God can speak to us in so many ways. That alone is impressive. It is even more impressive that God speaks to us in ways that hone in with our personalities. Lately gone has been speaking to me through means of my intellect more so than through experiences. A perfect example of this is how much I feel I've learned recently about relationships and the actions God calls me to in those regards, and I'm not even in a relationship.
Over the course of the past several weeks I have had great Godly conversations with several people about their relationships, models of Godly relationships, or what Scripture says about the subject. These conversations have been ones that truly speak to me despite that fact that I cannot fully relate to every aspect of them because of my standing in the world of "relationships". In addition to that, I've had one particular old friend that has been posting up a storm on facebook about her single friends needing to contact her to find a mate. While it's been comical at times, she has also taken to blogging about the topic and how she sees many of the struggles and factors that come into play in the dating world. It is a great read and a source that I think highly of-she's been married for a few years now and has 3 kids with her wonderful husband.
Then, a BCM director friend posted a link to a church's site where they have the audio from a sermon series about relationships and marriage. It's good stuff.
Bouncing off of that, I read through 1 Timothy 6:11-12 and was very encouraged and challenged to prepare myself to step up more as a man. And when I say "prepare myself to step up more as a man" I mean in every aspect of life: relationships, my witness and testimony of Christ's continual work in my life, ministry, finances, and thought. God does not call me, as a man, to an easy and sidelined existence. The creator of the universe made me in such a way that I would take hold of every opportunity before me to bring glory to His name in a mighty way. That goes for how I pursue and treat a women to how I make the most of every opportunity to serve those around me as Christ served.
I also think about how fortunate I have been in my life to be surrounded by great men of God that have given a great example of how to lead, serve, and minister without sacrificing manhood in any way. I look at men like my hometown pastor Johnny Hutchison, my college roommate and bff Ben Neiser, and my buddy Jace Tubbs who have all modeled how to be a man in service to everyone around them, especially their wives. I hope to be able to live a servant manhood as they have in all aspects of my life, including marriage. But, I'm not there yet, so for now I listen and prepare.
-peace
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
women... part 1 of many i'm sure
As I get older and remain single I learn more about myself, what I want in a relationship, and what God wants for me in both areas along the way.
In many ways I feel I've thrown off the desires to hastily get into any relationship that presents itself just because I long to be in one, but also look for the opportunity to be a man, step up to the plate, and make something happen when it is presented. This is a fine line that I find very difficult to navigate (making and letting things happen).
One realization I have come to throughout my journeys in knowing and pursuing women is the fact that my "list" of "needs" (that being things and qualities a woman must have for me to consider her a viable option) gets shorter and shorter over time. When I was in college my list consisted of things so specific, I would have only been able to date a female version of myself. No one could live up to the criteria. As of late, while my list has not gotten down to just one or two simple, and of course Godly, things, it is much more manageable.
Ultimately I would love to have someone to come along side of me in every aspect of life; ministry, social outings, random life adventures, and the like whom stands for the same things I do (making Christ's name known, loving others, and enjoying time on this green planet while we have it). I find all the minor details I used to get worked up over insignificant. Do I still long deep within me to marry a woman that loves college football as much as me? Yes, of course. Is that the, or even a, determining factor that makes or breaks a girl for me? No...not any more (it used to be).
I may never find a girl that loves all the same music that I do, shares my affection for all things bacon, or even knows how football "works".
As it says in Proverbs 31:1a
"A wife of noble character, who can find?"
Well I sure haven't found her, but I sure as heck am looking.
In the end God has a plan for my future in this area of life we call "love" and even though it may not look as storybook as I'd like it to, I'm fine with that because He knows these things a lot better than I do. He did create the whole thing after all.
-peace
In many ways I feel I've thrown off the desires to hastily get into any relationship that presents itself just because I long to be in one, but also look for the opportunity to be a man, step up to the plate, and make something happen when it is presented. This is a fine line that I find very difficult to navigate (making and letting things happen).
