I'm sure you had a question or two come across your mind when you read the title, but it's the truth! There are a very few things that you can say ignorance is a good thing to. One of them though is Sexuality. Still a little confused? I figure most of you are... :) In our world today media, Internet, magazines, songs, TV, movies, everything basically tells you that you need to "Know" what you are doing. You should be so good at it that you are "smooth". I have some earth shattering news for those people though. When I find the perfect guy for me I will not care whether he has all the right "moves" or knows just what to say! Innocence is a beautiful thing! Do you know what perfection shows? That he has practiced.... I can tell you it wont be on me so that means it would have been on some other girl. Yes, I'm sure my honeymoon will have some awkward moments and to be frankly honest I do not care. We will laugh and move on. In my mind we will be creating memories. Do you get this though girls? The world tells us that we have to be the same way... perfect. If you've never done it before you cant be expected to be perfect. Is your mindset to wait on your husband and practice on him or is it that you have to know what you are doing before you meet him? Can I tell you the right guy will not expect perfection... it will mean the world to him that you waited and therefore you are not quite sure what to do, where to put your hands, or what to say. Ignorance is a beautiful thing!!
You have no idea how many people I've had ask me, "Don't you think it will be hard to go from nothing to everything in one night?". My honest answer is, yes at some points it may be, but PRAISE GOD it wont be so smooth bc we've done almost everything we could before that night. Girls, I'm here to tell you I rather not have a clue be totally innocent than to have "been around" enough that I have no question as to what I should do. Can I get an amen?
Here is my thoughts though... why do we applaud guys (maybe not literally, but emotionally) who say the right things and degrade the ones who aren't quite as smooth? For instance, two guys like you....one is more flirtatious and smooth talking. He says all the right things and just knows exactly what to do. The other one is a little more shy. He is genuine though, but just seems a little awkward at times. The first one has a reputation for trying things on girls though. Which one would you go with? The majority would go with the first one, just for the simple fact he makes us "feel" better. Are we encouraging innocence though? No.... Even though you may never say this just the fact that the more experienced guys get more attention therefore it only takes a guy a few times of getting knocked down before he feels as if his only hope is to become "experienced" himself. Now yes, he does have a choice and yes he can choose to not give into peer pressure, but you and I as his sister in Christ should be encouraging him and pushing him on towards the goal of being like Christ. So if you have a boyfriend by NO means degrade him if he doesn't know what to say exactly or isn't quite sure. That is a beautiful thing!
One day when you get married do you want your husband to be perfect with you because he has practiced with other girls? Practice is what makes a person perfect at something. It's worth thinking about it... Also, think about the fact that every guy you touch, talk to in ways you shouldn't, or allow to "practice" on you will someday be someone Else's husband. Would you want someone else to be doing that with your husband?
Pursuing purity,
JEN
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Thought Filled Thursday!
"Grace doesn't give you the license to live like you want to. It gives you the liberty to live like you ought to." -Pastor James Merritt!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Word-Filled Wednesday!
"As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
-Isaiah 55:10-11
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
-Isaiah 55:10-11
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
we can't do it alone
Hey girls! Okay so before I get started I just wanted to mention a little something to you. A little over a week ago my favorite author Robin Jones Gunn posted a really interesting topic on her Public Figure page on facebook. It was really cool and sort of pertaining to purity and future husbands and such. Basically she asked people to share what they prayed for in a future husband and how God answered those prayers. I really encourage y'all to go look at it, you may have to look back a ways, but it was totally worth it. I was really blessed by it.
Anyway, onward with tonight's post! I'm kinda suffering from writer's block, so if it seems a little basic tonight, that's because IT IS. lol. Last weekend Jen did a great post on why we should have written and stated purity standards, and provided us with some awesome verses on purity. She hinted at turning our purity over to God, and that's really what I wanna focus on tonight.
