Hey Girls,
Are you very patient? Sometimes it is hard to be patient these days when we are used to everything always happening so fast. Think about it, what do we ever have to really wait for? And I don't mean line ups or traffic jambs because that's not really waiting, in a matter of minutes or hours you do get out. But really wait? Like when you don't know the deadline, or when you don't know that it could be six to eight weeks. When you are waiting for something that you have no control over when it comes whatsoever? This is often why people have so much trouble waiting for answers to prayer. They think that God isn't talking to them just because they've grown impatient with waiting but the truth is, God's timing is not ours and we just need to be patient in waiting for his response.
Patience is what I've been learning about this year in several ways. A lot of it has been learning to trust God and wait on him for things I have little to no control over. And it's kinda strange to think that I get frustrated about stuff when really, I've only been waiting a year for somethings and that's relatively small in the big scheme of things. It seems like a terribly long time now but really it isn't. Fortunately, we have a God that understands our every emotion and understands how hard it is for us to wait. God's timing is perfect. I just have to remind myself to trust him.
Here are some verses to hold onto about patience:
Ecclesiastes 7:8 "Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride."
Galatians 5:22-23 "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
Colossians 3:12 "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."
2 Peter 3:15 "And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved."
James 5:7 "Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen."
I hope that encourages you to keep up your patiences even when it becomes very frustrating and sometimes depressing. Remember how much patience God has for us. Remember how in the Old Testament God constantly forgave the Israelite people over and over again, through generations, always came back to them and showed them mercy, even when they tried his patience. He never gave up, didn't desert them either. There is a great example of patience.
So we all have our trials of patiences in our lives, let's just keep up the good work and not get angry about having to be patient but rather, look at it positively as a way to further grow in the character God wants us to have.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Walking Her Home
Here is a great love story:
Looking back
He sees it all
It was her first date the night he came to call
Her dad said son
Have her home on time
And promise me you'll never leave her side
He took her to a show in town
And he was ten feet off the ground
(Chorus)
He was walking her home
And holding her hand
Oh the way she smiled it stole the breath right out of him
Down that old road
With the stars up above
He remembers where he was the night he fell in love
He was walking her home
Ten more years and a waiting room
At half past one
And the doctor said come in and meet your son
His knees went weak
When he saw his wife
She was smiling as she said he's got your eyes
And as she slept he held her tight
His mind went back to that first night
(Chorus)
He walked her through the best days of her life
Sixty years together and he never left her side
A nursing home
At eighty-five
And the doctor said it could be her last night
And the nurse said Oh
Should we tell him now
Or should he wait until the morning to find out
When they checked her room that night
He was laying by her side
Oh he was walking her home
And holding her hand
Oh the way she smiled when he said this is not the end
And just for a while they were eighteen
And she was still more beautiful to him than anything
He was walking her home
He was walking her home
Looking back
He sees it all
It was her first date the night he came to call
The song is 'Walking Her Home' by Mark Shultz. Listen to it if you can get your hands on a copy of the song and don't be surprised if it brings tears to your eyes.
I posted this because it is just a great example of commitment and simple love. It just takes one guy to win your hearts girls, and when you know he's the one, never let him go. Spend every moment with him that you can until you both reach your forever home.
Looking back
He sees it all
It was her first date the night he came to call
Her dad said son
Have her home on time
And promise me you'll never leave her side
He took her to a show in town
And he was ten feet off the ground
(Chorus)
He was walking her home
And holding her hand
Oh the way she smiled it stole the breath right out of him
Down that old road
With the stars up above
He remembers where he was the night he fell in love
He was walking her home
Ten more years and a waiting room
At half past one
And the doctor said come in and meet your son
His knees went weak
When he saw his wife
She was smiling as she said he's got your eyes
And as she slept he held her tight
His mind went back to that first night
(Chorus)
He walked her through the best days of her life
Sixty years together and he never left her side
A nursing home
At eighty-five
And the doctor said it could be her last night
And the nurse said Oh
Should we tell him now
Or should he wait until the morning to find out
When they checked her room that night
He was laying by her side
Oh he was walking her home
And holding her hand
Oh the way she smiled when he said this is not the end
And just for a while they were eighteen
And she was still more beautiful to him than anything
He was walking her home
He was walking her home
Looking back
He sees it all
It was her first date the night he came to call
The song is 'Walking Her Home' by Mark Shultz. Listen to it if you can get your hands on a copy of the song and don't be surprised if it brings tears to your eyes.
