Father and Daughter Meeting-Greatness and Relationship

Greatness is not the absence of weakness, because everyone has weakness. Greatness is being able to walk away from the temptation of pleasure in order to protect your integrity and relationship with God. Joseph did not walk away from Potiphar's wife because he did not desire her, but rather because he chose to protect his integrity and his relationship with God. Your pain has not been in vain, because on the other side of the door of pain is promotion. It's your time for the recompense of reward. We are designed for connection-eyes require a view, ears require sound,and the mind requires thoughts. Aloneness creates vulnerability. God knew it. Marriage was not created as a mere reproduction center for human babies. Marriage is sowing ground where you sow your patience, love, enthusiasm. But know this, God will never give you a gift that will replace His presence. A mate is not designed to produce your joy. The presence of God creates your joy. Ps 16:1 "In thy presence there is fullness of Joy"(fullness implies: requiring nothing in addition). Your mate is a gift from God to you to protect your focus, reduce distractions, create a climate for sowing. Unfortunately, some who qualify for our attention are often unqualified to receive our heart. We are created for connection. One cannot be fruitful alone. As the seed needs the ground, even so man needs the woman. If you are thinking about marriage, here are some suggestions. Think twice if you do not possess a passionate desire to give to them. Too often marriage becomes an exchange. Exchange is the evidence of business, not love. The proof of uncommon love is the investment of Time. Think twice if they do not possess a passionate desire to give back to you. A listening ear, flexibility, patience and the willingness to be corrected in what I am talking about. Think twice if your personal achievements do not create excitement in them.  Real love does not compete with the success of another. Think twice if they have not been captivated by what has captivated you. Are they stirred by the same things that stir you. God said(Amos 3:3)"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Strife is the product of two different belief systems clashing. Think twice if you have lost your desire to impress him. Familiarity often incubates disrespect and indifference. Protect his focus-reduce his distractions-create a climate for sowing. You are a walking message system to those you love. Think twice if they never ask you quality questions concerning your greatest dreams or goals. Think twice if you do not see continuous improvement in the relationship. Bonding should increase unity and bring a decrease in contention and strife. Think twice if they have an obsession to attract the attention of the opposite sex. Think twice if pebble problems unleash mountains of anger in them. Think twice if they refuse to find a job. II Thess 3:10-11, 14"Paul warned, this we command you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies...and if any obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed."  Remember, greatness is being able to walk away from the temptation of pleasure in order to protect you integrity and relationship with God.