So what is purity anyway? Webster's defines purity as free from moral fault or guilt (3b); or marked by chastity (3c). Free from moral fault or guilt? Well Romans 3:23 says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." 1 John 1:9 tells us "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness." Most of us know these verses well. We've memorized them from lower elementary school, and now we have them forever ingrained in our memories (which is a good thing, but that's beside the point). But look at it this way. If we are all sinner, and the only way to receive forgiveness and cleansing of this unrighteousness is through Christ, then doesn't it stand to reason that we cannot have purity without turning it over to God?
Jen told you her story, about writing it down being like giving it to God. I cannot stress the importance of this enough girls! If you want to be pure for your future husband, then you MUST turn this over to God girls. I can be a control freak sometimes. I often try to take matters into my own hands, rather than just letting God handle it. But you know, when I finally understood what purity was all about and really sought after it, I gave it over to God. Was it kinda tough to do? Yes, but it was totally worth it. I still turn it over to him every day, and you know what? I enjoy myself more. I don't feel "bogged down" or "held back" because of purity, but I feel blessed because of it. I really could not do the purity thing alone. I need God's help, and so do you. Have you turned it over to him yet?
Love, Kat
Anyway, onward with tonight's post! I'm kinda suffering from writer's block, so if it seems a little basic tonight, that's because IT IS. lol. Last weekend Jen did a great post on why we should have written and stated purity standards, and provided us with some awesome verses on purity. She hinted at turning our purity over to God, and that's really what I wanna focus on tonight.
So what is purity anyway? Webster's defines purity as free from moral fault or guilt (3b); or marked by chastity (3c). Free from moral fault or guilt? Well Romans 3:23 says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." 1 John 1:9 tells us "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness." Most of us know these verses well. We've memorized them from lower elementary school, and now we have them forever ingrained in our memories (which is a good thing, but that's beside the point). But look at it this way. If we are all sinner, and the only way to receive forgiveness and cleansing of this unrighteousness is through Christ, then doesn't it stand to reason that we cannot have purity without turning it over to God?
Jen told you her story, about writing it down being like giving it to God. I cannot stress the importance of this enough girls! If you want to be pure for your future husband, then you MUST turn this over to God girls. I can be a control freak sometimes. I often try to take matters into my own hands, rather than just letting God handle it. But you know, when I finally understood what purity was all about and really sought after it, I gave it over to God. Was it kinda tough to do? Yes, but it was totally worth it. I still turn it over to him every day, and you know what? I enjoy myself more. I don't feel "bogged down" or "held back" because of purity, but I feel blessed because of it. I really could not do the purity thing alone. I need God's help, and so do you. Have you turned it over to him yet?
Love, Kat
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Why?
Hey girls!
Sorry this is a day late... I had orientation at College all day yesterday and just didnt have time to blog, but I was praying all day that God would give me something to say. Just like His normal self.. He did!
Anyway, lately we haven't really hit the subject of purity much. We've talked about other subjects that needed to be discussed, but they haven't really been related to purity. Today we are going to go back to the basics though! Why know how far you are willing to go before marriage? I mean cant you just decide when it happens? You shouldn't have to plan it all out.. Yeah right! Within the last month or so Ive received a wholeee now outlook on this question. Ive already told you, but I do have a boyfriend and he is an amazing guy, but we are both still human. Also Ive told you that I moved into college and so over the last month or so Ive gained a large amount of freedom from my parents that I'm not use to. I'm saying all this to say right now you may not need to know how far you are willing to go with a guy. You may not have a boyfriend, your parents may be strict, or whatever the case is. Can I tell you though at some point you will need to know... whether it is with just a guy friend or boy friend. You need to know! It can totally change the some of the decisions you will make....no doubt about it!
My parents and I have always had a great relationship, but they were rather strict and so it was always this is what they wanted, but now that I'm out of the house its a little different. I mean of course I still obey their wishes, but it isn't the same as when i was at home. It is now what do I think is right or wrong.
