The Lindsey Family - We're Burning Up The Barn

   Okay, most may not realize this, but after praise and worship music(which is Hillsong United, Bethel, and Rend Collective styles), my next favorite music genre is Bluegrass. Yep, you read that right! Bluegrass. Which is positive, considering that I'm friends with two different bluegrass bands! One being the Lamay and Reese duo (http://lamay.com/lamayreese.htm), and the other,  The Lindsey Family (http://www.lindsey-family.com/cms/).  

And just to be random, fun, and to go along with my bluegrass kick as of late, I'm sharing one of The Lindsey's songs with you. Hope it brings a smile to your face this morning. Enjoy! 

Surrendering to the lordship of Jesus Christ - Trusting God in everything (Includes the story of John and Betty Stam)

"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." - Isaiah 30:15

"But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." - Luke 2:19

   Have you ever had so many things on your heart that you have no idea how to put them into words? Or perhaps even just a few, but you find those few things filling your entire being? 
That's how I have been feeling many times these last couple of weeks. Not in a bad way or anxious way, but rather, in a pondering and wondering way. I am learning more and more of the beauty in quietness, rest, contentment, and trust. In all those things combined, I find renewed hope and strength in my Savior. He is faithful to teach me how to surrender everything from my today, my tomorrow, and beyond. The more I rest in Him, the less restless I am concerning the future. And yes, specifically, concerning marriage. Why that is an ever probing subject on a girl's mind, I'm afraid I will never understand! How can something that is so wonderfully created BY GOD, be the most distracting thing ever?! 

Okay, sorry, almost went on a bunny trail there!

John (He's almost 21 already!)

Not long ago, I wrote about how I tend to feel about change (here). I guess it is inevitable I would think about "change" around the New Year. I still have the feeling in my gut that this year will be different and filled with newness. In fact, change is already coming our way. My sister, Krystal, and her husband, Anthony, are adopting a little girl from Bulgaria. They are over there right now meeting her.  I can't wait for our turn to meet her! 

 Secondly, my brother, John, is moving out soon! I'm very thankful he will only be 10-15 minutes away, and yet even with him still so close, our home dynamics are about to change. Crazy! 
In the midst of my sadness of not getting to spend as much time with one of my best friends in the whole world, I am very, very excited for the opportunity the Lord has opened for him.  I'm trying to take advantage of being stretched in this area of change and further learn to surrender everything and everyone in my life to the Lord. His grace if sufficient! :) 

Thirdly, beginning on Tuesday, I will be spending time two days a week with a little girl, named Macey, who was born with Cerebral Palsy and is in a wheel chair. Needless to say, I am excited beyond words for this opportunity! Children with special needs are very near and dear to my heart and I am thankful that God has opened this door to work with her and her family. Will you please pray for me? I really hope and pray that Macey and I will connect quickly and become good buds :) I also need wisdom and discernment to learn what best motivates her and encourages her. 

Brooke

Also, my best friend, accountability partner, sister, and confidant(besides my mother & father), Brooke, will be leaving this year to go to eleven countries in eleven months with an organization called the World Race. In other words, she's paying me back for being in Thailand for fifteen months. Gosh, talk about change! I'm not sure what I'm going to do without her. Once again, I'm thankful God does. 

And lastly, I'm planning a trip to Germany!!!!!!! Now this is change I can handle. A trip to Europe has been one of my dreams for the last several years, and now, Lord willing, I will finally be able to visit my very good friend, Kristyn. The date is not set, nor do I have the funds, but I am planning, praying, and feeling determined. 

There are also some personal things I'm praying about. These are areas between God and me. The ones that set me to pondering and wondering. The areas that bring me to my knees daily before the One I love. He is so kind and good. There is no stress or confusion in His presence, only peace. He is helping me to surrender the little things now so that, I assume, to be able to surrender bigger things later. What those things will be I have not a clue, nor do I focus on them. 

