So, we watched the movie "Ever After" tonight. It is now one of my favorites… a retelling of Cinderella that I think I like even more than "Ella Enchanted" (which is one of my favorite books). You just have to watch it. The end. BUT… there's one line near the end, where the prince stoops to place the glass slipper on Danielle(Cinderella)'s foot and says: "I stand before you not as a prince, but as a man in love."
… and… when he said that to her, I heard my Prince saying it to me. Stooping to wash my feet, right before He suffered and died because of His love for me. "I stand before you not as your prince, but as a man in love." He had everything, and had everything to lose. But He gave it all up--all the glories and riches of being the King of the Universe because He wanted me… and He wanted you. Everything He possessed was less important to Him than winning my heart, even though I've broken His heart goodness knows how many times. It's still a mystery to me… why He thinks I'm worth all the trouble. But He says it is. Somehow, I'm worth it to Him. And so are you.
We all long for romance, especially we women. It's built into us. But tell me… even if we could write our own fairytale courtships, could it ever get better than it already is? The one who loves me stooped to my low position, laying down everything He had as Prince and King. He washed my feet and healed my wounds. He pursued me even when I ran away from Him, even when I crucified Him. He died for me even when I didn't give a whit about Him. He loves me, and He's told me that He's coming back for me. At this very moment, He's preparing an eternal home and a wedding feast for me.
And I know we're going to live happily ever after. Forever.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
That Horrible "S" Word
Well, I'm gonna try to start blogging more... I'm not gonna mention how many times I've said that to myself before, but hey. Can't hurt to try, right?
And I wanna start off by talking about that horrible "s-word" we conservative Christian homeschooler types (you know what I'm talking about) seem to hate so much. You know... <whispers> singleness! =O But before we all hurry off to browse wedding dresses online in order to purge our minds of such awfulness... you may wanna turn with me to 1 Corinthians 7. ;) I used to find that chapter so depressing when I was younger (12-14). I remember being almost in tears when I asked Mom: "So… does God not WANT us to get married?" Well, obviously, this is not the case, as in Proverbs it says "he who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord." And marriage is a picture of God and the church, after all.
BUT. There's a verse that particularly strikes home, for me at least, in 1 Cor 7… "An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband." (1 Cor 7:34… the earlier verse being the same for men). Unmarried/virgin--yes, that would be "single." =P But see the privilege that unmarried people are given! We're to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit, how wonderful is that? Yeah, all well and good, right? Tell us something we don't know. But look at how that's contrasted with being "concerned with the affairs of this world--how he/she can please his/her wife/husband." This contrast, to me, speaks of the "single years" as a very special time where not only are we supposed to have a special concentration on the Lord and His work, but we are given the ability to do so without the hindrance and distraction that a family will one day provide. Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all slamming family or God's pattern there. That has a very important role in the Kingdom, but it's not the end-all, either.
Me, I'm about to graduate from college, so I've been chewing on such things as singleness a good deal lately, as there are many decisions to be made and especially since I have a gut sense it'll be several more years before I'm married (which I'm a-okay with). Still trying to figure this all out myself, but I want to offer the thought for discussion: do we Christian young people, raised with a godly mindset for marriage/ family / Biblical roles (all wonderful things), perhaps get too caught up in all that and miss the incredible benefits and joys--not to mention big responsibilities and opportunities--of being "devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit"? Are we, girls (I think we do this more than the guys), already "concerned about the affairs of this world--how [we] can please [our] husband[s]"?
Everything is beautiful in its time. And the "single years," I believe, are a special time to be, above all other times in life, devoted wholly to the Lord--not to hunting down a spouse, or being concerned to the point of distraction about getting married, or playing out all different sorts of marriage/family scenarios in your head or even making sure you're the picture-perfect homekeeper or whatever. Preparing within reason is important, by all means, but let us remember that these years of our lives are supposed to be specially and specifically devoted to God, not to a far (or even not-so-far) off future.
God knows who our spouses are, guys. And He knows our wedding dates. So let's be faithful to what He wants us to do NOW and leave those dates up to Him, eh?
Oh, but if those of you who want to get married a little more badly want a word of encouragement along with that--it seems God normally brings along the right person (sometimes out of the blue) when a person finally learns to be content with singleness and make the most of it. Just saying. ;)
And I wanna start off by talking about that horrible "s-word" we conservative Christian homeschooler types (you know what I'm talking about) seem to hate so much. You know... <whispers> singleness! =O But before we all hurry off to browse wedding dresses online in order to purge our minds of such awfulness... you may wanna turn with me to 1 Corinthians 7. ;) I used to find that chapter so depressing when I was younger (12-14). I remember being almost in tears when I asked Mom: "So… does God not WANT us to get married?" Well, obviously, this is not the case, as in Proverbs it says "he who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord." And marriage is a picture of God and the church, after all.
BUT. There's a verse that particularly strikes home, for me at least, in 1 Cor 7… "An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband." (1 Cor 7:34… the earlier verse being the same for men). Unmarried/virgin--yes, that would be "single." =P But see the privilege that unmarried people are given! We're to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit, how wonderful is that? Yeah, all well and good, right? Tell us something we don't know. But look at how that's contrasted with being "concerned with the affairs of this world--how he/she can please his/her wife/husband." This contrast, to me, speaks of the "single years" as a very special time where not only are we supposed to have a special concentration on the Lord and His work, but we are given the ability to do so without the hindrance and distraction that a family will one day provide. Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all slamming family or God's pattern there. That has a very important role in the Kingdom, but it's not the end-all, either.
