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I choose Love
OFTEN WHEN I FIND MYSELF feeling upset or disappointed about something going on in my life, I am reminded of these words from Christ Jesus: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33). Elsewhere, Jesus expresses a similar idea, saying, "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him" (Matt. 6:8).
When I honestly consider these teachings of Jesus, I am humbled into asking myself, "How willingly do I trust God to provide for my needs and desires?" It's easy to feel comfortable leaving small issues "in God's hands." For the bigger things, however, I have tended to attempt a more "thanks God, but I got it" approach. And a few years ago, I realized there was one big area in which I was particularly reluctant to allow God to provide for my needs: relationships.
At that point in my life I knew that my highest sense of purpose was to love God supremely. I wanted to be listening to His guidance in everything I did, from teaching to running. However, I also really wanted to find a romantic relationship, and I worried that in order to find love, I would have to be totally focused on pursuing it, which would distract me from really putting God first. Then again, I wondered, if I chose to love God with my whole heart, would that lead me away from any chance of finding companionship? It felt as if I had to make a choice: Either I could opt to lead a life focused on God, or I could throw myself into a search for companionship and lose sight of my life's purpose.
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November 15, 2010 issue
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LETTERS
with contributions from LOREN MEISSNER, NELLIE GITAU, SHIRLEY JONES, FREDERICK R. ANDRESEN
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UNITED THROUGH THE BIBLE
STEVE GRAHAM, MANAGING EDITOR, SENTINEL, JOURNAL, AND HERALD
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ITEMS OF INTEREST
with contributions from Jimmy Sanchez, Steven Prothero
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YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT: NOT A FIXED FACT
ANNETTE KREUTZIGER-HERR
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READY FOR A JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE?
KATHLEEN COLLINS
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YOU ARE NOT A FAKE
BERYL O. NATHANS
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Prayer that covers the bases
BY CURTIS J. WAHLBERG
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Finding my freedom from sensuality
Name withheld
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I choose Love
BY STEVE HENN
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A HOLY MESSAGE FOR ALL
BY COLLEEN DOUGLASS
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Christ my refuge
Mary Baker Eddy
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Biblical community—lessons for today
BY MADELON MAUPIN
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Bible-based community in church
BY BLAKE SCHMIDT
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Goodbye gloom!
BY CLARA LOWENBERG
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FORGIVENESS: THE KEY TO PEACE
ROSALIE E. DUNBAR, NEWS EDITOR
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Mustard seed/Your neighbor
Brian Kissock
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FREEDOM FROM MENSTRUAL PAIN
JEREMY RUTH REVILOCK-FROST
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LEG PAIN HEALED
KATIE SUE BROWN
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WART ON SON'S FINGER HEALED
CAROLINE MARTIN