Waiting For Your Mate?

I wrote this blog because I was asked several times about this subject. So here are my thoughts on it.

I have learned that when it comes to dating and finding your mate, people tend to have their own views—and most of the time, they don’t want to be told anything different. There’s a saying that goes, “Love is blind,” but honestly, it should say, “Look out! Lust will blind you!” No lie… when someone comes into your life that you’re interested in, you can totally lose it. You enter what I call the “La La Zone.”

Someone can come along and say, “I saw that guy or gal with someone else,” and you won’t hear a word of it. Everyone around you can see something is wrong with that person and may even say, “I’m afraid for you,” but all warnings will fall on deaf ears.

Instead of praying about that person, weighing things out, and observing how they act around other people, we ignore wisdom. We don’t stop to ask ourselves questions like:
Is this the person I would want to spend the rest of my life with? Is this the kind of person I would want to be the mother or father of my children? What kind of wife or husband would this person be? Are our beliefs the same? Are we heading in the same spiritual direction?

You know what I’m talking about—you put on the blinders and stop thinking. I’m telling you, get out of the Zone!

You’re probably thinking, “Man, I just want to date.” Ask yourself why. Why do you want to date? Here are some things that can happen when you date without a plan:

1. Falling into sin and getting pregnant

2. Ending up with an abortion

3. Breaking up and going through the same thing all over again with someone else

4. Ending in divorce

5. Bringing a bundle of pain into your next relationship

6. Getting off the path God has for you 

    7. Traumatizing your children

   I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but it’s the truth.

You cannot build a relationship on warm, fuzzy feelings or surface things like how attractive, skinny, cool, or popular someone is. Trust me—those things won’t matter as much when you’re married. You can be the most beautiful woman or the most handsome man, and your spouse may still cheat on you.

Here’s the point I’m trying to make: choosing your mate is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. It will change the entire course of your life—for better or for worse. So why not make sure you choose the right one?

Now you might be thinking, “Who are you to give advice?” Well, I’m a nobody—I just have experience.

I married someone based on those warm, fuzzy feelings and ended up with two children who didn’t have a father present in their lives, two abortions, and a marriage that ended in divorce after five years. My happily-ever-after dreams were over. I also carried tremendous baggage into my next relationship.

Let me add this—I didn’t have Jesus in my life then. I learned the hard way, and I’ll be honest with you: I don’t want to see this story repeated in your life. I did not get to be the mother I always wanted to be because of the pain I carried. My children are still paying the price for the choices I made years ago.

Always remember this: the decisions you make will affect the people you love. So be wise.

I was determined not to make the same mistake twice. When the man I am married to today came to me and said, “The Lord told me you are to be my wife,” I wanted to laugh. Here comes this man who loved the Lord—someone I had no fuzzy feelings for and definitely didn’t want to marry—telling me he was my husband. My response was, “I don’t think so!”

Then Lord was tugging on my heart: “How do you know this isn’t the guy for you?”
It was time to hit the brakes.

I realized it was true—I didn’t know. So I took a month away from him to pray and fast. My prayer was one of surrender. I realized God knew what was best for me, and I also knew my first choice had been a disaster.

I prayed, “Lord, if this is the husband for me, change my heart. Give me a desire to be his wife, because the way I feel right now isn’t going to cut it.”

I waited on God to work in my heart—and He did. My feelings changed, and I had to admit my husband was right. God knew I needed this man in my life. We’ve laughed a lot, cried, and worked in ministry together. We’ve been married 23 years, and it doesn’t feel like it. No, our marriage isn’t perfect—our baggage is the biggest reason for that—and the truth is, there is no such thing as a perfect marriage.

The Bible gives us standards to follow when choosing a mate.

Scripture to Support This Message

Philippians 3:3 (NKJV)
“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”

This reminds us that relationships built on feelings, attraction, or the flesh alone will not last. Our confidence must be in Christ, not in warm, fuzzy emotions.

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1 Corinthians 7:1 (NKJV)
“Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.”

God’s Word calls us to wisdom, self-control, and holiness in our relationships, not rushing ahead of His timing.

Here’s the point I’m trying to make: choosing your mate is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. It will change the entire course of your life—for better or for worse. So why not make sure you choose the right one?

