child of the light.

(via kidwiththebulletsoul)

thesweetermelody:

I want to make it perfectly clear that Tumblr blogging is not (and should not be) about the notes. However, what notes do provide is an indication of what others enjoy reading, and connect with. At least, that’s been my experience. The moment I start talking about love, romance, future husbands, manhood, womanhood, the notes will skyrocket. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Our gender defines a large portion of who we are and what we do. But what matters is when they override posts wholeheartedly focused upon the Lord.

The fact of the matter is that I see posts about future spouses and future love getting at least ten to twenty times the amount of notes than the ones about Jesus Christ and the Cross. I find that completely messed up. And I just have to question—Christian, where are your priorities?

Yeah, I get it. The Cross is unbearably uncomfortable. But not for those who are in Christ. We should rejoice, and be very acquainted with that crucifix. The very thought of it should bring such thankfulness and joy in our hearts. For who are we, whilst we were still sinners, that God would die for us? Oh, that He may be glorified!

Now, the prospects of love, romance, and intimacy are all so very exciting, particularly if you are waiting and trusting the Lord. Those desires are wonderful. And some of the posts floating about on here can be absolutely darling. But they can also be absolutely dangerous too. Very much so. Perhaps leaning towards idolatrous.

Guys and girls, the truth is that this goes beyond notes or blogs. More often than not, you attract someone of your spiritual level—at least on the same chapter or page of life. And what I mean by that is that if you are paying the fantasies of a future spouse more attention than the Lord, or if you’re spending your time concentrating on “Dear Future Spouse…” posts, yet, neglecting your secret place (prayer closet and the Word), then you attract someone who does likewise. You cannot expect someone greater in godliness to come your way. You want a great man of God? Then stop playing with fire with idle dreams. Stop idolising the, “One Day…” as you conjure up visions of Ryan Gosling… Oh yeah, and with a Bible in his pocket, or whatever. Start by placing your eyes upon Christ. I mean that completely. Dismiss the idea of marriage right now. God has called you to be single for today. Guys, you want a great woman of God? Then become the man that she can respect, and admire. By being transformed by the renewing of your mind, through Christ’s blood. Go out, serve His bride, and die somewhere. Fall into the ground; produce much fruit.

I have learnt too, that the dearest and closest things we hold near our hearts should be protected, and considered sacred. As a garden locked up. That’s why I choose to rarely voice my hunger for a spouse someday on here. These thoughts and hopes must be guarded with much care for two reasons. Firstly, the heart is wicked. Either these desires are of the flesh, and need to be crucified. Secondly, they are God given, and thus need to be nurtured, not screamed upon the Internet. Either way, in both cases, the desires need to be presented to Him as a living sacrifice, and surrendered.

Let our hypothetical spouses someday see the calloused knees from prayer, the Bibles falling to pieces, all tattered and marked. Not the pages of blog entries filled with impersonal pixelated thoughts about what you hope them to be like someday.

I guess what I’m saying is that let the future unwind by God’s sovereign hand. And for today, focus upon the Cross. Tomorrow? Focus upon the Cross. Do not proclaim you love the Lord with your whole heart if you’re reblogging 99% “Future spouse—hurry up and get here,” posts. Does that not just show that you are not ready for the sacrifice of marriage?

Use your single years as the season of preparation. The funny thing is—preparation starts with dismissing the idea of preparation. What I mean by that is you do not work toward the goal of marriage. You work toward the goal of eternity with Christ Jesus. Being more and more like Him. In comparison, nothing else matters. Marriage is no longer a token of fulfilled companionship, satisfied sex drives, or emotional contentment. Marriage becomes about the Cross, and His bride.

So whilst I’m not saying that we should shy away from the posts on here about love, singleness, marriage, and gender roles (because there are some good ones out there), I am saying that the Lord and His sacrifice are essentially what matters in life. Everything else comes back to Him, and Calvary. I so long for the day when I see posts about the Lord alone challenge the ones about relational statuses in note value. Where are our priorities? Have we honestly forsaken our First and Only Love?

This letter is chock-full (do people still say that?) of good stuff. Some favourite quotes include:

God is not interested in developing you into the perfect girlfriend, but into an exemplary wife…. 

If a man is not ready to commit to you then he is not ready to court you. There is nothing more wasteful than dating for fun. This is the epitome of how the world practices things, where commitment means “test driving.”  And then after you’ve spilled coffee on the seats, used up the gas and dented the doors you leave the car for somebody else to maintain.

At all times, my beloved sister, you are another man’s wife.  You belong to your future husband or collectively to the bride of Christ, but in either case, you are not your own and are not available for “test driving”.

Dress to impress a man’s spirit, not his lust. Check your motives, get godly counsel and intentionally try to serve your brothers by dressing modestly. Modesty is not old fashioned, but godliness on display. Allow a man to discover your beauty on his own rather than flaunting what you think he’ll like. 

Please read this. No, it’s not authoritative or anything, but it is encouraging and a good challenge from a brother in Christ.

I disappointed myself yesterday. I posted about the Switchfoot concert and how excited I was to go to it, but I had another event that I should have been more excited for: a friend’s baptism. 

Now, I’ll admit, I was excited because I love baptisms. Sidebar: how can you not love them!? I get so filled with joy when I watch someone take the plunge (literally) and follow Christ’s command. Seeing them raised in the symbol of new life and the joy that comes with that as well as being one who can affirm their declaration to serve the Lord for the rest of their days. I just love it. But I was honestly way more excited to spend time with friends at a concert. And that disappointed me.

I went into the baptism kind of cynical. I saw the friend as having a perfect life and didn’t understand why she hadn’t been baptized before, but then she shared her story and my heart broke. 

As she spoke of the renewed hope she had found in the Lord, I cried. The Lord humbled me then and showed me just how much people can put up a veneer and just how much He pursues His creation. 

Friends, we should be rejoicing when one steps into obedience in baptism. That should be so exciting for us as we watch one whom we can come alongside and hold accountable. Because, honestly, Christ is WAY more exciting than Switchfoot. At least, He should be.

2 Timothy 1:7 (via bearyourcross)

For some reason, this reminds me of witnessing. We are not to be timid in the way we come across, we have power through the Holy Spirit, we are to love those we witness to, and we are to have self-discipline both in our lifestyles and in the way we come across to people. 

(via ivebeenfoundworthy)

1 Peter 4:16 (via pushforwardlove)

amen and amen.

(via ivebeenfoundworthy)

Jon Foreman (via aaronmasih)

Kind of blows my mind that I met him tonight.

(via heynikkie)

musiccolliding replied to your post: stop lying to me, tumblr, and telling me that my…

well, at least you don’t have to go through 240 pages before you even catch up on the new stuff..

i don’t really follow that many people, i guess!