Hosea הוֹשֵׁעַ

Author: Hosea

  • How to Save Your Marriage – The Hosea and Gomer Way

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    Marriage is perhaps one of the hardest things that men and women have to deal with in this thing called life. What starts out as a phase of pure romantic bliss could turn into a world of unadulterated pain and suffering. Many people who decide to tie the knot have little idea of what they are really signing up for, which is why many married couples end up in divorce.

    If you’re having trouble with your marriage, know that you are not alone in this big old world. There are hundreds, even thousands, of couples out there who feel that all is lost when it comes to their marital relationship. But if you have faith in God, His will, and in yourself, then there’s nothing impossible. This article will show you how to save your marriage.

    Have you heard of the prophet Hosea? The story of Hosea can help you learn how to save your marriage. The Book of Hosea can be found in the Old Testament of the Bible. During the period in which Hosea prophesied, different kings ruled Israel and each of them enforced his chosen way of life, including religious inclinations, of which there were many. The kings turned away from God and listened to the rulers of rich neighboring nations, who worshipped other gods.

    Hosea, as ordered by God, married Gomer, who was later to turn into a prostitute. This marriage was how God showed his relationship with Israel at the time. Israel was likened to a prostitute who became a slave of money and became unfaithful to her husband. In the end, Hosea forgave Gomer, just as God forgave Israel.

    When you married your spouse in Christian rites, you pledged, with God as your witness, to love and honor each other till death do you part. The story of Hosea and Gomer teaches us the importance of love and honor in married life, but more importantly, it teaches us that we are human – and that we need forgiveness to live on. If your spouse did you wrong and strayed, learn to forgive. If you are the one who strayed, learn to ask for forgiveness. Like Hosea, you have to show mercy; like Gomer, you need to truly repent. This is how to save your marriage.

  • What Couples Can Learn From Hosea and Gomer

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    Hosea and Gomer are characters that can be found in the Bible – in the Old Testament, to be exact. They are husband and wife; the man, a prophet, and the wife, a prostitute. In the Bible, you can see that God often asks his prophets to do difficult things in His name. Hosea’s case was no different. He was asked by God to marry a woman who would, later on during their marriage, become a prostitute. This was how God wanted to exemplify His relationship with Israel at the time.

    The Israelites are said to be God’s people, but during the reign of the infamous seven kings, in which time frame Hosea tirelessly prophesied, they were everything but. During that period, Israel became a harlot in the sense that it welcomed different religions with open arms. The people of Israel worshipped the idol that their kings worshipped, gods from other lands ruled by kings who did not believe in Yahweh. They were divided into two kingdoms, the North and the South. Hosea spent his time prophesying to the Northern Kingdom, but the people of Israel were not keen on listening.

    Married life is not easy, but it was especially difficult for Hosea and Gomer. Their marriage was far from ideal, and they had more downs than ups. In the Bible, Gomer is described as a “quarrelsome wife,” which experts found to have the same meaning then as the modern phrase “adulterous wife.” One of their children, in fact, had a name that literally translates to “Not Mine.” That was how tainted Gomer and Hosea’s marriage was. But if there is something married couples of today can learn from the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer, it is the importance of love and forgiveness.

    Hosea sought out Gomer when she went away from the marital home. His love, like God’s love for Israel, made him forgive her sins, just as God forgave the sins of the Israelites. A love relationship is similar to the covenant God shares with His people. With love and forgiveness, there is nothing a couple can’t overcome, including adultery or infidelity. The party who has been jilted or cheated must learn to forgive.

    But of course, it must be a two-way street. The party who has done wrong must learn to repent. Gomer, like the Israelites, repented. True repentance, which consists not of empty promises but of real change, can turn any troubled love relationship into a happy one. It takes a lot to do this, but with love – and the knowledge that you have been forgiven and are being given the chance to become a better partner – all things are possible. Partners must work hand in hand in order to make their love relationship work.

  • Who Is the Prophet Hosea?

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    Where does the name Hosea come from?
    Hosea is a name that is of Hebrew origin. Its meaning is one that provides hope for those who have lost it; it gives a chance to people who have gone astray to come back to their true home. Hosea simply means “salvation,” that elusive word that many people in this world want to find. Perhaps you have heard of the prophet Hosea, one of the most famous people bearing the name.

