HIS Purpose for Me

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. Ps. 138:8

For the past few years I've chosen a verse or passage of scripture to especially meditate on throughout the year.  The above verse is the one I chose for this year; little did I know how often I would already need to be reminded of it.

Over the past months I began to increasingly bemoan my singleness. I've sat by and watched as many of my friends have entered into relationships, moving towards marriage. My own sister, four years my junior even deserted me to join those with "in a relationship" statuses. While I have continued to remain dateless, single, and so much as look at a guy and he disappears. Then the ugly thing rooted up - jealousy. I felt sorry for myself and that I was I was unwanted. I felt I had done the things "good" Christian girls are supposed to do, so I questioned what I could have done wrong. When in reality, it is my perception that has been wrong.

Marriage is not something we obtain once we've completed a list of "requirements". 

I thought I "deserved" for God to bless me with a significant other. I thought I had fulfilled enough "requirements". I let myself sulk and feel sorry for much too long. In my sulking, God reminded me of the verse I chose at the beginning of the year.

"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me."  God just worked that phrase around in my heart for awhile. He reminded me: It is not about what I deserve or even desire - it is about God fulfilling His purpose in my life. If it was truly about what I deserved, I would receive spiritual death and separation from God. I deserve NOTHING but judgment from God. But God has chosen me, and has chosen to fulfill his purpose for me through singleness - whether it be for a season or for a lifetime. I find comfort in that fact. And I know that God is fulfilling a purpose greater than anything I have even imagined!

My struggles have not magically been taken away, but I find peace when I stop fighting against God's plan, and instead trust in His sovereignty.


How has God been fulfilling His purpose in your life?

Loving as Christ Loved

We Christians like our feel good 'fixes'. We tithe, sing in the church choir, go on  mission trips, even serve in homeless shelters, but we often neglect one very vital ingredient - LOVE. 

God has been working in my heart a lot over this summer, in teaching me what real love is. And what it means to love. I posted a few weeks ago on what I was learning about love through studying I Corn. 13. And it has been an area God has continued to teach and challenge me in.

God has shown me the selfishness of my own heart - it's ugly. I realized how selfish I have been in "loving" people. I put out an effort to show people I cared, and to be honest I think I really did - because I wanted them to reciprocate. When that did not happen, the questions came. What was I doing wrong? Am I too quiet? Too slow in opening up to people?  I found myself frustrated and upset.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,but have not love, I gain nothing. I Corinthians 13:1-3

Then God began showing me that I was loving for the wrong reason. I wanted to show myself as someone who genuinely cared, and could be trusted, but only under the condition that I received something back from them. If nothing came my way, I became upset. That is the opposite of how Christ taught His followers to love. He taught us to even love our enemies.

I began questioning my motives. Why do I love? Do I love expecting to receive something in return or do I love unconditionally, as Christ has loved me? These are questions I need to ask myself often.

I'm going to be honest here. It is hard work, draining, and exhausting to love without it being reciprocated. It's natural for us to desire love and acceptance. But real love comes into play when we love without being loved in return.

Our every effort is vain, unless it is done in LOVE. We are only able to show true love through the strength of God.

The Attributes of Love

Credit

What is love? 


Is it a feeling? Is it an action? 
Our society equates love with romance/sex, but is the depth of love reached through sex?  Or is true love something deeper than the physical?

In studying the attributes of love described in the "love chapter" (I Corinthians 13),  a love that is deep, lasting, and strong is found. I found myself being challenged and convicted as I studied this.

Love is

More than just words

More than just actions

Patient and kind

Humble

Thoughtful of others

A bearer of burdens

Everlasting

Mature

Polite 

Rejoices in the truth

Trusting

Out lasts knowledge 

Love is not

Boastful

Envious

Arrogant

Rude 

Irritable

Resentful

Insistent on its own way

Joyful in wrongdoing 

Love is hard. Love is tiring. Love hurts. Love makes you vulnerable.  But love is also rewarding!

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that a person must be lovable before we show them love. It doesn't even say that they must act like they want to be shown love. So many people are hurting to be given true love. True love, loves the unlovely. 

We sinned against God. We spat in his face. We nailed him to a cross. We did not, nor do we ever deserve anything from him. Yet, he gave the ultimate gift of love - his own life. 

What about that person who has hurt you, or the person you find annoying, are you loving them as Christ loved us?

 

{The Post That I Can't Think of a Good Title For}

So I said I had something exciting to share with you all so here it is....

Because I am earning my degree through Collegeplus I have met many of my closest friends online (gasp).

Some I have had the pleasure of meeting in person, and some I am still hoping to have that opportunity.
One of the people I have been waiting and wishing to meet was Katie over at Bursts of Sunshine.
A mutual friend was getting married, and I knew Katie was going to the wedding. But I didn't tell her that I also was going to be there, so it produced just a little bit of excitement when I showed up. Okay, maybe a lot of excitement! :)

Katie, it was such a joy to actually meet you in person! Your laugh and smile are contagious!  I am so excited to get to spend two weeks with you at Summit! Summit better be prepared for lots of giggles! :)

Katie, and I! Kudos to Amanda B. for taking the picture! 

