When We Make God Small

I came across this excellent article in my weekly Boundless email. (If you don't receive it, hop on over to http://www.boundless.org/ and sign up!). It was a timely reminder for me. I think ladies tend to worry - especially about the future - more so than guys. There are just so many what-ifs and unknowns that can become hopelessly caught up and entangled in. We've taken our focus off of God and have stopped trusting in Him. When we worry about the future we are forgetting His sovereignty. We're forgetting His power. As mentioned in the article, if we knew what our future looked like, how would we learn to trust our Father? We don't know what next month, or next year, or ten years from now will look like, but we can rest in the fact that the Ruler and Creator of all is in control, and that He will work all things together for our good and His glory.

Leaning On Him

This past week I've been reminded more than usual about my constant dependence on Yahweh for everything. When times are good it is easy to forget that we only draw our next breath because of Him. It takes only an instant for things to change - the next step could be the last time enjoy the privilege of being able to walk, or tonight may be your final night spent on this earth. I've been striving to constantly remind myself that it is all because of Him and to not take things for granted. Not only that, but if He has given me these gifts and blessings, I want to use them well and to glorify Him. So don't wait until it is taken away to be thankful for all His blessings, and thank Him by using them for His glory.

He Is There

When the night is the darkest, when sorrows overwhelm us, when we don't know who to turn to, He is there holding my hand, leading me on. All I need to do is let go and trust Him. Everything will work out according to His plan. I don't need to worry, He is in control. And to me that is the greatest comfort there is.

Is there only one? Part 2

To better express my viewpoint, I have gathered a few articles for anyone interested. They do a much better job than I!

Path to Marriage: Predestined or Freewilled?

Soul Mates or Sole Mates?

Mentor Series: The Burning Bush

SDG,
Jessica

Is there only one?

Some random thoughts of mine on "the one" :


A common train of thought in today's society is that there is one person out there, Mr./Mrs. Right, who can complete them. They just have to find them. But is there really just one person that you would be able to marry?

I think the concept of "the one" can be a destructive one. The tendency is to set the standard high - too high - and turn down perfectly acceptable suitors because of minor character flaws. Young women especially need to face reality and realize that Prince Charming will be a sinful young man who does not live to make her happy. I realize that if the Lord wills for me to marry, that my husband will not be perfect. He'll have flaws, habits that annoy me, and sins that he struggles with. If we search for that perfect young man with his own home, a well-paying job, perfect credentials, no flaws...we will never find him.

I do think there are certain people we are "compatible" with. But is there only one? Nope. Neither should we settle for the first person we find. Wait for God's best. Keep an open mind, she/he won't always be what we imagined. Stop waiting for the one, and look at the godly young people around you.
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What is at the center?

There one essential that we ought to always strive to keep at the center of everything and that is the gospel. Without it we are lost. Daily, we should be preaching it to ourselves. We ought to constantly be teaching it, no matter the subject. Never should we take for granted the fact that we already know the gospel, that we no longer need to hear it. When that happens the gospel is no longer at the center. My admonition to you is to constantly strive to keep the gospel forefront and center, not matter what may come to try and replace it.

Oh, Look!

Yes, my friends...a new post! Please restrain yourselves from fainting. Contrary to all appearances, I did not, in fact, fall off the edge of the earth. I'm sorry to disappoint. Why I haven't written here is mostly because I have simply not felt like writing, mostly due to being quite sick. Sounds like lots of fun, doesn't it? Anyway, I hope to get back to posting more regularly soon.

Something I learned from being sick is not to take anything for granted. As a young people, we tend to forget that we are not invincible. It is easy to forget to be thankful for things we don't notice until they are taken away, like simply having the energy to get out of bed in the morning. I thought about the fact that there are people that have to deal everyday with some of the issues I had to deal with for only had for a week or two. I can't imagine having to struggle everyday with not having enough strength just to do simple tasks around the house. I would encourage everyone who reads this to cultivate a thankful heart. Be thankful for those little things that we don't usually notice until they are taken away. We aren't automatically thankful creatures, we have to teach ourselves to be thankful. Look around you, think hard about what you usually take for granted, and thank Yahweh for the countless good gifts He has given to you.