    Who is Hosea?
    Hosea was a prophet from the Bible’s Old Testament. Bible Hosea was a son of Beeri, and he lived and prophesied about Israel and its destruction around 722 BC. At the time, Israel was divided into two kingdoms; Hosea was focused on preaching to the Northern Kingdom.

    The Book of Hosea contains Hosea’s prophecies and the story of his marriage to Gomer, a marriage commanded by God to show the relationship between His covenant and the people of Ephraim, the largest tribe in Israel and also referred to as Israel itself.

    Hosea is believed to be the very first prophet who used marriage in his book to show the relationship between God and His people. You see, the marriage of Hosea and Gomer was not a smooth one; it was, in fact, quite the opposite. This reflected the kind of relationship that God and the Israelites had at the time.

    What happened between Hosea and Gomer?
    As a prophet, bible Hosea preached – until the destruction of Israel – during the Reign of the Seven Kings. This was a chaotic period for the Kingdom of Israel, especially in terms of religious beliefs.

    During this period, different kings ruled with varying religious positions – that is, they implemented whatever was most profitable for them. Earthly pleasures were shamelessly pursued, and the kings’ – as well as their people’s – spirituality suffered greatly. God was forgotten as the Kingdom turned to idolatry.

    Hosea was instructed by God to marry, but the marriage, God warned, would not be perfect for the woman would turn into a prostitute to show the current state of Israel. Hosea married Gomer. There are different opinions as to the nature of Gomer; some say that Gomer was a prostitute even before, while others maintain that it was only during the course of her marriage to Hosea that she became one. At any rate, Gomer was a quarrelsome and adulterous wife.

    What does Hosea mean to me?
    I have gone through many hardships in life. Like the Israelites, I too have lost my way and my faith. The story of Hosea is perhaps one that best describes my marriage. What comforts me is that the Book of Hosea ends not in hopelessness, but in forgiveness and love. Bible Hosea sought out Gomer and forgave her sins, just as God forgave His people.

    I never thought I could find myself whole again and especially not with the help of the Church. But there really is a God, and I feel His love as He gives me the opportunity to live life with faith and trust in His will. When I joined the Church, the pastor gave me the name “Hosea,” and I felt I have truly come home.

  • 再次相遇－我和慧一起吃午饭

    慧已经来到我们家两天了，我只是除了偶尔跟她讲几句话外就没有多聊过。越想接近她时就越害怕。

    中午醒来后看到慧在客厅看电视，出于礼貌就和她打了招呼。慧说到：“我们一起去吃午饭吧？好久没一起吃过东西了！” 这次我没再多考虑就答应了她。

    我们来到一家好吃的日本餐厅，点了许多好吃的料理，一边聊一边吃起来。慧还是和以前一样很喜欢拍照，她在餐厅的各个角落不停的摆姿势拍照。看着她开心的样子，我心里也美滋滋的。遗憾的是，她没邀请我一起拍。

    买单后，我们要回去了。在路上我们一起买了很多小吃回家。虽然一直都是我跟在她们后面，但我还是觉得很幸福。没想到我和慧的再次相遇也可以这么开心。

  • Finding the Right Pair of Tight Jeans

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    Tight jeans look sexy and make a statement if worn properly. They look good on both skinny body types and the more voluptuous. Tight jeans that fit you well make a good addition to your wardrobe. You can wear them with a loose or flowing blouse and different kinds of footwear like platform shoes, wedges, or flats. As can be seen in many celebrities today, wearing a thong with tight jeans easily make up for a sexy, foxy look.

    The tricky part is finding the right pair that fits you well in all the right places – one that you can wear in almost any occasion and with almost anything. Looking for the right fir, cut, and color can be tiring so it is best to do your tight jeans-hunting when you are feeling refreshed.

    Some women stick to a particular brand of jeans for the sole reason that it manufactures pairs that fit them perfectly. If you already have a pair of tight jeans that fits you snugly, buy the same one by all means. Call up stores to see if they are still selling the same pair. You can also check online stores like eBay for pairs with the same style number as the pair you own.