I posted this because it is just a great example of commitment and simple love. It just takes one guy to win your hearts girls, and when you know he's the one, never let him go. Spend every moment with him that you can until you both reach your forever home.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Breathe
"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." (1 Peter 5:6-7)
That's the reminder for today girls. Surrender to God in all things, listen to him and wait on him to lead you. He will take care of every worry and concern. You just have to trust him and rest in him, rest in his promises that he loves you and cares for you.
That's the reminder for today girls. Surrender to God in all things, listen to him and wait on him to lead you. He will take care of every worry and concern. You just have to trust him and rest in him, rest in his promises that he loves you and cares for you.
Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
Monday, May 31, 2010
Other Boundaries
Hey Girls,
I'd like your opinion on this so feel free to comment. What do you think is acceptable behaviour for how someone should act around the opposite sex when they are in a relationship themselves? There is a lot of talk about appropriate boundaries within a relationship between a guy and girl but what about outside of that? For example, I think a lot of people can agree that they would not like it if they saw their boyfriend flirting with another girl. But what about friendliness, or playfulness? How far before it's too far?
I've heard about one couple who wanted to maintain purity/protect each other in the relationship so they had a practice whereby they wouldn't be alone with a member of the opposite sex. Is that a little too extreme? Always needing to have a third party there?
Well it says in the Bible in 1Timothy 5:1-2 "Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity." So all our relationship should focus on absolute purity. So, if you're in a relationship and you have a single male friend or even a married male friend, all your interactions should focus on absolute purity. You should do nothing that would cause guilt in anyway.
I guess then it is important to note what constitutes purity. Well, purity is clean, without sin. Thus, our thoughts and actions have to be sinless. Remember how in the Bible it states in Matthew 5:28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." So we have to be really careful about how we think about others. Does your close friendship with another guy cause stress in your relationship or create thoughts such as, what would it be like to be with him? That's pretty dangerous stuff there. It can create a whole lot of trouble.
Well, I think we all have to decide how to treat others outside of our relationship and the Holy Spirit will guide our hearts to know the right thing. You have to decide where the boundaries are. Is it okay for your guy friend to have a real heart to heart conversation with you or is that the type of thing you should just have with your significant other? Is it okay do go out and do stuff just the two of you, without your significant other? Maybe the rules change depending on who the person is and the history you have with them. Yet no matter what, it is important you know where you stand and have an idea of this stuff in your mind so that when the situation comes up, you will know how to properly react to it.
So really, if you think about everyone as either your brother or sister, father or mother, it makes the situation a little clearer. Maybe this is something you should talk about and decide as a couple. If you're acting in purity, being honourable towards the opposite sex, treating the guys like you would a brother, than that's good. It is just important to be careful and understand the impact that our other friendships can have on our marriage or dating relationship. And as always, if you keep your eyes on God, he will lead you.
I'd like your opinion on this so feel free to comment. What do you think is acceptable behaviour for how someone should act around the opposite sex when they are in a relationship themselves? There is a lot of talk about appropriate boundaries within a relationship between a guy and girl but what about outside of that? For example, I think a lot of people can agree that they would not like it if they saw their boyfriend flirting with another girl. But what about friendliness, or playfulness? How far before it's too far?
I've heard about one couple who wanted to maintain purity/protect each other in the relationship so they had a practice whereby they wouldn't be alone with a member of the opposite sex. Is that a little too extreme? Always needing to have a third party there?
Well it says in the Bible in 1Timothy 5:1-2 "Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity." So all our relationship should focus on absolute purity. So, if you're in a relationship and you have a single male friend or even a married male friend, all your interactions should focus on absolute purity. You should do nothing that would cause guilt in anyway.
I guess then it is important to note what constitutes purity. Well, purity is clean, without sin. Thus, our thoughts and actions have to be sinless. Remember how in the Bible it states in Matthew 5:28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." So we have to be really careful about how we think about others. Does your close friendship with another guy cause stress in your relationship or create thoughts such as, what would it be like to be with him? That's pretty dangerous stuff there. It can create a whole lot of trouble.
Well, I think we all have to decide how to treat others outside of our relationship and the Holy Spirit will guide our hearts to know the right thing. You have to decide where the boundaries are. Is it okay for your guy friend to have a real heart to heart conversation with you or is that the type of thing you should just have with your significant other? Is it okay do go out and do stuff just the two of you, without your significant other? Maybe the rules change depending on who the person is and the history you have with them. Yet no matter what, it is important you know where you stand and have an idea of this stuff in your mind so that when the situation comes up, you will know how to properly react to it.
