Interests:Knowing and loving my risen Savior, rather than just knowing about Him, and more of the depths of His love; people, encouraging the saints; writing - especially short stories and analogies, reading. Intercession.
My Husband :) Occupation:Disciple of Jesus Christ Industry:The Narrow Road / Servanthood/
We are always in different stages in life. We pass from one stretch of the journey into another one. From childhood to adulthood, from singleness to marriage, from marriage into parenthood. Then there are different stages even yet. Life is full of stages - we are all at different places along the journey. Are we content with where God has us?
In singleness there was the waiting and the need to be content with where God had me. And now as a married woman I find the need to be content where I am as a wife and without a baby in my arms. No matter what part of the journey I am there will always be the need to wait, to be content with where God has me.
The best way to really truly be content is if our identity is not in who we are, not in our position, job, vocation, status - but if our identity is in Christ.
If my identity is in being a wife - then my identity is not in Christ. If my identity was in being a mother - then my identity would not be in Christ.
I cannot be satisfied in life with the way others see me, with my status in any area of my life. Even when there is man's approval it is only fleeting. If I was to live for my own selfish goals - the joy would be fleeting. One cannot be satisfied with these things. The only way to be really content is to be satisfied in Christ, in who He is, in who I am in Him and in what He is calling me to do this very moment. And this is true and will be true all through out my life. It doesn't get easier once you are married, and I'm sure it doesn't get easier when one has kids.
If Christ is at the center of our lives and if we are secure and satisfied with who we are in Him - we can be satisfied with where we are along the journey.
"...For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." Philippians 4:11
Satisfied when money is tight. Satisfied with our work Satisfied with our callings Satisfied with life Satisfied in Christ
Now this may surprise some - wouldn't I get tired of the rain in Oregon? Well yes. But you see normal Oregon rain is drizzly, gray, never-ending... just enough to be very annoying. That is mostly the winter months (extending into the Fall and Spring though). And it has been several days, (if not more than a week, which is a long time to us) since we've had rain at least that I can remember. This rain was different than our typical rain however. It was drenching, cooling the hills from what had been 79° humid day. Big cold droplets like mini water balloons soaking and cooling you off, falling rapidly and in great succession, with a blowing wind characteristic of a storm. This is the kind of rain I get childish about. It is to me like playing in God's own sprinkler. :) Yes this is the rain that brings my childish heart pure joy to dance in. It is one of the many facets of beauty that my Father has created for me to joy in as I rejoice in the Creator - the Sender of this spectacular thunder storm. And this one was especially perfect as most the day had been hot and muggy and the rain itself was so cold and drenching. Let me tell you of the beauty of this perfect thunderstorm.
It was a glorious thunderstorm, with big drenching rain drops, fast and furiously falling, and a wind, with a thundering accord, making this musical beauty called a "Thunder Storm". I ran out to enjoy the rain and my husband followed this crazy girl outside for a few minutes, as I just stretched out my arms lifted up my head and let the rain come pouring down on me. The cold felt so good. He eventually retreated to the back door, laughing at my enthusiasm to watch me as I proceeded to dance and do cartwheels in the rain, giddy with excitement. Dancing to the music of the rain. May I tell you of the beautiful music the rain made?
The rain hit the pine tree leaving a constant flow of drips from the end of pine needles, with beautiful beads of water at the end of each one as the music played on. The rain fell down on the truck splashing as it hit, made lots tin clatter on the shed roof, made a soft patter on the grass, a slightly louder pitter-patter on the gravel driveway, and a splish-splash on the road, making the most beautiful music. And I joined in the dance - of the trees and bushes and grass which were all moving with the wind from which swelled up a beautiful rushing sound as if they were all alive. Rumbling the very air and earth, echoing in the hills came the deep base of thunderclaps, like the cannons in Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture they joined the grand overture I heard all around me. And I listened and danced to the beauty around me soaking it all in - literally. :)
Eventually quite soaked I joined my husband just inside the door and watched and listened to the Overture, snuggling my wet head into his chest as he wrapped his arms around my wet frame to add some warmth. We watched the lightening light up the sky like fireworks, and the rain splash on the truck, and the droplets roll off the pine needles in quick succession - always leaving another drop hanging at the tip as if the droplets had never fallen. It was such a beautiful sight, and such beautiful music.
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the works Thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling/mighty thunder, Thy pow'r thru-out the universe displayed!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee: How great Thou art, how great Thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee: How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
I recently had a discussion with someone on sacrifice in marriage. The ideals of this person is that everyone is an individual, adults and that a healthy marriage would never call for one to do anything they didn't feel like, or want to do. Even massaging a husband's sore muscles if one did not feel like doing it would be wrong in her moral mindset of a healthy "relationship". It was very amazing to me, I cannot imagine her world. That world seems lonely to me.
Every day there is constant self sacrifice in marriage. I found marriage to be a major eye opener into how selfish I as an individual can be.
What is love if there is no self sacrifice?
Self sacrifice is a beautiful thing. Not always easy - but very beautiful. And I propose that perhaps, there can be no love without dying to ones self, laying down of one's personal "rights" for another. It is part of the harmonious relationship of marriage. Yes it involves both parties giving of his/her own time, energy, and laying down his/her will. Sometimes it's as simple as my husband warming up the covers on my side of the bed while I take out my contacts (isn't that sweet?). Sometimes the self sacrifice is much greater like moving half way across the country, or all the way around the world if it comes to it.
Marriage is not a 50% contract, it's not a business relationship, or two adults living together autonomously for selfish reasons. That is not love. Love involves giving on one's self, giving up your personal rights. It is beautiful, one of the most, if not the most beautiful things on earth. Love is giving. Love is selfless. This is the beauty of love. Without this selflessness love is nothing, I don't think it can really exist (except for love of self).
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" John 15:13
I was worried about money issues yesterday and got upset, over-analyzed things like I do. We had *just* enough to pay what was necessary but groceries were going to be tight again... Saturday when I got the mail another check came, one we knew was coming, but not when it would arrive. And I was rebuked and had to apologize to my husband for the previous day. It was as if God was telling me how foolish I was to get so upset, and worried... When it was all in His hands. I can scrimp and be careful, and budget, and be as frugal as I can and that is good as a wife, but when money gets in the way of relationships it is not a good thing, and when I worry rather than trusting God. I felt as if He said "See Elizabeth, I already had this coming to you and you had nothing to worry about."
"Therefore I tell you,
do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will
drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than
food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.But
if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be
anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34
Worry is definitely one of the weaknesses that perhaps especially women can have. I know I struggle with it far more than I wish to admit. We can worry ourselves sick, of things that may never happen and may even be far stretched, or thinks that are likely but either way worry is not what we are commanded to be as Christians, as women, or as men. God is faithful, and we are told not to be anxious, not to worry, but to trust our needs to God.
And we went grocery shopping for the week yesterday with a meals carefully planned out for the week, and splurged on a pizza for dinner in celebration of the check. Thank you God. :)
Father make me a woman of faith, not of worry, not driven by worry,or anxiety, but walking always in faith. You are my faithful Father.
Eyes of Faith A Prayer by thekingdomcomes
Father, I can't keep going on
I need You to give me strength cause I have none.
I don't have faith as a mustard seed
To see past this mountain in front of me.
Give me eyes to see that this mountain
Is not even a mole hill in Your eyes and plans.
Give me eyes of faith to walk,
And ears to hear You talk.
Give me faith to trust You now
Give me strength to journey on.
