Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone — to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But God, to a Christian says,

“No, not until you are satisfied and fulfilled and content with living loved by Me alone. I love you, my child, and until you discover that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with Me — exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing — one that you can’t imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow Me to bring it to you. Just keep experiencing that satisfaction knowing that I am. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you… You must wait.

Don’t be anxious. Don’t worry. Don’t look around at the things others have gotten or that I’ve given to them. Don’t look at the things you think you want. You just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you’ll miss what I want to show you.

And then, when you’re ready, I’ll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any would ever dream. You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, I am working even this very minute to have both of you ready at the same time. Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and with the life I have prepared for you, you won’t be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me…and this is perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love, I want you to see in flesh a picture of your relationship with Me, and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty and perfection and love that I offer you with Myself. Know that I love you utterly, I am God Almighty. Believe and be satisfied.”

Ok I know…the typical love and relationship blog…but I promise this won’t be one of those.

A few weeks ago some friends and I decided to start a small group that would meet every Sunday night, just to talk about every day real life issues. And of course love and relationships came up as a topic. Honestly I wasn’t that excited to hear that we were going to be talking about that but I still went, and I’m so glad I did. My sweet friend Courtney led this session and really brought out new and challenging things for us all to think about.  Love is one of the most powerful things in the world. It can lift you up so high and it can also break you and especially your heart. 

Just to start out I’d like to simply set a base for what love actually is. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”.  Can you just imagine what our dating relationships or marriages would look and be like if everyone thought of love like this?

To love someone you must become love.  Something that stood out to me was what my friend Aubree said about the verses in Ephesians 3:17-18. In this verse in particual put your name in it to make it more personal. ”So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you (katelyn), being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”

I know with myself in past relationships and even friendships, I have been afraid of love. I guess more or less afraid of getting hurt from loving someone else. I don’t know how many time I’ve heard “I don’t plan on hurting you”. Who does?! This year being at SNU has definitely helped me in this problem. I say it’s a problem becuase being afraid has made me push away many friendships and relationships that I could have now if I hadn’t been so fearful.  1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” There is no fear in love! I don’t know about you but that pumps me up! When you have no fear, you have no worry. If you’re worrying then you are not trusting. And if you are not trusting then how can you ever expect to experience real love.

This is my prayer: I want God to teach me how to know that He loves me.

My favorite quote of the night was; Run as fast as you can toward God and then look over and see who is running beside you.

All I want for myself is to run after God as fast as I can and if someone is running beside me then just maybe that is the person that I am supossed to be with.

A few weeks ago I heard a sermon that was directed to the men in the church about the way they are called to treat their wives, or future wives. As a girl it was easy for me to sit back and “Amen” every single thing he said - He talked about multiple issues that Men are called to take care of, issues that any of us women could talk about for days…

Towards the end of the sermon, He looked into the eyes of the Men in the congregation and said “Be her biggest fan.” This struck a cord with me. It is a small idea that transforms relationships and ultimately lives. You could say that it’s important to me because words of affirmation are important to me, but I refuse to believe thats it…

His main point was to be her biggest fan - but the subdivisions of this one point blew my mind and stirred my heart. The Holy Spirit was flowing out of him as he spoke about the way husbands should always call forth the potential in their wives. Here are some of the things he said that are worthy of note taking:

“Be her biggest fan. Your words should always bring more healing to her than hurt. We are all visionaries, and I know this because God is a visionary and we were created in His image - Ask Him to give you a glimpse of His vision for your wife’s life. Tap into the presence and the power of God and catch a glimpse of the things God is doing in Her life. Listen to her. When we are fully being lead by God, we are leading our wives and our children to follow in the way of the Lord. He has plans for her the same way he has plans for you. It is our job and our duty as men to speak life into her and to encourage her, reminding her that she is dazzling and beauitful and worthy and flawless. When she is discouraged and battling insecurity and we say, “oh that’s just how she is…” we are settling for what Satan has to say about her. God created her to wake up, ever single morning, in all humility and say, “I am the result of God’s creation and I will walk with confidence in Christ praising Him for all He is, regardless of what comes at me today.” As husbands, we must breathe life into her, into her dreams, into her potential.”

What if, with every person we come in contact with, we looked them in the eyes and truly believed in their potential? Not just the people who have college degrees; not just the CEOs; not just the ones dressed in fancy labels; not just the ones who seem to be going somewhere in life; and especially not just the ones who might better us and help us out in return. What if we spent our lives encouraging and pouring ourselves into people?

