On the other hand, having a renewed mind can transform your dating life. Romans chapter 12 verse 2 says, “do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. How does having a renewed mind apply to dating? Having a renewed mind around dating means allowing God and His word to guide you in your decisions of how and who to date, instead of just following what the world says or does. A renewed mind, first of all, recognises who you are in Christ, that you are precious, and have been bought at a price. This means that God sees you as…

Here are some crafty date ideas to help you bond as you make. Image: Gustavo Fring / Pexels Pottery Classes Pottery classes are an excellent way of getting your hands dirty – and getting a bit flirty! Films and TV shows have been known to use this as a perfect date scenario. If you’re not so keen on the actual making of the pots – which can take some time – you can go and paint pottery together. I remember taking my now husband on a date to a pottery painting cafe to paint mugs for each other. We still have them and they are full of memories. Knitting If…

Here are three dating green flags to look out for on the path to a fruitful and fulfilling romantic relationship. Your date behaves consistently Look out for indications that you are dating a consistent person – someone who keeps their word, does what they say they’re going to do and honours their commitments. Two examples of consistency are: Respecting an arrangement and showing up on time, rather than cancelling or running late. Of course, we can make allowances. Life happens. Personal or work issues arise. Trains get delayed. The ‘one strike and you’re out’ approach is unfair. But if someone lets you down a few times or if their reason…

From D to L, here are some of the #MetOnCC date ideas that could work for your next date! What would you add to the list? D Photo: Raša St / Pexels Dog walk Bringing a furry friend on a meet up could be the perfect way to break any awkward silences! For Geoff and Sandy it was the start of a lasting relationship: “We met each other on Christian Connection very soon after joining, had a first date a few weeks later walking Sandy’s dog in the New Forest.” Read Geoff and Sandy’s story here If you don’t have your own four-legged friend, see if you can borrow one for…

So, why does deeper friendship matter? Big decisions A solid friendship is important for making big decisions. When a relationship starts getting serious, you might need to make some big decisions. For example, moving home locations, changing jobs, or deciding which church to attend (if you’re not already at the same church). Down the line, if you want to make a big decision that might affect both your lives, you need someone who truly gets you, who will be there to listen and understand, and support you, when others might question your judgment. A deeper friendship with your partner will be vital when you need someone to believe in you.…

How is your relationship with yourself? You may be tired of hearing that you must know and love yourself first before you can know and love another person. What does this mean in practice? I remember groaning when I heard this concept. Can’t I just get on and date? Only I kept repeating the same mistakes and getting the same results. I chose the wrong people and ended up hurt or hurting others, because I was disconnected from my intuition, detached from my feelings and impatient to find love. Finally, I accepted that I needed a better relationship with myself first before I went dating. This involved spending time on…

So, what are the topics you should discuss from an early stage of getting to know someone so you’ll both know if you’re dating in the same direction? Life plans Think about the big things, the life-shaping things, first. Do you want the same kind of relationship? Are you both seeking marriage? Do you have the same timings in mind? The sooner you have honest conversations about those things, the easier it will be to move forward if you want very different things. Location Where do you see yourself settling in the future? Do you want to travel or live abroad? Of course, no one knows for certain where they’re…

The Bible tells us that joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5), but we can also seek out things that bring us joy and help us experience it more on a day-to-day basis. So, how can you find joy this Easter? 1. Practice gratitude Count your blessings, name them individually, and you will be surprised by what the Lord has done. Try a ‘moan-fast’- whenever you find yourself about to moan or complain about something, stop yourself, think of something you’re thankful for and say that instead. Gratitude is a great way to remind ourselves of what we do have, instead of what we don’t. 2. Go…

Beginning with A, here are some of the #MetOnCC date ideas that could work for your next date! #MetOnCC date ideas – A Afternoon tea It’s a classic for a reason! Who doesn’t love take a leisurely couple of hours to bond over a shared love of cake and a pot of tea? For Helen and Ralph it was the first meeting that started a lasting relationship. “He was there waiting for me, and has been there for me ever since. We had tea and cakes. He dropped me home. We had a little hug. And the rest is history; nearly 20 years of it so far.” – Helen and…