Thought

"Everyone longs to give him/herself completely to someone, to have a deep and committed soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and unconditionally. But God says "no not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved by me above, with giving yourself totally, unreservedly to me alone. I will love you my child, and until you discover that only in me is your satisfaction to be found you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with me exclusively of anyone or anything else; exclusively of any other desires or belongings, I want you to stop planning, stop wishing and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan existing- one that you cannot imagine- I want you to have the very best. Please allow me to bring it to you. Just keep your eyes on me expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction knowing that I am. Keeping learning and listening to the things I tell you. You must be patient, don't be anxious. Don't worry. Don't look around at the things others have. Don't look at the things you think you want. Just keep looking to me, or you will miss what I want to give you. And then, when you are ready I will surprise you with a love far more wonderful than you can ever dream. You'll see until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready (I am working this very minute to have both of you ready at the same time), when you are both satisfied exclusively with me and live life I have prepared for you. You won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies the relationship with me... and this is perfect love."


I guess I will use this as part of my devotions from Ephesians 3:20-21, though this draws upon many verses throughout the bible. To think that God can do more work than ten thousand talented and diligent people, and create worlds more vivid than my uncontrollable imagination can conceive. And one of them would just happen to be a relationship with another important person.


I have realized I have hit the point in my life where those around me are consistently thinking about serious relationships and commitment (I see engagement, marriage, and even babies weekly in my Facebook news feed now), and many prayers sounded off in my prayer groups and church meetings are on this topic. I don't know how many times I've shared this quote, but many times I have to come back to it and use it as a summary of scripture to refocus myself to God. Yes, I want to pursue a relationship where all I want is to help her grow closer to Him. To quote Big Fish's female companion, "maybe even more precious is the man who seeks not only to protect or to cherish (or even to hold) but also to encourage that heart to grow in the only way that really matters--into the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit." (I hope you don't blush at your own posts too, just your boyfriend's). I wholeheartedly agree with you and hope the sisters in Christ around the world believe the same too. Statistically a christian woman is more likely to pursue an non-spiritual relationship than a christian man, and more likely to value traits like looks, success, and humor above spiritual maturity than guys. I guess its my blog, so I can just put it out there that a guy after God's own heart is all you need to seek in a potential lifelong companion. Trust and care are the foundation to a stable relationship, not feelings or emotions (yes it is possible to deep brain stimulate a human and cause them to fall in love with a lemon, though unethical and should never be done >_>).


I will remember daily that God is in control of my destiny. I will become a man after God's own heart.

Devo Post #2

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one,
   because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
   one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
   and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
   But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
   two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Today I listened to Pastor Darrin’s sermon on community. He chose this verse from the book of Ecclesiastes, known as the book of wisdom. The message here is very simple: do not go through life alone. Throughout most of Ecclesiastes, the author King Solomon emphasizes all the “meaningless”things in life. His overarching theme is life apart from God is meaningless. Pastor Darrin draws the notion that you cannot worship the creator or enjoy the life He has given you without having people supporting you, encouraging you, and challenging you. Sounds like Tim Keller right there (probably a source).

Now to elaborate his point, Pastor Darrin goes into the definition of a friend. What is a friend? We have enemies. We also have fans. But we rarely have friends. A friend is someone who will “believe the best about us, and wade through the worst with us.” Basically, someone you trust to be there for you through the good and bad. Sounds like a wedding vow to me...hopefully everyone’s spouse is their best friendl. But everyone needs friends, and for a Christian, spiritual friends that perform functions in our lives are absolutely necessary. When the time comes when you are in a lot of pain, you need people to come and assure you that God is still in control, that God is still good, and to answer the questions that are sure to be mounting in your mind. During those times of confusion and frustration, you need people to discern the situation for you and help reveal the sin in you that is preventing community. Everyone needs someone to share their hopes, their dreams, and their fears with. That is true friendship.

To me, my relationships and friendships are God’s sign to me that he has rewarded me and answered my prayers. I know He is watching over me and showering me with his love. I am grateful everyday that God has blessed me with many great friends who I trust and have fellowship, and will always be grateful.

Christ, who said to the disciples “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,” can truly say to every group of Christian friends “You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another” The Friendship is not a reward for our discrimination and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others. They are no greater than the beauties of a thousand other men; by Friendship God opens our eyes to them. They are, like all beauties, derived from Him, and then, in a good Friendship, increased by Him through the Friendship itself, so that it is His instrument for creating as well as for revealing. At this feast it is He who has spread the board and it is He who has chosen the guests. It is He, we may dare to hope, who sometimes does, and always should, preside. Let us not reckon without our Host. - C.S. Lewis