Do you overload your emotional life?

During my absence, I met many girls aged 14-18 and I was shocked at how much trauma they experience in their lives.

Most girls were finishing up their school careers and living with young men already. To me, the definition of "school girl" is a GIRL that attends SCHOOL. School is an institution supposedly preparing us for life as an adult. How does a schoolgirl manage the responsibilities of the life of a woman?

There are certain issues that come with being in a serious relationship with a man.

* One has to be physically, mentally and emotionally prepared to be sexually active. You give your partner more than just a few minutes' pleasure; you actually give a lot more of yourself.

* Living with a man means pushing your family to the side and living as an adult. When I was 18 I needed my mother more than ever. There is a lot of responsibility in the outside world, why rush it?

* It also means pushing your responsibilities that are most important to the second place - your schoolwork should come first, as that will give you the foundation on which to build your future.

Most of us have more than one serious relationship before we get married, which means that statistically speaking, you probably won't marry your high-school sweetheart. Is he worth throwing your future away on? If he is, he will have your best interest at heart and allow you to first get your school career done, then get a working career going before he starts pressurizing you.

No matter what anyone says, at the age of 18 nobody is ready for an intimate, adult relationship. It's simply a recipe for emotional damage and heart ache.

Light at the end of the tunnel

It has been a while since my last post, but I am glad to be back.

For a while we had sort of a sabbatical which was good and bad, but ultimately it was neccesary for spiritual growth.

I retraced the steps of my past, which was not always a bed of roses, but it was much easier than I thought it would be. I learned to face my past and look my mistakes squarely in the eyes and I came out a stronger person.

At the end of my proverbial journey, I met up with the person that I have caused the most hurt and vice versa - we ended up being great friends!

Look for the treasure hidden in every clay pot, I promise you will find it!

Why does God allow bad things to happen?

I always stayed away from religious discussions before I was born again.

However since I became born again, I have been more open to listening to the questions of those that are searching.

The most common question that is withholding people from putting their hearts at the cross is "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?"

This is generally in reference to the violence in South Africa and worldwide. The consensus is that if God is almighty and powerful, He should be able to stop the baddies in their tracks. If He loves us so much, why does He not listen to our prayers?

These are some of the misperceptions that cause unbelief amongst those that are yet to be born again.

I have spent a lot of time praying and looking for the answers and finally the Holy Spirit has answered my questions and I want to relay them to you in my own humble way.

God wants to prosper and not to harm us.

As a born again individual, we have the Holy Spirit as our Comforter and Protector whenever we may need Him. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and only comes into our hearts when we invite Him in. When He is present no harm will come our way.

Unfortunately we do not always walk with the Holy Spirit inside us and we allow satan to steal from and rob us and destroy what is ours, which is his way of causing distrust and boy, is he good at it!

It is very much like a parent/child relationship where your kids make you angry but you still love them.

Imagine your teenagers going to wild parties where you are not invited to and cannot protect them and then they get wild drunk and do things that they should not which cause them harm. It is the same in our Father/child relationship with God.

Think about it: we do stuff that chases the Spirit out, we do not repent and then expect God to protect us when we are in a place we should not be? (Be that a physical / emotional / spiritual place).

The only thing you can do is to be sure to walk with the Spirit at all times (takes practice!), ask, believe and receive and be thankful.