Here are a few more pictures with me and some of my Collegeplus friends:

Alison!  Photography credit goes to Jason Manion

Alison, you heart for Christ and serving challenges and encourages me! I am blessed by God giving me the opportunity to know you! 

This is actually from about a month ago, but these are some of the (former) Collegeplus students who are in my "area" (meaning in the state). 

Even though many of us in Collegeplus live thousands of miles apart, it is a joy and blessing to see how strong the bond is in the body of Christ! I truly am blessed to have such amazing friends!


May God bless each of you this week!
I miss you all!
Marie

A Deeper Look: Emotional Purity

I have recently been challenged in considering the issue of emotional purity. Christians have often focused on physical purity, while neglecting the importance of emotional purity. Physical purity is very important, but there is much more to relationships than only the physical. Should we not strive for emotional purity as well as physical purity?

She does him good, and not harm, 

all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:12 

In that verse the phrase "all the days of her life" really stands out to me. There are many ways we can be honoring and doing our husbands good - even before we meet them! One of the ways is saving our emotional intimacy for him. God created men and women to not only fulfill each other physically but also emotionally. We can easily emotionally attach ourselves to someone, without there being a serious commitment in the relationship. This results in us giving away a part of us that really belongs to our future husband, thus not truly doing him good.  

I think we all know that girls are easily triggered by emotion, and are also major dreamers. Admit it girls; when you meet an amazing Christian guy who you could see yourself with, it's not long before your last name has mentally morphed into his, and you are living "happily ever after." This is not something we should be doing, but rather should be fighting against.

Something to consider when evaluating a close friendship with someone of the opposite sex, is whether it's encouraging us in our walk with the Lord, or if it's causing us to become anxiousness for things that are not ours to have yet. Whether we are single or married, our fulfillment ultimately needs to come from the Lord, not from our spouse or other person/people.

We need to be guarding our mind, and not allow it to wander wherever it wants to take us.
I did not really touch on it much today, but another area we need to be striving for purity is mentally. Maybe that will be the topic for another post.


A book that I highly recommend which goes deeper into the subject is: Emotional Purity An Affair of the Heart by, Heather Arnel Paulsen

If you have any thoughts or comments on the subject, I would love to hear them!

Random Wednesday

First full day in Oregon; woke up to it being rainy/snowy. Then I find out that it was a beautiful 70 degrees at home today, what a bum deal! But oh well, it's nice seeing my Grandma again!

Went to two little coffee shops with my mom. Had lunch at one, and checked out the book store in the other.

Waited in the car for my mom while she got a few groceries. She came back all smiling, and excitedly tells me that she won a Kindle Fire! Now I kind of wish I had gone in for the groceries. No, seriously I'm really happy for her. I know she's been wanting one, and I can tell she's already enjoying it! :)

My Grandma took my Auntie, my Mom and myself out for Moroccan. That was the first time I'd had it. I liked it, and would say that the "dinning experience" was very interesting. I always find it fascinating to see how other cultures do things.

Worked on some of the never ending homework. I have several papers that I need to start and write tomorrow. This semester has been going well, but I do get tired of always having to do lots of reading and writing. But I guess that's kinda part of being in college....so can't wait to be done!

And yes, I know it is now Thursday, so I am going to bed!

The Words of My Mouth

Recently the Lord has been speaking to me about the words that I speak.

All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;

Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. Pro. 8:8

This verse really challenged and convicted me to consider if it could be said of my speech. Are the words I speak, words of righteousness? 

God has shown me that I have been lacking in this area.
Sometimes I may wish it was not true, but people will be affected by my words. It will either be a positive affect, or to my regret, a negative affect.When I am careless in my speech, I end up hurting my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Rather than hurtful and impure words, I desire my speech to be words of love, purity, humility, and grace. 
I want people to leave their conversations with me feeling blessed and encouraged in the Lord - not hurt and confused.

What has God been teaching you recently?


Blessings!
Marie

Day of Thankfulness: Week 3

This week I am thankful for friends. For a long time I prayed (and yes, probably did a little complaining) for friends that would be a blessing and an encouragement to me. I have recently realized that although God did not answer my prayer how I thought He would, He truly has blessed me with wonderful friends - better than I could ever ask for!

I love you all!
Marie

Delighting in Christ

I recently finished reading, "When God Writes your Love Story", by Eric and Lisle Ludy. I found it to be both very encouraging and challenging. If you haven't read it yet, I would highly recommend it! It's a wonderful book for both guys and girls.

I was challenged to "Sing the Sweeter Song", meaning to be seeking and finding Christ as the joy of my life, because no relationship with a man will ever be able to fulfill the deepest desires of my heart (even though at times I might think he could). Sorry if I popped your bubble there. :)

On the wall of my room I hung a little painting I made with the verse written on it, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Ps. 37:4

There are times when I strongly desire to be treasured by a man, so I hung that verse there to remind me that my delight should be in Christ, not in any man, or fantasy I have. My relationship with Christ is more important than a relationship with a man could ever be.

Photo by: My sister Hannah