So...what do you think is to "far"? Write it down... it may sound dumb, but i cant tell you how long it took me before I would write mine down bc i was like if i mess up then i will just have to keep remembering that I messed up. Here is the deal... when i did finally write it down it was like i was giving it to God. It was written down and done. I prayed about it as I wrote it down. There was nooooo doubt in my mind that it was what He wanted me to do. Did I fight it for a while? Oh yes...for quite a while, but has God proven Himself faithful once i gave in and submitted to Him He has given me the strength to follow each one of my standards!
Where are your lines? Im not talking your parents... its great if yours agrees with theirs! Honestly mine are tougher than theirs. Do you even know? Its time to start thinking... NOW!
I am not ashamed of mine what so ever... For some of you mine may seem strict and for others they may seem not strict enough. Not to be rude, but I really do not care what you think... God and I have talked this over (More times than I can count!) and I have no doubt at all that this is where HE draws my lines!
~ I will not want to kiss a guy until my wedding day
~ I will not say, "I love you" until close to engagement
~ I refuse to have phone sex until Im married
~ Incase the others didnt cover this no sex, oral sex, or fingering before marriage either
~ Under normal circumstances I would not want to be alone for long periods of time with a guy until Im engaged
~ I will not do anything with a guy that I wouldnt want my future husband to see or do with another girl
~ I will continue to stay honest with my parents about any relationships I have
~More than any others... I will continue to stay clean before God concerning any relationships I have
Here are som verses that helped me come up with my standards! :)
1 Corinthians 6:13 Food for the stomach and the stomach for food—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
Ephesians 5:13 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
1 Thes 4:3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.
So what are you standards? Share them with us if you would like to... we would love to hear them!
JEN
Sorry this is a day late... I had orientation at College all day yesterday and just didnt have time to blog, but I was praying all day that God would give me something to say. Just like His normal self.. He did!
Anyway, lately we haven't really hit the subject of purity much. We've talked about other subjects that needed to be discussed, but they haven't really been related to purity. Today we are going to go back to the basics though! Why know how far you are willing to go before marriage? I mean cant you just decide when it happens? You shouldn't have to plan it all out.. Yeah right! Within the last month or so Ive received a wholeee now outlook on this question. Ive already told you, but I do have a boyfriend and he is an amazing guy, but we are both still human. Also Ive told you that I moved into college and so over the last month or so Ive gained a large amount of freedom from my parents that I'm not use to. I'm saying all this to say right now you may not need to know how far you are willing to go with a guy. You may not have a boyfriend, your parents may be strict, or whatever the case is. Can I tell you though at some point you will need to know... whether it is with just a guy friend or boy friend. You need to know! It can totally change the some of the decisions you will make....no doubt about it!
My parents and I have always had a great relationship, but they were rather strict and so it was always this is what they wanted, but now that I'm out of the house its a little different. I mean of course I still obey their wishes, but it isn't the same as when i was at home. It is now what do I think is right or wrong.
So...what do you think is to "far"? Write it down... it may sound dumb, but i cant tell you how long it took me before I would write mine down bc i was like if i mess up then i will just have to keep remembering that I messed up. Here is the deal... when i did finally write it down it was like i was giving it to God. It was written down and done. I prayed about it as I wrote it down. There was nooooo doubt in my mind that it was what He wanted me to do. Did I fight it for a while? Oh yes...for quite a while, but has God proven Himself faithful once i gave in and submitted to Him He has given me the strength to follow each one of my standards!
Where are your lines? Im not talking your parents... its great if yours agrees with theirs! Honestly mine are tougher than theirs. Do you even know? Its time to start thinking... NOW!
I am not ashamed of mine what so ever... For some of you mine may seem strict and for others they may seem not strict enough. Not to be rude, but I really do not care what you think... God and I have talked this over (More times than I can count!) and I have no doubt at all that this is where HE draws my lines!
