Just wanted to share one of my favorite scriptures with you I've found my purpose through this passage. This is what God has called me to do. I pray you find the same.
"The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God. To comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." -Isaiah 61:1-3 ♥
This is the passage that Jesus pointed to when He began His ministry here on Earth. Of all the scriptures he could have chosen, this is the one He picked on the day He first publicly announced his mission. It must be important to him. It must be central. But what does it mean? It's supposed to be really good news, that's clear. It has something to do with healing hearts, setting someone free. Let me try and state it in words more familiar to us.
God has sent me on a mission.
I have some great news for you.
God has sent me to restore and release something.
And that something is you.
I am here to give you back your heart and set you free.
I am furious at the Enemy who did this to you, and I will fight against Him.
Let me comfort you.
For, dear one, I will bestow beauty upon you, where you have known only devastation.
Joy, in places of your deep sorrow.
And I will robe your heart in thankful praise in exchange for your resignation and despair.
You are the glorious Image Bearer of the Lord Jesus Christ- the crown of His creation. You have been assulted. You have fallen to your own resources. Your enemy has siezed upon your wounds and your sins to pin your heart down. Now the Son of God has come to ransom you, and to heal your broken, wounded, bleeding heart, and to set you free from bondage. He came for the brokenhearted captives. That's me. That's you. He came to restore the glorious creation that you are. And set you free... To be yourself.
#Captivated
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
You Are More Than Enough!
Earlier today, I asked my Twitter followers what issues they believed most young women face on a daily basis. The number one answer I received? "Self-Esteem/Self-Worth"
When I received all of these answers from so many girls who were facing this issue every day, my heart broke for each of them. It was only a few months ago that I was in their place. Asking myself over and over again, "What is wrong with me?" And answering my own question with phrases like, "You're not pretty enough. You're not smart enough. You don't have enough friends, or the nicest clothes. And you will probably never amount to much in this life."
It wasn't until God placed three amazing people in my path to teach me a life-changing lesson, that I was able to see myself as being valuable! Each person taught me a different lesson, using different scriptures, which I will share with you later.
Society has completely distorted the mind of young women in our generation! One thing that society taught me, that I allowed myself to believe for years was that if you believed that you were beautiful, or valuable in any way, then you were just conceited and arrogant. But this could not possibly be more wrong! Confidence is beauty! Just last night, I happened to see something that a friend of mine posted on Twitter, and I want to share it with you! She said, "When you see me passing, it ought to make you proud#phenomenalwoman." I can not even describe to you how much I love to see posts like this! I could not possibly agree with her tweet more! This particular woman, is beautiful, inside and out... And she knows it! Not because she is conceited or arrogant, but because she knows who her God is!
To prove my point, I also asked my Twitter followers what society has taught them about physical beauty. Their answers?
1.) Skinny is perfect.
2.) To be what everyone else wants to see & also to show it off
3.) That you have to be unhealthily thin, have straight white teeth, wear skimpy clothes, and be really tan to be "cool."
4.) If you aren't "model" material, you aren't beautiful enough.
Guess what ladies? Society has lied to you!! Proof? Even models aren't "model material!"
True beauty is having confidence in yourself. It's knowing who you are, despite what society tells you about who you should be.
You are enough....
You are a child of God (John 1:12)
You are precious (Psalm 139:17-18, 1Peter 3:3-4, Isaiah 43:4)
You are beautiful (Song of Solomon 4:1)
You are valuable (Proverbs 31:10, Malachi 3:17, Luke 12:7)
You have a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11)
You are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27)
You are chosen. (1Peter 2:9)
You are crowned with honor (Psalms 8:3-5)
You are a new creation (2Corinthians 5:17)
You are loved (Psalm 36:5)
When I received all of these answers from so many girls who were facing this issue every day, my heart broke for each of them. It was only a few months ago that I was in their place. Asking myself over and over again, "What is wrong with me?" And answering my own question with phrases like, "You're not pretty enough. You're not smart enough. You don't have enough friends, or the nicest clothes. And you will probably never amount to much in this life."
