Displaying results for "boundless"
Boundless Summer Challenge Task 3: Romans 12:9-13
Paul opens Romans 12 by saying that we should present our bodies as a sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, and in order to be acceptable and holy to Him, our love must be pure and selfless, our actions must be purposeful and our attitudes gracious and hopeful. In regards to relationships, attributes like patience, diligence, hope, and Christ-like love can only build a solid foundation. It’s all about growing to be more and more like Jesus.
Besides memorizing these verses I’m going to go through the book and make a list of all the things that Paul says needs to happen if one is to “be transformed” (12:2).
Great verses to take to heart =]
Boundless Summer Challenge Task 2: Biblical Dating
When I saw 38 pages staring me in the face and then thought about the full weekend ahead of me, I thought, “When am I gonna squeeze all this in?” To my complete surprise and delight, I knocked the whole series out on Friday night. I’d heard them mentioned on the Boundless Show before, but never got around to checking them out. I’m so glad I finally read them!
I’ve read a handful of relationship books including Joshua Harris’ “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” and “Boy Meets Girl”, Rebecca St. James’ “Wait for Me,” and Candice Watters’ “Get Married, What Women Can do to Help it Happen.” Single now for 20 years, I want to make sure I don’t make mistakes that should have been avoidable had I prepared myself for them. I’ve seen enough drama, misunderstanding, heartache, foolishness, recklessness and nonsense in my short life when it comes to relationships, that I pray I’ll have the wisdom to to travel along the same paths.
I really appreciate Sean Croft’s biblical foundation and practical style. It’s good step by step counsel. Hard to swallow, here and there, but wise counsel. Now, two days since I read it, the part that still stands out to me is when he cites Michael Lawrence:
“‘Wait a minute. Are you saying that all the risk is mine?” Yes I am. ‘Doesn’t that mean that she can just tell me no and leave me twisting in the wind?’ Yes it does. Welcome to leadership. Welcome to trusting God. Welcome to being a man. Your cards belong on the table. Your intentions and your feelings, to the extent that you can discern them and it is appropriate for you to share them, should be clear. Part of your role even at this early stage is to protect the woman of your interest from unnecessary risk and vulnerability by providing a safe context in which she can respond.” -Michael Lawrence, “Real Men Risk Rejection”
For some reason that just made me feel so special! To know that women should be treated with that much sensitivity, respect and care. A man who has the guts and enough trust in God to take a risk like that is a guy who can be respected, and for me, respect is huge. I’ll never truly love any guy unless I completely respect and trust him. It doesn’t sound romantic, but that’s part of the glue that keeps the good relationships together. It’s the same with my relationship with God. I can’t fully love Him until I completely respect and trust everything about Him.
This isn’t a very good post, I could go on, and maybe I’ll come back and add and edit this, but it’s been a long weekend and I’m exhausted!! Long, challenging week ahead! Phil 4:13 =]
Boundless Summer Challenge Task 1: HERE WE GOOO!
Too often I don’t give God enough credit for knowing me inside and out. He knew I needed a bit of a spiritual workout. The Boundless Summer Challenge came just in time. =]
We all go through seasons in our lives. Right now, I’d label my current season “The Season of Questions.” I’ve hit that age where choices that will potentially affect my entire life need to be made NOW. And for a while I’ve had a hard time knowing what to pray for and then being patient while I wait for the answer. Part of this morning’s challenge was to pray for perseverance, patience and strength for this coming month. As I was writing in my prayer journal, I thought, “Ha! This is pretty much what I’ve been praying for the past several months!” Perseverance to make it through life’s challenges, patience to wait on God, and strength to follow wherever He leads.
The Bible says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in his ways.” James 1:28
That last part hit me while I was typing. It’s not enough that I ask for wisdom from God (or patience or perseverance etc.), I have to believe and have faith that He’s going to keep His word and answer that prayer. That’s pretty intense when you think about it!
I pray for all of us who are accepting this challenge to grow spiritually. God has so much to teach and show us and I pray that we’ll be open to what He has for us. I pray that He’ll give us the faith to take Him at His word.
Not sure what to expect with this summer challenge and even less sure what to expect from life, but both are tests of endurance and I serve a powerful God who will see me through to the end.
