A Vision for My Life

We attended a discipleship conference last week in Florence, KY. It was so good! The bible teaching and spiritual training were excellent...so refreshing! I went to one of the young adult classes, the title "A Vision for Your Life" by Kevin Swanson. I thought I would share a few of the highlights I wrote down from his talk. It too was excellent!

1. Delight in the Lord and He will direct your paths. Where should I get my vision and purpose? God’s word!

I will not survive if my life purpose is for money or fun. I cannot serve two masters.

As Christians we do not seek money or fun. We should get out of bed in the mornings to seek the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness. All the other things will be added when we seek his will. REFUSE to serve materialism and its idols.

If I don’t get my purpose for life from God, I don’t have a purpose!

Three steps for living my life: 
    -Deny myself

             -Take up my cross daily
       - Follow Jesus through the valley of humiliation

God had made me to be a help-meet to my future husband. I am called to get married and manage my home. How can I prepare? What habits do I need to be developing now in order to be prepared for marriage? 

It's never too early to begin preparing! Don't wait until you become an adult and realize you should have started years ago! Ask the Lord to give you HIS vision for your life, not your own. 

Delight yourself also in the Lord,And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

As Long as You Are Glorified

As Long as You Are Glorified
Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain?
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain?
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought?
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt?

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled?
Are You King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well?
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night

 Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

When God Moves

Ever have a burden for someone so strong, so heavy, you couldn't help but cry to God continually for that person? Ever prayed so hard, so long, you were tempted to give up? Ever wonder why God doesn't work immediately or just make everything alright the instant you ask?

If you do, well, you are in the same boat with the rest of us.
However, all the tears, late nights, and long prayers are so so worth it when you see God move!
Keep praying! Maybe God is using this situation to teach a character quality to you or help you grow in some area. Always keep in mind that He is working on the big picture, even when you can't see it.

Recently, God answered a tremendous prayer request I had. I had been praying for someone for over a year, and the Lord answered exceedingly and abundantly more than I could have ever imagined! I am so thrilled and overjoyed to see the transforming power of my Lord. If it had been up to me, I would have tried to fix the problem immediately, and ruined the perfect plan God already had in store. God has already used this person to influence another person to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. HE is truly worthy of honor, glory and praise!  “The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock!
Let God be exalted, The Rock of my salvation!" (2 Samuel 22:47) 

But what about the times he says...."no"? I have also been praying for someone to get accepted for a certain job for a long time. I prayed hard. And the answer came this week. It was no. Why?? I have no way to understand or to know. 
But I can trust. And, I can still praise Him. Even when my human flesh screams for an answer to my questions. Even when I cannot even remotely understand. The Lord is faithful. He has a plan.  
“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments." (Deuteronomy 7:9)

Praise Jesus that HE is in charge and knows what the future holds.

Radiant Purity

"Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a *Pure Heart*"

                        II Timothy 2:22

Flee! Run from Temptation! Wait! Guard your heart! Stay Pure!

The bible fervently reminds us over and over. Verse after verse. Yet, in spite of it, we still seem to stumble. The problem lies in the fact that we have a redeemed spirit being housed in unredeemed flesh. We are constantly battling the flesh with its lusts and desires. With that said, why would we as young ladies choose to place ourselves in a dangerous position? With the decision to date and following the world's patterns comes many stumbling blocks. We place our purity, our reputation as a Christian, and even our well-being on the line. This lifestyle seems completely in opposition to verses like II Tim. 2:22 that specifically tell us to "Flee youthful lusts!" Dating sets us up for failure. Harmless fun soon becomes tragedy. A very small amount of girls leave a dating relationship, even with the best kind of guy, without scars or enter marriage later in life without regrets. Not only with physical purity, but emotional purity as well. Hearts can be given away through emotions, often prematurely. Breaking up is especially painful, and it tears at the heart and emotions of so many young ladies. As for me, I believe the Lord has called me to "come out from among them and be separate, do not touch what is unclean" (II Corinthians 6:17) I'm placing my hopes and dreams of a future spouse into His hands. The same hands that created the world and bled for me. I know I can trust in Him to bring me and my husband together in His perfect timing and in His perfect way. I am content to wait, with His help, to guard my heart, shine radiantly to a lost world, and save my purity for that one man He created especially for me. "...nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have trusted and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day"                                             II Timothy 1:12