His Beloved

Jesus pursues His beloved bride and fights for her. Jesus paid the untimate price for her and He is coming again.

This is a prayer from Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge from chapter 11 Warrior Princess.

I now put on with thanks the armor which You have provided for me-girding myself with the belt of truth; first my need to be pursued and fought for. Thank You for daily pursuing me and fighting for me as well.

I also gird up my desire to be irreplaceable in a grand scheme of Yours. You have placed this desire within me and I wrap Your truth around it, in hope of what You will do. Grant me eyes to see each day in light of Your activity, to live in the big-ness of Your story.

I gird up my desire to offer life through my gifting, the beauty You have bestowed on me. I ask You to continue to reveal and confirm what You desire to do through me and all You have given me. I trust that You have called me by name and have given me a love, a beauty, a gift to pour out on my family, my friends, and those You bring to me. May this day be an offering of love poured out before You on the alter of my life."

Chapter 8
Chapter 7
Chapter 6
Chapter 5
Chapter 4
Chapter 3
Chapter 2b
Chapter 2
Chapter 1
Introduction

Young Love - or NOT

Today I talked to a mom about her son who is 9 years old. He was at the Y and a little girl came up to him and said “do you have a girlfriend?”

He answered plainly, “No.”
“I’ll be your girlfriend.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Yes, I will. YES, I WILL!” the girl yelled.
The boy walked away in wonder.

I saw a 10 year old girl in a store. An older teenage girl was teasing her. “Who’s your boyfriend? Who’s your boyfriend? I know you like someone. Tell me, tell me.”
I felt so sad for this little girl. What a pressure at that age! (at any age for that matter) She doesn’t need a boyfriend. She is being taught that her value and worth is dependant on who is her boyfriend.

When I was a young mother I thought this kind of teasing was cute and harmless. Then I realized what message it was sending. “You are supposed to have a boyfriend. Something must be wrong with you if you don’t.”

If girls could see themselves as God sees them, care more about what God thinks than anyone else, they wouldn’t think they needed a boyfriend. "...for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:marvellous are thy works..." Ps 139:14

What is cute about two 10 year olds ‘going steady’? If they are going steady at 10, kissing is right around the corner. And then what is that girl going to have to do to keep her guy.

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 Tim 4:12

"....His banner over me is love." Song 2:4

This time of year thoughts of love are flying everywhere. Sadly, most people feel disappointed. And yet you have been loved with the greatest love of all. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down His life for His friends."John 15:13 Years ago, I was so busy feeling sorry for myself that I forgot to think about how my kids were feeling about themselves. This week the question came "How do I help my kids when they are not feeling loved and accepted?" I think every person young and old will struggle with feelings of rejection until they accept the love of Jesus. "But God commanded His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom 5:8 We didn't do anything to deserve that love, it is a free gift. We can just accept it. It is hard for me to help my kids feel loved when I am not feeling loved or accepting Christ's love. Even though I love my children more than they can imagine. Only the love of Jesus will fill that empty space. The best thing I can do is point my kids to the cross. Of course, I need to have been there myself. Just as I am, sin and all, I come to the cross and lay all my problems at the feet of Jesus. And in His love and grace He gives me back "...beauty for ashes, the oil for joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified." Isa 61:3 I want to instill on my own heart and the hearts of my kids God's extravagant, immeasurable, unending thoughts of love and joy over His children. We read verses about it, sing songs of joy, and spend time thinking on His thoughts.

Zep 3:17 "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing."

Nourish Your Child