Of all the skin in all the world that has attempted to fan a flame;
I find, with irrevocable passion, yours is the skin my lips crave.
1 Comment
"He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." So, I originally wasn't going to watch this video. I absolutely love Jefferson and Alyssa Bethke! I am subscribed to their YouTube channel however the title of their latest video deflected most of my attention. I felt like it was a topic that had been played out. As a Christian woman I had heard it a thousand times so I didn't really think I needed a 1,001!. However, I am so very glad I gave it a chance. They touch on this idea of being a fan versus a follower.
Are you a fan of Jesus? Or are you a follower of Jesus? This concept really struck a chord with me! After giving it some thought I realized that most of my Christian life, including lately, I have functioned as a fan of Jesus. I love the Lord. I truly do. I enjoy church. I listen to Christian music. I attempt to dress fairly modest. But I realized I wasn't truly following the Lord. I've posted in blogs before about my past relationships and how I have struggled with idolizing romance of the flesh over a romance with God. This fan vs. follower concept really came in to play there. Because I was just a fan of Christ I was allowing myself to settle for relationships with other "fans". Men who called themselves Christians (and who I believe truly are Christians). But who were not obedient enough to listen to the Lord and to lead me... Because I was a fan and not a follower, I was settling for things that were not in Gods will and I was being a stumbling block for those men that I would settle with. Minor side note - Men, I understand you have been charged with a heavy responsibility in being the head. However, do not neglect this task in dating. Many men feel it is not their job to lead a woman until she is his wife. While it is true that you should have an individual relationship with the Lord, a woman who is dating you needs to see that you are capable of leading her. Oh how thankful I am that God finally revealed this to my stubborn eyes. This doesn't just apply to dating though. It applies to all aspects of our walk with the Lord. I think being a follower of Jesus requires so much more. It requires a true love and passion for Kingdom work. It's more then a lifestyle. It's a heart change. Following Jesus means laying down everything and trusting in His plan and purpose for our lives. I have had many of my own plans crumble to pieces. But the Lords plans always prevail. Take a moment to watch this video. Then spend some time reflecting on your life and your relationship with God. Are you truly following the Lord? Or are you just another groupie? Just some late night reflections. More for myself than anyone else. I apologize if you were hoping for an interesting post. love Love is patient (able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.)
and kind (having or showing a friendly, generous, and considerate nature.); love does not envy (a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck) or boast (talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities.); it is not arrogant (having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities.) or rude (offensively impolite or ill-mannered.). It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable (having or showing a tendency to be easily annoyed or made angry.) or resentful (feeling or expressing bitterness or indignation at having been treated unfairly.) ; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears (carry.) all things, believes (accept something as true; feel sure of the truth of.) all things, hopes (a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.) all things, endures (suffer something painful or difficult patiently;remain in existence; last.) all things. I have always been a fan of Jefferson Bethke and his wife Alyssa Bethke. This is a solid video about the fairy tale struggle of finding "The One". “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Yet another quiet evening at work spent meditating. I am so blessed to have evenings like tonight. I'm currently listening to "Us". They are pretty legit. Peep them out on iTunes...
So the Lord has really been pressing on my heart lately to really dive in and find my identity in Him. I have been reading and watching a lot of blogs on christianity, being a christian woman, dating, etc. I have been a believer for many, many years but I just feel a hunger and a desire in my life to do more, and be more. For a very long time in my previous dating relationships I found my identity and fulfillment in having a boyfriend. I was serving my heart and desires instead of serving the Lord. This new season in my life has been difficult, in that I am learning to serve the Lord and seek His will in my life and in my romances. I am no longer serving my selfishness, but seeking Gods will and guidance on whether or not as a woman, I am in a place of satisfaction with the Lord that will allow dating to be fruitful. You can't, I repeat, you can't be satisfied with a man until you are satisfied in the Lord. Not only in dating, but in life as a whole. I know that God is seeking me to do more with my life. It's time for me to dive into ministry and serving others. It's a matter of where to begin? A question that I hope to have an answer to very soon... Until then.. I find hope in the lyrics of this beautiful hymn. I hope you find solace in them as well. "As a deer pants for water, so my soul thirsts for you And when I survey Your splendor, You so faithfully renew Like a bed of rest for my fainting flesh I am satisfied in you." "A woman's heart should be so lost in God, that a man must seek Him in order to find her." I am certain that if you are a woman you have heard that quote before. The romantic idea that we are so lost in our Lord and Savior that we are oblivious to our desire for mans pursuit. And of course we all live that way right? Right?....
I speak for myself and for so many more I am sure, when I say that that I have lived the complete opposite. I have known that quote for years, thrown it on all my bios, scribbled it in notebooks, but I have never truly lived by it. I mean really, think about it. Every woman wants to feel desired, wanted, pursued. We feel a void in our hearts, for that affection, desire, and love. Well listen up ladies, that void we are feeling could never truly be filled by a man. Though we try desperately and fail miserably. That void can only be filled by accepting Gods love. It is a harsh fact that we will NEVER be perfect in the eyes of a man. NEVER. But in Christ's eyes... We are his forever bride. Completely undeserving of his love, but so desperately in need of it. How many of you have heard of the word Love Triangle? If you're already a Christian this might make some sense, if you are not... then you are probably thinking this post just got a little bit weird. I want you to picture a triangle. With God at the very top point. The man on the left point. The woman on the right point. If the man and woman move toward each other they move further away from God. But if the man and woman move toward the Lord, they meet in the middle with God as their head. That is how Christ intended romance to be. With our eyes set on him. I've been in plenty of relationships where God was put on the back burner. Needless to say I am single now. You see, you think that it's all going well and that you will "get right with the Lord" eventually. But you are so caught up that it doesn't take and importance in your life. Trust me when I say that eventually that relationship will fall apart. Christ wrote the book on love. Literally! Without his guidance, without his leadership at the head of all of our choice, decisions, and relationships, we are lost and destined to learn each lesson the very hard way. So how do we learn to live that way? To put God before man. Does that mean we must stay single forever, abstaining from relationships all together. For some, maybe that is the truth. But I certainly don't believe that's what God intended. Love between man and woman is a beautiful thing and when done correctly, with God in the middle, it can be earth shattering. So I charge each and every one of you. Regardless if you are single, dating, married or somewhere in between. Evaluate your priorities in life. Is God leading your relationship with a man? Or is your relationship with a man distracting you from your relationship with God? And if it's the latter, I urge you to go in prayer with your partner and see in what ways that can be healed. |
ABOUT THE GAL.Gospel saved, Kentucky raised, dreamer, do-gooder, and lover of people. I still believe it's possible to leave a beautiful mark on an ugly world.
THE GALS GUY.
This is my beau. He's a stud. Click the photo below to check out the epic-ness that is his blog: The War Within.
ARCHIVES
October 2014
CATEGORIES
All
|