Attraction Factors

Hope for the Future!

I've been reading a lot of blogs lately, and was blown away when I read one about what attributes attract godly men. If you ladies want to read it, you can find it here: http://peacefulsinglegirl.wordpress.com/what-is-attractiveunattractive-to-godly-guys/

It gave me hope! Hope that my love of God and adventurous spirit will be appreciated by my future husband.

Now it is time for a list of godly qualities that Christian women are looking for in their future Christian husbands. (This is in my opinion, so it may not be true for all Christian women, but you all are welcome to comment below).

Admirable Husband Qualities

- A man after God's own heart. You are devoted to loving and serving God, have fruit in your life that reveals this, and have a desire to read His word and know Him more.

- Leadership: Willing and able to lead those around you, you are trustworthy and have a hard work ethic.

- Confident: In who God made you, and is shaping you to be. You look to Him for approval and strength.

- Humble: Seeking to put others first, and not acting to receive recognition.

- Respectful: You are well respected by family, friends, and coworkers. You also show respect to Christ, people, and anyone you date.

- Kind-hearted: Compassionate, caring, reaching out to others.

- Provides: You show you can provide by holding a steady job, volunteering, and taking care of the people God puts in your life.

- Humor: Good clean humor is always appreciated! (Sometimes women will laugh even if the joke wasn't funny; to encourage you and affirm you... just bask in it :)

- Self-controlled: You show self-restraint, you think before you speak, you handle conflict in a calm manner.

- Encouraging: Building up others; not tearing down.

- Family man: Value your family, respect them, and want to have one of your own someday.

You may not have all of these qualities, but that is okay. If you are following hard after Christ, and submit to His will and plan in your life, He will teach you in the way you should go. God will grow godly qualities in you that will prepare you for marriage.

Hope this was an encouragement to you! 

Call it Old Fashioned...

Real men, pursuing real women. Sometimes it seems too good to be true. What is happening to our generation?

One thing that is causing men to become less confident is that women are becoming more independent, and even take the first steps in many relationships. We can be self-sufficient and strong-willed, which in some cases isn’t a good thing.

Here’s the problem:

We aren’t giving men the opportunity to fight for us; to win our love and hearts.

You may say, “Well, I didn’t want him to get away, so I had to do something!”, or make excuses for why you wear the pants in the relationship. I'd like to offer a different opinion.

I don’t want to fall in love with a man who can’t stand up for himself. If he can’t stand up for himself, how can he stand up for me? I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with some real Christian men recently… and let me tell you, it was a relief. They do exist! They have the Holy Spirit working in them, and people supporting them on their journey to becoming the men God designed them to be. And that, ladies, is the kind of man worth waiting for.

Inspire him

Real men, as God created them, were meant to lead. Challenge them to do so! Don’t call all the shots. Take a step back. Inspire him. Show him you support him. This can be all the men in your life; family, friends, boyfriends, or husbands. If you believe in him, he will believe in himself!

I want to see men step up; ask those girls to dance, help the little old lady with yard work, and help out when you see a need at home or work. I appreciate you! Thank you to all the men who have opened doors for me, carried heavy boxes, and exemplified what Christian men are supposed to be. You are the leaders of the future, the husbands, brothers, and fathers that will make such a difference in the world. J

Giving God the Pen

The Very Thought of You

If God intends for you to marry, the person you are meant to marry is most likely walking around this earth! He or She is ALIVE.

I don’t know about you, but that makes my heart beat faster. Every day is one day closer to actually meeting the one God has saved for you. If you are a Christian who loves God, is committed to purity, and desires to follow Him, give Him the pen to write your love story. Just look at the love story He has already written! The sacrificial love of Jesus Christ is the best love story of all time.

God is Faithful

I look back on my life, and see how God has been faithful in all things; the good, and what I perceived as bad. I have learned to trust God sooner with situations, relationships, and unexpected events that turned my world upside down. He proved Himself trustworthy in all of this. Now I am learning to trust Him with my love story. I challenge you to trust God with your story too.

Would your actions and thoughts right now, while being single, honor your future spouse? It takes some time looking deep into your heart, and asking God to reveal things that would not be honoring. And changing those will take effort; but it would be great to be able to meet your spouse one day, and have such a gift of purity and honor to give them. I know I would feel cherished if my husband was able to do this for me!

A good friend of mine, Mark Brunner, put it this way: “God designed us for marriage.” I had never heard anyone say that before. This idea can really step on people’s toes, but I think it is true. Adam and Eve. Jesus Christ and His bride, the church. Lifelong commitment. God is committed to us; are we committed to Him?

“A God-scripted marriage is more than worth waiting for. If you live to honor your spouse with every thought, word, action, and friendship all the days of your life, you will unlock the secret to the kind of love you’ve always longed for. (Ludy)” (Italics refer to Proverbs 31:12; which is applicable for husbands and wives)

So...

Are you ready to trust God to write your love story?

 

Inspiration for this post was given by “When God Writes Your Love Story”, by Eric and Leslie Ludy. I highly recommend this book!