Many times I am encouraged by other people's stories of waiting and trusting in the Lord's timing and purposes. One story in particular lately has been very uplifting. It's the story of John and Betty Stam. They were missionaries to China for a short time during the 1930's. I had never heard of them until I read Elisabeth Elliot's book, "Quest for Love" (which is a great read by the way. If you're single and desiring marriage, you should read it).  Everything about John and Betty's story is about seemingly impossibility, trust and surrendering to the lordship of Jesus Christ...even unto death. 
John Stam was born in NEW JERSEY in the early twentieth century. He was seated at his desk in business school one day in 1922 when he handed his life over to the Lord. His interest in making money waned. He just wanted God's will for his life. This led him to attend Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. In the mean time, on the other side of the world in CHINA, the Lord was also preparing Betty Scott to attend Moody. It was there that John and Betty met. John noticed in Betty something that he had never found before, something that strangely attracted him. But he held his feelings so firmly in check that no one knew of his attraction to her. 

Betty assumed she would return to China as a missionary, but at Moody the continent of Africa began to consume her heart. Her attention had also been drawn to John Stam, whose call to China was clear and sure. I can imagine her human and natural feelings. Was it to be Africa or China? Marriage or singleness? The wonderful thing about Betty was that her fears lead her to the Lord and in return she received His gentle reassurance. Finally, after much prayer and deep testing, the call to China was confirmed in Betty's heart during her second year at Moody. 

During their two years at Moody, John never preferred one girl above another. He had kept entirely free in heart and outward relations, expecting not only to go to China unmarried but to remain so for at least five years! His hope was to engage in pioneering evangelistic work. He was ready to offer for the mountain tribes of the west or the Moslems of Sinkiang. But now he faced a new challenge - He realized he was in love with Betty. Now what? 
We are told that, " Betty, with her pure, sweet nuture, did not hide from him that his love might be returned." She had found in John spiritual fellowship, a common missionary vision, and a deep unity of heart in the things that mattered most. But still, the way was not clear for them. They continued to press forward with their plans, trusting God's wisdom. John wrote to his father: 

"Betty and I have prayed much about this, and I am sure that, if our sacrifice is unnecessary, the Lord will not let us miss out on any of His blessings. Our hearts are set to do His will...But this is true, isn't it, our wishes must not come first? The progress of the Lord's work is the chief consideration. So there are times when we just have to stop and think hard."

 They ended up parting ways for eight months. John honestly desired nothing but the will of God, but was he willing to face life without Betty? Long story short, the timing of events were, as always, in God's hands. He made a way for them to become engaged! After their engagement though, they were again parted for an entire year. This would make, I believe, 3 or 4 years of waiting for them. Finally, they were married on October 25, 1933.  Their baby, Helen Priscilla, was born on September 11, 1934 :) However, after only a little over a year of marriage, and keep in mind the waiting before that,  in December John and Betty were captured by Chinese Communists, marched half-naked through the village streets, and beheaded. The baby was discovered thirty hours later by Mr. Lo, a pastor. She was lying on the bed, safe and warm in her zippered sleeping bag, apparently none the worse for her long fast. In the bag were an extra nightgown, some diapers, and two five-dolloar bills, just enough to provide the little rescue party, which included young mothers who fed the baby along the way. 

And so, this is the story of John and Betty Stam. 

God alone was enough. Is He enough for me? For you? 

Many years before this part of their story began, Betty's prayer of commitment and consecration acquired powerfully striking significance in view of the manner of their death.

"Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all, utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever." 

I want to be like Betty. I find strength in her story, because she was an ordinary girl with a human heart and feelings. She accepted changes with grace and allowed her circumstances to draw her closer to Christ instead of wavering. She was like Mary when Mary said to the angel, Gabriel, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." 

As Christians, this ought to be our heart's cry. 

I leave myself, and you, my reader, with the lyrics to a song I love. 

God Alone Is Enough
By John Michael Talbot

Let nothing trouble you
Let nothing frighten you
For everything passes
But God will never change

Patient endurance
Will obtain everything
Whoever has God
Wants for nothing at all

God alone is enough
God alone is enough
Whoever has God
Wants for nothing at all

God alone is enough
God alone is enough
Whoever has God
Wants for nothing at all

So let nothing trouble you
Let nothing frighten you
Everything passes
But God will never change

Patient endurance
Will obtain everything
Whoever has God
Wants for nothing at all

God alone is enough
God alone is enough
Whoever has God
Wants for nothing at all

God alone is enough
God alone is enough
Whoever has God
Wants for nothing at all

Let nothing trouble you
Let nothing frighten you
For everything passes
But God will never change

Patient endurance
Will obtain everything
Whoever has God
Wants for nothing at all

John and Betty Stam

Be Still // Steffany Frizzell Gretzinger & Bethel Music // Tides Officia...

