True Love Waits Part 1

TRUE LOVE WAITS...PART 1

I was starting to write this blog about 2 weeks ago, but then as I was putting it together I decided I would read a book I got for Christmas called "Before you meet Prince Charming" By Sarah Mally! The book was very good. What I think I am going to do is summarize different points from each chapter throughout the next few blogs. 

"When it comes right down to it, are you truly willing to make the required sacrifices to wait for God's best?" 

"Temptation in this area of boy/girl relationships is one of the biggest snares that the enemy uses to damage the lives and testimonies of Christian young people. Many lives have been destroyed. Many others have survived only with scars,pain, and heartache. A true princess realizes this danger and understands her own need to be protected. This is not evidence of weakness or fear, but rather it is evidence of true courage. It requires courage to do things God's way, to wait for His timing, and to trust that He will bring you and your life partner together according to His perfect plan. It takes courage to obey when you do not understand."

In regards to the dating system here was a list that contrasted the Worlds way and God's way

1) People date in order to have a good time right now. Many times the're not actually planning to get married. This is a crucial point.: They are not planning long-term commitment. But why date and get attached to someone who is not going to be your life partner? Dating is thinking about fun now rather than loyalty to your one lifelong partner and the joy of the best marriage later. 

The Worlds Way: is now oriented

God's way: is future oriented

2) Most young people plan to date a number of different individuals in order to get to know a variety of people--and then pick the best one to marry. What they fail to realize is that the process that forms bonds begins with the very first relationship. Then the break-up process is very painful.

The Worlds way: involves separation

God's way: involves no separation.

3) Much of the dating we see today is "me oriented" (to being me security, enjoyment, fulfillment, etc.) and often leaves hurt and pain in the lives of others. True love always puts others first and focuses on their needs. 

The Worlds way: is to get.

God's way: is to give.

4) People start dating long before they are considering marriage. Just think of all the "dating" that happens even in elementary or middle school. Boys and girls date because it's a thrill or a tempting experiment-- not because they are committed to this person. 

The Worlds way: Is for Pleasure

God's way:  is for Commitment.

5) The Bible does not give any positive examples of anything even close to dating. In our modern world, everyone is comfortable with the dating system simply because it's what everyone does. 

The World's way:  is built on human thinking, tradition, and culture.

God's way:  is always based on the Word of God--Biblical standards, principles, and goals. 

6) People date, planning to break up if things don't work out. This seems like practice for divorce, not marriage! 

The World's way:  is temporary

God's way: is Permanent

"A good way to sum up this list would be to say that dating, as we know it in America, tends to follow the Patterns of the flesh (our earthly self which is weak and naturally sinful). But our goal is to follow God's way--The pattern of the Spirit. The Rivalry between the flesh and the Spirit is a basic theme that is evident throughout scripture. The flesh seeks to control, but it is the Spirit that must dominate. Dating is a good example of this rivalry." 

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do." Galatians 5:16-17 

I know many people that are not satisfied in this season of singleness that the Lord has them in....Feeling that they have no purpose because Mr. Right hasn't come along yet. Wasting away the time in their single years and not redeeming it. My encouragement to them, as well as to any of you reading this is, don't waste this GIFT of singleness.  Yes, I said GIFT!!!! =) =) 

You don't have to date someone to find out that you wouldn't want to marry that person. Don't think that you have to date an individual in order to find out if you guys would be compatible. It's such a lie. I won't hit on that too much right now. But I will get to it! =) 

The world will encourage you in this time to date and have fun, your young, enjoy yourself, it's not a big deal...We live in the here and now and don't give much thought to the future. Its not worth it. This dating game is dangerous...You don't want to carry a bunch of baggage with you to the altar on your wedding day. Be wise, be discerning. Seek the Word of God, trust in His sovereign plan, and know that He is in complete control. His timing is perfect! =)  

 On the next entry I will be sharing the chapter on "Guarding your heart" 

Do Not Boast About Tomorrow!

PROVERBS 27:1 

"DO NOT BOAST ABOUT TOMORROW, FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT A DAY MAY BRING."

I'd like to say for about the past year or so, I've really been meditating on this verse and its meaning. Understanding that my next breath is not promised, let alone tomorrow isn't even promised. It can be so easy to just assume that I have another 60+ years or so to live here on this earth, but how I continue to pray that I stay far from that mindset. I think it would be kinda scary knowing the day I was going to die, but I also wonder if having the knowledge of that day, would I be using my time more wisely and be redeeming the time He's blessed me with for His glory and not preoccupation with myself? Just a thought...


