Potiphar's Wife

When my son's were teenagers one of the most consistent pieces of advice I gave them was to "Run from women who chase after you!". I developed that mantra in consideration of all Joseph went through at the hands of Potiphar's wife. (Genesis 39 I like the NLT)

Here's the story - Joseph was a purchased slave of an Egyptian officer name Potiphar who recognized Gods hand on him. Upon realizing how blessed his entire household and everything he owned became because God was with Joseph, Potipher gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everyTHING he owned. Joseph did such an excellent job that Potiphar's only concern was what kind of food to eat.

In time Potiphars wife noticed how handsome and well-built Joseph was and began to entreat him lustfully, and she did so repeatedly. One day, seeing a clear opportunity, Potiphars wife seized Joseph as she entreated him. But Joseph being a man of God and a man of integrity broke free of her hold and fled. Ahhh but Potiphers wife was not a woman who accepted rejection. So, instead of licking her wounds and going on about her business, she attempted to destroy Joseph with a lie that landed him in prison.

Thankfully Joseph wasn't executed because of the lie Potiphars wife told on him. Rather (v21) "But, the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison Warden.

My premise was that: *Any woman who did/ does not recognize that she is a special gift from God to a man who has found favor with God is not worthy to be my daughter-in-law, let alone their wife. (Seriously - anyone my children marry becomes a member of our whole family not just their companion alone.) *Any woman who is able to successfully manipulate you into a relationship with them is NOT being led by the Spirit of God and will spend their entire life successfully manipulating you, or will attempt to destroy you in some way. They see you as property/a fine trinket/ a means to an end to be possessed - not as a human who God specifically fashioned to accomplish a work for Him on earth. *If you do the right thing because it's the right thing to do, you will receive the favor of God in spite of the hell on earth her wrath may make you subject to.

The bible says that a man can escape the treachery and damnation that such women bring on their victims. It is found in Ecc 7:26 (NLT) and says: "I discovered that a seductive woman is a trap more bitter than death. Her passion is a snare, and her soft hands are chains. Those who are pleasing to God will escape her, but sinners will be caught in her snare."

My brothers, RUN from women who chase you. My sisters, please STOP chasing men.

#ijs

DATING

Ready for another of my personal dating rules???
I do not do secret friendships/relationships!  Situationships are out of the question.

Let's start with the certainty that we more often than not become like who we associate ourselves with; it is like osmosis and we don't usually know which habit or characteristic we'll infuse.   It  can be absolutely troubling to wake up one day and realize you don't know who you are or how you've strayed so far from your path.

This let's keep our⁰ relationship a secret or secret for now method is used by pedafiles, kidnappers, adulterers, cereal flanderers, essentially a wide range of people with nefarious intent.  

There are  people of who choose to be1 very discreet with their relationships.  However, discreetion is a world of difference away from secrecy.  Discreetion allows us to talk to our friends and family members about us.  It allows for others to know; it's simply not an open book for the world to see.