Purity vs Virginity.

Leave a Comment / Inspiration, Personal, Sexuality /

pu·ri·ty /ˈpyo͝orədē/ Noun freedom from adulteration or contamination. Well, hello, and welcome to part 3 of the series, “What’s sex got to do with her? Exploring deeper elements of female sexuality among Christians”. The Church, in its entirety, has shied away from speaking on the topic of sex from the pulpit. The few times the Church has attempted to address sex in sermons, seminars, and marriage books, rarely do we hear a female perspective on teaching meant for the whole Church. Even more, censored is the conversation on single women and their sexuality.  Part 3 of our series is “Purity vs Virginity.” We want to uncover the most valid form or meaning of sexual morality that pleases God. Not man, not family, not society, not the pastor, but God and God alone.  In part 2 of the series “The myth of Virginity, or not,” we set the tone by defining what virginity is. Virginity, we defined as the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse.” We understood that there is not any physical marker that can determine whether a woman is a virgin or not. The only concrete way to find out is by asking her.  In the same way, it is prudent to define “purity” being the second side to the coin of this conversation. Purity is the quality of being unmixed, uncontaminated, or wholesome. An example of purity is the quality of a clear diamond with no blemishes.   Allow me to digress a bit. Before we all came to Christ or came to know and believe in the one true God, we were all plagued with sin, guilt, and uncleanliness.  Romans 3 v 22-24 Even the righteousness of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Our redemption is in Christ Jesus, and we have been justified freely by grace. In simple language, it is not our list of “dos and don’ts” that earn us the privilege of being redeemed. It is simply by grace.  Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Psalm 24 v 3-5  Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  Purity in scripture is deep! It is profound because it is about God, not about us. Purity is about recognizing the holiness and righteousness of God and allowing your heart to be in sync with that nature of God. Purity is about our hearts and spirits communing with God supernaturally and divinely. Purity is not about you, and because it is not about you, only God can truly help you be pure in your heart and spirit.  Purity is not the list of ten commandments where we get rewarded or punished for flouting a principle. If purity had anything to do with us, or if it were indeed a list of dos and don’ts, our salvation will be of no consequence. Or there wouldn’t be the need for salvation, by which we freely receive grace.  BUT The people in the Church have made it so that purity is synonymous with virginity. When you hear “oh, she’s pure,” it connotes, “oh, she is a virgin.” It is as if all other aspects of this person cease to exist because they remain a virgin. Or it is as if being a virgin precludes one from all other forms of perversion or sinfulness. Or it means being a virgin is, by default, bearing all the fruits of the spirit. We have downplayed the extent of depth of purity to whether a person is having sex or not. We have reduced the efficacy of the words “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” to mean “Blessed are those who commit every other sin but sex, for God is pleased with them.” We have been so obsessed with the idea that purity is about us and not about God that we have found a unit of measurement, virginity.  I think the question we should ask is, what does it mean to be pure in heart? The Apostle makes a compelling submission to the Church of Corinth, which can be very much likened to the Church today about sexual immorality.  This cluster of verses has very much been famous. I can recall knowing “the body is the temple of God,” but what does it really mean? What does it mean when the Apostle Paul in the earlier verses says that every sin you commit is outside the body, but the sin of fornication or sexual immorality is a sin against your flesh? And I guess the question is if I am sinning against myself, my flesh, what is the big deal? Who does that offend? I am not hurting anyone. And this is the lie the enemy has sold to us, and we so ever blindly have purchased this lie.  Many folks who engage in all forms of perversion believe reasonably it’s not to harm no one. And a lot of us are distrusting of what the word of God says about sexual immorality. It’s as if we may love God if we didn’t have any restrictive clauses attached to it. But we forget that before God gave any form of restriction, He gives freedom. We are distrusting because “why would God tell me what to do with my sexual body part?  Truth is the Bible speaks to how we should conduct ourselves with all our bodily parts. We have commandments on what to say or not to say, not to steal, walk or sit

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Before you discard “New Year’s Resolution”, read this… pt2