When will we realize that life is not all about the things this world has to offer?! When will we acknowledge the truth that our lives come and go in a flash? we are here today and gone tomorrow… When will we stop carrying on comfortable casual conversation, and begin to rip off the masks and tear down the walls? When will our achievements and our trophies stop getting the best of us?!

I am so tired of the world getting the best of our generation. It’s draining. Yes, school is so important and yes our resumes looks better when it has lots of pretty things on it… but man, how dangerous is it that Satan has such a hold on us that those earthly desires of being so successful and rich and achieved can consume us. When we will drop the rich, beautiful, materialistic lifestyle that we hold onto for dear life, and fall on our face before the Lord?

I don’t just mean physically, I mean spiritually - we have to wake up. it’s time we start doing what we are here to do. What are you investing your heart in? which kingdom are you so desperately clinging to? what are you putting your time into? What is defining you? What consumes your thoughts when you close your eyes at night? What consumes your thoughts when you’re practicing piano, or football, or physics? What consumes your thoughts when you walk through the double doors of your dream job? Where is your life headed? Who are you speaking life into? Does it stop with your wife?

What will it take for you to exchange the medals of worldy success for a bucket of water, some soap and a wash rag?

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

You were created for victory. It may not look the way you draw it out in your head, but that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. You are an overcomer, and you are victorious.

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4

How cool would it be to see Jesus and be able to look at Him, hand him the baton, and say, “Finally, after 2000 years, we got it done for you.”

Do something about it.

The beauty of an open highway.

And whatever you do work at it with all of your heart as if working for the Lord and not for man.

Colossians 3:23

“We will never fell better about ourselves by becoming more consumed with ourselves. Likewise, we will never feel better about ourselves by feeling worse about others. Superiority can’t give birth to security. Neither, by the way, can the relentless pusuit of perfection….I suggested that perfectionism is insecurity in art form. It never looks prettier and never acts deadlier. Perfectionism is perhaps our culture’s biggest temptation. “

“God’s work done God’s way will never lack God’s supply.” - Hudson Taylor

January 31st 2011.

A new day.  A new opportunity. It has never happened before. It is perfect. Flawless. New.  2011 is going to be a year of expecting a lot more from God.

As I think about the things that I want 2011 to be about, my mind wonders to all the possibilities that this New Year could bring. Anything could happen - it’s kind of like a blank canvas. Endless possibilites with challenges and friends behind every door.  Everything I encounter throughout the next eleven months are choices of blessings or curses. Of course I will come face to face with heartbreak and obstacles, but I rest assured that every single circumstance and situation will be beneficial. God is cool in that way - He uses all things to teach me.

2010 taught me that when given the opportunity, people love to give. It taught me the importance of relationships. 2010 was the year I graduated from high school and started college. It represents a great change in my life. The end of one chapter, and the beginning of a new one.

As I look back on 2010 it ended with the greatest friends laughing and bringing in the New Year. It was a year of joy and renewal. It was jam packed with creating new life-long friendships. I look back and smile on all the things God must have orchestrated for me, because I could have never created them on my own. I learned that I was a daughter of the King. That’s all I am, and all I need to be. I was broken, softened, and refurbished. Sprinkles of grace scattered throughout the journey.

2011 is a new year. A new opportunity. It has never happened before. It is perfect. It is flawless. It is a year of expecting more from God. It is a year of asking, expecting, recieving, giving, planting, watering, reaping. It is a year of being spontaneous, of loving without having an agenda and of rocking out like my life depended on it. It’s a year of seeing Jesus in everyone, and watching as the promises of God unfold in my life and in the lives around me. It’s a year of freedom and liberty. 2011 is a year of growth; a year of stretching.

Here is your challenge:

May you be uncomfortable this year. May the Lord stretch you in big ways. May you find yourself on the edge of your seat, watching in awe at the wonders of our King.  May you touch heaven with one hand, and earth with the other. May you always stand in the gap for people. May you extend grace to those who do not deserve it. May you experience the grace Jesus died for you to recieve. May you have the time of your life with the people you love. May you live the highest extreme of abundance. May you always be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer (Romans 12). May you live vulnerably, giving all that you are to be the living body of Christ.