"Lord willing"..... Lord willing has become a phrase I often use to remind myself that 'If it's indeed the Lord's will for me to be somewhere, than I'll be there'.  


"The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9


I can make all the plans I want, but in the end the Lord will establish my steps. 


Sometimes circumstances arise in life and we need to make adjustments. You don't always plan for different circumstances that may happen in your life, but rest assured the Lord is at work! =) I came across this quote while reading through 'TableTalk Magazine' 


               " God is in sole, purposeful control of the past, present, and future, both on a macro and on a micro scale, at the interplanetary level and the our-little-life level. God rules over time and space. He has a plan that He is working out perfectly day to day, year to year. This plan extends from creation to consummation. It includes all the good and all the bad, the pleasant and the painful. Belief in God's sovereignty changes the way we look at the world, at people and at their problems. What looks like a mess is actually part of a meticulous divine plan that is being worked out for the good of those who love God." 


Praise the Lord! I for one am eternally grateful that I can rest in His sovereignty. I may have plans for something, but than something completely unexpected happens and I'm needed elsewhere...The Lord knows! And I many times don't quite understand things until after the fact, but then I think back and go "oh ok I see now why You had it happened the way You did." The Lord's way is always the best. 


So if tomorrow isn't promised. Why do I find myself being anxious for things that may never come about? hmmmmm



“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet Your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
-Matthew 6:25-34 


"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:5-6


When we become anxious we are showing our lack of trust in God. How foolish we are...The Lord has been faithful in the past and yet we are worried if He will be faithful in the present and future? It seems so ridiculous. I also think that we have a certain way of doing things and we often feel we know best. But who are we to think that we can counsel the All-Knowing, All-Powerful God on different issues? 


I am going to end this post with a very appropriate quote as a reminder to us of Who we should be boasting in. 


"I was born into a believing family through no merit of my own at all. I was given a mind to think and a heart to feel through no merit of my own at all. I was brought into the hearing of the gospel through no merit of my own at all. My rebellion was subdued, my hardness removed, my blindness overcome, and my deadness awakened through no merit of my own at all. Thus I became a believer in Christ through no merit of my own at all. And so I am an heir of God with Christ through no merit of my own at all. Now when I put forward effort to please the Lord who bought me, this is to me no merit at all, because... it is not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Cor. 15:10)... God is working in me that which is pleasing in His sight. (Heb. 13:21)... He fulfills every resolve for good by His power. (2 Thes. 1:11) And therefore there is no ground for boasting in myself, but only in God’s mighty grace. Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. (1 Cor. 1:31)"
-John Piper




Grace and Peace,


Anna-Leah<><

Do Not Be Deceived...

<--- I found this picture online, it made me think of decision making and understanding the importance of being discerning. Realizing how a decision can impact not only yourself, but those around you. Their can be many distractions and many different options to choose from, but its important to stay on the right route. Yea, I'm weird, but thats what I thought of when I saw this picture! =)

As part of my daily devotional time with the Lord I go through a devotional magazine called "TableTalk". Last month the theme was "The Self-centered life". This month the theme is "The God-Centered Life." Its really amazing to compare and contrast those two different life styles. It's so easy to be so focused on the here and now. Being consumed with everything from: school, a job, family, a husband or wife, kids, who you're going to marry, friends, bills, your image, entertainment....etc!

In light of eternity how much of our time are we using for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom? We as His children are called to be set apart. Yet, how set apart is the flock of God? But really the real question is how set apart are YOU from the world? It can be very easy to compare ourselves to other believers. "Well I'm better than most, look at tommy over there, I'm not that bad. And Sally, oh boy, I'm definitely not as bad as she is." If that's your mindset I plead with you to really repent and seek the Lord on this matter. We aren't to compare ourselves to other "fallen" human beings. We are to compare ourselves to Christ and Christ alone... Christ is the bar!!! Be living a life set apart from those in this world. You can't live with one foot in and the other foot out. Don't be deceived by living a life that you think is pleasing to God, but in reality you're only pleasing yourself. The fact that you claim to believe in God, isn't enough to save you...even the demons believe. (James 2:14-19)

The scariest words in the Bible (in my opinion) are found in Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

Don't be deceived.....You cannot be lukewarm. You can't profess Christ on Sunday than live for Satan/or yourself the rest of the week.

