Super crazy encouraged

It's incredible how absolutely wonderful life begins to be when you start leaning on Him and pouring yourself out for Him.
This week I've made time all day to pray with all my heart and really delve into the Word... and I have felt as light as a feather because of it. Everything becomes so much easier when your focus turns to Him. On Monday, one of the Lakeviewers was talking about how when you put the Lord before your schoolwork, it might seem risky, but it'll end up with you being well taken care of- and it's TRUE. I did exactly that this week and not only was I happier, but my schoolwork ended up getting done too! And honestly, I felt like I worked harder and got better results on my assignments! Another guy quoted something he had read about putting the important before the urgent. Such a dire point. I constantly struggle with that- and I usually end up cutting out reading my Bible or spending time with God when it comes down to it. I really just need to cut back my facebook and twitter usage, and then I will have plenty of time for both school and time with the Lord!

On another point, tonight I met with two of my friends for a discipleship group- a new one and one old one who has been through a lot with me. We made dinner and then just talked about what was going on in our lives... about what we were struggling with, about what we found helped us through our tough situations. It was amazing. I've never had that kind of fellowship and ability to share and relate so greatly with anyone before! I just think back to a few months ago when I was so discouraged about not having anybody to talk to about what God was doing in my life and pray with and just grow with. And now I do. Not only do I have a new friend that I have a Christ based friendship with, but I now have a deeper level of appreciation and understanding for/from one of my oldest best friends. I just can't help but take a step back and admire how He is working in my life. It's stunning.



But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.- 1 John 1:7

(I just looked up a verse that went with this post and we're actually going through 1 John in our d group. I love how relevant everything is becoming. :) )

Intrigued

So, the past few weeks/month, I have undertaken a study of sorts... a study of Christ-like manhood. A study of what God intended men to be like... and seriously, I've never been more intrigued. I've fallen in love, honestly... not with a particular man, but with the characteristics of a "warrior-poet", as Leslie Ludy calls them. From personal experience, it is SO easy to be discouraged in the current state of men when you're attending college. Most guys are using this new found freedom to party, drink, smoke, have sex with dozens of girls...whatever they want. Personally, that is NOT AT ALL the kind of guy I want to marry. Lately though, my eyes have been opened to see more and more warrior poets around me. It's truly an incredible sight.
Perhaps the biggest characteristic of a warrior-poet is as follows:
"The mark of a warrior-poet does not lie in his perfection, but in the direction of his life. Is he aiming for the world or aiming for Christ? Is he eagerly pursuing more of Christ or is he preoccupied with himself? If his life's direction is pointed toward 'less of me and more of Him,' then he has the warrior-poet blood within his veins, even if God has not yet rasped and refined all the rough edges of his masculinity. If he has made Christ the center of his existence, then Christ will be faithful to smooth away the wrinkles and refine him more and more into His divine likeness."-Leslie Ludy
Men were also created to be leaders. They are to initiate. They are to be the last word on important decisions in marriage. I personally LOVE that. I'm not a particularly brazen, pushy person (or I like to think that) and I love that my husband (if I am meant to be married), will one day be the LEADER of our family and household. Women were made to support them and take care. That's honestly one of the things I'm looking forward to most in marriage... supporting my husband and encouraging him to lead and be a warrior for Christ.

For some reason, I'm struggling to find the words to write about this topic- though it excites me greatly- and I keep deleting things and I'm sure what I've already written sounds like gibberish. So I guess I'll just leave off there for now, and if I can form flowing, coherent thoughts later, I will continue sharing about my study. :)

-Shelby :)