Preparing for Marriage

These are just some of my thoughts. I am sure more will follow.

Marriage. It is a mystery. In the seminary world, people go about it many different ways. Some date, some court, some get engaged after knowing one another for 2 months. What is the ideal? How do we get there?

Voddie Baucham Jr. is a voice in biblical marriage and family issues. In his book, What He Must Be, he talks about the importance of teaching young men and women to prepare for marriage. He calls marriage 'the preferred state'. He is not talking about men and women who have a known calling from God to serve Him in singleness. He is talking about the twenty-somethings (like myself) who delay marriage. (Let me remind you, women don't always have control over their marital status if men do not approach them, but that's a whole other issue!) Most of our parents got married in their early twenties. That is rarely true for our generation. When people that young do get married, we are somewhat shocked.

The more I look around, the more I realize how many singles there are. Sometimes I feel like the only one, but really there are plenty around. Baucham says, "If we prepare our children to be husbands and wives, and God calls and equips them toe be single, we have lost nothing. On the other hand, if we do not prepare our children to be husbands and wives, and they end up married someday, we have lost a great deal. " There is so much truth to this. Parents should be the ones who prepare their children for marriage. Some girls I know do not know how to cook because their mothers never taught them. I believe it's important for the church to step up and teach when the parents do not.

Singles need to prepare for marriage because the majority of us will one day marry. If we get too comfortable in our singleness, how much harder will it be for us to share our life with someone else? This lack of preparation makes things difficult for the single adults. Baucham says, "As a result, we have families led by men who haven't the foggiest idea what their role is or how to carry it out. We have wives who were created with a God-given need to be led by godly men, a curse from the days in the garden that puts them at odds with this arrangement, and a cultural mandate to fight against male headship." This statement is so profound. Women desire to be led by men. Deep down we want men to lead us and care for us. It helps us love him and help him if he has a plan. So what are we going to do about this? We need to teach young adults to prepare. I am preparing myself. That is all I can do right now.

Around the Bend

I am trying to write more poetry. It's a great way to give praise to God! This is a new one.

The future unknown leaves me to wonder
What is around the corner?
An outpouring of blessings await me
Just around the bend

You have always been there
I wait for You to guide me
A lifetime of joy You bring me
Your lovingkindess never ends

There is nothing to fear
The future is in Your hands
Your provisions amaze my worries
Time and time again

Modesty

So am I the only one having trouble finding modest and cute clothes?!
A lot of the selections these days are very ugly and made for only skinny chicks. I came across a few modest clothing websites, including an awesome site with cute modest one piece bathing suits.
http://www.limericki.com/index.htm

Does anyone have any good suggestions of stores and/or websites with affordable modesty clothing?

The Minor Prophets

I have begun my own personal study in the minor prophets. Often being overlooked because of their size, these books of the Bible are just as inspired and God-breathed as the Gospels and the New Testament. If you'd like to join me in this study, check back every few days for insights! Let us listen to what God is still saying today. I'd love to hear your input as well.

Heather

Simon and the Sun

Sitting here listening to Simon and Garfunkel. Good stuff.
Today was beautiful. I always feel closer to God when the sun is out. I MUST get out in Creation and read my Bible and pray. It's food for my soul. I took a walk and listened to a sermon on my ipod. What a great invention that I rarely use haha.

Last night I sat and looked at Martha Stewart's website for tips on spring cleaning. How is that for a party? Her magazines always have awesome pictures of mansions and their green landscapes. I find myself coveting places like that and then I realize that Heaven, the new Earth, will be even more beautiful. What a picture I love to paint in my head. God made me a visual person for some reason.

Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16

If God has called us to be holy, what are we doing daily to be like Him? Are we living like the world, laughing at crude jokes, socially drinking because 'it's not like you're getting drunk', dressing for attention, cutting people off in traffic, or being rude to cashiers? We are all guilty of sin, and I find myself caught in little sins daily. If we go on habitually sinning we are not glorifying God OR are we obeying Jesus, our Lord. He told us to be holy because He is holy. He is our example. Let's follow Him, in the little things. We have to repent and know that He is faithful and just to forgive us. Each day is a new day to spend glorifying and knowing God.

How are you going to spend your days?

Happy New Year and Fresh Start

So it's a new year.
Things are new for me. Lots of changes going on. I want to blog more and write more this year. Where to begin?

I just want my life to glorify God in all the little things I do. Sometimes I don't think I realize what I am doing or saying. I need to work on that. I need to keep my mind on the big picture and what God wants me to do, not what I want.

Blessings to you in the new year!

O Worship the King, all glorious above
O gratefully sing His power and love!
Our shield and defender the ancient of days
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise