Fillers

As my parents and I sit in one of their favorite restaurants, Puerta Vallarta, (NO JOKE) I look across to another table of a mom and a daughter waiting for their food, BOTH on electronic devices. This picture of a mom and daughter bonding (my guess is that these get togethers don't occur often) over dinner yet not speaking to each other, only to pay more attention to a screen, saddened me. Is this really what our world is coming to?

Again, I sit and wait in a waiting room or in Starbucks and see that EVERY single person is looking at this little 3" screen...where's the face to face interaction (don't persuade me that FaceTime fixes that)?!?! Would it be possible that people talk more to Siri than to actual people?

This introduction may be more of a stretch, but I just challenge those who are glued to their phones and other devices to take a self-assessment and see where you're spending your time. I have an iPhone too and I fall short too, filling my time with playing Fruit Ninja or Words With Friends. But, as I find that I'm guilty of technology's advancements, I also should be including God in my every day situations, not Siri.  This is daily devotional is one BIG reason why I'm becoming more aware of what I'm filling my time with:

As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God – to give God "elbow room." We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to over look this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life – "When it was the good pleasure of God . . ."

Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

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Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - THINK about such things. Philippians 4:8

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

Who holds you? Who tells you that you're pretty enough or smart enough or that you're good enough? Is it your boyfriend? Is it your parents? Is it your boss? Is it your friends on Facebook that "like" your new profile picture? Or is it your Father?

Our society, especially women in our society, are searching for all of those answers to those questions in the wrong places. There's only one entity that matters, who says, "you're good enough just as you are - broken, alone, insecure, scared - you know why? Because I AM good enough for you." that's God our Father.

People, us women, search for the answers to the wrong questions. "Why am I single? Why am I alone? Will someone, like a boyfriend or husband, love me and hold me close? Who will protect me? Who will be my knight in shining armor that will come rescue me and sweep me off my feet?" Get the idea? We ask ourselves these variations of these questions over and over and wonder why we're lonely and need someone to just wrap their arms around us. But, you know who does answer ALL (and I MEAN) all of those questions? God our Father does, once again.

You see, God as our Father is enough. And, if we're still asking ourselves all of those above questions, we're still missing out on all that He has to offer. He has ALREADY DONE ALL OF THOSE THINGS!!! If you think that your future husband or boyfriend is going to fulfill all of 1 Corinthians 13, keep your spirits high (I'm doing the same thing haha) but just know, God is ALREADY all of 1 Corinthians 13!!! He was 2000+ years ago and He still is today! It's amazing how "with the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:8-9).

Do you see?!?!? He's WAITING FOR YOU TO GET TO KNOW HIM!!! That's why we're still here on this earth until we all face Him on Judgement Day. His followers are here to spread this good news to those that don't know about Him yet! God's waiting for YOU to come around.

Ok, sorry, I got a little off track, in a good direction, but now back to what I was saying.

So if you're still waiting for Mr. or Mrs. Right, just realize that God's Fatherly qualities answer all of your questions AND He's actually the one waiting for YOU. He's the only one that can truly satisfy our desire for love and rid us of our loneliness and hopes for a relationship because a relationship with Him is the only relationship that truly matters.

Wives "submit" to your husbands...

The passages in Scripture that deal with this phrase have caught my attention recently, not only because of my recent resolution but also through various Bible studies in church and talks with friends.

So far, I have found that the word "submit" does not bode well with the majority of today's female population. I feel this is because most women today are built, raised and taught to be strong, independent, confident women. I see no shame in that, I commend it actually. However, only to the extent that being powerful and self-preserved can often deter women from being submissive wives, which causes today's strong-willed women to be offended. I think it's logical. Some may say that the Scriptures in the Bible are obsolete and the language is old and outdated. Yes, this may be true, but that does not mean the Bible should be tossed out completely. In fact, the Bible in its entirety can be applied to every day life, even the Old Testament, when looking at the whole picture.

But that's beside the point. My point is that instead of focusing on the word "submit," which most women have a problem with, what about replacing the word with "sacrifice?" Wives sacrifice to/for your husbands. We see wives and moms do this every day! Moms sacrificing their time, energy and sleep to maintain their household and their kids. Wives going out of their way to make dinner for their husbands when they come home from work or cleaning the house on the weekends. Wives sacrificing their desires to be a teacher or nurse or whatever to stay at home and focus on their family and be a stay at home mom. Wives sacrificing their extra savings to put their kids through school or buy their kids new clothes so they don't feel out of place at school. Get the picture? Wives ALREADY submit, but they just don't like their sacrifices being called submission.