Leave a Comment / Inspiration, Personal, PURPOSE /

Third week of the year 2024 it is! How is it going friends? Settling into the year well? In our previous post, we explored what could be some barriers preventing you from being successful in your crushing your goals. It would be unfair to speak about one side without the other, that is an imbalance. In this piece, we will unpack a few tools and tactics to help us. Let’s dig right in… Pray, no like for real pray: God is not a created being, He is the Creator. You and me, and everything else, created by God (Gen. 1 v26) or by man. Our status as created beings put us at a natural disadvantage of lacking all knowledge. We cannot, and will never, know more than the creator concerning the created being and things. I can never know more about a car than the engineer who designed and built it. Same logic applies with God; we know somethings, sometimes, but we will not know all things at all times. Imagine this, you purchase a vehicle, and the only way you drive the vehicle without worrying is that you pay for a monthly insurance. In that case, you know that should any wear, accidents or issues come up, you call up your insurance company and all is taken care of. And the thing with your car insurance is sometimes you got to hustle them and prove why you deserve the insurance claim. But the logic here that I want to highlight is that paying for insurance on your vehicle gives you a certain level of peace. Knowing that when it is needed, you will have it. Here is the thing about praying, it is our only fail-proof insurance in this walk of life. I could list endless Bible verses about why you need to pray because it is a commandment, or it is the only way to communicate with God. I could also tell you that Jesus Christ, in man form prayed consistently, and all of that would be the truth. Today, I want you to imagine your life without an insurance policy. Anything can and will happen to you. Your plans don’t have the surety of succeeding. You can’t be sure that the decision you made, in 20 years from today will be beneficial. And even with the wisdom and foresight of experience and growth, our decisions/plans/life are not all fail-proof, or at least that’s what I think. Knowing what decisions/plans to make, its connection to our blessings, benefit or consequences require a high-level security clearance and insurance that can only be in God. Only God knows it all, because He exists in and of Himself, and only in Him can we insure our decisions against loss. So when you pray concerning a goal, pray that it is insured and fail-proof in Christ Jesus! Measure your progress: “In God we trust; all others must bring data.” —W. Edwards Deming. Imagine you are at a game, let’s say a soccer game and after 90 minutes of game play, and maybe an extra 5 minutes of injury time, there are no scores. Not even a 0-0. The scoreboard just says game over. No scores or nothing. Can you tell how absurd that is?  Keeping scores in a game is not only about who won/lost, but it provides an accurate performance report. Unfortunately, most of us, myself included go through our lives as though we went to game that didn\’t keep scores.  We actively avoid measuring our progress for fear of confronting the bitter truth that we may not be doing as good as we are, or the fear that we are doing better than we imagined, therefore inviting us to do more. Scorekeeping serves as a practical reality check, offering insights and performance feedback. Efficient measurement eliminates emotional bias from the evaluation process, providing an accurate portrayal of your performance. The focus is solely on outcomes, disregarding effort or intentions. It\’s common to rationalize subpar results occasionally, but effective scorekeeping compels us to confront the reality of our situation, even when discomfort arises. Though this confrontation may be challenging, doing so promptly allows us to shift our actions toward achieving more favorable results. Effective measurement demands our attention, urging immediate responses and enhancing the likelihood of future success. Effective time management: Time is the one non-renewable resource we have, unfortunately it is the one resource we treat as if we can make more of. The next time you are tempted to procrastinate, remember that you cannot reproduce time. I say this not to cause panic, but to bring to your attention or remembrance, that if you do not control your time, you cannot control your results. Being available to everyone and for everything is an indication that external people and things impact your time more than you take charge. Truth is to hit those goals like a bullseye, time must be dedicated to them. It is a non-negotiable. You want to scale the business, you got to put time in. You want to lose the weight, put time in. You need to pass those exams, time. Show one thing you need to accomplish which doesn’t involve time….. I am waiting. Right none, I thought as much. One practical way to ensure you have a grasp of your time is the use of time blocks. Figure out your best working time. Are you an early bird or night owl? Block out about 2-3 hours of those peek performance hours and get your time in for your goals. This is in no way an exhaustive list, however I believe it is the best way to get going on those goals. It is my hope and prayer that a year from now, we would check those goals off our list, and be ready to dive into a fresh set of goals!!   Wishing you all the best of 2024!!! Love and hugs, Nelia Leave us a comment… we would love to know what

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Before you discard “New Year’s Resolution”, read this…

