Moments Of Anxiety

Yesterday, I found myself sitting in my room, fretting and worrying about Tyrell and I's future. I spent most of the day going from being anxious to praying to being anxious to praying again.

My worries?

We don't have a place prepared for baby when he comes out. We don't have enough money to get our own place. This week is my last week working. Will Tyrell be able to make enough on his own so we can move to a basement, studio anywhere that's big enough for the three of us? What if my water breaks? Where will baby sleep? How would we survive?

As I examined everything and thought about our current circumstances, I got more and more anxious and then I was distracted by our son kicking about in my womb. He was happily twirling around, kicking and enjoying another day that the Lord had given him while I sat in my room fretting about our future.

Can you imagine him saying: "it's dark in here, tight and small. Will my mom be able to push me out? What if she can't? What am I going to do? Am I going to be stuck in here forever? I might die! Lord help me! I have to get out of here!"The thought of him fretting made me chuckle a bit but that was exactly what I was doing.
Why be worried about the future?

Though hard times are upon us, we must continue to put our trust in the Lord. I must follow the example of our little man and be still. Worship God now, be thankful now and continue to pray and wait on the Lord. My fretting will get me no where. When it's time for us to move, the Lord will accomplish His will. I have no control over what will take place in the future so I must not worry but put my trust in a Sovereign God who knows what we need.

I must put my hope not in riches but in the only one who does have control and can save, Jesus Christ.

WHAT IS A HEALTHY CHURCH?

If you are considering leaving the current place you worship and fellowship. I strongly encourage you to read this book first. Very good, Christ-Centered book with lots of things you want to consider and pray about.

Some amazing points from the book:

"The gospel is the heart of Christianity, and so it should be at the heart of our churches" (75).

"The Gospel is not the news that we're okay. It's not the news that God is love. It's not the news that Jesus wants to be our friend. It's not the news that He has a wonderful plan or purpose for our life. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died on the cross as a sacrificial substitute for sinners and rose again, making a way for us to be reconciled to God" (76).

"You and I cannot demonstrate love or joy or peace or patience or kindness sitting all by ourselves on an island. No, we demonstrate it when the people we have committed to loving give us good reasons not to love them, but we do anyway" (29).

"Music is a biblically required response to God's word, but the music God gave us was not given to build our churches upon. A church built on music of whatever style is a church built on shifting sands" (67).

COURAGEOUS: THE MOVIE

My husband and I watched this movie last night and it was wonderful! The Gospel was clearly proclaimed along with an encouraging message for believers. It was a great movie. I want to own it with our kids one day. You guys should definitely check it out!

Where Are The Boundaries?

We are Closed gardens who belong to the Lord. No one should be allowed to smell the flowers nor see what types of flowers are beyond the gates unless our Lord gives them the key. 

It's so sad, we've gotten to a place where we place limitations on those who should be intimate and yet allow those who are not pursuing intimacy to cross every line. I see so many books on dating and boundaries and have yet to come across one on singleness and using discretion/having boundaries. We encourage our singles to create intimacy with one another, enjoy the emotional blessings of marriage and yet expect a smooth transition when they are being called to marriage.

Here's how this reality has wrecked havoc in Ty and I's marriage.

I had to endure and still endure sisters flirting with my husband in my presence, grab and force themselves on him to hug him as we enter a place and neglecting to say anything to me, treat me very harshly because they felt like they lost something that was rightfully theirs.

This is such a serious topic that is being ignored in the church. 
Singles not knowing that they ought to have discretion, crossing each others boundaries, creating emotional intimacy with other singles of the opposite sex, revealing things that only their husbands should know along with depending on them when feeling sad, angry etc... 

It's not OK to enjoy the blessings of marriage in our singleness with a man who is not our husbands. I didn't understand this truth and partook in it until the Lord called me to marry my husband.

We have been so preoccupied by the "Don't have sex" movement that we have neglected to teach many other boundaries that are just as important. We ought not to cross any lines, we ought not to create attachments that will later have to be destroyed for the glory of God. Let us all fervently seek the Lord about this for this is not about keeping some law of discretion, modesty, purity etc... but a matter of the heart.

Here are my husband's thoughts and word of advice when it comes to this topic.

"Facebook is a fire waiting to consume marriages...especially if you have a past history with many members of the opposite sex. Your brothers and sisters in Christ are the most dangerous if they do not understand their roles as a brother or sister. Things like pet names, facebook hearts, overstepping that persons marital boundaries, and such wreak havoc daily on the security of couples intimacy. It takes much wisdom to not usurp someone's husband or wife in something like a comment on a status. Like the Rock used to say. Know your role...and I would add, be wise in how you speak to someone else's husband or wife. You have NO rights or authority on them aside from that which is outlined in scripture. Perhaps you had some type of unlawful access to them when they were single, but that does not justify you trespassing into their marriage now. Many of my dearest sisters in the Lord have been my most consistent home wreckers not only to I, but to other brothers. I have no legalistic laws to place here, just be wise, and respect the sanctity of people's marriage. If you truly understand what I'm saying, then you will see that this process starts in respecting single people whom you are not intentionally pursuing for marriage. Why have access to someone that will have to be cut when you or the other marry? All of this I have learned the hard way. God Bless!-Ty"

Hating God In My Heart

Did you bite the Fruit? 

Did you buy into the prosperity Gospel and are now finding yourself hating God?

Most would hide this reality but it does happen. Being reminded of the true Gospel, the cost of discipleship, Who God is, who we are along with our true purpose here on earth is very helpful.

Here's an edifying sermon that dissects the reality of the Gospel and reminds me of who God is and why we are here. If you are truly struggling with feelings of hate towards God or charging Him with injustice. Please take some time out to watch and listen. Hope this edifies.

PART 1

PART 2

This Momentary Marriage By John Piper

This Momentary Marriage

CLICK HERE TO GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE!

 

 I just had to share their testimony with you guys. Our God is so amazing. I am so excited to read through this book with my husband and Lord willing a couple of friends.