Treasure Hunt.

15th Official Blog Post in AU. 25 January 2012

This past weekend was filled with the sound of wedding bells! Perhaps you are the bearer of this good news or maybe you are on the receiving–and squealing with excitement– end like me. Regardless, I think we can all tell that it is that time of year again.

Despite the fact that my current circumstances do not quite suggest that the “m-word” is in sight, I am just so excited! I’m excited just to be a woman!

Yeah, that sounds weird.

Let me explain why...

It is not for the reasons you think– I am not thinking about the awesome dress, the decorations, the attention, or the venue... Here is what has been on my mind:

“The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD.”

-Proverbs 18:22 (NLT)

Basically, I think that is just the coolest thing ever! If you know me at all, you know I like to look at the parallel versions and Greek or Hebrew translations just to see if I understand the meaning correctly.

Good news: this verse says what it means and means what it says! 

In God’s eyes, not only do I get the pleasure and the benefits of a partnership– I get to be the catalyst for favor to come from Yahweh and into a man’s life! Plus, we will be one anyway so favor that comes to him means favor is coming to me, too.

Ladies, doesn’t that make you feel so valuable? Ha! By taking up a partnership, a man would be so blessed in ways he does not even realize yet! What could a godly man want more than favor from the Lord?!

I promise I am not trying to sound as vain as a peacock. I just think we should boast in what the Lord has given each of us just a little (or a lot) more and maybe try to rummage through the overgrowth of fears and past experiences which seem to hide away the treasures that exist inside relationships.

Women: be encouraged. You are a treasure and a blessing. Bring him good, not harm, all the days of your life.

Men: find a “keeper,” in God’s perfect season for you. She’ll be more worthwhile than you know. If you already found one, ask God to let you see all the ways He has favored you because of your marriage.

Heavenly Father,

May we walk in Your way. Give us eyes to see relationships the way You see them. I pray that this generation of marriages be set apart and rebuild any brokenness of marriages before us. May we take wisdom from those that have lived in partnership according to Your Word. Let Your Holy Spirit lead us all– married and singles alike– to be a light unto this world; a city on a hill. Teach us to be holy; set apart for this world to see that You are truly the difference in our lives.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Looking Back.

14th Official Blog Post in AU. 6 January 2012

I moved into a new apartment! Let’s just say the amount of stuff I have is ridiculous. Amidst, the crazed and tired atmosphere, something strange happened and it has been burned in my memory ever since.

I left a piece of toast in the panini/sandwich maker.

God only knows how long it’s been in there.

First of all, I realize that that is absolutely disgusting. I am trying my best not to be embarrassed about sharing such a gross fact with all of cyberspace.

All day the image of this formerly toasted, stale bread kept coming around...

That piece of toast is such proof of how distracted I have been this past season–

S p a c e y, overly adaptable, unusually withdrawn socially, non-committal...

not quite myself.

But there is a changing of seasons and I am in transition. I like it!

Change always seems to help prevent complacency.

Here’s to the new year:

A year of awakening.

A year of fruitfulness.

A year of productivity and diligence.

This year I will live genuinely according to who He has made me to be.

And discover the things I never knew I was capable of.

This year, I will not hold back from God.

He desires to make my life flourish.

He makes me influential.

I will be all that He dreams for me.

I will create, build, and distribute what He has anointed my hands to do.

This year, I refuse to accept self-destructive habits, thoughts, or attitudes.

I refuse to be so distracted that I leave toast in the sandwich maker.

I will be successful because He makes me capable.

Father,

Teach us to be more focused, faithful, and free to live out the confidence You are calling us to walk in this year. Keep us from wasting this precious time. You have a plan for us in each day. You take the things we dream of and make them grand. I want to live in every moment of developing those dreams to the scale that You are capable of. I know this development only comes in faithfulness to today; in attention to the little things. “Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire.”

Let it be. All that You have spoken, let it be.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.