My story is a dramatic one. I hesitate to even tell it to you in fear that you will dismiss your own Say “Yes” to God story as not spectacular enough. Please don’t do that.
Category: surrender
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On Suffering, Surrendering Idols, and Dying Well
Tonight I read this post by Ann Voskamp about the death of Kara Tippetts. Honestly, I have not followed Kara’s story. However, Ann’s words are quite possibly the most powerful I’ve ever read.
Of course I read this post after coming upstairs from dinner where I got my feelings hurt because of a comment John made about soggy broccoli. There’s nothing like being brought into eternity after wallowing in something as earthly as hurt feelings over broccoli.
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Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl :: A Book Review and Giveaway
A few months ago I received an email asking me if I wanted to host a giveaway for Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl. The moment I read the title I thought to myself, “I could have written that book!” Yes, I was a boy-crazy girl to say the least! Then I read the subtitle, and it described me even more – “On Her Journey from Neediness to Freedom.” Believe it or not, that describes me, too. Even though I’m married, I’ve been slow to learn those hard lessons of neediness, which is really a form of idolatry. That’s why I consider myself a “recovering single.” I sure wish I had this book several years ago.
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Why You Should Stop Saying “If I Get Married”
Years ago I’d get into these conversations, usually around the holidays, with family or friends, and I’d say, “Well, when I get married . . . ” then before I could finish my sentence I would pause and stutter and think, “Should I say ‘when’ or maybe I should say ‘if’, ” then I’d backtrack, “I mean if I get married.”
I wanted to be real about the fact that I may not get married. But at the same time the word if left me feeling defeated and hopeless. The rest of the day I’d worry, “What if I don’t get married?” and a dozen scenarios would ruminate through my mind.
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What if Jesus Was All that Mattered?
I have always been very blessed with really good health. I am so grateful. But two weekends ago I had a cold. I’m not talking just an average cold; I’m talking an epic cold where my nose flowed like a river all night long. Before this epic cold I’ve never had to get up to blow my nose in the middle of the night. And don’t get me started on sleep. There was none.
Maybe it’s because I don’t get sick often and I’m just a baby (actually I’m sure that’s what it is), but I felt like I was going to die. And while I laid there thinking about how miserable I felt and how I might possibly be the first person to die from the common cold, I realized how nothing else in the world – and I mean nothing – mattered except for getting better.
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Why the Desire for Marriage is Good, but the Pursuit of Marriage is Not
Mixed messages abound in the Christian-singles-world about the desire for marriage.
You’re expected to desire marriage and pursue it above all else when you’re young. Marriage is the ultimate goal, and there’s no greater calling on a person’s life. That is until you start squeaking up against 30. Then the rules change.
As you get older, and marriage is still unforeseeable, you’re told you should just quit pining over it and move on, that the desire dilutes your love for God and reveals a heart of idolatry, and Jesus should just be enough.
I’m here to tell you, both of these messages are wrong. Why? Because they’re rooted in shame. Shame on you for not getting married right out of college and then shame on you for even wanting to get married. Jesus is the antithesis of shame.