Leave a Comment / Inspiration, Personal, PURPOSE /

Hey there, friend! First of all, congratulations on making it into 2024! Regardless of whether you sprinted, strolled, or even dragged yourself into the new year, the fact that you\’re here is an achievement in itself. Take a moment to appreciate that. With the start of a new year, many of us embrace the idea of a fresh beginning, a chance to improve ourselves or revive dormant dreams. The concept most commonly associated with this pursuit is the \”New Year\’s Resolution.\” While some argue its ineffectiveness without a commitment to daily actions, it\’s essential not to dismiss the value of setting new goals on January 1st. For many, the new year signifies more than a mere change in the calendar; it\’s an awakening. Rather than discarding the idea of resolutions, what might truly benefit us is providing tools and resources to support those who find solace and purpose in setting new goals each year. This shift in mindset could lead to a daily commitment to living our best lives, aligning our present actions with the future we envision. Before you decide to abandon your New Year\’s Resolutions or Goals, consider these common barriers that might be hindering your success: Lack of Emotional/Spiritual Connection to the Resolution: A resolution should stem from a deep conviction to change, grounded in emotional or spiritual fulfillment. Ask yourself: What emotional or spiritual connection do I have to this goal? Connect your resolutions to a compelling vision for your life, bridging the gap between your present and your envisioned future. For example, let\’s say I resolve to revive my blog and post more. This resolution is not merely a fleeting desire; it arises from a profound understanding that writing is an integral part of who I am. The act of putting words on paper brings me a level of emotional and spiritual fulfillment that nothing else can match. To truly embark on the journey of writing more frequently and sharing my gift with the world – my ultimate goal – I recognize the need to establish a deep emotional and spiritual connection between the act of writing and the larger vision I have for my life. Consider this: What is your vision for your life? Picture yourself at the ripe age of 90, reflecting on the long and blessed life that God has granted you. What legacy do you want to leave behind? What level of fulfillment do you hope to experience? Now, bring your thoughts back to the present moment. The gap between your current reality and your envisioned self at 90 encompasses more than just time; it involves the compelling vision you hold. This compelling vision should serve as the guiding force for your present-day goals. By aligning your goals with the emotional and spiritual connection to your overarching life vision, you provide wings to your commitment. These wings will allow you to glide seamlessly towards your objectives, driven not only by the desire for change but by a deeper understanding of how these actions contribute to the fulfillment of your life\’s purpose. Victim Mindset: Life has its ups and downs, but blaming external factors for our challenges perpetuates a victim mindset. Take ownership of your actions and outcomes, recognizing that waiting for someone else to fix things won\’t lead to a fulfilling life. Life is inherently unpredictable, with some days being fantastic, others average, and some challenging. This imbalance is what maintains life\’s equilibrium. However, adopting a victim mindset, blaming others or systems for difficult days, hinders personal growth. A victim mindset seeks external redemption instead of taking ownership of life\’s challenges. Individuals in this mindset limit their success by attributing it to external factors. To truly enjoy life, it\’s crucial to reject the victim mindset, as waiting for external solutions hampers personal responsibility. As Candace Owens puts it, \”Life is tough; get a helmet.\” Embrace challenges, but don\’t rely on others to provide the solutions – choose not to live in a victim mindset. Shedding Accountability: In \”The 12 Week Year\” book, the authors emphasize that accountability goes beyond mere consequences; it involves taking ownership of one\’s actions and results. It\’s a character trait and a life stance, requiring a willingness to be responsible regardless of the circumstances. While accountability often implies someone else ensuring corrective measures, the authors argue that true accountability is an individual commitment. Relying on others for accountability is not an honest system; instead, having an accountability partner means having someone witness your ownership of actions or inactions. For example, if I commit to writing and publishing a blog weekly, it\’s crucial to take ownership of that commitment. Sharing it with a friend is beneficial, but it doesn\’t transfer responsibility; the friend becomes a witness to my accountability. Ultimately, expecting others to consistently play the role of holding you accountable is unrealistic, as everyone is busy navigating their own lives, except for those who brought you into this world i.e. parents or are paid to teach you. Conflicting Intentions: Conflicting intentions arise when our stated goals clash with certain aspects of our desires, making it difficult to achieve milestones. For instance, aspiring to lose 10kg while indulging in any made of flour, eggs, sugar, and butter reveals conflicting intentions. The challenge lies in these hidden intentions that we may be unaware of or avoid confronting. Many times, our written goals don\’t align with our true selves, hindering achievement. To bridge this gap, it\’s essential to acknowledge and confront these hidden intentions. For example, desiring weight loss while still enjoying food or lacking motivation to exercise indicates a misalignment. Reconciling written goals with these hidden truths is crucial for successful goal attainment. Until this reconciliation occurs, achieving New Year\’s resolutions remains elusive. Over – ambitiousness: Over-ambitiousness in setting goals can be counterproductive. While the notion of dreaming big is often encouraged, it can also be a reason why goals remain unachieved. The optimism that accompanies new year resolutions might wane when the reality of the effort required

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Healed In Victory (Interview with KoHsin Illingworth)

