thoughts

     I am currently dealing with a very painful two day old neck ache. I am unsure of what caused it, but if you think of if, I would appreciate your prayers. A recent outbreak of hives has also been added to the lot. I've been drinking much hot tea on this chilly winter day, which is very soothing, laying on a neck role (trying to fix whatever is wrong) and itching. All the while I've been thinking some thoughts I thought I'd share with you....

After reading Wrestling Prayer, Set-Apart Femininity and being in the midst of Tortured For Christ, God has been impressing some points upon my heart, which I have been praying about and pondering. 

       

I have realized the oh-so-important necessity and power of prayer! I feel like I've just begun to live - that is, just begun to know my Savior (who is my life). Also, the importance of praying specifically and tenaciously. "Boldly we approach the throne of God." I've been praying earnestly for the Lord to give me His love for others and to burden my heart for the unbeliever. It broke my heart, after examining myself, to read what Richard Wurmbrand says in his book, Tortured For Christ,

"A Flower, if you bruise it under you feet, rewards you by giving you its perfume. Likewise  

Christians, tortured by the communists, rewarded their torturers by love. We brought many of our

  jailors to Christ. And we are dominated by one desire: to give communists who have made us 

suffer the best we have, the salvation which comes from our Lord Jesus Christ."

       How can someone who has been brutally beaten, mocked, threatened, stripped of dignity and at times even sanity, who is tortured day after day after day for years, still love those who inflict this misery? I thought about this phenomenon for days, weeks even. And so has begun my quest for this unshakable, all consuming love. One that is patient and kind, doesn't envy nor boast and is not proud. It is not rude, self-seeking, easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs. One that does not take delight in evil, but rejoices in truth. A love that protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. A love that will never fail. (I Cor. 13:4-8a paraphrased)

       I desire a set-apart life. A life that is completely poured out for the Kingdom of God. I desire to serve and invest all my time and energy in ministry and meaningful relationships with those around me. I desire to be a prayer-warrior and live a selfless life. I desire for my life and my relationships to be glorifying to Him.  I desire to serve my Lord in any and every opportunity He calls me to.

       Just thought I'd share with you what the Lord has been laying upon my heart. I would strongly encourage you to read all three of these books I have mentioned if you have not already. They are life-changing!

"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." ~ John 17:25-26

"A Woman's Question"

"Do you know you have asked for the costliest thing 
Ever made by the Hand above? 
A woman's heart, and a woman's life--- 
And a woman's wonderful love. 

Do you know you have asked for this priceless thing 
As a child might ask for a toy? 
Demanding what others have died to win, 
With a reckless dash of boy. 

You have written my lesson of duty out, 
Manlike, you have questioned me. 
Now stand at the bars of my woman's soul 
Until I shall question thee. 

You require your mutton shall always be hot, 
Your socks and your shirt be whole; 
I require your heart be true as God's stars 
And as pure as His heaven your soul. 

You require a cook for your mutton and beef, 
I require a far greater thing; 
A seamstress you're wanting for socks and shirts--- 
I look for a man and a king. 

A king for the beautiful realm called Home, 
And a man that his Maker, God, 
Shall look upon as He did on the first 
And say: "It is very good." 

I am fair and young, but the rose may fade 
From this soft young cheek one day; 
Will you love me then 'mid the falling leaves, 
As you did 'mong the blossoms of May? 

Is your heart an ocean so strong and true, 
I may launch my all on its tide? 
A loving woman finds heaven or hell 
On the day she is made a bride. 

I require all things that are grand and true, 
All things that a man should be; 
If you give this all, I would stake my life 
To be all you demand of me. 

If you cannot be this, a laundress and cook 
You can hire and little to pay; 
But a woman's heart and a woman's life 
Are not to be won that way."


       ~Lena Lathrop

We're Planning My Eldest Brother's Wedding

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects. always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."  ~ I Corinthians 13:4-8a

"When God Writes Your Love Story"

I thoroughly enjoyed Eric and Leslie Ludy's book. They speak about a "sweeter song" - a better kind of love; one that is lasting, unconditional and self-sacrificing - a love based not upon "feelings," but rather on a choice.
Eric and Leslie each experienced a pivotal moment in their lives when each of them had a change of heart, causing them to view dating, guy/girl relationships and parental involvement in a whole new light. Difficult in the beginning, but rewarding in the end, was their decision to give God - the author of romance- control of their "love lives," as well as their decision to invite their parent's help. They strongly encourage parental involvement - not in the way of arranged marriages, but in protecting, guiding and enhancing the romance.

