Love’s Compassion Inc.
Issue 1: Features Promiscuity
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Love’s Compassion Magazine
Getting To Know Us Mission Statement: Restoring souls, not just through God but also through God’s soldiers, gifted and anointed. Hello, my name is Tashara Gilyard. I am the CEO and Founder of Love’s Compassion Magazine. As a young person growing in Christ I came to learn it’s not always easy to dedicate yourself to this walk of life. There are a number of reasons for this: the fear of the unknown, having to let go of things we believe we enjoy, trust issues caused by past hurt, observing hypocrisy amongst those in the church, feeling like you’re too young… let’s face it the list could go on forever. I came to learn it is very difficult to be busy for God and the enemy at the same time, (“No one can serve two masters, either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise
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the other”) sounds familiar? Matthew 6:24. I have made up my mind to be busy for God. We all have gifts and talents of some sort. There are some things we learn and things the Lord just blesses us with for His purpose. My gift from God is words. He has given me the ability to take someone’s life’s journey and bring it to life on paper. I am able to listen to someone’s cries of pain and or joy and pour those feelings into a poem/spoken word piece for another to hear and relate to. With this ability combined with the compassion God has placed in me, He has given me a vision to start a ministry where souls can be restored and hearts can be mended. What better way to do this then by sharing of ourselves for the kingdom of God. There are many that refuse to step foot into a church today for a number of reasons and it’s not always because they don’t believe in God. There has been so much hurt caused in and by the “Church.” People decide they would much rather take their chances in the street getting hurt, rather than going into the church where we are supposed to be able to receive a healing, and instead receive a spiritual homicide. They are often judged, ostracized and made to feel as though they are counted out. I don’t know about you, but if I walk into a hospital, blind, lost and wounded; I would 3
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expect assistance, guidance and a great effort of aiding my needs. Anything less would most likely discourage me from ever returning to this hospital or even seeking any assistance from anyone affiliated with it. The vision God has given me is an open line of communication between God’s children, both lost and “found.” It is time to take back all that the enemy has tried to destroy. It is time to get the beam out our own eye, time to remember we did not come out of our mother’s womb carrying a bible, speaking in tongues and walking upright with Jesus. We too were once dirty, broken, battered, abused and or abusing others. Had it not been for an obedient vessel of God allowing themselves to be used for the glory of God and the building of His kingdom we would still be the mess we were before we began ministering the message to another. This magazine is creating an opportunity to see where the “Church” has gone wrong and rectify the situation. What have we done to discourage God’s children from coming to visit Him in His house? We are creating an opportunity to hear the broken hearts cry out, allowing them to release their pain instead of living a self destructing life. Be an example and share our testimonies. Allow them to see they aren’t in this alone and that our God is still in the business of healing. Provide them with 4
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spiritual food so that they no longer have to starve. Provide them with help and prayer to come out of their situation. Reach out to them with non judgmental arms and embrace them with a warm and open heart. Love them the way God loves us, unconditionally. Remember how you felt the first time God embraced you, wiped your tears, and showed you were loved. Do everything in your power to help them feel that same way. Most importantly this is the opportunity to assist those who don’t have a relationship with their heavenly father and encourage and teach them how to. God loves us with compassion and now it’s time for us to love our neighbors the same.
Founder/CEO: Tashara Gilyard
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Love’s Compassion Magazine
Promiscuity What is promiscuity? Promiscuity is the state of being promiscuous. When someone is considered
promiscuous it usually means that he/she is characterized by or involved in indiscriminate association; especially having sexual relations with a number of partners on a casual basis (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/promiscuity ?s=t); (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/promiscuou s). Although being promiscuous is commonly viewed in a negative manner, there are usually multiple reasons why people are promiscuous. From the female perspective, I believe one of the chief reasons is a desire to be noticed due to a lack of attention from a positive male figure (particularly a father). I believe it is fair to say that the level of promiscuity in a female is directly correlated to the relationship she has or does not have with her father. Many times if a female does not have a positive male figure in her life, it can lead to promiscuity. Being in the presence of a positive male figure helps females gain a better understanding of how men should be. A lot of the time when a female does not have the positive male figure in her life that she needs to have, she cannot easily decipher when she is receiving the wrong type of 6
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male attention. The promiscuous female usually attempts to gain attention and be noticed to fulfill the underlying desire for a loving and secure relationship which can be found in a positive male figure. There is also a significant amount of peer pressure that females encounter in teenage years. Once teens hit the puberty stage and start to have an understanding of the pleasures sex can bring, there is a curiosity and desire to explore not only their bodies, but the bodies of others (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/what_psychologically_c auses_teenagers_to_be_promiscuous/). In a book I once read entitled, “Her Hand in Marriage”, by Douglas Wilson, the author expresses the difference in the temptation to lust between males and females; males like to notice and females like to be noticed. I think most would agree that it is part of human nature to want to be attractive to members of the opposite sex. But when one goes to the extreme to get the attention of another, it can potentially lead to inappropriate behavior. Females can feel even more pressure when they see the way males react to flirtatious women. When women dress more provocatively, it seems that men instantly give these women attention. The problem is these women do not always receive the right kind of attention. 7
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In addition to peer pressure, there can also be a considerable amount of pressure from social media. In many of our movies and television shows, women are depicted as sex objects. Celebrities introducing new fragrances via television commercials do so in a sexy manner. When you look at many magazine covers, you see images of sexy men and women. From a Christian standpoint, sexual morality should be encouraged and practiced. As Christians, it should be our ultimate desire to please God and obey Him. One of the ways we please Him is by exercising sexual self-control. I Corinthians 6, verses 18 & 20 state, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” It is not easy to exercise sexual self-control on our own, which is why we must depend on God to help us. This scripture reminds us of the important fact that our body belongs to God and therefore, we must strive to honor God in our bodies.