The Lord wants us to live holy lives, and the enemy wants us to fall into sin. There is nothing wrong with getting married—but follow God’s Word and be wise. One more thing you need to remember: just because the person you’re interested in is a Christian doesn’t mean they’re the one.

You both should be moving in the same direction in God. Think of it this way: the Lord isn’t going to remove you from the path He’s called you to. He will bring your mate’s path alongside yours.

So pray—pray—pray. Take time away from that person and surrender them to God. Pray, “Lord, if this isn’t the right one, remove these feelings and let this relationship end.” Or you may need to pray the prayer I prayed.

Trust God. He knows what’s best for you. Do things His way.

Like I said, when it comes to choosing your mate, you’re going to do it your way anyway. This blog is for the hardcore—for those who truly want to do things God’s way. When it comes down to choosing between God and your mate, choose God. That way, you can’t lose.

In America today, the divorce rate is around 55 percent—Christians. That comes from doing things our own way.

Just my thoughts—mixed with truth.

Be A Voice
Olga

Can You See It?

I watched as she stepped in front of the mirror, just as she  always did before beginning her day. I knew she was worn out from the trials she had faced—trials that had often left her feeling as though giving up might be easier than pressing on. 

Yet this day was different.
She struggled to open her eyes, as if bright lights had suddenly been turned on after a long time in darkness. 

Slowly adjusting, she began to study her reflection. Aware of a distant light, she felt herself drawn—compelled—to look deeper. As she gazed, she noticed filthy rags standing like silhouettes between her and the light. One by one, they began to fade, weakened by its power.
Each rag name: unforgiveness, pride, fear, doubt, lust, unbelief. 

Her curiosity grew. Where was this light coming from? Even without knowing, she felt comforted simply by its presence. She reached toward the mirror, longing to touch it—as if she wanted her hand to pass straight through and connect with that place of glory beyond.

She leaned in closer, and as she did, her countenance began to change. It was as though she were absorbing the power flowing from the light. Peace and assurance radiated from her face, lifting her beyond herself. She seemed unaware of her surroundings now, still drawn deeper—

until I saw tears fall from her eyes.

In that moment, she bowed her head in reverence.

What is she seeing? I wondered.

I stepped forward from a distance and stood beside her. When she lifted her head, I stood in awe. There she was, dwelling in the image and glory of the Light of the world. Her garments shimmered—white and translucent, a color I had never seen before. Not a spot or wrinkle marred them.
She was held in the very center of His heart.
The image of His glory surrounded her like a shield, covering her from head to toe. She had found a place of safety—and she knew it.
I stood speechless. Wow. I knew it was Jesus radiating from her. Her lips moved softly, and I heard her whisper,

“Why was I afraid? Why did I even doubt?”

2Corinthians 3:16 

Although our hearts were once veiled, when we turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Our minds are no longer blinded, for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

The troubles we face for a moment are working for us a far greater, eternal weight of glory.
The Lord longs for us to be the light of this world—to reflect who He is. He desires for us to dwell in the center of His heart, just as He longs to be at the center of ours. This is a day-by-day process. It requires discipline, prayer, and obedience. At first, our spiritual eyes must adjust, but as we press in deeper, our weaknesses begin to fade and His transformation begins.

2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

These are my thoughts—birthed in prayer and grounded in God’s Word.

Olga
Be_A_Voice

Freedom of Choice-Brings Secret Shame!

A Call to Come Out of Hiding

There is an urgency stirring in my heart—a call to women and men who have aborted their babies.

You know who you are.
You hide in shame.
You work hard to cover your pain.
You live with regret.

You go through your days trying to pretend it never happened, yet every time the subject of abortion arises, your heart cringes in silence. You are afraid to share your story because you fear judgment—fear that others will look at you differently. You find it difficult to receive God’s forgiveness.

I know this place well, because I, too, have felt these things.

We are not alone. Since 1973, an estimated 60 million or more babies have been aborted. That means there are millions of mothers and fathers just like you and me. They are in workplaces, churches, hospitals, and neighborhoods. You have likely walked past them at the mall, in the grocery store, or even in the prayer room.

Our freedom of choice has driven many of us underground, living with secret shame. Perhaps you are reading this and thinking, I don’t feel this way. If that is the case, this message may not be for you—but please respect those for whom it is.

The Lie of “Freedom of Choice”

“Freedom of choice”—that is what they call it. We even vote for those who promise to protect it. Blinded by deception, we agreed with the lie, believing we had found a solution, a way of escape.