    Online shoppers are now offered the option to use size calculators when purchasing jeans online. This new technology saves up time and effort otherwise consumed in browsing rack after rack, shop after shop and trying on one pair of jeans after another only to go home empty-handed.

    Online size calculators like zafu.com considers all the measurements you enter and your body type in displaying results of suitable pairs of jeans for you. Within a few minutes, your choices are narrowed down to jeans that will fit you perfectly.

    Shopping online for the right pair of tight jeans is no longer as inconvenient as it used to be. Look for online stores that have favourable return policies and if possible, free return shipping with a provision of at least 30 days to return a purchased item. Once you find a store you feel confident about, look for a style you like then compare your measurements to the retailer’s size chart. Various brands have different sizing systems.

    Last but not least, stay in shape so that your perfect-fit jeans stay that way as long as you like them to. Exercise regularly and eat healthy so you feel beautiful inside out.

  • The Status of the HIV Virus in 2009

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    The problem with HIV is that through the years, it is consistently increasing in every regions of the world. This is despite of all the efforts of the governments and various world organizations to curtail the spread of this virus and to properly educate people on how to prevent themselves from getting it or if they already have it, from spreading it.

    There are currently about 34 million people living with HIV all around the world. This is the statistics on HIV as reported by the United Nations. Around 32 million of these are adults, with an equal distribution between male and female victims of this virus.

    However, the saddening part of these statistics is that over 2 million children aged 15 and below are affected. These cases are mostly from poor countries, particularly in Africa, where babies were born with the virus after contracting it from their mothers.

    It is a growing concern because no definite cure has been found. About 2 million people have died from this disease starting from 2008 to the present statistics on HIV. An alarming figure considering the number of people who have the virus.

    The majority of the people who have the virus remain to be homosexuals, mostly gay men who have active sexual relations with other men. On those who are bisexuals, most of them acquired the virus through having promiscuous sex or having many different sexual partners.

    This is an alarming trend as the morals of people from all nations, particularly in more developed countries, is said to be breaking down, mostly being blamed on mass media. Some moralists have claimed that the television and the movies have the lasting and strong influence on how the young people are thinking and what they believe in.

    Another thing to get us worried about is that each year, thousands of cases of new diagnoses have been recorded. Since 2008 up to 2009, there are around 8,000 new positive diagnoses. What is disturbing is that this is a very small percentage as compared to the greater number of HIV infected people who are not diagnosed. The reason behind this is because most of those undiagnosed individuals are living in far flung places, mostly in poor countries, where there are limited access to medical centres.

    The numbers clearly show the current status of the HIV. And it is a horrible figure. Further studies have to be made to help legislators come up with laws to help combat this virus and how it is being spread in the society. Furthermore, education regarding this matter should begin in schools so children will learn as early as possible about the dangers of HIV and how they can prevent from being infected with it.

    Are you a victim too? Visit http://www.genitalwartswomen.com/.

  • 再次相遇－不知如何去面对

    再次相遇－不知如何去面对

    我和慧已经有两年没见面了，回想过去，她留给我的只有一次又一次的伤痛。今天，她忽然来到了我家。

    当时我在楼上房间内，听到敲门声时就知是慧到了。那一刻，我的心止不住的加快了跳动。两年没见了，不知现在的她会是什么样子，真的好想立刻飞下去看她。可是经过一番挣扎后，我还是选择不去见她，因为不知如何面对。于是，我就装作很忙的样子躲在楼上不敢下去。

  • Eat Vegetables and Lose So Much Fat

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    If there is one thing that people should be doing more each day, but they are actually doing less of it, is to eat more vegetables. There are so many benefits of adding vegetables to one’s diet and one of which is that you can lose so much fat by just doing it.

    Vegetables are among the foods that we have learned to hate as a child. Why? Simply because they seldom taste good. Sadly, we tend to carry that dislike for vegetables as we grow up, which is a very poor habit. That is because we deprive ourselves of the many vitamins and minerals that can be naturally found in vegetables.

