Love, Courtship and Dating – Guard Your Heart, Guard Your Motives, Guard Your Soul
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NIV.
Love
Is your love genuine or fake? Let me tell you a story.
One day while walking along Morayta on my way home I saw a black Nike Air Jordan XIV shoe on one of the shops there. I then remember how Michael Jordan took that winning shot against the Jazz, and the Bulls got their 6th Championship Ring.
I entered the store and asked the sales lady how much it cost. I was shocked to know that it only cost for P1,500 (last price up to P1,300). Gosh! That same shoes Michael Jordan used during the 1998 NBA Play-offs and thus bagging that years NBA Championship Title sells only for P1,500!
The following day I asked my classmate to check on the shoes which he ends up buying. After three months the shoes were totally worn out. Why? Because it’s fake!
Friends, guard you heart from a fake version of love – infatuation.
Fake Love - Infatuation
Yes you read it right. Infatuation is a fake version of love.
I’m not saying infatuation is a bad thing. No, it’s totally normal. Infatuation only becomes a bad thing if it misleads you to think its love. Because infatuation looks like love, feels like love, but it’s not love.
Today I’ll tell you how to spot the genuine love from the fake, keep on reading.
Love Versus Infatuation (spot the difference)
1. Infatuation does not require a decision. It just happens. You see a girl and boom, you want her. You don’t know why. Maybe it’s her dress, the way her hair falls on her shoulder, her smile, how she bites her fingernail. You don’t know. But real love doesn’t just happen, real love requires a decision. You decide to be patient, to be kind, not to be envious, not to boast; not to be proud. You decide to honor the other person, not to be self-seeking, not to be easily angered. You decide not to keep record or wrongs. You decide to protect, to trust, to hope and to persevere.
2. Infatuation does not last long. You have these feelings of love swirling within you until something happens that break the spell. Maybe she’ll open her mouth. Maybe she’ll reveal her fangs. Maybe she’ll introduce you to her family. Maybe she gains 30 pounds. It could be just anything. Infatuation can last for a few days or for a couple of years. But real love last forever.
“Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:8, 13, NIV
3. Infatuation is directed towards a figment of your imagination. You are not attracted to a real person rather you are attracted to a projection of that person from your own imagination. Like infatuation itself, you are in love with a fake. But real love is directed towards a real person. You may have known all his or her strengths and weaknesses and decided to accept it all simply because you love him or her.
“The Lord did not choose you and lavish his love on you because you were larger or greater than nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! It was simply because the Lord loves you.” Deuteronomy 7:7-8, NLT
I’ll say it again: Infatuation is not a bad thing. Infatuation becomes a bad thing if a person thinks it was love. Foolish people think the pirated copy is real and they’d go for it. Wise people don’t, they take their time.
Knowing the difference between love and infatuation does not happen overnight, it’s a test of time, a period of deeply knowing each other more. A span of time called “courtship.”
Courtship
A Love Story
I have read this passage from a book, “Life is a fairytale written by God’s hands.” And I believe my love story is a fairytale written by God’s hands. Let me tell you my story.
I was 18 years old when I really first met God in an intimate way and since then I have loved and served Him in any way possible. Inspired by Joshua Harris’ book, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” lent to me by a friend, I was 18 years old when I decided to kiss dating goodbye.
After reading the book, I just felt tired running on girls. I was 18 and was a proud member of “No Girlfriend Since Birth” association which lasted until I’m 20. During the last two years before I got into a relationship I spent my life serving the Lord through the UE Campus Ministry called Christian Communities Program (UECCP). During that time also I started praying for the girl of my dreams.
During my last semester in college I was re-introduced to Shiela. Oh boy, I tell you, she’s so beautiful, so gorgeous but she’s not my type. I was at the peak of my service, at the peak of my studies and I can’t loose focus. But God made a way for us to be close and we easily get along with each other naturally.
I Started To Pray For Her
For more than 2 years I have been praying for the girl of my dreams, then came Shiela. I don’t know if she’s the one I’m praying for but then I started to pray for her. I asked God to please check on my heart and my motives.
One beautiful cloudy morning I told her, “I don’t know but I’m starting to like you.”
Then I asked her, “Pede ba ako manligaw (Can I court you)?”
She just smiled and said, “Sige (Ok).”
Right then and there I whispered a short prayer, “Lord please guard my motives.”
3 Points on Courtship (Men’s Viewpoint)
1. Nothing beats the power of prayer. Always pray for her. You might not know her yet, but still pray for her. If you think she’s the one, pray for that one. Asked God, “Lord please check on my heart. Is this love I feel?”
2. Before you ask a girl, “Pede ba ako manligaw (Can I court you).” Pray to God to check on your motives. Asked Him, “Lord, why do I feel this way for her? Please check on my motives.” And I’m very much sure God will reveal to you something.
3. Courtship is a like a contract. You both agreed to it. Don’t just make your moves with out the girl knowing why you are making them
When you’re on courtship, you’ll go on “dating.”
Dating 101 – What To Do
Golden Rule of Dating
“Explore each others mind, tastes and preferences not each other’s bodies.”
I can go on talking about the dos and don’ts of dating but the golden rule can sum it up. Keep your courtship clean. Guard your body from sin.
Guard your heart.
Guard your motives.
Guard your soul.
Happy Valentines!
