Date Times with Jesus

Last night I had the privilege to spend time with a very Special Someone.  When you live with your family and your life is quite hectic…times like this do not happen very often.  My one-on-one time with Jesus is usually spent in devotions or in quick prayers during the day.  But there is something very special about getting away, quieting your life, and talking with and listening to the Bridegroom.

Anyone knows that successful relationships take work, time, and communication.  My parents go on a “date” every week just so they can spend time with one another without distractions.  We can’t expect to have a thriving relationship with Christ if we only squeeze in time with Him once in a while.

I think it is quite sad that “dates with Jesus” are associated as a single woman’s thing to do so she feels special and loved since she does not have that boyfriend or husband to “date”.

Maybe this will shock you, but I whole-heartedly believe that everyone, whether male or female – whether married or single, should have special times alone with their Savior.

Don’t look so shocked.  Where did we get the idea that men are too tough to do such things and married woman no longer need to worry about that stuff?

No, men, you don’t have to hang lanterns in the trees and eat off of china plates…but I challenge you to do more than just a quick Bible reading and prayer time.  Set apart some time to focus on Christ because He is just as much your Beloved, Savior, and Messiah as He is to us, females.  Get out in the wilderness, pitch a tent, gaze at the stars, make your food over a campfire—-that gives excellent time to talk to Christ and ask Him for His leading, cleansing, and refinement in your heart.  Go on a scenic drive and pour out your heart to God while the miles roll by.  Put away the phone, business problems, church questions….It does not make you any less of a man to ask Christ for help, direction, and wisdom.  It does not make you emotional or wimpy to have “dates with Jesus”.

Maybe you argue that you have a family you should not leave.  No, I am not saying to neglect them, but your children will admire a father who truly cares about his relationship with Christ.  You don’t have to have a “date” every week; it could be once every few months.  Hire a babysitter and get away with your wife to a cabin somewhere for the weekend.  You get great “date time” in with your wife; but if you both set aside a half a day of alone time with Christ, you get in great “date time” with Him as well.

This should not take the place of personal devotions, family devotions, and husband/wife devotions…it is an additional time set apart to say, “I love You, Jesus; and I want to get to know You even better!”

Let me explain something I see that happens quite often with married women.  Maybe I’m wrong, but I think 1 Corinthians 7:34 has a lot to do with the mind set we often get when it comes to the married and single women’s relationship with Christ.  “There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband” (1 Cor. 7:34).  We see this passage as a right to transfer our affection and time from Christ to our husband once we say “I do”.
It is true that we suddenly have other responsibilities and are intent on pleasing, serving, and loving our partners once we become married….but NEVER should that make Christ second place.  No where in the Bible does it say that our first love should be our husband instead of God.  No where can I find that being married holds us exempt from deepening our relationship with Jesus.  Too often, husbands are used as a wife’s identity and channel to God.  May I challenge you to still keep Christ as your first love and work on pursuing Him???

You are rolling your eyes, I’m sure, as you think that I obviously am not married with children to raise or I would not even think of suggesting “date times” with Jesus.  Perhaps you do not have the time to do something elaborate and spend hour upon hours alone, but do really work on carving out a “date time”.  Try the cabin thing with your husband and get off by yourselves for a bit.  If your husband is not willing to do that, then make a chai latte and cozy up with a journal and Bible while the children are napping.  Buy an ice-cream cone and find a neat place at the park to talk with Christ while the kids are at school.  Each person will have different ways of spending their “dates”, but each one will be special to Christ.  I guarantee that you won’t regret your time with Him!

Of course, single girls—-you will absolutely love “date times” with Jesus if you don’t have them already.  It’s a time to talk with the One Who chose us and thinks we are pretty SPECIAL!  It also gives us a great reason to dress up and have candlelit dinners;)

I’ll post “date” ideas once in awhile….

This was how I spent time with my True Love last evening.

Lanterns, Picnic Basket, Pillows, Bible, Journal, Finger Food…such a cozy little spot.


You would dress up for a regular date; so why not for “dates with Jesus” =)—–

     

Special Little Things to make the evening lovely—-

 Lanterns in our beautiful walnut tree.



Candles, Picnic Basket, Bible, Journal.




