10 Ways to Do Him Good

I love Proverbs 31:12, "She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." I have been reminded many times that "all the days of her life" includes right now, even before I've become his wife, even before I've met him. A couple days ago, I was thinking of 10 ways to do him good, right now. Although it certainly isn't a complete list, I hope it will be an encouragement to you, whatever season of life God has you in.

1. Pray for him.

What if he knew, right now, that I pray for him every single day? Prayer is so important, and it's the most powerful way I can be a part of his life right now.

2. Encourage and build up those around me.

Specifically, my siblings. We're with each other day in and day out. I usually just go through the day without purposefully encouraging them. It would be a huge blessing to them if I would just take a little time to look for a way I can encourage them and intentionally build them up. I want to be a wife who is a great encourager to her husband. And God certainly has not left me without people to practice that with right now.

3. Submit joyfully to my authority.

Like my parents. If I obey and honor them with a happy heart, that attitude will most likely carry into my marriage. What a blessing that will be to my future husband! A wife who eagerly submits to the authority God has placed over her. Not grudgingly, but joyfully!

4. Memorize Scripture.

Taking the time to invest in memorizing His Word will not be something I regret! It is important to know the Bible--and know it well. Memorizing it will bless me now and for the rest of my life.

5. Tell people about my Savior.

I have the greatest news on earth, and I am commanded to share it with those who are lost in their sin. Whether it's a stranger, or someone I've known my whole life, I have the honor of being used by God to plant seeds in their lives. I am not the one who saves souls, God gives the increase. But that certainly doesn't mean I don't have a responsibility to tell people about Christ.

6. Don't be afraid to give up what's easy in order to do something hard.

I've heard someone say that "not everything that's hard is good, but just about everything that's good is hard." It's true. And I shouldn't be afraid to leave my comfort zone and forsake what is easy in order to do hard things when it's right and Biblical. Another thought on this, is that I must not be living for myself right now (which is easy to do), and instead, be dying to myself (which is hard). If I'm in the habit of denying myself now (although imperfectly, for sure), then I will be in the habit of denying myself when I'm married, too.

7. Be diligent.

Who wants a lazy wife? I know that I don't want a lazy husband! I also don't want to marry a man who is busy all the time with earthly things that are just fading away. (That's actually laziness, too.) I must be purposeful in the way I spend my time, forsaking laziness and wasteful living, and pursuing what pleases the Lord and what matters for eternity.

8. Read the Word of God.

In order to know God's Word, I must read it. Knowing God's Word blesses me, and also those around me, when I live out what I know. It doesn't really matter knowing what the Bible says, if I ignore it. But I can't live Biblically unless I know what the Bible says. God's Word tells me everything I need to know about living for His glory, and I want to search His Word as a miner digs for gold, relentlessly seeking to know Him more and walk in His ways.

9. Think purely.

It would be discouraging if I knew that my future husband right now, was dreaming constantly of another girl. Just as I hope he strives to think purely, so should I. By God's grace, I must put to death the thoughts that are unholy. I should surrender my thought life to the Lord and be careful to think on what is pleasing to Him. I want to be thinking of excellent things (Philippians 4:8); I want to be stayed (Isaiah 26:3).

10. Be gentle.

I want to speak with kindness. I want to be gracious. I don't desire weakness, but a gentle strength. I want to be the kind of person who isn't fighting for the attention of man. What I long for is that people would look right past me and see my Savior.


So, there are 10 things. I have so much room to grow! Which is exciting to me, because that means God isn't done working on me yet. =)

Living Purposefully

I woke up this morning and wondered what my day would hold. I didn't have many plans yet, and I was excited when I thought of all the things I could do. But I was also unsure, worried that I would waste this day. Will I be diligent? Or will I give in to laziness?

I know my tendency, to choose what is easiest over what is best. I can't live the way that I'm called to live in my own strength. I pray fervently, that I will serve the Lord (and not myself) moment by moment, in dependence on Him.

And I don't want to just live each day in order to finish it. I want to live it well, with a purpose. I see how precious time is, how quickly it's speeding by. I watch the seconds tick away, knowing they will never return to be lived again. I have one life. My days are numbered. Could this day be my last? Am I living like it is? Because one day, it will be.

Learning to Trust Him

Learning to trust Him when you don't know the reasons, when you don't understand why.

Learning to trust Him when something seems inconvenient, when it doesn't seem necessary.

Learning to trust Him when your earthly life seems short, and you cannot grasp eternity.

Learning to trust Him when life is so sweet, and you want to depend on Him through the easy times, too.

Learning to trust Him when He is pruning you, and even though it's difficult, you know that He is doing it for your good.