~ I will not want to kiss a guy until my wedding day
~ I will not say, "I love you" until close to engagement
~ I refuse to have phone sex until Im married
~ Incase the others didnt cover this no sex, oral sex, or fingering before marriage either
~ Under normal circumstances I would not want to be alone for long periods of time with a guy until Im engaged
~ I will not do anything with a guy that I wouldnt want my future husband to see or do with another girl
~ I will continue to stay honest with my parents about any relationships I have
~More than any others... I will continue to stay clean before God concerning any relationships I have
Here are som verses that helped me come up with my standards! :)
1 Corinthians 6:13 Food for the stomach and the stomach for food—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
Ephesians 5:13 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
1 Thes 4:3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.
So what are you standards? Share them with us if you would like to... we would love to hear them!
JEN
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Thought Filled Thursday!
I have a new favorite song!! It is in Christ Alone and these are a few of the lyrics in the song that I adore!!
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin?s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life?s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
Have you allowed God to breaks Sins bondage on your life?? If you have...PRAISE GOD! If not, ask how! We would love to tell you! :) I'm not sure about you, but I serve a God who not only could defeat the grave, but DID defeat and has totally broken sins bondage in my life!!
With love,
JEN
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin?s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life?s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
Have you allowed God to breaks Sins bondage on your life?? If you have...PRAISE GOD! If not, ask how! We would love to tell you! :) I'm not sure about you, but I serve a God who not only could defeat the grave, but DID defeat and has totally broken sins bondage in my life!!
With love,
JEN
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Word Filled Wednesday!
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".
This is a verse that many people know, but it has become very dear to my heart lately... I ask you to pray for me as I move into college tomorrow and start classes the begining of next week!
This is a verse that many people know, but it has become very dear to my heart lately... I ask you to pray for me as I move into college tomorrow and start classes the begining of next week!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Gettng Passionate!
Kat and I were talking about this a couple of weeks ago and I've had it on my mind a good bit ever sense. There is a MAJOR difference between Religion and relationship. Religion is great, but having relationship makes it personal. It is also kinda like the difference between Savior and Lord. Savior is just the fact that He saved you and there is nothing wrong with that, although Lord is more personal. When you call Him your Lord you are ultimately saying you are the Lord/King over my life. I give you all my desires, hopes, questions, failures, everything, and all I desire to do is honor you! Have you come to that point yet?
What Kat and I were talking about though was worship and how we worship. I will tell you right now we are both very Charismatic in our worship. There is absolutely no right or wrong way to worship... You know whether you are giving everything to God or not!
Anyway, a couple of days after we were talking about it I was spending some time with God and the presence of God just became so real to me! I was keeping 3 little girls and so as any kids do they would go from room to room playing with things and if they came into the room i was in i would just move to the next bc I couldn't concentrate with the right around me and I just couldn't make myself put my Bible down! It had been a rather hard week and I had a massive amount of things to get done that week and anyway one of them was I'm starting up a new singing group at church and so I was listening to the CD and working on the music and instead of just working on notes or figuring out parts I began to worship and I will be honest with you I cried... I cried a good bit. Not sure why except I was just in awe of My Lord! So after like an hour of worship through music I decided to spend some time with God by reading my Bible. Ive been reading through 1 and 2 Corinthians. I adore these books! Not that I don't like the rest of the Bible, but lately they have been exactly what I needed to hear! God just has a way of doing that type of thing! ;) Anywho, I began reading about Jesus coming back and how in a twinkling of an eye He will be here and that everyone will now a knee to Him and I was floored. This may be a tad embarrassing, but i don't care! I began dancing... like i just couldn't contain the excitement! I needed to look at the future and not focus on my problems now. Those verses showed the power of the God I serve!
