Waiting for a future spouse to show up can be a difficult time. What do you do during that time? Is there a reason for that time? I believe there are.
As difficult as it may be during that time, I believe there are things God wants to work in the hearts of both our future spouse and ourself, in the face of soaring divorce rates, marriage breakdowns and adulteries - personally, I do not want to be part of those statistics.
From a woman's perspective, I would want to marry a man who knows how to treasure me even before we start our courtship. I believe that during this time of waiting, God wants us women to allow Him to work in the heart of our future spouse - that he'll keep his heart for us, work in areas of his character that needs changing, show him the plans and purposes God has for him and how to be a true prince.
God wants to work in our own hearts too. He wants to mould us into women who would see the plans and purposes God has for our husband's life fulfilled. We are to be his helper. God wants to work in our character as well. Most of all, God wants us to fully surrender our lives to Him. If not, we would tend to want things our own way and not learn submission.
He also wants us to do good to our husband all the days of our lives (that includes the time while we're still single). Proverbs 31:12 says, "She does him good and not evil all the days of her life". Hmm...if God aspects this of the wife, I believe it would be the same for the husband as well. Besides, God did tell us to love one another.
What are we to do while wating faithfully?
- Serve the Lord wholeheartedly,
- Pray for our future spouse and ourselves - that we would love God totally, walk in His ways and have the fear of the Lord in our lives. That we would be people of integrity, self-controlled, pure in heart, not given to lust or immorality and flee from temptations. That we have a discerning heart, be sensitive and obedient to God etc.
- Learn how to care for children and cultivate homemaking skills (start now, if you haven't already).
- Most importantly, surrender our whole life to God.
(Do click on the link at the side of the page that features a song called Faithfully. It's a beautiful song.)
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Monday, March 14, 2005
Love of God
Here's a poem I wrote that I'd like to share about experiencing God's love in my life. The song Mercy Saw Me by Geron and Becky Davis/ASCAP (c)1997 Integrity Incoporated, inspired me to compose this poem.
(Written on 25/4/99 at 12:30am)
To know and to experience the Love of God
Is the most precious and wonderful gift of all
Having that Love in my heart
Makes my heart smile, sing, dance, cry and laugh
What love can compare with the Love of God?
Truly no one can love me the way my Lord loves me
Despite all my weaknesses and scars,
My Lord covers all that and sees me as beautiful
Made in the image of my Father in heaven
Beautiful is my Lord
Sweet is His Love
Oh, the Lover of my soul, my Bridegroom
How I long to be with You all the days of my life
Take me to be with You
To a place where my soul finds rest
To a place where my heart finds peace
Oh, how my heart yearns to be with You
My Jesus, my Lord, my Saviour, my Best Friend
My Lover, my Bridegroom.
(c) 1999 Jacqueline Khoo.
(Written on 25/4/99 at 12:30am)
To know and to experience the Love of God
Is the most precious and wonderful gift of all
Having that Love in my heart
Makes my heart smile, sing, dance, cry and laugh
What love can compare with the Love of God?
Truly no one can love me the way my Lord loves me
Despite all my weaknesses and scars,
My Lord covers all that and sees me as beautiful
Made in the image of my Father in heaven
Beautiful is my Lord
Sweet is His Love
Oh, the Lover of my soul, my Bridegroom
How I long to be with You all the days of my life
Take me to be with You
To a place where my soul finds rest
To a place where my heart finds peace
Oh, how my heart yearns to be with You
My Jesus, my Lord, my Saviour, my Best Friend
My Lover, my Bridegroom.
(c) 1999 Jacqueline Khoo.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Obstacles in the midst of God's Promises
Ever face obstacles in the midst of God's promises for your life? I sure have and I'm sure you have too. But don't despair. This is what I realised:
I realised that obstacles in the midst of God's promises are more like stepping stones in the eyes of God, rather than boulders in our own human eyes.
Therefore, remember to do this. (Click on the link to find out.)
I realised that obstacles in the midst of God's promises are more like stepping stones in the eyes of God, rather than boulders in our own human eyes.
Therefore, remember to do this. (Click on the link to find out.)
Love in the midst of Sufferings.
There have been numerous times when I have asked God why I have to go through so much pain and suffering? During such times, I have thought that my heart would break or fail. But yet, in times like these, I know (not in the intellectual sense, but in my spirit) that God is there. I must say that it has taken me years to recognise His presence. All He tells me, is to trust in Him. All I know is that Jesus loves me still. Time and time again, drawing me to Him with His love. Out of such times, I have written a poem that I'd like to share:
(Poem written on 9/1/05)
Where can I go that You're not there?
Where can I hide where You'll not find me?
Even in the depths of sorrow, You are there.
What do I have that You have not given?
What do I need that You have not provided?
Your love is beyond measure.
More than words could ever express.
(c) 2005 Jacqueline Khoo.
Even in the midst of suffering may you come to know the love God has for you.
(Poem written on 9/1/05)
Where can I go that You're not there?