They emphasize the importance of physical and emotional purity and how you can be honoring and loving your future spouse even before you meet. "She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life."  -Proverbs 31:12 (emphasis added). Leslie writes: "Two people who have saved themselves completely - inwardly, outwardly, emotionally, and physically - coming together to love each other for a lifetime with the purest, most uninhibited love imaginable... this is romance in its truest form! This is God's perfect design for you! This is the "sweeter song"! And it's something we can begin to work toward right now!"

We each of us have our ideals of the man or woman whom we would like to marry, not necessarily in terms of physical appeal, but in character. (i.e. a man of integrity who is humble, honest, sincere, honorable, sensitive, a leader with a servant's heart, etc...) Where do those natural desires come from? They are the character traits of Christ Jesus and He's the one who instilled them in us. Our love story with Mr. or Ms. ________ should be reflective of our love story with our Heavenly Prince. A love story written by Him goes beyond what we could ever imagine!

Are you willing to give God the pen of your love story? He makes no mistakes.

To Reads by Eric and Leslie Ludy:

I'm looking forward to reading these and many more from the Ludys this Summer... :)


 Set-Apart Femininity: God's Sacred Intent for Every Young Woman

Girls! Do you long for something more than the shallow, self-focused, pleasure-seeking femininity so prevalent today? Do you want a focus beyond chasing male approval and pop-culture appeal? Do you need a fresh vision of God’s amazing purpose for your life as a young woman? Are you ready to become one of the few in this generation who will make an eternal impact upon this world? Discover set-apart femininity.

This is a powerful, candid, conversational book in which I pass on a compelling vision for femininity that can forever alter your existence and take you far beyond the unfulfilling trends of modern culture. This book is not the same old mediocre message you’ve always heard. It’s a radical call to a counter-culture lifestyle in which every aspect of your femininity – from the way you relate with guys to the focus and direction of your life – is shaped by an intimate relationship with the King of kings. It’s the kind of heroic femininity that the world-changing women of history understood. And it’s well within your grasp, no matter where you’ve been.

This book tackles key issues you’re facing today, like:

* unlocking God’s sacred call upon your life

* understanding God’s pattern for true feminine beauty

* captivating the heart of a Christ-like guy

* aligning your daily existence with God’s priorities

*finding real fulfillment by living a poured-out life

Get ready to experience the lost art of set-apart femininity – and find what you’ve been searching for.

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When God Writes Your Love Story: The Ultimate Guide to Guy/Girl Relationships

This book has provided the foundation for a whole new way of thinking about relationships among today’s younger generation. Rather than building a love story the way the world does (with a few Christian morals tacked on for good measure) this book introduces readers to a far superior way of building a love story…God’s way. After all, God is the One who invented the concept of romance in the first place! And God doesn’t need to imitate the world’s way of building a relationship…He has His very own perfect, amazing, beautiful way of writing a love story, and it is far more fulfilling and romantic than anything Hollywood could ever concoct. Leslie and I believe that the foundation for an amazing, lifelong love story begins even before you meet your future spouse, by allowing the Author of romance to script your love story and show you how to love like He loves. Rather than chasing after temporary relationships, this book challenges readers to give the “pen” to God and allow Him to script their love story in His own perfect time and way.  In this book, we take readers through the “Four Secrets to an Amazing Love Story” – practical things that you can do now to prepare for a love story that will go the distance. From learning to love your spouse even before you meet them, to understanding the difference between mere abstinence and true purity; from practicing the skills of tenderness and selflessness that will make you a superhero spouse, to experiencing God’s best in your single years; from understanding renewed purity to making your parents your teammates – this book is loaded with inspiration, motivation, and practical insight for experiencing a God-written love story.

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Authentic Beauty

For most of my young adult life, I had known Jesus Christ only as the One who had saved me from my sins. I had been looking to an earthly romance to fulfill the deepest desires of my heart. I had been searching for an earthly prince to rescue me, to carry me away to his castle, to love and cherish me forever – to fulfill my feminine desire for tender romance. Like so many modern young women, I gave myself to one shallow relationship after the next, only to end up lonely and heartbroken. I looked to human relationships to meet needs in my heart that only Jesus Christ was meant to fill.  Until Jesus Christ becomes the Lover of our soul - the very center of our existence - we will always be looking in the wrong places to fulfill our feminine longing for tender romance. We will end up broken-hearted and disillusioned, time and time again.  Christ alone can truly fulfill the desires of our heart.  Authentic Beauty is a personal and practical book about becoming a set-apart young woman in today’s perverse generation.  It explores the boundless opportunities God has for the life of a young woman who makes Christ the first love of her heart and allows Him to shape every aspect of her existence.