With all that said, I ask you... Do you view Jesus as your Savior or Lord? I do believe they will both get you to Heaven, but can i tell you how big of difference and how amazing it is to have a RELATIONSHIP with God!! Its just like best friends. You can call yourself best friends and you can talk the talk, but if you two do not talk, spend time together, encourage/praise each other, love on each other, you will really just be faking a great friendship! Are you faking it? Oh girlfriend let me tell you... sometimes when God and I talk it isn't pretty... you know we all have those times that we don't understand, we aren't happy, we are hurting, and it just doesn't feel right. The thing is though, by the time I get through being in the presence of God I have a peace, joy, and calmness that NOTHING compares to!
So, get passionate! Let others see your love for God! Don't be ashamed! Romans 1:16 says, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.". There are also the verses talking about light and us being the light for Christ in this dark and dying world. The deal is though every Christian has a light, but the closer you get (TRULY get closer!) the brighter you light is! So how bright is your light? I want mine to be so bright that people can see me from miles away!
Loving God and others,
JEN
P.S. I often do not add pics, but I have some of the girls that I kept and they were just soooooo adorable and I want you guys to see who Ive talked about off and on all summer and some of you who I email these are the girls I tell you stories about! :) Enjoy!!
What Kat and I were talking about though was worship and how we worship. I will tell you right now we are both very Charismatic in our worship. There is absolutely no right or wrong way to worship... You know whether you are giving everything to God or not!
Anyway, a couple of days after we were talking about it I was spending some time with God and the presence of God just became so real to me! I was keeping 3 little girls and so as any kids do they would go from room to room playing with things and if they came into the room i was in i would just move to the next bc I couldn't concentrate with the right around me and I just couldn't make myself put my Bible down! It had been a rather hard week and I had a massive amount of things to get done that week and anyway one of them was I'm starting up a new singing group at church and so I was listening to the CD and working on the music and instead of just working on notes or figuring out parts I began to worship and I will be honest with you I cried... I cried a good bit. Not sure why except I was just in awe of My Lord! So after like an hour of worship through music I decided to spend some time with God by reading my Bible. Ive been reading through 1 and 2 Corinthians. I adore these books! Not that I don't like the rest of the Bible, but lately they have been exactly what I needed to hear! God just has a way of doing that type of thing! ;) Anywho, I began reading about Jesus coming back and how in a twinkling of an eye He will be here and that everyone will now a knee to Him and I was floored. This may be a tad embarrassing, but i don't care! I began dancing... like i just couldn't contain the excitement! I needed to look at the future and not focus on my problems now. Those verses showed the power of the God I serve!
With all that said, I ask you... Do you view Jesus as your Savior or Lord? I do believe they will both get you to Heaven, but can i tell you how big of difference and how amazing it is to have a RELATIONSHIP with God!! Its just like best friends. You can call yourself best friends and you can talk the talk, but if you two do not talk, spend time together, encourage/praise each other, love on each other, you will really just be faking a great friendship! Are you faking it? Oh girlfriend let me tell you... sometimes when God and I talk it isn't pretty... you know we all have those times that we don't understand, we aren't happy, we are hurting, and it just doesn't feel right. The thing is though, by the time I get through being in the presence of God I have a peace, joy, and calmness that NOTHING compares to!
So, get passionate! Let others see your love for God! Don't be ashamed! Romans 1:16 says, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.". There are also the verses talking about light and us being the light for Christ in this dark and dying world. The deal is though every Christian has a light, but the closer you get (TRULY get closer!) the brighter you light is! So how bright is your light? I want mine to be so bright that people can see me from miles away!
Loving God and others,
JEN
P.S. I often do not add pics, but I have some of the girls that I kept and they were just soooooo adorable and I want you guys to see who Ive talked about off and on all summer and some of you who I email these are the girls I tell you stories about! :) Enjoy!!
Piper and I!
Mary Bradford! =)
Kelley! =)
Playing Dress up!
I just love these girls!!
If I took 100 pics 98 of them would look like this! =)
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Word-Filled Wednesday!
