Twilight

I have been pondering some thoughts for several days now on the newest craze sweeping amongst our young people, that being the "Twilight" book series and subsequent movie. I have not seen the movie nor read any of the books, so I do not have a firsthand opinion of them. However, I am hearing about so many teens and young adults, particularly Christians, who are soaking up the books as fast as they can. And women in general, even wives and mothers, who are enthralled by this series. As I stated, I do not have personal experience with any of the material, however, am very concerned about the unquestioningly loyal following that has been established. Young women everywhere are saying "It's my favorite ever!"; "You have to read/see it!"; and on and on... I have read two specifically insightful reviews of the material, and would just like to pass it on here. I don't think many people read my blog, but for those that do, please take a moment to read the links below. I am in no way saying that no one can see the movie or read the books, and I am not attempting some legalistic persuasion to prevent people from doing something they are certainly free to do. However, I am saying, don't be thoughtless in your reading and viewing material. Put some research into it before you just open your mind and heart to such things. And mothers, please be alert about what your young daughters are immersing themselves in. I remember quite well, as a teenager, reading some "harmless" romance fiction books. I pray I would be more careful with such decisions knowing what I know now. These stories only conjure up unrealistic and even ungodly expectations about what we think we will find in a mate. Being swept away by romantic notions may feel good in the moment, but the end result is often a sinful meditation on things we think we are lacking, and at best is simply a waste of time that could be spent reading much more thoughtful and helpful material.
http://www.gospelandculture.org/2008/11/vampires-and-young-female-desire/
http://www.challies.com/archives/book-reviews/book-review---twilight.php
UPDATE: I wanted to clarify something that several friends have asked me. If you check either of these links, please note that I am not the "Melissa" who has posted comments on these other sites. I guess there are other 30-something single Melissa's out there, but this one is not me as I have not commented about these articles except here on my own blog:)

Graduate Hope

I have been working diligently on my master's degree in biblical counseling throughout this past year. Lord-willing, I have one to two years left, depending on how many classes I can afford to take at a time. But in my recent classes, I had to write several papers, that unbeknownst to me at the starting point, ended up coinciding in such a distinct manner. One, which was to be the defining and application of true biblical hope; another, an exegesis project on I Peter 1:3-9; and finally, a paper outlining my future thesis topic - biblical counseling cross-culturally and inter-racially. All three of these papers ended up signaling me so clearly to a better grasp of HOPE and how the believer's sincere faith automatically results in a genuine hope. A hope that surpasses racial boundaries, a hope that assures the saved man to press on amidst the deepest afflictions, and a hope that produces lasting changes in the sanctified Christian. It would be impossible to share here all the wondrous things the Lord has been teaching me throughout this time, and to point out the careful ways in which my studies related so personally to God's specific providence in my life at this time, but here is a snippet of something from one of my papers:
True biblical hope is defined and applied in Peter’s letter. The reason Christians can rejoice is because of their living hope. This hope is outlined in four key areas. The ground of hope is the mercy of God in causing regeneration within the heart of man. The character of this hope is secure and indestructible. It is not like worldly hope, which will most assuredly perish in the end. The power of this hope is the resurrection of Jesus Christ because that is the power of God. Finally, the object of the believers hope is his inheritance in Christ Jesus. All earthly things are decaying, but the believer’s hope is never going to diminish in power or glory because it is an inheritance that has already been given. It is kept for the believer; he does not keep it himself.

Tragedy of Congo

A couple of summers ago, I served as a missionary teaching English amongst other things, to Congolese refugees in South Africa. I heard firsthand accounts of the violence and poverty this country has suffered, and unfortunately the times have only worsened. With over five million dead, this little country is suffering tremendous strife and families are being ripped apart in the bloodshed. Please follow this link for an in-depth look at the tragedy of Congo. PRAY for our brothers and sisters there, and pray that God would send more believers to encouraged these suffering people with the only true hope, Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord!
http://www.slate.com/id/2204662/

Wisdom in choosing friends

Lydia Brownback at The Purple Cellar posted some great articles last week on friendships for women. I would highly encourage you to check it out on the link to her site in my blog list. However, I couldn't resist quoting a bit of it here:

"Prov. 12:26 - 'The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.' The friendships we choose are a direct reflection on our heart for God. Don't give your trust to those whose Christian walk is unstable. (Prov. 24:21) This doesn't mean we don't reach out with our lives and actively love unstable people. What we are talking about here is linking ourselves emotionally to them. DO choose a friend for her passion for holiness. 'As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.' We can sharpen or be sharpened for better or worse. The primary criterion for choosing a friend is whether we help one another grow spiritually. One way to know is to assess, overall, where we are spiritually after spending time together. Are we generally closer to God as a result, or farther away? In other words, does the friendship cause us to flourish or diminish?"

God pours out His presence

The past week has been deeply encouraging to me by God's grace. I have been searching out the answer to the question: is it possible to grieve and yet still be joyful in the Lord? (or something like this)...as I have pondered that thought in recent weeks, God providentially chose this week to really lay out before me the answer to it. By prayer and meditating on specific Scripture passages, I am confindent that YES, we can grieve tremendously, being filled with sorrow, and yet rejoice in the inheritance we have in Christ through a relationship with Him as Lord. I so want to expound on this, but have so much to do today...so I will just leave this quote from a song that was sung at church this morning:
"For I am crucified with Christ. It is not I, but Christ that lives within me. His cross will never ask for more than I can give!" This is sorrow mingled with joy, being assured that in the suffering and crucifxion of Christ, I am now guaranteed that He will never require something that is beyond what can be accomplished through Him, despite my inabilities. His strength perfects my weaknesses!

True Womanhood for the Single

The following excerpt was taken from John Piper's introductory statements at the recent "True Woman" conference:

The apostle Paul clearly loved his singleness because of the radical freedom for ministry that it gave him (1 Corinthians 7:32-38). One of the reasons he was free to celebrate his singleness and call others to join him in it, is that, even though marriage is meant to display the glory of Christ, there are truths about Christ and his kingdom that shine more clearly through singleness than through marriage. I’ll give you three examples:


1) A life of Christ-exalting singleness bears witness that the family of God grows not by propagation through sexual intercourse, but by regeneration through faith in Christ. If you never marry, and if you embrace a lifetime of chastity and biological childlessness, and if you receive this from the Lord’s hand as a gift with contentment, and if you gather to yourself the needy and the lonely, and spend yourself for the gospel without self-pity, because Christ has met your need, then he will be mightily glorified in your life, and particularly so because you are a woman.

2) A life of Christ-exalting singleness bears witness that relationships in Christ are more permanent, and more precious, than relationships in families. The single woman who turns away from regretting the absence of her own family, and gives herself to creating God’s family in the church, will find the flowering of her womanhood in ways she never dreamed, and Christ will be uniquely honored because of it.

3) A life of Christ-exalting singleness bears witness that marriage is temporary, and finally gives way to the relationship to which it was pointing all along: Christ and the church—the way a picture is no longer needed when you see face to face. Marriage is a beautiful thing. But it is not the main thing. If it were, Jesus would not have said, “In the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30). Single womanhood, content to walk with Christ, is a great witness that he is a better husband than any man, and in the end, will be the only husband in the universe.

In other words, true womanhood can flourish in marriage and singleness.

AMEN PASTOR PIPER!!!

God's providence in the creation of His people:

"The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved. Adam lost a rib...but in lieu thereof he had a helpmeet for him, which abundantly made up his loss." Matthew Henry