1 Comment / Inspiration, Interviews, Personal /

For many, the acronym HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) may be a death sentence, and rightly so. But for KoHsin Illingworth, it has taken a new meaning, which will unfold as you continue to walk with us in this story. Kohsin tell us about your childhood. How was it like growing up? I grew up in a financially stable home, alongside my brother. As kids we were competitive.  As every young girl, I had my ambitions, plans and dreams for her future.  My parents were bankers who paid keen attention to the physical, academic, and financial pieces of my life. However as with most parents, that was at the cost of being emotionally available for their daughter. Interesting, I found Jesus on my own even though I was born into a Buddhist home.  I got baptized, which was a public confession of my faith. I had my insecurities growing up. These insecurities and the vacuum left by the emotional and mental neglect of my parents fueled her insecurities and motivated me to seek solace elsewhere. When did you relocate to the UK and for what? After my undergraduate degree in Taiwan, I eventually relocated from the Uk to pursue a Master’s in commerce at the How was life in the UK for you as a newcomer? I thought I had found this new level of freedom. I would be hopping from party to party, engaging in one-night stands etc. I was at a party one night where I was raped. I was drunk but I still remember that experience and how my body was violated that night. A few years later, I met and married my lovely husband. Everything was going on well, for a young couple. Until I started falling ill and the doctors couldn’t diagnose what was wrong with my body.  I was committed even to the mental institutions because she was diagnosed with clinical depression and maniac episodes. One fateful night, I lost consciousness, collapsed, and had to be transported to the hospital in an ambulance. The doctors at the point, at their wits end decided to test for HIV/AIDS. The tests came out positive. The Doctors mentioned this was contracted about 6 or 7 years ago, and had develop into a full-blown AIDS, which was gradually killing me. At this point Kohsin, finding out that you have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, from rape, if you could go back in time to speak to your younger self then, what would you tell her? I would say to her be careful about your association. If you find yourself in the wrong crowd, it is easier to land in darkness. Be wise, especially as a woman. Having one-night stands wasn’t wise of me. Don’t be careless and take care of yourself. What was your initial reaction after being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS? Prior to the diagnosis, I did not have any HIV/AIDS awareness but only knew the diagnosis was fatal. Especially when the nurses would constantly remind me “Mrs. Illingworth, we are doing our possible best to save your life.” I also observed my husband howling and crying, and that was also an indication of how bad it was. I would eventually contemplate suicide by overdosing on her medication. How did this impact your marriage and family? It impacted my husband a lot. He had a front row seat to my illness. He was also eventually diagnosed with HIV. Imagine a young couple who married in their early 30’s and a year later, I am dying with Aids and my husband is diagnosed with HIV. He may have been in a better situation than me, but it was still bad. My husband would still visit me in the hospital daily even though he was going through his own trials at the time. Let\’s talk about the healing process. We have talked so much about the painful past and how you came to realize your diagnosis let\’s get into the good stuff. When I was in the hospital even though I was physically weak I found some inner strength and I believe it was the power of God that came over me. I started praying just in the little way that I could. Prior to being diagnosed or even prior to marrying my husband I had completely left the place of fellowship with God. It wasn\’t until one day when I had left the hospital, I heard God’s voice clearly speak to me saying that KoHsin am waiting for you to come home. I looked around trying to see if there was anyone next to me who had spoken those words to me but there was no one around me. I was alone and I heard the voice clearly speak to me that I\’m waiting for you to come home. After I heard that that voice I jumped into a taxi, and I went straight to a Baptist Church. Once I got into the church, I narrated my whole experience to the people, and they were kind and loving enough to welcome me into fellowship into their community and just show me the love of God. And this is how my healing process began because I went back to my father\’s house and the warmth, the love, the embrace, that I experienced from the people but most importantly from God was word started my healing journey. I also had to learn to forgive myself for the mistakes of my past. I had to forgive myself because I had constantly blamed myself thinking that if I hadn\’t attended that party that evening I would not have been raped and I would not have contracted the HIV/AIDS.  But I came to the place where I knew that to accept God\’s forgiveness for me, I had to forgive the man that raped me, I had to forgive myself and I had to accept the forgiveness that I know was in God. Additionally, I also sought counselling with the Christian Counsellors and that really helped

