Just for Youth...
How Do Your Recover From a Costly Mistake?
When a broken bone heals, the body creates an area of increased density and strength at the site of the break. Godly repentance from sexual sins can strengthen your life.
by Bonnie Greider
In a Christian living class at a summer camp in Missouri last year, campers and staff were discussing the topic of morality and dating. There was a great deal of conversation regarding the need to remain pure and chaste while dating. Most agreed that young men and women should enter marriage without having engaged in premarital sex.
But what if you already have? What if you've already had sexual relationships in the past? Maybe you have fathered or borne a child out of wedlock, or had an abortion. Are you no longer capable of a happy, healthy marriage relationship? How does God see you? How do you see yourself?
No one can argue that our age is not filled with promiscuity. Sexual activity and conversation punctuate virtually every prime-time television show. Movies, music and even video games are filled with the subject. It's no wonder that premarital sex is so widespread.
Right and wrong choices
God allows us to make choices. Sometimes we make good ones, sometimes we don't. Some decisions have ramifications that last for a few seconds, while others last a lifetime. If God loves us so much, why doesn't He stop us from making decisions that could jeopardize our future happiness? Why doesn't He intervene and keep us from engaging in activities that will affect the rest of our lives?
As a mother of four children, I realize how difficult being a parent can be. Children learn things in different ways and stages. I vividly recall one adventuresome child who was determined that she could jump off of the top bunk bed and not get hurt. After several admonitions, I left the room knowing exactly what would occur within the next few seconds. Thump. Then came the yelp of pain that I was expecting.
I quickly reentered the room, comforted her and reminded her that sometimes it is better to listen to the voice of experience than to experiment on her own. However, it took two more attempts before she got the point. Sometimes we learn from a soft voice of admonition, but when we refuse to hear it we pay a penalty. The lesson learned from firsthand experience may be a great teacher, but it is also the one that causes the most pain.
Read the full article at www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn51/costlymistake.htm
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Table of Contents that includes "How Do Your Recover From a Costly Mistake?"
Other Articles by Bonnie Greider
Sex, premarital:
- _Five Significant Trends of 2006
- _Hooking Up and Losing Out
- _Dating Dos and Don'ts
- _What If You've Made a Mistake?
- _Popular Sexual Myths
- _What to Say When Things Are Going Too Far
- _Handling Those Touchy Situations
- _Men's and Women's Vulnerabilities
- _The Tiny Pill That Changed the World
- _Sex Outside of Marriage: What's the Big Deal?
- _Living Together: What Aren't They Telling You?
- _Letters From Our Readers - Jul/Aug 2003
- _Virginity: Is It Worth It?
- _The Biblical Solution for Africa's Biggest Crisis
- _World News and Trends - Jul/Aug 2005
- _The Abortion Controversy
- _World News and Trends - January/February 2007
- _How Do You Recover From a Costly Mistake?
- _Sexual Myths, Sexual Reality
- _In the News Jul/Sep 2004
- _Questions and Answers - Jul/Sep 2004
- _Christian Values Under Attack
- _It's My Life, and It Isn't Hurting Anyone!
- _Editorial: Opinion vs. Fact
- _Unintended Consequences vs. Intended Rewards
- _"Sometimes You Have to Break the Rules"?
- _Sex, Dating and You!
- _Questions and Answers - Oct/Dec 2002
- _Predicting Your Success
- _Can You Pass the Marshmallow Test?
- _Smart Youth Avoid Sex
- _Virginity -- Is It Worth It?
- _The Gift of Sex
- _'Why Have You Made Me Like This?'
- _Hooking Up and Losing Out
- _Is Today the Only Day of Salvation?
- _How Can We Resist Satan?
- _What Can You Do?
- _Should Children Be Baptized?
- _Repentance: Your First Step
- _The Church
- _Repentance
- _Water Baptism
- _What Is the Fate of Those Who Refuse to Repent?
- _What Should You Do?
- _How God Balances Justice With Mercy
- _Chapter 4: Hope for a Troubled World
- _What Must I Do?
- _Praying for a Right Spirit and New Attitude
- _Why We Must Change Our Way of Thinking
- _What About Matthew 28:19?
- _Glossary (bsc4)
- _The Gospel Jesus Taught
- _Gifts from God: The Foundation of His Relationship with Us
- _Why We Need a Redeemer
- _Baptism: Why Do We Need It?
- _The Importance of Repentance
- _What is Repentance?
- _What is Sin?
- _What Is Repentance?
- _Develop Your Spiritual Senses
- _America's Tragedies: What Would Jesus Christ Say?
- _Are You Putting Off Your Salvation?
- _The Penalty for Unrepentant Sinners
- _The Transforming Power of Forgiveness
- _The Story of Jesus Christ: Where Do You Fit?
- _What Is a True Christian?
- _Did God Create People Evil?
- _Repentance: A Profound Turnaround!
- _Baptism: Beginning of a New Life
- _What Is Repentance? (4/2004)
- _What Are You Waiting for?
- _The Big Cover Up
- _September 11, 2001--Where Do We Go From Here?
- _Less Than Perfect
- _Taking Responsibility
- _Prayers for a Prisoner
- _Leaven: Seeing Ourselves in the Story
- _God's Forgiveness: What Does He Require From You?
- _Labels -- Part 2
- _How Can We Resist Satan?
- _Turning Swords Into Plowshares: Starting Now
- _The Wheat Doesn't Know Hate
- _Forgiving the Unforgivable
- _War's Long Memory
- _The Church of God Today
- _Destination and Course Correction: Planned From the Outset
- _Forgiveness of Sin
- _Sin and God's Law
- _The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ
- _Other Important Ways Jesus Fulfilled the Law
- _The 'Curse of the Law'
- _Grace and Law: Why Are They Inseparable?
- _The High Priest Essential to Salvation
- _How Does Justification Relate to Salvation?
- _What Was 'Wiped Out' by Jesus Christ's Death?
- _A High Priest Eager to Help Us
- _Is Our Conscience Important?
- _God's Grace and Forgiveness
- _Why Must We Be Reconciled to God?
- _Did You Sin Today?
- _Three Strikes and You're Out - or Are You?
- _If I Knew Then What I Know Now
- _What Does the Bible Teach About Fasting?
- _What Does It Mean to Have Freedom in Christ?
- _Reconciliation: A Vital Part of Christ's Message
- _Forgive, and You Shall Be Forgiven
- _Seven Reasons Why Jesus Was Born
- _Just for Youth: Making Peace
- _Questions and Answers - Sep/Oct 2003
- _Repentance, Penance and Grace
- _What's the Answer to a Better Life?
- _Forgiving Your Parents
- _Thoughts From Dad
- _Do You Remember When?
- _Loving Your Enemies
- _Discover the Power of Forgiveness
- _Are You Pulling Your Own Hair?
- _Can God Forgive Me?
- _Religion With and Without Mercy
- _Forgive
- _What if We Sin After Conversion?
- _A Lesson in Prayer
- _Playing the Enemy
- _Forgiving My Brother
- _The Wheat Doesn't Know Hate
Key Subjects Index
General Topics Index
Biblical References Index
Good News Magazine Index
Booklets and All Literature Index
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