In HIM,
Jobie Doblado
Love
Is your love genuine or fake? Let me tell you a story.
One day while walking along Morayta on my way home I saw a black Nike Air Jordan XIV shoe on one of the shops there. I then remember how Michael Jordan took that winning shot against the Jazz, and the Bulls got their 6th Championship Ring.
I entered the store and asked the sales lady how much it cost. I was shocked to know that it only cost for P1,500 (last price up to P1,300). Gosh! That same shoes Michael Jordan used during the 1998 NBA Play-offs and thus bagging that years NBA Championship Title sells only for P1,500!
The following day I asked my classmate to check on the shoes which he ends up buying. After three months the shoes were totally worn out. Why? Because it’s fake!
Friends, guard you heart from a fake version of love – infatuation.
Fake Love - Infatuation
Yes you read it right. Infatuation is a fake version of love.
I’m not saying infatuation is a bad thing. No, it’s totally normal. Infatuation only becomes a bad thing if it misleads you to think its love. Because infatuation looks like love, feels like love, but it’s not love.
Today I’ll tell you how to spot the genuine love from the fake, keep on reading.
Love Versus Infatuation (spot the difference)
1. Infatuation does not require a decision. It just happens. You see a girl and boom, you want her. You don’t know why. Maybe it’s her dress, the way her hair falls on her shoulder, her smile, how she bites her fingernail. You don’t know. But real love doesn’t just happen, real love requires a decision. You decide to be patient, to be kind, not to be envious, not to boast; not to be proud. You decide to honor the other person, not to be self-seeking, not to be easily angered. You decide not to keep record or wrongs. You decide to protect, to trust, to hope and to persevere.
2. Infatuation does not last long. You have these feelings of love swirling within you until something happens that break the spell. Maybe she’ll open her mouth. Maybe she’ll reveal her fangs. Maybe she’ll introduce you to her family. Maybe she gains 30 pounds. It could be just anything. Infatuation can last for a few days or for a couple of years. But real love last forever.
“Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:8, 13, NIV
3. Infatuation is directed towards a figment of your imagination. You are not attracted to a real person rather you are attracted to a projection of that person from your own imagination. Like infatuation itself, you are in love with a fake. But real love is directed towards a real person. You may have known all his or her strengths and weaknesses and decided to accept it all simply because you love him or her.
“The Lord did not choose you and lavish his love on you because you were larger or greater than nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! It was simply because the Lord loves you.” Deuteronomy 7:7-8, NLT
I’ll say it again: Infatuation is not a bad thing. Infatuation becomes a bad thing if a person thinks it was love. Foolish people think the pirated copy is real and they’d go for it. Wise people don’t, they take their time.
Knowing the difference between love and infatuation does not happen overnight, it’s a test of time, a period of deeply knowing each other more. A span of time called “courtship.”
Courtship
A Love Story
I have read this passage from a book, “Life is a fairytale written by God’s hands.” And I believe my love story is a fairytale written by God’s hands. Let me tell you my story.
I was 18 years old when I really first met God in an intimate way and since then I have loved and served Him in any way possible. Inspired by Joshua Harris’ book, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” lent to me by a friend, I was 18 years old when I decided to kiss dating goodbye.
After reading the book, I just felt tired running on girls. I was 18 and was a proud member of “No Girlfriend Since Birth” association which lasted until I’m 20. During the last two years before I got into a relationship I spent my life serving the Lord through the UE Campus Ministry called Christian Communities Program (UECCP). During that time also I started praying for the girl of my dreams.
During my last semester in college I was re-introduced to Shiela. Oh boy, I tell you, she’s so beautiful, so gorgeous but she’s not my type. I was at the peak of my service, at the peak of my studies and I can’t loose focus. But God made a way for us to be close and we easily get along with each other naturally.
I Started To Pray For Her
For more than 2 years I have been praying for the girl of my dreams, then came Shiela. I don’t know if she’s the one I’m praying for but then I started to pray for her. I asked God to please check on my heart and my motives.
One beautiful cloudy morning I told her, “I don’t know but I’m starting to like you.”
Then I asked her, “Pede ba ako manligaw (Can I court you)?”
She just smiled and said, “Sige (Ok).”
Right then and there I whispered a short prayer, “Lord please guard my motives.”
3 Points on Courtship (Men’s Viewpoint)
1. Nothing beats the power of prayer. Always pray for her. You might not know her yet, but still pray for her. If you think she’s the one, pray for that one. Asked God, “Lord please check on my heart. Is this love I feel?”
2. Before you ask a girl, “Pede ba ako manligaw (Can I court you).” Pray to God to check on your motives. Asked Him, “Lord, why do I feel this way for her? Please check on my motives.” And I’m very much sure God will reveal to you something.
3. Courtship is a like a contract. You both agreed to it. Don’t just make your moves with out the girl knowing why you are making them
When you’re on courtship, you’ll go on “dating.”
Dating 101 – What To Do
Golden Rule of Dating
“Explore each others mind, tastes and preferences not each other’s bodies.”
I can go on talking about the dos and don’ts of dating but the golden rule can sum it up. Keep your courtship clean. Guard your body from sin.
Guard your heart.
Guard your motives.
Guard your soul.
Happy Valentines!
In HIM,
Jobie Doblado
posted by Jobie P. Doblado at
3:49 PM
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