Stolen

So normally I write my own words and thoughts...but I read this from my good friend Laura Nagel's Facebook page.  And decided it was worth reposting.

To be honest...
...this is something I'm struggling with.  It's hard to be fully satisfied in God. But it's so worth it. Every relationship is given substance when God is the center. Relationships are not whole unless it is God keeping you together.

 “Everyone longs to give themselves to someone, to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively!

But God to the Christian says, No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled, and content with me alone. Not until you give yourself totally and unreservedly to me and experience an intensely personal and unique relationship with me alone. I love you, My child, and until you discover that only in Me can your complete satisfaction be found, you will not be capable of the perfect human love that I have planned for you. You will never be totally happily united with another until you are united with me, exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any desires or longings.

I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan existing - one you cannot begin to imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring this to you. You just keep watching me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am. Keep listening and learning the things I tell you. Just wait, that’s all! Don’t be anxious. Don’t worry. Don’t look around at the love others have gotten or the things I have given them. Don’t even look at the things you think you want. Just keep looking off and away, up to me, or you will miss what I want to show you!

And then, when you are ready, I will surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would dream of! You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready (and I am working even at this moment to have both of you ready at the same time), until you are both satisfied exclusively with me and the life I have prepared for you, you wont be able to experience the pure beautiful love that exemplifies your relationship with me - this is Perfect Love!

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with me. I want you to be able to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection and pure love that I offer you in myself. (It is possible!) Know that I love you utterly. I am God, believe me, trust me, wait on me…and be satisfied!”

Time to trust.

Devos Whaa?

Relationships.

Why do relationships seem to be so hard all of the time?  Not just romantic relationships (Which is hard! Such a noob to this dating thing.) but relationships with our families, our friends, co-workers, classmates.  The list goes on and on.  We as people tend to fail at them. Well at least I do so I'm assuming others do too.

Growing up I kind of failed at relationships, or friendships. I had 2 friends growing up with whom I spent all my time. Then they moved when I was 8. After that I had short, shallow friendships, but mostly I enjoyed sticking to myself.  Middle school proved to be very difficult, and I found myself more alone then ever.  High school freshman year was hard but I was beginning to come out of my shell.  By my junior year I had 3 amazing lady friends who have been closer than any other friends before! Now I have a few close friends (and you know who you are my homies) whom I love dearly! And a bunch of people who are pretty much my family. Shout out to the LW and 4square peeps. ...okay done trying to be G...

As I look back on the increase of my ability to make real relationships with people I realize there's a strong, defining element that affected ALL of my relationships.  My personal relationship with Christ.  Specifically through my daily devos (or devotions. 'Devos' just sounds more "cool".)

Relationships take constant work.  Notice that it takes hanging out with someone at least once a week to really develop a strong, resounding connection? But even once a week isn't really enough.  The Fantastic Four (Britt D, Megan H, Liz V and myself) met almost everyday in school or after school. We were constantly in communication and relation with each other.  You probably see or talk or chat via Facebook or text your best friends almost every day? Am I right? The moment you stop constant communication you start feeling out of touch.  The same is with the G-Man.

Daily relationship with God is a must.  If you want to grow, if you want confidence in your relationships with others, you have to have relationship with God first! His relationship with us is the ultimate model of love.  If we can understand just a glimpse of His love for us, then we can return that love onto others. Which will in turn strengthen all of our relationships.  I have not only witnessed this amongst friends and mentors but I've experienced it myself.
1 John 4:19 ¹⁹ We love each other because he loved us first. (NLT)  

I challenge you to a 30 day read with me.  Pick up your Bible and read every day for 30 days.  Doesn't have to be a billion chapters, just a couple verses even.  I dare you to see the change in your relationships with others as you strengthen your relationship with God.
As devos became a constant in my life my relationship with my brother was healed in amazing ways, my relationships with others became stronger, and my ability to love through anything became rock solid. 

Doing daily devos isn't going to solve all your relationship problems, but I promise it will influence every aspect of your life: including those you love most.  Getting close to God changes our perspective and enables us to love more freely and openly in a way that only through Christ is possible. 

So deepen your relationship with Christ.  Talk to Him every day.  Learn from Him every morning.  Watch as your relationship with Jesus grows your relationships with people will too.

So!! If you plan on reading the Bible every day for 30 days please comment and let me know! I'm going to put my devos up here every day starting tomorrow and I'd love to see what God's showing you too!!
Psalm 42:1-2 1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? (NLT)

I Love Jesus

Lacking inspiration on something to blog.  So....I going to branch off a Facebook status update of mine.  The essence of the update included making yummy food, watching The Bachelorette, and thinking that a boyfriend sounds good....

Oh silly Jess...think think think!!! I didn't mention that I wasn't looking for a boyfriend, just the thought sounded nice. Of course a relationship sounds nice! Don't most of us want that? Someone to who understands and appreciates us? Someone who makes us feel special and fuzzy on the inside.  Someone who lets you be yourself and you feel safe enough to be yourself.  Ugh. Relationships. Ugh. Boys.

Relationships are complicated. I'm not good at them. I really don't have much of a history in relationships.  But that's okay. I don't mind. :)  I've had one relationship, and while I am definitely no expert, I have learned a lot from that experience, and combined with my leaders and pastors' instruction I hope to provide some insight.

So my advice on relationships...

Keep God #1!!!! Soooooo important.  The moment your significant other becomes more important than God things will fall apart.  God is the only one who can keep two imperfect people together.  If your focus isn't the Lord then you're not mature enough to be in a relationship.
Exodus 20:2-4  ² “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. ³ “You must not have any other god but me. ⁴ “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. (NLT)
This includes making your boyfriend or girlfriend your idol; loving them more than you love God. It's easy to do, trust me.

When in doubt, snuff it out. If you're questioning whether your getting too physical, sharing too many emotions, wondering if your parents or leaders would approve, then stop!!!! In fact, don't even put yourself in compromising situations. Easier said then done. It's sooo easy to put yourself in a place where the chances giving into temptation are escalated. 2 Timothy 2:22 ²²Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (NLT)

If you're questioning, then you should probably stop and avoid. God's given you a conscience for a reason.

Have Accountability!! This is also vastly important!! Let people know you're in a relationship. Let your friends now how you're doing. Check in with your with leaders/pastors/parents.  Find people who have experience (this does not mean your friend who's dated 50 boys and she just entered her freshman year...of high school), let them give you advice and listen to them.
Luke 11:36  If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.” (NLT)
You should be transparent in every aspect of your life (Check out this blog!! It's sweet stuff.).

So yes....talking about relationships is awkward. Especially when you're single, but you want relationship, but you're not sure if you're ready, and you're very picky, and you have amazing lady friends who are even pickier, and you have a billion father figures who all want to shoot the boys who come to the front door AND you have a super protective Daddy who has shot most of the boys who have come to the front yard.

So what am I saying???
 I love Jesus.