this trip will last throughout the rest of my life. I love you all and thank you for your testimony in Jesus Christ. Your faith helped inspire mine. I look forward to fellowshipping with all of you again. May God Bless You! 





This Crazy Little Thing Called Love

"Just as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be subject to there husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her," Ephesians 5: 24-25

          Of all days for a football guy like me to writing a blog post is the night of the Super Bowl. Needless to say when God speaks I listen. Being Super Bowl Sunday I have to set my 5th grade Sunday School class up with quite a spread of goodies to celebrate. Needless to say I love my kids and getting to spoil them but I love how they listen when it's time for the lesson. Today's lesson was on the building of the Tabernacle in the Old Testament. Why was the Tabernacle built? Simply because God was wanting to dwell among His people. Why because He loved them. God chose to love them and manifest Himself to the rest of the world through them.

         Since Jesus came to die on the cross we now have a new covenant and God has chosen to manifest Himself in a new way. He now manifests Himself to us in our hearts. He wants to manifest Himself to the world through His children by us allowing His light to shine through us. How does this apply in the realms of dating and marriage relationships? You have to look closely at the mans' role in the relationship. 

         Jesus willing chose to go to the cross in order for all of mankind to be reconciled unto God. Jesus loved sacrificially even though some would reject Him. Jesus Himself said no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them. It is God's will that not any should perish but all have everlasting life. So now let's take a step back and look at the actions of Jesus before. Jesus paid our sin debt that we might be brought back into fellowship with the Father. We didn't do anything to earn it. It was a free gift. Now let's apply that to the man's role. The man should sacrificially love his wife or girlfriend and focus on taking care of her the same way Jesus does for Him. He is supposed to be the one to portray Christ's love in the relationship. Loving your wife or girlfriend requires action. It means to spend time with her and serving her.  It means investing in your woman. Where you spend your time and money determines what we has humans value. So what I am saying is this send your lady flowers, send her text or give her a call to let you know you're thinking of her, turn off the ball game to take the time to be relational and share your heart and events from your day, open the door and pull out her chair, and lastly do not be afraid to show that you have a sensitive side. If you tear up or even let one fall I promise it's not sappy. It's the old idea of chivalry with a modern twist. In order for a woman to want to submit to you as the man you have to be a man of Godly character. As men we to focus on our character and that should be what the woman in our lives says is the sexiest thing about us. We need to be men our ladies can respect. That's what we men need is to know our lady thinks we are respectable. If you really want to know what it means to love sit down and study 1 Corinthians 13 and see what Paul says about love. 

          Now ladies it is natural for y'all to love and that's why Paul didn't give you that commandment. In a relationship you are supposed to let the man pursue you. Jesus pursues us and made all the effort. In the same manor we respond to Jesus pursuing us you should respond to your man the same way.Salvation is a free gift and that is how a man is supposed to love you. A man is supposed to make the woman he loves want to pursue him and the man should make himself available to her to do so which requires time together. Now just so you know you shouldn't try to take advantage of your man's generosity because you are supposed to be submissive to your mans' leadership. If he loves you as the Bible says he should you have a man worthy of respect. Even if he's not a believer or isn't loving you right you still are supposed to submit yourself to him. It is easier when he loves you right to be submissive. If you have a man who genuinely loves you as Christ loves the church that should make you want to be submissive to him because He is living out God's word in your relationship. If a guy loves you with a God given love and is a gentleman always. What this means here in America is that your man opens the door, brings you flowers or has them sent to you at work. Now I will say if your man does show his feelings around you he is not sappy. Jesus showed his feeling and the Bible says He didn't just cry Jesus wept. It means he does the little things to show that you matter to him. It's okay if a guy tries to go the second mile for you all the time. Jesus tells us that we should go the second mile. Jesus preached that in the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:38-42. There's nothing wrong with a man trying to be the perfect guy. We are supposed to be striving to be the only perfect guy to exist. Just like you take the time to get to know Jesus take the time to invest in your man. Some guys will appreciate a letter in his lunch box, maybe making him his favorite food for dinner or if he works second shift surprise him at work with a hot cooked meal. I mean after all we are men and the way to our hearts is through our stomachs. It the little things that sweeten a relationship. It may mean going to a gun show or a ball game. It might require watching a NASCAR race despite how boring you think watching cars go around circles is.

          Lastly to both men and women I would like to say that don't let your relationships be one sided. If you feel like you can do more to make your relationship better take the time to do it. A better relationship between you and your significant other can begin today. If we began to love one another as Christ loves us how many marriages would be saved? How many couples would stop living in a state of resentment towards one another? I will say until you are born again believer and your sins have been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ you do not know what love is. Until you have experienced His love you don't know what love really is. If you haven't begun with the Lord Jesus already will you consider it today? The Bible God's Holy Word says we can as sure of heaven as if we're there. If you want to know more about Jesus and heaven look me up on Facebook and I will talk to you gladly. My name is Mark Nicholas Mullins from Roanoke Virginia. I hope you have a great day. God Bless!!!!