Beverly LaHaye - Party of Two: Lessons for Staying in Step in Dating, Marriage, and Family Life

Party of Two

Lessons for Staying in Step in Dating, Marriage, and Family Life

Tim & Beverly LaHaye

Copyright Information

First Printing: February 2006

Second Printing: September 2007

Copyright 1998, 2005 by Tim and Beverly LaHaye. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. For information write New Leaf Press, P.O. Box 726, Green Forest, AR 72638.

ISBN 13: 978-0-89221-638-3

ISBN 10: 0-89221-638-7

Library of Congress Control Number: 2005938405

Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 1465 Kelly Johnson Blvd., Ste. 320, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.

Cover design by Janell Robertson

Interior design by Rebekah Krall

Printed in China

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Contents

Did you know that lifes most crucial decisions will be made between the ages of 18 and 25?

During that time, you will be faced with many choices. Some will be minor decisions while others will have an impact on the rest of your life.

Suppose you impulsively purchase a car without putting much prayer or thought into it. If it turns out to be a "lemon," your poor judgment may simply result in expensive repair bills and a lot of inconvenience and aggravation. Since this was a minor decision, you eventually trade in your mistake without any lasting effect on your life.

Other decisions are not so easily dismissed. In fact, during the seven-year period between 18 and 25 years of age, you will make five decisions that will chart the course of your life.

How will you answer these five important questions?

Lifes Five Most Important Decisions

1. What will I do after I finish high school?

The kind of school, college, or job you choose will set your life on a course that will likely determine the kind of education you receive, how much money you will eventually earn, and the opportunities you will have in the future.

Your post-high school education or lack of it will affect your lifes vocation. Thats your second great decision.

2. What career will I pursue?

Some high school graduates know exactly what they want to do in life and begin pursuing their college or career goals immediately. Others choose to join the military or get a full-time job before deciding on a specific course of action. Some feel that God is calling them to serve Him as a pastor, church music director, youth pastor, or missionary.

As long as you find the right training ground and are available to God to make the right decision about what to do with your life you will eventually be headed in the right direction.

3. Where will I live?

God has a will for where you live, including your state, city, and neighborhood.

No matter where you live, you can serve the Lord.

One of our familys greatest joys has been to pray for our neighbors and see them come to know Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Thats one of the best ways we as Christians can further Gods kingdom.

4. Where will I attend church?

Its not about whether you will go to church, but where? This is a question you should ask God, whether you live on a college campus, on a military base, or at home with your parents.

It is important to find the right church. Look for a church where God is praised, the Bible is taught as Gods Word, and Jesus is lifted up as Saviour, Lord, and soon-coming King. Then, attend every Sunday, get involved in serving your church family, and tithe your income.

5. Whom will I marry?

Dont think in terms of will I marry, but whom will I marry? I believe it is Gods will for young people to marry. Whom you marry is a vital decision that will dramatically affect the course your life will take.

If you put Christ on the throne of your heart and seek His will for your life, the choices you make regarding these five decisions will set you on the right course for the rest of your life.

Making Right Choices

Life is full of decisions, and making right choices is not easy. In fact, its probably one of the hardest things to do in life. Why? Because there is a constant struggle between mans will and Gods will.

1. Whom will you serve?

If your motto is: "I will do as I please," you are living according to your own will. You have chosen to ignore Gods commands and have refused to place Jesus Christ on the throne of your life. As a result, all your decisions are based on your desires, your needs, and your ego.

Behind the scenes, another force is also at work. With great skill and cunning manipulation, Satan subtly tries to influence your decisions by pulling your will in his direction.

When God says, "Young man, young lady, give Me your life," Satan counters with, "Dont waste your time calling on Jesus Christ."

Ultimately, however, the decision is yours.

2. Who controls your life?

Once you have trusted Him as Saviour, you must make another decision. Will you make Jesus Lord of your life? In other words, will you submit your will to His will? This is where the battle line is drawn at the point of your will.

If youre going to be "transformed," as the Bible says, you are going to be different. This is where the real test of your commitment to Christ takes place.

Dont be afraid to have different standards and principles. Dont worry about what other people think because you choose to dress modestly and refuse to go to nightclubs or R-rated movies. You cant live "godly in Christ Jesus" and still look and act like the devil.

Dont back off because youre different. That should be the hallmark of a Christian. The Bible calls us "a peculiar people" who are eagerly doing "good works." If youre zealously serving Jesus Christ, thats all the peculiarity you need to be different from the world.

3. How can you find Gods will?

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom. 12:2).

How do you renew your mind? By reading and studying the Word of God. Thats how you will be able to test and approve what Gods will is.

As a young person with your life ahead of you, its not too late for you to find and do "the perfect will of God."

How do you find Gods will? Ask Him:

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths (Prov. 3:6).

God has a will for your life. Dont settle for anything less when deciding where you will go to school, what will be your vocation, where you go to church, and whom you will marry.

The Dating Game

Dating is a phenomenon of western civilization. In fact, two-thirds of the world today follows the same custom that was practiced during Bible times: Parents select the mate for their son or daughter.

Dating, however, doesnt have to be complicated, especially if you are a Christian committed to following Christ and seeking Gods will for your life. In that case, the Holy Spirit is your matchmaker. You only have to wait for Him to make a match!