Glen - Are You Really Waiting?

Are You Really Waiting?

By Glen Cuthbert

I’ve been struggling with trying to find something to write about, so I decided to look at my own life and write about something that I have been having a problem with. Right now, the problem I’m having is not having crushes because I’m waiting on God. I know I’m not alone with this problem. So, I’m writing this month’s post on just that. Just so you know, this post is written as much to me as it is to you. I think it will help all of us.

Trusting God one-hundred percent is always going to be a struggle. Yes, we can all say that we are trusting God for our future mate, but if we just say it, are we really trusting Him? God has that perfect person all picked out, and He doesn’t need our help. No matter how amazing that certain someone that you are interested in may be, the question still remains: Do you completely trust God?

Having a crush while waiting on God is like having a backup plan. Most people have backup plans when they are scared that something will go wrong with their original plan. God doesn’t make mistakes. His way is perfect. Because of this, we don’t need a “plan B” in case something goes wrong. You’re probably wondering, “This person is SO AWESOME, how could they not be ‘the one’?” My question to you is: How can they be?

Going back to the first post that I ever wrote for this blog, I wrote about how “the right person at the wrong time is still the wrong person.” Seriously, we’re all still young. The time is not yet right, so the person is also not right. No matter how “right” they may seem.

Also, crushes come at a price. I’ve written in the past about giving your heart away. There is still pain, there is still heartbreak. I’ve never had a girlfriend, but I’ve been hurt just from “innocent crushes.” There is no thing as an “innocent crush.” People still get hurt.

God made us with a natural sense of attraction. That’s just part of being human. But the real question is: “Will you trust God and control those attractions?” View guys or girls that you are attracted to as prospective good friends, and work on those friendships. Someday, if you go about it right, you should marry one of your closest friends. So, start now, and you may increase your chances with that person more than you would have with a crush. Or, you might just find out things about them that you wouldn’t have seen if you were still interested in them. Just make sure that your motives for friendship are right. Trust God, build your friendships, and He will take care of the rest.

Do you completely trust God, or do you have a backup plan?

Psalm 27:14- “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Glen - Are You Trusting God?

Are You Trusting God?

by Glen Cuthbert

While reading "I Kissed Dating Goodbye", I found a summary of a story from William J. Bennett's Book of Virtues. It's the story of Peter, a boy who tends to be impatient and is constantly daydreaming of the future.

One day while wandering in the forests, Peter meets a strange old woman who gives him a most tantalizing opportunity—the chance to skip the dull, mundane moments of life. She hands Peter a silver ball from which a tiny gold thread protrudes. “This is your life thread,” she explains. “Do not touch it and time will pass normally. But if you wish time to pass more quickly, you have only to pull the thread a little way and an hour will pass like a second. But I warn you, once the thread has been pulled out, it cannot be pushed back in again.”

This magical thread seems the answer to all of Peter’s problems. It is just what he has always wanted. He takes the ball and runs home.

The following day in school Peter has his first opportunity to put the silver ball to use. The lesson is dragging, and the teacher scolds Peter for not concentrating. Peter fingers the silver ball and gives the thread a slight tug. Suddenly, the teacher dismisses the class, and Peter is free to leave school. He is overjoyed! How easy his life will now be. From this moment, Peter begins to pull the thread a little every day.

But soon Peter begins to use the magic thread to rush through larger portions of life. Why waste time pulling the thread just a little every day when he can pull it hard and complete school altogether?He does so and finds himself out of school and apprenticed in trade. Peter uses the same technique to rush through his engagement to his sweetheart. He cannot bear and wait months to marry her so he uses the gold thread to hasten the arrival of the wedding day.

Peter continues to pattern throughout his life when hard, trying times come, he escapes then with his magic thread.

But sadly when he comes to the end of his life, Peter realizes the emptiness of such an existence. By allowing impatience and discontentment to rule him, Peter has robbed himself of life’s riches moments and memories. With only the grave to look forward to, he deeply regrets ever having used the magic thread.

How many of us waste our time wondering, dreaming and fretting about the future? I've been guilty of it, and I'm sure you have too. People are naturally curious, and the future provides the greatest unknown. Marriage is very far away for many of us, so why worry about it? I know a twelve year old girl that is constantly asking, "Could this guy be the one?" She still has at least eight years before she can get married! Yet, many of us do the same thing, asking, "Could this guy/girl be the one?" I'll tell you right now. They're not. At least not yet. Until that "yet" happens, do we need to worry about it? NO!

Just think how much more could we do for God, if we would focus on today, instead of tomorrow. God knows how it will go, and He is in control. All we need to do is trust Him. God is the Author and Storyteller of our lives.The story is already completely written, and He knows how it ends, but He chooses to read it to us one chapter at a time for a reason. Here are a few verses for you to think about:

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths"

Matthew 6:34a "Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself."

Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Psalm 37:5 "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

There is no need to worry about who God wants you to marry. Don't try to peek ahead in the book! God doesn't want you to know that yet! Instead, trust that He cares about you, and that He will do what is best for you.