Author Anonymous
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Single Ladies With the hype of Beyonce’s song
“Single Ladies,” I never really paid attention to the song until recently. If you like it then you should put a ring on it”. Remember back in our mother’s and grandmother’s day when women demanded marriage and a man could not even think about getting the cookie from you until your wedding day. Boy has times change. Now I am listening to Steve Harvey tell women to wait at least ninety days before sleeping with a man. Hmmm! Have I ever waited ninety days? In this day in time Marriage is not even an option anymore. As I get older, I wished I would have waited, maybe not until marriage, but at least with a man who really cared and truly loved me. I decided to make a list of all the men I had sex with and highlighted the names of men who really truly cared about me and not my body. Sadly I felt like I was playing a spade game and telling my spade partner that I had none and a strong possible. Just to 9
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think I allowed all those ungodly spirits to enter my body for a few moments of pleasure. Was it really worth it? Blaming men for heartache and disappointment, but in reality it wasn’t their entire fault. I needed to take some of the blame for my own actions. I was the one who allowed this to happen. I knew better. Single ladies get your pens and paper out and write down all the partners you have had, (I mean all, ladies you know how we do) and look over your list real careful. Did these men honestly care and love me or was I just a booty call? I know it’s hard when the realizations hits, it’s okay to grab the Kleenex, we all make mistakes and we will continue to make mistakes, but let us try our best to learn from them, forgive ourselves, love ourselves and move on with our lives. The next time you decide to jump in bed with someone, get to truly know the person and ask yourselves these questions. Was this person husband material? Will they love 10
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me unconditionally, honor, respect and cherish me and not take me for granted? Single ladies let’s support each other to regain our respect and dignity back again. Let’s go back to demanding marriage and start telling men to put a ring on it. Trust me your lives will be much easier.
Roslyn Simmons
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Love’s Compassion Magazine
With Pastor Cliff Daniels
1) What would you say to two people that's been in their relationship, intending to get married but already are engaging in sexual relations? The Bible should be our final court of arbitration when it pertains to life's issues. As per the Bible, sex is an activity to be indulged in within the bounds of marriage. If a pattern of pre-marital sex has begun the only advice that can be given is to CEASE and DESIST. 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” (KJV) 2) What if I wait and he/she can't please me sexually? Sex is a physical activity that should begin long before any article of clothing is ever removed. The actual performance is enhanced or diminished by the bound that is shared by the two involved individuals outside the bedroom. If there is an adjoining of the spirit before there is an adjoining of the physical body the chances for the moment being explosive is greater. Much of what a person experiences in the act of sex is based on the individual's feelings of themselves. Sex is not just about your partner but it's also a celebration of the awesome creation God has made by constructing you 3) Shouldn't we have sex before marriage to see if 12
Love’s Compassion Magazine there is a stronger bond/connection? A stronger connection, yes, is it an intended connection, absolutely not. Sex serves to do more than satisfy a physical yearning, it is also a joining of the spirit. Through the consummation of the wedding the bride and groom become no longer twain, but one flesh. Therefore, this bond that is created due to intercourse is reserved for those who commit to the being bound by marriage. Ephesians 5:1-3, 5, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. But fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not once be named among you, as becometh saints...For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." 4) If we're monogamist with one another but not married what's the problem? Wrong is not made right because it is confined to small spaces or limited incidents. 1 Corinthians 6:13b “Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.” (KJV) 5) The Bible says do not covet your neighbors wife, 13
Love’s Compassion Magazine but what if we are both single; what's the problem? That scripture in no way applies to the premarital sex. 6) Pastors are always preaching don't have sex before marriage, but they did, so why should we be expected to withstand? (They act like it's easy) Right is not right based on who does or does not do it. If every preacher, parent, instructor who ever told you not to do something in turn did it themselves, it does not affect the truth. Truth is a principle, not a person (except Christ). In a lot of cases a person who transgresses is able to communicate the repercussion of transgression more passionately than those who have never strayed. 1 Corinthians 10:6-8 reads, "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
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BLACK GIRL LOST
Black Girl Lost I blamed it on my daddy of course. Why wouldn't I, He left me abandoned me so yeah I'm on a rampage that's fueled and driven by rage. Messing with different men cause deep down I'm really searching for him. Looking for love in all the wrong places never seeing myself value just seeing their faces. You see he left when I was only ten, sending my mind on a whirl spin. Turning to the street trying to feel complete, because I'm a black girl lost... But one day I woke up thinking well maybe I should pray cause sexing these men isn't making the pain go away, just satisfying flesh, never knowing God was putting me thru a test. A test for a testimony in return God would get the Glory. The Glory for setting a black girl free, and realizing the only father I ever needed lives right here on the inside of me. Written By: Tasha Stoudymire