Living by Grace

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; 

Before you were born I sanctified you;

I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

Then said I:

"Ah, Lord GOD!

Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."

But the LORD said to me:

"Do not say, 'I am a youth,'

For you shall go to all to whom I send you,

And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

Do not be afraid of their faces,

For I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD.

 Jeremiah 1:4-8

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers 

in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

We are called to obedience and commanded not to fear. Our youth is not something to be despised or looked down upon. We are to be an example: speaking wisely, living purely, loving sincerely. Our attitudes, actions, and dependence on Christ should be an encouragement to the believers in our lives and spur them on to pursue God more passionately themselves.

I want to live this way. And my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. Honestly, it is by God's grace alone that I grow closer to Him and become a little more like Him. May all the glory be given to Him for the work He does in and through us!

Tasty, Shocking, Beautiful, Exciting, & Unexpected

Tasty: eating homemade peach pie for breakfast.

Shocking: when you're talking with an elderly lady and as you visit, she refers to your younger brother as your son. And you find yourself a little distracted throughout the rest of the conversation thinking, "Did that just happen? I thought I looked young!"

Beautiful: watching a gorgeous bride beam on her wedding day.

Exciting: receiving a long, hand-written letter in the mail from your dear friend who lives halfway across the country.

Unexpected: when the nine-year-old boy you babysit asks you out of the blue, "So, do you have any plans? Are you gonna get married?"

On Prayer

I want to pray about everything. I want to bring every desire, every choice, every part of my day to Jesus' feet in prayer. I could never pray too much. And He doesn't grow weary, even if I should pray one thousand prayers a day. I want to be in continual fellowship with Him--both in a time of quiet stillness set apart for just us, and also during the chaotic and noisy moments of the day.

What a privilege it is to pray! We can pray at any time and any place. It is so encouraging to see God use prayer to strengthen our dependence on Him and draw us nearer to Him. There is nothing sweeter than having a close relationship with the Lord.

Because He Is Trustworthy

Trusting the Lord is a constant theme in my life. Sometimes it's difficult to trust Him, but what is more important?

And I wonder why it is so hard, when He has never failed me? Why would I doubt His goodness? He has been faithful from eternity past, and that faithfulness is not about to end.

His plans are much better than my own. His pruning in my life is for my good. His timing is flawless. His grace is measureless.

I need to remember that I don't see the whole picture, but my Heavenly Father does. I may not understand everything that is going on right now, but God is completely in control. The same One who is the Author of history loves me far more than anyone on earth does. And so I must cling to that love, and just trust Him.

A Wedding

Last weekend, I helped video the wedding of a sweet couple from church. Although taking video was my focus, I just had to take some pictures, too. [And the official photographer encouraged it. =)] Here are a few of them.

I was so blessed to be a part of their day! It was very encouraging to see their focus on the gospel and their desire to honor the Lord. I'm praying that God will bless them immensely and give them a strong marriage as they now live for Him as husband and wife.

Redeemed

I need the Lord--every day, every hour. There is not a moment I could live on my own, but even if I could, I wouldn't want to, because He is everything to me.

My hope is in God, and I know that I will not be shaken. My trust is in Him, and I will never be disappointed. I will not lack, because He satisfies. I will never be alone, because He does not abandon.

There is no good in me. I have not just sinned against Him a few times, but I cannot even number my transgressions. They are greater in number than the stars in the sky. Sin seems to be embedded in me. I cannot escape it.

Why should God love me, when I have so rebelled against His commands? Why would He have mercy on me? I look at myself and all I have done. And He has given grace?

Instead of giving me what I deserve, His righteous justice and wrath--He gave His only Son what He did not deserve. He was completely sinless, yet nailed to a cross. God loved Him, yet forsook Him. Jesus poured out His blood for me, He gave up His life. And all so that the sin I was chained to would lose its power, that I might be brought from death to life and reconciled to God. He was stronger than the grave, rising victorious. He ransomed me by grace. He gave me a new heart and a new identity. I belong to a new Master. I am adopted into His family, now a child of God.

I am blessed beyond words...that He chose me to be His. I am not needed, but wanted. Loved, forgiven, redeemed.

He Can Do Everything

There are many plans in a man's heart,

Nevertheless the LORD's counsel--that will stand.

Proverbs 19:21

"I know that You can do everything,

And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You."

Job 42:2

I know that whatever God does,

It shall be forever.

Nothing can be added to it,

And nothing taken from it,

God does it, that men should fear before Him.

Ecclesiastes 3:14

Secretive, Discouraging, Sweet, Terrifying, & Hilarious

Secretive: when you go have ice cream after church softball on Monday, just like you always do. But you don't tell anyone that when you were in town with a friend early that day, you had ice cream then, too.