It wasn't until God placed three amazing people in my path to teach me a life-changing lesson, that I was able to see myself as being valuable! Each person taught me a different lesson, using different scriptures, which I will share with you later.
Society has completely distorted the mind of young women in our generation! One thing that society taught me, that I allowed myself to believe for years was that if you believed that you were beautiful, or valuable in any way, then you were just conceited and arrogant. But this could not possibly be more wrong! Confidence is beauty! Just last night, I happened to see something that a friend of mine posted on Twitter, and I want to share it with you! She said, "When you see me passing, it ought to make you proud
To prove my point, I also asked my Twitter followers what society has taught them about physical beauty. Their answers?
1.) Skinny is perfect.
2.) To be what everyone else wants to see & also to show it off
3.) That you have to be unhealthily thin, have straight white teeth, wear skimpy clothes, and be really tan to be "cool."
4.) If you aren't "model" material, you aren't beautiful enough.
Guess what ladies? Society has lied to you!! Proof? Even models aren't "model material!"
True beauty is having confidence in yourself. It's knowing who you are, despite what society tells you about who you should be.
You are enough....
You are a child of God (John 1:12)
You are precious (Psalm 139:17-18, 1Peter 3:3-4, Isaiah 43:4)
You are beautiful (Song of Solomon 4:1)
You are valuable (Proverbs 31:10, Malachi 3:17, Luke 12:7)
You have a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11)
You are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27)
You are chosen. (1Peter 2:9)
You are crowned with honor (Psalms 8:3-5)
You are a new creation (2Corinthians 5:17)
You are loved (Psalm 36:5)
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Ruth, Chapter 1
God has given several beautiful examples of Godly women throughout the Bible. One of my personal favorites is Ruth. She set the perfect example of who we should be as women... Willing to leave everything behind, not worring about who she would marry, but how she could get closer to God, and to the woman that God had placed in her life. She was more worried about God's plan for her life than for her own. If only more women today had the same sense of wreckless abandonment. For those of you who have not yet read the book of Ruth, I have posted the first chapter below (Amplified version). Or, if you would rather read it from your Bible, you can skip to the end for the "points to ponder!"
1IN THE days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem of Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, his wife, and his two sons.2The man’s name was Elimelech and his wife’s name was Naomi and his two sons were named Mahlon [invalid] and Chilion [pining]; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. They went to the country of Moab and continued there.3But Elimelech, who Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.4And they took wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They dwelt there about ten years;5And Mahlon and Chilion died also, both of them, so the woman was bereft of her two sons and her husband.6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in Moab how the Lord had visited His people in giving them food.7So she left the place where she was, her two daughters-in-law with her, and they started on the way back to Judah.8But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.9The Lord grant that you may find a home and rest, each in the house of her husband! Then she kissed them and they wept aloud.10And they said to her, No, we will return with you to your people.11But Naomi said, Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that may become your husbands?12Turn back, my daughters, go; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband tonight and should bear sons,13Would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? ((NOTE:sons who could become your husbands: The Old Testament Law stated that if a man died, his brother had to marry the widow to protect her and carry on the family name. Naomi’s comment here (“sons who could grow up to be your husbands”) refers to levirate marriage, the obligation of a dead man’s brother to care for the widow (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). This law kept the widow from poverty and provided a way for the family name of the dead husband to continue.)) No, my daughters; it is far more bitter for me than for you that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.14Then they wept aloud again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law [good-bye], but Ruth clung to her.15And Naomi said, See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.16And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.17Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you.18When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said no more.19So they both went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred about them, and said, Is this Naomi?20And she said to them, Call me not Naomi [pleasant]; call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.21I went out full, but the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
Points to ponder:
1.) Describe Naomi’s condition after ten years inMoab
NOTE: There was almost nothing worse than being a widow in the ancient world. Widows were taken advantage of or ignored. They would equate to the homeless in American society. They were almost always poverty stricken. God’s law, therefore, provided that the nearest relative of the dead husband should care for the widow; but Naomi had no relatives inMoab Israel
2.) Are you surprised by Ruth's decision to stay with her mother-in-law?
3.) What was Ruth giving up by choosing to stay with Naomi?