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Tamar-Not this Widow II

Leave a Comment / Bible Character Study, Charm v Substance, PURPOSE /

In the following years Tamar heard that her father-in-law Judah was visiting the city in which she lived. Judah’s wife the daughter of shore had died and when the time of morning was passed Judah was going up to the sheep shearers in Timnah with his friend Hirah, the Adullamite. I guess news travels far, so Tamar found out her father-in-law was going to make this trip, down to the city where she lived. Let’s not forget that at this point Tamar had been waiting in her father\’s home as a widow for Judah’s last son to come of age so she could be married to him. I could only imagine the betrayal of trust and love that Tamar felt towards her father-in-law after he had promised that when his third son, Shelah came of age, he was going to give her to him for a husband. So, she planned very strategically to meet with her father-in-law. This meeting is not one that you would even think of and I for one had judged Tamar based on just how unorthodox and initially I thought self-centred this meeting was. Tamar took off her window’s clothes and disguised herself, with a veil and wrapped herself up in disguise. She then positioned herself at the gateway of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah, Judah’s destination. When Judah saw her he thought that she was a temple prostitute for she had covered her face as such woman did in those days. He turned to her by the road and said please, let me lie with you. Tamar didn\’t just go with him again because she was strategic about what she was doing, and she knew exactly what the outcome was that she wanted. So, she asked “what will you give me if I came in to lay with you?” And for a man of Judah’s calibre, this was a very easy question for him so he answered and said oh I will give you one of my young goat from my flock. She said well, obviously you don\’t have the goats with you here but what you can do is you can give me a pledge which is something that I can hold onto until you have delivered the goat and Judah agreed. So, he asked what pledge I would give you that would be satisfactory for you and she said give me your seal, your cord, and your staff that is in your hand. She might have all have said that you know what let me just take a picture of you and hold on to that or let me just take a DNA sample of you and hold on to that because all these three things that she took from him as a pledge were things that would later come to find out where very specific and unique to Judah as an individual. No one else had his seal no one else had his staff and no one else had his cord. So after their little you know chit chat and bargain Judah eventually lay with Tamar which is biblical jargon for had sex with Tamar. After the intimacy, Tamar got up early the next morning gathered her things left and put on put back her widows clothing and just went back to her father\’s home as if nothing had happened. Eventually Judah sent the goat, which remember he had promised to Tamar. He sent this through his friend, Hirah, Tamar was nowhere to be found. He inquired from the people around and said there was a prostitute that sat by the temple where can I find her?  He was told you know what there is no prostitute that sat by this temple you might have made a mistake and there was no one here. So, the friend returned to Judah and said I can\’t find the person. Judah said that you know what if we can find her that\’s fine, we just keep the goat because if we keep looking for her and it is found out that I am the one who laid with her, it\’s going to be embarrassing for me. A few months passed and again as word travels fast Judah was told that you know your daughter-in-law Tamar whom you had sent home to wait for your youngest son to come of age so that he would marry her? Yeah, that same Tamar is pregnant. Judah was furious, he was upset, and he ordered her to be brought out and let her be burned because of her immorality. Again, let\’s not forget that just a few months even before now Judah himself had laid with Tamar whom he thought was a prostitute which was also immoral. But as it pertains to Tamar he was upset and said let\’s burn her for her immorality talk about double standards. While she was being brought to be burned, she took all the things that Judah gave her as a pledge the seal the cord the staff and said to Judah I am with child by the man to whom these articles belong. And she added please examine them carefully and see clearly to whom these things belong the seal, the cord, and the staff. Judah recognized these articles as his and said you know what she is been more righteous than I have ever been in this matter why because I did not give her my son Sheila as I had promised. And so, tamer\’s life was spared. And when the time came for her to give birth the word twins in her womb these twins would eventually be called Perez and Zerah who are in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. What lessons do we learn from Tamar in this part Re-writing your story: Let\’s be honest Judah had no plans of given Shelah to Tamar for marriage. In which case Tamar would have remained a widow in her father\’s home till she passed into glory. And

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TAMAR; Not this widow!

Leave a Comment / Bible Character Study /

  Tamar, wife/widow of Er and Shelah has never been in the clique of reputable women in the Bible, comparable to Esther, Mary or even Deborah.  She may be somewhere in between Rahab and Ruth, fierce enough to take her future in her hands but modest and unassuming. And maybe it had to do with the fact that she tricked her father-in-law to have sex with her, consequently being pregnant with twins! Talk about a comeback! I led this Bible Study in our Being Phenomenal Community (click here to join) and it was such an incredible, enlightening session. It is amazing how much we learn when we take off the lenses of pride and prejudice. The name Tamar was a popular Old Testament name which means “palm tree or date palm” in Hebrew. A lot of women in the Old Testament were named Tamar, an example is Amnon’s sister who he raped (not the person of interest today). Biblically, a “Palm Tree” symbolizes longevity, to flourish, with its leaves in particular meaning victory. It comes as no surprise to me how Tamar was able to cement her name in the genealogy of Jesus. Been given to Er, the first son of Judah for a wife, Tamar would soon become a widow. Her first husband, Er, was slain by God because there was wickedness found in him. (Gen.38 V 6-7).  While in the process of grieving and healing from the loss of her husband, Judah, her father in-law, instructs Onan (his second son) to go into her (Biblical jargon for sex), and then marry her. (Gen. 38 v 8).  To the end, that Onan and Tamar will raise a son in the name of Er (culture at the time). The levirate marriage was a common practice in that culture. Some cultures still practice this to date. The brother-in-law is required to father an heir with his sibling’s widow so his legacy would continue and ensure the inheritance for them after they died. (Deut. 25 v 5). Onan, wanting to eat his cake and have it, thought he could pick and choose which part of the culture to uphold. He chose the sex but didn’t want the responsibility of raising a kid. He marries and has sex with Tamar but spills his seed on the floor (Gen. 38 v 9). Onan’s decision to spill his seed on the ground was also motivated by greed due to the inheritance structure. The child he would bare for his brother would inherit more of Judah’s estate than him, Onan or his seed. Once again, God was displeased and that would be the end of Onan. Judah now instructs Tamar saying, “Remain a widow at thy father\’s house, till Shelah my son be grown for he said, lest peradventure he dies also, as his brethren did.” (Gen 38 v 11) Tamar does exactly as she is told. She returns to her father’s home, being widowed twice! Judah had the prerogative to set Tamar free, allowing her to re-marry, but he did not. Tamar stayed unmarried, holding onto the words of Judah for a promising future of bliss and family. Let’s pause here for a moment of reflection. I invite you to think of Tamar not as a Biblical character, but as you. In the next 30 seconds to a minute, you are Tamar. Write down how this experience has broken you. Reflect on the trauma of being passed on from one son, to the next. Reflect on how powerless you feel, being instructed to go home, and wait for a young boy to come of age, and maybe marry you. Think of the perceived loss of dignity, the prying eyes, the judgmental lips. Think of how you have internalized guilt, thinking perhaps, this misfortune was your fault, because really, you are the common denominator. Sis, you may not have been widowed twice. You may not have been asked to return to your father’s home, waiting for a boy to become a man, to marry you. But what experience has left you feeling powerless? What trauma of rejection are you saddled with? What guilt, which by the way was not your blunder, have you internalized? But Tamar rose, one day and said, NOT THIS WIDOW…. (to be continued)