Change is okay

"It may be that decisions which seem to change the character of the work will now have to be made. But if the principles which have grounded us from the beginning are held fast there will be no real change. The river may flow in a new channel but it will be the same river." ~ Amy Carmichel 

I desire God's will for my life, even if this means leaving all that I know, and yet, so often I feel like He couldn't have chosen a girl with more excitement about the future with almost as much dread of change to match!  

In all honesty, I think God just loves it when I am desperate for Him. He will use the heart in my throat and the pounding of my chest to keep me seeking, surrendering, trusting and loving. And those are my closest moments with Him. 

I feel my heart stirring, but with no clue as to why or to what's ahead. All I know is that Christ is always faithful, always good, and always my strength. 

Perhaps there will be nothing significantly changing any time soon. I don't know. But for now, I am thankful for the reminder that, when it's from God ... Change really can be okay! :) 

Alright, done rambling now :)

"Wouldn't we be happy if we could find the full treasure described in the Gospel? Nothing else matters. This treasure is infinite; the more we explore it, the more riches we find. May we never stop searching until we have found it! ....

I don't know what God has in store for me, but I feel so serene that it doesn't matter. What do I have to be afraid of when I'm with Him? I stay with Him as much as I can. May He be blessed for everything!" - Brother Lawrence ( The Practice of the Presence of God) 

Blog Recommendation - Livin' The Thai Life by Margaret Hoar

Okay, guys and gals, do you need a laugh? Yes? Well you need to head over to my close friend, Margaret Hoar's blog and read her posts then. She.is.hilarious.

I met Margaret during my days in Thailand and we have been fast friends ever since. She has this way of being able to put so many Thai situations into words. Maybe that's why I think she's so funny...Her posts bring back a ton of memories :)

Anyways, please check her blog out! CLICK HERE: http://livinthethailifeblog.wordpress.com/ 

Honoring My Future Spouse: What I'm learning about Godly, healthy guy/girl interaction

Disclaimer: I am in no way trying to imply that I have this area of my life figured out (just ask my family). Like you, I am on a journey.  I am simply doing my best to carry out what God has shown me for me throughout the years up to this point. Please keep in mind that this post is addressing every day situations, and not special ones, such as being alone with a guy friend because he's being protective over you. -  You do not have to agree :) And beware, this may be my longest post yet! 

 Guy/Girl Interaction

   It's a subject in the church that is not brought up very often. And honestly, I can understand why. It's a touchy subject! With so many people at different places in their walk with God, we tend to have at least a few a lot of different opinions. It is also hard to talk about it without appearing like you're sharing your opinion, sounding prideful and being legalistic. Which is what I, too, am trying to avoid in this post. I can only go by the past, recent and personal experiences I have had in my short years on earth, plus what I have learned from the Bible and people, young and old, who I respect. My desire is to honor God. I am responsible for me. 

 The Lord has brought me through the progression of being a sometimes flirty 13 year old in youth group with a crush or few, to a twenty four year old woman desiring to honor her future husband now physically, mentally and emotionally(“She does him good and not evil ALL the days of her life.” ~Proverbs 31:12). The latter, of course, involves how I respond and act toward my guy friends. 

I find that focusing on two specific areas really helps me. 

• Safety in numbers & Healthy conversation

Where there is no guidance, a people fall but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.  ~ Proverbs 11:14 (ESV) 

Back in time, it would have been very unusual for an unmarried man and an unmarried woman to be intentionally alone together. It didn't matter if they were in a public setting or even if they were just friends. To be alone implied something much bigger than friendship. I am sure there were exceptions, such as safety, but otherwise, it would have given people the opportunity to think things, perhaps, very untrue of the two people. It could have put their character in question, which would have been an embarrassment, because character was something to protect and respect. Sounds pretty old-fashioned and restricting, right? But has the way people think really changed so much?

Let's bring this scenario up to date, but keeping it in a Christian mindset. There's a young man and woman you know, who claim to be only friends. This is the first time you've seen them alone, and they are in a car. What's YOUR first thought? Are you now trying to convince yourself they are still "only friends", when before, there's was no doubt?  I can't speak for you, but I know for me, my first thought is, "Hmmmmm, I wonder...".  It's not that it may be inherently wrong, but perhaps more like bad judgement. If there is at least a third person, I think, "Well there goes a good group of friends." It also protects my brother or sister in the Lord's character from being put into question. 

