|
Tacituacitum
|
read my profile
sign my guestbook
Name: Evan
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Birthday: 4/24/1983
Gender: Male
Interests: Interest: To concern; to affect; to excite emotion or passion, usually in favor,but sometimes against a person or thing.
(perhaps a rethink of this category is needed)
Expertise: well, take a wild guess
Occupation: Network Security Analyst
Industry: Computers (Networks)
Message: message me
Member Since:
2/9/2004
|
|
| Courtship Month EightI have been working night shift for this past week and it has caused me think hard. The reason for this is that I have not done well transitioning to nights and as such work has become the only thing I am capable of doing. Karoline and I usually go over the scripture nightly, which we could not do this week. We talk to one another, which we could not do for any length. I say this, not to complain, but because these things are precious to me and required for our relationship. God calls on us to meditate on His Word day and night (Psalm 1) and it is our delight to do so. Without this and encouragement which comes from brothers and sisters in Christ we are left in the world.
Karoline, whose God given gifts continually amaze me, came and brought me food this past Friday. She brought enough food for a few days of lunch to help me cope. I was reminded of part of the prayer that I pray at every meal "Thank you for this meal, as it is but a shadow of the way you feed (me/us) each and every day". In this gesture she showed care for my well-being and caused me to think in earnest about that phrase I say at every meal. She fed me, but God fed as well in those meals at my workplace (which is worldly) at a time when I could not devote time to scripture.
All that to say, the first priority in any relationship should be to care for each other's spiritual well-being. We should encourage one another that we may be strengthened. This month, I was reminded that this encouragement can be done through the reading of scripture and through works. God has worked to remind me of the importance of reading the scripture to His Glory, which by it's nature will be vigorous. I am also blessed in that He graciously showed me the importance of this and of works in this same month. Much like mediation on God's Word must be treated with care, we must also take care in the works we do. This requires thought so that the work may be well executed and with care. (For me, it was a few meals during work that made all the difference in my work week. ) Work may require funding, it may require time, it may require labor; but we must treat all of it with the fear of the Lord. (I believe David must have felt a bit like this as he performed all of his works.)
Somewhat recently I read Psalm 95, which my notes referred to as a call to worship. As I read this I could hear it in my head read two ways: one with enthusiasm and the other without. The later I am more familiar with but the first honors God. His works are Glorious, His deeds are Awesome, and His wrath is Terrible. I do not mean to say that we should read every word like a southern Baptist preacher; but before we read each passage and perform each work we would do well to remember that it is God whom we serve.
| | |
| Courtship Month Seven
Much time has passed since my last Courtship post and I have
to admit that it was rather unintended for me to wait so long. God teaches us many things each day, he
encourages us, he rebukes us, and he causes us to consider one another that we
may be edifying to each other. Often
these words are said with gusto and implemented with a weak stomach.
My goal in these blog posts was to meet Karoline in a written
way that would be encouraging and to stay accountable. It does wonders to remember what is precious
by writing thoughtfully. Those first
posts helped me to explore what it means to be a man, what it means to be in a
relationship, and what it means to be a leader.
God continually reminds me of how it is required that He be at the
center of the relationship. It is His
relationship and must be treated as such.
This relationship should, by the nature of its focus, grow
us both continually and cause us to be reminded of that work God does
daily. I am blessed because I am reminded
that from God comes all. I do not come
to God and expect blessing, treating Him like a vending machine, but am
reminded that He is at the very source (center). He is Truth. He is the Great “I am”. His very Name should cause us to stand at
attention and have meaning to us every time it is uttered (Thanks Mr. Figura
for last Sunday’s sermon). He is our
King, and it is our joy and duty to honor and follow Him in everything. Psalm 89 reminded me of that this night.
I find myself thanking God daily, not just for the growth He
works within me; but how he works within us so that we may be edifying to one
another. Through that knowledge, which
grows from Faith, he has worked miracles in us.
I am reminded of what a precious jewel God has for a servant in
Karoline. Like a fine craftsman, God
takes seemingly unremarkable stones and with perfect precision molds them into gleaming
jewels beyond compare.
Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.
(Psalm 41:13) | | |
| Courtship, Month Four (Late)I missed this last month’s post in part due to the vacation
and also the difficultly I had in understanding what God is teaching me. It can best discerned as that God is teaching
me in many ways; however, there is one that stood out. I believe that God has taught me about
support in a relationship. He shows
encouragement in the way we support each other.
He causes us to do more than cater to each other’s needs, which any
relationship that focused on each other would do; but to be edifying to one
another as we hold God first in each of our lives. Without holding God above each other it is
easy and inevitable to dishonor God, and each other. Without that most important distinction in who
has priority in our lives it not only invites temptation, but obscures joy. The reason is that “joy” only comes from God
and if you have abandoned Him in the relationship, then you have abandoned the
only Good thing in a relationship. How
else can you Truly enjoy each other’s company?
It was posed to me that only Christians have true enjoyment
of anything on this earth because we know who has created that thing. It is the awesomeness of God, shown in the
creation, which leads us back to God.
I think that the best way to support each other in a
relationship is by edification. 1
Thessalonians 5 | | |
| Courtship, Month Three
In this relationship I have begun to see the necessity of
encouragement. Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines encouragement as,
"to give or increase confidence of success; to inspire with courage,
spirit, or strength of mind; to embolden; to animate...". In that
definition of encouragement I saw the word "animate" (defined in the
same Webster's as, "To give spirit or vigor; to infuse courage,
joy...") and was taken aback by both of these words. I had seen the
word encouragement to mean something like a pat on the back or a motivating
word from a coach, and as I work in computers I've come to make the word
animate synonymous with computer animation. These words are much bolder,
much richer, and show the confidence given through encouragement imparted
through the work God is doing in our relationship. I am encouraged daily
in spirit by the knowledge of my obligations to her. I am strengthened in
mind by my preparation of the Word and emboldened by it. I am animated by
my preparation to teach Karoline the Word of God as, "He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of
bronze." (Ps 18:34). I am
infused with joy in the knowledge that God is growing us and I can see the
effect of His work. These magnificent feats will only be done if God is
made first in our minds and hearts. Through the effect of our Trust in
Him he sets our feet on a rock (Psalm 40:2). | | |
| Courtship, Month TwoGod does richly bless those who Trust in Him, really! As often as we hear the phrase "Trust in Him" it can be easy to pay it and those like it little attention; however, I've come to realize that there is great vibrance in the Truth of those sayings. In the last Courtship post I said that focus on God is something I knew to be necessary. What I did not realize was that along with that necessity, God blesses abundantly. He is growing me in ways I did not realize. He shows me what vivid and rich color we have in the Bible, though it is written in black ink. Through this Courtship my failings are overcome by Trust in God.(and no small effort from Karoline too) In the Psalms, David talks about God being his rock and how he Trusts in Him. I think that one of the most effective means we have to encourage one another is to tell each other to Trust in God. He works wonders, not we.
The greatest means I have thus-far found to honor Karoline, to grow her in the Faith and Knowledge of the Lord, to encourage her, to treat her as a lady, and to listen to her needs is to Trust in God. I truly know that through my own means no part of this relationship could be accomplished. God continually shows me the necessity of Him as the rock of our relationship and blesses focus on Him and His Word.
Karoline, your purity, tenacity, graciousness, steadfastness, and wisdom are of great encouragement to me and to see God's continuing work in you causes me to be joyful.
| | |
|
