"We are Rich"

It's so easy to be busy with "moving forward" that you often forget... until something sparks a memory. All of a sudden you're whisked off to that part of your heart where your most sacred memories are treasured. You dust them off and marvel at the great gifts you've been given. An onlooker may scoff at their value, but to you - no - to you they are gems that the earth's wealth could never truly measure.

I suppose this could be something I posted on Thanksgiving, but I'm thankful for her every time I think of her. The "her" is one of my closest friends - Megan Valentine. (Hint: she's the blonde dreamer in the pink feather boa.) I just wanted to change things up a bit and post something a little more personal.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart...
Phil 1:4-7a

What can I say about her? Certainly an amazing young lady. I don't know what it is but Christmas time gives me this yearning to be with her. Maybe it's because (outside of when we attended elementary school together) it was the only time of year when I was able to see her. Funnily enough my favorite cd is intertwined with so many memories of her. Every time I listen to Enya's And Winter Cameit reminds me of my senior year. Driving to her house for a hug I needed so desperately... Crying beside her then doing anything to get my mind off life and the loss of simpler times... We were both going through a difficult time that year. Her house to be forclosed, my betrayal  by those I though my confidantes - through out the whole ordeal she was there to keep me strong.

Too often I took her friendship for granted. (Such a silly, foolish girl I was and am.) I miss her terribly right now.

I don't normally get lost in the labyrinth of memory... but there's just something about those nights that make me forget where I'm at now and just disappear into a bygone epoch. It's my Narnia. Past the cloaks lays a cedar hallway and a dimly lit, cozy "library." The books are mostly familiar souls and contain the reader's story within their own. Each person in the room has a special connection - no matter how far each strays from their childhood, the family will always be there... A family without a bloodline. The raggle-taggle group trades jests (new and old alike). For the briefest of times, the room transforms into a fortress... it's peace. It's solitude. Cookies, hot cocoa, Christmas: they enjoy the presence of the others even when the room grows silent.
None realize. It's the last time they'll ever be like that. The oldest are graduating. Childhood and it's trappings are to be retired in Clotho's tapestry.

She's a sounding board, my iron sharpener.  A hopeless romantic that constantly reminds me of life's dreamier side (she pulls my head into the clouds when I get too down). An intellectual when she desires... one of the few that I never had to worry confounding with my aberrant vocabulary. A faithful friend. One word would describe her aptly: loyal.

"You know something, Diana? We are rich. We have sixteen years to our credit, and we both have wonderful imaginations. We should be as happy as queens."

~ Anne, Anne of Green Gables

*cross posted to Filia Pacem 

Single-Minded: Content in Him

This isn't going to be a feel good post. I'm not here to butter up things, rather, I'm here to give you the Biblical perspective on womanhood. This is tough to write and even tougher to live... I'll just state that a lot of the things I'm going to be dealing with (in this post and others) are things that I struggle to be/overcome in my life.


I am not going to post rules, regulations, or even guidelines for you to follow. Rather I want you to focus on your "Be" Level ~ who you are, what you find, in Christ. I want you to do these things (modesty, kindness, charity, meekness, etc.) because you love your God. If you can get a hold of this one concept, it will revolutionize your life.

Now that we've covered that, let's get to the heart of the matter. Before we begin on anything else, there is on prevalent question that MUST be asked:

Would you be content if you remained single for the rest of your life?

Or would you be upset?

Let's be honest. Our calling in life - whether at an away-from-home job or as a stay-at-home maker - begs for a companion. But have you become so consumed with the idea of a life mate that you're completely missing the point of life? 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.“ Our life is to revolve around worshiping, serving, honoring Christ.

At this point you may be asking, "So what are you saying?!? That marriage is bad? To want to be a mother wrong?" No, I'm not saying any of this. What I am saying is that the sole goal of a husband, a home, and children is not Biblical. Marriage is not your highest calling!

The best way I have heard it put is by a girl named Joanna Lynn,

But here’s a surprise.  Tempted as I might be to say that singleness is the most defining factor in my life right now, I would have to admit that, no, it is not.  Being single is not who I am.  If I were married, my marriage would not be who I am.  Even just the fact that I am a woman doesn’t define my life and shape my days.  The most important detail of my whole life is that I am a child of God. Wherever I go, whatever the color of my skin happens to be, however lonely I feel, however stereotyped and boxed-in other people choose to see me, I am a Christian, bought with the priceless gift of Jesus blood, and THAT is defining, if anything is.  That means, I am not my own.  I am called to serve the Lord, with all of my talents, all of my being, all of my desires and wishes.  I am called to throw myself into the front-lines of spiritual battle, praying when I can do nothing else, working when and where that is possible, pouring my life out for the One who bought me.  I am a girl, yes, but I am also a soldier.  I am single, and financially limited, but I am also Christ’s witness and a bearer of precious tidings.  My life right now should be pretty much like my married life will one day be: a life with Christ as it’s focus, it’s aim, it’s glory.  In that respect, my physical conditions on earth do not alter who I am, and what I am called to do.  Granted, a married woman definitely has a different field of service than a single woman does, especially if she is a mother as well, but if you see what I mean, her ultimate goal and desire should remain unchanged.

