Just Continue That Thought...

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