Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Michael Todd, from his book,  Relationship Goals  (p. 46). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) And I have found that true too. Michael continues, "When God said of Adam, 'It is not good for the man to be alone,' He didn’t mean it’s not good to be single. True, humans need to be involved in healthy relationships. In particular, nearly all of us crave to be intimate with someone else. But sex is not the only kind of intimacy, and marriage is not the only valuable season in our lifetime of relationships. The season of singleness is necessary—I’d dare say a priority—to anyone who wants to reach her relationship goals. Think about it: single was Adam’s first relationship status." Michael says, "If you’re single, I’m sure many people and messages in this society have made you feel like you aren’t enough without a significant other. The pressure to find a mate seems intense and unyielding, ...

A thought by Michael Todd, from his book,  Relationship Goals  (p. 41). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) OK, this is very interesting. Michael says, "Not many people I know are happy to live without a bf/gf, much less a h/w. But, actually, singleness could be the most important time of your life because it’s a prime time when God reveals to you who you are. You become self-aware. You find purpose. The future begins to come into focus. We’ve talked about how you have purpose before the person, and this is the phase when it happens. "Many marriages aren’t whole because they have a lot of holes—secrets, pains, scars, fears, insecurities, and so on—that one partner is desperately hoping a spouse can fill. But what if each person had taken the time to heal and develop before they even met? Singleness is the time." He goes on, "When you feel like you know yourself well enough and you’re walking with G...

   A thought by Michael Todd, from his book,  Relationship Goals  (p. 39). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Yes, it will. Michael says, "Maybe you’re exploring this whole faith thing and this idea of cultivating a relationship with God seems a little intimidating. Well, my boy James gives us some advice and a promise: 'Come close to God, and God will come close to you' (James 4:8). It’s just that simple. You take a step, and you become more aware of how close God is. While you’re cultivating your relationship with God from your side, He’s doing even more to cultivate it from His side." He continues, "For you, what does this require? "You need to have a daily devotional life. I’m not going to tell you how to do that or when or for how long, but somehow you’ve got to crack that Bible open or scroll on that app every day. I promise it’ll make you better. It’s the only book where you read it ...

A thought by Michael Todd, from his book,  Relationship Goals  (p. 36). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Yes, He does. Michael says, "Also, your purpose can change from season to season. It evolves. It grows. Sometimes it comes to its natural end. Or it may lie dormant." He continues, "There’s a lot I still don’t know about why God has me on this earth and what He wants to do through me. One reason I know this is that some of my inborn desires are still unfulfilled. And you, I’m sure, have a lot to learn still about your purpose as well. My encouragement is, if you have a relationship with God and you’re really trying to draw near to Him, He will reveal things to you." He goes on, "Now, sometimes the process of learning and growing and moving toward our purposes isn’t easy. Maybe you hate your job, but God is saying, 'I know you only make ten dollars an hour, but there’s something about ...

A thought by Michael Todd, from his book,  Relationship Goals  (p. 34). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) It really is! Michael continues, "This is true with your BFF, your college adviser, your roommate, your business investor…and especially your spouse. "This isn’t about being selfish—'I want a spouse who will free me up to do whatever I want.' No, no, it’s about finding a partner who will help you to fulfill the purpose for which God put you on this earth instead of getting in the way of that. (And of course you need to be the kind of person who does the same thing for your spouse, because she has a purpose too.) This is a big deal. It’s about following God." Michael says, "However much you know about your purpose (I’m about to help you with that) and whatever it might be, remember that Adam started working in his purpose before he ever got a person. What I’m saying to you is that while...

A thought by Michael Todd, from his book,  Relationship Goals  (p. 31). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) And it's not good for me to be alone. Michael continues, "When we set up a life that is guarded and gated, the Enemy comes to attack us. When we’re isolated, we’re at more risk of listening to lies about who we are and coming to believe them as truth. We all need relationship with people who can remind us of the truth and dispel the falsehood, who can show us some of the love our hearts need, who can help us along our way. God knows this. And that’s why God wants relationship for us." Michael says, "Is it hard for you to believe that a major part of God’s plan for your life involves relationship? He wants you to have healthy and successful relationships—yes, you, the one who is content working from home and taking online courses, does all your shopping on Amazon, and doesn’t like going to churc...

A thought by Michael Todd, from his book,  Relationship Goals  (p. 28). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) They do, they really do. Michael continues, "I’m not saying that people who are living far from God can’t sometimes have good relationships. Obviously, they can and do. But I’m saying that on the spiritual level at least, there’s a difference. If you and I don’t have our constant source as God, we will always be deficient and not able to give all the grace, give all the peace we should in relationship. We won’t be able to walk in the love of Christ like we’re supposed to." He says, "Let’s go back to creation. God made the sun and the moon and the sky and said, 'It is good.' He made water and dry land and said, 'It is good.' He made plants like spinach and kale and then, for me, all the ingredients for a delicious soul-food dinner and said, 'It is good.' Then He made the sea ...

A thought by Michael Todd, from his book,  Relationship Goals  (p. 24). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Michael earlier asked, "How much time do we spend pursuing relationships that would be a mistake if we ever got them, trying to make bad relationships work better, or healing from past relationships that blew up on us? From the perspective of a pastor whom hurting people tell their stories to, I can assure you, it’s a huge amount of time!" He continues, "Wouldn’t it be better if we put our energy into having the best possible relationships in the first place? It’s not a perfect world, we’re not perfect people, and no relationship on earth is ever going to be perfect. But God has given us the Bible and the church to help us win in relationship. He helps us find the right targets and straightens our aim. "You don’t have to listen to me if you don’t want to. You can go ahead and secretly envy wha...

A thought by Michael Todd, from his book,  Relationship Goals  (p. 19). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) He really was. Michael continues, "Let me prove it.  "Once, God told the prophet Jeremiah, 'Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.' (Jeremiah 1:5)" "In other words, Jeremiah had a God-given mission before he even took his first breath. But before you dismiss that as a special case, let me tell you that it’s not just prophets or other unusual people who have a place in God’s plan. We all have God-given, inborn purposes." Michael says, "An apostle said it: 'We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago' (Ephesian 2:10). You’re a masterpiece ! He’s got good things for you to do, planned before you were born! "... We all have a variety of purpos...

A thought by Michael Todd, from his book,  Relationship Goals  (p. 17). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) It really does. Michael says, "Let’s say you’re single and ready to mingle and you’ve made a list of things you want in a significant other. One could be 'He’s got to be at least this tall and make this much money' or 'She’s got to have the cute face and a tiny waist.' This shows that most of our lists tend to be a little (or a lot) superficial and might reflect not what we actually need in a partner but more of just what we want at the time. I assure you, life has a way of changing, modifying, and redefining what success in relationship looks like for all of us." He continues, "When I’m going on a road trip, I usually tell my phone where I want to go, and it gives me directions on how to get there. But success for the journey happens only if I’ve given my phone the right destinatio...

A thought by Michael Todd, from his book, Relationship Goals  (p. 15). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) The whole thought says, "The truth is, having a goal without aim is senseless, but having a goal without God is pointless." Michael continues that thought, "Many of us don’t have our aim directed when it comes to relationships. We take whatever comes. We do whatever’s comfortable. But we don’t really know where we’re going or why." He says, "Many of us don’t have our aim directed when it comes to relationships. We take whatever comes. We do whatever’s comfortable. But we don’t really know where we’re going or why. "Don’t believe me? Have you ever known a girl who dated pretty much any guy who happened to show an interest in her, without ever stopping to think about the kind of guy who would really be right for her? Or a couple who have dated for a long time and have gotten so comforta...