APPLICATION FOR DAILY LIVING:
1.) When her sons died, Naomi believed that God had turned against her and Ruth (chapter 1). Why did she feel so desperate? Have you ever felt this desperate or have you known anyone who felt bitter like Naomi? If so, what caused these feelings and how did you or your friend get through this difficult period?
2.) What did Ruth do to help Naomi when they got to Bethlehem in Judah? (2:1-18). What seem to have been the risks for women who did this kind of work? How could the fact that Ruth was a foreigner (from Moab) have made the situation even more difficult Are there people with different cultural or religious backgrounds living in your community? If so, how are they treated?
1IN THE days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem of Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, his wife, and his two sons.2The man’s name was Elimelech and his wife’s name was Naomi and his two sons were named Mahlon [invalid] and Chilion [pining]; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. They went to the country of Moab and continued there.3But Elimelech, who Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.4And they took wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They dwelt there about ten years;5And Mahlon and Chilion died also, both of them, so the woman was bereft of her two sons and her husband.6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in Moab how the Lord had visited His people in giving them food.7So she left the place where she was, her two daughters-in-law with her, and they started on the way back to Judah.8But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.9The Lord grant that you may find a home and rest, each in the house of her husband! Then she kissed them and they wept aloud.10And they said to her, No, we will return with you to your people.11But Naomi said, Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that may become your husbands?12Turn back, my daughters, go; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband tonight and should bear sons,13Would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? ((NOTE:sons who could become your husbands: The Old Testament Law stated that if a man died, his brother had to marry the widow to protect her and carry on the family name. Naomi’s comment here (“sons who could grow up to be your husbands”) refers to levirate marriage, the obligation of a dead man’s brother to care for the widow (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). This law kept the widow from poverty and provided a way for the family name of the dead husband to continue.)) No, my daughters; it is far more bitter for me than for you that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.14Then they wept aloud again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law [good-bye], but Ruth clung to her.15And Naomi said, See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.16And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.17Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you.18When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said no more.19So they both went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred about them, and said, Is this Naomi?20And she said to them, Call me not Naomi [pleasant]; call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.21I went out full, but the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
Points to ponder:
1.) Describe Naomi’s condition after ten years in
NOTE: There was almost nothing worse than being a widow in the ancient world. Widows were taken advantage of or ignored. They would equate to the homeless in American society. They were almost always poverty stricken. God’s law, therefore, provided that the nearest relative of the dead husband should care for the widow; but Naomi had no relatives in
2.) Are you surprised by Ruth's decision to stay with her mother-in-law?
3.) What was Ruth giving up by choosing to stay with Naomi?
APPLICATION FOR DAILY LIVING:
1.) When her sons died, Naomi believed that God had turned against her and Ruth (chapter 1). Why did she feel so desperate? Have you ever felt this desperate or have you known anyone who felt bitter like Naomi? If so, what caused these feelings and how did you or your friend get through this difficult period?
2.) What did Ruth do to help Naomi when they got to Bethlehem in Judah? (2:1-18). What seem to have been the risks for women who did this kind of work? How could the fact that Ruth was a foreigner (from Moab) have made the situation even more difficult Are there people with different cultural or religious backgrounds living in your community? If so, how are they treated?
Monday, October 15, 2012
Reflections: You are enough.
Ladies, you were born an original. Do NOT die a copy. God did not create you to be just like somebody else. Actually, He instructs us to not conform to the ways of this world. Dare to be different... Dare to be YOU. You are more than enough. And you are precious to the Father.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
-Psalm 139:14-18
Friday, October 12, 2012
What Not To Wear: Modesty
Hey, ladies. I want to share something with you that God has really been weighing heavy on my heart lately. One that every girl struggles with at some point in life.
So, let's talk modesty.
One statement that I hear quite frequently is, "Well, God looks on the heart... Not the way I am dressed. So I can wear what I want... Right?" Actually, no. It is true that God looks on the heart. But He is the ONLY one who can look upon your heart. What about everyone around you? They see your outward appearance. What you wear on the outside reveals a little bit about who you are on the inside.
I love the way that Nancy DeMoss describes modesty. She said, “As women, clothing and appearance are some of the most powerful and important means we have of sending a message about our hearts and our values. So here’s the question. What do your clothes and your appearance communicate about you?"