Words TRUST and JOY—I had claimed Joy as my word last year, and Trust is the word for this year.  I like to claim a word for the year that I want Jesus to instill in me.



Cozy Pillows!




Love candles!!!


I keep a charm necklace in my room with charms that have important meaning or reminders to me—-

Jesus holds the key to my heart



Purity ring



I’m a Princess/Daughter of The King



Dreams, music, family—things I need to hold out to God with an open hand.



Yummy Finger Foods—–

   


Dove Chocolates (because every girl needs chocolate!).


Readings, Prayers, Journaling—–



Write your “date night” on a special journal card with highlights of the evening to keep forever in your Bible.





His Princess Bride: Love Letters from your Prince - Sheri Rose Shepherd



A special promise for me right now!



Beautiful!!!!



“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” – CS Lewis


The evening ended with watching the stars, lightening bugs, fireworks, and lanterns blowing in the night breeze—
    

Jesus sent a chorus of birds to add music to the evening; He sent a breeze to kiss my face; He sent the stars to show that even though He holds the planets and galaxies in His hand-  He still cares about me and enjoys our times together!

May you have a beautiful “date” with your Beloved— because you will not regret the time spent together!
-MarJanita

Valleys, Teddy Bears, and Rivers in the Desert

Does it ever feel like everything is turning upside down?- like everything you found secure and comfortable is being taken and shaken?- like you are in a valley that will never end?- like the rain will never stop?

That has been some of my feelings lately…and I know quite a few of my friends are facing even worse clouds than the ones that are hovering over me.

Last night, I poured out my heart to God.  I told my Father that nothing makes sense.  I told Him that I feel like I am suffocating.  I told Him that I just want Him to hear me, and I just want to hear Him.  I cried that I don’t understand why my dad is still suffering and had a relapse and the doctors can’t figure out what is wrong, why the place where I had finally felt accepted and at home is being dealt blows, why my future looks so uncertain and unsure, why things can’t just work out for the good once in awhile.

Then I started reading—-and this is what my Father said to me.

“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.  I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it” (Is. 41:17-20).
“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Is. 43:1-2) .
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.  This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise” (Is. 43:19-21).


He didn’t tell me why all this stuff is happening right now.  He didn’t tell me what the outcome will be, but He did tell me that He will be right beside me through the darkest and most trying times.  He told me that He is the way through the wilderness and the fountain in the valley.  He went through valleys darker than mine so that He could help me through the ones that I face on my journey.  No, it doesn’t answer my questions.  It doesn’t make everything all better and rosy, but it does make it bearable to know that I am not alone.

There is a picture that I have been seeing on Facebook, it is of Jesus asking a little girl to give up her precious teddy bear so that He can give her an even better gift.  I love this picture, but I see something slightly confusing about it.  When we give up, we do not usually get back greater physical things.  We will be rewarded; but it isn’t always immediate, and sometimes it is through other means like peace and joy bubbling as springs within our hearts…not a larger teddy bear.

Sometimes though, I get the mentality that by living a good life for Christ I will have things easy.  I think that by holding family, friends, church, and future with an open hand out to my Father, I will be rewarded with huge physical blessings.  The fact is sometimes I am even tested harder after that.

I often wonder if Satan approaches God about us, Christians, as he did about Job.  Can’t you see him laughing as he looks at my doubt, worry, and complaints.  “Ha,” he says, “She says she loves You, but it doesn’t last long when she has to give up what is precious to her.  Look how she questions when her good is not rewarded and life gets even harder and the giant teddy bear is never given.  What a wimpy little Jesus girl You have in Your Kingdom, God.  She will never last until the end.”

I know that you, no matter how old or young, are facing something.  Everyone is traveling this bumpy road of life…each of us will come across different obstacles and valleys.  You may not understand what is going on in your own life right now.  You may feel tempted to give up, but remember that the “waters shall not overflow thee or the flame kindle upon thee”.  Be okay with letting Jesus have that teddy bear, no matter how much you love it.  You can trust Him with it, and one day you will be rewarded…even if it’s not here on earth or in the form you think.  Christ never promised us a “healthy and wealthy” Christian life, but He did promise to be with us, even unto the very end of the world (Math. 28:20).  Now that’s a gift that we can hold unto and stick into our suitcase for the valley ahead!