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."

Revelation 3:15-16

May our consciences convict us when we get a self-absorbred mindset. May we realize when our eyeballs are focused inward. This short life here on earth is about denial of self. Some find it difficult to spend time in God's word because they don't have time...In a single day we have 24 hours. Ok so you spend 8 hours sleeping....what do you do with the other 16 hours of your day? We make time for things we like to do...the problem isn't not enough time, but rather, what's taking priority over spending time in the word of God?

A little self-examination I would encourage you to do....chart out your day today. What are you filling your time with? Are they things that bring the Lord pleasure or are they things that bring yourself pleasure? This was a very disturbing exercise for me because I saw how self-absorbed I am. But it was also a very rewarding exercise. By God's grace I was able to examine my heart, and prioritize different areas of my life. Though I am FAR from perfect....I continually pray that the Lord take away anything that hinders my walk with Him. It can be so easy to get so caught up with things that have no eternal value...The Christian walk is not easy....it's only the grace of God that carries me through! =)

I have a quote by Charles Spurgeon framed in my room to remind me not to ever think to highly of myself. I am humbled to my pride every time I read it.....

“ [Anna-Leah Moore], if any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him; for you are worse than he thinks you to be. If he charges you falsely on some point, yet be satisfied, for if he knew you better he might change the accusation, and you would be no gainer by the correction. If you have your moral portrait painted, and it is ugly, be satisfied; for it only needs a few blacker touches, and it would be still nearer the truth.”

Grace and Peace,

Anna-Leah<><

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God's gift of singleness

Philippians 4:11

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."

<---- (This was the first quilt I ever made and its suppose to symbolize life. In how the Lord see's the whole picture and we only see pieces at a time. Each piece serves a specific purpose....but they may not come with the piece they connect to....But once all the pieces are put together it all makes sense. So even though we may not understand why certain things are happening...we can rest assured God does because He is in control of it all.)

It truly is a gift from God to be content in singleness. Now I want to make it clear, I do desire to be a wife and mother one day. That is my DREAM!!! Ultimately though, my first and foremost desire is to bring honor and glory to the Lord.

As I approach my 26th birthday in September, I am overjoyed and amazed by God's amazing grace. I can honestly say that I have NEVER been more content with where the Lord has me than I am at this point and time. It truly is by God's grace that I am joyful with where the Lord has me in this season of my life. I do desire to be married and have a boatload of kids one day, but that may not be in the Lord's plan for me.

"The heart of man plans his way,

but the LORD establishes his steps."

Proverbs 16:9

This was not what I had planned for my life. By the time I was 25 I would have thought that I would have been married and have at least 2-3 kids by now. But that wasn't the Lord's plan for me! =) I am so thankful that it wasn't the Lord's will for me to be married and/or have kids right now.

I quit my job about a year and a half ago... The Lord really convicted me of how I was using my gift of singleness to honor Him. I was honestly just working for the sake of working. I was blessed with an amazing job, but in light of eternity I felt it more of a hinderance more than anything else. Being able to help my parents out at home as well as homeschool my little brother Mark...has been extremely rewarding. I never would've been able to do this if I had my own family. What I do now is WAY harder than being out in the "work world" haha working was easy. I am constantly being reminded by the Lord that this life is not my own. Meditating on Luke 9:23 "And He said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. "

Living for the Lord means to DAILY die to myself, my wants,my flesh, my desires...and Joyfully follow Him. Remembering that everything I do, I am to do it as unto the Lord!

I will tell you this...for the past year and a half looking through the worlds eyes, I would be viewed by most as very poor, BUT from a spiritual standpoint I have never been more wealthy. =) I praise God for that!!!!!

I desire to serve the Lord above all else. The more I am in His Word, the more I see how indebted to Him I am because of His grace. It is only by His grace and His grace alone that I can truly say I am content. By His Grace I desire nothing but His will for my life and I am honored to say I am a Slave to Christ! =)

If you think of it....please pray for me in the area of self-centeredness. It's so easy to get caught up in "life" and yet not truly be living for what really matters.

Grace and Peace,

Anna-Leah<><

"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever, Amen." Romans 11:36