~ Joanna Lynn, The Defining Factor

It is emotionally painful to be single! We were not created to be solitary creatures (just look at Genesis 2:18 where God created Adam a companion) but rather to function in a partnership. Need an example? Check out 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 where Paul speaks of unity in the Body of Christ. Isn't it interesting that this unity chapter leads into arguably the most famous Bible chapter (hint: it's about love)?

Single-Minded

We're getting off course. Around my school there is a phrase often quoted, "You'll be more of tomorrow what you are today." Whatever you are practicing today is what you will be living tomorrow. What are you practicing?

Preparing to be a help-meet means so much more than just learning how to do dishes, how to rear children, or how to cook. The Hebrew word,עזר ('ezer), is the idea of aid. A help-meet's sole purpose in life is to aid her husband - who's job is to lead his family in worship. Let me repeat/clarify that: The sole purpose of a wife is to aid her husband in God's glorification.

Wait! This mean that our purpose as a married woman is the same as a single female!!! What a revolutionary idea!

"Be More of Tomorrow"

Disney has ruined us. From a young age we are taught to wait in our ivory tower because "One day my prince will come!". This mentality is so rare (I believe non-existent) in the Scripture. Rebecca, Esther, Mary, Ruth, Deborah... you name her, she wasn't waiting for her prince. She was serving God right where she was.

Are you content to serve Christ as a single? Will you just wait to serve Him until you're married? How do you expect to be more of tomorrow if you aren't doing today? Instead of spending your time pining for your prince, use it to Glorify God. He'll bring along some on so much better than Mr. Charming. "...that in all things he [Christ] might have the preeminence." (Col 1:18)

Lady Weaver is a part-time student, full-time single. Soft spots include food, cultural oddities, good books, excellent music, and all things Asian. She is currently studying for God's call on her life - Foreign Missions. Often she struggles but knows that God is in ultimate control. Daily she lives to serve and worship Him. In the back of her mind she wonders if she'll find Mr. Right... but knows that God has plans and lessons for her at the moment (mainly in learning to keep her big mouth shut and listen). The Lady keeps up with school, church, ministry, work, and two blogs Filia Pacem and Wanderlust Requiem.

Hand It Over

"Eat my lunch" - colloquial phrase, when someone is faced with something difficult... not unlike the school bully taking a kid's lunch. 

Use: "I have three 500 word essays due tomorrow. They're gonna eat my lunch."

I had my lunch eaten today. Twice.

And the sad thing? I'm not even trying to eat my own lunch. I'm just sitting there, handing it over.

The first half of class we went over our Goer-Sender Coalition last night. Bro. Tony Howeth was in town and preached on the atmosphere of a sending church. In his message he stated "You don't need God for your dreams, they're so small you can accomplish them on your own." That alone was convicting. To add to that, we had a missionary on deputation visit our class - Jim Roberts. He was asked to share what he was doing and where he was going. After he finished telling us about his burden for Scotland, the floor was opened for questions.

"What is your vision, your dream for Inverness, Scotland" Robert Canfield asked.

His answer? "To see 56,660 souls saved."

Fact about Inverness: the city's population numbers right at 56,660 people.

My dreams for my city, for Asia, for the world are no where near like they should be. How is it that Bro Roberts believes with his whole heart that the entire city of Inverness will be saved while I don't even believe that my whole family will be? It's not that my God is not big enough; rather, my faith in my big God is extremely small.

The second challenge was posed in the latter half of class. Mark Coffey began to discuss the way that we dress, act, and speak. (It is constantly affirmed that we are here at the training center to become leaders of leaders. Everything we do here is to prepare us to take that path and become a shepherd of God's children.)

"People are going to follow you regardless of whether you follow Christ or not. Where are you leading others?"

Trent Cornwell threw out the example of the Big 3. Every week at Vision Baptist they highlight a country, a staff missionary and a partnering missionary. Trent asked if we liked the idea behind it - a reminder to pray. He asked if we wanted others to pray for it - the consensus was yes. Then he asked if we could name the Big 3 for the week - and the room was silent.

Both things have made me ponder over these questions:

1. Why are my dreams so limited? Why don't I think a whole city can be won for Christ? Is this why I sit at home and don't get involved with my community and try to impact my world? Simply unprepared or am I lazy and faithless?

2. Who's following me and where am I leading them? Are the traits in my life things that I want to reproduce in others?

Anyone else want their lunches back?

crossposted from Filia Pacem (my school writing blog)