"... He (the Lord) is a shield to those who walk in integrity..." ~ Proverbs 2:7

I have found that I really, really like accountability. It doesn't always feel good in the moment, but I've never known a time when I wasn't thankful for it in the end. This includes involvement from my parents, as well as friends. Unfortunately, our culture gives us the impression that accountability, especially with parents, is childish or only for pastors. But I beg to differ. It's not childish, it's safe. And there is nothing wrong with safety. I want to feel safe, especially as a woman. 
Our friends and family can help us stay focused on the Lord and what He has put in our hearts. I know for me, I tend to have an easier time talking with guys. Because of this, I have asked my family and friends to help me by pointing out when I am unintentionally going too far with my teasing and/or conversations. I will mean absolutely nothing by it, but if not careful, it could look like I'm leading someone on, which would give the appearance of an untruth. Which brings in the subject of conversations. I love this paragraph written by Leslie Ludy from her devotion "Getting to Know a Guy".
She was specifically writing to girls, but I believe, in many ways, it can also be applied to guys. 

"Protecting your feminine mystique doesn’t mean you need to hide in a corner and go out of your way to avoid guys.  It’s not more spiritual to act shy and insecure in a conversation with a guy.  You can be friendly, outgoing, and confident toward any guy you meet.  The key is to be God-honoring in the way you speak and interact with guys.  Scripture is abundantly clear that all our words must be carefully weighed before God...

Far too many of us get caught up in the “playful banter” that goes along with male/female interaction, disregarding the purity of speech that God requires of His children.  When you casually chat with a guy, don’t allow crude words, sarcastic words, impure words, profane words, sensual words, gossipy words, etc. to creep into your conversation.  Joking about the latest Hollywood comedy or T.V. sitcom might seem completely normal, but does it honor Jesus Christ?  Flirtatious or teasing comments might seem innocent and fun, but does that behavior reflect the stunning purity of our King? ...When it comes to talking casually with guys, choose to exchange all foolish, idle, flirtatious conversation for edifying words that build faith and bring glory to God. Beware of downplaying spiritual things so that a guy doesn’t think of you as strange.  Let guys know without question where you stand – that Jesus Christ is the number one passion and focus of your life and heart."

And I would add, don't share the deeper parts of your heart, even under the title of "ministry". I highly encourage others, as I too have been encouraged, if you need a friend to talk to about deep heart matters,  it is almost always healthy to go to a person, who you trust, that is of the same sex as you. From what I have personally seen, aside from the few obvious exceptions, it is never a healthy situation to share the deep parts of your heart with a person of the opposite sex. However, if you find yourself in that situation, because of your specific circumstances (cause we're all different), at least make sure there is a third person. That third person is an asset, and can be of more help to keep the situation from getting too deep. But you still have to be VERY cautious. Guard your heart and emotions and please make sure you really do trust the person you are talking with. Hopefully that person is encouraging you to not give up on trying to get into relationships with Christ-focused people of the same sex that you can surround yourself with. Again, I want to clarify that I am not an expert. But my family has been in ministry for a long time and we have seen the dangers that can come from men and women going too far in their conversations. I have seen perfectly good friendships be ruined because emotions got, unintentionally, too entangled. 

I want to be careful in my conversations with guys, because emotions can be very vulnerable and the innermost parts of my heart are not to be given away to another woman's future husband.  I want to build healthy friendships with the men in my life which can continue after I am married that my husband won't be jealous of or concerned about. 

At the end of the day, along with honoring God and my future spouse, my relationships with my guy friends are not to be a cause for anxiousness, wondering if I'm doing everything just right or not, but wonderful opportunities to honor them and help build them up to be mighty men of God. It's about protecting the glory of my King and the sacredness of my future marriage. 

But, in order to live out everything I have written in this post, I humbly realize that I must, must, MUST continue to meditate on Jesus. I must place my full dependence upon Him, and find my everything in Him. It is then, and only then, when I am seeking the kingdom of heaven first and foremost, that I will be able to do my future spouse and my friends any good. I pray Christ's radiance and beauty will be reflected in and through my life. 

May the Lord bless you, and keep you, and cause His face to shine upon you as you seek to honor Him in your relationships! 

Please feel free to comment, but keep them kind :)  I also welcome any "tips" you have learned that has helped you in this area. Like I said before, I am learning and have not been perfected in this area.