On Broadway

As most people know, I absolutely love musicals…the songs, the voices, the choreography, the lights, the costumes, the acting *dramatic sigh*.  For as long as I can remember, I have longed to be up on stage with the actors and actresses performing.  Whenever I had the chance to recite a monologue or act in a church skit, I took it and enjoyed it to the fullest.  Speech/Drama class was my absolute favorite elective in school.  There is something unexplainable about throwing yourself into your character and becoming that person, speaking like he would speak, acting like he would act, living like he would live.

One of the highest items on my bucket list would be to -just once- have the chance to perform in a professional musical… not a little church skit or a monologue that I wrote, an actual musical that had rehearsals, special costumes, live orchestra, beautiful scripts, and such other lovely additions.  Yes, I know that it would never happen, not in a thousand years.  I haven’t pursued further education in the field; and only dedicated, talented, persisting individuals ever achieve to that honor after their years of hard effort.  But still I started doing that “imagining thing”, the “what-if” scenario.  My recent visit to Fulton Theatre for “Les Miserables” began this introspection.  I had to step back and think about what I would sacrifice to make my dream come true.

Pretend a moment with me.  I have been given the opportunity to be Maria Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” or Eliza in “My Fair Lady” or Mary in “Mary Poppins”.  What will I sacrifice so that I can accept?  What morals will I lower?  What standards will I allow to fall?  What scenes will I overlook?  Will I say the things (no matter how inappropriate) upon which the director insists?  No, not every musical will have something that disagrees with Scripture, but what if I was given the chance to participate in one that did?  Just as I overlooked and made excuses for the questionable and sexual innuendo in the show I just watched, for the sake of the amazing voices and tremendous acting….would I do that for the sake of having an opportunity of which I have always dreamed?

It scares me, it really does!  How much value do I place on certain things, and what am I willing to do for them?  I can sit and listen to “Les Miserables” for three hours, but I fidget and am aggravated at sermons lasting longer than forty-five minutes.  I know broadway songs by heart, yet I can only quote a few Bible verses.  I’m afraid that I have based so much importance upon the arts that I would be like Peter and deny my very own, Savior, whom I always claimed to love.  This can fall into any area of our lives.  What will we sacrifice for that boyfriend, that job, that leadership position, that new house, that dream that we have clutched to tightly for so many years?

It is time for me to sit back and redetermine where I place my deepest admiration.  That does not mean that I have to give up every acting opportunity, every ticket to the theater, and every note of “Bring Him Home”; but it does mean that I will start valuing Christ above the arts, raise my standard of “thinking on that which is lovely, pure, and of good report” above improper content- no matter how beautifully and artistically presented, and give as much dedication to glorifying God as is given to broadway numbers.

Yes, you will still see me twirling through the house singing “My Favorite Things”, but I hope you will see a more dedicated Christian, a more God-seeking woman, and a more careful person of where she places her truest love!

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” Mathew 22:37b KJV.

That’s my random musings for the day!  May your next twenty-four hours be filled with lots of God’s blessings- MarJ

Remind Me of Home

Daily Prompt

An Ounce of Home—You’re embarking on a yearlong round-the-world adventure, and can take only one small object with you to remind you of home. What do you bring along for the trip?

Wohoo—it’s time to depart!  My plane flies out of JFK at 11:00 a.m., and I’m bound for a world-wide adventure.  My dream of traveling the world is finally coming true.  I will stand beside the Eiffel Tower, ride a gondola in Italy, climb the Alps in Switzerland, gaze at the Great Wall of China, meet kangaroos in Australia…oh, there is so much to do!

I say farewell to you, my dear friends.  I will be gone for a year and will not return until June 19, 2015.  I packed everything I need for the next 365 days into two suitcases and a carry-on.  There was only room to pack one small object to remind me of home.  Oh, how I will miss home.  I won’t be going shopping with my brother, out-to-eat with my father, or laughing and talking with my mother while I’m away.  I wish they could go with me, but I only have one ticket.  What did I pack that will ease the homesickness when I’m lonely?  What did I pack that will keep the tears from falling when I think upon my dog, my bookshelves, my home, my friends…?