Which now brings me to a few questions of my own.
1.) When choosing what clothes to wear, whose attention do you desire and whose approval do you crave? Are you seeking to please God or to impress others?
2.) Who are you trying to identify with? Is the Word of God your standard, or the latest fashion?
3.) What do your clothes say about your heart?
4.) If I were to pick any random person off the street and ask them to tell me what kind of person that they believe you are, just by your dress, what would they have to say about you?
"And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves." -1 Timothy 2:9 (NLT)
With this being said, I want to share one more thing with you that will speak the rest of my message for itself. There was a "survey" given to a group of teenage guys about modesty. They were all asked the same question... "What do you think when you see a girl dressed immodestly?" This is what they had to say:
Bless her heart. She must feel like she has to dress that way to get attention. — Ryan, 18
Sometimes I let my guard down and think something I shouldn’t. I try to glorify Jesus with pure eyes and pure thoughts. — Geoff, 15
They need to respect themselves and everyone else around them by dressing more modestly. — Travis, 16
Do you want my sweatshirt? I really struggle with lust, so when girls dress inappropriately, it’s really hard on me. Especially, when I’m in a classroom and can’t escape from the temptation. — Jake, 16
I think that the girl is convinced that it’s the only way she can get attention. It makes me think she’s not self-confident and that she’s easy. — Tom, 16
I think she probably doesn’t have the best relationship with God, she probably isn’t that smart, and she needs guys to look at her, which has a whole different set of meanings attached to it. If she’s pretty, it’s hard not to look. I’m not perfect. I try not to linger and let my thoughts progress to lust. — Matt, 18
My heart says, “Look out!” My mind says, “Oh yeah!” — Trevor, 14
My first reaction is, “Wow.” But then the Holy Spirit is like, “Dude, what are you doing?!” These girls are giving way too much of themselves away to the world. — Ben, 17
I think that if they really felt like they were pretty, they wouldn’t have to dress that way. They have no respect for themselves or their parents. — Mario, 14
I think they are desperate. — Alex, 15
I wonder if her parents have any control over her. — Landon, 14
Sex. — Joe, 15
Well, sometimes I want to look, but eventually I realize that they aren’t the kind of girls I want to be with. — Chris, 16
Where are her parents? — Daniel, 16
I think that she doesn’t have good parents and needs attention. — Cabe, 14
So, let's talk modesty.
One statement that I hear quite frequently is, "Well, God looks on the heart... Not the way I am dressed. So I can wear what I want... Right?" Actually, no. It is true that God looks on the heart. But He is the ONLY one who can look upon your heart. What about everyone around you? They see your outward appearance. What you wear on the outside reveals a little bit about who you are on the inside.
I love the way that Nancy DeMoss describes modesty. She said, “As women, clothing and appearance are some of the most powerful and important means we have of sending a message about our hearts and our values. So here’s the question. What do your clothes and your appearance communicate about you?"
Which now brings me to a few questions of my own.
1.) When choosing what clothes to wear, whose attention do you desire and whose approval do you crave? Are you seeking to please God or to impress others?
2.) Who are you trying to identify with? Is the Word of God your standard, or the latest fashion?
3.) What do your clothes say about your heart?
4.) If I were to pick any random person off the street and ask them to tell me what kind of person that they believe you are, just by your dress, what would they have to say about you?