2011 can be anything we want it to be. We have choices of blessings and curses before us. There are no limits. Choose blessings. Walk in abundance. Declare liberty over your days. Ask. Laugh. Be childlike in your faith. Wear love. Pray without ceasing. Look at every person as if they were Jesus. Sing. Run. Persevere.

May you encounter Jesus, and may you look back and see His sprinkles of grace.

Welcome to the new CW.

Roomie Photoshoot.

By: Sarah Eguren

“Come close, listen to the story… about a love more faithful than the morning.” -Phil Wickham, True Love

Every night I go to sleep knowing that I will wake up in the morning. that sounds foolish because I know that I am not promised tomorrow, but there aren’t many things in this life that I can be as sure about as waking up in the morning. I watched a movie the other night about a man who is obsessed with routine. It’s as if he can’t function outside of his daily schedule. Every Saturday he makes meatloaf; Sunday, lasagna. He wakes up to work on his coin collection. Every day. Nothing new.  It’s interesting to me, as Americans, or maybe even as humans how obsessed we are with knowing everything will work out on our schedule at the right time for us. We all have our agendas and our to-do lists. We get into this funk, knowing that every day will begin and end exactly the same way as the one before it, and the one after it. It’s comfortable. Predictable. Until something outrageous happens. Something that rocks our world. It could be anything. Anything that could mess up our schedule. Maybe it’s a traffic jam on the way to work. Maybe it’s the obnoxious commericials on the radio station. Maybe it’s the call from a friend who needs a raincheck when you’re already at the restaurant waiting for them. Maybe it’s the call from a friend who desperately needs you to listen without asking questions. Maybe it’s the phone call that delivers the terrible news. Maybe it’s the diagnosis. Or the police at the front door at ten o’clock on a school night when your kid isn’t home yet. Maybe it’s falling in love. It could be anything really. Anything that could mess up our routine.

“Come close, listen to the story… about a love more faithful than the morning.” Remember the last time you experienced a crisis? It could be a personal crisis, or a family crisis, or even a national crisis. Remember falling on your face and crying out to God, “Where are You?!” “…a Love more faithful than the morning.” God’s love is more faithful than the fact and assurance that the morning will come. Even more faithful than the sun coming up. I know God’s patient, and kind, and selfless, and rejoicing Love is present in my life, every second. When I am following a routine, and when I am faced with hardship. I know that when He calls me to step out of the boat, everything I’ve ever known, His love is faithful. I know that when I fear the unknown about my future, His love is faithful. I know when I mourn the loss of a dear friend, His love is faithful. I know that when people leave, when people are called to different places, His love is faithful. Which brings me to my two choices.

 1) I can live in comfort, honoring God with my writing and my voice and my talents, hoping that my routine will never get rocked, and staying away from all outside distractions, or 2) I can live in such a way that I, routinely, wake up every morning and die to myself so that I can live and walk and breathe in Christ, knowing that because I am with Him, my circumstances are besides the point. Because His love is faithful.

I choose # 2. In fact, I pray that God will light my path just enough so I can see where to take my next step. I dont need to know all the answers. That requires no faith. No trust. All I need to know is that I follow the One who carries the torch. The One who is the torch.

And I’ll walk that path, knowing that wherever He leads me, His love is faithful.

“A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything -or destroy it.

It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue-it’s never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!”

James 3:5-10 (MSG)

I read this tonight. Talk about intense. This passage challenges me so much, because it reminds me of how much power i have in my words. In the words i speak over myself, over my friends, over my family, over my teachers, over my nation, over the church…

“…send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell…”

I want to be counted as wise. I want to live in such a way that brings people to Jesus. I want to speak, and speak life.

It seems almost as if more often and not, we dont even hear ourselves… We speak without thinking. We say things when we are angry that we dont mean. We forget that once it’s spoken, we can’t take it back.

What would it be like if we spoke life over eachother? If we spead hope and laughter and walked in love, in place of chaos, and smoke? What if we opened our mouths and blessed people, but not only that.. what if we walked in the same love and hope and laughter that we speak of?

Jesus said, “You will be known by the way you love eachother.”

You were created in the image of God, and through Him all things are made new.

 Downtown Christmas Time.

Following Christ has many ups & downs.
Lately I’ve been in the “down” area, desperate to get out.
I have found myself being influenced in my thinking, even in the smallest areas.
I keep getting caught up in the temporary-“ness” of this life instead of focusing on the permanence and consequence that lies ahead, thinking that these temporary things will allow me to truly live.