I gently pull the item from my carry-on to show you.  This is what I picked to take along, my Bible.  I chose my Bible because nothing else holds all the love and memories that it does.  Each of the notes and scribblings inside remind me of certain times (whether good of bad) that I went through during my many years in Pennsylvania.  Within the pocket of the Bible cover are pictures of friends; so that I can look upon their smiling faces and pray for them.  Within the Bible’s pages are pictures of my family.  I will not forget my brother’s mischievous humor, my father’s strong yet gentle spirit, and my mother’s beautiful giving heart- because I will see them every time I gaze upon the photographs.  Within a certain pocket, I also keep special letters of encouragement that I have received over the years.  These tell of past events or happenings that have shaped me into who I am.

I also know that there is nothing more comforting than the words written in the Bible.  This is what reminds me of my “True Home”.  This is what keeps me close to the heart of God and His will.  This is how I learn right from wrong and know what my Father desires.  When I read from here, I am reminded of Home.
Within my Bible are reminders of my two homes- one on earth and one in Heaven.  So I will stick it back inside my backpack so it’s easy to pull out when I’m feeling lonely, and I will grab my suitcases and bid you Adieu!

My FaVoRiTe ThInGs

These are a few of my favorite things right now….

Health and Beauty Department

Sunglasses from Maurices = $5 with Maurice’s card and coupon



Eos Lemon Drop Lip Balm = $3 at most pharmacies



Pink Chiffon, London, Italy, Stress Relief, and Pear Hand Sanitizers = 5for$5 at Bath and Body Works



Posh Perfume = $10 at Rue21



A few of the best things ever invented— Goody Softies (will stick in fine hair without pulling or sliding) = $2-5 online, puff to take out powder and deodorant marks from clothing = $2-5 Hanes Stores, Revlon Fine-Tip Tweezer (most tweezers are thick, but this one is perfect) = $10 at most beauty supply stores


Clothing Department

Adidas Chilwyanda Flip-Flops (super comfy and worth the expense) = $20 at shoe stores



Summer Scarves = BuyOneGetOnefor$2 at Rue21


Kids’ Department

Kids Parties by Williams-Sonoma (lots of excellent party and food ideas) = available online



Crayola Coloring on a Roll (lots of kids can color at one time!) = available at Dollar General or online



Breck Kids spray-on Detangler (must have for counselors at camp and VBS) = $1 at Dollar Tree


Kitchen Department

Microwave Cereal Bowls- lifetime guarantee (can be used for storage as well…always more fun when you mix and match=) = $25 at Tupperware



Four Colored-Numbered Mugs = $5 at Christmas Tree Shops



Terro Liquid Ant Baits (best ant exterminator I’ve found) = available at Walmart and Lowes


Book Department

Gorgeous copy of Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations = $5 at Ollies



Time Keeper (great organizer and planner) = http://www.wellkeptlife.com



Chirp Journal (lots of fun details and prompts inside) = $3 at Ollies



Simply Wonderful Cookbook (first edition)—my absolute favorite cookbook = available online


Other Departments

Chalkboard Piggy Bank (I’m using this one for my Europe Trip) = I got mine at Goodwill, but Walmart and Ebay/Amazon have them



Duct Tape (love this design) = $3-5 at Five Below



31 Zip-Top Utility Tote (lots of pockets and room) = 31 Consultant or 31 Website



Bird Favors = Ten Thousand Villages (each purchase helps artisans in poverty-stricken countries)



Cute Luggage Tags = $1 at Dollar Tree



Lots of great rubber stamps = 1/2 off at Hobby Lobby



Chevron Folder = $1 at Target, Double-sided Tape = available at any office supply store, Mustache Pens = $3-5 for two at Five Below, Mini Sharpie (fits great in your purse) = available at any office supply store



Candle Warmer and Wax-Melt Warmer (no flames…when candle becomes liquid you can pour it into old ice-cube trays and make your own wax-melts!) = $5-7 at Christmas Tree Shops


Favorite Coupon—-

Olive Garden (code 27, valid until 07/27/14)


Hopefully you enjoy some of my favorite things as well!