Bible Study Tools

"Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;" 1 Timothy 4:7

Do you have questions about marriage?

Do you want to understand what the gospel is?

Do you have questions about God's Character?

DesiringGod.org is a wonderful website that can help you understand the bible better

Here's a little video for some more information on what you will find on the site

Jill Duggar is Engaged to Derick Dillard!!!!

PRAISE GOD! THIS IS EXCITING NEWS! GOD BLESS THOSE TWO!

Modest Wedding Dresses!

 It's Wedding Season! ^_^

Wanted to share a few websites with super cute and modest wedding dresses. Enjoy!

http://www.altamodabridal.com/modest-wedding-dresses/

http://www.beautifullymodest.com/

http://www.adressyoccasion.com/Bridal

Q&A- Courtship Guidance

by Carolyn Mahaney 

She is the wife of Pastor CJ Mahaney and this is how they guided their daughters when it came to choosing a mate. It has been extremely helpful for me and so I wanted to share it with you guys =)

A“list” from Scripture of essential qualities that should characterize any man desirous of pursuing them. These qualities included:

“1. Genuine passion for God. The greatest commandment is to ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ (Matt. 22:37). A mere profession of faith is insufficient. A godly man will consistently display love, obedience, and increasing passion for the Savior.

2. Authentic humility. ‘This is the one to whom I will look,’ says the Lord, ‘he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word’ (Isa. 66:2). Your daughter will marry a sinner—that is certain. But if he is a humble and teachable sinner who is quick to repent, then he will be sure to grow in godliness. This humility will also be evident in his love for and submission to God’s Word.

3. Love for the local church. At the center of God’s plan on earth is His church. A young man must be pursuing fellowship and serving faithfully in a local church if he is to make a good candidate for a husband.

4. Biblical convictions about manhood and womanhood. A successful marriage is due in large part to a couple’s grasp of their respective roles and responsibilities. A potential husband must be committed to complementary roles found in Scripture. He must be ready to embrace his responsibility to love and lead his wife. (Eph. 5:22-25).

In addition to comparing the young man to this list of essentials, we also helped our daughters evaluate God’s commands to wives. From Scripture we asked our daughters the following questions regarding the young man each was considering:

            -Do you fully respect this man the way a wife is called to respect her husband?
            -Can you eagerly submit to him as the church submits to Christ?
            -Do you have faith to follow this man no matter where he may lead?
            -Can you love this man with a tender, affectionate love?
            (1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:22, 33; Col. 3:8; Titus 2:4-5)

Again, this list of qualities and questions is not exhaustive. However, it provided clear, objective, and biblical criteria to assist our daughters in determining God’s will—whether or not they were meant to join their lives with a certain young man.

For the entire post go to http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/Q_A12

Birth Control

Coming from a Roman Catholic background, I tend to look at my sisters' lives see them doing something good like having a natural birth and making it a law that I must follow in order to glorify and honor the Lord. I find myself constantly in chains, entangled in laws I've placed on myself. Our Lord, so faithful and merciful continually points this out to me and shows me the idolatry in my heart. As you all know my husband and I have been convicted about birth control since before we were married, by the grace of God we were with child soon after we married. The Lord in His wisdom saw it fit to allow us to have a C-section and as a result we were told not to have children for at least 18 months. We now use a method of birth control and it hasn't been easy. The enemy never ceases to labor and my husband and I have to constantly wrestle against condemnation and much more. Not sure what the Lord is doing but looking forward to learning more about the will of God concerning our family size. We don't know whether it is something we ought to surrender to Him or our responsibility to plan as a couple. It's all so confusing. We're still reading the word and praying. Lord willing He will answer our cry soon.

Tears Of Joy!

As you all know, my past sin of fornication tore my husband's heart apart when we were courting. He felt defraud and helpless. The Lord had to strengthen him and help him love me in spite of it all. The gospel was his help, remembering what Christ had done for him along with confessing to the Lord his bitterness and how though he knew the Gospel, he still found it hard to love me.

On my wedding day, I walked down the isle in faith, hoping in the Lord to fully restore Tyrell so that he may love me as God loves the Church. Trusting in the faithfulness of the Lord, I said I do making a commitment to love him until death no matter what.

 I walked down the isle smiling yet filled with questions. Tyrell was smiling, I didn't understand why. I didn't feel beautiful, I didn't feel worthy but I knew that what I was getting ready to do was what I felt God desired of me. I hoped that Ty would heal and love me and my hope was my comfort. I was to shy to look at him and terrified to embrace him for the first time.

We married in obedience to the Lord, knowing that the road would be hard but trusting Him nevertheless. Saturday, June 9th 2012, months after our marriage, we somehow ended up talking about how he views me. His struggle in our courtship was elevating my sin above my redemption and having a hard time seeing me as something to be prized. I thought he still struggled with that. While talking, tears ran down my face and my heart was exposed and he saw the hurt and broken due to what I believed. He gently got up grabbed his journal and began to read to me. It was titled:

"October 29th 2011-The day my life changes forever-marriage"

 It was 1:49am when he wrote it. He wrote about how thankful he was to have me as a wife, he wrote about how much he treasured me and wanted no other. The entry is filled with praises to the Lord for all he had done. Most importantly MY HUSBAND WAS GLORYING IN THE CROSS!!!!!!! HE SAW ME AS A NEW CREATURE! I WAS PRIZED IN HIS SIGHT BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS CHRIST HAD DONE! It answered my questions and showed me that the smile he had on his face was genuine, my prayer and hope had already been answered. My groom delighted in me and couldn't wait to love me with his life. I was in tears! God answered my prayer months ago and I had no idea! Praise the Lord for His faithfulness in redeeming. I cannot thank God enough. My husband's heart races at the thought of me, he delights in me! Praise God!

Single Men - Biblical Conduct Towards Women

Some Outstanding Godly Counsel

As you guys know, I was not a virgin when I married my now husband Tyrell Samuels and that broke his heart. By the grace of God, the Lord led me throughout our friendship and I was able to tell him about my shameful past before we entered matrimony. Now that I look back, I wish that would have been the first thing I mentioned to him when we met but the church where I fellowshipped at the time told me that it was wrong and indiscreet to tell people about my past and dealt with me very harshly for doing so in the past.

we grew closer as the Lord was bringing us together and praise the Lord I got to share with him my terrible past but sadly this was after he had disclose his intentions towards me. It shattered him but the Lord held him and with the conviction he had to marry me though still wounded went ahead in faith trusting that the Lord would heal him and help him.

I share all of this to say that I STRONGLY encourage you to be transparent from the beginning. Do not hide past sins whatever it may be and allow people to glory in the cross and see God's redemptive work rather than giving them the opportunity to create something in their minds that is far from the truth. Let's not be deceptive but transparent and may God be glorified for His amazing work!

Let us decrease while He increases pointing to our maker who has reached down and saved us from our shameful ways and made us new creatures in Him. To Him be all the glory and praise forever. AMEN!

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"

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.

 

 

Tyrell Officially Proposed!!! ^_^

Today was an amazing day filled with many obstacles and rich blessings from the Lord. Yesterday Tyrell told me  he wanted to take me on a date but he didn't want to tell me where to meet him, he wanted me to figure it out. The Hint was "Meet me somewhere special, it can be dark, it can be scary, but just remember that Seriah was talked about here." When I heard this, I immediately thought of the woods in his old neighborhood. This morning Tyrell woke me up saying he couldn't wait to see me. On my way to this special spot, Tyrell left pink notes sharing his love for me on electric poles and just random things outside so I had to keep an eye out for the pink slips. Finally when I made it to the woods, I walk in and found a gift with my name on it with directions not to open it and to leave the woods for he wasn't there. I continued walking and found another pink slip at a playground and it said to look for him. I had no idea where he was. Finally after looking around I found him! He was so happy to see me. Still confused about what's going on we sat down and the gift he had made for me was a book with verses to help me in my walk with the Lord. I read each page out loud and when I got to the last page it said

"DO NOT FEAR, OBEY THE LORD, TRUST IN HIS PROMISES, AND HE WILL BRING THEM TO PASS. WALK INTO HIS OCEANS WITH TOTAL ABANDON. DROWN IN HIS LOVE WITH NO RESERVATION."

I'm reading this and I'm thinking it's another verse when I look to see where it says that in the bible I saw

"Marie-Marthe will you waste your life with me?" referring to the song "I will waste my life" by Misty Edwards

And I started screaming, not believing what was taking place. He got down on one knee as I was screaming in disbelief and I said YES!!!! ^_^ I was soooo happy, I started tearing up. Our wedding is in 9 days and he labored and still blessed me with a beautiful engagement ring. God is sooo good and I am so thankful for God's provision. He later took me out to eat and spent the day with me until I had to leave for work =)

Ahhh!! The Website is officially up!

This is so exciting! Yet so crazy!!! It's been a hard year and although times were tough and I've shed many tears God sustained us both. This is such a hard time and I wish my circumstances were different but I thank God for simply being God. He is Sovereign, He is not moved. Therefore I will trust in Him.

Wedding Planning!!! ^_^

We are so excited!!! God has definitely been moving and we are so thankful! Just for a recap, Tyrell and I don't have a home church and are still looking for one so that means we don't have a body of believers at our service to aid in the wedding preparations, my father has also disowned me and we were both unemployed. Although Tyrell hasn't had a stable job since January 2011. How has the Lord moved on our behalf??? Well...

Although unemployed the Lord has enabled Tyrell to provide not only for me but our little girl in Brazil that we are sponsoring through Compassion international.

Even though my father disowned me and we won't have help financially to have the wedding of our dreams the Lord allowed us to find an extremely awesome package for a beach wedding and it covers not only photography  but our honeymoon, chauffeur and much more!

Wedding Dress!!!! How will be able to afford a wedding dress???? Well Guess what? A Wedding dress is awaiting me as we speak! His mother's wedding dress, ready and available to me =)

Now the amount of money we need is $1425 that's it! That's all we need and we are so thankful and know that the Lord will provide and show Himself strong.