Where can I hide where You'll not find me?
Even in the depths of sorrow, You are there.
What do I have that You have not given?
What do I need that You have not provided?
Your love is beyond measure.
More than words could ever express.
(c) 2005 Jacqueline Khoo.
Even in the midst of suffering may you come to know the love God has for you.
Musings
I have some questions. Why are people so covetous? Why are some people so intent on making someone else miserable just to get what they want but can't have? They scheme and manipulate - but at the end of it all, they make themselves all sick in their own soul - their mind, their emotions. No wonder God gave us this commandment in one of the Ten Commandments in Genesis 20:17, "You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour's".
Wouldn't we be far better off to trust God to provide for our needs? Well, God did say in Matthew 6:25-33, that we are not to worry about our needs. He tells us to look at the birds - they neither sow nor reap nor gather yet He feeds them. Even the lillies of the field - how they grow: they neither toil nor spin and yet, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Also, if God so clothes the grass of the field, will He not much more clothe us? Our Father in heaven tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness - that's our part, then He will add all that we need to us - that's His part.
If we truly follow that with our whole heart, I believe we would see less strife between people. Not only that, I think we would enjoy a much healthier being. On that note, I'll leave you to think about it.
Wouldn't we be far better off to trust God to provide for our needs? Well, God did say in Matthew 6:25-33, that we are not to worry about our needs. He tells us to look at the birds - they neither sow nor reap nor gather yet He feeds them. Even the lillies of the field - how they grow: they neither toil nor spin and yet, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Also, if God so clothes the grass of the field, will He not much more clothe us? Our Father in heaven tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness - that's our part, then He will add all that we need to us - that's His part.
If we truly follow that with our whole heart, I believe we would see less strife between people. Not only that, I think we would enjoy a much healthier being. On that note, I'll leave you to think about it.
Misc. Quotes I Like
"Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They're what make the instrument stretch- what make you go beyond the norm." (Tyson)
"I touch the future. I teach." (Christa McAuliffe)
"If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere" - anonymous
"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." (Moliere)
"The least expensive education is to profit from the mistakes of ourselves and others." (Anonymous)
"A true test of a man's(woman's) character is not what he(she) does in the light, but what he(she) does in the dark." (Anonymous)
"It is in identifying yourself with the hopes, dreams, fears and longings of others that you may understand them and help them." (W.A. Peterson)
"As a general rule, teachers teach more by what they are than by what they say" (Anonymous)
"Humility does not mean you think less of yourself. It means you think of yourself less." - Ken Blanchard
"Good timber does not grow with ease; the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees"- J. Willard Marriott
(My thoughts - I believe in a way, this is true for relationships as well. Obstacles can strengthen the relationship and bring two people even closer. The key is in how we respond to each other. Rather than sweeping problems under the carpet, we should seek to resolve differences with love and forgiveness. The ability to communicate how we feel and see the situation and also the ability to see from the other person's point of view is important in helping to resolve conflicts.)
"What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?" - George Eliot
"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way" - J.C. Maxwell
"Furious activity is no substitute for understanding." (H.H. Williams)
"To teach well, we need not say all that we know, only what is useful for the pupil to hear" (Anon.)
"He who dares to teach must never cease to learn" (Anonymous)
"I touch the future. I teach." (Christa McAuliffe)
"If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere" - anonymous
"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." (Moliere)
"The least expensive education is to profit from the mistakes of ourselves and others." (Anonymous)
"A true test of a man's(woman's) character is not what he(she) does in the light, but what he(she) does in the dark." (Anonymous)
"It is in identifying yourself with the hopes, dreams, fears and longings of others that you may understand them and help them." (W.A. Peterson)
"As a general rule, teachers teach more by what they are than by what they say" (Anonymous)
"Humility does not mean you think less of yourself. It means you think of yourself less." - Ken Blanchard
"Good timber does not grow with ease; the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees"- J. Willard Marriott
(My thoughts - I believe in a way, this is true for relationships as well. Obstacles can strengthen the relationship and bring two people even closer. The key is in how we respond to each other. Rather than sweeping problems under the carpet, we should seek to resolve differences with love and forgiveness. The ability to communicate how we feel and see the situation and also the ability to see from the other person's point of view is important in helping to resolve conflicts.)
"What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?" - George Eliot
"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way" - J.C. Maxwell
"Furious activity is no substitute for understanding." (H.H. Williams)
"To teach well, we need not say all that we know, only what is useful for the pupil to hear" (Anon.)
"He who dares to teach must never cease to learn" (Anonymous)
First time posting
This is going to be exciting for me. What an interesting concept of being able to influence others through the internet. Being able to reach millions of people. Thanks to a friend of mine who indirectly introduced this to me. Thanks a million! What an awesome tool!
This is so true: "Short-term agony is nothing compared to eternal glory" - Taylor Glickman.
This is so true: "Short-term agony is nothing compared to eternal glory" - Taylor Glickman.
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