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Balled in a knot, with her fingers through her hair, holding her head she weeps. "I thought this time was different. You said you loved me. We were going to be together forever. We had plans for a family. You weren't supposed to be like all the others, just another promise maker and dream taker. I remember when we met. I was with Jim who I thought cared until I met you. Jim and I were strongly in love for two years. He would constantly tell me how much he adored me, bringing me home flowers and gifts just because. We would make love all the time and it would be the best when he would be making up for the night before, when he would stay out all night with "the boys." Then he would come home and call me all kinds of whores and sluts. He would accuse me of cheating constantly. No matter what I said he wasn't convinced. I would always have to cry myself to sleep trying to ignore the pounding in my head, the immediate swelling of my face and bruised ribs. I would wake up in the morning; look in the mirror as he would say, "Let's see how much they like you now." I would do my best to hide my black and blue eyes from the world but I guess the pain still shined through.
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You would always see me and say, "You don't deserve what he's doing to you; you're better than that." I remember our first night together. You were helping to clean my last bloody nose from Jim. You provided me with a safe place to stay for the night. You never even made any attempts to have sex with me. From that night forward we developed a friendship that I thought was strong. We would talk for hours at a time on the phone, both day and night. We would go out to dinner, movies and sometimes just chilled inside. Not once did you ever pursue me. So I thought. "Now three years gone," she cried out. "Balled here on this altar asking God why does this keep happening? They all seemed so nice. They were kind and then when they're done with me it's on to the next. Am I just good enough for sex? Don't I qualify to have my own husband? What am I missing? What am I supposed to do now?" She sits on the altar crying as she places her hands on her stomach. She looks up and cries out, "Who's going to marry me now," looks down at her belly, "with this baby?"
Written by: Tashara Q. Gilyard
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Sister Gwen’s Corner –Promiscuity He had been going around healing the sick, feeding the thousands, turning water into wine, teaching in the temple, casting out demons and raising the dead this is what people had come to know and expect of him. His closest followers, disciples were getting a little weary and wanted to just go somewhere and get away from the crowd. They wanted to go and do what the other normal people were doing. They wanted Him to just relax, maybe get something to eat or just hang low for a few days. There was something nagging at him and he felt a strong need to pass by a town that was known for having the most immoral people. These people were considered dogs, low lifers, undesirables, mulattos, and impure. In His spirit he felt that there was someone that had a need that was great and very different and only He could address it. As they headed toward Samaria, He decided to send his disciples away to another place. The woman He had to meet at the well had an issue that was of a delicate nature. He did not desire to embarrass her in any way, His intentions was to set her free. He was confident that her life would be changed forever and He needed to see her face to face. This was a private matter but it would have a public effect. He began by asking her a favor of giving Him a drink of water; this was easy for her because 18
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she was accustomed to men asking favors of her. She gave this stranger a drink without ever expecting anything in return. She never expected anything good from any man only broken promises. In the midst of this encounter, her curiosity came into play because this man had no cup to draw with from the well. She quickly and defensively replied to tell him, that He was a Jew and she was a Samaritan and there should be no interaction between them. He was not accepting her excuse to get Him to go away. He looked past her outside and saw the thing inside of her that was draining the life out of her. He wanted to set her free. He saw that her life of sexual promiscuity was keeping her in bondage and away from truly worshipping God in spirit and truth. He asked her about her husband knowing well that she had no legal husband. She had many sexual encounters but no committed relationships. He saw that her life was dry, thirsty and empty. He saw that the men that had been with her had drained the life out of her by using her body for their own pleasures. No doubt, word had spread quickly that she was an easy, dirty woman and all you needed to do was tell her that she was beautiful and that you loved her. Little did she know that very day in life, she was going to be made free and whole? She had come face to face with the Savior of the world, the Lamb of God. He offered her a life in which she would never be dry, thirsty or empty 19
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again. She accepted and went running to the very men that used her. She told boldly that she had met a man and he did something for her that they could never do for her. Are you like the woman at the well? Are you searching for life in empty sexual encounters? Do you want to be set free? Can I give you that man, Jesus Christ like the woman at the well? “For God so loved the world that He gave His Son….” John 3:16
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Dear Listener: Why Can’t We Have Sex, Just Because We Aren’t Married?
