PREGNANCY

The first day of your period is day 1 of your cycle. The average cycle is 28 days.

The egg cell is produced 14 days before the next period so, normally, it is produced between day 12 and day 16.

Sperms can live up to about 48 hours in the womb. So the most unsafe time for unprotected sex in a regular cycle is from day 10 to day 18 of your cycle.

You're on the safer side of the edge of being ok.

SET UP FOR DISAPPOINTMENT

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“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.”

Psalm 146:3

The media continually bombard us with images of broken trust: spouses who cheat on each other; politicians who break promises; corporate chiefs who steal from their employees.

The list goes on and on. People in positions of responsibility should be held accountable to the highest moral and ethical standards. Yet each of these people is a mortal creature with a natural bent toward sin. The minute we begin placing our deepest faith and trust in human beings, we set ourselves up for severe disappointment.

What does this mean for marriage? Even in the best of relationships, husbands and wives may err and break the other’s trust. That’s why we must rely on God’s power—not our own—to lead honorable lives. When husbands and wives commit themselves to live according to God’s ways, a bond of trust develops between them. Though none of us is perfect, we can give our heart confidently to our spouse when we know that he or she is genuinely seeking to follow God and His guidelines.

Just between us…
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Has someone in a position of responsibility ever broken your trust?

Is it ever difficult for you to trust me?

Knowing our sinful nature, how can we still earn each other’s trust?

How do you think the Lord blesses spouses who trust each other?

How might we develop an even deeper level of trust in our relationship?

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are completely worthy of our trust. As my spouse and I commit ourselves to being trustworthy with each other, empower us by Your Spirit. Grant us grace when we fail. And bless us, we pray, with joy and confidence as we make trustworthiness a priority. Amen.

SCANDALOUS GRACE

NO MATTER HOW FREQUENT WE GET INTO DARK ISSUES OF LIFE, REMEMBER THAT GOD’S GRACE IS SCANDALOUS AT TIMES.  WE MAY NOT DESERVE IT, BUT HEY; GOD IS GOD; HE IS GOOD (NO, THE BEST!)

THE BROTHER OF THE PRODIGAL SON IS THE MOST LOGICAL CHARACTER IN THE STORY.  BUT STILL, HE MUST NOT QUESTION THE REACTION OF THE FATHER, KASI AT VARIOUS INSTANCES WE ALL RECEIVED OUR SHARE OF SCANDALOUS GRACE.

NO MATTER WHAT LIFE BRINGS YOU

FRIEND,

A divorce, a breakup, losing a job, or just feeling seriously down can ground you, rough you up a bit, leave calluses on your feet and grit under your finger nails. But more than that, it leaves you wiser and stronger next time... Life is about experiencing opposites isn't it?"

But, NO MATTER WHAT LIFE BRINGS YOU..

Remember,

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME:)

You are well-loved by the LORD:)

PRIVATE LIVES, PUBLIC CONSEQUENCES

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Read Judges 8:22-35
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Then Gideon son of Joash returned home. He had seventy sons born to him, for he had many wives. He also had a concubine in Shechem, who gave birth to a son, whom he named Abimelech. / (Judges 8:29-31)

Reflect
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Gideon already had numerous wives. His relationship with a concubine reflects a pattern of disregard for marriage. With her, Gideon bore a son who tore apart his family and brought tragedy upon the nation (see Judges 9). The consequences of Gideon’s private life did perhaps more damage for the nation than whatever public good he had done.

No matter who you are, moral flaws can cause lasting problems, even if we think they’re “private.” Our private sins can leave public consequences, even if we’ve been faithful in other parts of life.

We need to be constantly watchful against temptation and root out sin wherever it appears. Sometimes Satan’s most devastating attacks come in the quiet that follows great victory.

Respond
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Are you obedient to God in some areas of life but not in others? Are you indifferent about some sin because of the good things you do elsewhere? Even though we split up our lives into different dimensions, God sees you as a whole person. He is not fooled into thinking we can keep ourselves safe and segmented. God wants you, all of you. What parts of yourself aren’t yet given up to him?

