tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093734256091827785.post1438957099385477081..comments2011-03-12T12:27:14.208-08:00Comments on TLT: Out or IN?TLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16690577757084830786noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093734256091827785.post-60819904238293413352010-05-01T23:24:17.481-07:002010-05-01T23:24:17.481-07:00As for finding that “special someone.” I can see ...As for finding that “special someone.” I can see that we as singles are often very conscious of it and would like to find God’s guidance toward those whom He wills us to be with. I will offer up my own experience, in the hope that it might be meaningful to you or anyone else who might read it:<br /><br />I know what it is to perceive a waypoint as the destination. Sometimes we mistake waypoints as destinations, not comprehending in the moment that an individual may have helped lead us in God’s direction and that our journey takes us past them and on to other people, other things, or simply closer relationship with God. Now the converse can also be true, but I think we can look around and realize that more often than not we perceive waypoints as destinations and not vice versa. In distinguishing between the two, I offer the following: that sometimes God uses our emotions and convicting experiences to guide us unto His will—but the fact is that sometimes He doesn’t. Much more faith must be exercised when we can’t fall back on the familiar human experience of emotion to guide us—emotions given by God are a wonderful way of showing us His way, but how glorious when we, in the absence of clear emotion to guide us, practice an openness to accept God’s gentle nudges in the right direction, outside of emotional response. I think you’ve highlighted this in what you wrote, to some extent. I think you are 100% right-on in highlighting that we must resist the temptation to draw back and protect ourselves by shutting out relationships all together; and we must balance that by not fixating on a single individual that we think fulfills us. The one God wills for us will fulfill us, but we must choose our mates based upon much more than personal fulfillment. And what a great point about not just someone helping you, but who can YOU help!<br /><br />I have spent my fair share of time pursuing girls as my “destination” that I was just not to be with. I didn’t know it then, but I see it now. I think this post-experience revelation is common with God’s work and our limited human perspective—but how glorious when we at last see Him and His plan! What if we made ourselves willing to pursue what we felt compelled to pursue this very day? What if we also made ourselves willing to pursue something completely different if God so chose tomorrow? What if we also made ourselves willing to pursue lifelong singleness if it was His will? Are we really willing to accept that and even choose it if God asked? The latter, lifelong singleness, is a rare choice for God, and most of us will not be willed to do it—but that is not the point at all. The point is that we might be willing, in obedience to God, to lay aside what we value ourselves today for what He values. That openness likely helps us recognize the “one” that He does place us with as our God given companions on this earth.<br /><br />Obviously, your post has inspired me! Thanks for sharing!Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09222738524494481984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093734256091827785.post-9072869245317925392010-05-01T23:24:00.571-07:002010-05-01T23:24:00.571-07:00Tisha, thank you for this post. I think the words...Tisha, thank you for this post. I think the words are very powerful, thought provoking, and need to be shared. I would encourage you to share the message with anyone that will hear it—I appreciate it that much.<br /><br />I can see your point about sort of taking matters into our own hands and neglecting what God has purposed to do here—exist in relationship—for an illusion of more focus and relationship with God Himself. He definitely uses our human relationships to deepen ours with Him and to reveal His qualities through each other. This post is a great reminder of that.<br /><br />I really liked the point about the story of Adam and Eve being the story of the first human to human relationship and interaction—I hadn’t thought about it quite like that. And what a great picture of Christ, on the cross, bearing the worst pain ever borne—not just physical, but the emotional and spiritual, in that he had to bear every sin ever committed by any man in a single moment. As unbearable as this would be for us as humans, how much more painful for God Himself and His Son Jesus who had never experienced the slightest separation…separation that was experienced in the world’s sin. Yet, in this moment, he looks down upon those He loves with a supreme love, putting aside His pain for a moment in order to place His mother and disciple in each other’s care. Awesome.<br /><br />As you and others may know, I like Ecc 4:9-12. The threefold cord as a representation of marriage (or any relationship) is a powerful image. I would like to suggest one step further, though. A major realization that took me quite some time to grasp was that in the image of the threefold cord in my head, I saw three strands…three equal strands. My epiphany was that they were not nearly equal at all! In fact, God is like this massively large strand in the middle, and we are very fine, fragile, small strands that have the privilege of wrapping around Him, who is so strong. The strength is not in us, it is in Him. Now, if we cut our cords, of course it does impact us, so we must offer whatever strength we have to offer—but the load we bear in this cord is insignificant compared to God’s. I think the choice is the following: if we decide to intertwine with another human, we have two choices: become a twofold cord, made up of two small, fragile human cords; or wrap ourselves around God, making Him the center and source of strength of the relationship. The fact is this: you and God, me and God, any Christian and God are already a two-fold cord with immense strength in Him, the sustaining strand. When we decide to join or not join with another small, fragile human cord, we add or take away little strength to or from God’s already strong cord—but we do so because it pleases Him. And if we go even further, there is only one God, one strong cord. So we don’t each have our own twofold cords with God; actually, we are all wrapped around Him, wisps of strands who are stronger together, wrapped by the billions around the center strength, which is God. If we realized that our Christian brothers and sisters were part of our own cord, we might more actively seek to build them up instead of tear each other down with the petty things that come between us. I actually hadn’t considered that until your post! Kinda cool…Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09222738524494481984noreply@blogger.com