Me, I'm about to graduate from college, so I've been chewing on such things as singleness a good deal lately, as there are many decisions to be made and especially since I have a gut sense it'll be several more years before I'm married (which I'm a-okay with). Still trying to figure this all out myself, but I want to offer the thought for discussion: do we Christian young people, raised with a godly mindset for marriage/ family / Biblical roles (all wonderful things), perhaps get too caught up in all that and miss the incredible benefits and joys--not to mention big responsibilities and opportunities--of being "devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit"? Are we, girls (I think we do this more than the guys), already "concerned about the affairs of this world--how [we] can please [our] husband[s]"?
Everything is beautiful in its time. And the "single years," I believe, are a special time to be, above all other times in life, devoted wholly to the Lord--not to hunting down a spouse, or being concerned to the point of distraction about getting married, or playing out all different sorts of marriage/family scenarios in your head or even making sure you're the picture-perfect homekeeper or whatever. Preparing within reason is important, by all means, but let us remember that these years of our lives are supposed to be specially and specifically devoted to God, not to a far (or even not-so-far) off future.
God knows who our spouses are, guys. And He knows our wedding dates. So let's be faithful to what He wants us to do NOW and leave those dates up to Him, eh?
Oh, but if those of you who want to get married a little more badly want a word of encouragement along with that--it seems God normally brings along the right person (sometimes out of the blue) when a person finally learns to be content with singleness and make the most of it. Just saying. ;)
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Love Letter
My dearest one,
We have been separated for too long. Words cannot describe my love for you, nor the pain I felt when you broke faithfulness and ran away from me. I have done what I can for you even as you ran, but I cannot stand being parted from you any longer. You are so special to me, so beautiful. Despite the hundreds, thousands, or millions of people I could have chosen, I chose you to be my precious one and have loved you and longed to love you since before you were even aware of me. My heart breaks over you ever day, because you have not seen my love. If you knew how much I loved you, you would not chase other lovers like you have done.
But now I will prove my love for you, so that you can have no doubt. You have run so far you think you can never return to me. You feel lost on the other side of the void that grew between us over long years of estrangement. But my love is stronger than that! My love is stronger than the past, than the sins, than the stains. So great is my love for you, that I have sent my one and only, my most precious Son to you, to die as you would have died, despised and forsaken of me, and to rise as you can one day rise, in glory and freedom. Take his hand, my dearest one, and let him lead you to me; let him wash you clean and clothe you in white for our wedding day. He is the only way back to me. If you refuse him, you will be lost beyond returning. You cannot come back to me by yourself, but he will carry you to me and make you fit again. Seek out my Son. Follow him without restraint and he will bring you to me.
I want to be with you. I long to embrace you, and hold you to my bosom as my beloved at last—my cherished one above all else. I do not want to live the rest of my life without you by my side. Come back to me. Let me wash you, let me heal your scars, let me make whole the broken pieces of your heart. My enemy has lied to you about me, telling you I could never accept you again, telling you you lost my love when you broke my heart, telling you I desire your service and not your heart.... but he is the Liar; I am the Lover. He wants you for himself—to abuse and destroy—and will do anything to keep you from me. But I want you more.
Come to me, my beloved. Forsake all others and come to me, I beg you. I am the only lover who can satisfy you. I am the only one who loves you with a consuming love—the others only want to use you. They cannot love you as I love you. I have made the way, darling—you have only to take it and we can be together forever.
Yours forever I Am.
We have been separated for too long. Words cannot describe my love for you, nor the pain I felt when you broke faithfulness and ran away from me. I have done what I can for you even as you ran, but I cannot stand being parted from you any longer. You are so special to me, so beautiful. Despite the hundreds, thousands, or millions of people I could have chosen, I chose you to be my precious one and have loved you and longed to love you since before you were even aware of me. My heart breaks over you ever day, because you have not seen my love. If you knew how much I loved you, you would not chase other lovers like you have done.
But now I will prove my love for you, so that you can have no doubt. You have run so far you think you can never return to me. You feel lost on the other side of the void that grew between us over long years of estrangement. But my love is stronger than that! My love is stronger than the past, than the sins, than the stains. So great is my love for you, that I have sent my one and only, my most precious Son to you, to die as you would have died, despised and forsaken of me, and to rise as you can one day rise, in glory and freedom. Take his hand, my dearest one, and let him lead you to me; let him wash you clean and clothe you in white for our wedding day. He is the only way back to me. If you refuse him, you will be lost beyond returning. You cannot come back to me by yourself, but he will carry you to me and make you fit again. Seek out my Son. Follow him without restraint and he will bring you to me.
I want to be with you. I long to embrace you, and hold you to my bosom as my beloved at last—my cherished one above all else. I do not want to live the rest of my life without you by my side. Come back to me. Let me wash you, let me heal your scars, let me make whole the broken pieces of your heart. My enemy has lied to you about me, telling you I could never accept you again, telling you you lost my love when you broke my heart, telling you I desire your service and not your heart.... but he is the Liar; I am the Lover. He wants you for himself—to abuse and destroy—and will do anything to keep you from me. But I want you more.
Come to me, my beloved. Forsake all others and come to me, I beg you. I am the only lover who can satisfy you. I am the only one who loves you with a consuming love—the others only want to use you. They cannot love you as I love you. I have made the way, darling—you have only to take it and we can be together forever.
Yours forever I Am.
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