Response: My question is... Why would you want to?! When I think back over my life and all the years that I wasn't saved, I regrettably see a foolish person not knowing or understanding what a precious commodity my body was. I didn’t know its value and would let some/any "body" have it because they told me they would love it. The body is your temple ladies and gentlemen, meaning that it’s a building devoted to worship or regarded as a dwelling place of God. So if God is dwelling the only other being that should be dwelling with you is the one He chooses. When God puts two people together in marriage they become one, therefore God can dwell because if He's not in us then we will feel that there’s nothing wrong with anything we do. Whether it is somebody else’s husband, a man with a man, a woman with a woman and so forth, there would be no boundaries for your passions if you feel like you don’t need to be submitted and committed to one person and that submission only comes in marriage. Because of the vows you make you will be less likely to take the relationship lightly because these vows are made to God, not only to each other. You will have a mindset of going in for the long haul. My belief is that the marriages that do fail were marriages set up by people who either chose a mate without Gods permission or turned away from God somewhere in 21
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the relationship. If a person is not ready to go in for the long haul then you know that they’re not of God. I don’t mean ready because now you’re pregnant. I mean making a conscious decision that they would like to be with you and only you for the rest of their lives come whatever may. You will not get that through someone just telling it to you, but someone doing it for you. If you feel like your passions are overriding your purpose right now then pray. Pray that the Holy Spirit of God will rest in you. He can’t dwell in an unclean thing, so ask Him to cleanse you of thoughts of impurities that would have you to present your body to people instead of Him. The Bible says offer your bodies as living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, which is your "reasonable" service.
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You have read in our first preview of Love’s Compassion Magazine where we explore the topic of promiscuity and or premarital sex. As you can see there are many influences, reasons and outcomes to these acts. In this day and age sex is taken lightly of. We ignore the fact that spirits transfer. Some are even unaware of this. We often hear whenever you sleep with someone; you are sleeping with All their past partners as well. So not only are you now at risk for whatever STD’s (If you’re not safe) they may have contracted, but you are also at risk for whatever spirits that may dwell in them now too. In the word of God we learn fornication is the one sin where we sin against our own body (Corinthians 6:18). We may have plenty of excuses, reasons or justifications of why it’s not that big of a deal. “So what, it’s my body. Who cares if we’re married or not? He loves me.” The list can go on. We even see in the poem “Black Girl Lost” and the story “Who Will Love Me” insecurities also play a role in us giving up the “cookie” before marriage. Many may not see the big deal in this but our God does. He doesn’t want us to be bound up and unable to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Our body is our temple, as our “Listener” says in their response and in 1st Corinthians 6:19. Which means it’s supposed to be devoted to worship, a place where the spirit of God can dwell; if God and or His Spirit dwells in no clean place, can He or will He dwell in 23
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our filthy bodies that we have allowed any old person to use for their own personal pleasures. Before we think about lying down with someone let’s think about how God may feel about the act first; if it’s your husband or wife that’s one thing, that’s a union joined together before God. The word says in marriage the bedroom is undefiled, (Hebrews 13:4). But if the person you are about to lie down with is not your spouse, think it through. What’s keeping you guys from marriage? Whatever that is, maybe you should consider that same reason to be a good reason not to give your body to that person. What is your body worth to you? Let’s go back to the days when someone had to prove they were worth your body and soul. If you like what you see inside and out marry me, and if you don’t like what you see pray for me and leave it at that. Thank you for reading our work. If you found yourself in any of what you read we would love to hear from you. We are here for prayer if you want it. Don’t feel shy or uncomfortable reaching out to us here at LCM. There are NO judges here. If you want to reach out to us anonymously, feel free. All are welcomed. May God Bless You All www.lovescompassion.org
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