Discouraging: the price of airline tickets to Hawaii.

Sweet: when your mom is excited the whole day because she can hardly wait for the date your dad is taking her on in the evening.

Terrifying: it's late and you're lying in bed editing pictures on your laptop. You feel something on your arm, so you look down...only to find the biggest daddy long-legs spider you've ever laid eyes on walking up your arm. You somehow brush it off, grab it with a tissue, and bring it downstairs alive to show your mom and sister (the one who absolutely despises spiders). They are also disturbed, and you end this spider's life. You feel a sense of accomplishment, yet at the same time wonder if you'll be able to sleep tonight.

Hilarious: playing hide-and-seek while babysitting. The six year old girl comes into the room you're hiding in and declares, "If you're in this room, say, 'Ooga booga!'"

When My Days Are Really His

When I see each day as my own, my focus is how I can please myself in it. I become wrapped up in my own agenda, and begin to despise anything that conflicts with it.

But when I look at each day as belonging to the Lord, my eyes are no longer on myself. I am a steward of this beautiful gift of time, and I want to be faithful for the One who has given me life. I become wrapped up in His plans and am excited to see what He has for me. I just want to honor Him because He is worthy. And I will eagerly receive both joys and trials because I know who is in control and that He is working all things together for my good and His glory.

Every Minute

Every minute I live is a gracious gift from God. And every minute I live matters. I cannot waste my life, not even a moment. Time is precious and quick. My life is fleeting.

My days are already numbered, decided by the One who created me before I had lived even one of them. Do I not think He has a purpose for every day of my life? And how can I, redeemed by His own Son's death on a cross, waste one of them?

I don't know how long my life will last, whether there are fifty years ahead of me or five days. But I don't really want to know. My soul is secure in His hands. And whatever length of life I have left on earth, by His grace, I will live it for Him.

Summer Pictures

What I'm Praying Today...

That I would desire what the Lord wants for me more than what I want.
That I would love Him more than anything.
That I would trust in His flawless plans and know without a doubt that they are the best.
That I would fear God and worship Him alone.
That all my life would honor Him and please Him.
That I would be content in Him, resting joyfully in His goodness.
That my thoughts would be fixed on Christ and the gospel.

Psalm 16:2, 11

Oh my soul, you have said to the LORD,

"You are my Lord,

My goodness is nothing apart from You."

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Wonderful, Delicious, Frustrating, Convenient, & Nerve-Wracking

Wonderful: it's Friday, and everyone seems a little happier.

Delicious: when you eat dinner at your babysitting job. But when you get home that night and realize what a wonderful meal your mom cooked that you missed out on, you decide to eat a second dinner (even though it's already after 9:00).

Frustrating: when the internet isn't working (again). And you just want to contact the president of the internet to let him know the turmoil you're going through. But I guess you can't do that either, now can you? May we endure this with patience.
 
Convenient: to have godly friends you can text who know the reference to that verse you can't find in your Bible.

Nerve-wracking: starting your piano lesson at your music teacher's house. And there's an annoying fly in the room, so your teacher finds a flyswatter. She then explains to you that, while she doesn't want to scare you, if the fly happens to land on you, she will smack it. And so, as you play, you're just waiting for that moment...

Trusting God's Plans

When I surrender my future to the Lord, I am not losing joy. But it is in that moment of letting go that I find happiness in the very fullest.

Though giving up my dear dreams is very difficult, I have something better to cling to. God's plans for me are far bigger and sweeter than anything I could think of. I trust Him, knowing that the future He chose for me in eternity past will meet my every desire and need. I will not be disappointed.

So, I live my life surrendered to my Savior. But it is not as if I have nothing to hold onto. I'm clinging to Christ.

155 Thoughts

If you don't already know me, here are a few things you should know:

Most importantly, that I am saved by God's grace. Christ is the center of my life, and I'm so happy that I get to live my life for Him.

I am nineteen, living at home with my parents and four siblings (two brothers and two sisters). We are far from being a perfect family, but we love the Lord, and we love each other.

I have a passion for Biblical womanhood. My desire is to serve God faithfully, with my primary focus being at home. Whether God's plan for me includes marriage or not, I am convinced that my life will lack no joy or adventure as long as I trust in Him.

Although I am not eloquent, I love writing, specifically journaling. And I guess I write so much because I think- a lot. My mind seems to be consistently thinking a million things at once. And so I write to keep myself from going crazy. =) But don't worry, I am only going to post a few of my thoughts here. =)

I'm excited to begin this blog, and I pray that what you read here will encourage you as you live for Christ.