Struggle and a balance

[memoriesbymichelle]

Last night I saw a commercial for Valentine's Day and the catch phrase was "for the star in your life" and for a moment I thought to myself, "I want to be a star in someone's life". And then I thought God wants this too! I also thought about why it's so difficult. We all want to be loved. God wants to be loved by us too. But if we love someone as in we make them the star of our lives, where does that leave God in our lives?
And so IMO, it is a struggle. Because if we put too much emphasis on the other person, or if the person wants to be the star too much, isn't that kind of pride?
So we war against our flesh. We struggle to connect with a God we cannot see, touch or feel. We have needs placed in our hearts by God and by ourselves. And we struggle to balance them all. Not an easy task.

I, personally, would like to have someone in my life only if A) God was first in their lives, and B) if they were really into me.

I have a friend and her husband (they are HS sweethearts) just adores her. He is always doing little things for her and really does anything to make her happy. I just love how he loves her. BUT she is the spiritual leader of the two of them and he is more the follower. I don't like that part but it's not my relationship so...I would want someone that totally has a relationship with God, not just an intellectual knowledge about Him, first and foremost.

The model is how God views us as His Bride

Thoughts?

 

[dayhiker]

I used to feel that tension about how much time to spend with my spouse/people. But I didn't see any way to evaluate when it was too much time or not enough.

Just this past year it dawned on me that when Jesus was saying that if we did it to the least of our brothers we have done it unto Him that to spend time loving people was to spend time loving Jesus. Since Jesus is apart of my entire life, in all my thoughts and actions this makes sense to me. So now I don't see that conflict any more. Its been an amazingly freeing idea to understand those verses and live them.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I used to feel that tension about how much time to spend with my spouse/people. But I didn't see any way to evaluate when it was too much time or not enough.

Just this past year it dawned on me that when Jesus was saying that if we did it to the least of our brothers we have done it unto Him that to spend time loving people was to spend time loving Jesus. Since Jesus is apart of my entire life, in all my thoughts and actions this makes sense to me. So now I don't see that conflict any more. Its been an amazingly freeing idea to understand those verses and live them.

THAT is an excellent way to look at it! Thank you for sharing that. I was just thinking how easy it is to get out of balance and especially since that was the devil's problem was that he wanted to be glorified like God is glorified. I have learned somewhat not to question God as like the pot doesn't say to the potter, I didn't want to be a pot I wanted to be a vase.

I imagine a relationship where BOTH parties LOVE God with all their hearts AND they love each other and always put the other before themselves (OK most of the time cuz we aren't perfect yet). THAT to me would be the ideal relationship. The problem we have with alot of christians though is that alot don't even crack their bible regularly and in doing so are kind of winging it on understanding God and life issues.

 

[miss-a]

Hey, your post made me think of this. A few years ago near Valentines day, Charles Stanley sent out cards to those on his mailing list with a letter suggesting we use the cards, which were blank inside, to write a Valentine to God. How cool is that? I just wanted to post the suggestion to anyone who might be interested. I did it that year and it was very moving. Perhaps I will again this year!

 

[dayhiker]

That is a good idea miss-a

 

[blackribbon]

I am too tired to think straight tonight but I really think there is a lot of wisdom in your post, Michelle.

 

[dayhiker]

I agree with the Bible study thing, I've done thousands have hours of Bible study in, and that many pages of notes as well. Yet most of church history believers didn't have a Bible they could read. Of course the printing press changed all that.

But there is another way ... The Bible says we are in a relationship with God thru the Holy Spirit. And those that are led by the Spirit will not fulfill the desires of the adamic nature. And verses like Christ in you the hope of glory. Speak to me of internal life that moves us to where God wants us. I've been adding this to my walk with God over the past few years and its brought an amazing inner joy and peace. I've also made some of the wisest decision in the past few years while living this way. My communication with people has improved a lot. Yet seems to be the also the area the Spirit is speaking to me more than any other area of my live in as well.

Great stuff.

 

[Doctor Strangelove]

There is a lot of wisdom in what everyone said. Sometimes we can be too "spiritual" for our own good and neglect the sacred in "ordinary" life. Here is a quote by Luther about, of all things, changing diapers:


Now observe that when that clever harlot, our natural reason . . . , takes a look at married life, she turns up her nose and says, "Alas, must I rock the baby, wash its diapers, make its bed, smell its stench, stay up nights with it, take care of it when it cries, heal its rashes and sores. . . [LW 45:39]


But into this context Luther breathes fresh gospel air:


What then does Christian faith say to this? It opens its eyes, looks upon all these insignificant, distasteful, and despised duties in the Spirit, and is aware that they are all adorned with divine approval as with the costliest gold and jewels. It says, O God, because I am certain that thou hast created me as a man and hast from my body begotten this child, I also know for a certainty that it meets with thy perfect pleasure. I confess to thee that I am not worthy to rock the little babe or wash its diapers, or to be entrusted with the care of the child and its mother. How is it that I, without any merit, have come to this distinction of being certain that I am serving thy creature and thy most precious will? O how gladly will I do so, though the duties should be even more insignificant and despised. Neither frost nor heat, neither drudgery nor labor, will distress or dissuade me, for I am certain that it is thus pleasing in thy sight. . . . God, with all his angels and creatures is smiling, not because the father is washing diapers, but because he is doing so in Christian faith.[LW 45:39-40]

 

[dayhiker]

That's a good quote.

Its the inverse of Paul's comment, What ever is not of faith is sin. There is also a verse where Paul says something to the effect that what ever you do do in faith.

I should really learn that verse. I could have some fun with it I think.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

Hey, your post made me think of this. A few years ago near Valentines day, Charles Stanley sent out cards to those on his mailing list with a letter suggesting we use the cards, which were blank inside, to write a Valentine to God. How cool is that? I just wanted to post the suggestion to anyone who might be interested. I did it that year and it was very moving. Perhaps I will again this year!

What an awesome idea!