Steadfast and Secure in His Love

It is very much necessary for me to "experience" life! God takes me on amazing trips at times and is able to show me so much of His heart because I'm whisked away from my comfortable surroundings that are weighted in to do lists and responsibility. When God takes me on adventures into the unknown, it is His voice I seek and it is His voice I hear crystal clear! My latest adventure was flying to San Antonio, Texas for a weekend getaway. I met my friend Beverly out there. Bev and I have spoken on the phone for years. We were introduced by a mutual friend years ago via telephone, so we had never met in person. This was an adventure in and of itself! Bev was amazing and so fun to hang with!

So, over the course of this weekend Bev and I were able to share some great time together and also talk about the love of our lives....Jesus Christ! See, the roads the Bev and I have traveled are very similar and both of us are crazy in love with Jesus because He truly has liberated us! He has brought us immense freedom, along with an amazingly steadfast security when we rest in His love. God showed me some really awesome truths about being and remaining steadfast and secure in Him!

I've studied relationships for years now. Although, I really have only had 3 "relationships" with men, I have learned some truths about relationships by simply watching others in their relationships. One thing I have found is that Christian women make huge mistakes when they transfer their reliance on God for their security and stability, to the men in their lives. The number one thing a woman usually wants in a relationship with a man is security! However, are we really supposed to demand that security from another human? I don't believe we are. In fact, we are to remain rooted and grounded in the ONE who created us! The result of making that transfer is, when that man of human flesh disappoints us or doesn't care for us or love us the way we "expected," we begin to want to control the relationship. We as women figure by trying to control the relationship, it will fulfill our expectations, therefore causing us to become secure again! This begins a vicious cycle that is unhealthy and incredibly destructive both personally and relationally.

Another thing I have observed is the level of insecurity women operate in when they are not in tune with their identity in Christ. We have an identity crisis! Have you ever heard a woman ask this question: "Am I good enough for that man?" First of all, that question is rooted and grounded in the insecurity of human perception! Our perceptions as humans can be so distorted and jaded, in fact our perceptions are always based on our own experiences. So when we assess things apart from God's view and opinion, we will get an inaccurate picture! Well what is God's view and opinion? God's view and opinion says women are a gift! In fact, lets go back to Genesis and look at creation. God created man, then put him to sleep so he could create such a unique and precious gift called woman! God presented woman to man as a gift! God instructed them together, to have dominion in the earth and be fruitful and multiply. No where does it instruct the woman to now trust in this man for her security! In fact, that dependence should be reserved for God and God alone!

When a woman experiences feelings of insecurity, her first priority should be to get away with her Creator and allow Him to fill her up with His amazing, unconditional love and complete acceptance of her! When her love tank is filled up supernaturally by God, then she will not feel compelled to control her relationship with her man! In fact, when she begins to fill herself up with God and transfer her dependence back to her Creator, her relationship with her man will inevitably become better and better and better! Why? Because the woman is looking for her identity to come from the only one it can - God! She will not be looking for this from her man! He was not designed to be her source of completeness! When women realize this and solve the identity crisis by allowing God to affirm them through His love, then and only then will we become steadfast and secure - supernaturally!

TDahl

Spirit of Dumb Dumb

As I sit here this evening, I'm reflecting on a recent conversation with an old friend. I'm not sure really how to title this blog, but the more I think and ponder, the more I feel I have titled it correctly...."Spirit of Dumb Dumb."

This man friend of mine and I went to dinner Saturday night and just talked about our journey's over the past few years with God. He shared some pretty intense things with me...mainly about girls that he's gone out with. Some of the stories were kind of difficult for me to hear, not for any other reason than, I find that the way he met these women and the reason behind taking them out were very disturbing to me. The more I have pondered these stories in my heart, I have grown angry! Angry that the "Spirit of Dumb Dumb" has corrupted his heart!!

This man, at one time could have had my heart! I mean, he was everything that I had prayed for in a mate and we were able to share on levels that were so incredible. Far beyond shallow conversation! Something I deeply enjoy! Why you ask did it not work out? Not quite sure on that one! However, after hearing the things I did this weekend, I find myself quite relieved that it didn't! Don't get me wrong, he's an amazing man....but he's so deceived right now! It saddens me. So much, that I have even cried off and on for the past 2 days because it hurts to see how someones belief system has been so altered over the course of 6 years and I see it leading him down a path that is furthest from his heart's desires.

Have you ever heard this statement: "The last place an alcoholic should find himself in, is a bar." I use that analogy because it's so much more understandable in what I'm trying to convey in this blog. Why would an alcoholic avoid a place like a bar? Well, for a very obvious reason...he or she would be operating in the "Spirit of Dumb Dumb" if they hung out at a bar and wanted to remain sober! Why would you put yourself in a place that offers you constant temptation?

Well, this guy wants an amazing relationship with a woman! It's his heart's desire to find the love of his life, get married and be with a godly woman! Yet, I feel he has compromised the very thing he desires! How you ask? Well, he's been going to places and doing things that are not going to attract a woman with the character he desires. Instead, I feel he's dating women flippantly to get to know them, rather than getting to know someone from a distance, find out their value system and morals and most importantly, their relationship with God, and then asking them out! Not only that, the kind of women he's dating makes my skin crawl! You ask, are you jealous? Why would I be jealous of a woman that has no morals or godly character? Well, because he went out with them you may say. No! If his discernment is that jaded, it is most definitely a train wreck about to happen! It infuriates me that he's so deceived!!! He is a good man, but I find that the way he's going about life right now, at least on the whole dating issue, is a train wreck! It will bring nothing but destruction to his life!

We attract what is in our heart! He's attracting the wrong women! Why? Because he is dating in the flesh! He's following his discontent and frustration and making decisions based on that, instead of following the leadership of Christ. All I can do is pray for him and pray that he wakes up before he wakes up beside a woman, opposite of what he has prayed for and opposite of what he has desired! Amazing how deceitful the enemy is!

No "Spirit of Dumb Dumb" here! I want God's best and will not compromise by rationalizing what I feel God has called me to live!

TDahl