Have a blessed Easter, and remember the sacrifice that Jesus made, because he LOVED us.

Does The Term Really Matter?

I was reading through "Boy Meets Girl" (by Joshua Harris) again today and God brought something to my mind.

Actually, God showed me something I've been doing wrong.

And kept thinking "No, I didn't do that! I just know I didn't do that!"

So I signed on blogger,

looked at some of my old posts on here...

And guess what?

I have been doing something wrong.

Boy, thats not a fun thing to admit.

Wanna know what it is?

Of course you do...

:)

Well, God showed me that when I talk about relationships, whether I'm posting on here or talking to a friend, I come off really hard and make it sound like Courtship (what I call courtship at least) is the only way thats right or that works.

But God brought it to mind that the term or what you call the relationship doesn't matter. What matters is whether God is the center of that relationship and if it is honoring to Him or not.

I know some people who call their relationship "Courtship" and it is not a God honoring relationship at all. And on the other hand, I know some people who call their relationship "Dating" and it is very God honoring and you can clearly see God through it.

So does the term really matter?

No.

I do still like the term courtship better then dating...but thats just what I like.

It sounds more old-fashion and romantic...but again thats just me. :)

Call your relationship (or future relationship) whatever you want...

Just keep God at the center of it.

Anyways, I guess I kind of just wanted to clear this up and apologize for the way I've sounded in some of my posts.

Glen - Who Has Your Heart?

Here is another post by Glen. He will be writing a post for us once a month...I'm sure you will all enjoy them. I really enjoy this one! : ) Please feel free to contact Glen through his email: gcuthbert35@cogeco.ca

Who Has Your Heart?

by Glen Cuthbert

It was finally here-Anna's wedding day, the day she had dreamed about and planned for months. The small, picturesque church was crowded with friends and family.

Sunlight poured through the stained-glass windows, and the gentle music of a string quartet filled the air. Anna walked down the aisle toward David. Joy surged within her. This was the moment for which she had waited so long. He gently took her hand, and they turned toward the altar.

But as the minister began to lead Anna and David through their vows, the unthinkable happened. A girl stood up in the middle of the congregation, walked quietly to the altar, and took David's other hand. Another girl approached and stood next to the first, followed by another. Soon, a chain of six girls stood by him as he repeated his vows to Anna.

Anna felt her lip begin to quiver as tears welled up in her eyes. "Is this some kind of joke?" she whispered to David.

"I'm ... I'm sorry, Anna," he said, staring at the floor.

"Who are these girls, David? What is going on?" she gasped.

"They're girls from my past," he answered sadly. "Anna, they don't mean anything to me now ... but I've given part of my heart to each of them."

"I thought your heart was mine," she said.

"It is, it is," he pleaded. "Everything that's left is yours."

A tear rolled down Anna's cheek. Then she woke up.

I was floored when I read this story in "I Kissed Dating Goodbye". It left me wondering, "How many times have I given my heart away?"

Have you ever asked yourself the same question? Every one of us has had people in our past. Have you given your heart to them? Once you give your heart to someone, you never get all of it back. If we keep giving our hearts away to every guy/girl that catches our interest, then how can we expect to have anything left for the person that God wants us to marry?

So what can we do about it? Well, I've found Someone Who I can give my heart to that promises to give it all back when His timing is right. Let me ask you this: Does He have your heart?

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

Can't Think Of A Good Title...

I've done a lot of thinking lately about this whole single and waiting on God thing. I've had some conversations about dating that have really had me asking myself why. Why don't I date? Why do I want to save my first kiss for my wedding day? Why am I staying single when there are plenty of guys that I could date? Why do I sit and watch my friends date guy after guy while I've never dated anyone? Why do I keep myself emotionally and psychically pure for one guy?

It makes me wonder...what is your reason for waiting? Is it just because your parents don't want you to date? Are you just trying to save yourself from the hurt that comes with dating and heartbreak? Or is it because you want to honor your future spouse and glorify God? It is good to obey your parents, and its even a wise choice to save yourself from the pain of dating and heartbreak...but the number one reason should be because its what God wants and it honors your future spouse.

This staying single and waiting for one person isn't considered normal or good in the world. In fact, if you've never dated or now choose not to, then people think there is something wrong with you. The "normal" 19 year old girl is either obsessing over the guy shes currently 'in like' with or crying over the last guy that broke her heart. I mean, you are just plain weird if you make it to almost 20 years old and have never even been on a date or kissed a guy. lol

I think that is hard for me sometimes. Loneliness is a hard part of waiting, but hearing what people say about you is also really hard. It's only by the grace of God that Christian young people are about to remain pure and wait for the one God made for them. And you should all be proud of yourselves and of God working through you. Your future spouses will be so proud of you for waiting for them.

I'm so very thankful that God has given me the strength to remain pure and wait for Him to bring my husband to me. And thank about it...what a gift that will be for our future spouses!!

Okay, so I'm not sure what the point of this post is. I just had all these little thoughts in my head and figured I should get them out of there. LOL! Hope it wasn't to confusing for ya! :)