    We all know that vegetables are good for our health, but how can it help us lose so much fat? Well, for one thing vegetables are rich in fiber. Fiber plays an important role in making us feel full quickly and for a longer period of time. When we are full, we eat less often. So for example, if we have vegetables for lunch, since we will naturally already feel full, there is less chances that we will have an afternoon snack. We crave less because of this.

    Another way that vegetables help us lose so much fat is because vegetables have zero to very little fat to begin with. That means when we eat these health foods, we put less to none additional fat into our bodies. When there is less fat going in, it will be easier for us to burn off the existing fat within us.

    Aside from that, vegetables add variety to merely eating meat and other processed foods. Eating nothing but meat is dangerous because of the fat and the cholesterol that is abundant in most meats. And you know exactly what that translates into: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and possibilities of strokes and heart attacks.

    Vegetables also contribute to better mental health. These can help boost our memory, help us think more clearly, and retain more information. The vitamin C that is found in most vegetables alone is already great for keeping our mental faculties healthy. It is perhaps due to is immunity boosting properties.

    So in case you are one of the many number of people who are not into eating vegetables, you can start incorporating these in your daily meals in very little portions as a start. For example, instead of just eating steak, you can include a small bowl of green salad. You can also include mixed vegetables to any grilled or fried meal. Through such small portions, you can slowly train your palate to learn to love these healthy vegetables.

    There are many ways to lose weight, but as always, it is through a proper diet that you can benefit from the most. And you can do that by having more vegetables each day. Not only can you lose fat, but through the vitamins and minerals present in vegetables, your mind and body will become healthier. Just remember to include as many types of vegetables as you can on your daily meals.

  • Genital Warts and Its Stages

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    Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus, which is somewhat similar but quite different from the virus that causes common warts on the skin. Warts are contagious and can be transmitted to and by both men and women during sexual contact. If sexual partners engage in oral sex, warts can grow in the mouth and the throat.

    Knowing the various stages of the disease, especially the beginning stages, is important in getting the necessary treatments for the condition. Sometimes, people who have grown warts in the genital area do not know that they already need medication simply because they were not aware of the signs and that they already are infected. Genital warts at their earlier stage are treated faster and more easily.

    Between two and nine months after being infected, genital warts only show signs of redness. The infected area may feel sore and itchy. It is best to consult your doctor immediately once you feel irritation in your genitals as this may be a sign that you already have warts.

    The next stage of the growth is the formation of red, gray, or flesh-colored bumps that appear flat or slightly raised. They usually emerge around the vaginal or anal areas. During this stage, it is not uncommon for bumps to grow in the throat and the mouth as well.

    Eventually, the warts will continue to grow bigger and in groups within or around a given area. They will be identified as full-grown warts if they take the form and roughness as that of a cauliflower. If untreated, it can affect normal cells surrounding them, which may lead to various cancers. This does not happen all the time but some cases of anal, cervical, vaginal, and even penal cancers were caused by warts.

    Most of the time, however, the warts die and fall off by themselves after a period of time. There are many exceptions to this, however, and anyone who has detected possible signs of warts in the genital area in the earlier stages should seek treatment immediately. Doctors can easily remove warts during the first or second stages. There is a wide array of treatments designed for various genital warts stagesbut the problem is better addressed early on.

    More info at http://www.genitalwartswomen.com

  • 再次相遇－慧又要走了

    今天是惠来到我们家的最后一天，下午她就要坐火车回去了，这也是我偶尔听到的。

    这一天我们都很沉默，没有象之前那样聊的火热。慧与干妹如梦在楼下一起玩电脑，我一直在楼上忙自己的事情。从楼下不时的传来她们的谈话声。慧说：“迟一点我就要走了。” 回问：“你才来几天而已，再多玩两天吗？” 但慧一直坚持说家人在催她要回去了，也只能同意她走。

    慧收拾好了包包要走了，我也没有多说什么，也没有去送她。就这样，慧与出门了。

    我没有去送她，是不想再次体验亲眼看着她走时撕裂般的心痛。想到以前我们在一起，她每次说要走时，我就有一种莫名的恐惧。每次都很怕她走了就再也不回来了。

    匆匆的相遇又走过了，不知何时还能再见到她。