Here I am. Send me out.

Permalink | 1,493 notes "He does not want a girl who trifles with Christianity. He wants a woman who is radically given to Christ. He does not want a girl who prays tepid, lukewarm prayers. He wants a woman who lives in defiance of the powers of Hell. He does not want a girl who is self-adorning with the latest fashions and trends. He wants a woman who is adorned with the inner jewelry of Christ-given holiness. He does not want a girl who dishonors and belittles her parents. He wants a woman who honors the authorities God has placed in her life and serves them with charity and gladness. He does not want a girl whose Bible is an accessory to her wardrobe. He wants a woman whose hunger and thirst is to know the Lord, and who diligently feasts upon His Word. He does not want a girl whose tongue is a deceptive weapon of selfishness. He wants a woman whose words drip with the honey of the name of Jesus…" — Anonymous on “What a Godly guy wants (in a wife)” | Set Apart Girl Magazine (via itsjaaanel) *dang (via prevailzine)
(Source: nonelikejesus, via mybluecanoe)

Permalink | 79 notes "You’ll never know what’s on the inside if you never open up the box. And why do you expect the door to open up if you won’t even knock?" — Landon Pigg, On the Other Side (via a-recovered-life)
(via mybluecanoe)

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Michal’s Story 1 Samuel 14—2 Samuel 6

Unlike her brother Jonathan, Michal did not have the kind of deep relationship with God that would have helped her through the difficulties in her life. Instead, she became bitter. She could not share David’s joyful worship of God, so she hated it. As a result, she never bore David any children.

We need to see Michal as a person mirroring our own tendencies.

How quickly and easily we become bitter with life’s unexpected turns. But bitterness cannot remove or change the bad things that have happened. Often bitterness only makes a bad situation worse.

… On the other hand, a willingness to respond to God gives him the opportunity to bring good out of the difficult situations. That willingness has two parts:
1. asking God for his guidance
2. looking for that guidance in his Word

Strengths & Accomplishments:
- Loved David and became his first wife
- Saved David’s life
- Could think and act quickly when it was needed

Weaknesses & Mistakes:
- Lied under pressure
- Allowed herself to become bitter over her circumstances
- In her unhappiness, she hated David for loving God

Relatives:
Parents- Saul and Ahinoam
Brothers- Jonathan, Malkishua, Abinadab, Ishbosheth
Sister- Merab
Husbands- David, Palti

Key verse:
“But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him.” (2 Samuel 6:16)

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God has given two rules for a successful lasting marriage. One for the husband and one for the wife.

(Referencing to 2 Samuel 6:16-23 David and Michal)

1. For the husband, God said, “Love your wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.”

a. In that commandment God took into consideration the woman’s greatest need. The security of knowing that her loves her supremely. After Eve sinned in the garden, God said of the woman, “Her desire shall be to her husband.” She desires to know that her husband loves her supremely. That there is not another woman in the world that could attract him. She finds security in that love.

c. Being the weaker vessel, she looks to him for protection, and provision,

b. God said to the wife, submit yourself to your own husband as unto the Lord. God was taking into consideration, man’s greatest need, the loving approval of his wife. Her trust in his ability to make the right decisions and to guide the home.

c. Here Michal is striking at the very core of the relationship. Rather than complimenting and rejoicing with David for the return of the Ark, she speaks scornfully to him.

d. David responds with a coldness and aloofness, that it appears was never healed. The statement that she had no child to the day of her death, seems to indicate that David never again became intimate with her.

e. That is a far cry from, “And they lived happily ever after.”

f. Many marriages have fallen on hard times just as David’s and Michal’s. It is not a duet, but a duel. There is constant cutting and pain. You have broken the rules, who? Usually both. The husband has failed to assure his wife of his love. She in turn, because of her insecurity, is continually challenging him. Every issue becomes a duel.

g. How can it be healed? By both confessing their sin, for these are not God’s suggestions for marriage, but commands. Then do your first works over. Husbands assure your wife that she is the most important woman in your life, that you love her even as Christ loved the church, that you would lay down your life for her. Wives, let your husband be a man, don’t be constantly challenging his decisions. Set aside your swords, and let your words be filled with grace, seasoned with salt.

(Source: blueletterbible.org)

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godsradicaldaughter:

I want this to be my testimony. Honestly, I am really not that much. My life is filled with problems and issues. I wish I can change those. I really tried hard to become better, to act more appropriately, to be nicer, to be a more ‘proper girl.’ But I can’t. I once wanted to be the smartest at every class I had, but my best turned out to be not enough. I wanted to be exceptional with everything I did, but I was just too clumsy. I wanted to take good care of every relationship I had, but found out I was just being selfish. I can be such a failure.
And then I read this verse. It had so much depth and impact to me. It made me think back of all those things I used to want to do, and decide that they don’t matter to me anymore. This, I thought. This is what I want to become. I want the people I know to see me and be amazed at how Jesus changes a person.
Look at Peter and John. They were untrained and uneducated, and yet, they had such a confidence that amazed those who observed them. They were bold. They were full of courage. They were full of conviction and were not a bit intimidated about how the people they were talking to probably knew more about Scripture than they did.
They stood up. They did not think about what they used to be. They did not think about how the people used to see them as knowing nothing. They just couldn’t help but talk about the Good News that the awesome love of Jesus brought. And people believed them. People followed them. They listened to these apostles.
The people were amazed because they saw how Jesus has changed them. It has never had anything to do with their past, or their actions. No. The amazement began when they realized that these men, who were once nobodies, have dramatically and radically transformed because they followed Jesus. Not because they were trying to gain fame. Not because they were trying to be the best. Not because they wanted approval. No. They simply took the risk of following the leading of the Spirit of talking about Jesus. They just let Jesus use them. And the world was turned upside down.
Now, it doesn’t matter what I’d been through, what I once was trying to do, or what I failed in. They don’t matter anymore. I know that Jesus loves me, and I’m sticking with Him. My life will be a testimony. I don’t know how this will happen, but I know that my Savior has a plan. He will move freely in my life.

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godsradicaldaughter:

WE LIVE ON, Paul says. In the face of hunger, death, crisis, persecution, poverty, calamity, lack, insufficiency, maltreatment, sorrow, loss, insults, and many oppositions, he did not give up. He chose to LIVE on, and continue sharing the Gospel of Christ. He did not give up.
Whatever you may be going through right now, beloved, continue living with the fervor for the love of God. Continue walking, because Someone is holding your hand. Whatever circumstances you may be faced with, know that Jesus can turn it for your good. Know that it doesn’t mean it’s already over when everything is lost. It’s not over, because Jesus, when He died on the Cross and rose again, has already won victory for you. So don’t give up. Your strength is not your strength. It’s from God. You can still stand up. If only you’ll take the risk of moving forward and not letting your situation keep you stuck, you’ll find how much God has equipped you— how much power and joy He has put in you. You’ll realize that He has never left you, and ALL is not lost. ALL is Jesus. And He is with you.
Don’t give up. Jesus has enabled you with so much, and those little setbacks Satan keep on sending towards you are so small and puny in the face of our God. He has a victory for you. Have hope in the destination God has prepared for you, not on where you are on right now. A greater place exists, beloved, and that’s where you’re headed.
Live on, because your life isn’t yours. You have the life of Christ. It won’t end in failure and hopelessness. In the midst of all these troubles, know that they will soon pass away, and God is leading you out of them. Keep on walking by faith.

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