Wait on the Lord

In the Waiting...

If you think about it, waiting is never easy. Just think back to Christmas when you were a kid. The week before Christmas always seemed agonizingly long... because you were so excited about what was under the tree for you! Did you peek? If you did, that really ruined the surprise on Christmas morning, didn't it?

Waiting for the right man or woman to come into your life is hard... much harder than waiting for Christmas. As a Christian woman who loves my Savior, I believe God is saving a Christian man for me that I will love and cherish for the rest of my life. I don't know if I've met him yet. I get discouraged with the waiting, to be honest. At my low points, God lifts my eyes to Himself. Just think of how He cherishes His relationship with you!

Relationship with God

Let's be real...I'm a romantic. So, when God paints a beautiful sunset across the sky, my heart is glad... because that was a display of affection from Him that I can understand. An encouraging word from a friend, a song on the radio, and Bible verses are ways God speaks to us. These things help me as I wait. Someday I hope to find a man that is at least a little romantic ;).

Don't sit around waiting for prince charming to show up on your doorstep... for all you know he could have gotten lost! Be outgoing and optimistic; try new things you are interested in. Go to a new church, try a gym class, or even go country dancing. The more people you meet, the more likely you are to not only meet "the one", but you'll have more friends and more fun.

"Jesus, Lover of my soul, Jesus, I will never let you go.
You've taken me from the miry clay, and set my feet upon the rock, and now I know...
I love you, I need you, though my world may fall, I'll never ever let you go."
Song "Jesus, Lover of My Soul", Darlene Zschech

It Looks a Little Different than I Expected...

Expectations

We all have great expectations. We have expectations for our life goals, families, and relationships. In relationships, we often have unrealistic expectations that no one can live up to… other times the relationship fizzles because hopes are not met. Having reasonable expectations, and talking to your significant other about them, will help you not to be disappointed with the direction things go. What if you are in different life stages? You just started college, and the person you are dating is ready for a career, and maybe even marriage. Where is the middle ground for expectations? Waiting for the other to finish school, getting into a serious relationship while trying to finish school, and even waiting to begin the relationship are things to be considered. 

God puts amazing people in our lives for a reason. Every relationship makes you grow; learning more about yourself, the one you are dating/befriending, and God’s plan for you. It also shows you where your heart is. Is it running from God, or to Him?

Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Christ at the Center

When Christ is at the center of our relationships, He will be glorified in them. Don’t let one disappointment keep you from building another relationship.

God Can

God is the only One who can fulfill our great expectations. He is the One our hearts truly long for. He created the universe, and everything in it. He cares about our desires, our hurts, and our fears. And He is the one who will be there to hold you when things seem to fall apart. He takes the emptiness in our hearts and fills it with Himself… then we feel His grace, love and acceptance wash over us. He wants YOU.

 

Picture compliments of Pinterest :)

 

For the Good of the Other

“Giving what your other needs most instead of taking what you want now.”

(Caleb Breakey)

Selflessness. It’s the opposite of what the world is pushing us to pursue. When you put your significant other’s needs above your own, you may not get what you want. But in doing what is best for them, you not only show that you honor and respect them, you are glorifying God.

The Road Less Traveled

As a Christian, God calls us to take the road less traveled. It doesn’t matter if this is your first relationship, or you’ve lost count. Physical, emotional, and spiritual purity are vital in having a Christ-centered relationship. Is it hard? Certainly. But with Christ, it is possible. And God will bless you because of it.

Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

“The world is blind and deaf to the wondrous design of our King. So fight for purity. Pray for success. Protect each other as though you were guarding a lifelong investment.

Because that’s exactly what you’re guarding.” (Caleb Breakey)

Just think…

The person you are dating right now is most likely going to get married someday. And you may not be their spouse! A wise man told me that he would be jealous if he saw another man hugging his (the wise man’s) future wife. He treats his girlfriend with utmost respect, and she knows she is blessed because of it.

This post was inspired by the book,

“Dating Like Airplanes” by Caleb Breakey.

Be the Confident One

You better believe it...

My guy friend and I were having a great conversation. I was asking him what kinds of girls are attractive to him. He told me that he wants a girl that looks pretty wearing sweats, without makeup. 

Wait... what?! Are you telling me all that work women put into making themselves look beautiful is wasted? And, how can a girl look pretty in sweats?

Ladies... it's about your self-confidence. You have to believe you are a beautiful woman, regardless of what you are wearing, or if you took extra time to curl your hair. This is not about vanity. A woman who knows she is beautiful, especially one who knows God made her that way, is attractive. A guy wants a woman who knows her worth, and does not look to him to give her value. You have so much more value than your appearance alone, so don't be so caught up in how you look. Be real. You will exude confidence, and believe me, people will notice.

Don't forget

A great man will encourage you, and in turn you may feel more beautiful. Just don't forget that God created you with an amazing unique beauty all your own, and only He can appreciate it to its full extent. Don't give God the back burner when your relationship starts getting exciting... because He is going to be with you through thick and thin.

Courtesy of pinterest.com