One realization I have come to throughout my journeys in knowing and pursuing women is the fact that my "list" of "needs" (that being things and qualities a woman must have for me to consider her a viable option) gets shorter and shorter over time. When I was in college my list consisted of things so specific, I would have only been able to date a female version of myself. No one could live up to the criteria. As of late, while my list has not gotten down to just one or two simple, and of course Godly, things, it is much more manageable.
Ultimately I would love to have someone to come along side of me in every aspect of life; ministry, social outings, random life adventures, and the like whom stands for the same things I do (making Christ's name known, loving others, and enjoying time on this green planet while we have it). I find all the minor details I used to get worked up over insignificant. Do I still long deep within me to marry a woman that loves college football as much as me? Yes, of course. Is that the, or even a, determining factor that makes or breaks a girl for me? No...not any more (it used to be).
I may never find a girl that loves all the same music that I do, shares my affection for all things bacon, or even knows how football "works".
As it says in Proverbs 31:1a
"A wife of noble character, who can find?"
Well I sure haven't found her, but I sure as heck am looking.
In the end God has a plan for my future in this area of life we call "love" and even though it may not look as storybook as I'd like it to, I'm fine with that because He knows these things a lot better than I do. He did create the whole thing after all.
-peace
Sunday, August 14, 2011
is my all not enough?
I'm not one of those that has a dramatic testimony as to how Christ came in and dramatically rearranged my life. I was not turned from a life of killing people, selling and doing drugs, selling my body for money, ripping poor people off, or the like. Instead, I was ten years old when I became a Christ follower. I did so not because my life was so much in shambles that He was the only place I could turn for relief. Instead, I turned to Him because I realized, the best a ten-year-old's understanding manage, that I was a sinner that could do nothing to earn Heaven on my own.
After that point though, I continued to stay on my path of being a "good kid". To this day, I have never done drugs, consumed alcohol (outside of Nyquil), had sex, or killed anyone. Yet, even with my list of "I haven'ts" I remain unworthy of His mercy. I have sacrificed many things, including relationships, countless physical pleasures, material possessions, and a career that would pay decent, all for Him. With this, it would seem that I'd have a right to proclaim that I have earned some sort of extra favor with God. I'm a minister for goodness sake after all. Yet, even with all that I have done it remains a feeble effort at best compared to God's perfection.
"We all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment."
Isaiah 64:6
We, as humans, have a condition of sin that makes living up to God's standard impossible on our own merit. We are not sinners because we sin, we are sin because we are sinners. While this is bad news at first glance, a closer look reveals something marvelous: while we are sinners by birth and condition and we continue to offer nothing but filthy rags at the feet of God on our best days of being righteous, because He is so Holy and Good, His Grace and Mercy abound so much that He is able to sustain us and do His work through us. That is good news my friends.
So, even though I fail miserably and often and on my best day of doing good I still am not able to earn any good things from God, He continues to shower me with blessings and strength...because HE LOVES ME. (and you just as much)
Selah that
-peace
After that point though, I continued to stay on my path of being a "good kid". To this day, I have never done drugs, consumed alcohol (outside of Nyquil), had sex, or killed anyone. Yet, even with my list of "I haven'ts" I remain unworthy of His mercy. I have sacrificed many things, including relationships, countless physical pleasures, material possessions, and a career that would pay decent, all for Him. With this, it would seem that I'd have a right to proclaim that I have earned some sort of extra favor with God. I'm a minister for goodness sake after all. Yet, even with all that I have done it remains a feeble effort at best compared to God's perfection.
"We all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment."
Isaiah 64:6
We, as humans, have a condition of sin that makes living up to God's standard impossible on our own merit. We are not sinners because we sin, we are sin because we are sinners. While this is bad news at first glance, a closer look reveals something marvelous: while we are sinners by birth and condition and we continue to offer nothing but filthy rags at the feet of God on our best days of being righteous, because He is so Holy and Good, His Grace and Mercy abound so much that He is able to sustain us and do His work through us. That is good news my friends.
So, even though I fail miserably and often and on my best day of doing good I still am not able to earn any good things from God, He continues to shower me with blessings and strength...because HE LOVES ME. (and you just as much)
Selah that
-peace
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