The message was simple: “Do it—and keep it silent.”

But if it was right, why did it feel so wrong?
Why did it feel like a part of me died?

When many of us later chose to start families, guilt surfaced. Deep down, we knew that deciding which baby lives and which baby dies could never be right. I am a realist, and the truth is this: I let my children down.

That truth is painful to admit, but it is necessary. Unless we acknowledge what we have done, we cannot be healed. We cannot truly repent, and we cannot fully receive God’s forgiveness.

The Path to Healing 

Scripture tells us:

James 5:16
“Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”

This verse burned in my heart. It became a lifeline—one that helped carry me through my own healing.

The Lord began to speak to me:

“Come out. Stop hiding in shame. Come and be healed. Allow yourself to grieve your loss, for what was taken was a life. You have repented, and I have forgiven you. Now take what was meant for evil and turn it toward good. Be a voice. Share your testimony. Proclaim ‘Yes to life.’ What people think does not matter—what matters is the mission I have given you. Your story will save lives.”

This word is for you as well.

Be a Voice

There are unborn babies who need our help. When I look at the statistics, my heart cries out, Mothers and fathers—what are we going to do?

Every voice matters.
Every story carries power.
Every testimony has the potential to save a life.

You may be thinking, How can I be pro-life when I once chose abortion? Wouldn’t that make me a hypocrite?

I didn’t know Jesus when I made my choice. I found strength when I found Him! It is Jesus who holds my hand and helps me move forward. He does the work through us. 

Those considering abortion are often more willing to listen to someone who has been where they are—someone who understands their fear and confusion. That does not mean we encourage abortion so we can relate; it means God can use our redeemed stories to reach hearts others cannot.

More ground is covered. More lives are saved.

A Place for Grief and Restoration

With the Lord’s direction and strength, I gave my unborn babies names and held a memorial service. I invited family and church members. It was difficult, but God’s presence was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

The Lord impressed upon me to give an altar call, inviting mothers and fathers to grieve their unborn children. I was overwhelmed by how many came forward—how many stories mirrored my own. We wept together.

And somehow, I knew Jesus wept with us too.

The Lord healed me, and He can heal you.

An Invitation

If you do not have someone you trust to confess your pain to and pray with you, I invite you to reach out. You are not alone.

You may email me at myrosepetal2@gmail.com if you would like to share your story. I will pray for you.

Final Thoughts

“A voice that speaks out can change more lives than one that cries in silence.”

Let the voices arise.

If you know someone who has had an abortion, please share this message with them. And if an unborn life is saved because you chose to speak, I would love to hear your testimony.

Be_A_Voice
Olga

It Was One Of Those Moments!

I remember a time in the presence of the Lord. I was carried away to a place I had never been before. I had the privilege of being touched by His love. It was one of those moments.

He began to reveal to me His mercy and grace. Wow… that You would love someone who had failed You so many times. Though there were hundreds of people around me—people You love so dearly—Your eyes gazed upon me, and Your hands reached for me. Lord, You took the time to listen to the cry of a lonely child.

I was desperate for You and longed to know You with all my heart. You stepped down and made everything around me stand still. In that moment, all my cares began to fade. My hurts were carried away, and fear became a word with no effect. It was Your joy that danced around me. Your peace transferred me into Your gentle arms, and the kisses of Your love melted all doubt.

You swept me off my feet.

I remember thinking, Please… let this moment last. This is where I belong. Right here, right now. There is no other place I would rather be.

It was in Your presence that I heard You say, “What do you desire?” Wanting so much to please You, I responded, “Whatever You desire for me, Lord.” And Your words to me were, “Give Me your heart.”

It was then that I sensed everything within me yielding with great reverence. I felt disappointed in myself and began to contemplate, Lord, I thought I had given You my heart. If I hadn’t given You my whole heart, who—or what—had taken it?

The revelation that You desired my affection began a search within me. I had to find out what had captured my passion if it wasn’t You. Was it my husband? My children? The cares of this world?

You gently brought to my memory: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart.”

In that moment, I realized there was so much more to giving my heart. “Please forgive me, Lord,” I asked. Your ways are higher than my ways. There was so much more to give, so much more to see, so much more to know. What You yearned to do with my heart was endless.

