Ouch that is hard to say. First we don't know thier heart, really. And second God sometimes blesses people who are in sin, in spite of their sin, because of their repentant heart. I know that sounds odd but I have witnessed it. I don't have scripture to support it but I believe He does it to draw them out of the place that they are in to a higher place. Well I guess you could look at the nation of Israel. While they were "in sin" wandering in the desert (continually mumbling ang whining to and about Moses) God sent them miracle after miracle. EVEN THOUGH not but two of them would enter the promised land, they ate fresh manna every day and it says in the bible that their shoes and clothes did not wear out for 40 years!!!!!!!

If you know someone that is in that situation I would let them know that God can/will only bless them so much because of their situation. But to think of what blessings God could turn loose in their lives if they honored God by forming a covenant before him, with each other.

PS and SOMETIMES blessings come in spite of sin because of the prayers of faithful friends and family!!

Doh Bible 101...edited the message, thanx Allen (dang keyboard )

To Steve's point. I have also seen the same thing. We have a mutual friend that was serving and also living with a woman. His life was blessed in spite of himself.

Another thing I have seen is "time and circumstance" blessings. What I mean by that is that a couple was blessed as a result of another's blessing. A large sum of money was received by some friends who had a child living in sin. They of course shared it with their child. The child considered it a blessing as well.

I have also seen God Bless non-believers. My thoughts on that are to show His love for them even though they are still lost.

Thanks embie, that's a very clear passage.



Wow wouldn't The Gap hate that! Heheh, j/k.

This whole subject makes me think of a Christian female friend of mine who's 50+ and never been married. An old beau from college got in touch with her recently, and they, well... got together. *ahem*. Now, her choices are between her and God, but if you asked me what I thought of that, I'd have a real hard time judging her for it.

I don't know. Tough subject.

Yep

Steve, good post!!

aleina

But wouldn't that seem more coincidence than God's actual blessing?

Just because something good happened doesn't necessarily mean God did it... eminem made a few million last year selling his brand of hate, do we think God blessed him and his live-in girlfriend?

If you continue to live in sin (as in actively choose that daily), does God bless you despite? You can't be truly repentant if you don't change your ways... repentance requires change.

Allen you are just being difficult ROFLOLOL

I agree but we have to consider what is "good" and what is a "blessing" I didn't have my stuff together to go down that road that not every "good" thing comes from God. I really think that all "good" things do and money isn't always a good thing. In eminem's case poverty might be just good enough to knock some humility and contriteness into his heart. As it stands his wealth could just keep him from accepting his salvation in which case you could argue that his wealth is not what God would want for him. I heard a question one time put like this. "why do good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people?"

We humans struggle so much financially that we automatically assume that someone getting money is being blessed. I could rattle off name after name of people who died as a result of money or people who did not become Saved because of money. Remember what Jesus said about rich men, needles and camels. Just because we like it and God can use it through an obediant heart doesn't mean it is good for all.

Willfull sin. That is a tough one. Like I said I have seen blessings come to peopel in sin, not just fornication, I have seen it come to adulterers, liars, you name it. Now these people were struggling, not thumbing thier noses at God. They knew of the sin and it tore them apart. That I think is the key that allows God to administer Grace. Like Paul said "I do what I do not want to do" and he also said about grace "what then should I sin more so that I can receive more, no..." It is all about what goes on between tham and God.

Scats. I can't judge them, I can say that scripture says that they have sinned against God and each other. I can say no more, because 1. It would be or come close judging them, which is wrong. and 2. I cannot see inside their hearts, only God can. Scripture is clear on that one, we must administer the truth with love.

OK.. much better

I can't fault them for living together, heck, can't even see them for the plank in my own eye. I was just hesitant to say they were blessed just because something happened we would perceive as being good... this "good thing" may be drawing them further from the will of God, I guess the world will never know But if Paul can admit he struggles, then I guess I can too

Don't have much time, gotta go...but the first thing that comes to my mind when I skimmed that was the verse "the rain falls on the righteous and the wicked". I don't know if anyone has posted that yet or not...but I do (and not casting stones at all because I do sin every day) think that a couple living together having sex outside of marriage is a sin...and I believe that good things can happen...

But as Allen said, look at the richest people in the world...a good example would be the guy who owns Playboy...what's his name? He's one of the richest people...(and I'm not comparing him to a couple who is living together...just using him as an example)...You could say he's blessed if you wanted to...but it just comes down to the fact that the rain falls on the just and the unjust and we really don't know why, but His ways are higher and so we don't ask.

If somebody made that point allready sorry...I really tried to read everything, but I'm allready late for where I'm posed ta be.

Later!

Nope I dnaced around the point a little but I had not thought of that scripture, thanks!!!

ok, now that we've had a break and let our hormones have a chance to cool off , what do you think is the single most stumbling block to walking a Christian walk while single?

bleeech.... why did you have to bring up this topic again??

Anyway...

- Where to draw the line; making out, kissing, fantasizing??

- There's too much hate in this world, why haven't I met the someone I can love yet??

I don't think there is just one for me. It's a combination...

It's that feeling that if you could just have this one thing you might be happier...blahblah...when in reality, there is always going to be something else...once you get what you want, there will always be something that is still out of reach.

It's also the hormones...they are definitely a big factor. You know, when you watch an innocent love story and the inevitably have to have that one scene in there that makes ya squirm in your seat, or blush a little...maybe even go take a cold shower... )...and that feeling that it's just one more thing that is out of your reach, and you feel like if you at least knew when it was coming -- if it was coming -- you would at least be able to relax a little...Those are my biggest stumbling blocks.

It doesn't help, I'll admit, to see so many people around me -- both single mothers and those who have no children -- all the sudden finding Mr. Right and up and pretty much removing themselves from my life. It's all in God's plan, but sometimes His plan doesn't seem to make much sense. It's more of a trust issue than anything else, I guess.

Okay, so in all this rambling I've narrowed it down to one major stumbling block with alot of underlying factors: trust.

ok...had to edit that one...
let's call it...

intimacy

that sounds a little more ladie-like

Care to elaborate just a little?

not at this moment...

I have the shower running

cold water?

one thing for sure is, I am the cleanest little blue-lipped woman on my street...

Whatever it takes, eh?

I tend to agree with aleina and forever... when loneliness isn't rearing its ugly head, sex is there to take its place Tho I guess I can say I don't struggle with both at the same time Or is that a matter for Ashley's thread?

Do you struggle with it (your stumbling block)? Or give in easily and regret later? Do you strive to overcome it, and if so, with what? (embie mentioned cold showers and soap, but let's see if there are any other methods out there ).

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Allen:
Whatever it takes, eh? ).</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Me, I just go outside and roll around in the snow

I struggle more with the loneliness than the (lack of) intimacy I think...........

Seriously, I make alot of jokes about the sex part, but the reality of it is that lonliness is the main issue right now. I don't date alot cos there isn't anyone that I have met that I am interested in. Maybe now that I've started at a new church, I will meet new people, but the sex part isn't really a stumbling block.

When those other times arise (the Ashley thread...I think it wil go down in infamey with that name )

I will pray thru it and then read the bible, or another Christian book and listen to music, call a friend...something else to take my mind off things.

I try not to let myself get too far down the lonliness road cos then you get depressed and tears flow and it's not pretty. The past seems to haunt you and that's what satan delights in...our weakness.

Anyone else?