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Win More Hands with Advanced Marked Cards Contact Lenses

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Gain Instant Insight at the Table Marked cards contact lenses are a game-changing tool designed for players looking to elevate their performance in live poker. These lenses allow the user to detect subtle infrared marks on playing cards, making it possible to quickly read the suit and value without drawing any attention. Suitable for All Popular Card Games From Texas Hold’em and Omaha to Short Deck and Blackjack, marked cards contact lenses provide support across multiple formats. Players can easily transition between game types while maintaining the same strategic advantage, no matter the table. Seamless Comfort and Discreet Design Crafted to fit any eye color, these lenses are thin, breathable, and optimized for long hours of use. Their design ensures minimal eye fatigue, while remaining virtually invisible to others, making them ideal for extended gaming sessions. Works Only with Infrared Marked Cards To function effectively, these lenses must be used alongside infrared marked cards. The combination allows players to stay ahead of opponents by knowing more, faster, and with absolute precision—giving users a real-time advantage throughout the game. For premium-grade lenses and marked decks, choose GPT Marked Cards, your reliable source for high-performance poker tools. FAQs 1. What are marked cards contact lenses?They are special lenses used to detect infrared markings on cards. 2. Which games are compatible?They work with Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Short Deck, and Blackjack. 3. Are these lenses visible to others?No, they’re invisible to spectators and opponents. 4. Can anyone wear them?Yes, they are suitable for all eye colors and types. 5. Do they require special cards?Yes, they must be used with infrared marked cards. 6. How long can I wear them comfortably?They are designed for extended use without discomfort. 7. Will lighting affect performance?They work under normal gaming room lighting conditions. 8. Are they reusable?Yes, they can be reused multiple times with proper care. 9. How do I store the lenses?Keep them in a sterile lens case with proper cleaning solution. 10. Where can I get a trusted set?You can find high-quality sets at GPT Marked Cards.

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See the Unseen: Master the Game with a Marked Cards Contact Lenses Set

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Unlock Hidden Details Instantly The marked cards contact lenses set is a powerful tool for live poker players seeking a consistent edge. Designed to detect markings made with ink that reacts to specific infrared light, these lenses allow users to identify the suit and value of marked cards at a glance. This insight provides a decisive advantage in predicting the flow of each round. Compatible with All Major Poker Formats Whether you’re dealing with Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Short Deck, or Blackjack, this set delivers exceptional performance. With accurate card recognition and quick adaptability, players can maintain control across different games without changing equipment or strategy. Designed for Comfort and Stealth Each lens is made with an ultra-thin, flexible material that conforms to any eye color. The lightweight design ensures extended comfort, even during long poker sessions. They are virtually invisible to spectators, making them a discreet yet powerful tool in high-stakes environments. Use with Infrared Marked Cards Only To achieve full effectiveness, the marked cards contact lenses set must be paired with infrared marked cards. Together, they create a synchronized system for gaining real-time information that others can’t access. This combination enables players to act confidently and stay ahead of the competition. To explore high-quality solutions for poker edge tools, choose TNT Poker Cheat, a brand trusted for advanced cheating systems. FAQs 1. What is a marked cards contact lenses set?It’s a pair of contact lenses designed to read infrared marks on playing cards. 2. What games are they suitable for?They work well with Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Short Deck, and Blackjack. 3. Are they comfortable for long use?Yes, they’re designed for extended wear and all-day comfort. 4. Can anyone see I’m wearing them?No, they are practically invisible to others. 5. Do they work with regular cards?No, they only work with infrared marked cards. 6. Are they safe for all eye colors?Yes, the lenses are compatible with any eye color. 7. How do I maintain the lenses?Store them in a clean lens case with proper solution and avoid touching with dirty hands. 8. How many times can I use them?With proper care, they are reusable for multiple sessions. 9. Do lighting conditions affect visibility?They function well under standard gaming room lighting. 10. Where can I get a reliable setup?The complete set is available from TNT Poker Cheat.