I could think of no one more deserving of my affection than You.

My prayer became:
“Lord, help me give You my heart the way You desire it. Anything I value more than You, let it be dethroned. Jesus, take Your rightful place instead. Organize my affections and put everything in its proper place. I trust You, my Lord.”

So You began to test, prune, purify, and reveal Yourself to me. Even now, I can discern You working within me.

My journey continues deeper than before. I notice my desperation for You has increased, and a new passion is being birthed. There is an urgency stronger than before. I find myself standing in awe of You.

The songs in my heart pour out:

Let the fragrance of my praise fill Your holy place.
Let the fragrance of my worship steal Your heart.
Let me feel Your warm embrace.

I stand in wonder of You, Jesus.

Your Bride,
Olga

Do you have a "Jiminy Cricket?"

How many of us have watched Pinocchio?
A little wooden puppet who was brought to life. He was given Jiminy Cricket to be his conscience. Jiminy was there to help Pinocchio make the right decisions and stay out of trouble.

Now, this might not seem important to you, but our conscience can be a lifeline. It’s that inner voice we often ignore—the voice that seems to come from the heart.

For example:

I remember when I was 12 years old, babysitting for my mom’s friend. My sister, who was 11 at the time, was with me. We were watching three little kids, and everything was going well—until someone knocked on the door.

My sister and I went to see who it was. There was a curtain on the door that I gently moved aside.
“Oh no, he saw me!” I said to my sister.

The man began asking for the woman we were babysitting for. I thought, Maybe this is a family member. Just as I was thinking that, my inner voice kicked in, telling me not to open the door. But my mind kept saying, He saw me… and it might be a family member.

Needless to say, I listened to my mind and opened the door. (For some reason, I could imagine my Jiminy Cricket jumping up and down, holding the door shut and yelling, “NO! NO! Don’t do it!” Sorry, Jiminy!)

The man came inside and began asking me all kinds of questions, including my name—and in my ignorance, I told him. He went into one of the bedrooms and began calling out to me. My sister and I were terrified, so we decided to ignore him.

That’s when the man came out and grabbed me. Thank God I got away and was able to call the police.

If I had listened to that inner voice—my Jiminy Cricket—I would have avoided all of that trauma.

We all have a Jiminy Cricket. Some of us have ignored it for so long that the voice has become very faint. Others have learned to listen to it and can recognize it immediately. There’s a saying that goes, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”

I believe this inner voice was given to us by God. There is a verse that says, “He rains on the just and the unjust.” Even if you’re not saved, you still have it. There’s no way we can foresee the outcome of our decisions—only God knows everything. While some situations seem like common sense, that’s not always the case.

For example:

One morning, I woke up with a very strong feeling not to send my son to school. Common sense told me I needed to send him—so I did. I didn’t foresee anything unusual.

Later that afternoon, I received an emergency call from the school telling me my son had fallen on the playground and busted his chin wide open.

You might be wondering why I’m even writing about this inner voice. The reason is simple: God gave us this Jiminy Cricket to protect us and keep us out of trouble.

There is so much going on in the world today—rape, sexual abuse, kidnapping, drugs, accidents, and more. We need to become aware of this inner voice and stop ignoring it. If we, as parents, learn to listen to it and teach our children to do the same, we can prevent some of these terrible things from happening.

I can’t count how many times I’ve heard people blame God for their misfortunes, pain, and hurt. The truth is, God loves us so much that even if we mock Him, use His name in vain, make fun of those who believe in Him, refuse to live by the Bible, or reject Jesus altogether—He still, in His mercy and grace, gives us that extra something to help protect us.

Even when we don’t deserve it.

God gave us free will. We are free to make our own choices. If we choose not to believe in Jesus or listen to that inner voice, then whatever happens is on us. That doesn’t stop God from loving us, nor does it change the fact that He gave His life for us.

So stop throwing God under the bus.

One thing I often hear people say is, “Well, He could have stopped it.” Guess what? He also could have forced you to believe in Him and serve Him—but He didn’t. God chose not to force us, and deep down, we wouldn’t want it any other way. We want free will. He wants us to love Him freely.

Instead, we want to do whatever we want, whenever we want, and avoid the consequences. “It wasn’t me—it was Julie.”We’re always passing the blame.