JESUS CAME TO HEAL HURTING HEARTS

"The Spirit of the Lord is on Me. He has put His hand on Me to preach the Good News to poor people. He has sent Me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent Me to tell those who are being held that they can go free. He has sent Me to make the blind to see and to free those who are held because of trouble."
Luke 4:18

"Why can't you get it together?"

"If you would just try harder."

Have you heard any of these statements? Maybe you've even said them to yourself.

Perhaps those who stood on a hot hillside in Nazareth were asking themselves the same questions. Many tried hard to follow all the religious laws, but knew they fell short. Would Jesus give them more rules to follow? Imagine their surprise as Jesus spelled out His personal mission statement:

I've come to open the eyes of the blind.

I've come to set the prisoner free.

I've come with good news for the poor in spirit.

I've come to heal the brokenhearted.

The crowd must have been shocked by His words, for they expected a warrior, not a heart surgeon. Jesus Himself was setting the record straight. He came so that we might be made whole ... through Him.

For those who had been trying harder, striving more, it was a transforming message. They were accustomed to following rules or meeting expectations of man, rather than resting in the power of their almighty God.

When I became a believer, I didn't understand Jesus' mission statement. I was dealing with untended brokenness and trying everything to fix myself. When I grasped the power of Luke 4:18

The power of the cross is not found in what I do, but in what has already been done for me.

Jesus didn't mean for us to do this alone. It's not our strength or power that will transform us. Yes, we make changes. Yes, we open our broken heart to His tender touch. Yes, we allow Him to move us in uncomfortable directions to discover new paths — and leave old ones behind. But we are in a partnership with God ... and He's bigger.

I also discovered I didn't have to earn God's love. Maybe, like me, you thought God would love you one day, when you had it all together.

Jesus' mission statement proclaims that He loves us today. With our baggage and hurting hearts. When we grasp that kind of love, it changes us. It compels us to return that love, and to trust Jesus from our hearts.

This trust helps us listen for His voice. We sense when He is teaching or redirecting us. We weigh temptation in light of our love for our heavenly Father. This relationship helps us discover our "true selves, [our] child-of-God selves" (John 1:12)

Last, Luke 4:18 

reminded me that I didn't have to run away just because I felt broken.

A hurting heart can send us running down paths we may regret, searching for something or someone to ease our pain. Jesus' mission statement invites us to stop running and rest in Him, expectant that our true selves will emerge with His healing touch.

The truth of Luke 4:18

is ours today to hold close, for Jesus came to heal our hurting hearts.

Dear Jesus, for the longest time I've been concentrating on my efforts, but today I expectantly rest in You. Thank You that the power of the cross is not in what I do, but in what has already been done for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Reflect and Respond:
Today, you read about what you don't have to do. You don't need to fix yourself, or earn God's love or run any more. In fact, the more you don't do these things, the more you live in Him. The more you don't do these things, the more you build a foundation of rest and trust. The more you don't do these things, the more joy you rediscover in your faith.

What will you not do today?

Power Verses: /
Psalm 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (NIV)

WHAT’S YOUR BATTLE?

Self-sufficiency is an enemy when it causes us to believe we can always do what needs to be done in our own strength. To prevent this attitude among Gideon’s soldiers, God reduced their number from 32,000 to 300. With an army this small, no one would doubt that victory was from God. The men certainly could not take the credit.

Like Gideon, we must recognize the danger of fighting in our own strength. We can be confident of victory only if we put our confidence in God and not ourselves.

Facing overwhelming odds, Gideon was afraid. God understood his fear, but he didn’t excuse Gideon from his task. Instead he allowed Gideon to slip into the enemy camp and overhear a conversation that would give him courage (Judges 7:12-15).

WHAT’S YOUR BATTLE? God can give you the strength you need for any situation. And don’t be startled by the way he helps you. Like Gideon, you must listen to God and be ready to take the first step. Only after you begin to obey God will you find the courage to move ahead.