I think that when most people (male and female) think of the word submit, they automatically think of dictate or command, like "Kristen, make me a sandwich" or "Kristen bring me a drink." But, being submissive in a relationship is not like that. Yes, it can be demanding and it can be work but it's not like a slave owner ruling over a slave.

A good husband would love his wife so much that he wouldn't want her to be making all these sacrifices, but both understand that's what needs to be done to maintain the household (Proverbs 31:15-27). So he realizes a good time to step in and chip in with the household chores or look after the kids or pay for a day at the spa.

A good wife will stand by a decision the husband makes no matter how big or how small (whether it is to eat that extra candy bar at dinner or to take out that extra loan on the house) because her "husband is respected at the city gate" (or amongst peers and the community) - Proverbs 31:23.

A good husband would love his wife so much that he would support his wife's independence and allow her to be the confident, strong-willed, powerful woman she is "lack[ing] nothing in value" (Proverbs 31:11).

Finally, a woman who is to be a good wife, will make sacrifices, like dropping her own desires and wants, to benefit and bring glory not only to her family but also to her Lord. She will stand by her husband for richer and poorer, sickness and in health, til death parts her, even if it means making some sacrifices along the way.

See, being in a relationship is not about being beckoned upon or having to wait on the male figurehead. It is about making sacrifices, compromising when necessary or needed and working hard at making the relationship work. Both spirits, whether strong-willed or timid, must be considered equally important in the relationship, even if the male is the head of the household.

2012 New Year's Resolution

We all know people resolve to be more fit or lose weight at the beginning of the new year. Some can hold out until March, (since the Ithaca College Fitness Center is PACKED until Spring Break) but others will most likely give up on their resolution by February. What about the rest of the year?

I enjoyed reading Twitter posts by numerous "celebrities" and other people I follow that reinstated how New Year's resolutions are more than just a goal that can be dropped in a few weeks. A resolution is  something that should be continuously worked on daily, like an evolving process. Though Creationists may not like me using that word, we all do evolve, grow or mature, "micro-ly," not necessarily "macro-ly." (thanks SCS' UTT class).

Therefore, I resolved that this year, I'm going to focus on being more of a Proverbs 31 woman. Below are the verses that refer to "The Wife of Noble Character" (NIV). I will probably do another blog with my interpretation of these passages later, but for now, I will just say why I chose to make this my New Year's resolution.

Last year, around the summer time, I realized my resolution was simply to continue to follow Christ and the will He has for my life. (Yeah, it took me 6 months to realize what my New Year's resolution will be for 2011). Towards the end of the year, I found myself being selfish, thinking: "I want this" or "I want that." I got caught up with what other people around me had - boyfriends, husbands, kids. I'm almost ashamed to say it but it's true.

So, in order to take the focus off me, I'm putting my attention back onto Christ to become even more of a woman of God. My relationship with Christ is the only relationship that truly matters. Through this and God's grace, I am confident God will reveal to me new aspects about being a single-woman, a child of His, a future wife and future mother (all Lord willing). The Lord has already shown me how His Fatherly attributes simply wrap His arms around me and hold me. And, being identified in Him, as His child, will help rid me of my selfish desires. I know He will supply a Godly man that I can selflessly serve and love for the rest of my life and experience His love in more ways than I can even imagine (but only according to His timing, not mine).

As my first step of becoming a Proverbs 31 woman, I believe the Lord has put it on my heart to pray for my future hubster every day to remind myself that it's not just about me. I should lift him up to start building our foundation of prayer for our relationship and prepare my heart for what's ahead.

Contemplating these verses and delving into what they really mean to me as a woman of Christ are the stepping blocks to preparing me for being hopeful about starting a life with a new companion.

10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 (Though, I know the world is coming to an end sometime soon, if God doesn't see the timing for me and the hubster appropriate on earth, keeping the focus on my relationship with Christ will prepare me for an even better relationship!)

Ephesians 5:22-24 says "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church...Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."

- It JUST clicked for me. If wives are supposed to submit to our husbands and the husbands are supposed to be love their wives like Jesus loves the church, then we're ultimately submitting to Christ! "Lightbulb...." - Despicable Me