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Purity vs Virginity.

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  pu·ri·ty /ˈpyo͝orədē/ Noun freedom from adulteration or contamination. Well, hello, and welcome to part 3 of the series, \”What\’s sex got to do with her? Exploring deeper elements of female sexuality among Christians\”. The Church, in its entirety, has shied away from speaking on the topic of sex from the pulpit. The few times the Church has attempted to address sex in sermons, seminars, and marriage books, rarely do we hear a female perspective on teaching meant for the whole Church. Even more, censored is the conversation on single women and their sexuality.  Part 3 of our series is \”Purity vs Virginity.\” We want to uncover the most valid form or meaning of sexual morality that pleases God. Not man, not family, not society, not the pastor, but God and God alone.  In part 2 of the series \”The myth of Virginity, or not,\” we set the tone by defining what virginity is. Virginity, we defined as the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse.\” We understood that there is not any physical marker that can determine whether a woman is a virgin or not. The only concrete way to find out is by asking her.  In the same way, it is prudent to define \”purity\” being the second side to the coin of this conversation. Purity is the quality of being unmixed, uncontaminated, or wholesome. An example of purity is the quality of a clear diamond with no blemishes.   Allow me to digress a bit. Before we all came to Christ or came to know and believe in the one true God, we were all plagued with sin, guilt, and uncleanliness.  Romans 3 v 22-24 Even the righteousness of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Our redemption is in Christ Jesus, and we have been justified freely by grace. In simple language, it is not our list of \”dos and don\’ts\” that earn us the privilege of being redeemed. It is simply by grace.  Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Psalm 24 v 3-5  Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  Purity in scripture is deep! It is profound because it is about God, not about us. Purity is about recognizing the holiness and righteousness of God and allowing your heart to be in sync with that nature of God. Purity is about our hearts and spirits communing with God supernaturally and divinely. Purity is not about you, and because it is not about you, only God can truly help you be pure in your heart and spirit.  Purity is not the list of ten commandments where we get rewarded or punished for flouting a principle. If purity had anything to do with us, or if it were indeed a list of dos and don\’ts, our salvation will be of no consequence. Or there wouldn\’t be the need for salvation, by which we freely receive grace.  BUT The people in the Church have made it so that purity is synonymous with virginity. When you hear \”oh, she\’s pure,\” it connotes, \”oh, she is a virgin.\” It is as if all other aspects of this person cease to exist because they remain a virgin. Or it is as if being a virgin precludes one from all other forms of perversion or sinfulness. Or it means being a virgin is, by default, bearing all the fruits of the spirit. We have downplayed the extent of depth of purity to whether a person is having sex or not. We have reduced the efficacy of the words \”Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God\” to mean \”Blessed are those who commit every other sin but sex, for God is pleased with them.\” We have been so obsessed with the idea that purity is about us and not about God that we have found a unit of measurement, virginity.  I think the question we should ask is, what does it mean to be pure in heart? The Apostle makes a compelling submission to the Church of Corinth, which can be very much likened to the Church today about sexual immorality.  This cluster of verses has very much been famous. I can recall knowing \”the body is the temple of God,\” but what does it really mean? What does it mean when the Apostle Paul in the earlier verses says that every sin you commit is outside the body, but the sin of fornication or sexual immorality is a sin against your flesh? And I guess the question is if I am sinning against myself, my flesh, what is the big deal? Who does that offend? I am not hurting anyone. And this is the lie the enemy has sold to us, and we so ever blindly have purchased this lie.  Many folks who engage in all forms of perversion believe reasonably it\’s not to harm no one. And a lot of us are distrusting of what the word of God says about sexual immorality. It\’s as if we may love God if we didn\’t have any restrictive clauses attached to it. But we forget that before God gave any form of restriction, He gives freedom. We are distrusting because \”why would God tell me what to do with my sexual body part?  Truth is the Bible speaks to how we should conduct ourselves with all our bodily parts. We have commandments on what to say or not to say, not to steal, walk or

