seek Him.

yay for this new blog. i needed that quote and scripture this morning! how encouraging. i was talking to a friend recently who now does have a boyfriend... but she has definitely experienced the struggle of waiting. we said that so often there is guilt involved with the frustration with waiting. that we are often made to feel guilty because of a discontentment. but, singleness does involve suffering. it is a type of suffering. it is the absence of something that we want. but, suffering is a blessing. that is how God draws us to Himself. that's how He teaches us. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:2-4
praise God that He would want to make me complete. and paul talks about how he has learned contentment. it did not just happen as soon as he was converted. no, through trial and trial and trial, paul learned to be content. and he was of an old age when he finally understood contentment fully.
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." - philippians 4:12
i am not saying we are to continue to embrace the loneliness factor and live in self pity, but we are called to suffering, we are called to trials and that's perfectly ok. but in those trials we are to look to Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.

i really did not mean to start to spill... i tend to do that. but, here are two really, really big things that have encouraged me in the past year.

last year i struggled more in this area than i ever had... i don't know what my future holds... but, it did seem as if God really brought all of my longings and all of my fears to a head so He could really break me and draw me near to Him. it changed me and it did draw me so close to Him. during that time, my wonderful, wonderful mentor, Mrs. Barbara, gave me this verse...
"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33
i probably say this verse to myself more than any other verse ever... i constantly go back to that and find great rest and encouragement. it brings peace to know that that's all that He calls me to do. seek Him. He will provide the rest. seeking Him involves dying to self... dying to our wants and what we may call needs... it means hard work sometimes, perseverance and stepping out of our comfort zones. but if all the while it is His kingdom that we are seeking, and not our own wants or needs, then He will provide the rest. He will provide a husband if that be His will and it will be in due time. He knows when we are ready. we don't know His plan.

ok... this one's a little silly... but this song brings great encouragement to me. it didn't mean to be given to me as encouragement, but i really do believe God set it up. a friend played it for me when i was really struggling having liked a certain guy, without really thinking about it, and she found it inappropriate and apologized where as i found it very encouraging.

"more" - sam and ruby

oh what a sad mistake that both of us have made
believing that i could be happy at putting my own peace of mind at stake
don't be mad about just be sad about it
i need more than you have to give

oh i could stay in this thing knowing there'd be no ring
knowing that there'd be no babies that i could adore and teach how to sing
don't be mad about it just be sad about it
i need more than you have to give

i need more than a casual dating life
i need more than a kiss or two a week
i need more than a long good bye at night
i need someone who can show me i am one of his needs

it's not about the crowds who say that we're a fit
how can you look at my face and then say that you really are fine with this
just admit to it this ain't no way to live
i need more than you have to give

i need more than a casual dating life
i need more than a kiss or two a week
i need more than a long good bye at night
i need someone who can show me i am one of his needs

every relationship is such a blessed gift
i could never holding a grudge when i know i could learn from it
you are beautiful but i need a miracle
i need more than you have to give

please don't be mad about just be sad about it
i need more than you have to give


ok... so the song. isn't it true though. i know that i have wanted to settle in this past... and put stock in one certain guy, when i knew that it was not right. but know exactly what we need. it was if He was saying to me, Kate you are so devestated right now, but I see past this and I have so much more for you. and two, we don't have to be mad about our past, we don't have to hang on to it. we are to let it go... God has redeemed us, past, present, and future. give it to Him. and trust that He knows what's best for you.

wow... this has gotten long. i am going to end with one quote... from a book i read last year called the allure of hope. it was written by a woman shortly after her fiance broke off their engagement. so, you must know that she was in pain and seeking Christ with all she could for comfort and answers. this is what she had to say...

"In the days following my broken engagement, I predictably couldn't shake my fiance's eyes from my memory. They are deep and clear eyes, eyes that had held such light for me. The eyes are the window to the sould; his eyes mirrored a noble and passionate soul, touched by God. I wished for the image of his eyes to go away - not out of contempt, just out of needing relief. If I could just banish those eyes from my memory, then the loss would be lessened and I could function.
God visited me there. He didn't ask me to remove my love's eyes from my heart, nor did He chide me for trying to banish his memory. He knew it was just too much for me. So He gave me a vision. The vision was of jesus waiting for me at the end of an aisle more beautiful than that of any European cathedral. When I arrived and looked in His eyes, I saw the same light I had seen in my love's eyes, only perfected and ture. I realized at that moement that the light I had loved in my fiance's eyes had been Jesus all along. Did I love this man? Oh, yes, no question. But Jesus was showing me that what I most needed, what I thought I had lost, was still with me. The vision continued with feasting and festivities celebrating our love. It surpassed anything I could imaging. I had a glimpse of finally knowing Him. I knew then that it was true:
No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind had imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love Him... 1 Corinthians 2:9"

ok, sorry for the massive post... i am glad all of these thoughts are recorded now though, because they are probably 3 of the biggest things that i am encouraged by and i try to encourage others with... seek His kingdom, He knows what we need.... don't settle, and He is the great love of our life.