On Valentine's Day

Written by: melodiousecho.blogspot

Picture from: likealilyamongthorns.blogspot

I prayed for a man committed to God.

Jesus smiled, "I and my Father are one" -John 10:30.

I prayed for a man that would be a spiritual leader.

Jesus unashamedly declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me" -John 14:6.

I prayed for a man of hight standards and integrity. 

Others testified, "He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth" -1 Peter 2:22.

I prayed for a man of the Word.

Jesus opened up His arms with love as He whispered, "I am the living Word, and I came to live with you" -John 1:14.

I prayed for a man that knew how to be a servant.

Then I heard others whisper with amazement, "Jesus made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" -Philippians 2:7.

I prayed for a man that was full of spiritual life.

He smiled again, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" -John 10:10.

I prayed for a man of faith and prayer.

Then I watched with amazement as He went out and spent all night in prayer... "In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God" -Luke 6:12.

I prayed for a man that would provide for my needs.

He not only fed the five thousand long ago, He also feeds me today! "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" - Philippians 4:19.

I prayed for a man that would be the head of the home and a leader...someone I could look up to and respect intellectually and spiritually. 

Then I realized that not only had Jesus been knocking on my door begging to be allowed to be the head of my home, but He was so far ahead of me intellectually, I would have all eternity to learn from Him. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" -Isaiah 55:9.

I prayed for a man of steel and velvet...someone that could be strong but also tender at the same time. Then I remembered Jesus’ words as the nails were driven into His hands, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" -Luke 23:24. And how, when dying upon the cross, some of His last thoughts were to make sure His mother would be cared for (John 19:26). I also remembered how that when even a little sparrow fell, He noticed and cared (Matthew 10:29).

I prayed for a man that knew how to love others...even the unpleasant outcasts. 

Jesus replied, "In that while you were all yet sinners [the lowest outcast], I died for you" -Romans 5:8.

I prayed for someone that I could share my deepest thoughts and dreams with, someone who would walk with me through joys and through sorrows. Someone that would not only hold my hand, but would hold my heart. Someone that I could stand behind, love, respect and serve with all my heart. 

I looked up in awe as He not only began to walk beside me and hold my hand (Isaiah 4:1), but also to share with me the hidden riches and secrets of eternity...heart companionship and beauty that I had never had with another. (Isaiah 45:3, Psalm 34:8) And I just knew that He was someone I could not only love, but stand behind and serve for the rest of my life!

I prayed for someone that would help me walk closer to God.

And the more I got to know him, the closer I drew to God(Psalm 23). "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" -Matthew 6:33.

"I know this may be frivolous God and it’s a small thing, but could you also send me someone romantic," I had prayed. "Someone that will love me so much, that he’ll want me and only me! That he’ll be willing to do whatever it takes to win me...even bring me chocolate?" 

Jesus said nothing as He lay down His heavenly honor to come to earth to win me. Although I doubted His love and resisted His advances at first, He slowly, sweetly, tenderly won my heart and love. "Then He led me to His great banqueting house, and the banner He put over me was love" -Song of Solomon 2:4. “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good” He tenderly whispered -Psalm 34:8. And as He looked deep into my heart, I knew that nothing would separate us... (Romans 8:35-39) for He had won my heart forever!!

Last, but not least, I prayed for a man that would not be afraid of pain or trials.

Then it was that I realized it was He, Jesus, that was carrying my cross and making the ultimate sacrifice of love...for not just anyone, but for me! "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" -Matthew 16:24.

Special thanks to Anna who sent this to me! It really spoke to me today...praying that you too will find the True Love in your life - Jesus! :)

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“He keeps telling me he really cares about me, but I know he hasn’t talked to my dad…”

“He’s too friendly and I don’t know what to do about it…”

“He keeps sending me gushy Facebook messages!”

“He follows me everywhere and asks me really personal questions!”

“He’s not marriage material yet but I hate to push away someone who likes me so much…”

“He stopped me in the store and asked me for my name and phone number…”

“He is just so sensitive and sweet and affectionate toward me – I know he’s pushing his boundaries, but I’m starting to fall for him anyway…”

“He asked me for a date, but I’m committed to courtship!” 

We had fun at Bright Lights role-playing these scenarios. As you can see, some of us were a lot more into it than others:) But these are very real problems...problems that we often don't realize we have the power to change. How, you ask?

Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin give us some ideas...

If Don Juan accosts you in the dentist’s office waiting room and tries to charm you out of your phone number, a firm “I don’t give out my personal details to people I don’t know” is usually sufficient.

If Lancelot might be a possibility someday, but is acting like he wants to be married now– pushing the boundaries of your friendship and letting it get a little too emotionally intense way too early – it’s usually possible to remind him of what’s appropriate in your own respectfully reserved conduct. If he doesn’t take the hint, you can ask your father to talk to him about it.

If Romeo seems smitten with you and showers you with attention and compliments (and is exactly the sort of Montague your parents do not approve of), you can make it very clear in your cool but respectful manner that you are not interested in sharing a balcony scene with him.

If your friend Han Solo asks if he can take you for a ride in the Millennium Falcon and you are affronted because it is a bucket of bolts and you’ve already kissed romantic intergalactic joyrides goodbye (and you’d rather kiss a wookiee anyway) – you don’t have to tell him so rudely; there is a polite way to say, for example, “Have you checked with my dad on that?”

If Edward Cullen is stalking you in a creepy manner, always staring at you across the room and trying to corner you so he can ask you creepy questions about yourself – you can respond so honestly (“Yes, I believe in Total Depravity”), seriously (“I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how God judges sin”), and confidently (“What is your position on supralapsarianism vs. infralapsarianism?”) that he will probably never come ask you questions again. If something firmer is needed, your father or brothers should be able to do the job.

If Willoughby wants to take you on a solitary ramble to read Shakespeare’s sonnets and then have you stay home from church so he can ask you a Very Particular Question, you’d better be sure your father or father-figure is fully behind what W. is doing. If you know that W. is not playing by the rules, you can point him towards the right person to ask, or ask your father to talk to him.

-excerpt from this book that is supposed to be reaching me soon!

What do you think? Is this doable in 'real' life?

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Desire the Very Best Marriage

We talked about the three different kinds of love in the Bible...Phileo, Agape and Eros. We discussed the three basic differences between recreational dating and Biblical courtship. All in all, it was an encouraging time of discussion and fellowship and I know I really enjoyed it!

Some questions that we pondered were...

• It is said that God is the best writer of love stories. Why do you think that is so?
• What does radiant purity entail?
• What are some possible consequences of marrying a non-believer?
• Why do you think it is important to make marriage the goal in a romantic relationship?

In our hands is a craft we ended with. Flowers again...but this time out of organza and satin. They required sewing and that was definitely a lesson in patience and perseverance! Some of us did end up with quite presentable flowers but others were sadly forced to relegate their creations to the bin:)

Chapter 1 and 2 of Before You Meet Prince Charming down! Even though many of us have read the book before, there's still a lot of information to process. May the Lord speak clearly about His will in this area for each of us!

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The Ultimate Goal: To Love God & Give Him Glory

 

2012 is a year of change for our Bright Lights group! Our age range of 10-21 year olds was becoming a challenge...especially in choosing helpful topics for all ages. So after 5 years of meetings, we decided to split into two groups. Tea Lights for the 8-13 year olds and Bright Lights for the 14-21 year olds.

The older girls (Bright Lights) are doing Sarah Mally's "Before You Meet Prince Charming" (BYMPC) as a set this year. An exciting topic for girls:)

"The Ultimate Goal" was our discussion for our first meeting. We discussed a story I stumbled across on the internet "The Good Christian Girl: A Fable". A story with a most shocking end to a seemingly ideal beginning. Sadly, a story that is also very real!

Some questions we discussed...

• Can you identify with this girl's struggles? Why or why not?
• When was the beginning of this girl's troubles? Of whose fault were her troubles?
• Look for verses in the Bible that support or reject the "knowing ones" advice.
• Re-write the end of this story. What changes could this girl make in her life to get back on the right track?
• What is the main message you will take home from this story?

For me, the biggest lesson from this story is that it is not enough to know the right things or even do the right things in regards to purity. If our motive for it all is simply to have a good marriage, we are focusing on a temporal goal. Our ultimate goal should be, just like everything else in life, to love God and to bring glory to His name! Without this ultimate goal established, our study of BYMPC will accomplish little.

The ultimate goal is by no means easy to achieve but let's commit to making it OUR ultimate goal with the Lord's enabling!

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