"And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves." -1 Timothy 2:9 (NLT)
With this being said, I want to share one more thing with you that will speak the rest of my message for itself. There was a "survey" given to a group of teenage guys about modesty. They were all asked the same question... "What do you think when you see a girl dressed immodestly?" This is what they had to say:
Bless her heart. She must feel like she has to dress that way to get attention. — Ryan, 18
Sometimes I let my guard down and think something I shouldn’t. I try to glorify Jesus with pure eyes and pure thoughts. — Geoff, 15
They need to respect themselves and everyone else around them by dressing more modestly. — Travis, 16
Do you want my sweatshirt? I really struggle with lust, so when girls dress inappropriately, it’s really hard on me. Especially, when I’m in a classroom and can’t escape from the temptation. — Jake, 16
I think that the girl is convinced that it’s the only way she can get attention. It makes me think she’s not self-confident and that she’s easy. — Tom, 16
I think she probably doesn’t have the best relationship with God, she probably isn’t that smart, and she needs guys to look at her, which has a whole different set of meanings attached to it. If she’s pretty, it’s hard not to look. I’m not perfect. I try not to linger and let my thoughts progress to lust. — Matt, 18
My heart says, “Look out!” My mind says, “Oh yeah!” — Trevor, 14
My first reaction is, “Wow.” But then the Holy Spirit is like, “Dude, what are you doing?!” These girls are giving way too much of themselves away to the world. — Ben, 17
I think that if they really felt like they were pretty, they wouldn’t have to dress that way. They have no respect for themselves or their parents. — Mario, 14
I think they are desperate. — Alex, 15
I wonder if her parents have any control over her. — Landon, 14
Sex. — Joe, 15
Well, sometimes I want to look, but eventually I realize that they aren’t the kind of girls I want to be with. — Chris, 16
Where are her parents? — Daniel, 16
I think that she doesn’t have good parents and needs attention. — Cabe, 14
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
We are a woman of a different status... 31, to be exact.
Ladies, you were not created to be like the rest of the world. You were created to be women of a different status... 31, to be exact. Too often, we fall into the lies of society that we have to look, or dress a certain way in order to fit in. But who will you choose to listen to; the world, or your Creator?
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Did You Fall Hard Enough?
So, let me ask you a question... When you fell, did you fall hard enough? There is a difference between loving Jesus, and being IN love with him. So many people will jump up in an instant and claim to be in love with him. But how many of us really are? It is absolutely heartbreaking how far people will drive to go see their favorite worship band in concert, or hear their favorite speaker, yet, they won't even roll out of bed 20 minutes early to spend time with Jesus. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's wrong to like certain bands or anything. But, if we were truly in love with Jesus, we would be more focused on him, than focused on what's going on up on stage. Just look at him! There is no greater image of love, then the bloody cross. You shouldn't have to go any farther than the cross to fall in love with Jesus. I refuse to look at his torn body, and be goverened by my own flesh. Not that I, by any means am perfect. That is certainly not the case. My point is, looking at what this man did for us over 2,000 years ago, shouldn't we be willing to step out of our comfort zone? Instead of going to church and sitting on your pew all service, why not be that one person that gets on the average christian's nerves...? Truth is, we were born to make people who are wasting their passion feel uncomfortable! Yet too many times, rather than standing out from the crowd, all we do is conform to them. As I was listening to Damon Thompson speak one morning, he brought up this point. In John chapter 1, verse 42, Jesus changes Simon's name to Peter. "And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone." Now, fast forward several years, to the time of Christ's crucifixion. In Matthew 26:35 Jesus tells Peter that he will deny him. Peter responds promising Jesus that he will go to the death with him, not deny him. How many of us say that to Jesus? We tell him that we love him, and we would give up anything for him. But when if comes down to it, would you really? Or would you fall into conformity? Peter did. Verse 70 says that Peter denied Jesus before all of them. Peter denied Jesus not one, but three times that night. After the ressurrection of Jesus, he looked at Peter and said, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" Ouch. Can you imagine how Peter must have felt here? Jesus didn't even call him Peter. He called him by his old name, as if he didn't even recognize him as Peter, but as the man he used to be. Peter had denied Jesus 3 times. But Jesus was "restoring" Peter by having him openly tell Jesus that he loved him, 3 times. We do this so often. We confess Jesus with our lips, but when the going gets tough, we're nowhere to be found. And Judas was the perfect example of how we betray Jesus with our lips, say what we want, but then go against him with our actions.
After everything that Jesus went through, for us, people need to start getting fanatical about him! We need to be "Jesus Junkies." Or, "Jesus stalkers." I stalk Jesus. I have cd's that make me want to be with Him. I wake up in the middle of the night to be with Him. I'd rather die than be without Him.