This has been a beautiful Journey and I cannot wait to see what else the Lord will do. Can't wait to start my life with the man I could never have imagined or hoped for! He is beyond anything I could ever ask the Lord. I am so thankful!

Seeking His Will

God's will is that I seek His glory.(John 7:15-20)

To seek His glory is to marry Tyrell!!! lol The beautiful truth that takes my breath away! Our God is soooo Good!

Living In Light of Eternity

God's will is that I focus on things above (1 John 2:15-17, Colossians 3:1-4)


Being Tyrell’s friend really sets my perspective straight and causes me to stay focused on advancing the kingdom of God. It’s easy to get distracted but seeing his zeal reminds me of what I ought to be doing. We both have a desire to make disciples and share the good news of Jesus Christ and being close definitely keeps us both from being consumed with ourselves. All Thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for redeeming us!

Anti-Conformity

God's will is that I do not be conformed to the pattern of this world.
(Romans 12:1-2)

My relationship with Tyrell forces me to go against current! He pushes me to focus on God’s glory and that alone. From the way I dress and speak, he constantly reminds me to glorify God and do that which is most glorifying to the Lord. God is really using Tyrell to help me live for an audience of One, Christ! I've always cared about enhancing my physical features with Make-up and other things but now I'm learning more and more about real beauty and the things that Our Lord delights in. Christ cares about sanctifying us and developing our Character. In light of eternity, physical beauty is vain. His passion for Christ fuels mine and causes me to really be dedicated to Jesus Christ. Usually in our culture the bride chooses her dress and surprises her spouse on the wedding day but for our wedding day, he is basically choosing mine. A lot of things in our relationship go against tradition and culture but aligns with God’s word and I thank God for placing him in my life to help me care more about God’s opinion rather than that of others.

God is Holy

If there's anything I learned throughout my relationship with Tyrell it is that God is holy. Never in my life have I met a man who breaks over his sins like Tyrell. He reminds of me of the prophet Isaiah, he truly sees himself as undone and it breaks his heart. Seeing him break over his sins reminds me of the Grandeur of the holiness of Christ and my utter wicked wretched self and all I'm left to do is cry out for mercy. May the Lord continue to Sanctify us.

Thankfulness

God's will is that I be thankful in all circumstances, or give thanks in all circumstances. (Ephesians 5:20) The persecution in my home has increased since Tyrell has revealed his intentions to me. Many times I'm tempted to be cast down but the Lord continues to use Tyrell to point me to Himself. I'm constantly reminded that no man can shake God’s plan and so I should rejoice knowing that the Lord will have His way. He reminds me that all things happen for a reason and that God is in control thus causing me to give thanks. I thank God for Tyrell but not my circumstances. Am I to think Him for my circumstances as well? Hmm… well re-reading this verse it says thankful IN all circumstances and I have been more than thankful in my circumstances because Our Lord died for me and placed Tyrell right here, in my life to point me to Him when I am at my lowest. He is  my own personal Barnabas!

Sanctification

God's Will is that I be sanctified. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.

Indeed God did not call me to uncleanness and each day that goes by, my passion for him grows! Yes being transparent. This is quite embarrassing but true. The Lord’s will is my sanctification, that I should learn to possess my own vessel in sanctification and honor and I’m definitely learning that as I wait to finally be his wife. One thing I’m thankful about is that there is no sin in marrying, that is actually encouraged. The depth of my passion for him, which is ever growing, is confirmation to me that the Lord is indeed calling us to matrimony. Another problem we have is that not being married hinders us from doing things that we desire to do to be a witness to those around us. In order to do them, we would have to spend lots of time together preparing and spending to much time together causes our passion to grow, not spending time together things do not get done so I only see one call marriage!

Now outside of our fleshy desires, Sanctification itself is definitely taking place. The Lord continues to show me the depth of my wickedness and need to depend on Him and Him alone through my friendship with Tyrell. I’ve also learned that I truly have nothing to offer the Lord, He did it all on the cross anything else I have to offer cannot be compared. I must depend on His grace and mercy at all times I cannot move God by my works. He is Holy and my works do not make me right with Him!

God's Will

Things are getting harder in Tyrell and I's relationship in that we cannot wait to be married. The more time we spend in God's word, the more we are assured that our union is what glorifies the Lord most. He is more than I could ever ask for in a man. He has qualities that I didn't even think to ask for but need. I absolutely love being around him. I love working together with him to come up with different lessons and ways to expose falsehood and shed light on truth. We both have a passion for God's word and desire to disciple others that they may go and disciple others. When I was away in New York for the month of April, I spent some time alone with the Lord to truly understand why Tyrell was the man I was to come along side of for God's glory. I was meditating on God's will and according to scripture these  are some verses I found describing God's will and I examine my relationship with Tyrell in light of them.

• God's will is that I be sanctified.(1 Thessalonians 4:3)
• God's will is that I be thankful in all circumstances, or give thanks in all circumstances. (Ephesians 5:20)
• God's will is that I do not be conformed to the pattern of this world. (Romans 12:1-2)
• God's will is that I focus on His kingdom (1 John 2:15-17, Colossians 3:1-4)
• God's will is that I seek His glory.(John 7:15-20)