"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)"
-Revelation 19:6-8
"Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)"
-Revelation 19:6-8
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Ring- Nicole C Mullen
I know this is supposed to be my night to blog, but all that I really want to share with you girls tonight is summed up in these lyrics.
Got a call from my old friend
Said she fell in love again
But there's one thing she should know
Real true love will only grow
Grow like flowers from the rain
Mystery I can't explain
But this one thing I can do
Is lay out the facts for you
True love is faithful
Like Spring in April
It is as dependable as time
And it is able
To hold on and survive
When other loves might say goodbye
Chorus
If you wanna step to me
You better know one thing
This love I got you'll never get
Without a wedding ring
(Repeat)
Friend called back said can it be
I love him, him love me
But he said he'll never wed
Rather play the field instead
Feilds of taller grassy green
Kind you find in magazines
Well I said if that be so
By all means then let him go
True love is faithful
Like Spring in April
It is as dependable as time
And it is able
To hold on and survive
When other loves might say goodbye
Chorus
A to the B to the B to the C
Elementary fundamentals is the way you found me
I was lost, lost as could be
Also blind but now I see
(repeat)
Chorus
What I got is priceless
What I got is special
What I got is precious
(repeat 4 times)
What I got is priceless!
Have a good week!
Love, Kat
Got a call from my old friend
Said she fell in love again
But there's one thing she should know
Real true love will only grow
Grow like flowers from the rain
Mystery I can't explain
But this one thing I can do
Is lay out the facts for you
True love is faithful
Like Spring in April
It is as dependable as time
And it is able
To hold on and survive
When other loves might say goodbye
Chorus
If you wanna step to me
You better know one thing
This love I got you'll never get
Without a wedding ring
(Repeat)
Friend called back said can it be
I love him, him love me
But he said he'll never wed
Rather play the field instead
Feilds of taller grassy green
Kind you find in magazines
Well I said if that be so
By all means then let him go
True love is faithful
Like Spring in April
It is as dependable as time
And it is able
To hold on and survive
When other loves might say goodbye
Chorus
A to the B to the B to the C
Elementary fundamentals is the way you found me
I was lost, lost as could be
Also blind but now I see
(repeat)
Chorus
What I got is priceless
What I got is special
What I got is precious
(repeat 4 times)
What I got is priceless!
Have a good week!
Love, Kat
Friday, August 6, 2010
Honoring Your Parents
I believe we have addressed this subject before, but I feel like I need to talk about it again. I'm gonna be brutally honest here girls, you HAVE to honor your parents. It breaks my heart to see kids being dishonest with there parents. Sneaking around behind their backs with dating relationships. Or just outright ignoring them when they warn you about getting too close too fast. That is not the way to show respect to your parents. They are older, they are wiser, and they have God-given authority over you. Respect them. Honor them. Let them be a part of your life.
Just for the record, your parents need to know when you are in a relationship. Keeping it a secret from them implies there's more to the story. When you keep things like this from your parents, it looks like you are doing things you shouldn't with that person. I'm not saying that is the case, but that's probably what it looks like to your parents. If your dating relationship is centered on God, then you should have nothing to hide from your parents.
Furthermore, if you begin keeping things from your parents, you are just setting your dating relationship up for failure. My mom always said the way you treat your immediate family is how you are going to treat your future husband. I know I have said that before, but some things need to be repeated, because they are important. If you are keeping secrets from your parents, you are practicing to keep secrets from your future husband.
Lastly, God promises to bless your life if you honor your parents. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother'—which is the first commandment with a promise— 'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'" -Ephesians 6:1-3. So honor your parents today by being open and honest with them about your dating relationships. God will bless you, and you will gain wisdom from listening to them.
Love, Kat
Just for the record, your parents need to know when you are in a relationship. Keeping it a secret from them implies there's more to the story. When you keep things like this from your parents, it looks like you are doing things you shouldn't with that person. I'm not saying that is the case, but that's probably what it looks like to your parents. If your dating relationship is centered on God, then you should have nothing to hide from your parents.