I have felt lonely & lost & confused..even with all the great friends I have around me everyday, in my life.
I have been searching for an answer, forgetting to seek my God.
I have found myself not seeking God at all- just ignoring that He is here for me! 

I hate that I do this, I feel like it all started when I came to college: Here I was at SNU, a freshman. I thought I knew everything I needed to know about being here, away from home and all I’ve really ever known.

But obviously I don’t know everything and I need to find my way back to seeking after my God. I have fallen so far away, I feel- and honestly an on-looker probably wouldn’t think I was bad person or anything. But I know-I have seen it in my life- I am falling away.

My prayer now is to have a heart so longing for God and so desperate to find Him  again.

I want to be so lost in God!

KQ

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God keeps bringing me back to this passage.
This is the kind of love we were meant to experience & express.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
doesn’t have a swelled head,
doesn’t force itself on others.
Isn’t always “me first”
Doesn’t fly off the handle.
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
takes pleasure in the flowerng truth.
Puts up with anything.
Trusts God always.
Always looks for the best,
never looks back.
But keeps going to the end.
~1 Cor. 13:3-8.

Here’s to all those girls who used to be his number one

 The ones who waited all night for him to call, only to check the caller ID the next morning and be disappointed.

 Those of you who cried on the first day you talked again because you knew exactly where this phone call was going.

 The ones who listened to him say, I only want to be your friend,one day, and the next, listened to him say how much he loves and misses you.

 We deserve something, and this is our tribute.Here’s to the ones that took him back, hoping that maybe this time, he was different, hoping that maybe people really do change.

 We wanted nothing more in the world than to hear him tell us he loved us too, that even though things were bad in the past, they would be different this time. And when we finally heard it, it was like we were dreaming. This is for us.

 Here’s to the ones who believed what he said, sat around all over again waiting for a phone call that might come in a few hours, or a few days.

 Here’s for the tears cried and dried all over again. We wanted sodesperately to believe that he was really busy, he couldn’t possibly call us at that moment, or even that he fell asleep early.

 We trained ourselves to believe the lies because we wanted to believe we had found the one for us.

 We learned to SETTLE for someone who didn’t treat us the way we should be treated.

 Here’s for the ones who did their hair and make up and put on their prettiest earrings, only to hear him say that he couldn’t see us today.

 The ones who never believed it when people told us there might be someone else. We just couldn’t believe that he could do this to us again.

 This is for those great girls, who loved him more than words can say, and took him back no matter what happened last time because they couldn’t bear to look back on their lives one day and wonder “what if”.

 Here’s to the girls who couldn’t cry to their friends because of how stupid they felt. The ones who held it all in when things came crumbling to pieces again.

 This is for the ones who couldn’t bear to even tell their mom what was going on, for fear of an “I told you so.”

 The ones that could just TELL that they had made a mistake ever allowing him into their hearts and their dreams again.

 We knew that we deserved better the entire time, that we deserved a guy who would call when he said he was going to, one that would come see us whenever he got the chance, one that would really care about us. We just wanted the one that we loved like that.

 Here’s for the ones that FINALLY realized that he never cared about them.

 Here’s for the time that he broke your heart again. This is for those days spent trying to hold back the tears, and the tears that turned into anger, then disappointment.

 Here’s for us girls who finally realized that we deserve better. This is for those confusing days, when you miss him, and want nothing more than to hear his voice, or feel his arms around your waist. Stay strong, and remember that relationships are like broken glass, sometimes it’s better to leave it alone rather than try to put the pieces back together and get hurt. Remember the times you cried, and how long it took you to even be able to look at another guy like that.

 When “your song” comes on the radio, turn the station. When the day comes that he realizes what a mistake he made and tries calling, turn your phone off. When he tries coming to your house, don’t answer the door. Think of the broken promises, and the lies, the manipulation and the tears, the wasted moments and staying up all night wondering where the crap he was. Think of how your heart used to jump when your phone would vibrate in the middle of the night, and how it fell to your stomach when you saw it wasn’t him, and realized that once again, he hadn’t called when he said he was going to.

 One day, you’ll find a guy who’s worth all the tears, but he won’t make you cry. You may think that you’ll never care about someone like you did that guy that you always ran back to, but you will. It’s gonna hurt, and it’s going to need time to heal, but the point is, it will heal….

KQ