People get fanatical, and nobody looks down on them for cheering on a team of 20 year old boys knocking each other to the ground, and chasing a ball around the yard. Its acceptable to be fanatical about something that doesnt matter. But get fanatical about something that does matter, and you make people uncomfortable!! Why is that??? We should want more than just a surface experience. We should fall until he's all we burn for. Because let me tell ya, if you don't get God's fire in you, you'll settle for the devil's fire.
Generation_31
God's Heart For Relationship
The vast desire and capacity a woman has for intimate relationships tells us of God's vast desire and capacity for intimate relationships. In fact, this may be the most important thing we ever learn about God--that he yearns for relationship with us. "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God" (John 17:3). The whole story of the Bible is a love story between God and his people. He yearns for us. He cares. He has a tender heart.
But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!"... declares the LORD. (Isa. 49:14-15, 18)
I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. (Jer. 24:7)
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. (Matt. 23:37)
What a comfort to know that this universe we live in is relational at it's core, that our God is a tenderhearted God who yearns for relationship with us. If you have any doubt about that, simply look at the message he sent us in Woman. Amazing. Not only does God long for us, but he longs to be loved by us. Oh, how we've missed this. How many of you see God as longing to be loved by you? We see him as strong and powerful, but not as needing us, vulnerable to us, yearning to be desired.
The vast desire and capacity a woman has for intimate relationships tells us of God's vast desire and capacity for intimate relationships. In fact, this may be the most important thing we ever learn about God--that he yearns for relationship with us. "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God" (John 17:3). The whole story of the Bible is a love story between God and his people. He yearns for us. He cares. He has a tender heart.
But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!"... declares the LORD. (Isa. 49:14-15, 18)
I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. (Jer. 24:7)
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. (Matt. 23:37)
What a comfort to know that this universe we live in is relational at it's core, that our God is a tenderhearted God who yearns for relationship with us. If you have any doubt about that, simply look at the message he sent us in Woman. Amazing. Not only does God long for us, but he longs to be loved by us. Oh, how we've missed this. How many of you see God as longing to be loved by you? We see him as strong and powerful, but not as needing us, vulnerable to us, yearning to be desired.
After years of hearing the heart-cry of women, I am convinced beyond a doubt of this: God wants to be loved. He wants to be a priority to someone. How could we have missed this? From cover to cover, from beginning to end, the cry of God's heart is, "Why won't you choose me?" It is amazing to me how humble, how vulnerable God is at this point. "You will find me," says the Lord, "when you seek me with all your heart" (jer. 29:13). In other words, "Look for me, pursue me--I want you to pursue me." Amazing. As Tozer says, "God waits to be wanted." -Wild At Heart
Can there be any doubt that God wants to be sought after? The first and greatest of all commands is to love him (Mark 12:29-30; Matt. 22:36-38). He wants us to love him. To seek him with all our hearts. A woman longs to be sought after, too, with the whole heart of her pursuer. God longs to be desired. Just as a woman longs to be desired. "Take me for longing," Alison Krauss sings, "or leave me behind." God feels the same way. Remember the story of Martha and Mary? Mary chose God, and Jesus said that that is what he wanted. "Mary has chosen what is better" (Luke 10:42). She chose me.
Life changes dramatically when romance comes into our lives. Christianity changes dramatically when we discover that it, too, is a great romance. That God yearns to share a life of beauty, intimacy, and adventure with us. "I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jer. 31:3). This whole world was made for romance-- the rivers and the glens, the meadows and beaches. Flowers, music, a kiss. But we have a way of forgetting all that, losing ourselves in work and worry. Eve--God's message to the world in feminine form--invites us to romance. Through her, God makes romance a priority of the universe.
So God endows Woman with certain qualities that are essential to relationship, qualities that speak of God. She is inviting. She is vulnerable. She is tender. She embodies mercy. She is also fierce, and fiercely devoted. As the old saying goes, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." That's just how God acts when he isn't chosen. "I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god!" (Ex.20:5 NLT). A woman's righteous jealousy speaks of the jealousy of God for us.
Tender and inviting, intimate and alluring, fiercely devoted. Oh yes, our God has a passionate, romantic heart. Just look at Eve.
-Excerpt from Captivating, John and Stasi Eldredge
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