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The Myth of Virginity, or Not

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Part 2- The Myth of Virginity, or Not \”vir·ginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse.\” Welcome to part 2 in the four-part series we are calling, \”What\’s sex got to do with her? Exploring deeper elements of female sexuality among Christians\”. In this post, we shall uncover the myth or truth about the notion of \”virginity.\”  In my young girl years, there happened to be a club in my lovely city. The club was called \”THE VIRGINS\’ CLUB.\” It was founded by my childhood best friend\’s mother. It was an enjoyable moment in my life as every Sunday evening, I hung out with my friends from school and met other girls my age. That was my ulterior motive for joining the club. Oh, and the occasional parties and field trips made it even more enticing. But the real purpose of the club was, as you can deduce from the name, to educate teen girls about sex and abstinence. That was the first time in my life; I vividly recall having a \’comprehensive\’ understanding of the word \’virgin.\’ At the club, we were taught about STIs, teenage pregnancy and others. One thing heard time and over again was the phrase \”Do not lose your virginity.\” You see, I have always been an analytical and curious person, so I recall, even as a young girl, how the phrase \”do not lose your virginity\” sounded wrong and problematic to me. But hey, who to ask or what questions to even ask. We were constantly admonished not to \”lose our virginity\” for various reasons such as: The boy wins in that situation You have no more value or less value as a girl You can\’t undo it, and once it\’s done, it is done. But the problem lies within the language \”losing.\” Losing means to be defeated, to fail to win, fail to keep, something that has been taken away and cannot be recovered\”. In essence, what is communicated is that once you have sexual intercourse, you have lost something that cannot be retrieved or something has been stripped away from you. I agree that something is indeed stripped away from you, and that is your innocence. Outside of that, you have not lost your value, your dignity or worth as a woman. Being told from childhood that \”do not lose your virginity\” screams once you have any sexual encounter, you cannot recover from that, which is not the whole truth. The other part of this language is that once you \”lose your virginity,\” some irreparable damage has been done to you. As such, the tale of policing the sexuality of women is as long as time. The whole notion of \”Virginity\” is presented to the woman, in this context, the single Christian woman as a measure of her sexual purity. Virginity is, for some reason is tied to her value and dignity as a woman. The science behind the virginity of a woman, or the physical marker for virginity, is the presence of the hymen. Misinformation and circulated myths about the perceived relationship between the hymen and a woman\’s virginity can be incredibly harmful to women. Research had misinformed that the presence of the hymen determines a woman\’s sexual purity. My recollection of how the hymen was explained to me as a young girl was that it was an elastic membrane that every girl had. And that elastic membrane can only be breached if there is penetrative sex. Hence, many cultures stuck to the examination of the hymen as proof of a girl\’s virginity.  However, recent research has offered a more scientific basis as to why the hymen cannot be relied on as a physical maker on a woman\’s virginity and why equating the virginity of a woman to the presence of the hymen is untrue and harmful. So, what is the hymen? In simple, non-medical terms, the hymen is a remnant tissue just inside the vaginal opening that is leftover from the formation of the vagina during embryonic development. A tiny amount of excess tissue in a crescent-shaped or ring-like structure around the margin of the vaginal entrance is the most typical symptom. Many people are startled to hear that the hymen serves no medicinal or physiological function. For some women, there is almost no tissue at all. Others believe it is a membrane that covers the vaginal opening. That situation is uncommon, and it can interfere with sex or tampon use, but it can be surgically removed. The most common misconception about the hymen is that it is \”intact\” until it is broken during vaginal penetration, at which point it becomes a physical marker of virginity. Though many women do experience a small amount of bleeding from hymenal tearing during their first intercourse, this is by no means a universal experience, as many women have very little tissue there, to begin with. With the misconception on the relationship between the hymen and the virginity of a woman established, let\’s talk about the topic of today\’s discussion, is virginity a myth or not? Below, I discuss 3 myths associated with the virginity of the woman. VIRGINITY=VIRTUE: \”Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.\” Proverbs 31 v 10 Virginity is not synonymous with virtue. Virtue is behaviour showing high moral standards. It is delivering diligence, excellence, and integrity. While I agree that a sexually pure woman is more likely to be diligent, excellent, prudent and have more integrity, it is not always the threshold. I would walk us through Proverbs 31, which enlists the things that the woman does, which makes her virtuous, and I hate to break the news to you, but her virginity or the sexual life was not relevant to the situation. The point is this, we have, intentionally or unintentionally, in the church equated virginity to virtue. We have alluded that once a woman is a virgin or sexually pure, all that matters. We have insinuated that all other parts

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