Furthermore, if you begin keeping things from your parents, you are just setting your dating relationship up for failure. My mom always said the way you treat your immediate family is how you are going to treat your future husband. I know I have said that before, but some things need to be repeated, because they are important. If you are keeping secrets from your parents, you are practicing to keep secrets from your future husband.
Lastly, God promises to bless your life if you honor your parents. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother'—which is the first commandment with a promise— 'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'" -Ephesians 6:1-3. So honor your parents today by being open and honest with them about your dating relationships. God will bless you, and you will gain wisdom from listening to them.
Love, Kat
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Thought Filled Thursday!
“Every relationship for a Christian is an opportunity to love another person as God has loved us.” -Joshua Harris
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Word Filled Wednesday!
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
I read this verse last night and the verses before it are so powerful about love that I think i often over look these verses. They stuck out to me last night though. Love never fails..... So often i feel like these girls come to me with problems and i tell them a good solution and i express how important it is to cling to God, but it is as if it falls on deaf ears. If i do it in love though it will not pass away.... LOVE NEVER FAILS!! :)
JEN
I read this verse last night and the verses before it are so powerful about love that I think i often over look these verses. They stuck out to me last night though. Love never fails..... So often i feel like these girls come to me with problems and i tell them a good solution and i express how important it is to cling to God, but it is as if it falls on deaf ears. If i do it in love though it will not pass away.... LOVE NEVER FAILS!! :)
JEN
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Just kinda blank...
I offered to help Kat out tonight, but when i sat down to write I really just couldn't come up with anything. From what I've heard this is been a rather blah week for many people so far, including me. Not complaining, just being honest.
This is kinda random, but have you ever just rested in the presence of your Lord? Most days I have plenty to talk to God about, but lately Ive just wanted Him to hold me.... just soaking up his presence.... Just loving on my Lord....
There is nothing in this world like it! Babe, if life is beating you down.... just rest in the presence of the one who loves you more than anyone else, the one who thinks you are more than precious jewels, the one who finds you worthy of eternal life!!! Just the thought of that makes me excited! He promises to be close to the broken hearted and there is also a verse that talks about the Holy Spirit interceding for us when all we can do is cry. Isn't that an amazing thought?! It puts a smile on my face, even when life is worse than ever before!
I know that alot of people are going through alot of stuff right now....but our God reigns! If that's all you can hold on to tonight.... hold on to it!!! Life can get you down, but in the end the God i serve WILL win!
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Isiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Psalm 20:7-8 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
Psalm 68:19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Praying for you today!
JEN
This is kinda random, but have you ever just rested in the presence of your Lord? Most days I have plenty to talk to God about, but lately Ive just wanted Him to hold me.... just soaking up his presence.... Just loving on my Lord....
There is nothing in this world like it! Babe, if life is beating you down.... just rest in the presence of the one who loves you more than anyone else, the one who thinks you are more than precious jewels, the one who finds you worthy of eternal life!!! Just the thought of that makes me excited! He promises to be close to the broken hearted and there is also a verse that talks about the Holy Spirit interceding for us when all we can do is cry. Isn't that an amazing thought?! It puts a smile on my face, even when life is worse than ever before!
I know that alot of people are going through alot of stuff right now....but our God reigns! If that's all you can hold on to tonight.... hold on to it!!! Life can get you down, but in the end the God i serve WILL win!
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Isiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Psalm 20:7-8 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
Psalm 68:19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Praying for you today!
JEN
Monday, August 2, 2010
Wait~ Russell Kelfer
This isnt a normal Monday post, but I just wanted to share this poem.... :)
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."
"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.
"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.
"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.
"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.
"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last
"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.
"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."
"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.
"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.
"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.
"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.
"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last
"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.
"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."
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