My final thought is this:

Whether you serve Jesus or not, listen to your conscience, the check in your spirit Jiminy Cricket—(what ever you want to call it) and stop blaming God for everything.

Be A Voice,
Olga

Parents Tell Me It Isn't So!

Parents Tell Me It Isn't So!

Leave it to Beaver Days

October 14, 2026
By Olga | Be-A-Voice

This subject deeply concerns me.

Parents, please tell me—what is going on?

Recently, while walking through a department store, I suddenly heard a twelve-year-old boy yelling, “SHUT UP!” Instinctively, I thought something serious must be happening. I looked to see who he was talking to, and to my shock, it was his mother. Throughout my entire shopping trip, I listened as this child yelled at her and told her what to do. No exaggeration—I honestly felt like I was watching Freaky Friday.

What is truly sad is that this behavior has become normal.

I have seen three-year-olds yelling at their parents, hitting them—yes, in the face—and defiantly telling them “NO.” I’ve also witnessed neighbors move out of their own home because they could not control their teenage son.

Think about that for a moment.

They left him with the house.

Someone was being punished, and I can assure you—it wasn’t the son.

I have friends who are employers, and they tell me the same thing repeatedly: young people don’t show up for work. They go through employees the way we go through a bag of M&M’s. Many young people do whatever they want, whenever they want. They can’t hold a job—and why should they? All they have to do is demand money from their parents. To them, “no” is not an option.

Here’s something else that absolutely blows my mind: teenagers moving their girlfriends or boyfriends into their parents’ home—and the parents allowing it. As if parents don’t already have enough on their plates, now they’re supporting another mouth to feed and another set of problems.

These extra “guests” don’t pay rent. They use your water, electricity, gas, food, and laundry—and sometimes you even clean up after them.

Please—stop the madness.

Children and teenagers are committing suicide because of what they are dealing with. They don’t know how to work through problems—at school, with peers, or in life in general—because they are not being taught how. School shootings are increasing. Crime among young people is on the rise, starting at younger ages. Many have no understanding of consequences, no value for human life.

Wake me up and tell me it isn’t so.

What happened to the Leave It to Beaver days? When children respected their parents and other adults. When parents took the time to teach right from wrong. When children faced consequences for rebellion.

Today, things feel out of control.

Parents, please do me a favor: get a hold of your children while they are young—yes, even at two years old, when their behavior seems “cute.” That is when discipline is easiest. Before you become afraid of your own child.

Here is a simple formula: Discipline, Love, Keeping Your Word, and Making Time to listen.

Discipline

This includes time-outs, a firm voice, appropriate physical correction when necessary, and taking away privileges. Discipline means consequences for wrong actions.

Let me be clear—I do not believe in abuse. Discipline should never be done in anger, but out of love and a desire to see your child become a healthy, responsible adult. A stern voice can be very effective. There is a clear difference between abuse and discipline.

When you discipline your child, talk with them. Help them understand what they did wrong. That is how learning happens.

And remember this truth:

If you don’t discipline your child, they will eventually discipline you.

Keeping Your Word

How many times do children hear, “If you do that again, you’re going to get it!”—and nothing happens?

They know when you’re not serious.

Your word only has value when it is backed by action. If you don’t follow through, your words mean nothing to them.

Keep your word. Let it have weight.

Love

Give your children hugs and kisses. Speak positive words over them. Your words have power.

If you tell a child they are stupid, they will believe it. Even if you never speak negative words, ask yourself—are you speaking positive ones?

Pray over your children. Speak peace over them. Be present. Find out what thoughts are going through their minds. When you do, you can put out fires before they grow out of control.

Your children need security—and they need you.

Time

Take the time to teach your children. When they are born, they know nothing. You are not only their parent—you are their teacher.

What you teach them from infancy is preparing them for adulthood. Ask yourself: What kind of adult do I want my child to become? Then begin working toward that goal.

Take the time to listen to them, to them it will affirm their value. Speak life over them.

Here is some final advice: don’t let the cares of this world, your own hurts, or your pain keep you from being the parent you desire to be. Don’t wait until it’s too late—when all that remains are regrets.

Parents, I know children do not come with a parenting manual. The Bible teaches us to learn from those who are older and experienced—those we respect. I suppose I qualify as both older and experienced.

So allow yourself to learn from this message.

These are simply my thoughts—shaped by experience.

Be-A-Voice

Olga