{On my Heart} Mondays. [Part 1: Be All There]

{Via}

‘Wherever you are, be all there.’ - Jim Elliott

I think Jim Elliott said this extremely well. There is nothing more frustrating than meeting with people only to have them spend most of the time on their phone, texting or seeming important in the world. Perhaps it is the lost art of etiquette which grieves me so much, as a people in our generation we are so comfortable with casual. Perhaps we are so casual that we seem almost rude in our behaviour towards others. We lack the art of making others feel honoured by the way we interact with them. Even to the point where we don’t seem to be able to focus on someone when in a conversation.

‘Very few of us understand how to behave socially in a way that truly brings glory to Jesus Christ and showcases the stunning beauty of our King.’ – Leslie Ludy, Set Apart Girl Magazine (Sept/Oct 2010 issue)

I realised how hard this is today at church when we had a potluck. I was so desperately trying to focus on the person talking to me, but with the noise level around me and constant distraction of others bumping into you in a small space it becomes increasingly difficult to truly give undivided attention to the other person. That bothers me because it is not the kind of interaction I feel would bring glory to Christ.

The other aspect of Jim Elliott’s quote which came to mind upon reading it is of contentment. I have two friends in particular in my life who are such a source of encouragement to me. They have mastered the art of being content with where God has them. They would have every reason according to the world’s standards to be unhappy and even complain about certain things in life. They fight the battle to not ‘be all there’ where God has them, to be discontent until God brings along that right guy in their life. Yet both of them are victorious in bringing honour to Christ in their attitudes, they trust & wait, knowing His love for them exceeds that of an earthly love.

An attitude of discontentment with where God has us is something that truly bothers me. Even in myself. He is teaching me so much about what it means to find joy in the situation He has put me in. Where He has called me to live currently. What people He has living close to me right now. To find joy in every circumstance, like Betsy Ten Boom even in a concentration camp. He has not called me in my life so far to find joy in a place as dire as a concentration camp, therefore I feel silly for not being content if Betsy can find contentment in that circumstance.

So wherever I am in life, whatever place I am in. I am learning to be all there. To not have an attitude of discontentment but to truly seek to honour Christ & trust Him with where He deems fit for me to be.

Even in something as small as a conversation with someone.

If you aren’t all there, you may miss a precious moment like that pictured.

{Via}

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{On My Heart} Mondays is a new series.
I hope to share things I am learning or things close to my heart in these posts.
May they encourage you on the inside as we meet through our shared love of making things beautiful on the outside =)

A different sort of focus.

Wedding Day

 I'm taking a little break today to focus on something more personal and on my heart.

In her book, Authentic Beauty, author Leslie Ludy describes an interesting scene of a young, excited bride-to-be at her wedding shower. Older married women were present giving her advice on marriage. I am a HUGE fan of this idea. I had some wonderful godly women give me incredible advice at my own shower of a similar nature. 

In her book, the scene is perhaps not quite what the bride would have expected. A lot of the advice seems kind of negative. As though it is more important to have 'realistic expectations' and realise that you will spend the rest of your marriage getting your husband to notice you after your honeymoon. 

I completely agree with Leslie that while the banter may seem harmless, did it affect the bride-to-be as she was embarking on what she expected to be a beautiful time in her life. 

If God is capable of writing a beautiful love story during our time of getting to know each other, then why would He not continue to write us a beautiful story after we say 'I Do.'

During the short 16 months we have been married. Rather than be discouraged with the way our love has become, my love for Andrew has grown immensely. 

We certainly did not have the first year of marriage I thought we would. But God's ways are higher than my own, a very good thing.

If anything, I understand Andrew a whole lot more than I did before we got married & truly love him for it.

He is an incredible man who works hard at his TWO jobs! He provides for us, we have a wonderful home to live in. He is caring, a wonderful listener, a thinker and always seeing the good in others.

I am proud to be his wife. 

I suppose I could choose to see his irritating habits and grow discouraged because I feel he is unloving at times. That would not be loving him the way I am called to love him. I am learning how to be a grace dispenser and not just a grace receiver. (Perhaps more on this some other time)

He has wonderful goodwill toward me as his wife & I can choose to believe that he never purposefully chooses to hurt me. This saves a lot of silly arguments and allows me to focus on his good qualities. 

Here's to growing intimacy with the coming years and praising God for a wonderful husband.

If you don't yet have this kind of relationship in your life, remember what Christ has done for you & how He is able to fill you completely. Completely. 

A relationship with someone on earth is secondary to this love. 

I am not trying to point out something you do not have, merely express my thankfulness for one of the many blessings in my life.

Much Love,

L

P.S. Check out the new button link to Sweetness Itself to the Right. 

 

Our Courtship or 'Getting to know each other' Days

A year of marriage.