So really, if you think about everyone as either your brother or sister, father or mother, it makes the situation a little clearer. Maybe this is something you should talk about and decide as a couple. If you're acting in purity, being honourable towards the opposite sex, treating the guys like you would a brother, than that's good. It is just important to be careful and understand the impact that our other friendships can have on our marriage or dating relationship. And as always, if you keep your eyes on God, he will lead you.
Friday, May 28, 2010
When God Says No
Hi There,
Has God ever told you no before? Well, recently I had a job interview and got offered the job at the end of the interview. It sounded like a really great opportunity and so my husband and I spent a few days praying about it but in the end, we just didn't feel like it was right. It was strange because both of us wanted to go but yet there wasn't peace about it in my heart. It didn't feel right to me. So I didn't take the job. It was disappointing. Yet I realize that the important thing about this whole situation is that we listened to the nudging of God. Just because we want something, doesn't make it right- doesn't make it God's will.
I've heard a bunch of times about unanswered prayers- that God doesn't answer all prayers. But sometimes I wonder if he has answered and it is 'no' or 'not yet' or 'wait'. All those things can be very hard to hear for us and sometimes we may not listen. After all, how often has it happened where something has come along your path that seemed just right for you and you went ahead and pursed it without consulting God about it? It's not easy to hear a no answer to something we want. It's disappointing and somewhat frustrating. But think about it, when God tells us 'no' to something (even something like dating that boy you have a crush on)- that is a perfect indication that he has a plan. He will tell us yes to something else.
After all, if we choose to follow God than we have to follow him wherever he leads and wherever he doesn't lead. I think sometimes there is such a huge focus on the going, on the yes answers and how to walk in obedience to that. Have you ever heard a sermon preached where the pastor talked about listening to God's no answers? I guess for me, it seems that I hear so often about the doing, the going- people talking about how to step out in faith and go where God calls. Well, what about stepping out in faith and listening when God tells us not to go somewhere? Listening to a no answer takes just as much faith as listening to a yes answer. Hearing a no means you may be left at square one again, you may still feel stuck in the same place, you may be confused, frustrated and wondering what in the world is going on- it takes faith to trust God that he has a plan in place.
So I encourage you today to consult with God about all your choices you have to make and then to have the courage and faith to accept his no (and the yes ones too, of course) answers, even when it is something you really want. God knows best. And we're following him and he's got the road map. So let's trust God for the plans for our lives and for each step we need or don't need to take.
Has God ever told you no before? Well, recently I had a job interview and got offered the job at the end of the interview. It sounded like a really great opportunity and so my husband and I spent a few days praying about it but in the end, we just didn't feel like it was right. It was strange because both of us wanted to go but yet there wasn't peace about it in my heart. It didn't feel right to me. So I didn't take the job. It was disappointing. Yet I realize that the important thing about this whole situation is that we listened to the nudging of God. Just because we want something, doesn't make it right- doesn't make it God's will.
I've heard a bunch of times about unanswered prayers- that God doesn't answer all prayers. But sometimes I wonder if he has answered and it is 'no' or 'not yet' or 'wait'. All those things can be very hard to hear for us and sometimes we may not listen. After all, how often has it happened where something has come along your path that seemed just right for you and you went ahead and pursed it without consulting God about it? It's not easy to hear a no answer to something we want. It's disappointing and somewhat frustrating. But think about it, when God tells us 'no' to something (even something like dating that boy you have a crush on)- that is a perfect indication that he has a plan. He will tell us yes to something else.
After all, if we choose to follow God than we have to follow him wherever he leads and wherever he doesn't lead. I think sometimes there is such a huge focus on the going, on the yes answers and how to walk in obedience to that. Have you ever heard a sermon preached where the pastor talked about listening to God's no answers? I guess for me, it seems that I hear so often about the doing, the going- people talking about how to step out in faith and go where God calls. Well, what about stepping out in faith and listening when God tells us not to go somewhere? Listening to a no answer takes just as much faith as listening to a yes answer. Hearing a no means you may be left at square one again, you may still feel stuck in the same place, you may be confused, frustrated and wondering what in the world is going on- it takes faith to trust God that he has a plan in place.
So I encourage you today to consult with God about all your choices you have to make and then to have the courage and faith to accept his no (and the yes ones too, of course) answers, even when it is something you really want. God knows best. And we're following him and he's got the road map. So let's trust God for the plans for our lives and for each step we need or don't need to take.
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